Alastair McKinstry
@amckinstry.bsky.social
Climate Scientist and #GreenParty rep for Conamara South.
#IFUT.ie branch chair in University of Galway.
#Galway #ConnemaraGreenway. Sé/é/He/him.
Also at @amckinstry@mastodon.ie and
matrix: @alastair:mckinstry.ie
#IFUT.ie branch chair in University of Galway.
#Galway #ConnemaraGreenway. Sé/é/He/him.
Also at @amckinstry@mastodon.ie and
matrix: @alastair:mckinstry.ie
Pinned
I'm also available at the Fediverse via @amckinstry.mastodon.ie.ap.brid.gy
This is a bridge between Mastodon and Bluesky. Hopefully I'll be able to follow Bluesky members via it.
This is a bridge between Mastodon and Bluesky. Hopefully I'll be able to follow Bluesky members via it.
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
If you think there's no connection between the recent public statements on immigration by Harris, Martin, O'Callaghan et al and these attacks, then I have some magic beans you might be interested in.
This is the predictable, inevitable, shameful result of their adoption of far-right rhetoric.
This is the predictable, inevitable, shameful result of their adoption of far-right rhetoric.
What is happening to this country. This is so awful
Alleged street attack on boy (13) leads to fears among Galway’s Bangladeshi community
www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...
Alleged street attack on boy (13) leads to fears among Galway’s Bangladeshi community
www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...
Alleged street attack on boy (13) leads to fears among Galway’s Bangladeshi community
Local TD Peter Roche organised town meeting, where gardaí addressed small Bangladeshi community
www.irishtimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM
If you think there's no connection between the recent public statements on immigration by Harris, Martin, O'Callaghan et al and these attacks, then I have some magic beans you might be interested in.
This is the predictable, inevitable, shameful result of their adoption of far-right rhetoric.
This is the predictable, inevitable, shameful result of their adoption of far-right rhetoric.
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
Yet more evidence of the multiple benefits of diet shifts towards more, or only, plant foods!
"The indicators clearly highlight the environmental and health advantages of plant-based diets compared with the omnivorous baseline."
"The indicators clearly highlight the environmental and health advantages of plant-based diets compared with the omnivorous baseline."
Switching from an omnivorous to a vegan diet can reduce daily greenhouse gas emissions by 46%, while also lowering land and water use and maintaining nutritional balance.
Vegan diet can halve your carbon footprint, study finds
Only around 1.1% of the world's population is vegan, but this percentage is growing. For example, in Germany the number of vegans approximately doubled between 2016 and 2020 to 2% of the population, while a 2.4-fold increase between 2023 and 2025 to 4.7% of the population has been reported in the UK.
phys.org
November 11, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Yet more evidence of the multiple benefits of diet shifts towards more, or only, plant foods!
"The indicators clearly highlight the environmental and health advantages of plant-based diets compared with the omnivorous baseline."
"The indicators clearly highlight the environmental and health advantages of plant-based diets compared with the omnivorous baseline."
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
As leaders assemble for the #COP30 climate talks in #belem, we need to remind our own government that #ClimateActionNow is absolutely essential. We must fight for a #JustTransition to a stable climate 🌍
We'll see you there!
We'll see you there!
We'll be joining the National #Climate Demonstration on the 15th and want to see you there too.
We need to send the message to the government and EU that #ClimateAction is needed now more than ever
We need to send the message to the government and EU that #ClimateAction is needed now more than ever
November 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
As leaders assemble for the #COP30 climate talks in #belem, we need to remind our own government that #ClimateActionNow is absolutely essential. We must fight for a #JustTransition to a stable climate 🌍
We'll see you there!
We'll see you there!
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
Here's a look at the extent of the "warmth" across the #Arctic in October. This map uses my normal anomaly scaling for each month, but it clearly doesn't work for something this extreme.
Data from doi.org/10.24381/cds...
Data from doi.org/10.24381/cds...
November 9, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Here's a look at the extent of the "warmth" across the #Arctic in October. This map uses my normal anomaly scaling for each month, but it clearly doesn't work for something this extreme.
Data from doi.org/10.24381/cds...
Data from doi.org/10.24381/cds...
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
The Government's new stated aim is to make it so unattractive for lawyers to take good cases against the State that they will stop. Not bad cases. Good ones. Successful ones. This new rule only applies if you *win* your case. Doesn't that worry anyone slightly?
m.independent.ie/irish-news/o...
m.independent.ie/irish-news/o...
Objectors will be on the hook to pay six-figure legal costs under judicial reviews clampdown
Objectors will have to foot six-figure legal bills for successful judicial review cases in a new move being brought to the Cabinet to speed up the supply of infrastructure and housing.
m.independent.ie
November 9, 2025 at 10:48 AM
The Government's new stated aim is to make it so unattractive for lawyers to take good cases against the State that they will stop. Not bad cases. Good ones. Successful ones. This new rule only applies if you *win* your case. Doesn't that worry anyone slightly?
m.independent.ie/irish-news/o...
m.independent.ie/irish-news/o...
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
Remembrance Day is about honouring all who suffered the cost of war, military and civilian alike. We remember with respect and without division. The best tribute we can pay is working for peace, justice and a future where conflict isn’t the legacy we hand to the next generation.
November 9, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Remembrance Day is about honouring all who suffered the cost of war, military and civilian alike. We remember with respect and without division. The best tribute we can pay is working for peace, justice and a future where conflict isn’t the legacy we hand to the next generation.
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
Hello @elliereeves.bsky.social, my MP: This, from yesterday, isn't a good look for voters:
bsky.app/profile/anni...
Please listen to Chris Packham (and many others) and attend the National Emergency Briefing. And we need your sister, the Chancellor, to attend too! Thank you!
👇
bsky.app/profile/anni...
Please listen to Chris Packham (and many others) and attend the National Emergency Briefing. And we need your sister, the Chancellor, to attend too! Thank you!
👇
I’ve just announced I’ll be leading a National Emergency Briefing on 27 November . At a time when climate is in free fall on the political agenda , it’s vital our leaders realise what is at stake if we do not accelerate a just , green transition for all .
@nebriefing.bsky.social 🇬🇧
@nebriefing.bsky.social 🇬🇧
November 9, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Hello @elliereeves.bsky.social, my MP: This, from yesterday, isn't a good look for voters:
bsky.app/profile/anni...
Please listen to Chris Packham (and many others) and attend the National Emergency Briefing. And we need your sister, the Chancellor, to attend too! Thank you!
👇
bsky.app/profile/anni...
Please listen to Chris Packham (and many others) and attend the National Emergency Briefing. And we need your sister, the Chancellor, to attend too! Thank you!
👇
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
Ireland is in favour of Europe’s bid to break encryption to allow police pursue serious crime (particularly CSAM), via the proposed ‘Chat Control’ law.
But EU countries are starting to turn against the idea, with Germany calling it “unjustified chat monitoring”.
m.independent.ie/business/tec...
But EU countries are starting to turn against the idea, with Germany calling it “unjustified chat monitoring”.
m.independent.ie/business/tec...
Adrian Weckler: What is the EU’s proposed ‘Chat Control’ law and is a loss of privacy a price worth paying to fight crime?
In an Irish Independent interview last week, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales raged against new EU rules on hate speech. But while I interrogated him sternly on those views, many might agree with his pos...
m.independent.ie
November 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Ireland is in favour of Europe’s bid to break encryption to allow police pursue serious crime (particularly CSAM), via the proposed ‘Chat Control’ law.
But EU countries are starting to turn against the idea, with Germany calling it “unjustified chat monitoring”.
m.independent.ie/business/tec...
But EU countries are starting to turn against the idea, with Germany calling it “unjustified chat monitoring”.
m.independent.ie/business/tec...
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
"The Taoiseach made his remarks at the Cop30 climate summit where the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, of which the Republic is a founding member, will host several events"
We could be a wind power behemoth & he wants to tie us to US fracked gas. That's not security.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
We could be a wind power behemoth & he wants to tie us to US fracked gas. That's not security.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
LNG ‘can’t happen fast enough’, says Taoiseach as Cop30 grapples with ending fossil fuels
Martin indicates that liquefied natural gas a security imperative for Ireland
www.irishtimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:48 PM
"The Taoiseach made his remarks at the Cop30 climate summit where the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, of which the Republic is a founding member, will host several events"
We could be a wind power behemoth & he wants to tie us to US fracked gas. That's not security.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
We could be a wind power behemoth & he wants to tie us to US fracked gas. That's not security.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
’Undermining that confidence by dismissing UN climate conferences as pointless risks slowing this progress. Cop critics like to think of themselves as brave tellers of truth to power. They may end up merely being Donald Trump’s unwitting accomplices.’
theconversation.com/the-un-clima...
theconversation.com/the-un-clima...
The UN climate summits are working – just not in the way their critics think
Many say UN climate summits are pointless. They’re wrong.
theconversation.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM
’Undermining that confidence by dismissing UN climate conferences as pointless risks slowing this progress. Cop critics like to think of themselves as brave tellers of truth to power. They may end up merely being Donald Trump’s unwitting accomplices.’
theconversation.com/the-un-clima...
theconversation.com/the-un-clima...
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
“He claimed that he learned from a comment by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and from RTÉ News that 80pc of asylum seekers were economic migrants”
Lies told by politicians have real consequences
www.independent.ie/irish-news/c...
Lies told by politicians have real consequences
www.independent.ie/irish-news/c...
First person in Ireland jailed for identifying asylum seekers appeals sentence
The first person in Ireland to be jailed for illegally identifying asylum seekers has appealed his conviction and sentence.
www.independent.ie
November 7, 2025 at 1:16 PM
“He claimed that he learned from a comment by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and from RTÉ News that 80pc of asylum seekers were economic migrants”
Lies told by politicians have real consequences
www.independent.ie/irish-news/c...
Lies told by politicians have real consequences
www.independent.ie/irish-news/c...
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
#AI isn’t sorting climate chaos, it’s making it much, much worse, and increasing inequality at the same time.
We have a choice - this option does _not_ have to be taken. We need to fight more seriously against the AI take over
youtu.be/kDoCXZEaF5A?...
We have a choice - this option does _not_ have to be taken. We need to fight more seriously against the AI take over
youtu.be/kDoCXZEaF5A?...
A.I.’s Environmental Impact Will Threaten Its Own Supply Chain
YouTube video by New York Times Opinion
youtu.be
November 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
#AI isn’t sorting climate chaos, it’s making it much, much worse, and increasing inequality at the same time.
We have a choice - this option does _not_ have to be taken. We need to fight more seriously against the AI take over
youtu.be/kDoCXZEaF5A?...
We have a choice - this option does _not_ have to be taken. We need to fight more seriously against the AI take over
youtu.be/kDoCXZEaF5A?...
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
Yet more science showing that regenerative grazing is overblown as a climate solution.
A better path? Cut back on beef production altogether, and return grazing lands to nature.
iffs.earth/living-repor...
A better path? Cut back on beef production altogether, and return grazing lands to nature.
iffs.earth/living-repor...
Living Report: Regenerative Agriculture vs. Rewilding
A comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed evidence on regenerative grazing vs. rewilding through dietary shifts that reduce land use and restore soil, water, climate, and biodiversity
iffs.earth
November 8, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Yet more science showing that regenerative grazing is overblown as a climate solution.
A better path? Cut back on beef production altogether, and return grazing lands to nature.
iffs.earth/living-repor...
A better path? Cut back on beef production altogether, and return grazing lands to nature.
iffs.earth/living-repor...
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
this thing hides posts it judges as ‘rude’, by some US standard. Thereby silencing most of the conversations in Ireland and Scotland, at least.
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
November 8, 2025 at 8:46 AM
this thing hides posts it judges as ‘rude’, by some US standard. Thereby silencing most of the conversations in Ireland and Scotland, at least.
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
Facebook's algorithm funnels IT jobs to men at 85% rates while shoving secretary gigs to women up to 94%, per experiments across six countries. French rights watchdog slams this as blatant sex discrimination. #AlgorithmicBias
November 7, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Facebook's algorithm funnels IT jobs to men at 85% rates while shoving secretary gigs to women up to 94%, per experiments across six countries. French rights watchdog slams this as blatant sex discrimination. #AlgorithmicBias
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
This is the facility that I and many others have been protesting. We’ve been hit, thrown, gassed, and shot with pepper bullets but none of that holds a candle to what is being done to people *in* the actual facility.
Read this thread. Don’t look away. Keep your eyes and the pressure on Broadview.
Read this thread. Don’t look away. Keep your eyes and the pressure on Broadview.
A family friend was telling us about what her husband shared about his experience in Broadview before he was deported back to Mexico. She's been sharing to friends and family because she's just in disbelief & horror what her husband told her. She wasn't able to talk to him until he was in Mexico.
November 7, 2025 at 3:29 PM
This is the facility that I and many others have been protesting. We’ve been hit, thrown, gassed, and shot with pepper bullets but none of that holds a candle to what is being done to people *in* the actual facility.
Read this thread. Don’t look away. Keep your eyes and the pressure on Broadview.
Read this thread. Don’t look away. Keep your eyes and the pressure on Broadview.
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
There should be a petition to remove all TD's and government departments from having official Twitter accounts.
It's unconscionable in this day and age to have any official acceptance of what that platform has become.
It's unconscionable in this day and age to have any official acceptance of what that platform has become.
The Minister for Justice has said that he wants social media companies to do more to ensure their platforms are not used to "freely spread incitement or hatred of others"
Call for action against spread of hatred on social media
The Minister for Justice has said that he wants social media companies to do more to ensure their platforms are not used to "freely spread incitement or hatred of others".
www.rte.ie
November 8, 2025 at 9:10 AM
There should be a petition to remove all TD's and government departments from having official Twitter accounts.
It's unconscionable in this day and age to have any official acceptance of what that platform has become.
It's unconscionable in this day and age to have any official acceptance of what that platform has become.
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
👍👏💯⬇️
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Friday outlined plans to tax commercial flights and private jets, an initiative meant to combat planet-warming pollution from aviation that could hike the cost of business travel.
Private Jet, Business Class Tax Backed by Spain at Climate Talks
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Friday outlined plans to tax commercial flights and private jets, an initiative meant to combat planet-warming pollution from aviation that could hike the cost of business travel.
bloom.bg
November 8, 2025 at 8:32 AM
👍👏💯⬇️
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
Exactly! Which makes the real climate shift way scarier. Like shown by the data from svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5452/
November 7, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Exactly! Which makes the real climate shift way scarier. Like shown by the data from svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5452/
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
"On July 20, the Tehran Water Authority reported that the capital’s reservoirs had reached their lowest point in a century, and last week, the authority’s head warned that dam reserves could sustain the city for only two more weeks if the dry spell continued."
🚨 "If it doesn’t rain, we will have to start restricting water supplies in #Tehran next month. If the drought continues, we will run out of water and be forced to evacuate the city"
The president described the situation as "alarming"
#Iran 🇮🇷
#ClimateEmergency
The president described the situation as "alarming"
#Iran 🇮🇷
#ClimateEmergency
Evacuation warning for Iran's capital city
President Masoud Pezeshkian warns Tehran faces a historic water crisis with shortages and possible evacuations.
www.newsweek.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:02 AM
"On July 20, the Tehran Water Authority reported that the capital’s reservoirs had reached their lowest point in a century, and last week, the authority’s head warned that dam reserves could sustain the city for only two more weeks if the dry spell continued."
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
Martyn Turner
Martyn Turner
November 8th, 2025
www.irishtimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Martyn Turner
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
This conversation between ChatGPT and the young man it encouraged to commit suicide is just...my god
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
This conversation between ChatGPT and the young man it encouraged to commit suicide is just...my god
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
Cutting home insulation funding will imperil UK’s climate goals, Reeves told
Cutting home insulation funding will imperil UK’s climate goals, Reeves told
Energy firms and charities urge chancellor to avoid short-term fix that could also harm low-income households
Rachel Reeves has been told that cutting funding for home insulation at the budget would risk the UK’s climate goals and hurt low-income households in a joint intervention by energy firms, fuel poverty charities and environmental groups.
In a letter to the chancellor, more than 60 groups and companies urged Reeves not to take such a damaging “short-term fix” to slash funding for more energy-efficient homes to pay for a reduction in energy bills. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Cutting home insulation funding will imperil UK’s climate goals, Reeves told
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
There are no words for how evil this is
November 7, 2025 at 1:36 AM
There are no words for how evil this is
Reposted by Alastair McKinstry
The Netanyahu Cabinet’s Complicity in the Gaza Genocide
The Netanyahu Cabinet’s Complicity in the Gaza Genocide
A classified report by a U.S. government watchdog discovered that Israeli military units have committed hundreds of human rights violations
dlvr.it
November 7, 2025 at 5:24 AM
The Netanyahu Cabinet’s Complicity in the Gaza Genocide