Zoe Lee

Primary school STEM teacher. FLL Coach. Apple teacher. Love my literature too. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Jemima Goldsmith @Jemima_Khan]

Prime Minister @andyburnham and Foreign Secretary @Ed_Miliband : how much longer will Britain remain silent?

For three years the father of my two sons, and Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has been brutally penalised by his political opponents, in a personal vendetta by Army Chief, Asim Munir,  which according to the UN,  amounts to torture and which  is now taking a potentially fatal toll on his physical and mental health. 

He has endured 3 years of solitary confinement. For nearly ten months now his family has been denied contact with him. He has been deprived of the most basic human contact, denied access to books, lawyers and doctors.

The international human-rights standards are unequivocal. Under the UN’s Nelson Mandela Rules, solitary confinement lasting more than 15 consecutive days is prohibited and amounts to torture.

He has endured this treatment not for 15 days, but for three years.

Pakistan’s own Supreme Court has now intervened: ordering comprehensive  medical treatment, access to his personal doctor, regular family visits and twice-weekly calls with his sons.

Yet those orders are being defied.

This is no longer simply a Pakistani political matter. It is a human-rights emergency.

He has deep and lifelong ties to Britain. He studied at Oxford University, captained Oxford University cricket and spent years playing county cricket in England. His relationship with this country stretches back more than half a century. His charitable activities were internationally recognised, and  include building the only free cancer hospital in Pakistan as well as a university.

His sons, my two boys, Sulaiman and Kasim, are British citizens. They have been forced to watch their father’s health decline from thousands of miles away, prevented from visiting him, denied visas, publicly threatened by government officials with arrest themselves, and even denied court-mandated regular phone calls. 

I have repeatedly appealed to the UK government to intervene. Purported attempts at back channelling have evidently failed. The previous Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy informed me in writing that Britain would not  intervene if my sons, British citizens, are arrested when they travel to Pakistan to visit their father. 

@FCDOGovUK: Britain must now speak out publicly and unequivocally. Demand that Pakistan comply with its own Supreme Court;  restore Imran Khan’s medical access, his right to see his family, end his prolonged isolation and uphold his fundamental human rights.

Pakistan is a Commonwealth country. Britain has a long and proud tradition of standing against arbitrary detention, inhumane treatment and the denial of fundamental rights. Those principles mean very little if we invoke them only selectively and neglect them when inconvenient.
This an appeal to the new Burnham government  to please now do the right thing.

[Dr. Bryan Pearlman #MaslowBeforeBloom @DrP_Principal]

10 Things Educators Need During a School Break and Why

1. Sleep without an alarm
Your nervous system has been living on adrenaline and cortisol. Deep rest helps reset the brain restore emotional regulation and improve memory mood and immune function.

2. Silence and nothingness
The brain needs quiet to downshift from constant decision making. Mental stillness reduces cognitive overload and allows the prefrontal cortex to come back online.

3. A non rushed bathroom visit
Having to suppress basic bodily needs keeps the brain in a low level stress state. Unrushed bathroom access restores a sense of safety dignity and control which directly calms the nervous system.

4. Laughter that makes your stomach hurt
Laughter releases endorphins and dopamine which naturally reduce stress and anxiety. It also reminds your brain and body that joy still exists outside of survival mode.

5. Connection with people who do not need anything from you
Educators give all day long. Low demand relationships restore emotional energy and protect against compassion fatigue.

6. A slow bath or shower in the morning
Warm water activates the parasympathetic nervous system lowering cortisol and muscle tension. A slow start to the day tells the brain you are safe and not in crisis mode.

7. Food that is eaten slowly and actually enjoyed
Mindful eating supports digestion stabilizes blood sugar and calms the nervous system. Your body deserves nourishment not rushed fuel.

8. Time without solving problems
Constant problem solving keeps the brain in threat detection mode. Breaks from decision making allow the nervous system to recalibrate and reduce mental exhaustion.

9. Reminders that you are more than your job
Identity overload increases burnout risk. Engaging in hobbies or creativity activates different neural pathways and restores a sense of wholeness.

10. A true break with compassion for yourself
Compassion fatigue is real. Prolonged caring without recovery depletes emotional reserves. Rest and self kindness rebuild resilience empathy and long term sustainability.

Final Thought
School breaks are not a luxury. They are neurological and emotional repair time. Rest is not quitting. Rest is what allows educators to return regulated connected and able to keep doing the work that matters so deeply.

[Zoe Lee @Zoelly24]

I completed the September challenge faster than 93.7% of all learners on Duolingo!

[Kasim Khan @Kasim_Khan_1999]

Our father lived in Pakistan - away from us - for most of our lives. Not because he had to, but because he chose to stand up against a corrupt regime. While he wasn’t there every day as a father, Pakistan had him as a leader. He gave his country everything: hospitals, universities, and a movement for justice.

He’s been offered the chance to spend the rest of his days in comfort - going on walks or playing cricket with us in England. Instead, he chooses to remain locked away in a dark prison cell.

His sacrifice is for Pakistan.
His strength comes from its people.

[Zoe Lee @Zoelly24]

@ProfRAScolyer Will be thinking of you and keeping everything crossed for the best possible outcome.

[Zoe Lee @Zoelly24]

I unlocked $55 mobile Rush tickets to Hadestown at Theatre Royal Sydney @TodayTix! https://t.co/cvHvNfMg1c

[Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders]

When I started talking about Oligarchy, many people didn't understand what I meant.

Well, that's changed.

When the 3 wealthiest men in America sit behind Trump at his inauguration, everyone understands that the billionaire class now controls our government.

We must fight back.

[Zoe Lee @Zoelly24]

@ProfRScolyerMIA Such wonderful news!! Thank you for sharing your inspirational journey.

[💧Mary Kostakidis @MaryKostakidis]

Visited my Alma Mater Fort St High yesterday with another of its former students, Michael Kirby. The government should be investing more in public education. Whilst the gap in facilities between private and public is vast, what public schools are asking for is not. They deserve the support needed to provide the best education possible.

[For Every Child @PublicSchoolsAU]

There is deep inequality in Australia's school funding system.

Right now the Albanese Government can address this, but instead is proposing legislation that will further entrench disadvantage.

@AlboMP be the PM our children deserve and fully fund public schools now! #auspol

@AEUACT

[Zoe Lee @Zoelly24]

I unlocked $54 mobile Rush tickets to SIX the Musical at Theatre Royal Sydney! @TodayTix! https://t.co/nXFQt9Ray8

[Zoe Lee @Zoelly24]

I unlocked $55 mobile Rush tickets to Dear Evan Hansen at Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney @TodayTix! https://t.co/bdmoxMAF5X

[Anncaro1 🙄🤣 @Anncaro11]

I know it’s pointless asking , but why did the ABC replace the Drum with reruns of antiques road show and hard quiz?
Honestly Pointless would be better.

[Damian Carrington @dpcarrington]

Climate experts were increasingly saying that keeping heating below 1.5C is near impossible, yet it remains the global goal. So I asked hundreds of top IPCC scientists what they thought. What they said shocked even me…
🧵 1/n #ClimateCrisis

[Tell Tales Books @BooksTales]

I haven’t had a good month, money-wise,at TT so far - I haven’t made the rent yet ( let’s skip over the fact I haven’t had a wage for five years 😆- I know, it’s my bad!) but if you could retweet my online shop I’d be every so grateful! I’ll link it in the comments. Thank you! 🙏🏻

[BladeoftheSun @BladeoftheS]

Miriam Margolyes doesn't give two sh*ts about antisemitism accusations, she says it like it is, it looks like Hitler has won.

[Zoe Lee @Zoelly24]

@creepydotorg

[Alice Leung @aliceleung]

If you think public schools should be sufficiently funded at 100% of the schooling resource standard, show your support at https://t.co/7VZGtWpOP8 #ForEveryChild

[Zoe Lee @Zoelly24]

@Hey_Sim_One