writing

A woman’s right to easily accessible holistic contraceptive services – as well as a right to choose

by

I personally know just how dangerous and humiliating illegal abortions were here in the UK.(1) See ‘Needs Must’. Kansans clearly understand that overturning Roe v Wade simply bans safe abortions – rather than stopping the need for abortion.(2) This issue is much more than a chance for celebrities to speak out.(3) Across the UK, women are …

See more

We shall Not be Erased

by
Blank tree of life, with labelling to help you fill it in

Thats the headline of a call out for a great European opportunity .But how can ‘not being erased’ happen?I’ve been thinking about this as part of my bid.Here are some of the methodologies I’ve been considering: Crip theory:  This centres disabled experiences, embodiments and movements – rather than the able-bodied normative – as summarised here:  …

See more

I’m in a cage

by
A barred and padlocked door. With a standard green Emergency Exit sign overlaid with a big red NO EXIT sign

Dexter Bentley asked me to contribute a 2021 One Minute Wonder. I submitted “I’m in a Cage“ All the 120 sound pieces are here. With my piece near 1:25:00 Here are my words below.Though I’m now only too aware that what originally felt like the outrageously enormous number of 100,000 daily Covid cases – was …

See more

Sprezzaturra

by
William Hutt epitomised the very best sort of sprezzaturra. It’s a concept from Castigloone’s 1528 Book of the Courtier, just in case you don’t immediately know what I’m talking about. William; had, of course, more-than-mastery of arms. He had enormous physical strength. And his dainty dancing was always an absolute joy to behold. Since Will was ...

See more

A Siberian post mortem

by
Nurse gives meds to prisoner behind bars in TB prison. The open mouth is to check the meds were swallowed. Image: Nachtwey. https://prisonphotography.org/tag/tuberculosis/
“Do you work in Humanitarian Aid?” the man asked.I’d just finished my weekly swim and was waiting for my hair to dry. After all, when it’s minus 29ºCentigrade, you don't go outside with a wet head, even if you have got a cosy Russian fur hat.Yes,” I answered. He was staring at me. “Do you ...

See more

Catching a hawk

by

Every week, a Harris hawk flies over the shopping centre where I live, to stop the pigeons pooping on the shoppers.  If I hear the jingle of the bells, I go down to chat to the falconer, and greet the splendid bird – who flies much more and much more freely than birds in aviaries. …

See more

Needs Must

by
white text: abortion is healthcare not a crime, over a picture of a woman in a blue short sleeve shirt standing in front of railings and mural in a street

I wrote this for an American publication just as the anti-abortionists started getting really active. The title was changed to: Desperate Measures. The article was picked up by the Kevin MD blog. I asked to be anonymous simply to underline the deadly dangers clinicians face in the US if they take part in abortions but unfortunately …

See more

Real women

by

I was a medical student the first time I saw a baby born. I’d been told about all the folding and unfolding and twisting and turning a baby does to get out of its mother. The reality is much more exciting.A tuft of hair emerges and retracts, and then emerges some more, to slowly become the head …

See more

Football diplomacy

by

Iran might have lost 1:0, but even the Guardian newspaper said: “Argentina weren’t very good, and Iran were spectacularly brilliant”. Here’s some video of the celebrations in Tehran And here are some snippets from the Canadian Globe and Mail coverage: “On paper, Iran had no chance here. They’re the 43rd ranked team in the world. …

See more