@derekalcorn.bsky.social Happily retired, background in social policy and community development. Interested in languages, the environment, and a New Ireland.
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Joined February 2014
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HEY CANADA, WE COULD DO THIS. 🇨🇦 👇
Rather than leaving homeless people to freeze outside, Minneapolis transformed a warehouse into a village with 100 tiny homes where people sleep safely.
People get a locked door, a safe place to sleep, and 24hr mental health care, substance-use treatment, and employment support, with a clear path toward permanent housing. 👏🤍
In April 2015, developers illegally demolished London’s historic Carlton Tavern, a 1920s pub that was just days away from receiving protected heritage status. The owners reportedly intended to replace the building with luxury apartments, believing the consequences would amount to little more than a financial penalty.
However, the demolition sparked widespread public outrage, prompting Westminster City Council to take legal action. Rather than allowing the developers to move forward, authorities ordered them to reconstruct the entire pub at their own expense, carefully preserving its original design and incorporating materials recovered from the rubble.
Following a restoration reportedly costing between £3 million and £4 million, the Carlton Tavern finally reopened in 2021, nearly identical to its original appearance. The remarkable case became a rare example of developers being legally required to rebuild a historic structure after unlawfully destroying it, turning an attempted demolition into an extraordinary victory for architectural preservation.
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Why the silence of Ireland’s church
leaders ?
irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/…
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The silence of the churches on Drumcree is very loud. What would Jesus do I wonder?
@irishchurches
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South Belfast MP @ClaireHanna challenges Nolan on his daily obsession with Drumcree. Very well said - listen at 35 minutes and following. The BBC and Nolan need called out publicly more often.
DUP blocks First Minister Michelle O’Neill’s engagements over Drumcree - what is the future of NI politics here?
bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0pkfz…
@paulgivan | @ClaireHanna | @KateNicholl
Isn’t it for the courts to decide if the law has been broken ?
@duponline
💥⚠️BREAKING: 'Joint activities cease with First Minister Michelle O'Neill. We will ensure she will not be at Remembrance Sunday' - DUP won't collapse Executive for now, but 'options are available'
🎤🎥@duponline leader @GRobinsonDUP has announced that deputy First Minister @little_pengelly will cease participating in joint engagements with Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
🎤More from Stormont.
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Only a couple of years since the UK ignominiously withdrew from Afghanistan.
Why is war suddenly back on the agenda ? Pursuit of economic growth ?
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Me on why we must call out the ‘war with Russia’ scare for what it is.
Pure propaganda…
youtu.be/HoQKl3gPU7U?is=o5XT… via @YouTube
