Oliver Lough
@olough.bsky.social
Humanitarian research and M&E; Kyiv, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Erbil, SOAS, Kabul, Beijing; feminist; Londoner. Everything is on fire or worse. All opinions my own. He/him
Is this perhaps because lizard brain thinks "50 years ago" is 1950?
"What is certain, and felt instinctively by almost everybody, is that things cannot go on in their present way" – The Times, May 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
November 15, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Is this perhaps because lizard brain thinks "50 years ago" is 1950?
Reposted by Oliver Lough
this is a pet peeve of mine. "war crime" is not something that means "bad thing I think is wrong". it is not a war crime to murder thousands of retreating enemy soldiers. it is a war crime to paint a Red Cross on a truck. if you think something is morally wrong just fucking say that.
ok so the basic problem here is that you have no idea what “war criminal” means except it’s a phrase that people react to
October 22, 2025 at 11:19 PM
this is a pet peeve of mine. "war crime" is not something that means "bad thing I think is wrong". it is not a war crime to murder thousands of retreating enemy soldiers. it is a war crime to paint a Red Cross on a truck. if you think something is morally wrong just fucking say that.
Reposted by Oliver Lough
It's a very, very large number of people who've just been told to "go home" by HM's opposition. Add their friends, relatives and supporters and you have an enormous chunk of the voting population. Without those people's votes, the Labour Party is finished. It needs to be made to understand that.
Senior Labour figures have expressed dismay at the Party's "cowardly" and "incompetent" response to Tory shadow minister Katie Lam calling for legal migrants to "go home".
"What’s the point of us saying we’re anti-racist when we fail to call out racism," said one MP.
"What’s the point of us saying we’re anti-racist when we fail to call out racism," said one MP.
Exclusive: Labour Anger Erupts Over Party's Response To Katie Lam Immigration Row
"What’s the point of us saying we’re anti-racist when we fail to call out racism," said one MP.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
It's a very, very large number of people who've just been told to "go home" by HM's opposition. Add their friends, relatives and supporters and you have an enormous chunk of the voting population. Without those people's votes, the Labour Party is finished. It needs to be made to understand that.
Reposted by Oliver Lough
No. This is somewhere to be. This is all you have, but it's still something. Streets and sodium lights. The sky, the world. You're still alive.
October 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
No. This is somewhere to be. This is all you have, but it's still something. Streets and sodium lights. The sky, the world. You're still alive.
Love the contrast between the complex, elegant long cons of Lupin with "masks, chainsaws and the back entrance, job's a good 'un"
Sorry they got the crown jewels??? Yeah this is definitely a movie
October 19, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Love the contrast between the complex, elegant long cons of Lupin with "masks, chainsaws and the back entrance, job's a good 'un"
This is such an important point and a clear way to frame it. Also in humanitarian action, neutrality is a professional, not a personal expectation
To be really clear, I'm saying we should judge the neutrality of public servants purely by what they do, and not what they privately think. The latter is only relevant if we believe that it impinges on the former.
October 17, 2025 at 2:31 PM
This is such an important point and a clear way to frame it. Also in humanitarian action, neutrality is a professional, not a personal expectation
Reposted by Oliver Lough
Holy shit he's not lying.
This judgement is WILD. And it's not even the full ruling yet!
This judgement is WILD. And it's not even the full ruling yet!
October 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Holy shit he's not lying.
This judgement is WILD. And it's not even the full ruling yet!
This judgement is WILD. And it's not even the full ruling yet!
Reposted by Oliver Lough
this tipped me off to londoncentric.media and, boy, their stuff is really good even if you don't particularly care for London. Why? Because it's laser-focused on *the money* - who is getting paid and how for various aspects, especially the shady ones, of urban life.
October 11, 2025 at 12:33 PM
this tipped me off to londoncentric.media and, boy, their stuff is really good even if you don't particularly care for London. Why? Because it's laser-focused on *the money* - who is getting paid and how for various aspects, especially the shady ones, of urban life.
Reposted by Oliver Lough
❓ Why are women-led organisations still being routinely overlooked within the humanitarian system? And what can (and should) we do about it? Our latest paper from researchers @megandaigle.bsky.social, @this-is-cate.bsky.social & Manny Maung explores → buff.ly/ILQa6DQ
October 8, 2025 at 10:16 AM
❓ Why are women-led organisations still being routinely overlooked within the humanitarian system? And what can (and should) we do about it? Our latest paper from researchers @megandaigle.bsky.social, @this-is-cate.bsky.social & Manny Maung explores → buff.ly/ILQa6DQ
Reposted by Oliver Lough
I want to see the Hainish Cycle get the Star Trek episodic treatment
Controversial Star Trek opinion:
Star Trek is too obsessed with easter eggs and call backs. The galaxy is huge we want to be introduced to new characters and storylines.
Star Trek is too obsessed with easter eggs and call backs. The galaxy is huge we want to be introduced to new characters and storylines.
Controversial Star Trek opinion:
Star Trek focuses too much on the lineage of The Enterprise and her crew(s).
13 series + 13 movies, and only 6 that deal with a different crew or ship.
Star Trek focuses too much on the lineage of The Enterprise and her crew(s).
13 series + 13 movies, and only 6 that deal with a different crew or ship.
September 29, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I want to see the Hainish Cycle get the Star Trek episodic treatment
Reposted by Oliver Lough
I just got indefinite leave to remain 2 years ago, so I'm reading this like, I don't even know what the fuck this means. We pay taxes, we pay TWICE for the NHS, we pay an exorbitant fee for visas to reach ILR, our income is constantly scrutinised. How the fuck more are people supposed to contribute?
Dehumanisation as policy.
It ignores people's actual lives and experiences in favour of some sick idea that migrants are just resources to be used and discarded at will.
It is incredible how Labour has become, in practice, the most anti-immigration government in decades.
news.sky.com/story/shaban...
It ignores people's actual lives and experiences in favour of some sick idea that migrants are just resources to be used and discarded at will.
It is incredible how Labour has become, in practice, the most anti-immigration government in decades.
news.sky.com/story/shaban...
Shabana Mahmood vows law reforms to prove migrants 'contribute' to UK society
The home secretary signalled in her first major interview since taking over the reins that she believed migration "has been too high".
news.sky.com
September 28, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I just got indefinite leave to remain 2 years ago, so I'm reading this like, I don't even know what the fuck this means. We pay taxes, we pay TWICE for the NHS, we pay an exorbitant fee for visas to reach ILR, our income is constantly scrutinised. How the fuck more are people supposed to contribute?
Reposted by Oliver Lough
It's that time of year again, annual elections for election to Council of the National Trust. Lots of candidates to choose from.
Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.
Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.
What's better than a rainbow-coloured bed of dahlias?
An actual rainbow shining over the rainbow-coloured dahlias.
An actual rainbow shining over the rainbow-coloured dahlias.
September 9, 2025 at 9:21 AM
It's that time of year again, annual elections for election to Council of the National Trust. Lots of candidates to choose from.
Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.
Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.
Reposted by Oliver Lough
The Conservative MP for Huntingdon is vocal against racism.
I continue to anticipate a member of the Labour government will challenge overt racism sometime soon after a month of inexplicable silence
I continue to anticipate a member of the Labour government will challenge overt racism sometime soon after a month of inexplicable silence
September 6, 2025 at 10:28 AM
The Conservative MP for Huntingdon is vocal against racism.
I continue to anticipate a member of the Labour government will challenge overt racism sometime soon after a month of inexplicable silence
I continue to anticipate a member of the Labour government will challenge overt racism sometime soon after a month of inexplicable silence
Reposted by Oliver Lough
For friends in Beijing who are interested in the music scene, beginning today we are starting a new weekly series at My Dramamine, featuring many of the best composers and experimental musicians in Beijing and China. The series kicks off with performances by Zhang Shouwang and Wang Xu.
September 4, 2025 at 3:18 AM
For friends in Beijing who are interested in the music scene, beginning today we are starting a new weekly series at My Dramamine, featuring many of the best composers and experimental musicians in Beijing and China. The series kicks off with performances by Zhang Shouwang and Wang Xu.
Reposted by Oliver Lough
📣 OUT NOW: Our new briefing explores the practice of humanitarian evacuation in conflict settings, which is often seen as a last resort due to ethical dilemmas and risks involved. HPG researcher @verobarbelet.bsky.social unpacks in detail, with examples from Ukraine and Syria ⤵️
Humanitarian evacuations: practice, guidance, research gaps and lessons
This briefing note explores recent practice on humanitarian evacuations and learnings from such practice, and examines current guidance and gaps in evidence. It is based on a light-touch review of…
buff.ly
August 28, 2025 at 11:02 AM
📣 OUT NOW: Our new briefing explores the practice of humanitarian evacuation in conflict settings, which is often seen as a last resort due to ethical dilemmas and risks involved. HPG researcher @verobarbelet.bsky.social unpacks in detail, with examples from Ukraine and Syria ⤵️
Reposted by Oliver Lough
This, from the Quakers, is a pretty good example of how to resist pressure from bigot lobbying groups. Effectively “we legally can allow trans people to use the loo, we morally should, and we tried it and nothing bad happened”
www.quaker.org.uk
August 28, 2025 at 12:16 PM
This, from the Quakers, is a pretty good example of how to resist pressure from bigot lobbying groups. Effectively “we legally can allow trans people to use the loo, we morally should, and we tried it and nothing bad happened”
Reposted by Oliver Lough
When the Beano starts taking pops at you then it's probably time to question your amazing comms and policy strategy.
August 28, 2025 at 11:44 AM
When the Beano starts taking pops at you then it's probably time to question your amazing comms and policy strategy.
Reposted by Oliver Lough
Just for perspective, a few weeks ago roughly 100,000 turned up for the London Trans+ Pride march. By contrast fewer than 3,000 ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY, have turned up to anti-asylum "protests". Yet we are meant to take the latter as "the voice of the people" and the former as "the minority".
August 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Just for perspective, a few weeks ago roughly 100,000 turned up for the London Trans+ Pride march. By contrast fewer than 3,000 ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY, have turned up to anti-asylum "protests". Yet we are meant to take the latter as "the voice of the people" and the former as "the minority".
Continue to find inclusion of Square and Compass in best of lists baffling. Never enjoy drinking at places that find every opportunity to remind you that you're an outsider and your presence is, at best, tolerated.
'In the week after our book, The Pub, is released, it's great to see the Daily Telegraph join us in lauding that great British institution... and in such a distinctive style too.
August 26, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Continue to find inclusion of Square and Compass in best of lists baffling. Never enjoy drinking at places that find every opportunity to remind you that you're an outsider and your presence is, at best, tolerated.
Reposted by Oliver Lough
Another approach for Labour than full-bore retreat to 'yes, immigration is a problem, yes it is a squalid experiment, we hate business and commerce' is available and has worked in the past. www.theguardian.com/politics/200...
August 21, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Another approach for Labour than full-bore retreat to 'yes, immigration is a problem, yes it is a squalid experiment, we hate business and commerce' is available and has worked in the past. www.theguardian.com/politics/200...
Reposted by Oliver Lough
Obviously the smears against this man are incredibly libellous - and it says a lot about access to the law that he wouldn't be able to afford to Lord McAlpine these fuckers - but at what point does the government clock that it needs to get a grip on this raging online fire of fascist hate?
Family in fear after Tommy Robinson shares video of black man with white granddaughters.
Exclusive: Olajuwon Ayeni racially abused and falsely labelled a paedophile as far right weaponises clip of family in park
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Exclusive: Olajuwon Ayeni racially abused and falsely labelled a paedophile as far right weaponises clip of family in park
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Family in fear after Tommy Robinson shares video of black man with white granddaughters
Exclusive: Olajuwon Ayeni racially abused and falsely labelled a paedophile as far right weaponises clip of family in park
www.theguardian.com
August 20, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Obviously the smears against this man are incredibly libellous - and it says a lot about access to the law that he wouldn't be able to afford to Lord McAlpine these fuckers - but at what point does the government clock that it needs to get a grip on this raging online fire of fascist hate?
Reposted by Oliver Lough
‘Partition removed the Irish question from British politics. A referendum will not solve the British question in Irish politics.’
This essay by @philipstephens.bsky.social is striking in reminding us how rare it is to get pieces covering the British/Irish relationship these days
on.ft.com/45T8p0g
This essay by @philipstephens.bsky.social is striking in reminding us how rare it is to get pieces covering the British/Irish relationship these days
on.ft.com/45T8p0g
Ireland and the ‘British question’
Few now discount the prospect of unification. Yet the Republic still struggles to imagine the changes that would be needed to accommodate unionists
on.ft.com
August 16, 2025 at 7:39 AM
‘Partition removed the Irish question from British politics. A referendum will not solve the British question in Irish politics.’
This essay by @philipstephens.bsky.social is striking in reminding us how rare it is to get pieces covering the British/Irish relationship these days
on.ft.com/45T8p0g
This essay by @philipstephens.bsky.social is striking in reminding us how rare it is to get pieces covering the British/Irish relationship these days
on.ft.com/45T8p0g
Just back from a meeting in a Harry Potter themed co-working space. This stuff is so weird because i) it's now inseperable from JKR's transphobia, ii) books unlocking imagination giving way to a standard aesthetic (house crest designs now canon), and iii) because said aesthetic is so...cheap?
they should stop making Potter stuff, not just because of the author being a fascist, but because it's embarrassing dog shit
August 6, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Just back from a meeting in a Harry Potter themed co-working space. This stuff is so weird because i) it's now inseperable from JKR's transphobia, ii) books unlocking imagination giving way to a standard aesthetic (house crest designs now canon), and iii) because said aesthetic is so...cheap?
Reposted by Oliver Lough
the home office are not fit for purpose. I will say this every day if I have to. A completely dysfunctional government department that has contributed to the fracturing of our social fabric. And it has zero morals.
Eighty students from Gaza, who have overcome unbelievable obstacles to get a place at UK universities, unable to take them up due to the UK Home Office disgracefully putting even more obstacles in their place.
www.thetimes.com/article/2a7d...
www.thetimes.com/article/2a7d...
Living in Gaza, accepted to Cambridge — blocked by Home Office
Young Palestinians overcome unimaginable challenges just to apply to university, only for the British government to make unfeasible visa demands
www.thetimes.com
August 4, 2025 at 9:30 AM
the home office are not fit for purpose. I will say this every day if I have to. A completely dysfunctional government department that has contributed to the fracturing of our social fabric. And it has zero morals.
The director of our US grad programme in China in a speech at Christmas dinner, 2008: "there are no jobs. I don't know what else to tell you."
It also blows my mind to see people around my age act like it was awesome to be in college and then a young adult in the late 2000s and early 2010s
Did they somehow miss the part where no one could find a job? did they memory hole that? i mean i too enjoy MGMT but that didn't really COMPENSATE
Did they somehow miss the part where no one could find a job? did they memory hole that? i mean i too enjoy MGMT but that didn't really COMPENSATE
August 4, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The director of our US grad programme in China in a speech at Christmas dinner, 2008: "there are no jobs. I don't know what else to tell you."