Barbara Franchi
@barbarafranchi.bsky.social
Contemporary literature scholar, feminist, wannabe eco-criticist. Career Development Fellow in Postcolonial and World Literatures at Durham University. she/her
It’s a teaching marathon day today, but a fairy tale themed one: starting off with tutorials on Andersen’s Snow Queen via Propp and Byatt, and finishing tonight with my Writing the Sea seminar on The Deep, ecological/posthuman merfolk solidarity, and memories of the Middle Passage.
November 14, 2025 at 10:24 AM
It’s a teaching marathon day today, but a fairy tale themed one: starting off with tutorials on Andersen’s Snow Queen via Propp and Byatt, and finishing tonight with my Writing the Sea seminar on The Deep, ecological/posthuman merfolk solidarity, and memories of the Middle Passage.
The rain in Durham today feels like a Julia Armfield novel… everything is soaking wet!
November 13, 2025 at 11:47 AM
The rain in Durham today feels like a Julia Armfield novel… everything is soaking wet!
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
Hit hard by aid cuts and sanctions, Afghanistan is struggling to absorb 4.5 million returnees since 2023.
Nine in 10 Afghan families skip meals, take on debt: UNDP
Hit hard by aid cuts and sanctions, Afghanistan is struggling to absorb 4.5 million returnees since 2023.
bit.ly
November 12, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Hit hard by aid cuts and sanctions, Afghanistan is struggling to absorb 4.5 million returnees since 2023.
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
... and Leicester... Languages, History...
It's so easy to destroy, so hard to create. So much talent. So many lives.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It's so easy to destroy, so hard to create. So much talent. So many lives.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
University of Leicester to consult on redundancies
University bosses are also planning to stop a number of courses.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 10:17 PM
... and Leicester... Languages, History...
It's so easy to destroy, so hard to create. So much talent. So many lives.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It's so easy to destroy, so hard to create. So much talent. So many lives.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Time to update your Bluesky profile, Mr Mamdani. Wonderful news in such dire times!
November 5, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Time to update your Bluesky profile, Mr Mamdani. Wonderful news in such dire times!
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
Italian government's immigration policy in tatters. After failure of Albanian detention centres, impounding of NGO vessels now in question.
Catanzaro Court of Appeal rules NGO ship illegally impounded for disobeying Libyan Coast Guard, which cannot be considered a legitimate rescue organization.
Catanzaro Court of Appeal rules NGO ship illegally impounded for disobeying Libyan Coast Guard, which cannot be considered a legitimate rescue organization.
La guardia costiera libica non è soggetto legittimo per i soccorsi in mare: vittoria definitiva per la Humanity I
La Humanity 1 ha agito in conformità con il diritto internazionale. I ministeri non fanno ricorso e la sentenza diventa definitiva. La ong ora chiede un risarcimento alle autorità italiane per il ferm...
www.editorialedomani.it
November 4, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Italian government's immigration policy in tatters. After failure of Albanian detention centres, impounding of NGO vessels now in question.
Catanzaro Court of Appeal rules NGO ship illegally impounded for disobeying Libyan Coast Guard, which cannot be considered a legitimate rescue organization.
Catanzaro Court of Appeal rules NGO ship illegally impounded for disobeying Libyan Coast Guard, which cannot be considered a legitimate rescue organization.
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
Been back to my childhood village in Essex for a funeral.
High Street is littered with tatty flags attached to every lamp post and telegraph pole, and by God, it looks awful.
Everyone I spoke to hates them. So intimidating. Apparently- "Epping Forest council is scared of offending the nasties."
High Street is littered with tatty flags attached to every lamp post and telegraph pole, and by God, it looks awful.
Everyone I spoke to hates them. So intimidating. Apparently- "Epping Forest council is scared of offending the nasties."
October 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Been back to my childhood village in Essex for a funeral.
High Street is littered with tatty flags attached to every lamp post and telegraph pole, and by God, it looks awful.
Everyone I spoke to hates them. So intimidating. Apparently- "Epping Forest council is scared of offending the nasties."
High Street is littered with tatty flags attached to every lamp post and telegraph pole, and by God, it looks awful.
Everyone I spoke to hates them. So intimidating. Apparently- "Epping Forest council is scared of offending the nasties."
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
Draft Tory legislation on removing indefinite leave to remain is insane.
Would chuck out those not earning over £38K - including many pensioners!
+ social protections seems to include child benefit, so load of people with (British!) kids!
They'd remove my sis & mum who've been here 50 years.
Would chuck out those not earning over £38K - including many pensioners!
+ social protections seems to include child benefit, so load of people with (British!) kids!
They'd remove my sis & mum who've been here 50 years.
October 22, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Draft Tory legislation on removing indefinite leave to remain is insane.
Would chuck out those not earning over £38K - including many pensioners!
+ social protections seems to include child benefit, so load of people with (British!) kids!
They'd remove my sis & mum who've been here 50 years.
Would chuck out those not earning over £38K - including many pensioners!
+ social protections seems to include child benefit, so load of people with (British!) kids!
They'd remove my sis & mum who've been here 50 years.
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
Farewell Zoë Wicomb, the vivid voyager who wrote SA into the world www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...
Obituary: Farewell Zoë Wicomb, the vivid voyager who wrote SA into the world
South African Author Zoë Wicomb, born in 1948, died last week in Glasgow, Scotland, at the age of 76.
www.dailymaverick.co.za
October 21, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Farewell Zoë Wicomb, the vivid voyager who wrote SA into the world www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
Woke up to the absolutely shocking news that my colleague Francesa Orsini, renowned scholar of Hindi literature and a mild and diplomatic person, has been deported from Delhi even though she had a valid visa. No reason was given. Report and opinion in @thewire.in
thewire.in/rights/globa...
thewire.in/rights/globa...
Globally Renowned Scholar of Hindi Deported from Delhi Airport Despite Valid Visa
Francesca Orsini is perhaps the fourth foreign scholar with a valid visa to be denied entry in recent years.
thewire.in
October 21, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Woke up to the absolutely shocking news that my colleague Francesa Orsini, renowned scholar of Hindi literature and a mild and diplomatic person, has been deported from Delhi even though she had a valid visa. No reason was given. Report and opinion in @thewire.in
thewire.in/rights/globa...
thewire.in/rights/globa...
It’s Fog on the Tyne season, paired with misty Durham Cathedral in all its majesty. Gearing up for meetings with advisees, followed by tutorials on canonicity, the value of English studies, Terry Eagleton and Pride and Prejudice.
October 20, 2025 at 9:02 AM
It’s Fog on the Tyne season, paired with misty Durham Cathedral in all its majesty. Gearing up for meetings with advisees, followed by tutorials on canonicity, the value of English studies, Terry Eagleton and Pride and Prejudice.
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
This is true and important. I also note that the UK and others could have chosen to step up to at least make a small attempt to mitigate for the US reductions; however inadequate that may have been. Instead, under Starmer’s Labour, we did the opposite and retrenched ourselves.
Even in this place, I feel the sheer scale of foreign aid being demolished isn't fully appreciated. As it stands, it is perhaps *the* most catastrophic change to preventable deaths in our lifetimes, and the salience - even in presumably friendly spaces - is basically zero
apnews.com/article/myan...
apnews.com/article/myan...
Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.
apnews.com
October 18, 2025 at 2:23 PM
This is true and important. I also note that the UK and others could have chosen to step up to at least make a small attempt to mitigate for the US reductions; however inadequate that may have been. Instead, under Starmer’s Labour, we did the opposite and retrenched ourselves.
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
Marie McGowan, 89, has died 3 years after a brutal assault during which she was put headfirst into a rubbish bin. Her attacker, Alex Bailey, believed she was "a man dressed as a woman."
This is the world the transphobes are creating "to protect women."
RIP Marie. share.google/PFaI5YTh9tBw...
This is the world the transphobes are creating "to protect women."
RIP Marie. share.google/PFaI5YTh9tBw...
Woman, 80s, dies three years after Dublin attack
A woman in her 80s who was attacked in south Dublin just over three years ago has passed away.
share.google
October 16, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Marie McGowan, 89, has died 3 years after a brutal assault during which she was put headfirst into a rubbish bin. Her attacker, Alex Bailey, believed she was "a man dressed as a woman."
This is the world the transphobes are creating "to protect women."
RIP Marie. share.google/PFaI5YTh9tBw...
This is the world the transphobes are creating "to protect women."
RIP Marie. share.google/PFaI5YTh9tBw...
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
Today's column is about the government's huge, unprecedented assault on nature ... and about the eerie, astonishing silence of the big nature groups. The RSPB, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts have 7.5m members between them. A vast force, completely unmobilised. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Wage war on nature to build new homes: that’s Labour’s offer, but it’s a con trick | George Monbiot
The government’s new planning bill is tearing down environmental protections to benefit developers. This nation of nature lovers won’t stand for it, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Today's column is about the government's huge, unprecedented assault on nature ... and about the eerie, astonishing silence of the big nature groups. The RSPB, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts have 7.5m members between them. A vast force, completely unmobilised. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
The UN says Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza, having killed 15 Palestinian civilians since October 10, despite a ceasefire coming into effect.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/ttcve3
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/ttcve3
Gaza death toll from Israeli attacks rises, despite ceasefire
Palestinians continue to be killed by Israel as people struggle for aid in decimated Gaza.
aje.io
October 15, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The UN says Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza, having killed 15 Palestinian civilians since October 10, despite a ceasefire coming into effect.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/ttcve3
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/ttcve3
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
In need of academic copyediting and/or proofreading? Please consider me: allitteditorialservices.co.uk
Please share! Strictly no AI is used! I love correcting spelling!
#Editing #Spellcheck #Proofing
Please share! Strictly no AI is used! I love correcting spelling!
#Editing #Spellcheck #Proofing
Allitt Editorial Services
Academic specialist in copyediting and proofreading
allitteditorialservices.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 2:49 PM
In need of academic copyediting and/or proofreading? Please consider me: allitteditorialservices.co.uk
Please share! Strictly no AI is used! I love correcting spelling!
#Editing #Spellcheck #Proofing
Please share! Strictly no AI is used! I love correcting spelling!
#Editing #Spellcheck #Proofing
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
145/1000 with 15 hours left… still plenty left to match
We continue: out of duty, as our promise—because we still need to keep hope alive ❤️🔥
Today only, we’re matching £250 / $333 to help six families & a camp STILL survive. That means food, shelter, transport north, baby clothes.
24 hours left 🚨 0/1000: chuffed.org/project/hope...
Today only, we’re matching £250 / $333 to help six families & a camp STILL survive. That means food, shelter, transport north, baby clothes.
24 hours left 🚨 0/1000: chuffed.org/project/hope...
October 15, 2025 at 8:26 AM
145/1000 with 15 hours left… still plenty left to match
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
While the perpetrators of Gaza’s genocide pose as its saviours, survivors return home – to a wasteland | Nesrine Malik
While the perpetrators of Gaza’s genocide pose as its saviours, survivors return home – to a wasteland | Nesrine Malik
Western leaders attending the Sharm el-Sheikh summit have enabled and sponsored this slaughter. They are in no position to build a Palestinian future, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
www.theguardian.com
October 13, 2025 at 5:38 AM
While the perpetrators of Gaza’s genocide pose as its saviours, survivors return home – to a wasteland | Nesrine Malik
We had a glorious, sunny, October day at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal @nationaltrust.org.uk. Made even more special by the colours of autumn: it will no doubt be memorable for both our boys and for us parents.
October 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM
We had a glorious, sunny, October day at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal @nationaltrust.org.uk. Made even more special by the colours of autumn: it will no doubt be memorable for both our boys and for us parents.
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
Don’t be distracted by the news of the ceasefire.
The bombing doesn’t stop for even a moment, and it’s being intensified insanely!!!!
#ceasefire #Gaza
The bombing doesn’t stop for even a moment, and it’s being intensified insanely!!!!
#ceasefire #Gaza
October 4, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Don’t be distracted by the news of the ceasefire.
The bombing doesn’t stop for even a moment, and it’s being intensified insanely!!!!
#ceasefire #Gaza
The bombing doesn’t stop for even a moment, and it’s being intensified insanely!!!!
#ceasefire #Gaza
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
Govt promised to help Palestinians get to UK to study- but I'm in touch with 7 young Palestinians with scholarships at
@bristoluni.bsky.social
who are trapped in Gaza because the Home Office isn't doing what was promised
Shocking neglect putting lives at risk
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
@bristoluni.bsky.social
who are trapped in Gaza because the Home Office isn't doing what was promised
Shocking neglect putting lives at risk
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
Accepted but trapped: Why won’t the UK evacuate its students from Gaza?
Palestinian students in Gaza who earned places at top UK universities are being stranded by political indifference.
www.aljazeera.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Govt promised to help Palestinians get to UK to study- but I'm in touch with 7 young Palestinians with scholarships at
@bristoluni.bsky.social
who are trapped in Gaza because the Home Office isn't doing what was promised
Shocking neglect putting lives at risk
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
@bristoluni.bsky.social
who are trapped in Gaza because the Home Office isn't doing what was promised
Shocking neglect putting lives at risk
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
This is devastating but hard to think of more important journalism. 18,457 children have been killed in Gaza (many more not accounted for). Here, The Guardian prints their names and beautiful faces and tells us what they were like before Israel stole their lives. www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Young lives cut short on an unimaginable scale: the 18,457 children on Gaza’s list of war dead
Every name on a list compiled by health authorities in Gaza of the child victims of Israel’s offensive
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:35 AM
This is devastating but hard to think of more important journalism. 18,457 children have been killed in Gaza (many more not accounted for). Here, The Guardian prints their names and beautiful faces and tells us what they were like before Israel stole their lives. www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
I’m sharing a Palestinian account every day and today is Doaa. Doaa is the mother of 3 children Omar, 10, Yasmine, 8 and Youseff, 4 but she primarily started this fundraiser to help her sister Amal who lost a husband and son and is trying to support her children Hiam, 13, Omar, 12 and Jawad, 7.
October 8, 2025 at 8:22 AM
I’m sharing a Palestinian account every day and today is Doaa. Doaa is the mother of 3 children Omar, 10, Yasmine, 8 and Youseff, 4 but she primarily started this fundraiser to help her sister Amal who lost a husband and son and is trying to support her children Hiam, 13, Omar, 12 and Jawad, 7.
Reposted by Barbara Franchi
The shortage of English teachers has not been resolved - cuts in bursaries for trainees are a mistake, argues @sarahmullin.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social
‘English is not just a subject – it is the foundation on which all other subjects are built’: @sarahmullin.bsky.social warns of the wider impact of withdrawing bursaries for teacher training in English
The end of English ITT bursaries sends a worrying message
The withdrawal of teacher training bursaries for English risks undermining more than just the subject itself – and it comes at a critical time, warns Sarah Mullin
www.tes.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The shortage of English teachers has not been resolved - cuts in bursaries for trainees are a mistake, argues @sarahmullin.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social