Mairi McFadyen
@mmcfadyen.bsky.social
Independent researcher & collaborator in the Scottish Highlands, working on role of cultural heritage in nature recovery & climate action. Here to seek out & share glimmers of more hopeful futures. ✍️Substack: https://substack.com/@mairimcfadyen
Reposted by Mairi McFadyen
Somhairle MacGill-Eain (Sorley MacLean) – one of the greatest European poets of the 20th century – was born #OTD, 26 Oct
A 🎂🧵
Watch “Sorley MacLean’s Island” via @natlibscot.bsky.social – Sorley MacLean in conversation with fellow writer Iain Crichton Smith
#poetry
1/8
movingimage.nls.uk/film/3141
A 🎂🧵
Watch “Sorley MacLean’s Island” via @natlibscot.bsky.social – Sorley MacLean in conversation with fellow writer Iain Crichton Smith
#poetry
1/8
movingimage.nls.uk/film/3141
October 26, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Somhairle MacGill-Eain (Sorley MacLean) – one of the greatest European poets of the 20th century – was born #OTD, 26 Oct
A 🎂🧵
Watch “Sorley MacLean’s Island” via @natlibscot.bsky.social – Sorley MacLean in conversation with fellow writer Iain Crichton Smith
#poetry
1/8
movingimage.nls.uk/film/3141
A 🎂🧵
Watch “Sorley MacLean’s Island” via @natlibscot.bsky.social – Sorley MacLean in conversation with fellow writer Iain Crichton Smith
#poetry
1/8
movingimage.nls.uk/film/3141
I just learned of the passing of Joanna Macy. I re-read her work recently & listened to her podcast 'We Are The Great Turning.' I was so grateful for it, her words a deep resource for transforming despair into hope & action
@workthatreconnects.bsky.social
workthatreconnects.org/joanna-macy-...
@workthatreconnects.bsky.social
workthatreconnects.org/joanna-macy-...
Joanna Macy – In Memoriam - Work That Reconnects Network
workthatreconnects.org
July 20, 2025 at 11:20 AM
I just learned of the passing of Joanna Macy. I re-read her work recently & listened to her podcast 'We Are The Great Turning.' I was so grateful for it, her words a deep resource for transforming despair into hope & action
@workthatreconnects.bsky.social
workthatreconnects.org/joanna-macy-...
@workthatreconnects.bsky.social
workthatreconnects.org/joanna-macy-...
Gaelic singer Mairi MacMillan, from South Uist, sent me this gorgeous song about the skylark, the uiseag, as a symbol of hope 🤍🎶 mairimacmillan.bandcamp.com/track/uiseag...
Words from my Substack essay: open.substack.com/pub/mairimcf...
Words from my Substack essay: open.substack.com/pub/mairimcf...
June 11, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Gaelic singer Mairi MacMillan, from South Uist, sent me this gorgeous song about the skylark, the uiseag, as a symbol of hope 🤍🎶 mairimacmillan.bandcamp.com/track/uiseag...
Words from my Substack essay: open.substack.com/pub/mairimcf...
Words from my Substack essay: open.substack.com/pub/mairimcf...
My latest post on Substack; an attempt to make sense of what it means to be a parent in a world convulsing with crisis 💔
Aiseag is the Gaelic word for a ferry boat—it also simply means a ‘return.’ Here I return to a place, to what matters, to #activehope.
open.substack.com/pub/mairimcf...
Aiseag is the Gaelic word for a ferry boat—it also simply means a ‘return.’ Here I return to a place, to what matters, to #activehope.
open.substack.com/pub/mairimcf...
Aiseag | Return
On the active hope of parenthood, of wrens and skylarks
open.substack.com
June 11, 2025 at 6:58 AM
My latest post on Substack; an attempt to make sense of what it means to be a parent in a world convulsing with crisis 💔
Aiseag is the Gaelic word for a ferry boat—it also simply means a ‘return.’ Here I return to a place, to what matters, to #activehope.
open.substack.com/pub/mairimcf...
Aiseag is the Gaelic word for a ferry boat—it also simply means a ‘return.’ Here I return to a place, to what matters, to #activehope.
open.substack.com/pub/mairimcf...
Reposted by Mairi McFadyen
Why reading books is essential.
May 13, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Why reading books is essential.
Reposted by Mairi McFadyen
A look by the @economist.com at how community landowners are creating economic and social change in Scotland - and at Scottish land reform more widely www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Scotland’s outdated land laws threaten the future of rural towns
But progress in reforming them is sluggish
www.economist.com
May 6, 2025 at 7:56 AM
A look by the @economist.com at how community landowners are creating economic and social change in Scotland - and at Scottish land reform more widely www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Apparently "Sunday 4 May is International Dawn Chorus Day and it's celebrated by people around the world who rise early to appreciate this natural symphony." Luckily we are away camping in Achiltibuie and didn't need to leave the tent! Woke up to the curlew 😍
May 4, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Apparently "Sunday 4 May is International Dawn Chorus Day and it's celebrated by people around the world who rise early to appreciate this natural symphony." Luckily we are away camping in Achiltibuie and didn't need to leave the tent! Woke up to the curlew 😍
Just went to see this in Inverness. As a former Scottish literature student (and total nerd), it was MAGNIFICENT 👏👏👏
Last night tomorrow, I hope it goes on tour again...
Last night tomorrow, I hope it goes on tour again...
Ready yersels fur a journey thro Scots cultur, myths, history an identity as we daunder Through the Shortbread Tin tae explore the greatest literary rise ae aw time, James Mapherson’s Ossian
Through the #ShortbreadTin is a brand-new show by Martin O’Connor, directed by Lu Kemp 👇
Through the #ShortbreadTin is a brand-new show by Martin O’Connor, directed by Lu Kemp 👇
May 1, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Just went to see this in Inverness. As a former Scottish literature student (and total nerd), it was MAGNIFICENT 👏👏👏
Last night tomorrow, I hope it goes on tour again...
Last night tomorrow, I hope it goes on tour again...
"Gug-ùg’ ars a’ chuthag latha buidhe Bealltainn” (cried the cuckoo on yellow Beltane day) dasg.ac.uk/blog/249/en 🌼
DASG Blog
DASG - Digital Archive of Scottish Gaelic. DASG is an online repository of digitised texts and lexical resources for Scottish Gaelic.
dasg.ac.uk
May 1, 2025 at 7:04 AM
"Gug-ùg’ ars a’ chuthag latha buidhe Bealltainn” (cried the cuckoo on yellow Beltane day) dasg.ac.uk/blog/249/en 🌼
Reposted by Mairi McFadyen
Have you booked for SCAN Summit 2025: The Grid?
Join us in Inverness for a programme of talks, films + activities interrogating the systems that distribute power, energy and communications ⚡️
📍Eden Court
📅 Tuesday 13 May
🎟️FREE for SCAN members/£10 non-members : sca-net.org/summit25/
Join us in Inverness for a programme of talks, films + activities interrogating the systems that distribute power, energy and communications ⚡️
📍Eden Court
📅 Tuesday 13 May
🎟️FREE for SCAN members/£10 non-members : sca-net.org/summit25/
March 18, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Have you booked for SCAN Summit 2025: The Grid?
Join us in Inverness for a programme of talks, films + activities interrogating the systems that distribute power, energy and communications ⚡️
📍Eden Court
📅 Tuesday 13 May
🎟️FREE for SCAN members/£10 non-members : sca-net.org/summit25/
Join us in Inverness for a programme of talks, films + activities interrogating the systems that distribute power, energy and communications ⚡️
📍Eden Court
📅 Tuesday 13 May
🎟️FREE for SCAN members/£10 non-members : sca-net.org/summit25/
Woke up this morning to the song of a wee wren and a chiffchaff, so tiny, so loud! 🎶🎵
April 25, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Woke up this morning to the song of a wee wren and a chiffchaff, so tiny, so loud! 🎶🎵
He's here! I just heard my first cuckoo, a sure sign of spring - and almost time to plant my potatoes! Absolutely delighted 😅
April 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
He's here! I just heard my first cuckoo, a sure sign of spring - and almost time to plant my potatoes! Absolutely delighted 😅
Reposted by Mairi McFadyen
Myself, @elsa-panciroli.bsky.social and many others will be talking at this event which promises to be lively! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-sennac...
The Sennachie Festival (Weekend Pass)
A Festival of storytelling, music & poetry inspired by Hugh Miller & his passion for the stories passed down through generations.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
April 17, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Myself, @elsa-panciroli.bsky.social and many others will be talking at this event which promises to be lively! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-sennac...
Happy to be invited to give a talk at the fledgling Starling Cafè in #Ullapool on 6th May - a space for ideas, reflection and conversation - on community, hope, belonging, diversity, resilience and resistance. If you are in the baile, tickets here 👉
tickets.highlifehighland.com/events/highl...
tickets.highlifehighland.com/events/highl...
April 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Happy to be invited to give a talk at the fledgling Starling Cafè in #Ullapool on 6th May - a space for ideas, reflection and conversation - on community, hope, belonging, diversity, resilience and resistance. If you are in the baile, tickets here 👉
tickets.highlifehighland.com/events/highl...
tickets.highlifehighland.com/events/highl...
Reposted by Mairi McFadyen
“there is no way to build the artificial mirror world that AI promises to construct without sacrificing this world – these technologies consume too much energy, too many critical minerals, and too much water for the two to coexist in any kind of equilibrium.”
THE RISE OF END TIMES FASCISM
My first major piece of the new Trump era, co-written with @astra.bsky.social.
The governing ideology of the far right has become a
monstrous, supremacist survivalism.
Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
My first major piece of the new Trump era, co-written with @astra.bsky.social.
The governing ideology of the far right has become a
monstrous, supremacist survivalism.
Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
The rise of end times fascism
The governing ideology of the far right has become a monstrous, supremacist survivalism. Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them
www.theguardian.com
April 13, 2025 at 11:46 PM
“there is no way to build the artificial mirror world that AI promises to construct without sacrificing this world – these technologies consume too much energy, too many critical minerals, and too much water for the two to coexist in any kind of equilibrium.”
"Is your heart beating and do you plan to live? Then come this way and we will figure out the rest on the other side.”
THE RISE OF END TIMES FASCISM
My first major piece of the new Trump era, co-written with @astra.bsky.social.
The governing ideology of the far right has become a
monstrous, supremacist survivalism.
Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
My first major piece of the new Trump era, co-written with @astra.bsky.social.
The governing ideology of the far right has become a
monstrous, supremacist survivalism.
Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
The rise of end times fascism
The governing ideology of the far right has become a monstrous, supremacist survivalism. Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them
www.theguardian.com
April 14, 2025 at 8:25 AM
"Is your heart beating and do you plan to live? Then come this way and we will figure out the rest on the other side.”
Reposted by Mairi McFadyen
THE RISE OF END TIMES FASCISM
My first major piece of the new Trump era, co-written with @astra.bsky.social.
The governing ideology of the far right has become a
monstrous, supremacist survivalism.
Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
My first major piece of the new Trump era, co-written with @astra.bsky.social.
The governing ideology of the far right has become a
monstrous, supremacist survivalism.
Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
The rise of end times fascism
The governing ideology of the far right has become a monstrous, supremacist survivalism. Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them
www.theguardian.com
April 13, 2025 at 1:32 PM
THE RISE OF END TIMES FASCISM
My first major piece of the new Trump era, co-written with @astra.bsky.social.
The governing ideology of the far right has become a
monstrous, supremacist survivalism.
Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
My first major piece of the new Trump era, co-written with @astra.bsky.social.
The governing ideology of the far right has become a
monstrous, supremacist survivalism.
Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Reposted by Mairi McFadyen
“No single decision is to blame” for UK universities' dire financial situations, writes @rostaylor.bsky.social. “But many trace [the crisis] back to a decision made by chancellor George Osborne in December 2013.”
www.prospectmagazine...
www.prospectmagazine...
How universities were sent over the edge
UK higher education institutions did as the government asked and took on more students. Now many face collapse
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
April 12, 2025 at 8:54 AM
“No single decision is to blame” for UK universities' dire financial situations, writes @rostaylor.bsky.social. “But many trace [the crisis] back to a decision made by chancellor George Osborne in December 2013.”
www.prospectmagazine...
www.prospectmagazine...
Reposted by Mairi McFadyen
Epic week taking nearly 100 Geography MA students & staff to the Highlands, working with the inspiring @mmcfadyen.bsky.social & the Abriachan Forest Trust. 👏👏
April 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Epic week taking nearly 100 Geography MA students & staff to the Highlands, working with the inspiring @mmcfadyen.bsky.social & the Abriachan Forest Trust. 👏👏
In my first-year English literature tutorial at the University of Edinburgh I overheard the comment, "don't the Scottish girls sound so thick when they talk?!" It was followed by mocking laughter. I was one of two Scottish state school-educated girls in the room. Did wonders for my confidence
NEW: Staff at the University of Edinburgh are reportedly undergoing training sessions to help tackle 'accent bias' when teaching students
Last year, the university issued guidance to its student where it encouraged them not to be 'snobs'
Last year, the university issued guidance to its student where it encouraged them not to be 'snobs'
Scottish university staff given 'accent bias' training to stop Scots discrimination
www.thenational.scot
April 12, 2025 at 6:05 PM
In my first-year English literature tutorial at the University of Edinburgh I overheard the comment, "don't the Scottish girls sound so thick when they talk?!" It was followed by mocking laughter. I was one of two Scottish state school-educated girls in the room. Did wonders for my confidence
On Compost: @frasermacdonald.bsky.social
"I make my own compost so that I can convince myself that even when the world seems socially and ecologically broken there are still mechanisms for recovery: it shows that change is possible."
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
"I make my own compost so that I can convince myself that even when the world seems socially and ecologically broken there are still mechanisms for recovery: it shows that change is possible."
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Fraser MacDonald · On Compost
I sometimes wonder whether my love of compost is a response to the dispiriting cleanness of modern life – the spray’...
www.lrb.co.uk
April 12, 2025 at 8:20 AM
On Compost: @frasermacdonald.bsky.social
"I make my own compost so that I can convince myself that even when the world seems socially and ecologically broken there are still mechanisms for recovery: it shows that change is possible."
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
"I make my own compost so that I can convince myself that even when the world seems socially and ecologically broken there are still mechanisms for recovery: it shows that change is possible."
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by Mairi McFadyen
Curlew Nesting - by North Yorks printmaker, Lyn Bailey
More of this artists beautiful work, here: www.lynbaileyprintmaker.com
#linocut #printmaking #art #birds #birdart #Yorkshire
More of this artists beautiful work, here: www.lynbaileyprintmaker.com
#linocut #printmaking #art #birds #birdart #Yorkshire
March 9, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Curlew Nesting - by North Yorks printmaker, Lyn Bailey
More of this artists beautiful work, here: www.lynbaileyprintmaker.com
#linocut #printmaking #art #birds #birdart #Yorkshire
More of this artists beautiful work, here: www.lynbaileyprintmaker.com
#linocut #printmaking #art #birds #birdart #Yorkshire