Lauren M
@elenem.bsky.social
Mum, cricket lover, cargo biker, gardener; always wanting more climate action, always wanting more climate justice. Re-skeets for interest, not always endorsement. Says 'fuck' a lot. Aotearoa/NZ.
Reposted by Lauren M
the stratification and segregation of nz society is one of the most destructive effects of neoliberalism in my view. policies which prioritise funding restraints above ensuring a child- every child!- is given an equal opportunity to fulfil their potential is an inexcusable violation of their rights
February 2, 2026 at 6:30 AM
the stratification and segregation of nz society is one of the most destructive effects of neoliberalism in my view. policies which prioritise funding restraints above ensuring a child- every child!- is given an equal opportunity to fulfil their potential is an inexcusable violation of their rights
Reposted by Lauren M
Just to close the loop here. A cozy club of just the very worst people.
February 2, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Just to close the loop here. A cozy club of just the very worst people.
Reposted by Lauren M
Studied 1,000s of comments across dozens of posts on social media around the anti-immigration rally in Auckland over the weekend, incl. speech by Brian Tamaki. TLDR; it's an imported, Trumpian, far-right rhetoric. Of significant concern are attempts to undermine this year's electoral integrity.
February 2, 2026 at 5:40 AM
Studied 1,000s of comments across dozens of posts on social media around the anti-immigration rally in Auckland over the weekend, incl. speech by Brian Tamaki. TLDR; it's an imported, Trumpian, far-right rhetoric. Of significant concern are attempts to undermine this year's electoral integrity.
Reposted by Lauren M
The partisans of the "center left" (aka the courtiers of Abundance) won't tell you this, or even try to account for it, but:
Taylor Rehmet, who just flipped a district in TX that Trump took by 17 points, ran on "strong unions and worker power" as well as "environmental justice."
1/3
Taylor Rehmet, who just flipped a district in TX that Trump took by 17 points, ran on "strong unions and worker power" as well as "environmental justice."
1/3
February 2, 2026 at 3:00 AM
The partisans of the "center left" (aka the courtiers of Abundance) won't tell you this, or even try to account for it, but:
Taylor Rehmet, who just flipped a district in TX that Trump took by 17 points, ran on "strong unions and worker power" as well as "environmental justice."
1/3
Taylor Rehmet, who just flipped a district in TX that Trump took by 17 points, ran on "strong unions and worker power" as well as "environmental justice."
1/3
Reposted by Lauren M
As long as our political 'leaders' keep supporting the fossil fuel industry, major 'donors' to political parties, people, communities, wildlife and ecosystems will all face increasing dangers. It's basic physics, chemistry and ecology.
Duty of care, anyone?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Duty of care, anyone?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘We shouldn’t be surprised’: bushfires in Victoria push threatened species to the brink
The impact of fires on wildlife can be ‘catastrophic’, with some plant species feared extinct
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:38 AM
As long as our political 'leaders' keep supporting the fossil fuel industry, major 'donors' to political parties, people, communities, wildlife and ecosystems will all face increasing dangers. It's basic physics, chemistry and ecology.
Duty of care, anyone?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Duty of care, anyone?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Lauren M
Will the MSM NOW accept that if they're sticking with the "Climate 200-supported candidates" narrative, they have to acknowledge the "Advance-supported candidates" as well? Of which there are MANY (looking at you, Freedom Boy).
February 2, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Will the MSM NOW accept that if they're sticking with the "Climate 200-supported candidates" narrative, they have to acknowledge the "Advance-supported candidates" as well? Of which there are MANY (looking at you, Freedom Boy).
This comment is about Trump shitting himself but honestly it sums up what the right are doing on a planetary scale
February 2, 2026 at 1:05 AM
This comment is about Trump shitting himself but honestly it sums up what the right are doing on a planetary scale
Reposted by Lauren M
Methane pollution from US oil and gas infrastructure causes more climate change than the entire economies of all but seven nations on earth.
(This is with methane's climate impacts conservatively evaluated over a 100-year time frame. Evaluated over shorter time frames, methane's impacts are worse.)
(This is with methane's climate impacts conservatively evaluated over a 100-year time frame. Evaluated over shorter time frames, methane's impacts are worse.)
Accounting for methane from natural gas infrastructure in United States greenhouse gas emission estimates
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that United States net greenhouse gas emissions have declined over the last two decades and are no…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Methane pollution from US oil and gas infrastructure causes more climate change than the entire economies of all but seven nations on earth.
(This is with methane's climate impacts conservatively evaluated over a 100-year time frame. Evaluated over shorter time frames, methane's impacts are worse.)
(This is with methane's climate impacts conservatively evaluated over a 100-year time frame. Evaluated over shorter time frames, methane's impacts are worse.)
Reposted by Lauren M
Next time someone asks you about energy and land use, maybe remind them that the ~35 million acres that currently grow corn for ethanol in the US could produce ~15 PWh per year of electricity from solar photovoltaics. That's ~3.5 times more than *total annual generation from all US power plants*.
February 1, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Next time someone asks you about energy and land use, maybe remind them that the ~35 million acres that currently grow corn for ethanol in the US could produce ~15 PWh per year of electricity from solar photovoltaics. That's ~3.5 times more than *total annual generation from all US power plants*.
Apropos of nothing, god it's nice when it just says right there 'Why are they doing propaganda?' rather than pretending any of this shit is normal or fine
February 1, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Apropos of nothing, god it's nice when it just says right there 'Why are they doing propaganda?' rather than pretending any of this shit is normal or fine
Reposted by Lauren M
It was a Luxon Govt decision not to sign up to the road map away from fossil fuels (so don't just blame Jones). Along with all the other climate stupidity policies. www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/sto...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Shane Jones shut down NZ involvement in 'road map' away from fossil fuels
Australia signed up to the 'road map' away from fossil fuels, but Shane Jones did not want New Zealand to join.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 1, 2026 at 11:10 PM
It was a Luxon Govt decision not to sign up to the road map away from fossil fuels (so don't just blame Jones). Along with all the other climate stupidity policies. www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/sto...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Reposted by Lauren M
the Epstein files make it very clear why the MeToo backlash was so extreme and why so much of elite society preferred Donald Trump ruling us like a king to the barest hint of accountability
February 1, 2026 at 9:27 PM
the Epstein files make it very clear why the MeToo backlash was so extreme and why so much of elite society preferred Donald Trump ruling us like a king to the barest hint of accountability
Reposted by Lauren M
Oh look, the guy who got famous by yelling about how we shouldn't do anything to mitigate the effects of climate change is in the Epstein Files.
February 1, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Oh look, the guy who got famous by yelling about how we shouldn't do anything to mitigate the effects of climate change is in the Epstein Files.
Reposted by Lauren M
The sheer number of Serious People in the Epstein files helps explain why the elite institutions were the first to fold at the mere suggestion of authoritarianism.
February 1, 2026 at 9:03 PM
The sheer number of Serious People in the Epstein files helps explain why the elite institutions were the first to fold at the mere suggestion of authoritarianism.
Reposted by Lauren M
The right level of unemployment - the rate high enough to prevent workers getting any fancy ideas about having bargaining power. Most economists think this is the mid 4s - about 130,000 kiwis. That should be enough to force people into uberised, precarious jobs working for assholes. Great. [4/n]
!["Employment is expected to register its strongest growth in around 2 years, although numbers are still more than 30,000 shy of late 2023 peaks. Increases in the working age population and an increase in labour force participation from 5-year lows should generate the first climb in annual labour force growth in more than a year. In combination, this should result in the Q4 unemployment rate actually falling for the first time in four years, although at 5.2% it remains well above the 4-4.5% Goldilocks zone," Smith [ASB ECONOMIST] said.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tywukjsdu7wtdkcag724woy7/bafkreifvzwkbrq6olglc5szu32hexaozj2vfoe4cxij3ohrvhf53fmivdy@jpeg)
February 1, 2026 at 7:12 PM
The right level of unemployment - the rate high enough to prevent workers getting any fancy ideas about having bargaining power. Most economists think this is the mid 4s - about 130,000 kiwis. That should be enough to force people into uberised, precarious jobs working for assholes. Great. [4/n]
I've heard so many older white men call themselves a 'silent majority' lately and a big part of it is journalists platforming people like this constantly
"Don't you think that communist Ottawa is leveraging communist China against Alberta?" -- absolutely unreal CTV platformed this loon...
February 1, 2026 at 8:01 PM
I've heard so many older white men call themselves a 'silent majority' lately and a big part of it is journalists platforming people like this constantly
Reposted by Lauren M
In America in 2026, journalists are the government's enemy. Let's just get comfortable with that and stop being weird.
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/the-press-...
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/the-press-...
The Press Is the Government's Enemy and That Is Good
It's hard to be objective in jail.
www.hamiltonnolan.com
February 1, 2026 at 3:17 PM
In America in 2026, journalists are the government's enemy. Let's just get comfortable with that and stop being weird.
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/the-press-...
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/the-press-...
Reposted by Lauren M
Yep. Spent our whole lives being told ‘when we grow up’ we’ll understand why it’s necessary to be a conservative war mongering xenophobe, but in actuality, it’s all just been a ruse so they could keep raping kids.
February 1, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Yep. Spent our whole lives being told ‘when we grow up’ we’ll understand why it’s necessary to be a conservative war mongering xenophobe, but in actuality, it’s all just been a ruse so they could keep raping kids.
Reposted by Lauren M
"tired of some of their admiration for [insert lefty or left-leaning political and cultural figure]" explains a solid three-quarters of the last decade of american politics
Larry Summers complaining to Epstein that his kids admire Bernie Sanders too much
February 1, 2026 at 7:40 PM
"tired of some of their admiration for [insert lefty or left-leaning political and cultural figure]" explains a solid three-quarters of the last decade of american politics
Reposted by Lauren M
A question I hold, without clear answers, concerns the fact that, in my experience (which is just my experience) this flavor of intractability applies to other patterns of abusive behavior, like emotional abuse, gaslighting, bullying.
Many ppl are willing to give folks who have done terrible things a second chance if they are held accountable and repair damage they caused.
But pedophiles and perpetuators of sexual violence are notoriously difficult to rehabilitate.
Acting like all offenders are the same is deeply fucked
But pedophiles and perpetuators of sexual violence are notoriously difficult to rehabilitate.
Acting like all offenders are the same is deeply fucked
I feel like someone’s gotta say something, so I guess it’s going to be me. I’m 100% certain that I either know, have met, or have sought meetings with people who have done horrible things in their lives, too. How about y’all? Association is not causation, and it's not guilt — of anything. (1/8)
February 1, 2026 at 3:39 PM
A question I hold, without clear answers, concerns the fact that, in my experience (which is just my experience) this flavor of intractability applies to other patterns of abusive behavior, like emotional abuse, gaslighting, bullying.
Reposted by Lauren M
Economists (including academic economists) helpfully explained that this was the best way to organise things because it is scientifically the case that the market produces socially optimum outcomes and the government misallocates capital.
Epstein’s economic power among academics was made possible by a capitalist system that makes higher education dependent on the charity economy rather than a public good supported by taxing the rich
February 1, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Economists (including academic economists) helpfully explained that this was the best way to organise things because it is scientifically the case that the market produces socially optimum outcomes and the government misallocates capital.
Reposted by Lauren M
A fun case study since there have been 72 million articles on the cold in the east and 4 on the warmth in the west
January 2026 temperature rankings compared to all Januarys since 1895.
February 1, 2026 at 5:16 PM
A fun case study since there have been 72 million articles on the cold in the east and 4 on the warmth in the west
Reposted by Lauren M
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
March for Billionaires — San Francisco, Feb 7
Stand up for the entrepreneurs, innovators, and risk-takers who build our economy. February 7, 2026.
marchforbillionaires.org
February 1, 2026 at 12:49 AM
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Reposted by Lauren M
Oh, 30 US tech entrepreneurs visiting NZ to see "opportunities"? Not good.
Judith's legacy, aided and abetted by Stuart Smith MP.
www.facebook.com/share/p/1GhP...
#nzpol
Judith's legacy, aided and abetted by Stuart Smith MP.
www.facebook.com/share/p/1GhP...
#nzpol
February 1, 2026 at 1:46 AM
Oh, 30 US tech entrepreneurs visiting NZ to see "opportunities"? Not good.
Judith's legacy, aided and abetted by Stuart Smith MP.
www.facebook.com/share/p/1GhP...
#nzpol
Judith's legacy, aided and abetted by Stuart Smith MP.
www.facebook.com/share/p/1GhP...
#nzpol
Reposted by Lauren M
In the mercantilist world that emerged in the sixteenth century, rulers believed wealth was finite: if one country gained, another lost.
Today the same logic applies to oil, gas, rare earths, or lithium.
graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-empire...
Today the same logic applies to oil, gas, rare earths, or lithium.
graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-empire...
The Empire Has Stopped Pretending
What we can learn from history and ecological economics as empires face limits
graceblakeley.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:34 AM
In the mercantilist world that emerged in the sixteenth century, rulers believed wealth was finite: if one country gained, another lost.
Today the same logic applies to oil, gas, rare earths, or lithium.
graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-empire...
Today the same logic applies to oil, gas, rare earths, or lithium.
graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-empire...