Rob Phair
@robphair.bsky.social
Rural generalist doctor working on Gunaikurnai country, Victoria, Australia
🚲🤹♂️ 🇺🇦
🚲🤹♂️ 🇺🇦
The Australian govt hands out $26B per year in nature-harming subsidies
This represents ~4% of the total federal budget
Or twice as much as the federal govt invests in supporting government schools nationally
Or 25 times more than they spend on looking after nature
via @biodivcouncil.bsky.social
This represents ~4% of the total federal budget
Or twice as much as the federal govt invests in supporting government schools nationally
Or 25 times more than they spend on looking after nature
via @biodivcouncil.bsky.social
The Australian Government’s $26 billion per year nature-harming problem revealed by study | Biodiversity Council Australia
Groundbreaking research has uncovered that the Australian Government is providing $26 billion per year in financial support to activities that harm the nation's unique natural environment, known as bi...
biodiversitycouncil.org.au
February 17, 2026 at 6:59 AM
Amazing, for two years the analytical community was talking about a Ukrainian manpower crisis, how Ukraine needed to draft more soldiers and send them to the front, how Ukraine might even collapse in 2025 from manpower shortage.
February 17, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Reposted by Rob Phair
Hard agree.
The UK has been undervaluing “information & narrative power” for a while now. Giving up on the BBC World Service right now would be another massive own goal (in a series of own goals).
You know which country is pretty damn good at info warfare? China.
kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/ws/portalfil...
The UK has been undervaluing “information & narrative power” for a while now. Giving up on the BBC World Service right now would be another massive own goal (in a series of own goals).
You know which country is pretty damn good at info warfare? China.
kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/ws/portalfil...
February 15, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Hard agree.
The UK has been undervaluing “information & narrative power” for a while now. Giving up on the BBC World Service right now would be another massive own goal (in a series of own goals).
You know which country is pretty damn good at info warfare? China.
kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/ws/portalfil...
The UK has been undervaluing “information & narrative power” for a while now. Giving up on the BBC World Service right now would be another massive own goal (in a series of own goals).
You know which country is pretty damn good at info warfare? China.
kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/ws/portalfil...
Reposted by Rob Phair
Australia now has access to a new marine heatwave outlook tool that provides up to four months’ advance indication of the likelihood of ocean temperature extremes. Developed by
@csiro.bsky.social and BoM, the tool is designed to support awareness and preparedness for marine heatwaves.
@csiro.bsky.social and BoM, the tool is designed to support awareness and preparedness for marine heatwaves.
February 15, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Australia now has access to a new marine heatwave outlook tool that provides up to four months’ advance indication of the likelihood of ocean temperature extremes. Developed by
@csiro.bsky.social and BoM, the tool is designed to support awareness and preparedness for marine heatwaves.
@csiro.bsky.social and BoM, the tool is designed to support awareness and preparedness for marine heatwaves.
Reposted by Rob Phair
For The Guardian, "amid the AI noise and disinformation, the World Service must be enabled to keep scattering human voices in our own dark times."
I don't know how international news would survive without it...
I don't know how international news would survive without it...
February 15, 2026 at 3:44 PM
For The Guardian, "amid the AI noise and disinformation, the World Service must be enabled to keep scattering human voices in our own dark times."
I don't know how international news would survive without it...
I don't know how international news would survive without it...
Reposted by Rob Phair
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 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
February 15, 2026 at 3:40 PM
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 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...
Reposted by Rob Phair
“men that burn the world“
- Rubio talks about “climate extremism” at Munich #MSC2026 while Russian bots spew #FossilFuels sponsored #disinformation
- Rubio talks about “climate extremism” at Munich #MSC2026 while Russian bots spew #FossilFuels sponsored #disinformation
Marco Rubio redet bei der #MSC2026 von “climate extremism”, unterdessen pumpen Russlands Propaganda-Botnetze fossile Desinformation ins Netz.
#MännerDieDieWeltVerbrennen war nicht als Prophezeiung gedacht, aber: here we are. Die Achse des Öls.
#MännerDieDieWeltVerbrennen war nicht als Prophezeiung gedacht, aber: here we are. Die Achse des Öls.
February 15, 2026 at 10:31 PM
“men that burn the world“
- Rubio talks about “climate extremism” at Munich #MSC2026 while Russian bots spew #FossilFuels sponsored #disinformation
- Rubio talks about “climate extremism” at Munich #MSC2026 while Russian bots spew #FossilFuels sponsored #disinformation
There will be people who are understandably desperate to hear this, but it's important to be clear-eyed about Rubio himself and what the Trump administration is doing. 🧵
February 15, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Ich bin nicht beruhigt nach Rubios Rede in München. Ich bin sehr beunruhigt, dass man im Saal laut Ischinger zunächst erleichtert seufzte, um schließlich dann stehend zu applaudieren.
Nichts ist besser nach München.
Nichts ist besser nach München.
February 15, 2026 at 6:23 AM
Free piece just released. Marco Rubio called on tolerant, democratic, liberal Europe to destroy itself and embrace a Trump-like future. He received a standing ovation and we are told some people are reassured. If so, Europe will deserve everything coming its way. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Rubio Calls For The End Of A Tolerant, Democratic Europe And The Crowd Goes Wild
Just over an hour ago, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for the end of a tolerant, democratic Europe and its break-up into a disparate group of smaller, Trumpist states, and the Europeans in t...
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 6:21 AM
Reposted by Rob Phair
Bluesky is the new science Twitter, new study by @whysharksmatter.bsky.social and Julia Wester concludes!
"Results show that for every reported professional benefit that scientists once gained from Twitter, scientists can now gain that benefit more effectively on Bluesky than on Twitter."
"Results show that for every reported professional benefit that scientists once gained from Twitter, scientists can now gain that benefit more effectively on Bluesky than on Twitter."
Scientists no Longer Find Twitter Professionally Useful, and have Switched to Bluesky
Synopsis. Social media has become widely used by the scientific community for a variety of professional uses, including networking and public outreach. For
academic.oup.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Bluesky is the new science Twitter, new study by @whysharksmatter.bsky.social and Julia Wester concludes!
"Results show that for every reported professional benefit that scientists once gained from Twitter, scientists can now gain that benefit more effectively on Bluesky than on Twitter."
"Results show that for every reported professional benefit that scientists once gained from Twitter, scientists can now gain that benefit more effectively on Bluesky than on Twitter."
Reposted by Rob Phair
Pretty much the most important thing happening in the world right now.
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chi...
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chi...
February 12, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Pretty much the most important thing happening in the world right now.
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chi...
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chi...
This is more funny than the author knows because ”to be out and biking” is a Swedish idiom meaning that you’ve totally misunderstood something.
Apart from the catchy headline, many very good points in the text by Stephen M. Walt. Worth your while.
Apart from the catchy headline, many very good points in the text by Stephen M. Walt. Worth your while.
NATO’s Leader Is Totally Lost
What does Mark Rutte think he’s doing?
foreignpolicy.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:25 AM
Remember the richest 1% used up their annual “fair share” of the global carbon budget this year on the 10th of January….
The wealthiest 10% of people globally are responsible for roughly two-thirds of observed #GlobalWarming since 1990
The wealthiest 10% of people globally are responsible for roughly two-thirds of observed #GlobalWarming since 1990
February 13, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Today, Administrator Zeldin took a chainsaw to the Endangerment Finding, undoing this long-standing, science-based finding on bogus grounds at the expense of our health.
February 12, 2026 at 11:45 PM
You can repeal an endangerment finding.
You can’t repeal the endangerment.
You can’t repeal the endangerment.
Exclusive | Trump to Repeal Landmark Climate Finding in Huge Regulatory Rollback
The move would reverse a legal determination that greenhouse gases threaten public health.
www.wsj.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Kudelka's 2016 cartoon about Pauline Hanson's return to federal politics. (Jon Kudelka)
February 9, 2026 at 7:54 AM
Reposted by Rob Phair
I have many, many favourite Kudelka cartoons but this, from 2011, is possibly one of the best Aus pol cartoons ever drawn.
February 9, 2026 at 1:49 AM
I have many, many favourite Kudelka cartoons but this, from 2011, is possibly one of the best Aus pol cartoons ever drawn.
Reposted by Rob Phair
This cartoon of his lives rent free in my brain.
February 9, 2026 at 4:05 AM
This cartoon of his lives rent free in my brain.
Reposted by Rob Phair
Russia has killed over 650 Ukrainian athletes and destroyed at least 15 Olympic training bases.
🧵 1/12 ⬇️
🧵 1/12 ⬇️
February 6, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Russia has killed over 650 Ukrainian athletes and destroyed at least 15 Olympic training bases.
🧵 1/12 ⬇️
🧵 1/12 ⬇️
How mainstream parties embrace far right positions, but instead of improving their own numbers, end up shifting public opinion to the right
@amyremeikis.bsky.social #auspol #Straya
@amyremeikis.bsky.social #auspol #Straya
For the FES, I wrote a short brief about how mainstream party strategies have fueled far-right success. They move toward more anti-immigration positions to win voters back. This does not work, but shifts public opinion to the right. Parties then react to shifts in public opinion. A vicious cycle.
February 6, 2026 at 11:20 AM
How mainstream parties embrace far right positions, but instead of improving their own numbers, end up shifting public opinion to the right
@amyremeikis.bsky.social #auspol #Straya
@amyremeikis.bsky.social #auspol #Straya
Reposted by Rob Phair
Jeff Bezos has just done the Russians a great favour, as they will now be able to commit war crimes in Ukraine without being disturbed by reporters.
February 4, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Jeff Bezos has just done the Russians a great favour, as they will now be able to commit war crimes in Ukraine without being disturbed by reporters.
Reposted by Rob Phair
“To stop fossil fuels, we must stop fossil fuel ads. Politicians, here’s your chance to move up the trust rankings,” writes Belinda Noble, founder of climate communications charity, Comms Declare.
Read the full piece on The Point: https://theaus.in/4r0xBtX
Read the full piece on The Point: https://theaus.in/4r0xBtX
February 6, 2026 at 12:26 AM
“To stop fossil fuels, we must stop fossil fuel ads. Politicians, here’s your chance to move up the trust rankings,” writes Belinda Noble, founder of climate communications charity, Comms Declare.
Read the full piece on The Point: https://theaus.in/4r0xBtX
Read the full piece on The Point: https://theaus.in/4r0xBtX
"Hanson passes herself off as an 'ordinary' Australian but she is little more than a stalking horse for various economic elites, a strata to which she herself is desperate to belong. Hanson isn’t patriotic; she is entitled."
tdunlop.substack.com/p/one-nation...
tdunlop.substack.com/p/one-nation...
One Nation under Pauline
Every unhappy country is unhappy in its own way
tdunlop.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:49 AM