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
My actual job description is activist and here’s what I tell people in despair all the time: do not underestimate how much harm you can prevent by being just a little bit annoying.
This is one reason I keep trying to remind people of the power that we have. That we have *always* had. Not because I’m in denial, but because I know history. I’m no sophisticated intellectual, but I do know we’re going to win even though the bad shit is really terrible right now.
Too many people on Bluesky think that relentless expressions of despair are a sign of intellectual sophistication.
February 5, 2026 at 4:53 AM
My actual job description is activist and here’s what I tell people in despair all the time: do not underestimate how much harm you can prevent by being just a little bit annoying.
Reposted by Lauren M
Ah, my Listener column about the government's feckless attitude to climate change is now online. www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener...
Russell Brown: After recent events, will our government talk honestly about climate change?
One policy after another, our response to climate problems is weakening.
www.nzherald.co.nz
February 3, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Ah, my Listener column about the government's feckless attitude to climate change is now online. www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener...
Reposted by Lauren M
So who takes the blame if it collapses and hurts/kills people?
"A popular footbridge connecting Wellington's waterfront to the central city has been saved from demolition - but its seismic risk won't be addressed." www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
"A popular footbridge connecting Wellington's waterfront to the central city has been saved from demolition - but its seismic risk won't be addressed." www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Wellington's City to Sea bridge saved but most seismic work off the table
There's been a years-long fight over the City to Sea bridge that connects Wellington's waterfront to the central city.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 5, 2026 at 5:55 AM
So who takes the blame if it collapses and hurts/kills people?
"A popular footbridge connecting Wellington's waterfront to the central city has been saved from demolition - but its seismic risk won't be addressed." www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
"A popular footbridge connecting Wellington's waterfront to the central city has been saved from demolition - but its seismic risk won't be addressed." www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Lauren M
BREAKING: Fast Track panel declines seabed mining bid.
"This is a victory for the moana, for all the people across Taranaki and Aotearoa, from Iwi and hapu and councils and everyone who loves our ocean," said KASM chairperson Cindy Baxter.
#nzpol
www.kasm.org.nz/post/breakin...
"This is a victory for the moana, for all the people across Taranaki and Aotearoa, from Iwi and hapu and councils and everyone who loves our ocean," said KASM chairperson Cindy Baxter.
#nzpol
www.kasm.org.nz/post/breakin...
BREAKING! Fast Track panel rejects seabed mining
PRESS RELEASE
Kiwis Against Seabed Mining are celebrating the Fast Track Panel's draft decision to decline Trans Tasman Resources' bid to mine the SouthTaranaki seabed. The draft decision was publis...
www.kasm.org.nz
February 5, 2026 at 6:42 AM
BREAKING: Fast Track panel declines seabed mining bid.
"This is a victory for the moana, for all the people across Taranaki and Aotearoa, from Iwi and hapu and councils and everyone who loves our ocean," said KASM chairperson Cindy Baxter.
#nzpol
www.kasm.org.nz/post/breakin...
"This is a victory for the moana, for all the people across Taranaki and Aotearoa, from Iwi and hapu and councils and everyone who loves our ocean," said KASM chairperson Cindy Baxter.
#nzpol
www.kasm.org.nz/post/breakin...
Reposted by Lauren M
"Current economic models can’t capture what matters most – the cascading failures and compounding shocks that define climate risk in a warmer world – and could undermine the very foundations of economic growth.”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Flawed economic models mean climate crisis could crash global economy, experts warn
States and financial bodies using modelling that ignores shocks from extreme weather and climate tipping points
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:41 AM
"Current economic models can’t capture what matters most – the cascading failures and compounding shocks that define climate risk in a warmer world – and could undermine the very foundations of economic growth.”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Lauren M
Early on I did a thread looking at how social cohesion has been used in Australia over 100 years. It's probably worth noting the idea was recently adopted by police as a Countering Violent Extremism framework and promoted by the foundation of a billionaire who was worried about migrants fitting in.
[...]from all people of diverse backgrounds in these societies if we’re not to have social chaos, breakdown and even disorder.”
Much of his talk appears to draw on work from the Scanlon Foundation established in 2001, which also produces the "Mapping Social Cohesion Report".
Much of his talk appears to draw on work from the Scanlon Foundation established in 2001, which also produces the "Mapping Social Cohesion Report".
February 5, 2026 at 6:34 AM
Early on I did a thread looking at how social cohesion has been used in Australia over 100 years. It's probably worth noting the idea was recently adopted by police as a Countering Violent Extremism framework and promoted by the foundation of a billionaire who was worried about migrants fitting in.
Reposted by Lauren M
This is the best book dedication I’ve ever read
February 4, 2026 at 1:37 AM
This is the best book dedication I’ve ever read
Reposted by Lauren M
My interview with ABC Radio today on the threat that climate change plays to the Winter Olympics (which starts this week in Italy) and Australia’s snow seasons, and the need to Protect Our Winters.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Z6zS...
drive.google.com/file/d/1Z6zS...
05:02:26 Watkins ABC South East NSW.mp3
drive.google.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:55 AM
My interview with ABC Radio today on the threat that climate change plays to the Winter Olympics (which starts this week in Italy) and Australia’s snow seasons, and the need to Protect Our Winters.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Z6zS...
drive.google.com/file/d/1Z6zS...
Reposted by Lauren M
Reposted by Lauren M
nz outlets are now CONSTANTLY giving Peters free positive media - they've picked a side and it's VERY obvious
It's outright boosterism at this stage
It's outright boosterism at this stage
February 5, 2026 at 3:38 AM
nz outlets are now CONSTANTLY giving Peters free positive media - they've picked a side and it's VERY obvious
It's outright boosterism at this stage
It's outright boosterism at this stage
Reposted by Lauren M
This person who heckled Luxon is my new favourite
February 5, 2026 at 1:27 AM
This person who heckled Luxon is my new favourite
Reposted by Lauren M
I don't say this often but: I'm so proud to be a climate and environment reporter. We cover an issue that is vitally important to humanity and the natural world. 14 of my climate colleagues at the Post were laid off today and I'm devastated.
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/washington...
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/washington...
Breaking: Washington Post gutting its climate team
Clean energy dies in darkness. Courtesy of Jeff Bezos.
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:17 AM
I don't say this often but: I'm so proud to be a climate and environment reporter. We cover an issue that is vitally important to humanity and the natural world. 14 of my climate colleagues at the Post were laid off today and I'm devastated.
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/washington...
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/washington...
Reposted by Lauren M
As terrible as what is happening right now to journalism, we actually should dismantle the romantic myths we have of the press in America.
I teach in my class about colonial press censorship, and then how the independent press was a tool for the wealthy, white power holders to maintain dominance.
I teach in my class about colonial press censorship, and then how the independent press was a tool for the wealthy, white power holders to maintain dominance.
This is it.
And the founders also never really envisioned a system like industrial and post-industrial capitalism that would be *fundamentally at odds* with their vision of a democratic republic.
Which is why capitalism must be dismantled.
And the founders also never really envisioned a system like industrial and post-industrial capitalism that would be *fundamentally at odds* with their vision of a democratic republic.
Which is why capitalism must be dismantled.
Our founders, though deeply flawed, understood that democracy requires an informed citizenry and a government accountable to it people. That’s why the press is the only profession protected by the Constitution. It’s also why autocrats and oligarchs seek to control and destroy it.
February 4, 2026 at 9:16 PM
As terrible as what is happening right now to journalism, we actually should dismantle the romantic myths we have of the press in America.
I teach in my class about colonial press censorship, and then how the independent press was a tool for the wealthy, white power holders to maintain dominance.
I teach in my class about colonial press censorship, and then how the independent press was a tool for the wealthy, white power holders to maintain dominance.
Reposted by Lauren M
Not just talking heads. A lot of the population
one of my strongest beliefs is that we're in our situation right now bc some of the most prominent talking heads (e.g. joe rogan, andrew schulz) are learning about politics in their 40s and 50s, instead of their teens and early 20s, and we have to go along for the ride as they learn basic things
February 5, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Not just talking heads. A lot of the population
Reposted by Lauren M
The Economist's Bagehot column captures how awful the Epstein disclosures are, but also how much of this was dogs-on-the-street level known. And ministers looked right past it until it was there in their face and couldn't eye roll "morals are for little people" any more...
econ.st/3NZFam4
econ.st/3NZFam4
February 4, 2026 at 10:38 PM
The Economist's Bagehot column captures how awful the Epstein disclosures are, but also how much of this was dogs-on-the-street level known. And ministers looked right past it until it was there in their face and couldn't eye roll "morals are for little people" any more...
econ.st/3NZFam4
econ.st/3NZFam4
Reposted by Lauren M
Trump's constant degradation of female reporters is unsurprising but the press corps' collective decision to treat it as background noise is actually kind of sickening
February 4, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Trump's constant degradation of female reporters is unsurprising but the press corps' collective decision to treat it as background noise is actually kind of sickening
Reposted by Lauren M
actually I'm gonna stop you right there
February 4, 2026 at 11:29 PM
actually I'm gonna stop you right there
Reposted by Lauren M
and they ran a bjorn lomborg oped today we are in hell
I'm told the catastrophic Washington Post layoffs today include at least 14 climate journalists. Totally gutting. Details: www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/washington...
Breaking: Washington Post gutting its climate team
Clean energy dies in darkness. Courtesy of Jeff Bezos.
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:41 PM
and they ran a bjorn lomborg oped today we are in hell
Reposted by Lauren M
February 4, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Reposted by Lauren M
The difference.
My @smh cartoon.
My @smh cartoon.
February 4, 2026 at 8:47 PM
The difference.
My @smh cartoon.
My @smh cartoon.
AI is as much - more- an ideological project than a 'tech' one and a lot of people are yet to grasp that (not trying to dunk on OP here, just making the point).
A lot of folks on here overestimated that Big Tech would go for solar + batteries instead to power their data centers, including me.
February 4, 2026 at 9:24 PM
AI is as much - more- an ideological project than a 'tech' one and a lot of people are yet to grasp that (not trying to dunk on OP here, just making the point).
Reposted by Lauren M
Another generation is being crucified by our discredited monetary and fiscal policies. Again.
Youth unemployment rate is now over 16% (1 in 6). The underutilisation rate - young people wanting work or more work - is 38% ffs - 190,000 young kiwis. That's nearly half of the total. It took a fking decade for youth unemployment to recover last time. Same plan this time. No plan.
February 4, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Another generation is being crucified by our discredited monetary and fiscal policies. Again.
Reposted by Lauren M
“I feel sorry for LNG projects in the US,” Holtum said on a panel.
I don't. I feel sorry for all the people being poisoned by these projects and the oil and gas production needed to support them and for everyone who will suffer from the climate damages that will result.
I don't. I feel sorry for all the people being poisoned by these projects and the oil and gas production needed to support them and for everyone who will suffer from the climate damages that will result.
Trafigura CEO Says LNG Projects Need New Financing Playbook
Trafigura Group Chief Executive Officer Richard Holtum said the liquefied natural gas industry needs a “bit of innovation” when it comes to financing projects.
www.bloomberg.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:51 PM
“I feel sorry for LNG projects in the US,” Holtum said on a panel.
I don't. I feel sorry for all the people being poisoned by these projects and the oil and gas production needed to support them and for everyone who will suffer from the climate damages that will result.
I don't. I feel sorry for all the people being poisoned by these projects and the oil and gas production needed to support them and for everyone who will suffer from the climate damages that will result.