One reason why even a relatively small region like "West-Central Africa" cannot be considered a single Culture Area or Cultural Sphere is the sheer size of Africa Imagine a study of "Western culture" that includes everything from Portugal to Belarus to Turkey Yet that's just two African states
1/3 Strip away the theatre and Reform UK is a billionaire-backed project to dismantle the public realm, shred regulatory protections and hand what remains of state power to capital. It’s plain to see – just follow the money.
The tweet saying "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those 57 who have died trying to reach Ceuta" was part of this thread but got lost?
Ursula von der Leyen@vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu · 5d agoThe images coming from Ceuta are unacceptable. We cannot allow anyone to come to our Union without abiding by our rules. Dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled. And returns must be swift, as our rules allow.
Looking at something else in the archives but came across this map documenting the revolt against conscription and French rule in the Aurès région of Algeria in late 1916. It was brutally repressed by the French, mainly using West African troops.
But Burnham deserves credit for -unlike Starmer - immediately realising that Mahmood's proposals to effectively expel hundreds of thousands of care workers would not win a single vote back from Reform at the same time as alienating anyone with a shred of decency.
When I started fieldwork, several first-language speakers of Korandje told me they were glad their kids couldn't speak it. Teachers had told them raising their kids in (dialectal) Arabic was the key to letting them succeed in school, and they believed the results bore this out.
Hugely concerning. This highlights flaws in UK counter-terror laws which sweep up activity most people would never consider to be terrorism - and confirms fears that those laws would increasingly be used to target direct action www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Palestine Action activists face being sentenced as terrorists over bank damage
Exclusive: Judge intends to consider ‘terrorist connection’ after convicting five for damage to Barclays in Burnley
theguardian.com
Freedom of movement isn't as incompatible with nationalism as you might think looking around today. Just read that the Union of the Star of North Africa, one of the first Algerian nationalist movements, included among its demands: freedom to travel (specifically including abroad).
I don’t really think scrapping the most draconian immigration policies of this century is ‘shifting hard to the left’ on cultural issues tbh. And that ‘unite vs divide’ framing is curious, but cultural issues already divide the Labour 2024 coalition - he’s just chosen the conservative side!
Sam Freedman@samfr.bsky.social · 2w agoNew post: On Burnham's cabinet choices, early announcements and changes to No 10. They show we have a much more politically astute PM and one who has disagnosed at least some of the problems with govt. But also the challenges to come. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/a...
I'm not posting Odyssey memes because one must be wary of GIFs bearing Greeks.
Ian Wright saying we shouldn’t forget the way the Iranian team and the Somali referee were treated. Correct.
This is why they say you should never bathe a random baby or it will grow up to beat you at your own game
Like can you stop with the rage bait grift guardian, it’s embarrassing for you
The proposals aren't about "controlling immigration", "rewarding contribution", or encouraging integration. Burnham and Labour have opportunity to - belatedly - reject the ethnonationalist remigration agenda of Reform/Conservatives. They need to take it. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Labour MPs eye chance to scrap Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms
If the home secretary Shabana Mahmood becomes chancellor MPs say they would use the change to try to kill off the controversial settlement rules
thetimes.com
NEW: Who funds Nigel Farage? And why has it taken till now for any journalistic scrutiny? @carolecadwalla.bsky.social who has tracked him for a decade exposes how the UK press & regulators looked the other way 🧵👇
Remember, both the Iliad and the Odyssey were originally audiobooks.
Plans to drill for more North Sea oil & gas are worrying not because they'll burn the planet - the amount is too small for that - but because they're a symptom that Burnham is kowtowing to the wrong people.
📌Not news: The best adaptation of the "The Odyssey" is "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Period.
Reform UK have tabled an amendment to the UK Government’s elections Bill which would mean candidates using any language except English or Welsh would face up to six months in prison. This is outright discrimination, and we will stand firmly against such prejudice and ignorance.
starting a literary magazine where all it says is you’ve read your last free article this month
A big lesson the Burnham Government can take from the Starmer Government is, simply, don't score spectacular own goals in your early days on account of pressure from those who don't share your values or agenda.
Incredibly powerful first hand account of Israeli prisons & the abuse of prisoners by my fearless friend, Noa Avishag Schnall www.newstatesman.com/world/middle...
Under siege on the Gaza flotilla
An account of Israel's capture and abuse of hundreds onboard a human rights mission to Gaza
newstatesman.com
"Interesting times ahead in the LP" via Eileen Rowbotham If Burnham doesn't apologise and offer to reinstate all the Labour members expelled and vilified on trumped up 'antisemitism' charges it's 'no change' for Labour ...
Today is apparently ʕanṣṛa العنصرة - that is to say, 24 Yunyu, Midsummer's Day in the Julian/Amazigh calendar traditionally used throughout North Africa. (pic from Asla, Algeria) www.facebook.com/reel/1690455...
