Libby Robin
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libbydeq.bsky.social
Libby Robin
@libbydeq.bsky.social

Writer, historian of ideas, Environment in museums
What Birdo is That? A Field Guide to Bird People πŸ¦…

New book coming soon on Conservation and Care. 🌿

Environmental science 37%
Philosophy 11%

Reposted by Libby Robin

β€œI am more of an ironist than a rationalist – an isolated position in Australia, where irony never took on, except as a form of mockery,” writes Barry Jones. satpa.pe/YgZ7TEZ
On faith and the exit ramp
satpa.pe

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12... Perhaps the congestion tax needs fine tuning? Extra fees to cover extra costs for experimental use by companies of public streets - "nobody" can't sit the London Knowledge test.
Uber and Lyft announce robotaxi trials for London
Rideshare companies Uber and Lyft are planning to bring self-driving cars to the streets of London in the first half of 2026.
www.abc.net.au

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12... It is reasonable to expect to finish what you start. But consultants get paid in full when they move on - even if they leave chaos. Students have no support to finish the degree they paid for.
University accused of 'false advertising' after cuts disrupt degrees
A University of Wollongong student says she left the institution after being unable to complete core subjects due to course cuts.
www.abc.net.au

Reposted by Dolly JΓΈrgensen

We're happy to announce that our Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment at KTH will lead the polar humanities training in the new national polar research education program funded by the Swedish Research Council!
shorturl.at/zzJ99

Reposted by Libby Robin

We're happy to announce that our Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment at KTH will lead the polar humanities training in the new national polar research education program funded by the Swedish Research Council!
shorturl.at/zzJ99

Don't forget the environmental costs of AI & data storage in the rush to lead the tech revolution www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12... Planning ahead is essential in a dry continent.
What we know about water use of the over 250 data centres in Australia
Australia has more than 250 data centres and more in the pipeline, prompting experts to warn against using drinking water to cool servers.
www.abc.net.au

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12... Every big new digital system for emergency management needs *small manual back ups* that run off batteries. The bigger the system, the worse it will fail. Poles & wires are a problem in storms & fires. #ABC radio is essential too. That old trannie can save lives. πŸ“»
Multiple emergency bushfires blazing across WA as website crashes
Western Australia's emergency warning system fails as multiple bushfires threaten lives and homes in the state's south.
www.abc.net.au

Call for Papers: "African Perspectives on Global Transformations." The conference will take place in Basel, Switzerland, in August 2026, and the submission deadline is 11 January. There are plenty of panels for #EnvHist scholars:
africanperspectives.ch/call-for-pap...
Call for Papers: "African Perspectives on Global Transformations." The conference will take place in Basel, Switzerland, in August 2026, and the submission deadline is 11 January. There are plenty of panels for #EnvHist scholars:
africanperspectives.ch/call-for-pap...

Reposted by Libby Robin

Reposted by Libby Robin

The symbolism of Australians racing to donate blood to help the victims of the antisemitic terror attack in Sydney should not be underestimated.

This is a people saying: I give of my most inner self to help you, unknown friends. I give without credit. I recognise that humanity is one body.

#auspol

Reposted by Libby Robin

The 3rd Icelandic Santa (yule lad) is coming tonight.In English, they've translated his name to simply "Stubby." In Iceland, we call him StΓΊfur.

He's very short and he sneaks into your kitchen to steal pots and pans so as to lick the old food crusts off them!

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... Good news. But what about all the injuries over the 6 years waiting for the court? Why is justice so slow?
Climate protesters win groundbreaking class action against Victoria police over use of capsicum spray
Potentially precedent-setting case brought after Jordan Brown hit with capsicum spray outside mining and resources conference in Melbourne in 2019
www.theguardian.com

www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/educati... Obscene salaries are fine if schools don't get public money. If they won't tell, gov can assume "independence", so no public money. If they are able to run a school well without subsidy & overpay leadership, they have enough. @janecaro.bsky.social
Private schools’ million-dollar principals
The government is yet to compel private schools to publish their principals’ salaries, despite concerns that taxpayers are supporting packages up to $1 million a year.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Are we afraid of ourselves? Nick Feik digs into the traction problem for big, complex stories about things we need to fix but keep procrastinating on... #ClimateActionNow & many others. Thank you Nick! We need your sort of work. It is under-recognised "for a reason" #VestedInterests

Reposted by Libby Robin

Shoutout to Lamestream, We Used to be Journos, @antoinettelattouf.bsky.social, @theklaxon.bsky.social, Declassified Australia, @roycerk2.bsky.social, @thepointau.bsky.social, @michaelwestbiz.bsky.social, @ketanjoshi.co, @crikey.com.au, @rachelwithers.bsky.social + more for their work in this space.
A rare win
On investigative journalism and its consolations
nickfeik.substack.com

Well done all! The power of protest @austhistassoc.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... Eroding trust in schools, universities, museums and public institutions is international practice of fossil fuel companies. Museums must eschew sponsorship with strings. New York had the same issue with Koch bros sponsorship. Public trust is too important.
Queensland Museum accused of misleading teachers and children about the cause of climate change
Education program sponsored by Shell’s Queensland Gas Company is β€˜climate obstruction dressed up as education’, advocacy group says
www.theguardian.com

Mine wasn't "disabled" but it hasn't worked for ages. I can't even check it. 😊

Yet another serious fault with digital systems - AI can't deal with free form comments, so they are being excluded from crucial documentation. Fear of being sued by rapacious legal teams is getting in the way of the public interest.
In Victoria – and no other Australian state – a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) contains a mandatory field requiring the certifying doctor to provide a duration for medical conditions connected to or contributing to the death. satpa.pe/kOijkyP
Why Victorian death certificates are unreliable
More than seven years ago, a Victorian doctor embarked on what has become a quest to correct a small administrative quirk that has made the state’s death certificates unreliable.
satpa.pe

Reposted by Libby Robin

In Victoria – and no other Australian state – a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) contains a mandatory field requiring the certifying doctor to provide a duration for medical conditions connected to or contributing to the death. satpa.pe/kOijkyP
Why Victorian death certificates are unreliable
More than seven years ago, a Victorian doctor embarked on what has become a quest to correct a small administrative quirk that has made the state’s death certificates unreliable.
satpa.pe

Fir or faux: which Christmas tree is best for the environment? Why not decorate a tree you have already - in your garden or in
a pot? Esp if it is summer... there are many ways to make Xmas celebratory.