Alasdair Reid
@thegreenplace.bsky.social
Advisor on innovation systems 4 sustainable futures, father, runner, vegan. Belgian-Scot
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
"It's clear that there's a rampant dumbing down in progress in which not knowing things is considered a virtue. I don't throw my hands up in despair, but I do try to indicate that it's a very serious problem."
— Carl Sagan
— Carl Sagan
January 25, 2026 at 7:05 AM
"It's clear that there's a rampant dumbing down in progress in which not knowing things is considered a virtue. I don't throw my hands up in despair, but I do try to indicate that it's a very serious problem."
— Carl Sagan
— Carl Sagan
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
"Violence finds its only refuge in falsehood, falsehood its only support in violence... Any man who has once acclaimed violence as his method must inexorably choose falsehood as his principle."
— Alexander Solzhenitsyn
— Alexander Solzhenitsyn
January 25, 2026 at 7:13 AM
"Violence finds its only refuge in falsehood, falsehood its only support in violence... Any man who has once acclaimed violence as his method must inexorably choose falsehood as his principle."
— Alexander Solzhenitsyn
— Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
🥵 3 years in a row of +1.5°C.
📢 We will never stop saying it: we need climate action now.
❌ We need to phase out fossil fuels.
☀️ We need 90% renewable energy by 2040 (at least).
🏡 We need to renovate houses and buildings to adapt them to the current situation.
📢 We will never stop saying it: we need climate action now.
❌ We need to phase out fossil fuels.
☀️ We need 90% renewable energy by 2040 (at least).
🏡 We need to renovate houses and buildings to adapt them to the current situation.
January 20, 2026 at 8:34 AM
🥵 3 years in a row of +1.5°C.
📢 We will never stop saying it: we need climate action now.
❌ We need to phase out fossil fuels.
☀️ We need 90% renewable energy by 2040 (at least).
🏡 We need to renovate houses and buildings to adapt them to the current situation.
📢 We will never stop saying it: we need climate action now.
❌ We need to phase out fossil fuels.
☀️ We need 90% renewable energy by 2040 (at least).
🏡 We need to renovate houses and buildings to adapt them to the current situation.
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
For decades, rather than prioritising domestic investment in its technology sector, the UK has largely opted for the easier route: relying on US technology
We take a look at how dangerous this is now, in a special report on national security 👇
Read here: www.thenational.scot/news/2...
We take a look at how dangerous this is now, in a special report on national security 👇
Read here: www.thenational.scot/news/2...
January 18, 2026 at 12:08 PM
For decades, rather than prioritising domestic investment in its technology sector, the UK has largely opted for the easier route: relying on US technology
We take a look at how dangerous this is now, in a special report on national security 👇
Read here: www.thenational.scot/news/2...
We take a look at how dangerous this is now, in a special report on national security 👇
Read here: www.thenational.scot/news/2...
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
ANNOUNCEMENT: The next #REvaluation27 Conference will be held 25-26 Feb 2027 at the @hcw.ac.at, co-organised by @fteval.bsky.social with @forwit.at, @fraunhoferisi.bsky.social & @mioir.bsky.social. Save the date for THE conference for #research, #technology, #innovation policy & #evaluation!
January 15, 2026 at 9:42 AM
ANNOUNCEMENT: The next #REvaluation27 Conference will be held 25-26 Feb 2027 at the @hcw.ac.at, co-organised by @fteval.bsky.social with @forwit.at, @fraunhoferisi.bsky.social & @mioir.bsky.social. Save the date for THE conference for #research, #technology, #innovation policy & #evaluation!
Don’t look up….
The world is rapidly closing in on the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming limit that serves as a threshold for ever more dangerous climate change, European scientists have warned.
Global warming reaches 1.4C after third-hottest year on record
The world will shoot past the Paris climate agreement’s lower target by 2030, data shows.
www.politico.eu
January 14, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Don’t look up….
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
A coalition of left parties has launched a call for signatures to force the European Commission to suspend the EU’s association agreement with Israel over Gaza.
EU left pushes for action against Israel as attacks on Gaza continue
Momentum for trade measures against Israel has stalled — but with children still dying in Gaza, the left wants the issue back on the table.
www.politico.eu
January 13, 2026 at 4:18 PM
A coalition of left parties has launched a call for signatures to force the European Commission to suspend the EU’s association agreement with Israel over Gaza.
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
There are going to be so many papers retracted because the authors didn’t read this piece by @causalinf.bsky.social before they started working with Claude Code.
How Claude Code Changes How I Work (part 5): On The Challenges of Adopting Software That Was Not Designed For Us
The Marginal User of Claude Code is not the Average User of Claude Code and All the Risks That That Entails
causalinf.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:12 PM
There are going to be so many papers retracted because the authors didn’t read this piece by @causalinf.bsky.social before they started working with Claude Code.
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
Sobering piece on the Berlin power outage showing resilience is tricky -
People had cars trapped behind electrically operated garage doors.
First day alerts sent to people’s phones ‘which included links to websites that were impossible to access without the internet.’
www.ft.com/content/c91d...
People had cars trapped behind electrically operated garage doors.
First day alerts sent to people’s phones ‘which included links to websites that were impossible to access without the internet.’
www.ft.com/content/c91d...
Berlin in the dark: a power outage shakes Germany
Arson that left parts of German capital without electricity for days highlights poor energy infrastructure
www.ft.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Sobering piece on the Berlin power outage showing resilience is tricky -
People had cars trapped behind electrically operated garage doors.
First day alerts sent to people’s phones ‘which included links to websites that were impossible to access without the internet.’
www.ft.com/content/c91d...
People had cars trapped behind electrically operated garage doors.
First day alerts sent to people’s phones ‘which included links to websites that were impossible to access without the internet.’
www.ft.com/content/c91d...
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
You can judge a person by the size of their moral circle. Trump, for instance, has the smallest possible moral circle, containing only him. Be the opposite: expand your circle. Include, for example, animals currently raised for food. We shut them out of our consciences. It's time to bring them in.
January 11, 2026 at 9:08 AM
You can judge a person by the size of their moral circle. Trump, for instance, has the smallest possible moral circle, containing only him. Be the opposite: expand your circle. Include, for example, animals currently raised for food. We shut them out of our consciences. It's time to bring them in.
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
You and your wife drop your 6-year-old off at school. You just moved here. You see ICE terrorizing your new neighbors. You film them, as is your legal right. Your wife complies with orders. She is then shot in the head. You still have to pick up your child later today.
This could be you.
This could be you.
January 8, 2026 at 12:15 AM
You and your wife drop your 6-year-old off at school. You just moved here. You see ICE terrorizing your new neighbors. You film them, as is your legal right. Your wife complies with orders. She is then shot in the head. You still have to pick up your child later today.
This could be you.
This could be you.
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
Enter 2026; where a lawless international order is being determined by the United States. Looking forward to strong condemnations by our European leaders.
January 3, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Enter 2026; where a lawless international order is being determined by the United States. Looking forward to strong condemnations by our European leaders.
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
From the team #dotScot and #dotcodotscot Thanks for all your support 2025 and here’s to 2026! 🏴🌍🌏🌎🕸 Special shout out to @streetlibrary.ataxia.scot for allowing us to play a small part in all the great work you do #sponsors
January 1, 2026 at 10:21 AM
From the team #dotScot and #dotcodotscot Thanks for all your support 2025 and here’s to 2026! 🏴🌍🌏🌎🕸 Special shout out to @streetlibrary.ataxia.scot for allowing us to play a small part in all the great work you do #sponsors
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
UK (Scotland), Find Out Now poll:
Scenario: Nigel Farage (REFORM~NI) is UK Prime Minister
Independence referendum
Yes: 61%
No: 39%
Fieldwork: 11-19 December 2025
Sample size: 1,000
➤ europeelects.eu/uk
Scenario: Nigel Farage (REFORM~NI) is UK Prime Minister
Independence referendum
Yes: 61%
No: 39%
Fieldwork: 11-19 December 2025
Sample size: 1,000
➤ europeelects.eu/uk
December 31, 2025 at 1:24 PM
UK (Scotland), Find Out Now poll:
Scenario: Nigel Farage (REFORM~NI) is UK Prime Minister
Independence referendum
Yes: 61%
No: 39%
Fieldwork: 11-19 December 2025
Sample size: 1,000
➤ europeelects.eu/uk
Scenario: Nigel Farage (REFORM~NI) is UK Prime Minister
Independence referendum
Yes: 61%
No: 39%
Fieldwork: 11-19 December 2025
Sample size: 1,000
➤ europeelects.eu/uk
Time the European Commission got serious - tax planes and airports and use revenue to invest in rail !
Europe's night trains were hailed as a pillar of the EU’s green-mobility future.
Now, the promised renaissance has stalled.
What happened?
Now, the promised renaissance has stalled.
What happened?
Why Europe’s night-train renaissance derailed
Aging carriages, high costs and reluctant incumbents choked off the night-train revival — even as passengers clamor for more.
www.politico.eu
December 29, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Time the European Commission got serious - tax planes and airports and use revenue to invest in rail !
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
One for your travels 2026 #Forres #Moray #Scotland #dotScot @thegreenplace.bsky.social
visitforres.scot
visitforres.scot
Forres – bursting with history, culture, natural beauty and adventure
Forres is a pretty, historical town in north-east Scotland, perfectly-placed for visiting the Moray Coast, Speyside, Cairngorms and Aberdeenshire.
visitforres.scot
December 29, 2025 at 11:33 AM
One for your travels 2026 #Forres #Moray #Scotland #dotScot @thegreenplace.bsky.social
visitforres.scot
visitforres.scot
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
Thick as mince and thick as thieves. A column about the absolute idiots European legislators have made of themselves over the naming of food, at the behest of meat lobbyists.
You laugh and then you weep.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
You laugh and then you weep.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
When is a sausage not really a sausage? Ask the meat lobby | George Monbiot
European legislators may ban plant-based products from using the name to prevent ‘confusion’. Just don’t mention beef tomatoes or buffalo wings, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Thick as mince and thick as thieves. A column about the absolute idiots European legislators have made of themselves over the naming of food, at the behest of meat lobbyists.
You laugh and then you weep.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
You laugh and then you weep.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Just published! Our new article in Science and Public Policy:
“How do mission-oriented innovation policies work? A theory of action derived from the EU missions url: academic.oup.com/spp/article-...
Our key contribution: a theory of action that explains how #MOIP generate systemic change.
“How do mission-oriented innovation policies work? A theory of action derived from the EU missions url: academic.oup.com/spp/article-...
Our key contribution: a theory of action that explains how #MOIP generate systemic change.
How do mission-oriented innovation policies work? A theory of action derived from the EU missions
Abstract. Mission-oriented innovation policy (MOIP) aims to address major societal challenges. Although this approach has received much attention in academ
academic.oup.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Just published! Our new article in Science and Public Policy:
“How do mission-oriented innovation policies work? A theory of action derived from the EU missions url: academic.oup.com/spp/article-...
Our key contribution: a theory of action that explains how #MOIP generate systemic change.
“How do mission-oriented innovation policies work? A theory of action derived from the EU missions url: academic.oup.com/spp/article-...
Our key contribution: a theory of action that explains how #MOIP generate systemic change.
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
If European Digital Sovereignty is to mean anything, it ought to mean NOT posting on a platform owned and run by a fascist intent on undermining the EU!
And don't give me the bullshit you have to be there for "balance" or "reach" - the rules are stacked against you from the outset
And don't give me the bullshit you have to be there for "balance" or "reach" - the rules are stacked against you from the outset
December 7, 2025 at 8:18 PM
If European Digital Sovereignty is to mean anything, it ought to mean NOT posting on a platform owned and run by a fascist intent on undermining the EU!
And don't give me the bullshit you have to be there for "balance" or "reach" - the rules are stacked against you from the outset
And don't give me the bullshit you have to be there for "balance" or "reach" - the rules are stacked against you from the outset
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
Paul McCartney has joined forces with U.K. MPs who are urging Brussels to scrap any plans to ban the use of meat-related names such as “burger” and “sausage” for plant-based products.
Paul McCartney joins uproar over EU ‘veggie burger’ ban
The proposed EU law would prohibit food producers from using labels such as “veggie burger” or “vegan sausage” for plant-based and lab-grown dishes.
www.politico.eu
December 7, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Paul McCartney has joined forces with U.K. MPs who are urging Brussels to scrap any plans to ban the use of meat-related names such as “burger” and “sausage” for plant-based products.
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
The Chihuahua-In-Chief’s attempt to start a culture war in Glasgow, over beautiful & smart bi- or multi-lingual kids, is doomed—not least because we already accept the condition for Gaelic (& Scots). & AI just translates everything…My @ScotNational column www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
Nigel Farage’s language of hate falls flat in face of wonders we could build
Nigel Farage has made a complete plonker of himself in his attempt to start a culture war in Glasgow
www.thenational.scot
December 6, 2025 at 11:21 AM
The Chihuahua-In-Chief’s attempt to start a culture war in Glasgow, over beautiful & smart bi- or multi-lingual kids, is doomed—not least because we already accept the condition for Gaelic (& Scots). & AI just translates everything…My @ScotNational column www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
Nous étions des dizaines d'eurodéputés à écrire aux organisateurs de l' #Eurovision pour demander l'exclusion d'Israël. Leur participation a été une nouvelle fois maintenue malgré le génocide
👉Je salue 🇪🇸,🇸🇮,🇳🇱 & 🇮🇪 qui ont fait le choix du #boycott. @rtbf.be & @vrtnws.be, c'est votre tour!
#NoImpunity
👉Je salue 🇪🇸,🇸🇮,🇳🇱 & 🇮🇪 qui ont fait le choix du #boycott. @rtbf.be & @vrtnws.be, c'est votre tour!
#NoImpunity
Notre lettre à l'EBU qui organise #Eurovision2025 ⤵️
🚨Nous demandons l'exclusion d'Israël
L'EBU répond en défendant l'inclusion d'🇮🇱 et clâme être un évènement inclusif
👉 Soutenir un génocide en cours et une invasion annoncée, ce n'est pas être inclusif
Exclure Israël, c’est le minimum #boycott
🚨Nous demandons l'exclusion d'Israël
L'EBU répond en défendant l'inclusion d'🇮🇱 et clâme être un évènement inclusif
👉 Soutenir un génocide en cours et une invasion annoncée, ce n'est pas être inclusif
Exclure Israël, c’est le minimum #boycott
December 5, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Nous étions des dizaines d'eurodéputés à écrire aux organisateurs de l' #Eurovision pour demander l'exclusion d'Israël. Leur participation a été une nouvelle fois maintenue malgré le génocide
👉Je salue 🇪🇸,🇸🇮,🇳🇱 & 🇮🇪 qui ont fait le choix du #boycott. @rtbf.be & @vrtnws.be, c'est votre tour!
#NoImpunity
👉Je salue 🇪🇸,🇸🇮,🇳🇱 & 🇮🇪 qui ont fait le choix du #boycott. @rtbf.be & @vrtnws.be, c'est votre tour!
#NoImpunity
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
1. Some good news at last. This week’s column is about the amazing thing a couple of us stumbled into three years ago, which we’ve now developed into a global research programme. It doesn’t change everything, of course, but it could help change quite a lot. + 🧵 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Over a pint in Oxford, we may have stumbled upon the holy grail of agriculture | George Monbiot
I knew that a revolution in our understanding of soil could change the world. Then came a eureka moment – and the birth of the Earth Rover Program, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:55 AM
1. Some good news at last. This week’s column is about the amazing thing a couple of us stumbled into three years ago, which we’ve now developed into a global research programme. It doesn’t change everything, of course, but it could help change quite a lot. + 🧵 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Alasdair Reid
An excellent piece on the launch of the new domain for #Scotland .co.scot Particularly grateful that the article foregrounds the Scottish #diaspora as ‘a domain for the worldwide community of Scots’ was such a big part of the #dotScot idea in the first place 🏴🌏🌎🌍🕸
www.sentinel.scot/blog/new-co-...
www.sentinel.scot/blog/new-co-...
New .co.scot Domain Launch Aims to Broaden Scotland’s Global Digital Identity
Discover how DotScot Domains is expanding Scotland’s digital identity with the launch of .co.scot—an affordable £4.95 domain designed for individuals, businesses, and the global Sc
www.sentinel.scot
December 5, 2025 at 10:54 AM
An excellent piece on the launch of the new domain for #Scotland .co.scot Particularly grateful that the article foregrounds the Scottish #diaspora as ‘a domain for the worldwide community of Scots’ was such a big part of the #dotScot idea in the first place 🏴🌏🌎🌍🕸
www.sentinel.scot/blog/new-co-...
www.sentinel.scot/blog/new-co-...