Martha van Bakel
@mvanbakel.bsky.social
Doctoral Fellow at Freie Uni Berlin - Informal actors in Haiti 1804-1825
she/her, sie/ihr 🌹
she/her, sie/ihr 🌹
Crazy how much writing time I lose chasing down the intricacies of the Chicago Manual of Style
November 20, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Crazy how much writing time I lose chasing down the intricacies of the Chicago Manual of Style
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
reminded of eric williams's observation about britain's relationship to its history with slavery. "British historians wrote almost as if Britain had introduced Negro slavery solely for the satisfaction of abolishing it."
holy shit: “Among the 2,000 UK adults surveyed, 85% were unaware that Britain forcibly transported more than 3 million Africans to the Caribbean, 89% did not know that Britain enslaved people in the Caribbean for more than 300 years” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Caribbean reparations leaders in ‘historic’ first UK visit to press for justice
CRC mission will seek to deepen public understanding of Britain’s colonial legacy and its lasting impact
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:11 PM
reminded of eric williams's observation about britain's relationship to its history with slavery. "British historians wrote almost as if Britain had introduced Negro slavery solely for the satisfaction of abolishing it."
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
Just wilful performative cruelty that is entirely out of step with the majority of British people.
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Just wilful performative cruelty that is entirely out of step with the majority of British people.
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
Six prisoners for Palestine have begun a hunger strike in the UK.
November 14, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Six prisoners for Palestine have begun a hunger strike in the UK.
Have seen/heard some discussion lately about deforestation in Haiti, in the Guardian today as well as in context of the 1825 indemnity and mahogany trade. This article answers common myths that have - like many others about Haiti - been repeated uncritically
booksandideas.net/The-Real-Sto...
booksandideas.net/The-Real-Sto...
The Real Story of Haiti's Forests
Deforestation and charcoal production are often seen as the principal culprits for the endemic poverty in Haiti. This essay calls for a new narrative. Not only is this picture of Haiti incomplete and ...
booksandideas.net
November 14, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Have seen/heard some discussion lately about deforestation in Haiti, in the Guardian today as well as in context of the 1825 indemnity and mahogany trade. This article answers common myths that have - like many others about Haiti - been repeated uncritically
booksandideas.net/The-Real-Sto...
booksandideas.net/The-Real-Sto...
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
"On 1 November 2025, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) announced that the state of Kerala is “extreme poverty–free” — one year ahead of schedule."
The 40th Progressive International Briefing of 2025 is online now.
The 40th Progressive International Briefing of 2025 is online now.
PI Briefing | No. 40 | Kerala ends extreme poverty
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) announces that Kerala has become the first Indian state to end extreme poverty.
buff.ly
November 7, 2025 at 11:25 AM
"On 1 November 2025, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) announced that the state of Kerala is “extreme poverty–free” — one year ahead of schedule."
The 40th Progressive International Briefing of 2025 is online now.
The 40th Progressive International Briefing of 2025 is online now.
Made my first ever investment and very glad it was in a company with a mission I care about: @europeansleeper.eu ! Night trains are a cornerstone of the future I hope to live in 🚂🌃🌱
November 5, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Made my first ever investment and very glad it was in a company with a mission I care about: @europeansleeper.eu ! Night trains are a cornerstone of the future I hope to live in 🚂🌃🌱
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
Some good news: Brazil's fight against deforestation is paying climate dividends.
Brazil records biggest annual fall in emissions in 15 years, notably thanks to fight against deforestation
The gross emissions of Latin America's biggest country fell by 16.7% year-on-year, according to Brazil's Climate Observatory, a network of environmental NGOs.
www.lemonde.fr
November 4, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Some good news: Brazil's fight against deforestation is paying climate dividends.
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
Amid worsening blackouts and fossil fuel contracts that deepen colonial dependency, Puerto Ricans are building energy sovereignty from the ground up—one rooftop solar panel at a time.
nacla.org/puerto-ricos...
By Jesse Ilan Kornbluth (from our Fall 2025 print issue!)
nacla.org/puerto-ricos...
By Jesse Ilan Kornbluth (from our Fall 2025 print issue!)
Puerto Rico’s Fight for Energy Independence
Amid worsening blackouts and fossil fuel contracts that deepen colonial dependency, Puerto Ricans are building energy sovereignty from the ground up—one rooftop solar panel at a time.
nacla.org
September 5, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Amid worsening blackouts and fossil fuel contracts that deepen colonial dependency, Puerto Ricans are building energy sovereignty from the ground up—one rooftop solar panel at a time.
nacla.org/puerto-ricos...
By Jesse Ilan Kornbluth (from our Fall 2025 print issue!)
nacla.org/puerto-ricos...
By Jesse Ilan Kornbluth (from our Fall 2025 print issue!)
I had the honour of attending this year's Summer Academy of Atlantic History. It was amazing to meet other PhDs - the future of the field looks so exciting!
September 1, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I had the honour of attending this year's Summer Academy of Atlantic History. It was amazing to meet other PhDs - the future of the field looks so exciting!
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
In July Fennoscandia was hit by a heatwave similar to one that hit the region in 2018. In just seven years, similar events have become almost twice as likely due to increased global temperatures from 1.1 to 1.3°C.
Every fraction of a degree matters! www.worldweatherattribution.org/intense-two-...
Every fraction of a degree matters! www.worldweatherattribution.org/intense-two-...
August 14, 2025 at 7:19 PM
In July Fennoscandia was hit by a heatwave similar to one that hit the region in 2018. In just seven years, similar events have become almost twice as likely due to increased global temperatures from 1.1 to 1.3°C.
Every fraction of a degree matters! www.worldweatherattribution.org/intense-two-...
Every fraction of a degree matters! www.worldweatherattribution.org/intense-two-...
David Lammy wants BAE Systems and Shell in the Foreign Office and pretends it's to help "British workers". Surely he doesn't believe his own lies? The greed of this government is sickening - willing to sell anything to anyone for a sliver of bloody pie
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
David Lammy faces possible legal action over Foreign Office secondments
Campaigners say placing staff from Shell and BAE Systems in ministries creates potential for improper influence
www.theguardian.com
August 12, 2025 at 8:08 AM
David Lammy wants BAE Systems and Shell in the Foreign Office and pretends it's to help "British workers". Surely he doesn't believe his own lies? The greed of this government is sickening - willing to sell anything to anyone for a sliver of bloody pie
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
A new essay from the great Amory Lovins raises concerns & cautions regarding bloated forecasts of AI energy use. He has seen this cycle of self-interested forecasts followed by overbuilding before, several times.
Amory Lovins
integrative-design-for-radical-energy-efficiency.stanford.edu
May 16, 2025 at 5:13 PM
A new essay from the great Amory Lovins raises concerns & cautions regarding bloated forecasts of AI energy use. He has seen this cycle of self-interested forecasts followed by overbuilding before, several times.
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
a gargantuan economic development that healthier societies would be well positioned to exploit politically. but we have xenophobia and hyper policing as our de facto climate policy instead of managed fossil fuel phase out. this is not an accident
Solar energy has consistently been underestimated.
Today, it adds more capacity/yr to global grid than any other source in history.
If trend continues, solar will deliver more electricity generation/yr than any technology before it.
Graph from @nathanielbullard.com - great newsletter
Today, it adds more capacity/yr to global grid than any other source in history.
If trend continues, solar will deliver more electricity generation/yr than any technology before it.
Graph from @nathanielbullard.com - great newsletter
May 12, 2025 at 1:28 PM
a gargantuan economic development that healthier societies would be well positioned to exploit politically. but we have xenophobia and hyper policing as our de facto climate policy instead of managed fossil fuel phase out. this is not an accident
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
@thiggins.bsky.social requested a version where its in the form of a spiral, to avoid the discontinuity at the start and end of the year:
April 29, 2025 at 8:00 PM
@thiggins.bsky.social requested a version where its in the form of a spiral, to avoid the discontinuity at the start and end of the year:
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
An interesting thing is happening around the world. While all the headlines are about how India wants to use more gas, they don't have the infrastructure in place for gas distribution.
While they are figuring out if they can do that, renewables march on.
While they are figuring out if they can do that, renewables march on.
India’s wind and solar generation has DOUBLED in just five years 🇮🇳⚡
In 2024, 🇮🇳 overtook Germany to become the world’s THIRD-LARGEST generator of electricity from wind and solar.
ember-energy.org/lat...
In 2024, 🇮🇳 overtook Germany to become the world’s THIRD-LARGEST generator of electricity from wind and solar.
ember-energy.org/lat...
May 2, 2025 at 10:45 AM
An interesting thing is happening around the world. While all the headlines are about how India wants to use more gas, they don't have the infrastructure in place for gas distribution.
While they are figuring out if they can do that, renewables march on.
While they are figuring out if they can do that, renewables march on.
Reading 'The First and Last King of Haiti' on the balcony. What a book!
April 30, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Reading 'The First and Last King of Haiti' on the balcony. What a book!
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
🎯: @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
"So who has government listened to? Astonishingly, Keir Starmer told us. His attack on environmental regulation, inspired by “my conversations with leading CEOs”...Blissfully unaware this is the bit you're not supposed to say."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...?
"So who has government listened to? Astonishingly, Keir Starmer told us. His attack on environmental regulation, inspired by “my conversations with leading CEOs”...Blissfully unaware this is the bit you're not supposed to say."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...?
Labour’s great nature sellout is the worst attack on England’s ecosystems I’ve seen in my lifetime | George Monbiot
The horrifying planning bill, which rips up environmental protections, was drafted with CEOs in mind. We know because Keir Starmer told us, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
April 28, 2025 at 8:32 AM
🎯: @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
"So who has government listened to? Astonishingly, Keir Starmer told us. His attack on environmental regulation, inspired by “my conversations with leading CEOs”...Blissfully unaware this is the bit you're not supposed to say."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...?
"So who has government listened to? Astonishingly, Keir Starmer told us. His attack on environmental regulation, inspired by “my conversations with leading CEOs”...Blissfully unaware this is the bit you're not supposed to say."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...?
A spectacular week visiting my parents in Italy for Easter - taking advantage of train and boat routes
April 22, 2025 at 6:04 PM
A spectacular week visiting my parents in Italy for Easter - taking advantage of train and boat routes
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
"We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace."
A voice for the voiceless. A champion of the poor and marginalised. An inspiration.
Rest in peace, Pope Francis.
A voice for the voiceless. A champion of the poor and marginalised. An inspiration.
Rest in peace, Pope Francis.
April 21, 2025 at 10:58 AM
"We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace."
A voice for the voiceless. A champion of the poor and marginalised. An inspiration.
Rest in peace, Pope Francis.
A voice for the voiceless. A champion of the poor and marginalised. An inspiration.
Rest in peace, Pope Francis.
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
🚨 The 2024 European State of the Climate (ESOTC) was released today.
There are absolutely beautiful data visualizations throughout this report, but they also reveal some very alarming statistics of climate trends and extremes.
Check it out: doi.org/10.24381/14j... #ESOTC2024 🧪⚒️🌊
There are absolutely beautiful data visualizations throughout this report, but they also reveal some very alarming statistics of climate trends and extremes.
Check it out: doi.org/10.24381/14j... #ESOTC2024 🧪⚒️🌊
April 15, 2025 at 12:23 PM
🚨 The 2024 European State of the Climate (ESOTC) was released today.
There are absolutely beautiful data visualizations throughout this report, but they also reveal some very alarming statistics of climate trends and extremes.
Check it out: doi.org/10.24381/14j... #ESOTC2024 🧪⚒️🌊
There are absolutely beautiful data visualizations throughout this report, but they also reveal some very alarming statistics of climate trends and extremes.
Check it out: doi.org/10.24381/14j... #ESOTC2024 🧪⚒️🌊
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
My latest long read on oil, LNG, lemmings and the dangers of myths.
"So, lots of excitement about all of the major players in the world becoming LNG traders. They will just buy it and sell it to the highest bidder and the profits will just roll in. All is needed are customers...."
"So, lots of excitement about all of the major players in the world becoming LNG traders. They will just buy it and sell it to the highest bidder and the profits will just roll in. All is needed are customers...."
The Pivot and the Plague
I’ve been researching and writing about the shale oil and gas industry for over 10 years now. For much of that time I’ve seen the U.S. shale industry treat gas (aka methane) as a waste product. In the...
powering-the-planet.ghost.io
April 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
My latest long read on oil, LNG, lemmings and the dangers of myths.
"So, lots of excitement about all of the major players in the world becoming LNG traders. They will just buy it and sell it to the highest bidder and the profits will just roll in. All is needed are customers...."
"So, lots of excitement about all of the major players in the world becoming LNG traders. They will just buy it and sell it to the highest bidder and the profits will just roll in. All is needed are customers...."
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
This is some great analysis by Sam Reynolds at IEEFA. I recommend reading it all or you could just take away the main point:
"This does not bode well for the global LNG industry."
"This does not bode well for the global LNG industry."
This just in: IEEFA analysis suggests LNG is unlikely to play a major role in displacing coal (or oil) in China. Notes that "volatility in global markets and escalating tensions with suppliers like the U.S. have only weakened the case for LNG in China"; global oversupply incoming.
Understanding the competitive landscape for China’s LNG market
Gas exporters have touted the potential of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to replace coal and reduce emissions in China. China’s LNG demand appears limitless when viewed as a simple substitute for coal. ...
ieefa.org
April 10, 2025 at 11:20 AM
This is some great analysis by Sam Reynolds at IEEFA. I recommend reading it all or you could just take away the main point:
"This does not bode well for the global LNG industry."
"This does not bode well for the global LNG industry."
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
If you want a pristine example of how absolutely everything in this country is distorted by the perceived need to perform for right wing voters, look no further than the question of permission to work for asylum seekers
April 15, 2025 at 6:47 AM
If you want a pristine example of how absolutely everything in this country is distorted by the perceived need to perform for right wing voters, look no further than the question of permission to work for asylum seekers
Reposted by Martha van Bakel
There was a lot going on this week, so maybe you missed this pod on the current state of global electricity, but it is really worth your time. Tons of insights in here, some of which will surprise you. Perhaps a chain with some charts?
How is clean electricity doing globally?
Clean electricity hits 40% globally as solar keeps doubling every two years and China's energy revolution outpaces the rest of the world.
www.volts.wtf
April 13, 2025 at 7:55 PM
There was a lot going on this week, so maybe you missed this pod on the current state of global electricity, but it is really worth your time. Tons of insights in here, some of which will surprise you. Perhaps a chain with some charts?