We Are Opus

@weareopus.bsky.social

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Opus works to create and support responses to achieve urgent systemic change through @nowthenmag.bsky.social @festofdebate.bsky.social & more. 👉 weareopus.org

A photo of a man covered in colourful powder paint at some sort of festival. Superimposed on the image are the words "UK CITY OF CULTURE BIDDING CITY"
A group of a dozen people gathered by a small river in a forest
A photo of a person standing by a river, using a tablet computer to monitor its health
A photo of a young woman wearing a baseball cap, holding two leaflets towards the camera in an urban setting
A photo of a dining table set for dinner, full of colourful flowers in the middle. Superimposed on the photo is a logo for "Ammis' Kitchen Supper Club", with an orange cooking pot
A graphic that says "What does the River Don mean to you? Do you care about the river? Is the river a nuisance? How could people and the river live better together? Sheffield Hallam University is researching these questions and we would love to hear what you think. You are warmly invited to join us for a river walk and workshop at one of the following lcations: - Springvale Community Garden, Penistone, on Tuesday 12 May, 4.15 to 6.30pm - Chimney House, Kelham Island, Sheffield, on Thursday 14 May, 10:30am to 12:30 Meadowhall Centre, Sheffield, on Wednesday 27 May, 5pm to 7pm. To register your interest please visit https://forms.office.com/e/3jS3hgAp3P Or email Julian Dobson at julian.dobson@shu.ac.uk or Ella Hubbard at e.hubbard@shu.ac.uk
An infographic with the text: The People's Newsroom Story Club How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell An online discussion group for anyone interested in telling stories that transition us to a better world. Join us for a three part meetup to slow down, metabolize and building on this book, together: April 21 May 5 May 19 "Once we can start paying a new kind of attention, she writes, we can undertake bolder forms of political action, reimagine humankind's role in the environment, and arrive at more meaningful understandings of happiness and progress."
A watercolour and ink illustration of two people. One of them is holding a can of spray paint, and is painting a picture of the world on the side of the bridge behind them. The other is sitting on the floor cross-legged and playing a guitar. Behind them, a train is passing over the bridge.
A watercolour and ink illustration showing two people sitting outside on the grass, alongside a river. One is sitting on a tree stump, reading from an open book. The other is sitting cross-legged on the floor listening to the story, alongside a tower made of colourful building blocks.
A graphic advertising an event called 'Radical Abundance'. The poster features the words "Wordlife Present... a Reading Rooms event", the cover of the book 'Radical Abundance: How to Win a Green Democratic Future', and the words "In conversation with Keir Milburn and Debs Grayson. Thu 2 October. 7–9:15pm. The Workstation, Sheffield"
A graphic advertising an event called 'Radical Abundance'. The poster features the words "Wordlife Present... a Reading Rooms event", the cover of the book 'Radical Abundance: How to Win a Green Democratic Future', and the words "In conversation with Keir Milburn and Debs Grayson. Thu 2 October. 7–9:15pm. The Workstation, Sheffield"
A black-and-white photo of a bearded man, wearing a black polo-neck sweater and looking at the camera with a slight smile
Opus team statement on the ban of Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws After their protest at RAF Brize Norton, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans to designate direct action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. Palestine Action sprayed paint on military jet engines as a protest against the UK’s complicity in Israel’s genocide. This is not terrorism. Direct action is the heartbeat of our democracy, and the government’s draconian attempt to smear Palestine Action represents a dangerous moment for civil liberties in the UK. Since the Policing Act, protest has been curtailed and police have been given more power than ever to intervene in protests, and to arrest protesters. Our government have supported Israel’s genocide both politically and materially. Keir Starmer has refused to call Israel’s actions a genocide, when the UN, Amnesty and Human Rights Watch have all done so. Recent data from Action on Armed Violence has found that the RAF have conducted more than 500 reconnaissance flights over Palestine since December 2023. The UK has sent thousands of military items to Israel since
NEU Sheffield Nighat Basharat, Labour Councillor for Nether Edge and Sharrow North Derbyshire Refugee Support Group Now Then Open Kitchen Social Club Opus Page Hall Medical Center RivelinCo Rob Bannister, Labour Councillor for Graves Park Ruth Milsom, Labour and Co-operative Councillor for Crookes and Crosspool SACMHA Health and Social Care SAVTE Sheffield Anti Racist and Anti Fascist Coordinating Committee Sheffield Community Land Trust Sheffield Futures Sheffield Hallam UCU Sheffield Solidarity Sessions Sheffield Tenants Union Sheffield Trade Union Council Sheffield We Demand Change South Yorks NUJ South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice St Andrews Psalter Lane Church Stand & Be Counted Theatre
A photograph of a sign held aloft which reads 'Refugees bring Sheffield joy'. The overlaid text reads: Safety Turns Into Belonging: Sheffield's Joint Statement on the Government's Immigration Plans. Signed by organisations from across Sheffield, united in defence of community and justice.
A dark blue graphic with the Opus logo and the following text: Opus team statement on the Supreme Court ruling Last week, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a woman in the Equality Act 2010 now excludes trans women on the basis of ‘biological sex’. The ruling relies upon the harmful idea that biological sex is both binary and immutable – something which is easily disproven and for which there is no scientific basis. This interpretation of biological sex not only excludes trans women from womanhood, but also entirely denies the existence of intersex people. In this case, the court chose only to hear from transphobic organisations, not from trans people themselves, and have reached a verdict which is blatantly unscientific and which will only sow further division. The legal repercussions of the ruling are as yet unclear, but it has the potential to do enormous harm to trans people in the UK – not just because changes in how equality law is interpreted will further exclude and marginalise people, but also because of the toxicity and dehumanisation this decision has once again unleashed in the media and in mainstream culture. This ruling has emboldened so-called ‘gender-critical feminists’ in the context of a media ecosystem which
A graphic with the words "Come and work with us at Opus" over a bright yellow background
The Opus logo on a dark blue background, with the words '2024 Annual Report' written underneath. Around the logo are a number of photographs showing Opus team members working together, and audiences and speakers at Opus events. The photos are displayed in circular frames with interconnecting lines between them.