Deb Merriam
@debmerriam.bsky.social
DebMerriam on all other SM. Ex-academic bluenoser in Treaty 6, past chair of the Local Good (YEG), fibre artist, solarpunk, earth-centred inclusive beliefs. She/they,🏳️⚧️parent, mom friend, trying to make a difference.
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Deb Merriam
@debmerriam.bsky.social
· Aug 12
Hey pocket friends! Reintroduction: I’m an ex-biochemist from NS living in amiskwaciwaskahikan (Treaty 6, Canada). I’m interested in solar-punk, slow design & community-focused solutions to the climate crisis - and a textile artist. You may know me from The Local Good / Green Drinks YEG …
The only post I have seen today that sparked joy.
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.
This is who it was:
This is who it was:
November 21, 2025 at 5:20 AM
The only post I have seen today that sparked joy.
Reposted by Deb Merriam
This is one of those points as an academic and researcher who focuses on authoritarianism and fascism I don’t like to make but:when the leader of the fascist movement that holds the government starts posting about murdering their opposition specifically political opposition you are in massive danger
November 20, 2025 at 4:20 PM
This is one of those points as an academic and researcher who focuses on authoritarianism and fascism I don’t like to make but:when the leader of the fascist movement that holds the government starts posting about murdering their opposition specifically political opposition you are in massive danger
Reposted by Deb Merriam
amnesty.ca/press-releas...
Amnesty International Canada’s response to the #Alberta government’s use of the notwithstanding clause:
“The Charter was never meant to be used as a political tool to single out and withdraw protection of vulnerable groups.”
#abpoli
#noqueens
#judicialprocess
Amnesty International Canada’s response to the #Alberta government’s use of the notwithstanding clause:
“The Charter was never meant to be used as a political tool to single out and withdraw protection of vulnerable groups.”
#abpoli
#noqueens
#judicialprocess
Amnesty International Canada condemns Alberta's use of Notwithstanding Clause to prop up anti-trans policies
In response to the Government of Alberta’s use of notwithstanding clause for the second time in a span of one month to protect a trio of laws that affect
amnesty.ca
November 21, 2025 at 4:23 AM
amnesty.ca/press-releas...
Amnesty International Canada’s response to the #Alberta government’s use of the notwithstanding clause:
“The Charter was never meant to be used as a political tool to single out and withdraw protection of vulnerable groups.”
#abpoli
#noqueens
#judicialprocess
Amnesty International Canada’s response to the #Alberta government’s use of the notwithstanding clause:
“The Charter was never meant to be used as a political tool to single out and withdraw protection of vulnerable groups.”
#abpoli
#noqueens
#judicialprocess
Reposted by Deb Merriam
A first for Alberta - a legislative petition, not just a policy petition, demanding the prohibition of all new coal mines (including Grassy) on the eastern slopes of the Rockies.
Way to go Corb.
#ableg #abpoli @cpawsnab.bsky.social @cpawssab.bsky.social @albertawilderness.bsky.social
Way to go Corb.
#ableg #abpoli @cpawsnab.bsky.social @cpawssab.bsky.social @albertawilderness.bsky.social
Corb Lund launches Alberta-wide petition against foreign ruination of the Rocky Mountains
Alberta’s favourite musician continues to light fires in Smith's murky coal bin
www.crowsnestheadwaters.ca
November 20, 2025 at 5:09 AM
A first for Alberta - a legislative petition, not just a policy petition, demanding the prohibition of all new coal mines (including Grassy) on the eastern slopes of the Rockies.
Way to go Corb.
#ableg #abpoli @cpawsnab.bsky.social @cpawssab.bsky.social @albertawilderness.bsky.social
Way to go Corb.
#ableg #abpoli @cpawsnab.bsky.social @cpawssab.bsky.social @albertawilderness.bsky.social
Reposted by Deb Merriam
“If we don’t have the resources to deal with a smaller vessel like this, how are we ever going to respond to a supertanker full of bitumen?”
Near-sinking barge off of BC coast stokes fears over oil tanker threats
A loaded barge taking on water and the disastrous Nathan E. Stewart diesel spill underscore the dangers of oil tankers in B.C.’s coastal waters, Coast First Nations say.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:37 AM
“If we don’t have the resources to deal with a smaller vessel like this, how are we ever going to respond to a supertanker full of bitumen?”
Reposted by Deb Merriam
It will be interesting to see what this damning report of wasted taxpayers dollars on private care and concerns of meddling in procurement will have on those other allegations of wasted taxpayer dollars on private care and concerns of meddling in procurement.
November 19, 2025 at 10:01 PM
It will be interesting to see what this damning report of wasted taxpayers dollars on private care and concerns of meddling in procurement will have on those other allegations of wasted taxpayer dollars on private care and concerns of meddling in procurement.
Reposted by Deb Merriam
“The deep ocean is much more active than what we thought. I thought the deep ocean could be warming, but not so fast.” www.newscientist.com/article/2505...
Climate heating has reached even deepest parts of the Arctic Ocean
The depths of the Arctic Ocean have warmed more than scientists expected. New research has placed the blame on warmer water from Greenland
www.newscientist.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:13 PM
“The deep ocean is much more active than what we thought. I thought the deep ocean could be warming, but not so fast.” www.newscientist.com/article/2505...
Reposted by Deb Merriam
MAGA learned from global autocrats the language needed to push fear.
By using the term "gender ideology," the right seeks to cast gender identity not as something you are, but as something dangerous that you believe.
By using the term "gender ideology," the right seeks to cast gender identity not as something you are, but as something dangerous that you believe.
How the right uses "gender ideology" to blame trans people for everything
MAGA learned from global autocrats the language needed to push fear.
www.motherjones.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:00 PM
MAGA learned from global autocrats the language needed to push fear.
By using the term "gender ideology," the right seeks to cast gender identity not as something you are, but as something dangerous that you believe.
By using the term "gender ideology," the right seeks to cast gender identity not as something you are, but as something dangerous that you believe.
Reposted by Deb Merriam
"… it sounds as if the government’s strategists planned to pull it out at the end of the current sitting of the Alberta legislature next week, pass it in a hurry and then bug off for the holiday break…"
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Danielle Smith’s Secret Plan to Destroy Public Health Care | The Tyee
A leaked document reveals the UCP is bringing in two-tier care.
thetyee.ca
November 19, 2025 at 10:54 PM
"… it sounds as if the government’s strategists planned to pull it out at the end of the current sitting of the Alberta legislature next week, pass it in a hurry and then bug off for the holiday break…"
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Reposted by Deb Merriam
huh
Very good New York Times reporting on the influx of converts into the Orthodox Church and the rise of "Orthobros." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
Orthodox Church Pews Are Overflowing With Converts
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:25 PM
huh
Reposted by Deb Merriam
A perfectly timed exposé of the Russian Orthodox Church’s role in Putin’s influence operations in the West & military operations against Ukraine - though I doubt the useful idiots inviting these dubious characters into the White House to spread lies about Ukraine will read it, unfortunately.
OMG 😳 Last week I wrote about Russia’s Orthodox Church being an arm of intel (part of my new series on the far right) and just read that the White House will meet clergy with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church this week thehill.com/policy/inter...
Chapter 2: Russia's Orthodox Church
Welcome to my new series, Inside the Kremlin’s Global Far-Right Operations.
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:53 AM
A perfectly timed exposé of the Russian Orthodox Church’s role in Putin’s influence operations in the West & military operations against Ukraine - though I doubt the useful idiots inviting these dubious characters into the White House to spread lies about Ukraine will read it, unfortunately.
Reposted by Deb Merriam
Reposted by Deb Merriam
"...[T]his is the Alberta government saying that the rights of trans kids to receive lifesaving healthcare, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams, don’t matter as much as Smith’s government’s right to dictate their lives." #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli
November 19, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Reposted by Deb Merriam
Under the Compassionate Intervention Act, people with substance use disorder can be forced to take any prescription medication without consent. It doesn't matter if they have decisional capacity. While doctors are involved, ultimately a lawyer gets to decide what the treatment order will be. #ableg
November 19, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Under the Compassionate Intervention Act, people with substance use disorder can be forced to take any prescription medication without consent. It doesn't matter if they have decisional capacity. While doctors are involved, ultimately a lawyer gets to decide what the treatment order will be. #ableg
I keep typing and erasing words. I am literally incoherent with anger.
Erasing human rights, punching down on gender-queer kids, as a feeble distraction from other UCP scandals.
Don’t let anyone treat Bill 9 like political point scoring. This will have deadly consequences for bullied children.
Erasing human rights, punching down on gender-queer kids, as a feeble distraction from other UCP scandals.
Don’t let anyone treat Bill 9 like political point scoring. This will have deadly consequences for bullied children.
November 19, 2025 at 12:29 AM
I keep typing and erasing words. I am literally incoherent with anger.
Erasing human rights, punching down on gender-queer kids, as a feeble distraction from other UCP scandals.
Don’t let anyone treat Bill 9 like political point scoring. This will have deadly consequences for bullied children.
Erasing human rights, punching down on gender-queer kids, as a feeble distraction from other UCP scandals.
Don’t let anyone treat Bill 9 like political point scoring. This will have deadly consequences for bullied children.
Reposted by Deb Merriam
The UCP touts itself as a small, freedom-loving government.
Objectively, using the notwithstanding clause goes against both of those notions.
globalnews.ca/news/1153187...
Objectively, using the notwithstanding clause goes against both of those notions.
globalnews.ca/news/1153187...
Alberta invokes notwithstanding clause to stop court challenges of transgender laws | Globalnews.ca
The clause relates to laws that put restrictions on student pronoun changes at school, on girls' sports, and on medical therapies for young people looking to transition.
globalnews.ca
November 18, 2025 at 11:27 PM
The UCP touts itself as a small, freedom-loving government.
Objectively, using the notwithstanding clause goes against both of those notions.
globalnews.ca/news/1153187...
Objectively, using the notwithstanding clause goes against both of those notions.
globalnews.ca/news/1153187...
Reposted by Deb Merriam
canadians should read this.
"At the end of September the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), to which all working Canadians outside Quebec are subscribed, held $8 billion of Nvidia stock as its largest single equity holding. In fact, its eight largest stock holdings were all AI stocks."
"At the end of September the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), to which all working Canadians outside Quebec are subscribed, held $8 billion of Nvidia stock as its largest single equity holding. In fact, its eight largest stock holdings were all AI stocks."
While Canadian politicians are still caught up in their AI love affair, panic is rippling through the industry.
Tech expert @scanthehorizon.bsky.social writes that the AI bubble may be about to burst, with massively damaging consequences for Canadians.
breachmedia.ca/ai-bubble-ma...
Tech expert @scanthehorizon.bsky.social writes that the AI bubble may be about to burst, with massively damaging consequences for Canadians.
breachmedia.ca/ai-bubble-ma...
The AI bubble may be about to burst. Mark Carney must not bail out its Tech Barons ⋆ The Breach
While billionaires bet against the hyped up multi-trillion-dollar AI market, Canada’s government is doubling down
breachmedia.ca
November 18, 2025 at 7:53 PM
canadians should read this.
"At the end of September the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), to which all working Canadians outside Quebec are subscribed, held $8 billion of Nvidia stock as its largest single equity holding. In fact, its eight largest stock holdings were all AI stocks."
"At the end of September the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), to which all working Canadians outside Quebec are subscribed, held $8 billion of Nvidia stock as its largest single equity holding. In fact, its eight largest stock holdings were all AI stocks."
Reposted by Deb Merriam
80 ministers from global north and south unite in call for a roadmap away from fossil fuels
#COP30
#climatechange
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#COP30
#climatechange
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Cop30 live: Ministers from global north and south unite in call for a roadmap away from fossil fuels
Representatives from Germany, the UK, the Marshall Islands and a number of other countries came together to issue a call for a fossil fuel roadmap
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:17 PM
80 ministers from global north and south unite in call for a roadmap away from fossil fuels
#COP30
#climatechange
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#COP30
#climatechange
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Deb Merriam
With this leaked document it will be difficult for the UCP to deny their endgame is to privatize healthcare in Alberta. As is the case with the dismantling of AHS, there is no evidence to support this. To the contrary, both will further weaken the public healthcare system.
SCOOP: Alberta intends to allow doctors working in the public health care system to simultaneously offers services in a parallel private market, according to draft amendments obtained by The Globe and Mail
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
Alberta plans to allow doctors to deliver public and private services
Draft legislation would establish a model for medicine unlike any other in Canada
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:23 PM
With this leaked document it will be difficult for the UCP to deny their endgame is to privatize healthcare in Alberta. As is the case with the dismantling of AHS, there is no evidence to support this. To the contrary, both will further weaken the public healthcare system.
Reposted by Deb Merriam
Reposted by Deb Merriam
A thread for you
Artists & Art lovers!
Time to get geared up for the biggest art event of the year on Bluesky!
Last year we had close to 1500 artists from 25 countries posting original work daily from December 1-24
Time to get geared up for the biggest art event of the year on Bluesky!
Last year we had close to 1500 artists from 25 countries posting original work daily from December 1-24
#ArtAdventCalendar
In its 11th year, #artadventcalendar participants post an original piece of art from Dec 1-24. Paintings, drawings, sculpture, textiles, beading, photography. If it’s art and it beautifies th…
earthskyart.ca
November 17, 2025 at 1:01 AM
A thread for you
Reposted by Deb Merriam
Via Alberta Federation of Labour
Organized labour stands in solidarity with transgender people and all Albertans who believe in equality, dignity, and justice.
afl.org/organized-la...
#ABPoli #ABLeg #ABLabour #Alberta
Organized labour stands in solidarity with transgender people and all Albertans who believe in equality, dignity, and justice.
afl.org/organized-la...
#ABPoli #ABLeg #ABLabour #Alberta
November 17, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Via Alberta Federation of Labour
Organized labour stands in solidarity with transgender people and all Albertans who believe in equality, dignity, and justice.
afl.org/organized-la...
#ABPoli #ABLeg #ABLabour #Alberta
Organized labour stands in solidarity with transgender people and all Albertans who believe in equality, dignity, and justice.
afl.org/organized-la...
#ABPoli #ABLeg #ABLabour #Alberta
Reposted by Deb Merriam
Yeah, yeah, wolves using tools, it's all very interesting and opens up entirely new vistas of understanding canine intelligence.
But more importantly, this is poaching, and those wolves belong in jail.
But more importantly, this is poaching, and those wolves belong in jail.
B.C. wolves use line to pull up crab traps in first possible tool use by species
B.C. wolves use line to pull up crab traps in first possible tool use by species
Researchers have captured video footage of wild wolves in British Columbia pulling crab traps out of the sea by their lines to eat the bait inside, in the first evidence of possible tool use by the animals.
bit.ly
November 17, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Yeah, yeah, wolves using tools, it's all very interesting and opens up entirely new vistas of understanding canine intelligence.
But more importantly, this is poaching, and those wolves belong in jail.
But more importantly, this is poaching, and those wolves belong in jail.
Reposted by Deb Merriam
🚨New article!🚨
There's a danger the Canada Strong growth plan will enable a sell-off of Canadian companies to foreign investors - and that this would be considered a *win* for the strategy.
This would be a mistake.
Here's why 👇👇👇
#CanadaSky #CdnPoli #OwnershipMatters
There's a danger the Canada Strong growth plan will enable a sell-off of Canadian companies to foreign investors - and that this would be considered a *win* for the strategy.
This would be a mistake.
Here's why 👇👇👇
#CanadaSky #CdnPoli #OwnershipMatters
You can’t be sovereign if you don’t own anything
Gas station giant Parkland is already shedding Canadian employees in the wake of TX-based Sunoco’s recent takeover of the Canadian fuel chain, which owns 15% of our gas stations and a key refinery in ...
socialcapitalpartners.ca
November 17, 2025 at 8:22 PM
🚨New article!🚨
There's a danger the Canada Strong growth plan will enable a sell-off of Canadian companies to foreign investors - and that this would be considered a *win* for the strategy.
This would be a mistake.
Here's why 👇👇👇
#CanadaSky #CdnPoli #OwnershipMatters
There's a danger the Canada Strong growth plan will enable a sell-off of Canadian companies to foreign investors - and that this would be considered a *win* for the strategy.
This would be a mistake.
Here's why 👇👇👇
#CanadaSky #CdnPoli #OwnershipMatters
Reposted by Deb Merriam
"Unfortunately, the 'good' models, the more realistic ones, are the ones where the AMOC weakens most... even for an intermediate emissions scenario, the probability of shutting down the AMOC is way above 50%... we will probably pass the point of no return for an AMOC shutdown in the next 10-20yrs" 😱
Is the Atlantic Ocean circulation close to tipping?
Hear the latest science as I presented it last month at the ATLAS25 event in Helsinki.
Let me know if anything is unclear, or if you see good reasons why your government shouldn't immediately act on this. 🌊
youtu.be/ULJXqOZuY-8
Hear the latest science as I presented it last month at the ATLAS25 event in Helsinki.
Let me know if anything is unclear, or if you see good reasons why your government shouldn't immediately act on this. 🌊
youtu.be/ULJXqOZuY-8
Is the Atlantic Ocean circulation close to tipping?
YouTube video by Earth System Analysis - Potsdam Institute
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 4:12 PM
"Unfortunately, the 'good' models, the more realistic ones, are the ones where the AMOC weakens most... even for an intermediate emissions scenario, the probability of shutting down the AMOC is way above 50%... we will probably pass the point of no return for an AMOC shutdown in the next 10-20yrs" 😱