Konstanze McLeod
LightNews LightNews
banner
Konstanze McLeod
@konstanzemcleod.bsky.social
21 followers 20 following 7 posts
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reminder of the annual MAP fundraising event in Edinburgh @medicalaidpal.bsky.social ↓ Coinciding with the Scotland Demands Better march, but only slightly with the rally www.scotland-demands-better.com/march-and-ra..., so why not attend both?
October 24, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Reposted by Konstanze McLeod
dignityindying.org.uk
Today, the House of Lords Select Committee heard evidence on the assisted dying Bill - following its successful Second Reading debate last month.
October 22, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Reposted by Konstanze McLeod
transform.scot
Simple zebra crossings are an easy and low-cost means of giving pedestrians priority.

@sustrans.bsky.social latest report backs their wider use 👇

www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/new...

We now need UK Gov to give councils the power to make them commonplace.
July 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
The EU wants to continue protecting polluters spreading greenwashing lies. Finally political momentum is on our side to stop this. Sign to demand the anti-greenwashing law. action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-07...
No more “green” lies! Don’t let the EU kill the anti-greenwashing law.
Kill another green law? The EU wants to continue protecting polluters spreading greenwashing lies. Finally political momentum is on our side to stop this. Sign to demand the anti-greenwashing law.
action.wemove.eu
July 9, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Millions of Palestinians are starving. Now a humanitarian ship en route to Gaza is being targeted by Israel. On board: food, medicine & 12 activists. The EU must act now to stop the aid blockade on Gaza! action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-6-...
Protect the Freedom Flotilla: End Israel’s aid blockade NOW!
Millions of Palestinians are starving. The EU must act now to stop the aid blockade on Gaza!
action.wemove.eu
June 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by Konstanze McLeod
blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk
Edinburgh city council so desperate to quash dissent over a tram route that they would take down artwork made by primary school children

Wow, just wow

theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/05/coun...
Council orders Save Roseburn Path signs to be removed
At the weekend the Save the Roseburn Path campaign ceremoniously unveiled new signs on the path to support their efforts. But the council has ordered that the signs – produced by P7 pupils at Blackhal...
theedinburghreporter.co.uk
May 13, 2025 at 10:28 AM
🐙Octopuses are among the smartest creatures in the ocean, but now they face torture at an industrial farm planned in Spain. Octopuses deserve freedom, not factory farms. Add your voice to help #BanOctopusFarming in Europe: action.wemove.eu/petition/202...
Ban Octopus Farming in the EU!
🐙Octopuses are among the smartest creatures in the ocean, but now they face torture at an industrial farm planned in Spain. Octopuses deserve freedom, not factory farms. Add your voice to help ban oct...
action.wemove.eu
May 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Konstanze McLeod
taz.de
Der Bundesverfassungsschutz stuft die AfD auf Bundesebene als gesichert rechtsextremistisch ein. Kommt nun das Verbot der Partei?
Bundesverfassungsschutz zu AfD: Keine Partei wie jede andere
taz.de
May 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Reposted by Konstanze McLeod
georgemonbiot.bsky.social
1. Whenever you see really vicious and widespread "spontaneous" attacks on scientific findings that challenge powerful economic interests, you can be assured that corporate lobbyists have been busy behind the scenes.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
PR campaign may have fuelled food study backlash, leaked document shows
Eat-Lancet report recommended shift to more plant-based, climate-friendly diet but was extensively attacked online
www.theguardian.com
April 11, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Reposted by Konstanze McLeod
spokes.org.uk
🙋‍♀️ Spokes member circular
-> www.spokes.org.uk/wp-content/u...

#PrincesStreet
#SpokesMtg
#ClimateCrisis
& more ..

@edi.bike @edinreporter.bsky.social @finlaymcf.bsky.social @cllrcmiller.bsky.social @leftwing66.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @edinpl.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social
Spokes Action Update ... a circular to emailable Spokes members Join Spokes to get on the mailing list!! spokes.org.uk/membership PRINCES STREET Earlier this year the Council consulted* on a draft strategy for the future of Princes Street and the Waverley Valley. Although the consultation included a cycle lane option, its design was far from optimal, as our submission pointed out. Segregated cycle provision is, however, vital for many reasons, not least that many east-west trips would require double tramline crossings to use George Street as the alternative! More generally, the draft strategy was widely criticised for being unimaginative, including by local community councils and internationally respected Richard Murphy architects. The opportunity to transform Scotland’s premier street must not be squandered. World class walking and cycling provision will help rejuvenate Princes Street and underline Edinburgh’s commitment to a people-friendly and climate-aware future ... that’s what other major cities such as Paris and London are demonstrating, and what world-renowned urban designer Jan Gehl proposed back in 2010! Whilst Murphy argues strongly for reduced traffic domination, with wider footways and bike provision, he also proposed major changes to the interface between street and gardens. Many considered this latter aspect to be inappropriate, which led to various politicians publicly dismissing Murphy’s ideas. Sadly, this distracted attention from his imaginative traffic plan, which suggested how more pedestrian space, a bike lane, tram and bus could work well together, with fewer traffic lanes. The Council will consider next steps this summer. If Princes Street’s future concerns you, please contact your councillors. *See links, and to our response, at spokes.org.uk/consultns [line 250221] Picture - 1996: Labour Transport Convener Cllr David Begg proudly opens Princes Street cycle lanes - sadly removed by a later council Cycling as part of Edinburgh’s Transport Policy Spokes Public Meeting, Weds 30 April, 7.30-9.30 Augustine United, 41 George IV Bridge EH1 1EL 6.45 for coffee, stall, chat. See website for more. Membership stall to join or renew Programme.. • Cllr Stephen Jenkinson Transport & Environment Convener • Deborah Paton Head of Transport Strategy and Partnerships • One-hour panel QA – your chance to interrogate and challenge the speakers, chaired by Helen Todd, Spokes member and chair of Planning Democracy • Summing up by speakers - what they learned tonight! Topics you might like to raise.. • On February 1st, 2024 the Transport Committee approved the ‘Future Streets’ policy which includes removing through motor traffic from the city centre - originally hoped for in 2025. Many other cities have already done it, including Paris. • Future Streets also includes the Mobility Plan, one element of which is a new policy that the Primary Cycle Network will mainly be segregated lanes on main roads, because these are “the most direct, flattest, most socially safe routes.” The top example given is A8 bus/cycle priority, from CCWEL at Roseburn to Gogar, with St John’s Road becoming a pedestrian-friendly shopping street. When will this happen? • Low Traffic Neighbourhoods – Leith LTN has been a great success. When and where will we see more? • Princes Street – see article opposite • Bike Hire – Edinburgh desperately needs a new scheme in place. Few other major cities are without one. • Edinburgh has a target to cut car-km 30% by 2030 (and be net zero by 2030). Research commissioned by the Scottish Government shows that traffic reduction is possible, and in an “equitable way,” but needs some form of road user charging. However, Edinburgh has ended consideration of a Workplace (or wider) Parking Levy, and is doing nothing on road user charging until the Scottish Government acts • Impact of high quality infr… CLIMATE CONCERN WIDENS Günther Thallinger, board member of Allianz SE, one of the world’s biggest insurance companies, has written that the world is fast approaching temperature levels where insurers will no longer be able to offer cover for many climate risks. Without insurance, which is already being pulled in some places (e.g. parts of California), he said that many other financial services become unviable, from mortgages to investments. At 3C global heating, climate damage cannot be insured against, covered by governments, or adapted to ... which means “no more mortgages, no new development, no long-term investment, no financial stability.” [google: Climate crisis on track to destroy capitalism] Meanwhile, a Royal Scottish Geographical Society report says Scotland could be £30bn-£140bn poorer as soon as 2035 due to wildfires, floods and other impacts. [rsgs.org/into-the-red]
April 25, 2025 at 9:57 AM
France is ready to hold fast fashion accountable with a new eco-label. But the EU might stop it and push a weaker system shaped by big brands. Join the action to protect people and the planet 🌏❗ action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-04...
End fast-fashion’s impunity!
France is ready to hold fast fashion accountable with a new eco-label. But the EU might stop it and push a weaker system shaped by big brands. Join the action to protect people and the planet 🌏❗
action.wemove.eu
April 25, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Reposted by Konstanze McLeod
wemoveeurope.bsky.social
Small farms are disappearing. Big agri profits are booming—on public money. In 15 years, Europe lost 5 million farms. The EU’s new plan? More for corporations, less for small farmers and the planet. Join the movement for a fair, green, people-powered food system: go.wemove.eu/cap
April 18, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Reposted by Konstanze McLeod
ionaddhuneideann.bsky.social
Gaelic in Edinburgh: Past, Present and Future
Four events presenting different aspects of the story of Gaelic and the Gaels in Edinburgh, as part of the Edinburgh 900 celebrations
Many thanks to the National Library of Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council for their support
1/5
February 26, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Reposted by Konstanze McLeod
mikegalsworthy.bsky.social
All I can say at this stage is…

FINALLY! 💥
February 21, 2025 at 9:59 AM
One of the few encouraging stories about the upcoming election: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
‘The lurch to the right scares me’: could the left surprise in German election?
Amid Elon Musk’s meddling on behalf of the AfD, the Linke is gaining strong support from women and young voters
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Konstanze McLeod
theatlantic.com
“In a few years, what we’ve grown accustomed to calling Generation Z may reveal itself to contain a subgroup: Generation C, COVID-affected and, for now, strikingly conservative,” writes @dkthomp.bsky.social:
How COVID Pushed a Generation of Young People to the Right
Research suggests that pandemics are more likely to reduce rather than build trust in scientific and political authorities.
www.theatlantic.com
February 18, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Reposted by Konstanze McLeod
helenrambler.bsky.social
Interesting perspective on nature restoration & rewilding, tree planting vs natural regeneration of woodland in various parts of the Cairngorms national park.
December 29, 2024 at 4:40 PM