George Laxton
@bluebrightfire.bsky.social
Bike commuter, cycle infrastructure advocate, occasional urbanism and political discussion.
Reposted by George Laxton
A lovely gathering in Hagley Park this evening for Trans Remembrance Day. Sadness, anger, fear - but also hope, resilience and pride. Heartfelt and heart-wrenching stories, including from a mum who now needs to tell her daughter she won't be able to get the care she needs. A lot of tears. 💙🤍🩷
November 20, 2025 at 10:20 AM
A lovely gathering in Hagley Park this evening for Trans Remembrance Day. Sadness, anger, fear - but also hope, resilience and pride. Heartfelt and heart-wrenching stories, including from a mum who now needs to tell her daughter she won't be able to get the care she needs. A lot of tears. 💙🤍🩷
Incredibly important guest post here. As a non-American keeping up with all the authoritarian Trump administration moves is much easier without getting overwhelmed. Thanks Prof Christina.
Privileged to share a guest post today by a US veteran and intelligence analyst on the echoes they see between the regimes they used to monitor and today’s US.
They asked to remain anonymous - itself a sign of how worrying things have become in America.
christinapagel.substack.com/p/authoritar...
They asked to remain anonymous - itself a sign of how worrying things have become in America.
christinapagel.substack.com/p/authoritar...
Authoritarian echoes: how America is mirroring Egypt and Russia
**Guest post**: A US veteran’s perspective on the erosion of US democracy and the urgency of the 2026 midterms
christinapagel.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Incredibly important guest post here. As a non-American keeping up with all the authoritarian Trump administration moves is much easier without getting overwhelmed. Thanks Prof Christina.
Reposted by George Laxton
“They don't realise that if you don't tax the rich, the rich will squeeze you out.
"If you accept a situation where the rich grow their share every year, then, of course, your share and your family's share will eventually be squeezed to nothing," he said. #nzpol
"If you accept a situation where the rich grow their share every year, then, of course, your share and your family's share will eventually be squeezed to nothing," he said. #nzpol
30 with Guyon Espiner: Economist Gary Stevenson on why New Zealand should tax the rich
British YouTuber and economist Gary Stevenson tells 30 with Guyon Espiner fire engines aren't coming to fix the New Zealand economy.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 18, 2025 at 6:46 PM
“They don't realise that if you don't tax the rich, the rich will squeeze you out.
"If you accept a situation where the rich grow their share every year, then, of course, your share and your family's share will eventually be squeezed to nothing," he said. #nzpol
"If you accept a situation where the rich grow their share every year, then, of course, your share and your family's share will eventually be squeezed to nothing," he said. #nzpol
Reposted by George Laxton
I barely know how to express how sad and angry I am at the politicisation of essential healthcare for trans kids.
Just - this election can’t come soon enough. And when it does, we need to fight as if lives depend on it - because for some, that’s the literal truth.
#nzpol 🏳️⚧️
Just - this election can’t come soon enough. And when it does, we need to fight as if lives depend on it - because for some, that’s the literal truth.
#nzpol 🏳️⚧️
November 19, 2025 at 9:16 AM
I barely know how to express how sad and angry I am at the politicisation of essential healthcare for trans kids.
Just - this election can’t come soon enough. And when it does, we need to fight as if lives depend on it - because for some, that’s the literal truth.
#nzpol 🏳️⚧️
Just - this election can’t come soon enough. And when it does, we need to fight as if lives depend on it - because for some, that’s the literal truth.
#nzpol 🏳️⚧️
Modern day slavers
Saudi Arabia: Migrant workers behind the Riyadh Metro system subjected to decade of devastating abuse www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...
Saudi Arabia: Migrant workers behind the Riyadh Metro system subjected to decade of devastating abuse
Migrant workers who travelled to Saudi Arabia to work on the Riyadh Metro project were forced to pay exorbitant recruitment fees, worked in dangerous heat and earned pitiful wages during a decade of s...
www.amnesty.org
November 18, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Modern day slavers
This govt priorities are all wrong
$4 BILLION to save 'up to 10 minutes' during peak traffic. Fucking hell - imagine what that $4B could do for housing, education, health, etc, in Aotearoa.
November 17, 2025 at 6:20 PM
This govt priorities are all wrong
Ohhh, so you wanted us to focus on the cost of living for people who are struggling, not the wealthy and sorted landlords, tabbaco companies, gas companies and Ute drivers. We gave them all tax breaks and public money. Isn’t that what you wanted? #nzpol #onetermgovt
#nzpol
The minimum wage increased by 1.5% this year. Data today from Stats NZ shows annual increases of:
- Food prices up 4.7%
- Fruit up 11%
- Beef up 17.4%, Lamb up 32.2%
- Bread up 11.4%
- Cheese up 14.8%
- Eggs up 16.2%
- Electricity up 11.8%
Laser-focused on the cost of living
The minimum wage increased by 1.5% this year. Data today from Stats NZ shows annual increases of:
- Food prices up 4.7%
- Fruit up 11%
- Beef up 17.4%, Lamb up 32.2%
- Bread up 11.4%
- Cheese up 14.8%
- Eggs up 16.2%
- Electricity up 11.8%
Laser-focused on the cost of living
November 17, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Ohhh, so you wanted us to focus on the cost of living for people who are struggling, not the wealthy and sorted landlords, tabbaco companies, gas companies and Ute drivers. We gave them all tax breaks and public money. Isn’t that what you wanted? #nzpol #onetermgovt
T&E’s report says AEB can prevent some crashes but that “a car with a good AEB system and a [hood] height between 60cm and 75cm will always be safer than a [taller] vehicle with the same AEB.”
“The rise in high-fronted SUVs poses a clear and growing threat to public safety, especially for children,” states the report. “With no benefit to society, it’s time for lawmakers at all levels to act.” Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com.
Cap SUV/truck hood heights. And ban unsafe designs.
Cap SUV/truck hood heights. And ban unsafe designs.
EU Must Cap SUV Hood Heights Urges Report. Crash Test Body Says Not As Simple As That
Higher fronts on cars significantly increase the death rate when pedestrians and cyclists are struck, says new report. EuroNCAP says more complex than that.
www.forbes.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:30 PM
T&E’s report says AEB can prevent some crashes but that “a car with a good AEB system and a [hood] height between 60cm and 75cm will always be safer than a [taller] vehicle with the same AEB.”
Reposted by George Laxton
I’m just blocking the intersection with my big truck for a couple of minutes. Promise.
November 15, 2025 at 4:26 AM
I’m just blocking the intersection with my big truck for a couple of minutes. Promise.
Made this many years ago after a child was killed by a driver while walking home from school, I’ve never stopped thinking about that tragedy. bsky.app/profile/tomf...
We build aggressive vehicles
We market them recklessly
We celebrate dangerous driving
We design violent streets
We prioritize the driver at all costs
We shame and blame everyone else
Road violence is no accident it’s a direct result of our choices.
We market them recklessly
We celebrate dangerous driving
We design violent streets
We prioritize the driver at all costs
We shame and blame everyone else
Road violence is no accident it’s a direct result of our choices.
November 15, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Reposted by George Laxton
If you need me, tap me on the shoulder. I’ll be happily working all day listening to this on a loop.
November 13, 2025 at 1:49 PM
If you need me, tap me on the shoulder. I’ll be happily working all day listening to this on a loop.
Reposted by George Laxton
Turns out the real political spectrum is just how people feel about free parking 😂
Tag yourself!
Tag yourself!
October 24, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Turns out the real political spectrum is just how people feel about free parking 😂
Tag yourself!
Tag yourself!
It’s insane what powerful people are doing to our precious planet and saying it’s all our fault. We have the solutions, we need to implement them, from the plant roots up! I want a planet where my children grow up in wonder at the beauty of our world. Not this unfolding disaster #whatifwegetitright
Hektoria glacier on the Antarctic Peninsula retreated 25 kilometres in just 15 months. Its rapid melt could have implications for other glaciers and the rate of sea level rise
Antarctic glacier's alarming retreat is the fastest ever seen
Hektoria glacier on the Antarctic Peninsula retreated 25 kilometres in just 15 months. Its rapid melt could have implications for other glaciers and the rate of sea level rise
www.newscientist.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:01 AM
It’s insane what powerful people are doing to our precious planet and saying it’s all our fault. We have the solutions, we need to implement them, from the plant roots up! I want a planet where my children grow up in wonder at the beauty of our world. Not this unfolding disaster #whatifwegetitright
Reposted by George Laxton
we need to protect both the independent, expert creation of evidence and information *and* the communication of it by independent, non-partisan, media organisations.
christinapagel.substack.com/p/informatio...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/informatio...
November 11, 2025 at 10:56 AM
we need to protect both the independent, expert creation of evidence and information *and* the communication of it by independent, non-partisan, media organisations.
christinapagel.substack.com/p/informatio...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/informatio...
Incredibly sobering and important article to read, understand and share with others.
Paywall removed as it's a really important read.
👉 And for all those who say 'but China'... let's just dwell on the fact that the West has outsourced a sh*tload of our production and emissions there, and we can't turn a blind eye to that 👈
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
👉 And for all those who say 'but China'... let's just dwell on the fact that the West has outsourced a sh*tload of our production and emissions there, and we can't turn a blind eye to that 👈
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
Govt's climate strategy: Let it burn
Comment: The Government has relentlessly pursued policies that boost climate pollution – even if they cost more or jeopardise NZ's reputation, Marc Daalder writes
newsroom.co.nz
November 10, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Incredibly sobering and important article to read, understand and share with others.
When will our out of touch Prime Minister actually stand up for himself instead of letting the tail wag the dog?
our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/lu...
our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/lu...
PM Luxon: Uphold Codes of Conduct - Call David Seymour into line
Responsible leaders welcome advice from experts when they are creating laws and policies. They know good decision making means planning for the long term, considering diverse points of view and making...
our.actionstation.org.nz
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 AM
When will our out of touch Prime Minister actually stand up for himself instead of letting the tail wag the dog?
our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/lu...
our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/lu...
Reposted by George Laxton
BlueSky shoutout on Abbot Elementary!
November 6, 2025 at 7:31 PM
BlueSky shoutout on Abbot Elementary!
Reposted by George Laxton
I'm here outside Speaker Johnson’s office because he is starving families and gutting health care to cover up the Epstein Files.
Change my mind.
Change my mind.
November 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I'm here outside Speaker Johnson’s office because he is starving families and gutting health care to cover up the Epstein Files.
Change my mind.
Change my mind.
We could do this too!
Imagine a world where there is so much abundant clean energy that we have to pay people to use it.
That world is possible!
Imagine a world where there is so much abundant clean energy that we have to pay people to use it.
That world is possible!
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 6:49 PM
We could do this too!
Imagine a world where there is so much abundant clean energy that we have to pay people to use it.
That world is possible!
Imagine a world where there is so much abundant clean energy that we have to pay people to use it.
That world is possible!
Reposted by George Laxton
Neat! So NZTA confirms that Tesla have no special approval to release "full self-driving" in New Zealand, and that there has been no advice sought or provided regarding whether the product is safe to deploy in New Zealand.
Good luck if you're sharing the road with these things.
Good luck if you're sharing the road with these things.
[Response] NZTA replied about Legality of Tesla Full Self Driving
October 30, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Neat! So NZTA confirms that Tesla have no special approval to release "full self-driving" in New Zealand, and that there has been no advice sought or provided regarding whether the product is safe to deploy in New Zealand.
Good luck if you're sharing the road with these things.
Good luck if you're sharing the road with these things.
The undermining democracy bar chart almost looks exponential…
Prof Christina Pagel does great work in showing in data all the things Trump is doing. Great work, much easier to digest than the constant stream of the latest insane thing he’s done and shows how things are progressively getting worse.
Prof Christina Pagel does great work in showing in data all the things Trump is doing. Great work, much easier to digest than the constant stream of the latest insane thing he’s done and shows how things are progressively getting worse.
and now with added bar charts showing number of actions per month by domain. Clear massive growth in recent months in "violating democratic norms", "suppressing dissent", and "Nationalism"
October 29, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The undermining democracy bar chart almost looks exponential…
Prof Christina Pagel does great work in showing in data all the things Trump is doing. Great work, much easier to digest than the constant stream of the latest insane thing he’s done and shows how things are progressively getting worse.
Prof Christina Pagel does great work in showing in data all the things Trump is doing. Great work, much easier to digest than the constant stream of the latest insane thing he’s done and shows how things are progressively getting worse.
Reposted by George Laxton
Fantastic thread
“Science is never settled” sounds reasonable—but it’s often a rhetorical trick to undermine consensus on issues like vaccines or climate change.
Science evolves, but some things are overwhelmingly supported by evidence.
My latest for Live Science
www.livescience.com/...
1/10
Science evolves, but some things are overwhelmingly supported by evidence.
My latest for Live Science
www.livescience.com/...
1/10
There is such a thing as 'settled science' — anyone who says otherwise is trying to manipulate you
How bad-faith arguments sow doubt by weaponizing scientific humility.
www.livescience.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Fantastic thread