David de Weerdt
LightNews LightNews
banner
daviddeweerdt.bsky.social
David de Weerdt
@daviddeweerdt.bsky.social
490 followers 660 following 180 posts
Climate, biodiversity, community, collaboration, creativity. A Canadian abroad.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
daviddeweerdt.bsky.social
David de Weerdt @daviddeweerdt.bsky.social · Dec 30
Just a note: I'm not here to win a contest for who has the most followers. I'm happy to connect with people who share similar values and interesting-to-me info and viewpoints. Have a great day!
Reposted by David de Weerdt
muellershewrote.com
The top three things Jesus was on about were feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and welcoming the stranger. Rich men have convinced so-called Christians to starve the hungry, gut health care, and deport the stranger to enrich themselves. It’s astoundingly anti-Christ.
October 31, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
leonardlloyd.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 2:36 PM
daviddeweerdt.bsky.social
All my life I have appreciated the pain and the relief of dawning conciousness, which art can sometimes provoke. Thank you Ai Weiwei. Art costs a great deal in human terms, especially for the artist.
marxologist.bsky.social Ksenia Arapko @marxologist.bsky.social · Aug 2
Ai Weiwei was invited to contribute short reflections on “What I would have liked to know about Germany earlier" for an upcoming issue of Zeit Magazin. His submission was first shortened and edited, then immediately cancelled after a review by the Executive Editor. Ai shared his reflections anyway:
Here is the column I wrote on the theme "What I Would have liked to Know About Germany Earlier," along with the additional reflections I provided at Zeit Magazin's request. -A society governed by regulations, yet lacking individual moral judgement, is more dangerous than one with none at all. -A society that values obedience without questioning authority is destined to become corrupt. -A society that admits to error but refuses to reflect on its origins possesses a mind as stubborn and dull as granite. -Here, at a deserted street, people stop dutifully at a red light. Not a car in sight. This, I once thought, is the mark of a highly evolved society. -At the heart of bureaucracy lies a collective endorsement of power's legitimacy, and therefore, individuals surrender their moral judgement–or perhaps never developed one. They abandon challenge. They relinquish dispute. -When conversation becomes avoidance, when topics must not be mentioned, we are already living under the quiet logic of authoritarianism. -When the majority believe they live in a free society, it is often a sign that the society is not free. Freedom is not a gift; it must be wrestled from the hands of banality and the quiet complicity with power. -When people sense that power is beyond challenge, they redirect their energy into trivial disputes. And those trivialities, collectively, are enough to erode a society's very foundations of justice. -When public events of great consequence–such as the Nord Stream Pipeline bombing–are met with silence from both government and media, the silence itself becomes more terrifying than any atomic bomb. -Facts are acknowledged partially, forgotten deliberately, or swallowed by collective silence. And so we repeat catastrophe–against and again, in cycles. -When the media becomes a servant of public opinion, or avoids conflict to maintain favour with existing powers, it becomes an accomplice to authority. What we call lies are not always distortions of fact. -Political leaders make decisions steeped in fallacy & failure. This reflects the broader political condition of a society in which most people have surrendered their awareness & even their basic agency–allowing such leaders to enact their mistakes on their behalf -When a society uses linguistic difference or cultural misunderstanding as excuses for exclusion, it has crossed into a more insidious form of racism. This is not a political opinion–it is an attitude, a stain in blood, passed down like genes -Bureaucracy is not merely sluggish. It is a cultural scorn. It rejects the possibility of dialogue. It insists that ignorance, codified into policy, no matter how wrong & inhumane it is, remains the best resistance against social mobility, against moral motion. In such a society, hope is not misplaced. It is extinguished -In the surrounding atmosphere, one sees not culture, but self-congratulation; not art, but insularity & collective reverence for power. What is missing is sincerity–honesty of emotion & of intention. In such an environment, art that grapples with true human feeling or moral reckoning is nearly impossible to produce. -A place that routinely discards self-awareness & erases individual agency is one that lives under iron walls of authoritarianism -I have no family, no fatherland, never known what it is to belong. I belong only to myself. In the best of circumstances, that self should belong to everyone. I still do not know what art is. I only hope that what I make might touch its edges while it seems unrelated to anything. & in truth, in the best of circumstances it is unrelated to me, for the "I" already melts into everything -Those things found in galleries, museums, & collectors' living room–are they art? Who has declared them so? On what basis? Why do I always feel suspicion in their presence? -Works that evade reality, that shy away from argument, from controversy, from debate–be they text, painting, or performance–are worthless. -I understand now: people crave power and tyranny as they crave sunshine and rain, for the burden of self-awareness feels like pain. at times, even like catastrophe. -Under most circumstances, society selects the most selfish, least idealistic among us to take on the work we call "art" because that choice makes everyone feel safe. Additional reflections -In Berlin, I encounter the ever-present Schweinshaxe and Schnitzel, and I can hardly believe that such a highly developed, industrialised country offers such a monotonous selection of ingredients. Even more baffling is the sudden proliferation of Chinese restaurants–most of them noodle-based, and operating at a culinary level that any Chinese person could easily achieve at home. The variety of food and cooking methods is so limited here that people form all over the world feel compelled to open restaurants: Vietnamese, Thai, Turkish–you name it. -But the truly horrifying part? The sheer number of Chinese restaurants. I can only assume they believe that no matter what ends up on the plate, German customers will come running. In front of some of these establishments, there are even long queues–yet the food they serve bears little resemblance to anything recognisably Chinese. My favourite food in Germany is the bread and sausage–you simply can't find ones with such distinctive character anywhere else. -I'm puzzled by why so many people would willingly cram themselves into a small bar just to have a long conversation. Since I don't speak the language, I can only imagine that the young people coming to Berlin would talk about clubbing. This sort of thing was all the rage in the U.S. back in the '70s and '80s. -The Germans might be the only people who are truly the furthest from a sense of humour. This could be the result of their deep reverence for rationality. Just look at Berlin Airport or the advertisements for Mercedes-Benz cars–you start to feel that their lack of humour has become a kind of immense humour in itself
August 10, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
ariaa.bsky.social
Life-saving idea! Pass it on!
August 5, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
asherwolf.bsky.social
The United Nations rights office says the vast majority of people killed while trying to access aid in the past six weeks in Gaza were in the vicinity of US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
UN says 875 Palestinians killed seeking food in recent weeks, most at US-Israeli backed sites
The United Nations rights office says the vast majority of those killed while trying to access aid in the past six weeks were in the vicinity of US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sit...
www.sbs.com.au
July 15, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
mikeschreiner.bsky.social
We’re losing the farmland that feeds us at an unsustainable rate. The bill MPP Brady and I put forward would permanently protect our farmland to ensure that hundreds of years from now Ontarians can still rely on Ontario food and farmers to feed us.

Now is the time to protect our farmland.
July 10, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
unep.org
From more heatwaves, extreme weather events, droughts, and floods, the evidence is clear: the world is feeling the impacts of the #ClimateCrisis.

Join the fight for #ClimateAction by accessing the latest news and data: www.unep.org/news-and-sto...
July 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
thegodpodcast.com
I’m looking for too notch YouTube video editors who believe in our cause of using truth and humor to fight fascism.

If this is you, please respond with a link to your highlight reel. If interested I will follow back and message you!
June 20, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
johnhtran.bsky.social
The G7 backed Ukraine.
Trump blocked the joint statement.
He flew home early, called Putin, and demanded Iran surrender.

This isn’t neutrality.
It’s a pivot - away from allies, toward power.
And the world sees it.
June 17, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
eff.org
Imagine a world where:
💻 Your device is truly yours
📱 You speak freely without fear
🔐 Your privacy is protected
That's the future we're fighting for at EFF. Stand with us for our 35th anniversary!
35 Years for Privacy, Free Speech, and a Brighter Future
Through July 10, new monthly or annual Sustaining Donors get an EFF35 Challenge Coin! With your help, EFF is here to stay.
eff.org
June 13, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
nordacious.bsky.social
the horrors of this genocide are beyond what words can hold..but among its many impacts is the erosion of my faith in humanity. but seeing kids create art rooted in empathy + resistance, with a teacher guiding them - has offered a small but powerful glimmer of hope. i am sincerely touched.
June 14, 2025 at 7:16 AM
daviddeweerdt.bsky.social
This Trumo-appeasing behaviour makes me ill.
June 2, 2025 at 8:13 AM
daviddeweerdt.bsky.social
@boldnewme.bsky.social reports Bonhoeffer said stupidity is a greater enemy than malice because it can not be reasoned with. My my German-born father and Canadian superior court judge was a great admirer of him. I will have to find this 2024 film centered on his part in the plot to stop Hitler.
peacescientists.bsky.social Susanna J Dodgson @peacescientists.bsky.social · May 19
I absolutely recommend the recent movie on Bonhoeffer, and also, his books. His eyes were opened wide by watching oppression in the USA, and he would not be silent in Germany. Today, he would be leading protests against bombing and staving to death Palestinians.
boldnewme.bsky.social Dr. Mar 💙 @boldnewme.bsky.social · May 19
Bonhoeffer’s Theory of Stupidity is a powerful social critique introduced in his writings from prison during WW II.

Bonhoeffer argued that stupidity is more dangerous to society than malice, because while evil can be confronted and exposed, stupidity is often impervious to reason.
May 19, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social
I relish every time you get to see Olympians race normal people who you can see what world class athleticism looks like on a relatable scale
beequammie.bsky.social Bee Quammie @beequammie.bsky.social · Apr 17
Shelly-Ann racing in her kid's Parents Day race at the school is the funniest thing I've seen all week LMAO
April 17, 2025 at 7:56 PM
daviddeweerdt.bsky.social
The volunteers on @azajdlik.bsky.social 's campaign put these campaign team values up behind my workstation. Great reminder! I'm lucky to be working with such an empowering team.
April 5, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
azajdlik.bsky.social
As a physician and long-time advocate for equitable care, I know firsthand how urgently we need to strengthen our public health care system. In Ottawa, I will be a voice for Guelph - for our extraordinary health care workers, and for every patient who’s been left behind by the cracks in the system.
April 2, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
yegraginggrannies.bsky.social
March 31, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
therickydavila.bsky.social
DOGE claims to have found billions of dollars in fraud yet not one criminal charge has been filed against anyone, just mass firings of federal employees.

Which means they’ve been wasting millions of dollars finding absolutely nothing on purpose. The fraud is DOGE.
March 31, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
canadiansagainstt.bsky.social
March 31, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
azajdlik.bsky.social
What a beautiful Saturday afternoon celebrating Holi with the Hindu Society of Guelph. Our city shines brighter when we come together in celebration and in love.

Anne-Marie
Green MP Candidate for Guelph

#guelph #holi #hindusocietyofguelph #votezajdlik
March 30, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
azajdlik.bsky.social
2,000 signs across Guelph? Let’s do it.
Support the Green wave: votezajdlik.ca
#Guelph #cdnpoli #VoteGreen
March 25, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
azajdlik.bsky.social
B*tch & Stitch
Craft. Vent. Connect.
Thurs Mar 27, 7–9pm
21 Gordon St, Guelph
Free | BYO craft | Yarn swap | Tea
With Monica Pease MSW RSW
#BitchAndStitch #Guelph
March 26, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
wired.com
Donald Trump has vowed to deport millions and jail his enemies. To carry out that agenda, his administration will exploit America’s digital surveillance machine.

Here are some steps you can take to evade it.
The WIRED Guide to Protecting Yourself From Government Surveillance
Donald Trump has vowed to deport millions and jail his enemies. To carry out that agenda, his administration will exploit America’s digital surveillance machine. Here are some steps you can take to ev...
www.wired.com
March 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
canadiansagainstt.bsky.social
March 20, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Reposted by David de Weerdt
markhamillofficial.bsky.social
👋 Hey Kids!!! Get ready to either laugh uproariously or sob inconsolably, cuz it's time for either the SUNDAY FUNNIES or the TRUTHFUL TRAGEDIES, depending on your own personal point-of-view.
#Enjoy 🤣 (or) #Despair 😩
March 9, 2025 at 9:12 PM