A Sea of Placards, Newcastle Says ‘No to Hate’
The two simultaneous events that unfolded in Newcastle city centre on September 27, 2025, offered a stark, quantifiable measure of local political will. The anti-racist counter-demonstration, galvanized by the North East Anti-Racism Coalition and groups like Newcastle Unites, converged in the thousands (estimated near 3,500) to affirm the city’s identity as a place of sanctuary and solidarity. Following the day’s events, Newcastle Unites celebrated the “magnificent numbers” that turned out to show the far-right they were “not welcome in our city.” While the UKIP protest, led by figures like Nick Tenconi and Ben Habib, gathered in the hundreds (estimated near 300) to advance a platform of “mass deportations” and division, this numerical disparity is a reliable picture of Newcastle’s civic sentiment. The Coalition, in its pre-event statement, acknowledged the right to protest but stressed that the actions of organizers were deliberately seeking to spread “fear, division, and racism,” positioning their own event as a “peaceful celebration of solidarity” to meet hatred with “empathy and kindness.” This contrast confirms that the city’s deep-seated tradition of unity soundly rejected the external attempts to sow discord. Continue Reading
How Two Businesses Navigated Evolving Ethics
Tuesday, 23rd September 2025 marked the beginning of a milestone tenth year for the business seminars at Northumbria University, and what a compelling start it was. I had the opportunity to attend this event, a fascinating seminar that explored a compelling and unsettling question: how do firms manage their own ethical contradictions? The seminar, based on a study by Dr Nicholas D. Wong and his colleagues—Andrew Smith, Allan Discua Cruz, Nicholas Burton, and Elenia Charalambous—provides a compelling framework for understanding this phenomenon. Continue Reading
Join the dots: Planet and People Micro-Conference
Friday, September 12th, at the David Shaw Lecture Theatre at Newcastle University. The conference focused on topics including biodiversity, health, community, science, and art, bringing together a diverse group of participants dedicated to fostering a more sustainable and harmonious world. Organised by Paul Miskin of Planet Action Street Arts with the kind support of The Natural History Society of Northumbria. They brought together an amazing micro-conference fusing art and science. Climate Action Newcastle were pleased to be invited and had the opportunity for a stall next to the registration desk. Continue Reading
‘The Natural World in our City’ – Mela Stall
The Newcastle Mela, a vibrant celebration whose name signifies “meeting” or “gathering,” provided a magical backdrop for us to connect with the community this past Bank Holiday. Climate Action Newcastle’s stall was dedicated to the theme of “The Natural World in our City,” a powerful reminder that our living heritage thrives right on our doorsteps. The goal was to highlight the importance of urban biodiversity and empower everyone to take practical, local action. Continue Reading
A Just Transition: Manifesto for Change
Everywhere, a new world is being built. And this essay explores how easily you can be a part of it. This is not naive optimism. It is an urgent call to recognise the immense, often unseen power that already exists within us, within our communities, and within the structures of our societies. It is a revelation that the tools for transformation are not distant or theoretical, but right at our fingertips. Deep down, we instinctively grasp the gravity of the web of crises – the interconnection of ecological breakdown, economic injustice, and social fragmentation. Continue Reading
Newcastle: Where Pride is Welcome
July 19th, 2025
Newcastle once again shouts out for inclusivity, joy, and celebration this weekend, as Northern Pride takes over the city for Newcastle Pride 2025! Building on the success of last year, the festival has grown even bigger, spreading its vibrant message of “Unapologetically Visible” across the heart of Newcastle city centre. Continue Reading
Sheffield: Park Hill and Much More
July 13, 2025
I have wanted to visit Park Hill for some time, and Sunday Assembly Sheffield’s 10th birthday provided an excellent opportunity. My recent visit to Sheffield offered a fascinating dive into a city that beautifully balances its industrial heritage with a vibrant, modern pulse. While the city centre has its charms, it was the iconic Park Hill Estate that truly captured my imagination and became a focal point of my exploration. Continue Reading
Durham Miners Gala: Pageantry, Politics, and Pride
July 12, 2025
Although I moved to the North East in 2014, last Saturday marked my very first visit to the iconic Durham Miners’ Gala. And what an immersion it was, stepping directly into the heart of the event as part of the Climate Action bloc, witnessing firsthand the enduring power of solidarity in action. Continue Reading
Social Change: Too Few Are Listening
July 6, 2025
I recently attended a further screening of ‘The Line We Crossed’, a powerful experience where a crucial point arose: ‘Too Few Are Listening’. This blog is my reply, a reflection on how we might move beyond the frustration of unheard voices and seemingly insurmountable challenges. It explores the dynamics of social change, offering a perspective on what truly works to transform societies and galvanise collective action. Continue Reading
A Beautiful Noise: NPV Cathedral Concert
Last Friday, July 4th, Newcastle Cathedral resonated with an extraordinary symphony of voices, as Northern Proud Voices – the North East’s largest and longest-running LGBTQIA+ choir – held their third annual Pride Concert. It was an evening that, as this blog post is titled, featured the powerful song “A Beautiful Noise,” filling the historic space with harmony, joy, and an undeniable message of inclusivity and pride. Continue Reading
Pawz Rescue Run: Or Is It Clawz?
June 27, 2025
Another trip to Pawz Animal Rescue, this time with a cold Kittiwake chick and an adult pigeon suffering from canker. Both birds will receive excellent care from Lynne and the team. Pawz for Thought, an animal charity in Sunderland established 22 years ago in 2003, began as a response to animal welfare issues in the North East and has grown into a busy organization helping thousands of animals each year. The centre is always a hive of activity, with volunteers caring for hedgehogs, pigeons, gulls, and much more… Continue Reading
Washington New Town: Addressing the Missing Link
June 26, 2025
Today I attended one of many public consultations for the proposed Metro extension through Washington. It’s an exciting time for our region, with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness having recently secured a new £1.85bn funding deal for transport. This series of public drop-in sessions is giving local residents the chance to meet the project team from Nexus, learn more about the plans, provide feedback, and ask questions directly… Continue Reading
Meldrum Seminar: Succession Planning via Employee Ownership
June 24, 2025
Northumbria University’s Faculty of Business and Law actively champions responsible management, aligning with the UN Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME). As part of their Responsible Business Seminar Series, which aims to connect leading figures with the academic community to explore vital topics and foster research, the Faculty was honoured to host Dave Meldrum, CEO of Meldrum Construction, recently for a session on Succession Planning via Employee Ownership… Continue Reading
The Line We Crossed: Is Protest Still Possible?
June 23, 2025
I am indebted to Climate Action Newcastle for making me aware of the crucial screening of The Line We Crossed at The Star and Shadow, Newcastle. This film presents a potent British story of dissent, drawn from the frontlines of climate resistance, and through the experiences of those who stood in defiance, it also traces the quiet unraveling of our protest rights… Continue Reading
Gratitude and Action: North East Summer Gathering
June 21, 2025
In a world often overshadowed by environmental and social crises, the North East Summer Gathering, held on Saturday, June 21st, at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts in Gateshead, served as a powerful testament to Joanna Macy’s profound insight. It was a day where gratitude for our interconnectedness with the Earth and each other fuelled collective action… Continue Reading
Fiduciary Care Imperative to Divest Fossil Fuels
June 20, 2025
The bedrock principle guiding pension fund management is fiduciary duty: the legal and ethical obligation to act solely in the best financial interests of their beneficiaries. This duty demands prudence, loyalty, and diligent risk management. In an era defined by accelerating climate change, continued investment in fossil fuel assets increasingly conflicts with this core responsibility… Continue Reading
Buy These 12 Paintings, Get a Palace Free
June 19, 2025
Upon moving to Newcastle, I started to notice intriguing road signs proclaiming “Land of the Prince Bishops.” They hinted at a deep, regional past, but their significance remained elusive, an abstract phrase without a story. They were a curiosity, a silent question mark hanging over the historical landscape of my new home. Like many, I knew little about these powerful figures, beyond a passing curiosity… Continue Reading
Music: The Mystique and Meaning
June 18, 2025
There is a profound mystique and meaning of music, a force that transcends mere sound and often evokes moments when it quite literally makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It is in these instances that music becomes something else entirely – a wave of emotion, a profound connection. We glimpse its true power to reach beyond the rational and touch something deeply visceral within us… Continue Reading
Pride: More Than a Celebration
June 17, 2025
As June unfolds into Pride Month, we recall parades bursting with colour, music, and joyful celebration. While these vibrant displays are central to Pride, they represent something far deeper than mere festivity. They are a powerful, living testament to a fundamental truth: our rights are not simply given; they are claimed, lived, and continuously upheld through collective strength… Continue Reading
Culture Wars: Beyond the Domestic Divide
June 16, 2025
While the term “Culture Wars” often evokes images of domestic tensions surrounding identity politics and social norms, a far more profound and pressing battle rages on the global stage. These are the true culture wars: fundamental clashes over core values such as democracy, justice, the protection of the vulnerable… Continue Reading
Online Activism: The Clicktavism Myth
June 15, 2025
The digital age has undeniably reshaped the landscape of activism, offering unprecedented opportunities for collective action, information dissemination, and global mobilisation. From viral campaigns raising awareness about climate change to online petitions demanding justice, online activism has become a pervasive force. Yet, it often faces criticism for being superficial… Continue Reading
Increasingly uncomfortable with labels
June 14, 2025
There is a sense of belonging that accompanies being in a group. Feeling safer and nurtured by likeminded people. It’s very seductive. And it’s generally the norm. It’s part of formulating our ideas of our sense of identity. This sense, encompassing our memories, experiences, relationships, and values, creates a relatively steady perception of who we are over time… Continue Reading
Unexpected Grit of Doris Day’s Compassion
April 3, 2025
We remember Doris Day for the sunshine in her voice and the twinkle in her eye, the epitome of Hollywood’s cheerful innocence. Sometimes, the most profound awakenings happen in the least expected places. For Day, that moment arrived not on a glittering soundstage in California, but amidst the bustling chaos of a Marrakesh marketplace, the backdrop for Hitchcock’s “The Man Who Knew Too Much.”… Continue Reading