Kate van der Merwe
@katevdmerwe.bsky.social
Human first. Finance professional with Social Science origins & passion in sustainability, social justice.
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
📢 WE'RE POSTING our 'Inequality Graph of the Week' series from 'The Spirit Level at 15 dataset', one graph a day (give or take...), up until Christmas. Please share widely and help us spread the word that more equal societies are fairer, greener, and healthier for everyone. No.11 🔽
Thank You! 👍♥️✊
Thank You! 👍♥️✊
📢 #INEQUALITY GRAPH OF THE WEEK (No.11)
❌ #Inequality > ⬆️status anxiety > ⬆️shame > ⬆️violence.
✅ Greater #equality eases status anxiety and shame as triggers for violence.
Source: Profs Wilkinson & Pickett and The Equality Trust ♥️.
For full details ➡️ equalitytrust.org.uk/evidence-bas...
❌ #Inequality > ⬆️status anxiety > ⬆️shame > ⬆️violence.
✅ Greater #equality eases status anxiety and shame as triggers for violence.
Source: Profs Wilkinson & Pickett and The Equality Trust ♥️.
For full details ➡️ equalitytrust.org.uk/evidence-bas...
November 27, 2025 at 8:31 AM
📢 WE'RE POSTING our 'Inequality Graph of the Week' series from 'The Spirit Level at 15 dataset', one graph a day (give or take...), up until Christmas. Please share widely and help us spread the word that more equal societies are fairer, greener, and healthier for everyone. No.11 🔽
Thank You! 👍♥️✊
Thank You! 👍♥️✊
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
A new Global Witness investigation has identified 40+ X accounts – many created in the same month – pushing claims that Dan Gertler had been “cleared” of corruption.
The claims stem from a private arbitration with no public evidence to support them.
https://gwitness.org/4oolwN4
The claims stem from a private arbitration with no public evidence to support them.
https://gwitness.org/4oolwN4
Bot-like accounts supporting sanctioned mining billionaire
Bot-like accounts and media sites spread disinformation supporting Israeli tycoon Dan Gertler and attacking civil society in DRC, Global Witness analysis finds
gwitness.org
November 27, 2025 at 12:38 PM
A new Global Witness investigation has identified 40+ X accounts – many created in the same month – pushing claims that Dan Gertler had been “cleared” of corruption.
The claims stem from a private arbitration with no public evidence to support them.
https://gwitness.org/4oolwN4
The claims stem from a private arbitration with no public evidence to support them.
https://gwitness.org/4oolwN4
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
it can be hard work being an active citizen and lots of people don't have the time or capacity to do it. which means opportunities to participate in civic life are not equally distributed.
November 27, 2025 at 9:44 AM
it can be hard work being an active citizen and lots of people don't have the time or capacity to do it. which means opportunities to participate in civic life are not equally distributed.
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
Elon Musk's yearly pay package could end extreme poverty worldwide.
You might also listen to @georgemonbiot.bsky.social discuss this in a great conversation from today: bsky.app/profile/bold...
You might also listen to @georgemonbiot.bsky.social discuss this in a great conversation from today: bsky.app/profile/bold...
November 19, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Elon Musk's yearly pay package could end extreme poverty worldwide.
You might also listen to @georgemonbiot.bsky.social discuss this in a great conversation from today: bsky.app/profile/bold...
You might also listen to @georgemonbiot.bsky.social discuss this in a great conversation from today: bsky.app/profile/bold...
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
We have had 48+ hours of radio silence at #COP30.
No new texts. The negotiations are happening behind closed doors with little scrutiny.
We are here to push for an ambitious outcome – but it is becoming more and more difficult if the door does not open.
No new texts. The negotiations are happening behind closed doors with little scrutiny.
We are here to push for an ambitious outcome – but it is becoming more and more difficult if the door does not open.
November 20, 2025 at 5:06 PM
We have had 48+ hours of radio silence at #COP30.
No new texts. The negotiations are happening behind closed doors with little scrutiny.
We are here to push for an ambitious outcome – but it is becoming more and more difficult if the door does not open.
No new texts. The negotiations are happening behind closed doors with little scrutiny.
We are here to push for an ambitious outcome – but it is becoming more and more difficult if the door does not open.
#Volvo and #Daimler: 100% electric trucks now action.eko.org/a/volvo-daim...
Damn Volvo, not a good look... suing to delay climate action & profiting from genocide. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Damn Volvo, not a good look... suing to delay climate action & profiting from genocide. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Volvo and Daimler: 100% electric trucks now
European truckmakers Volvo and Daimler are suing California to slow down the state's switch to zero-emissions trucks — effectively keeping more diesel trucks on the road and more pollution in the air.
action.eko.org
November 16, 2025 at 11:46 PM
#Volvo and #Daimler: 100% electric trucks now action.eko.org/a/volvo-daim...
Damn Volvo, not a good look... suing to delay climate action & profiting from genocide. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Damn Volvo, not a good look... suing to delay climate action & profiting from genocide. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
All across Europe, homes are disappearing for ordinary people. Families freeze, students struggle, locals are pushed out — while investors get richer. Sign now to tell EU leaders: Homes for people, not profit.👉 action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-11...
Make Homes for People, Not for Profit
Families freeze, students struggle, locals are pushed out — while investors get richer. Join thousands demanding homes for people, not profit. Add your name:
action.wemove.eu
November 16, 2025 at 11:01 PM
All across Europe, homes are disappearing for ordinary people. Families freeze, students struggle, locals are pushed out — while investors get richer. Sign now to tell EU leaders: Homes for people, not profit.👉 action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-11...
I've just signed the Open Letter to support Standing Against Hate in our Communities. Can you do the same? action.uplift.ie/campaigns/st...
Stand Against Hate in our Communities
I've just signed the Open Letter to support Standing Against Hate in our Communities. Can you do the same?
action.uplift.ie
November 16, 2025 at 10:47 PM
I've just signed the Open Letter to support Standing Against Hate in our Communities. Can you do the same? action.uplift.ie/campaigns/st...
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: my.uplift.ie/petitions/pr... @uplift.ie
Provide Safe Shelter For All People Seeking Safety
.
my.uplift.ie
November 16, 2025 at 10:41 PM
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: my.uplift.ie/petitions/pr... @uplift.ie
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
A study analyzed #OffshoreLeaks data involving thousands of billionaires from 65 countries and identified several offshore strategies, including a reliance on blacklisted jurisdictions to shield assets from scrutiny and seizure.
Learn more:
Learn more:
Dartmouth researchers use ICIJ database to show how the ultrawealthy exploit the offshore world - ICIJ
ICIJ spoke to author Herbert Chang about the study, which found that elites in both democratic and authoritarian countries are well-versed in financial secrecy tactics.
buff.ly
November 16, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A study analyzed #OffshoreLeaks data involving thousands of billionaires from 65 countries and identified several offshore strategies, including a reliance on blacklisted jurisdictions to shield assets from scrutiny and seizure.
Learn more:
Learn more:
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
Today is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Everyone has been affected, or knows someone who has been effected, by accidents on our roads. Sadly, the number of deaths on Irish roads has been rising for the past number of years.
November 16, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Today is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Everyone has been affected, or knows someone who has been effected, by accidents on our roads. Sadly, the number of deaths on Irish roads has been rising for the past number of years.
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
At least three journalists in Nigeria have been detained since August on allegations of violating the country’s Cybercrime Act, despite last year’s reform of the law, highlighting its ongoing use to harass the media. One journalist has been behind bars since mid-September.
3 Nigerian journalists detained on cybercrime allegations, despite reform - Committee to Protect Journalists
Abuja, November 14, 2025—At least three journalists in Nigeria have been detained since August on allegations of violating the country’s Cybercrime Act, despite last year’s reform of the law,…
cpj.org
November 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
At least three journalists in Nigeria have been detained since August on allegations of violating the country’s Cybercrime Act, despite last year’s reform of the law, highlighting its ongoing use to harass the media. One journalist has been behind bars since mid-September.
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
📣 BREAKING: One out of every 25 attendees at the #COP30 climate talks in Brazil RIGHT NOW is a fossil fuel lobbyist.
The arsonists aren’t just in the building — they’re throwing fuel on the fire.
#KickOutTheSuitsNow
kickbigpollutersout.org/Release-Kick...
The arsonists aren’t just in the building — they’re throwing fuel on the fire.
#KickOutTheSuitsNow
kickbigpollutersout.org/Release-Kick...
November 14, 2025 at 6:20 PM
📣 BREAKING: One out of every 25 attendees at the #COP30 climate talks in Brazil RIGHT NOW is a fossil fuel lobbyist.
The arsonists aren’t just in the building — they’re throwing fuel on the fire.
#KickOutTheSuitsNow
kickbigpollutersout.org/Release-Kick...
The arsonists aren’t just in the building — they’re throwing fuel on the fire.
#KickOutTheSuitsNow
kickbigpollutersout.org/Release-Kick...
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
✊✊🏼✊🏾 People power took over #COP30! ✊🏾✊🏼✊
Tens of thousands of people marched for climate justice in Belém and across Europe🔥
➡️Read more: caneurope.org/people-power...
#CúpulaDosPovos #JustTransitionRising
Tens of thousands of people marched for climate justice in Belém and across Europe🔥
➡️Read more: caneurope.org/people-power...
#CúpulaDosPovos #JustTransitionRising
November 15, 2025 at 6:12 PM
✊✊🏼✊🏾 People power took over #COP30! ✊🏾✊🏼✊
Tens of thousands of people marched for climate justice in Belém and across Europe🔥
➡️Read more: caneurope.org/people-power...
#CúpulaDosPovos #JustTransitionRising
Tens of thousands of people marched for climate justice in Belém and across Europe🔥
➡️Read more: caneurope.org/people-power...
#CúpulaDosPovos #JustTransitionRising
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
🪧 Climate Demonstration today at 1pm 🪧
Make your voice heard for sustainable infrastructure
Make your voice heard for sustainable infrastructure
November 15, 2025 at 8:01 AM
🪧 Climate Demonstration today at 1pm 🪧
Make your voice heard for sustainable infrastructure
Make your voice heard for sustainable infrastructure
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
It's no accident we see "carrots", such as nudges or behaviour change programmes, overrepresented in policy tools used to effect modal change.
We need a “new normal” with regard to mobility, which sees sustainable travel as default not an alternative and which actively disrupts current patterns.
We need a “new normal” with regard to mobility, which sees sustainable travel as default not an alternative and which actively disrupts current patterns.
The implication is that there has to be action to disrupt, or add friction to, existing car journeys if we want to unlock the benefits of providing alternatives - the conclusion also reached by Xiao et al. recently www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Shifting towards healthier transport: carrots or sticks? Systematic review and meta-analysis of population-level interventions
This Article found that, although transport interventions with only positive strategies
are more commonly evaluated, interventions that combine both positive and negative
strategies might be more effe...
www.thelancet.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:35 AM
It's no accident we see "carrots", such as nudges or behaviour change programmes, overrepresented in policy tools used to effect modal change.
We need a “new normal” with regard to mobility, which sees sustainable travel as default not an alternative and which actively disrupts current patterns.
We need a “new normal” with regard to mobility, which sees sustainable travel as default not an alternative and which actively disrupts current patterns.
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
💫 CAN Europe's COP30 Mid-Point Review 💫
As the first week of #COP30 nears its close, negotiations are only inching forward!
Find all you need to know — read the full press release 👇👇
🔗 caneurope.org/cop30-mid-po...
#JustTransitionNow #DrawTheLine
As the first week of #COP30 nears its close, negotiations are only inching forward!
Find all you need to know — read the full press release 👇👇
🔗 caneurope.org/cop30-mid-po...
#JustTransitionNow #DrawTheLine
CAN Europe - COP30 Mid-Point Review - CAN Europe
CAN Europe – COP30 Mid-Point Review Belém, 14 November 2025, As the first week of COP30 nears its close, negotiations are only inching forward. With the United States absent, the EU has a golden oppor...
caneurope.org
November 14, 2025 at 10:32 AM
💫 CAN Europe's COP30 Mid-Point Review 💫
As the first week of #COP30 nears its close, negotiations are only inching forward!
Find all you need to know — read the full press release 👇👇
🔗 caneurope.org/cop30-mid-po...
#JustTransitionNow #DrawTheLine
As the first week of #COP30 nears its close, negotiations are only inching forward!
Find all you need to know — read the full press release 👇👇
🔗 caneurope.org/cop30-mid-po...
#JustTransitionNow #DrawTheLine
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
🔊One day to go until the National Climate March!
Will you join us tomorrow to march for climate justice?🌍✊
www.friendsoftheearth.ie/events/join-...
Will you join us tomorrow to march for climate justice?🌍✊
www.friendsoftheearth.ie/events/join-...
Join the National Climate March
It's time to put People before Big Polluters!
www.friendsoftheearth.ie
November 14, 2025 at 10:55 AM
🔊One day to go until the National Climate March!
Will you join us tomorrow to march for climate justice?🌍✊
www.friendsoftheearth.ie/events/join-...
Will you join us tomorrow to march for climate justice?🌍✊
www.friendsoftheearth.ie/events/join-...
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
Let’s bring a public Lido to George’s Dock that’s affordable, inclusive and respectful of this iconic site’s heritage 🌊.
The Council is finally asking what the public wants — and this is our chance to be heard!
Please complete the survey today:
➤ Choose “Recreation”
➤ Then select “Swimming Pool”
The Council is finally asking what the public wants — and this is our chance to be heard!
Please complete the survey today:
➤ Choose “Recreation”
➤ Then select “Swimming Pool”
engage.dublincity.ie
November 14, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Let’s bring a public Lido to George’s Dock that’s affordable, inclusive and respectful of this iconic site’s heritage 🌊.
The Council is finally asking what the public wants — and this is our chance to be heard!
Please complete the survey today:
➤ Choose “Recreation”
➤ Then select “Swimming Pool”
The Council is finally asking what the public wants — and this is our chance to be heard!
Please complete the survey today:
➤ Choose “Recreation”
➤ Then select “Swimming Pool”
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
Is this why the European Parliament just voted to dilute the environmental checks for big companies in order to appease the far right, big business and US kleptocracy?
November 14, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Is this why the European Parliament just voted to dilute the environmental checks for big companies in order to appease the far right, big business and US kleptocracy?
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
In 1994, 10% of women (ages 15-44) would move abroad permanently if they had the opportunity. In 2025, it was 40% of women (41% of married women; 45% of single women). But only 19% of men of the same ages.
news.gallup.com/poll/697382/...
news.gallup.com/poll/697382/...
Record Numbers of Younger Women Want to Leave the U.S.
The percentage of younger women in the U.S. who express a desire to migrate permanently has surged in the past decade.
news.gallup.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:11 AM
In 1994, 10% of women (ages 15-44) would move abroad permanently if they had the opportunity. In 2025, it was 40% of women (41% of married women; 45% of single women). But only 19% of men of the same ages.
news.gallup.com/poll/697382/...
news.gallup.com/poll/697382/...
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
The Taoiseach is telling world leaders at COP30 that they need to speak honestly to the public about climate change. Meanwhile his government is sitting on the land use review because he has no intention of telling farmers about the scale of change needed share.google/7UFl4nDNHxip...
Taoiseach tells world leaders about how Ireland was hit hard by Storm Éowyn
“All nations, large and small, rich and poor, will reap what we collectively sow in these crucial years.”
share.google
November 7, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The Taoiseach is telling world leaders at COP30 that they need to speak honestly to the public about climate change. Meanwhile his government is sitting on the land use review because he has no intention of telling farmers about the scale of change needed share.google/7UFl4nDNHxip...
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
Conor Pope argues that an air-travel tax would be unfair.
We would like to remind him that the vast majority of people on Earth will never take a flight. It is a wealthy minority (read: us) who pollute, while others around the world bear the consequences.
So we ask: is that fair, Conor?
We would like to remind him that the vast majority of people on Earth will never take a flight. It is a wealthy minority (read: us) who pollute, while others around the world bear the consequences.
So we ask: is that fair, Conor?
The Debate: Should we introduce an air-travel tax to aid climate efforts?
Is a levy on the aviation industry a necessary corrective or just another tax on consumers? An environmental campaigner debates Conor Pope
www.irishtimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Conor Pope argues that an air-travel tax would be unfair.
We would like to remind him that the vast majority of people on Earth will never take a flight. It is a wealthy minority (read: us) who pollute, while others around the world bear the consequences.
So we ask: is that fair, Conor?
We would like to remind him that the vast majority of people on Earth will never take a flight. It is a wealthy minority (read: us) who pollute, while others around the world bear the consequences.
So we ask: is that fair, Conor?
Reposted by Kate van der Merwe
It’s concerning that Michael O’Leary can seemingly just call up The Irish Times and have inflammatory nonsense like this published that includes derogatory remarks about public officials.
There’s no genuine newsworthiness here — just provocation.
Do better Irish Times! Please.
There’s no genuine newsworthiness here — just provocation.
Do better Irish Times! Please.
Michael O’Leary attacks DAA over departure of CEO Kenny Jacobs
Ryanair boss said Mr Jacobs’ ‘elbows out’ style was what was needed in the public sector to get things done
www.irishtimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:40 PM
It’s concerning that Michael O’Leary can seemingly just call up The Irish Times and have inflammatory nonsense like this published that includes derogatory remarks about public officials.
There’s no genuine newsworthiness here — just provocation.
Do better Irish Times! Please.
There’s no genuine newsworthiness here — just provocation.
Do better Irish Times! Please.