Good morning pleasant pumpkins,
The last day of October is here, the nights are closing in, and how absolutely wonderful that is. Halloween, hibernation and hygge is in the air - not to mention the woody smell of roasting chestnuts as Catalunya celebrates La Castanaya. Amid the cajoling rays, rains, winds of Autumn, I'm delighted to share 5 social tips, tit-bits, treats and talking points, all of which I've come across or re-discovered over the past 2 weeks! Please enjoy!
1. Impact approaches I'm exploring: Ambitious Impact & GiveWell - Two organisations leading in the world of research-backed, evidence-based impact work. Ambitious Impact has a radical programme of training future charity leaders, taking a numbers-based and highly pragmatic approach to working out gaps in the 3rd sector. Meanwhile, GiveWell is known for its cold, number crunching to identify exactly where best your donation goes. While criticism might be levelled at both for their rather utilitarian methodologies, I find both organisations fascinating models.
2. Quote I'm sharing: Pope Leo on abortion and migration - "Someone who says: ‘I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States,’ I don’t know if that’s pro-life.” - The Guardian
3. Event I'm organising: Manfa Poetry, Barcelona - Join us for another evening dedicated to live poetry hosted by Taha and I on 13th November 2025. This time, we’ve been invited to host the evening in the wonderful prole. LGBTQIA+, feminist and antiracist bookshop in L’Eixample. Join us for an evening of readings from contemporary poets in BCN, drinks, musical accompaniment and great people! If you want to share poetry at this or a future event, get in touch with me!
4. Campaign I'm exploring: Adfree Cities - One of my biggest bug bears is street advertising. I feel strongly that we have the right to walk, travel and be in our public spaces without the constant bombardment of commercial advertising. When did it get so bad? Billboards were grotesque enough, but the trend toward digital screens that violently throw garish, eyeball-grabbing ads in our faces takes us to another level. The rise of Global and JCDeaux as monopolising advertising monarchies is equally worrying, ensuring that only minimal profits from advertising are reinvested into local communities. I thought I was alone in griping about this, but was delighted this fortnight to discoverAdfree Cities and their campaign work. I'm looking forward to getting more informed and taking action. Our streets and spaces are ours, not simply more advertising space for corporations.
5. Why I'm holding-my-head-in-my-hands-in-despair over: Las Marifachas, Spain's queer conservatives - What a sad day to discover this even exists. And how ridiculous that the gay community can be so short-sighted, so quick to sow hate. Nothing more to say on the matter.
📣 Opportunities from me and my network
💚 Help out with the Gaza Food Project. We're looking for volunteers to get us up and running.
💻 Looking for a website maintenance plan? Visit Circular Design, our non-profit web agency.
🥦 Become a Vegan Society Member for free if you’re under 26!
📖 Order your copy of Remnants of War, Migration, Love by Taha Salim.
⭐️ Know someone critically-minded? I’d love to nominate them for Aspen Rising Leaders.
That’s it for this fortnight! As ever, please let me know your thoughts and feedback – and send anything you’d like me to include in upcoming editions this way.
