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Els Torreele

Els Torreele

@elstorreele.bsky.social

620 followers 660 following 130 posts

Interested in Shifting Powers towards Health Equity, Economic Justice, post-Finance Capitalism, Climate Justice, Equitable Access to Medicines and Vaccines, and a better future for all of us. Founding Director of æqua.

Environmental science 28%

Economics 20%

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Els Torreele @elstorreele.bsky.social · Dec 5

As feared, the UK government remained blind and deaf to warnings from health advocates and scientific community to not give into US and Pharma demands for higher drug prices. @martinmckee.bsky.social and I explain how bad this surrender is for public health @bmj.com
www.bmj.com/content/391/...

Who are the winners and losers of the UK-US pharma deal—it depends which side you believe

Behind the UK’s “landmark” pharma deal with the US lies a costly surrender, with higher drug prices, weaker safeguards, and vague promises of investment, write Els Torreele and Martin McKee When the...

Reposted by Raffaella Ravinetto, Els Torreele

Veronika J. Wirtz @verowirtz.bsky.social · 20h

No longer is the FDA a model agency: "The result is that the FDA is soliciting advice after it has decided what to do, rather than deciding what to do after hearing and appropriately considering independent experts’ advice." jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Law, Politics, and Expert Panels at the US Food and Drug Administration

This Viewpoint discusses the lawfulness and credibility of the US Food and Drug Administration’s recent move to using expert panels rather than advisory committees for decision-making.

jamanetwork.com

Reposted by Els Torreele

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · 21h

New, online course @mcgillspgh.bsky.social

Fundamentals of Implementation Science: Core Concepts, Practical Tools, and Methods

May 25-29, 2026

www.mcgill.ca/summerinstit...

Reposted by Els Torreele

Katri Bertram @katribertram.bsky.social · 1d

I read (and reviewed) Bullshit Jobs in 2020 after asking what the hell we are doing in #globalhealth, so busy without impact. Every day this resonates 👇 (My review: katribertram.wordpress.com/2020/08/13/b...)

Melissa Chemam @melissaontheroad.bsky.social · 1d

And another bites the dust?

The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial

Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Els Torreele

Winning? @thetd.bsky.social · 1d

Hmmm?

What started happening in 1980 to create this change? If only we knew, we could reverse it.

rooseveltinstitute.org/publications...

To Put Trickle-down Economics to Rest, We Need a New Tax Code - Roosevelt Institute

In 2017, former President Trump and congressional Republicans enacted sweeping changes to the tax code via the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Many of the law’s provisions were not made permanent, howev...

rooseveltinstitute.org

Reposted by Michael Zimmer, Els Torreele

alec karakatsanis @equalityalec.bsky.social · 1d

There is no easier or more important political position to take than to do everything possible to stop this. It will change our society forever, and Democrats are going along with it.

Ice planning to acquire $38 billion in warehouses to create detention centers all over the U.S.

Reposted by Michael E. Mann, Rebecca Solnit, Steve Peers , and 9 more Michael E. Mann, Rebecca Solnit, Steve Peers, Mark D. White, Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip N. Cohen, Melissa Johnson, David R. Miller, Aaron Sojourner, Els Torreele, Henry Jones, Ryan Goodman

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1d

We must speak plainly about the agenda Elon Musk & other MAGA leaders are pushing. It’s white nationalism.

There’s no room for Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native, Jewish or all other Americans in Musk’s monocultural vision.

Multiculturalism is superior. We can’t allow Musk & others to end it.

Musk advocates white monoculturalism

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Archon Fung, David Lazer , and 25 more Joanna Bryson, Archon Fung, David Lazer, Scott L. Greer, Philip N. Cohen, Ian Hall, Erica Chenoweth, Christian E. Weller, Rebecca Tushnet, Alan Richardson, Aaron Sojourner, Dominique Meurs, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Henry Farrell, Els Torreele, James Goodwin, Mark Robinson, Daniel Kuehn, Stuart White, Juanjo Medina, Katja Rietzler, Aviel Roshwald, Thomas E. Murray, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Dan Immergluck, Aina Gallego, Sarah Brouillette, David Darmofal

Gabriel Zucman @gabrielzucman.bsky.social · 1d

The pace at which US wealth concentration is rising is simply staggering

The concentration of AI wealth into the hands of a few tech barons + plutocratic capture ==> unchartered territory

Reposted by Els Torreele

Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 1d

Over 100 artists for Palestine back UN’s Albanese after resignation calls https://aje.news/5f2oy6

Over 100 artists for Palestine back UN’s Albanese after resignation calls

Reposted by Els Torreele

Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 2d

At the opening of the 39th summit of the African Union, the Chairman of the Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the "extermination" of the Palestinian people must end.

Reposted by Els Torreele

Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 2d

Statement from Britain, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands on Alexei Navalny's poisoning:

Reposted by Els Torreele

Dr Paul Dorfman @drpauldorfman.bsky.social · 2d

#nuclear #SMR
SMRs will produce more costly power.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...

Small modular nuclear reactors for developing countries: Expectations and evidence

Abstract. Many developing countries have shown interest in acquiring nuclear power plants, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs). By analyzing present

academic.oup.com

Reposted by Els Torreele

Jan Willem Goudriaan @jwgoudriaan.bsky.social · 2d

This Valentine

Maybe time for the @ec.europa.eu ??

Reposted by Els Torreele

Jan Willem Goudriaan @jwgoudriaan.bsky.social · 2d

Big news as UK judges rule ban of Palestine Action is unlawful

Government appeals

Sad for governments to violate human rights to protect Israeli government accused of genocide and ordered by ICJ to stop its war in Gaza

UK Palestine Action ban ruled unlawful, in humiliating blow for ministers

Thousands arrested for supporting group since proscription are now in legal limbo as Mahmood says she will appeal

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Anna O. Law, American Library Association, Els Torreele , and 6 more Anna O. Law, American Library Association, Els Torreele, Brian Keegan, Mark Rice, Larry W. Hunter, Raúl Pacheco-Vega, Simon Lester, Jesse R. Lasky

Aaron Clauset @aaronclauset.bsky.social · 2d

My employer, Univ. Colorado will pay OpenAI $2M/year under the banner of “equity”. That’s 54 full scholarships / year. Plus, our IT will be able to read our chatGPT logs, and our chats can be requested under public records law. No thanks. Surveillance is not equity

www.axios.com/local/boulde...

CU signs $2M OpenAI deal for ChatGPT access

Students and faculty will gain access to ChatGPT Edu starting in March under a three-year deal.

Reposted by Joe R. Feagin, David H. Kaye, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 8 more Joe R. Feagin, David H. Kaye, Rosemary A. Joyce, Juan Cole, McKenzie Wark, Robert B. Reich, Els Torreele, Flávio Comim, Patrick O. Waeber, Mark Priestley, David Darmofal

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d

AOC: "Extreme level of wealth inequality leads to social instability and drives authoritarianism, right-wing populism, and really dangerous domestic internal politics. That is a direct outcome of the failure of democracies over decades to deliver."

Reposted by Els Torreele

Charles Keener @charleskeener.bsky.social · 3d

www.counterpunch.org/2026/02/12/s...

Suffocating an Island: What the U.S. Blockade Is Doing to Cuba

Marta Jiménez, a hairdresser in Cuba’s eastern city of Holguín, covered her face with her hands and broke down crying when I asked her about Trump’s blockade of the island—especially now that the U.S....

www.counterpunch.org

Reposted by Dorothy Bishop, Els Torreele

Martin McKee @martinmckee.bsky.social · 3d

7/ Our analysis outlines what is at stake, and what Europe can do next. Read the full paper here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Geopolitics and public health: Europe under the shadow of the U.S. National Security Strategy

The 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy marks a major shift toward a narrowly defined “America First” agenda with significant implications for Europe…

www.sciencedirect.com

Reposted by Els Torreele

euobserver — EU news that matters @euobserver.com · 4d

Competitiveness has become the most abused word in Brussels.

It is invoked to justify almost anything — except the one thing Europe actually needs: a strong industrial policy to build quality jobs, to safeguard and reinforce economic capacity in Europe and to achieve shared prosperity.

Corporate lobbyists push for deregulation while workers pay the price

Competitiveness has become the most abused word in Brussels. It is invoked to justify almost anything — except the one thing Europe actually needs: a strong industrial policy to build quality jobs, to safeguard and reinforce economic capacity in Europe and to achieve shared prosperity.

Reposted by Els Torreele

Humanitarian Policy Group @hpg-odiglobal.bsky.social · 4d

"Narratives are not merely the words people choose to use. They are the stories that frame how societies understand the world."

Patrick Gathara & @benphillips76.bsky.social explore 🔟 ways to challenge existing narratives and foster a new story for humanitarianism’s future: buff.ly/nEPBoO6

Ten ways to build a new narrative for humanitarianism

Changing the narrative of an aid response system that is often blind to its inherent failings will be hard, but it is essential.

www.thenewhumanitarian.org

Els Torreele @elstorreele.bsky.social · 4d

👇 Big Tech firms that control the digital infrastructure of today’s societies are not afraid to weaponise it to advance their policy agenda. Having allowed companies to gain such market dominance, governments now find themselves hostages to it @somoamsterdam.bsky.social

www.somo.nl/big-tech-lob...

The Big Tech Lobby Playbook - Rewriting digital rules globally - SOMO

This series of articles by SOMO dives into specific examples of Big Tech lobbying and how they helped shape laws and politics in their favour.

Reposted by Daniela Gabor, Els Torreele

ehofferberth.bsky.social @ehofferberth.bsky.social · 4d

If the aim of European policy was wellbeing of the people rather than merely competing against others, conclusions and solutions would probably diverge a lot from more and more #deregulation, and more and more military spending www.ft.com/content/53df...

EU needs a ‘big bang’ on regulation, says top official

European Council president António Costa blames national capitals for inertia that has left economy trailing China

Reposted by Els Torreele

Albert Pinto @70sbachchan.bsky.social · 4d

“uneven and combined development”, GLP-1 edition @adamtooze.bsky.social

“Novo Nordisk’s India patent will expire in March. And the country’s colossal pharma production industry is gearing up to take advantage by selling generic versions.”

edition.cnn.com/2026/02/07/i...

Is India about to make Ozempic-like weight-loss drugs a whole lot cheaper? | CNN

On any given morning in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, power-walkers circle the running track, fitness watches buzzing with every step. Minutes later, some drift toward nearby food stalls, where oil sizzles a...

edition.cnn.com

Reposted by Els Torreele

Albert Pinto @70sbachchan.bsky.social · 4d

15/ Tech oligarch Elon Musk calls Spain’s socialist Prime Minisfer Sanchez a “a true fascist totalitarian”

tech oligarchs trying to interfere in Spains elections…
www.politico.eu/article/spai...
bsky.app/profile/did:...

Reposted by Michael E. Mann, Nandita Sharma, Richard B. Aronson , and 8 more Michael E. Mann, Nandita Sharma, Richard B. Aronson, John McLaren, Alan Richardson, Els Torreele, Jason Lyall, Olivier Mannoni, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Guy Dewsbury, Timothy D. McBride

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 5d

Jayapal: To the survivors in the room, if you are willing, please stand. And if you are willing, please raise your hands. If you have still not been able to meet with this DOJ. Please note for the record that every single survivor has raised their hand.

Els Torreele @elstorreele.bsky.social · 5d

This 👇
"In the name of ‘necessity’ and ‘urgency’, choices about defence, industry, trade, and strategic autonomy are being made at a break-neck speed, often with minimal debate and limited scrutiny." - We need a "European Spring" euobserver.com/202382/europ...
@alemanno.bsky.social @euobserver.com

Europe’s democratic winter — How EU leaders impose deregulation, bypassing citizens and MEPs

At their 'leaders' retreat', we are seeing the curtailing of EU democracy in the name of saving Europe’s economy. They should be unleashing citizens' demand for a stronger, independent Europe.

Reposted by Els Torreele

Truthout @truthout.org · 5d

Children are falling ill inside ICE’s massive family detention center in Dilley, Texas, where the jailed population has nearly tripled since October amid overcrowding and unsafe conditions.

Children Are Getting Sick Inside ICE’s Massive Family Jail in Texas

The number of people held at the notorious Dilley immigration jail has nearly tripled since October.

Els Torreele @elstorreele.bsky.social · 5d

Maybe a tipping point? www.offmessage.net/p/trump-has-...

Trump Has Lost The Culture

And his greediest collaborators are awakening to the fact that they made a terrible bet.

www.offmessage.net

Reposted by Els Torreele

Brian Beutler @brianbeutler.bsky.social · 6d

The political dynamics of 2025 were shaped by Democrats and Republicans over-reading Trump's victory in the same way. That turns out to be a problem for a LOT of rich and powerful people who made a very large bet on the theory that MAGA had won the culture war. www.offmessage.net/p/trump-has-...

Trump Has Lost The Culture

And his greediest collaborators are awakening to the fact that they made a terrible bet.

www.offmessage.net

Reposted by Els Torreele

Jan Willem Goudriaan @jwgoudriaan.bsky.social · 6d

As industry gathers with @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu in Antwerp 11th to celebrate the bonanza of Omnibus laws proposed by the Commission, sometimes to claw back and demolish what was only agreed by the European Parliament a year or 2 ago, trade unions and many in civil society are critical
2/