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loret05.bsky.social
@loret05.bsky.social
170 followers 180 following 7 posts
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donmoyn.bsky.social
Full resignation letter from Demetre C. Daskalakis, a CDC leader, does not hold back.
"The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud."
My resignation letter from CDC. Dear Dr. Houry, I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business. I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested. This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough. While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people. This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles. The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people. The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership. This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors. Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people. It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC. The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense. Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function. Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC. Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults. Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc. I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again. I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season. Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.” We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary. I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us. Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources. At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him. To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information. The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer. I believe in nutrition and exercise. I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability. Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun. The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud. I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur. I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed. For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics. I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision. Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically. Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution. If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.
August 28, 2025 at 1:01 AM
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michaelby.bsky.social
July 18, 2025 at 5:54 PM
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bbka.org.uk
So you think you have seen a yellow-legged Asian hornet?

See it - Snap it - App it

Please see link below for information from the National Bee Unit

www.nationalbeeunit.com/diseases-and...
June 28, 2025 at 8:22 AM
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cbffjuk.bsky.social
Astonishing evidence at the Covid Inquiry.

The Government repeatedly ignored offers from the Crick Institute to provide mass testing on a national scale.

Instead, the Government paid Deloitte consultants to project manage, not yet established, privately run labs.

1/2
May 15, 2025 at 12:51 PM
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bestforbritain.org
Mark Carney is asked how the lessons of Brexit apply to Trump's tariff policy.

"When you break off or substantially rupture trade relations with major trading partners... you end up with slower growth, higher inflation, higher interest rates, volatility, a lower currency, a weaker economy." ~AA
April 28, 2025 at 10:32 AM
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financeguy.bsky.social
We’ve know this for ages but it’s good that this kind of analysis in now on mainstream TV in the UK
April 25, 2025 at 4:52 PM
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premnsikka.bsky.social
Major Donor to Reform U.K. Party Sold Parts Used In Weapons to Russian Supplier.

Sold almost $2m worth of transmitters, cockpit equipment, antennas and other sensitive technology to a major supplier of Moscow’s blacklisted state weapons agency.

archive.ph/BTca8
Major Donor to Reform U.K. Party Sold Parts Used In Weapons to Russian Supplier
The aerospace company H.R. Smith Group was an early backer of the party after Nigel Farage became leader. Reform has faced criticism over comments seen as supporting Moscow.
www.nytimes.com
April 1, 2025 at 8:50 AM
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adambienkov.bsky.social
Brexit will reduce UK trade by 15% in the long term, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility
March 26, 2025 at 1:16 PM
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dalevince.com
Is this really the argument against a wealth tax?

Why do we tax money made with a pair of hands differently to money made with money

Gary Stevenson perfectly explains how Billionaires can afford to pay more.
March 25, 2025 at 7:31 PM
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adambienkov.bsky.social
You might expect the fact that climate change denial lobbyists funded the leader of the opposition and her Shadow Cabinet, shortly before she ditched her commitment to Net Zero, would feature in at least some of the other coverage of her announcement this morning

bylinetimes.com/2025/03/18/k...
Kemi Badenoch Ditches Net Zero Target After Taking Donations From Funders of Tufton Street Climate Denial Group
The Conservative leader and her Shadow Net Zero Secretary took funding from key backers of lobby groups campaigning to curb action against climate change
bylinetimes.com
March 18, 2025 at 8:24 AM
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dalevince.com
Cutting support for millions in need or asking for a little more from thousands that have so much….is it really a hard choice?…

A tiny 2% tax - on people with £10 million or more - could achieve so much…
 
Here’s one way we could spend the £24Bn that would raise - you might have your own ideas…
March 18, 2025 at 7:45 AM
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mrjamesob.bsky.social
If you’re drawn to a politician because they promise to be cruel to Muslims or Jews or immigrants or gays or transgender people etc, the least you should do - the absolute, bare bones, still morally vacuous least - is ask yourself whether they’re likely to stop at the group you want to see targeted.
March 8, 2025 at 8:59 AM
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royalhistsoc.org
From next week our X account will close and be archived. We will be solely on BlueSky where we will continue to promote #history, historical practice and the humanities. Please do join us #Skystorians
royalhistsoc.org Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · Feb 11
From 21 February @royalhistsoc.bsky.social will be closing and archiving its X account.

From this date all updates from the Society - and its promotion of work by fellow organisations for #history and the humanities - will be via BlueSky.

Please encourage colleagues to join us here #skystorians
Photograph of the Royal Historical Society's BlueSky homepage.
February 15, 2025 at 10:34 AM
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iandunt.bsky.social
Trump is a thug, a bully and a gangster. This is what statesmanship looks like: doing what's necessary to protect your country's interests, but keeping open the hand of friendship and hoping for a day when the US will return to its senses.
chrisdornan.bsky.social Christopher Dornan @chrisdornan.bsky.social · Feb 2
Here's the speech if you haven't heard it. 13 minutes of your time. Share it with your American friends and neighbours, because they won't see it otherwise. Circulate it in Mexico and Denmark, France and the UK, Panama and Germany, Poland and Estonia, and especially -- especially -- Ukraine.
Trudeau: Canada will retaliate with 25% tariffs on $155B of U.S. goods
YouTube video by CBC News
youtu.be
February 2, 2025 at 9:32 AM
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billiejmcallister.bsky.social
Hey, Guardian, it isn't half a dozen free range chickens that are the problem, and the public will not recognise this until journalists focus on the reality of chicken and egg production
January 28, 2025 at 11:13 AM
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theguardian.com
Revealed: UK drinking water sources polluted with forever chemicals
Revealed: UK drinking water sources polluted with forever chemicals
Exclusive: Water industry calls for ban on PFAS after analysis of sampling data shows contamination across country * What are PFAS, how toxic are they and how do you become exposed? * The Guardian view on chemical pollution: the UK can’t ignore the…
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2025 at 1:04 PM
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martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com
10,000,000s of Brits are being ripped off by overpaying on energy, mobile, broadband, water bills and more. Tonight on 8pm ITV it's BillBuster time. I'll show you how to fight back by cutting costs and keeping more cash in your pockets not theirs. Please do share and pass word.
January 14, 2025 at 1:45 PM
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danneidle.bsky.social
Ballpark flat tax numbers: a fiscally neutral income tax flat tax would be about 25% - i.e. 5% increase in basic rate, 15% cut in higher rate. So the average earner would pay about £1,200 more tax/year. Someone on £100k would pay £5k less. Someone on £200k, £30k less.
December 17, 2024 at 11:34 AM
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feargalsharkey.bsky.social
The stretch of the River Cam in Cambridge which has been designated bathing water, Sheep’s Green, failed the phosphate test, failed the nitrate test and failed the ammonia test.

You have been warned.

www.lbc.co.uk/news/feargal...
'I'd stay well away from swimming there': Feargal Sharkey tests the River Cam after site was awarded bathing status
One of Britain’s top swimming spots is 'failing' on water quality due to pollution, according to environmental testing conducted by LBC.
www.lbc.co.uk
December 6, 2024 at 11:10 AM
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antongerashchenko.bsky.social
‼️Offices of opposition parties are being searched in Tbilisi

Leader of the Coalition for Change Nika Gvaramia was detained by police outside of the office of opposition parties Gvirchi - More Freedom and Droa ( video).

Activist and member of the Coalition for Change Gela Hasaya also detained
December 4, 2024 at 1:27 PM
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peterstefanovic.bsky.social
🚨URGENT - PLEASE SHARE

Amilah is 9 & needs a stem cell transplant, but there are no matches worldwide. Her family are calling for as many people as possible aged 16-30 to sign up and become a potential donor.

It’s simple to join the register using this link🙏
www.anthonynolan.org/help-save-a-...
November 27, 2024 at 7:15 PM
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theonlypeterkay.bsky.social
The UK - test bed for neoliberal economics since 1979:
Thatcher privatised the state-owned companies, British Telecom (1984), British Gas (1986), British Airways (1987), British Steel (1988). Electricity, water, and railways were later privatised.
How are things going?
November 23, 2024 at 9:21 AM