Nish D
@acaciathorns.bsky.social
Dreaming solidarity & decolonisation. We all grow & change; give space for transformation. views mine. #AuDHD (they/them)
Reposted by Nish D
"In an internal memo from September, CEO Sam Altman said that OpenAI’s “audacious long-term goal is to build 250 gigawatts of capacity by 2033.” If Altman achieves this goal, OpenAI will need almost exactly as much electricity as India’s 1.5 billion people"
Great @truthdig.com piece on chips ->
Great @truthdig.com piece on chips ->
The Ecological Cost of AI Is Much Higher Than You Think - Truthdig
As the demands of AI grow, each generation of microchips requires more energy, minerals and water to produce, driving a ruinous cycle.
www.truthdig.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:47 PM
"In an internal memo from September, CEO Sam Altman said that OpenAI’s “audacious long-term goal is to build 250 gigawatts of capacity by 2033.” If Altman achieves this goal, OpenAI will need almost exactly as much electricity as India’s 1.5 billion people"
Great @truthdig.com piece on chips ->
Great @truthdig.com piece on chips ->
What we are experiencing is the end of performative liberal democracy as part of global politics. The veil of civility has been lifted to expose the entrenched corruption, and there's no going back from here. aje.io/x6b7jn
The first honest American president
Trump's shameless corruption is not a deviation from American history but its fulfilment.
aje.io
November 11, 2025 at 2:18 PM
What we are experiencing is the end of performative liberal democracy as part of global politics. The veil of civility has been lifted to expose the entrenched corruption, and there's no going back from here. aje.io/x6b7jn
Reposted by Nish D
So I chaired a panel at Edinburgh's Radical Book Fair yesterday, about #WeirdPride and unruliness, with two fantastic queer, neurodivergent, nonbinary writers and activists: @acaciathorns.bsky.social and @cjdebarra.bsky.social.
I loved hearing their thoughts on this.
www.youtube.com/live/vTW_j-H...
I loved hearing their thoughts on this.
www.youtube.com/live/vTW_j-H...
November 9, 2025 at 8:34 PM
So I chaired a panel at Edinburgh's Radical Book Fair yesterday, about #WeirdPride and unruliness, with two fantastic queer, neurodivergent, nonbinary writers and activists: @acaciathorns.bsky.social and @cjdebarra.bsky.social.
I loved hearing their thoughts on this.
www.youtube.com/live/vTW_j-H...
I loved hearing their thoughts on this.
www.youtube.com/live/vTW_j-H...
I am so entraced by @kontinentalist.bsky.social way of publishing. It's engaging, told through data visualisation as much as the narrative form. For example, this used gameplay elements: kontinentalist.com/stories/popu...
What’s the state of Southeast Asian sci-fi?
Western science fiction often depicts our collective culture in restrictive, erroneous ways. How about we let Asian sci-fi speak for itself?
kontinentalist.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I am so entraced by @kontinentalist.bsky.social way of publishing. It's engaging, told through data visualisation as much as the narrative form. For example, this used gameplay elements: kontinentalist.com/stories/popu...
So Edinburgh Council have decided the HUGE new data centre in South Gyle will not have to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment. This is despite having a power use demand akin to Edinburgh Airport, and that data centres are known to use up clean water supplies. inews.co.uk/news/data-ce...
Giant data centre could use as much power as every home in Glasgow and Edinburgh
Edinburgh Council has said the developer will not have to submit an environmental impact assessment, sparking concerns data centres are avoiding scrutiny from planners
inews.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 3:40 PM
So Edinburgh Council have decided the HUGE new data centre in South Gyle will not have to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment. This is despite having a power use demand akin to Edinburgh Airport, and that data centres are known to use up clean water supplies. inews.co.uk/news/data-ce...
I think this post by @parismarx.com addresses exactly what Glitch has been highlighting on how important the Online Safety Act actually is - in terms of regulation and preventing harm against marginalised / oppressed people. disconnect.blog/social-media...
Social media causes more harm than good
We need to stop falling for anti-regulation hysteria if we’re to get control of digital harms
disconnect.blog
October 13, 2025 at 1:25 PM
I think this post by @parismarx.com addresses exactly what Glitch has been highlighting on how important the Online Safety Act actually is - in terms of regulation and preventing harm against marginalised / oppressed people. disconnect.blog/social-media...
The performance continues. The narrative of US vs China is like siblings squabbling than war, but is being used to justify mass military investment. The performance obfuscates us from seeing what is actually happening, and what the actual cost is. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump threatens ‘massive’ China tariffs as Beijing restricts rare-earth exports
Wall Street falls as US president raises prospect of another trade war and suggests meeting with Xi may not happen
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The performance continues. The narrative of US vs China is like siblings squabbling than war, but is being used to justify mass military investment. The performance obfuscates us from seeing what is actually happening, and what the actual cost is. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Nish D
This is from a very prominent conservationist from Kenya
October 8, 2025 at 11:41 AM
This is from a very prominent conservationist from Kenya
Reposted by Nish D
Our horror at the genocide in Gaza, at the mass murder of civilians on Oct 7 2023, and at today's atrocity in Manchester, comes in each case from the same, inherent part of our shared humanity. We need to assert that shared humanity as loudly as possible, and in as many practical ways as we can.
October 2, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Our horror at the genocide in Gaza, at the mass murder of civilians on Oct 7 2023, and at today's atrocity in Manchester, comes in each case from the same, inherent part of our shared humanity. We need to assert that shared humanity as loudly as possible, and in as many practical ways as we can.
Trump's Deal is cementing the use of ethnic cleansing as suitable grounds for Development (aka corporate land grabs).
USAID used to pretend that it was helping people, but now US policy is to openly support genocide to give billionaires land & power - exactly what was was denied to Palestinians.
USAID used to pretend that it was helping people, but now US policy is to openly support genocide to give billionaires land & power - exactly what was was denied to Palestinians.
October 1, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Trump's Deal is cementing the use of ethnic cleansing as suitable grounds for Development (aka corporate land grabs).
USAID used to pretend that it was helping people, but now US policy is to openly support genocide to give billionaires land & power - exactly what was was denied to Palestinians.
USAID used to pretend that it was helping people, but now US policy is to openly support genocide to give billionaires land & power - exactly what was was denied to Palestinians.
Spoiler: it's not about growth.
It's about SECURITISATION - the political shift which started with 9/11 & is designed around fear and control because it sees all things as threats.
Starmer's actions are part of a global trend. Read a critique of the EU equivalent here: www.equinox-eu.com/mff2028/
It's about SECURITISATION - the political shift which started with 9/11 & is designed around fear and control because it sees all things as threats.
Starmer's actions are part of a global trend. Read a critique of the EU equivalent here: www.equinox-eu.com/mff2028/
September 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Spoiler: it's not about growth.
It's about SECURITISATION - the political shift which started with 9/11 & is designed around fear and control because it sees all things as threats.
Starmer's actions are part of a global trend. Read a critique of the EU equivalent here: www.equinox-eu.com/mff2028/
It's about SECURITISATION - the political shift which started with 9/11 & is designed around fear and control because it sees all things as threats.
Starmer's actions are part of a global trend. Read a critique of the EU equivalent here: www.equinox-eu.com/mff2028/
Can someone please tell me which Edinburgh councillors have shares in Black Sheep Coffee?
Because that's what's really overrunning the city, as well as private student housing.
Because that's what's really overrunning the city, as well as private student housing.
September 30, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Can someone please tell me which Edinburgh councillors have shares in Black Sheep Coffee?
Because that's what's really overrunning the city, as well as private student housing.
Because that's what's really overrunning the city, as well as private student housing.
Reposted by Nish D
How thousands of ‘overworked, underpaid’ humans train Google’s AI to seem smart www.theguardian.com/... | Contracted AI raters describe grueling deadlines, poor pay and opacity around work to make chatbots intelligent
How thousands of ‘overworked, underpaid’ humans train Google’s AI to seem smart
Contracted AI raters describe grueling deadlines, poor pay and opacity around work to make chatbots intelligent
www.theguardian.com
September 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
How thousands of ‘overworked, underpaid’ humans train Google’s AI to seem smart www.theguardian.com/... | Contracted AI raters describe grueling deadlines, poor pay and opacity around work to make chatbots intelligent
I do miss Old Twitter, mostly for the kinds of connection and community I felt it facilitated at the beginning.
But I guess we were all caught in the hype of social media connecting us rather than extracting from us back then.
Also miss the international community that it fostered.
But I guess we were all caught in the hype of social media connecting us rather than extracting from us back then.
Also miss the international community that it fostered.
September 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
I do miss Old Twitter, mostly for the kinds of connection and community I felt it facilitated at the beginning.
But I guess we were all caught in the hype of social media connecting us rather than extracting from us back then.
Also miss the international community that it fostered.
But I guess we were all caught in the hype of social media connecting us rather than extracting from us back then.
Also miss the international community that it fostered.
I HIGHLY recommend reading this great blog by @superrrnetwork.bsky.social on why they will not be using GenAI.
It's such a powerful piece which I feel every organisation should read. It tackles so many of the issues of GenAI in an easy to read and well referenced way.
superrr.net/en/blog/abou...
It's such a powerful piece which I feel every organisation should read. It tackles so many of the issues of GenAI in an easy to read and well referenced way.
superrr.net/en/blog/abou...
About AI and Unlikelihood
Translating feminist visions to political action.
superrr.net
September 11, 2025 at 11:16 PM
I HIGHLY recommend reading this great blog by @superrrnetwork.bsky.social on why they will not be using GenAI.
It's such a powerful piece which I feel every organisation should read. It tackles so many of the issues of GenAI in an easy to read and well referenced way.
superrr.net/en/blog/abou...
It's such a powerful piece which I feel every organisation should read. It tackles so many of the issues of GenAI in an easy to read and well referenced way.
superrr.net/en/blog/abou...
I've been noticing a lot more adverts with ethnically ambiguous People of Colour who look "alternative" invented by AI. They've all been for companies which embody racism. AI blackface for British military intelligence jobs? Or AI blackface for weapons / tech companies? 🤢
September 11, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I've been noticing a lot more adverts with ethnically ambiguous People of Colour who look "alternative" invented by AI. They've all been for companies which embody racism. AI blackface for British military intelligence jobs? Or AI blackface for weapons / tech companies? 🤢
Reposted by Nish D
It sure looks like every last major tech firm is abandoning past commitments to end their use of fossil fuels. Particularly concerning given how we know that fossil fuel burning power plants are being built NOW with the explicit aim of powering data centers
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/09/04/i...
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/09/04/i...
September 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
It sure looks like every last major tech firm is abandoning past commitments to end their use of fossil fuels. Particularly concerning given how we know that fossil fuel burning power plants are being built NOW with the explicit aim of powering data centers
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/09/04/i...
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/09/04/i...
Nigel Farage used to be the kind of person that the BBC would invite to speak on panels to be the token fringe person. Now the media actively share whatever nonsense he says as frontpage news. This isn't a coincidence. The more platform you give to the far right, the more they grow.
September 5, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Nigel Farage used to be the kind of person that the BBC would invite to speak on panels to be the token fringe person. Now the media actively share whatever nonsense he says as frontpage news. This isn't a coincidence. The more platform you give to the far right, the more they grow.
Reposted by Nish D
TBC it's not parody when I put it like that, Labour really genuinely are going with the message that Reform's basic message is correct but trying to say people should vote Labour anyway. I think this is suicidal comms, politically completely inept.
bsky.app/profile/kier...
bsky.app/profile/kier...
this is what they put out on Instagram 2 hours ago....
August 26, 2025 at 5:06 PM
TBC it's not parody when I put it like that, Labour really genuinely are going with the message that Reform's basic message is correct but trying to say people should vote Labour anyway. I think this is suicidal comms, politically completely inept.
bsky.app/profile/kier...
bsky.app/profile/kier...
I've spent this evening reading about Queer / Trans "Indian" history - unfortunately it's not as diverse as I'd like - but I hadn't realised how much I needed to read about this. A big part of me yearns to travel to India and visit communities and sites of Queer and Trans importance.
August 26, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I've spent this evening reading about Queer / Trans "Indian" history - unfortunately it's not as diverse as I'd like - but I hadn't realised how much I needed to read about this. A big part of me yearns to travel to India and visit communities and sites of Queer and Trans importance.
Finding it fascinating to learn that NGOs and charities will do risk assessments before implementing anti-oppressionn changes BUT refuse to do the same when implementing tech changes, like uncritically using AI tools as ways of "cutting costs".
August 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Finding it fascinating to learn that NGOs and charities will do risk assessments before implementing anti-oppressionn changes BUT refuse to do the same when implementing tech changes, like uncritically using AI tools as ways of "cutting costs".
I wish @plutopress.bsky.social made more audiobooks. I keep having chats with disabled folks who want to read more interesting books (like Trans Femme Futures) but can't access them. Read-aloud tech tools aren't the same.
What are the barriers? Is it the monopoly of Audible? Costs of production?
What are the barriers? Is it the monopoly of Audible? Costs of production?
August 25, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I wish @plutopress.bsky.social made more audiobooks. I keep having chats with disabled folks who want to read more interesting books (like Trans Femme Futures) but can't access them. Read-aloud tech tools aren't the same.
What are the barriers? Is it the monopoly of Audible? Costs of production?
What are the barriers? Is it the monopoly of Audible? Costs of production?
I wish people were aware of the kind of political economy shifts we're facing right now, and the world that is being built against us. The arrival of AI isn't so much about the technology but the political forces that are being shaped around it. Human rights is dead, securitization has won.
August 20, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I wish people were aware of the kind of political economy shifts we're facing right now, and the world that is being built against us. The arrival of AI isn't so much about the technology but the political forces that are being shaped around it. Human rights is dead, securitization has won.
I've been reading some of Glitch's work on the OSA. While the implementation is sketchy, it's important not to dismiss some of the reasons why the Act came about: glitchcharity.co.uk/our-work/onl...
August 12, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I've been reading some of Glitch's work on the OSA. While the implementation is sketchy, it's important not to dismiss some of the reasons why the Act came about: glitchcharity.co.uk/our-work/onl...
It's such a shame that so much research on colonial violence only acknowledges data collected by colonising forces.
For example, 'the killing times' work that @theguardian.com never seems to credit local oral histories, but instead uses colonial literature, newspapers and report as evidence.
For example, 'the killing times' work that @theguardian.com never seems to credit local oral histories, but instead uses colonial literature, newspapers and report as evidence.
August 4, 2025 at 1:35 AM
It's such a shame that so much research on colonial violence only acknowledges data collected by colonising forces.
For example, 'the killing times' work that @theguardian.com never seems to credit local oral histories, but instead uses colonial literature, newspapers and report as evidence.
For example, 'the killing times' work that @theguardian.com never seems to credit local oral histories, but instead uses colonial literature, newspapers and report as evidence.