Charlotte Smith
@charsmiffy.bsky.social
Climate comms and all things German/ ex BBC/CNN/DWTV Journo. Currently clean on OPSEC
Pinned
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
According to Mohammad-Ali Moallem, the manager of the Karaj Dam, rainfall has plummeted dramatically.
"We had a 92% decrease in rain compared to last year," he said. "We have only eight per cent water in our reservoir — and most of it is unusable and considered 'dead water.'"
"We had a 92% decrease in rain compared to last year," he said. "We have only eight per cent water in our reservoir — and most of it is unusable and considered 'dead water.'"
Iran faces unprecedented drought as water crisis hits Tehran
The government is pleading with Iranians to save water as reservoirs dry up and rainfall is at a record low.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:46 AM
According to Mohammad-Ali Moallem, the manager of the Karaj Dam, rainfall has plummeted dramatically.
"We had a 92% decrease in rain compared to last year," he said. "We have only eight per cent water in our reservoir — and most of it is unusable and considered 'dead water.'"
"We had a 92% decrease in rain compared to last year," he said. "We have only eight per cent water in our reservoir — and most of it is unusable and considered 'dead water.'"
Brilliant data visualisation of the unparalleled public trustin the Beeb, across the political spectrum. And how that aids cohesion and consensus. Worth fighting tooth and nail to preserve.
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Brilliant data visualisation of the unparalleled public trustin the Beeb, across the political spectrum. And how that aids cohesion and consensus. Worth fighting tooth and nail to preserve.
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
This is as good a summation as you will get on the levers behind the BBC changes. A set of editorial judgments and errors that should have been swiftly corrected or addressed and blatant political interference amounting to an unnecessary crisis : observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...
The Observer view: political interference at the BBC | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:56 AM
This is as good a summation as you will get on the levers behind the BBC changes. A set of editorial judgments and errors that should have been swiftly corrected or addressed and blatant political interference amounting to an unnecessary crisis : observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
Losing both the director-general and the very obvious heir apparent as the result of such an orchestrated attack is truly existential stuff for the BBC.
It’s also a *massive* challenge for Lisa Nandy, who has so far failed to impress anyone as culture secretary.
It’s also a *massive* challenge for Lisa Nandy, who has so far failed to impress anyone as culture secretary.
November 9, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Losing both the director-general and the very obvious heir apparent as the result of such an orchestrated attack is truly existential stuff for the BBC.
It’s also a *massive* challenge for Lisa Nandy, who has so far failed to impress anyone as culture secretary.
It’s also a *massive* challenge for Lisa Nandy, who has so far failed to impress anyone as culture secretary.
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
NEW: A critical memo by an ex-BBC adviser has hit the beeb this week.
But some question the way it has come out & how Boris Johnson has reacted - as well as the role of figures from his time in power.
Johnson states this is "complete & utter bollocks".
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
But some question the way it has come out & how Boris Johnson has reacted - as well as the role of figures from his time in power.
Johnson states this is "complete & utter bollocks".
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Boris Johnson trying to undermine BBC leadership, insiders fear after leak
Director general under pressure after release of memo criticising reporting on Trump, trans rights and Gaza
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:55 PM
NEW: A critical memo by an ex-BBC adviser has hit the beeb this week.
But some question the way it has come out & how Boris Johnson has reacted - as well as the role of figures from his time in power.
Johnson states this is "complete & utter bollocks".
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
But some question the way it has come out & how Boris Johnson has reacted - as well as the role of figures from his time in power.
Johnson states this is "complete & utter bollocks".
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
Where we are in the climate crisis: Amazonian dolphins dying in hot tub lakes. www.cbsnews.com/news/dolphin...
Hundreds of dolphins found dead in Amazon lake were in water hotter than a jacuzzi, study finds
"You couldn't put your finger in the water," said the lead author of the study, which spotlights the impacts of planetary warming on aquatic ecosystems.
www.cbsnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Where we are in the climate crisis: Amazonian dolphins dying in hot tub lakes. www.cbsnews.com/news/dolphin...
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
Just to reiterate my view, having studied the history of the BBC for over a quarter of a century - as well as having worked there for several years as a journalist:
Robbie Gibb should have absolutely no role whatsoever in the governance of the Corporation.
Robbie Gibb should have absolutely no role whatsoever in the governance of the Corporation.
Boris Johnson trying to undermine BBC leadership, insiders fear after leak
Director general under pressure after release of memo criticising reporting on Trump, trans rights and Gaza
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Just to reiterate my view, having studied the history of the BBC for over a quarter of a century - as well as having worked there for several years as a journalist:
Robbie Gibb should have absolutely no role whatsoever in the governance of the Corporation.
Robbie Gibb should have absolutely no role whatsoever in the governance of the Corporation.
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned Tehran may face evacuation. Water reserves have fallen to just 5% after months without rain.
November 7, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned Tehran may face evacuation. Water reserves have fallen to just 5% after months without rain.
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
Researchers warn that the alga Karenia cristata, which has killed around a million animals in Australian waters in one of the biggest algal blooms ever seen, could harm marine life elsewhere
Toxic algae blighting South Australia could pose a global threat
Researchers warn that the alga Karenia cristata, which has killed around a million animals in Australian waters in one of the biggest algal blooms ever seen, could harm marine life elsewhere
www.newscientist.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Researchers warn that the alga Karenia cristata, which has killed around a million animals in Australian waters in one of the biggest algal blooms ever seen, could harm marine life elsewhere
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
Wow: Peter Thiel in a private 2020 email argued that capitalism has failed young Americans, and so this is why they have become socialist.
This is almost literally Zohran Mamdani's campaign message.
The email was posted to Xitter by his friend VC Chamath Palihapitiya.
This is almost literally Zohran Mamdani's campaign message.
The email was posted to Xitter by his friend VC Chamath Palihapitiya.
November 5, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Wow: Peter Thiel in a private 2020 email argued that capitalism has failed young Americans, and so this is why they have become socialist.
This is almost literally Zohran Mamdani's campaign message.
The email was posted to Xitter by his friend VC Chamath Palihapitiya.
This is almost literally Zohran Mamdani's campaign message.
The email was posted to Xitter by his friend VC Chamath Palihapitiya.
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
Some on the far right want to repeal the 19th amendment. Many more share a coercive, patriarchal view of women.
I wrote about this and how the far right sees subjugating women as key to building the sort of electorate they need to win. @liberalcurrents.com
www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
I wrote about this and how the far right sees subjugating women as key to building the sort of electorate they need to win. @liberalcurrents.com
www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
Women Should Make Babies, Not Vote: Why Some on the Far Right Want to Repeal the 19th Amendment
The far right takes losses at the ballot box as evidence that women do not deserve their rights.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Some on the far right want to repeal the 19th amendment. Many more share a coercive, patriarchal view of women.
I wrote about this and how the far right sees subjugating women as key to building the sort of electorate they need to win. @liberalcurrents.com
www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
I wrote about this and how the far right sees subjugating women as key to building the sort of electorate they need to win. @liberalcurrents.com
www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
must-read analysis of how Musk's twitter is drenching new users with right-wing propaganda
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:39 AM
must-read analysis of how Musk's twitter is drenching new users with right-wing propaganda
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
If I were running in next year's midterms, I'd be saying: Aussies are getting free electricity, and we're getting huge price spikes.
Because they built solar, and Trump is blocking it.
open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
Because they built solar, and Trump is blocking it.
open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
Free Electricity. Like, at no cost. For everyone. Now.
Let's talk about affordability, abundance, and Australia--and why thanks to Trump we can't have nice things
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:10 PM
If I were running in next year's midterms, I'd be saying: Aussies are getting free electricity, and we're getting huge price spikes.
Because they built solar, and Trump is blocking it.
open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
Because they built solar, and Trump is blocking it.
open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
When I run errands these days, I make sure I have my keys, my phone and my whistle. I wear the whistle in case I spot Homeland Security thugs terrorizing people and need to alert my neighbors. Lots of people are wearing them.
That’s how Trump has changed life in my hometown, Evanston, IL.
That’s how Trump has changed life in my hometown, Evanston, IL.
November 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
When I run errands these days, I make sure I have my keys, my phone and my whistle. I wear the whistle in case I spot Homeland Security thugs terrorizing people and need to alert my neighbors. Lots of people are wearing them.
That’s how Trump has changed life in my hometown, Evanston, IL.
That’s how Trump has changed life in my hometown, Evanston, IL.
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
The 37,000 🇺🇸US soldiers stationed in 🇩🇪Germany are facing US gov’t shutdown-related hardships.
The US Army therefore published a guide on its website with tips on how they can survive, listing links to emergency social benefits and loans, and recommending German food banks.
~The times we live in…🫣
The US Army therefore published a guide on its website with tips on how they can survive, listing links to emergency social benefits and loans, and recommending German food banks.
~The times we live in…🫣
Shutdown: Army empfiehlt US-Soldaten in Deutschland zur Tafel zu gehen
Der Shutdown in den USA trifft 37.000 US-Soldaten in Deutschland: Die Army empfiehlt Notfall-Hilfen, sogar den Gang zur Tafel. Droht Mitte November der komplette Gehaltsausfall?
de.euronews.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:26 AM
The 37,000 🇺🇸US soldiers stationed in 🇩🇪Germany are facing US gov’t shutdown-related hardships.
The US Army therefore published a guide on its website with tips on how they can survive, listing links to emergency social benefits and loans, and recommending German food banks.
~The times we live in…🫣
The US Army therefore published a guide on its website with tips on how they can survive, listing links to emergency social benefits and loans, and recommending German food banks.
~The times we live in…🫣
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
I think I finally understand what true blasphemy feels like.
My favourite wholesome follow - Ian Denton's Weedy pond cam - invaded by hounds chasing a fox. Feeling sick but happy the fox seems to have gotten away today.
My favourite wholesome follow - Ian Denton's Weedy pond cam - invaded by hounds chasing a fox. Feeling sick but happy the fox seems to have gotten away today.
Hounds update.
Here caught on camera - you can hear them in full cry, when they pick-up the trail of the fox.
I heard on the grapevine that the fox was chased to a busy main road a few miles away, where it escaped the hounds.
By 1.30 last night, a rather scared looking fox appeared in the thicket.
Here caught on camera - you can hear them in full cry, when they pick-up the trail of the fox.
I heard on the grapevine that the fox was chased to a busy main road a few miles away, where it escaped the hounds.
By 1.30 last night, a rather scared looking fox appeared in the thicket.
November 5, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I think I finally understand what true blasphemy feels like.
My favourite wholesome follow - Ian Denton's Weedy pond cam - invaded by hounds chasing a fox. Feeling sick but happy the fox seems to have gotten away today.
My favourite wholesome follow - Ian Denton's Weedy pond cam - invaded by hounds chasing a fox. Feeling sick but happy the fox seems to have gotten away today.
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
1/2 Hounds in the garden just now, on the trail of some poor fox.
This is still the reality of "trail hunting" in North Dorset in 2025.
I put so much effort into making this place a sanctuary for wildlife.
@angelaeagle1.bsky.social @parliamentarygoose.bsky.social
This is still the reality of "trail hunting" in North Dorset in 2025.
I put so much effort into making this place a sanctuary for wildlife.
@angelaeagle1.bsky.social @parliamentarygoose.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 3:50 PM
1/2 Hounds in the garden just now, on the trail of some poor fox.
This is still the reality of "trail hunting" in North Dorset in 2025.
I put so much effort into making this place a sanctuary for wildlife.
@angelaeagle1.bsky.social @parliamentarygoose.bsky.social
This is still the reality of "trail hunting" in North Dorset in 2025.
I put so much effort into making this place a sanctuary for wildlife.
@angelaeagle1.bsky.social @parliamentarygoose.bsky.social
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
Inside Gaza, BBC sees total devastation after two years of war
Inside Gaza, BBC sees total devastation after two years of war
With endless rubble and destroyed streets as far as the eye can see, any plans for Gaza's future are a far cry from where it is today, writes Lucy Williamson.
www.bbc.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Inside Gaza, BBC sees total devastation after two years of war
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
The Heritage Foundation & the Claremont Institute often seem to operate in lockstep. Both of them, for example, recently published articles by Scott Yenor that take aim at contraception, specifically, birth control pills. Here’s the Heritage piece from 10/29/25... 1/ www.heritage.org/life/comment...
RFK Should Grill the Pill
No drug is as sacrosanct in today’s sexually “liberated” culture as oral contraceptives. But the proliferation of the birth control pill since the 1960s has fostered a number of grave consequences for...
www.heritage.org
November 5, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The Heritage Foundation & the Claremont Institute often seem to operate in lockstep. Both of them, for example, recently published articles by Scott Yenor that take aim at contraception, specifically, birth control pills. Here’s the Heritage piece from 10/29/25... 1/ www.heritage.org/life/comment...
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
This is absolutely appalling.
"The UK will not contribute to a flagship fund for the world’s remaining tropical forests, in a bitter blow to the Brazilian hosts on the eve of the Cop30 climate summit."
Absolutely pathetic.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
"The UK will not contribute to a flagship fund for the world’s remaining tropical forests, in a bitter blow to the Brazilian hosts on the eve of the Cop30 climate summit."
Absolutely pathetic.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
UK opts out of flagship fund to protect Amazon and other threatened tropical forests
Decision is bitter blow to Brazil ahead of fund’s launch at Cop30 – and an embarrassment to Prince William
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:33 PM
This is absolutely appalling.
"The UK will not contribute to a flagship fund for the world’s remaining tropical forests, in a bitter blow to the Brazilian hosts on the eve of the Cop30 climate summit."
Absolutely pathetic.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
"The UK will not contribute to a flagship fund for the world’s remaining tropical forests, in a bitter blow to the Brazilian hosts on the eve of the Cop30 climate summit."
Absolutely pathetic.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
I have no words
November 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I have no words
Reposted by Charlotte Smith
To be clear, what is being proposed here is to axe the main mechanism for getting Britain’s homes insulated - which is by FAR the best way to reduce household energy bills in the long term 🤦♂️
…and also, just incidentally, an absolute non-negotiable requirement for meeting UK climate targets 😬🥵☠️
…and also, just incidentally, an absolute non-negotiable requirement for meeting UK climate targets 😬🥵☠️
Reeves considers cut to green levies in effort to reduce cost of energy bills
Exclusive: Chancellor hopes to save up to £170 from average bill but industry insiders say move would be ‘disastrous’
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:17 AM
To be clear, what is being proposed here is to axe the main mechanism for getting Britain’s homes insulated - which is by FAR the best way to reduce household energy bills in the long term 🤦♂️
…and also, just incidentally, an absolute non-negotiable requirement for meeting UK climate targets 😬🥵☠️
…and also, just incidentally, an absolute non-negotiable requirement for meeting UK climate targets 😬🥵☠️
