Extinction Rebellion Podcast

 Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Clare Farrell and conservation scientist Dr Charlie Gardner team up once more to discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime. They want to make sure that the latest news in science and important reports that are relevant to the climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in ways that are easy to understand.EPISODE 10: The problem with tree planting and insure our futureThis time, Clare and Charlie discuss the problem with tree planting as a climate solution and why we should be targetting insurance companies and their role in the fossil economy.Albedo effect: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adg6196Climate choir: https://twitter.com/climatechoirs/status/1765856822932472179Please, share, comment, subscribe, like, mobilise, and donate! https://chuffed.org/xr/uk 

EPISODE 9: Finance + Physics = Climate Repair? Ft. Delton ChenIn this episode Clare and Delton Chen explore Delton's work on a concept of a global carbon reward, an economic concept which could provide a carrot and not just a stick in the field of international economic interventions. As with all these conversations with experts on solutions, Extinction Rebellion isn’t advocating for this above and beyond any other approaches. Hopefully looking at different options with the experts who propose them can help us to get a rounded view on what’s being proposed and what might be possible. We hope it sparks interesting thinking and reflections. Please, share, comment, subscribe, like, mobilise, and donate! https://chuffed.org/xr/uk 

Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Clare Farrell and conservation scientist Dr Charlie Gardner team up once more to discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime. Their aim, to make sure that the latest science news and important reports that are relevant to the climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in an easy to understand way.EPISODE 8: £500,000 damage and not guilty! The HSBC 9 trial | XR UKThis time, Charlie talks to Clare about the action she was involved with which broke the windows of Europe’s second largest investor in fossil fuels, HSBC and her subsequent not guilty verdict.This episode was recorded in Dec 2023.Find out more about the vital work of Defend our Juries:https://defendourjuries.org/https://twitter.com/DefendourJuriesPress release: https://extinctionrebellion.uk/2023/11/16/jury-finds-women-who-broke-hsbc-windows-not-guilty/ Please, share, comment, subscribe, like, mobilise, and donate! https://chuffed.org/xr/uk

 Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Clare Farrell and conservation scientist Dr Charlie Gardner team up once more to discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime. They want to make sure that the latest news in science and important reports that are relevant to the climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in ways that are easy to understand.EPISODE 7: COP28: What happened!?This time, Clare and Charlie break down what happened at this year's COP28 in Dubai and where it leaves us now.---------------------If you found this useful please, share, comment, subscribe, like, mobilise, and donate! https://chuffed.org/xr/uk 

Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Clare Farrell and conservation scientist Dr Charlie Gardner team up once more to discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime. They want to make sure that the latest news in science and important reports that are relevant to the climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in ways that are easy to understand.EPISODE 6: Everything you need to know about the COP process ft. Paddy LoughmanIn this episode Clare chats to climate communications strategist Paddy Loughman about the COP process and the time he spent as working with the High-Level Champions at COP 26 in Glasgow. They explore how the COP process functions and what it is and isn’t capable of achieving.---------------------If you found this useful please, share, comment, subscribe, like, mobilise, and donate!https://chuffed.org/xr/uk

Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Clare Farrell and conservation scientist Dr Charlie Gardner team up once more to discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime. They want to make sure that the latest news in science and important reports that are relevant to the climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in ways that are easy to understand.EPISODE 5: The carbon death footprint and conservative scienceThis time, Clare and Charlie discuss the recently released academic paper by Richard Parncutt and others, helping to frame carbon emissions as deadly by giving an estimated methodology for deaths caused per tonne of carbon emitted. Then, having listened to a recent interview between Rockstrom and Anderson, they dig into the details of scientific reticence, flaws in climate projections and processes, and what that means for global justice and how it encourages inaction.3 founders of xr, Clare, Gail and Roger, issued this statement reflecting on the immediate moment we find ourselves in regarding the climate science, and in particular reflecting on the work of Leon Simons and James Hansen.https://rebellion.global/blog/2023/10/19/reflections-5-years-on/ NB This video was recorded back in September but couldn't be realeased until now due to Clare's trial. Look out for the forthcoming episode diving into that! 

Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Clare Farrell and conservation scientist Dr Charlie Gardner team up once more to discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime. They want to make sure that the latest news in science and important reports that are relevant to the climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in ways that are easy to understand.EPISODE 4: The shadowy companies holding back progress on climate This episode Clare and Charlie dig deeper into the Atlas global network of think tanks, grateful for the journalism of Amy Westervelt and Geoff Dembicki for the long read in New Republic that helped sketch out the true reach and influence. The are not only shaping the discourse on the climate crisis, its causes and policy responses but increasingly influencing public conversation about activists, and even having a hand in legislating them out of their rights to protest. Relatedly, the leader of the UAE based COP this year (yes, the oil boss guy), has been working in partnership with mega PR and comms firm Edelman for well over a decade to greenwash his personal image and that of his country.References:Atlas group think tankshttps://newrepublic.com/article/175488/meet-shadowy-global-network-vilifying-climate-protesters?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SF_TNREDELMAN supporting UAE PRhttps://www.desmog.com/2023/09/13/edelman-pr-enabled-adnoc-al-jaber-to-lead-cop28-climate-conference/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/27/big-oil-public-relations-defectors-climate-crisisNGOs and Policy Exchangehttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/08/rspb-ministers-wildlife-charity-power-britainDutch actor on sedition chargeshttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/19/highway-to-hell-dutch-climate-activist-fights-sedition-charge32 european countries taken to court by young peoplehttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/23/uk-one-of-32-countries-facing-european-court-human-rights-action-over-climate-stance?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other---------------------If you found this useful please, share, comment, subscribe, like, mobilise, and donate! https://chuffed.org/xr/uk 

Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Clare Farrell and conservation scientist Dr Charlie Gardner team up once more to discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime. They want to make sure that the latest news in science and important reports that are relevant to the climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in ways that are easy to understand.EPISODE 3: Rishi backtracks, California vs. big oil, and the Dutch rebel!Clare and Charlie discuss ultra-rich Rishi’s green about turn, the reaction from his own party and business and the culture war effect on politics in the UK. Comparing that with the governor of california who is bringing charges against fossil fuel companies for what he describes as over 70 years of deceit. If you need cheering up just look across to those Dutch rebels who have been blockading the interstate A12 road with thousands of peaceful people week in and week out. There have been some surprising reactions from the police (also in the mix with water cannons and pain grip techniques). Please follow Charlie on his walk: https://www.walkinginwater.com@Walkinginwater1 On Instagram and XReferences: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/09/20/tory-mps-net-zero-backtrack-rishi-sunak-greatest-mistake/Even the investment and pensions sector is not impressed - https://www.ipe.com/news/investors-call-on-rishi-sunak-to-not-backtrack-on-climate-change/10069211.articleGov of california https://x.com/climatescibreak/status/1703662937947115655?s=46&t=qZu5HRsiMlhXtArIiI8HhQDutch Rebels https://x.com/vanderaanet/status/1702995732456714680?s=20Letter to gov from Dutch police https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR0fbkUMEaeQfA_prVt_0XyOrLn9vKGtHRBNSd0Mx9N_JZ6mauSgwOChHtO9LIIdnNSfSo5i51J7pfn/pub?link_id=0&can_id=4f3ef80caa9b5788f643913f9f315110&source=email-netherlands-a12&email_referrer=email_2041934&email_subject=the-police-are-crackingLater this started happening - police using pain grips on innocent young people - https://x.com/DoctorAnanas/status/1708521711786762623?s=20https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/23/uk-one-of-32-countries-facing-european-court-human-rights-action-over-climate-stance?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other--------------------- If you found this useful please, share, comment, subscribe, like, mobilise, and donate! https://chuffed.org/xr/uk

Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Clare Farrell and conservation scientist Dr Charlie Gardner team up once more to discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime. They want to make sure that the latest news in science and important reports that are relevant to the climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in ways that are easy to understand.EPISODE 2: Aerosol masking, geoengineering, and the pension problemIn this episode they discuss the evolving discourse on aerosol masking, particulates and solar radiation management approaches, plus the pensions report from carbon tracker that shows the flawed economics of climate overlooks science and leaves the pension sector in grave risk. In fact the assumptions used to make decisions in finance cite risks that the scientific community describe as incompatible with organised human life as ‘acceptable’.https://carbontracker.org/millions-of-pensions-at-risk-because-investment-consultants-overlook-threat-of-climate-tipping-points/--------------------- If you found this useful please, share, comment, subscribe, like, mobilise, and donate! https://chuffed.org/xr/uk

Clare and Charlie discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime, and make sure that news in science and important reports that are relevant to climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in ways that are easy to understand.EPISODE 1In this episode they discuss the incredible amount of extreme weather around the world in 2023, why net zero isn't enough, and the 2025 battle plan from the American political right, which seeks to dismantle climate action and make it difficult to put back in future too.https://bylinetimes.com/2023/07/27/a-burning-world-shows-net-zero-is-not-enough/https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01082023/far-right-battle-plan-to-undo-climate-progress-trump-win-2024/ https://www.project2025.org/policy/https://twitter.com/doctorvive/status/1684167246942179328?s=46&t=qZu5HRsiMlhXtArIiI8HhQ---------------------If you found this useful please, share, comment, subscribe, like, mobilise, and donate! https://chuffed.org/xr/uk 

This podcast episode is all about energy and features an extract from our longer interview with the celebrated writer and activist Margaret Atwood While Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil are holding up tankers and stopping oil refineries, the government is sitting on the energy policy it promised after the Ukraine invasion. With rising poverty, rising fuel prices, and rising fears about the future, the question of how quickly and effectively we can transition to clean energy has become urgent.  We begin with Oil Music, a short pointed poem by Gboyega A Odubanjo and then hear Margaret Atwood in London last week connecting the dots between the Ukraine and the fossil fuel crisis and expressing her worries about the future. The main interview is with energy expert and former BBC environment correspondent Richard Black. Richard is no stranger to the podcast and  wore a slightly different hat for our recent very well received episode about climate denial. This episode is co-presented by Nuala Lam a veteran of the Media and Messaging team who discusses the strategy behind the planning of this April’s rebellion, the form the rebellion will take and the Writers Festival which will take place on the 15th April. In a wide ranging interview that is a centre of the programme Richard Black discusses fracking, how the energy crisis is partly a result of the COVID shut downs and how Putin used that crisis. He then goes on to discuss  blue and green carbon, his recent viral  tweet about how UK gas exports are at a record high this year.Finally we end with a a reminder of UN secretary generals speech after launching the most renent IPCC report in February in which he brands political inaction as ‘criminal’.  CREDITSProducer and co-presenter Jessica TownsendMargaret Atwood interview by Toby Litt, Tobias Withers, and Kelly HillInterview edit by David McKeeverCo-presenter resenter Nuala LamSound editor in chief Tim RabjohnsExtra sound editing by Stuart J Wilson aka bigfixSocial Media from Bloody Vegans Productions

In this podcast we're glad to feature the eminent writer Amitav Ghosh who is an influential Indian environmental thinker who has won many honours for his fiction. He's also an academic and author of several substantial works of non-fiction, including The Great Derangement, an exploration of literature’s failure to address the climate and ecological emergency. His new work, The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis, is the subject of this interview.  What is striking about Amitav’s work is that he is just as at home with the big picture of an unstable Earth, as he is talking about the personal agonies brought on by Covid, or the beautiful constellations found within a nutmeg and the myths it has inspired. He gives fresh and humane insights into the world today and writes with wisdom and compassion about the core issues of colonialism, racism and systemic genocide that are fundamental to the crisis we’re now in. Perhaps a career of crafting ten novels has put him in a good position to try to see everyone’s point of view, even the bad guys.  In person, Amitav Ghosh speaks modestly. In our times of swagger, shouting and bravado, it would be easy to underestimate that voice. But listen, and you’ll encounter a fierce intelligence, fed by insight and research. And in this interview, he speaks briefly of his grief in the face of what he sees as inevitable societal collapse. Producer and presenter: Jessica TownsendProducer and sound editor: Aidan Lewis Knox

Did you catch the BBC drama The Trick? If not, it is still on BBC iPlayer (apologies for non-UK friends). It shows the birth of the arch denialist group the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) in 2009 from the point of view of a scientist who was unlucky enough to get enmeshed in their campaign to discredit the science of global warming. It’s a great watch with elements of thriller, drama and even love story. Today it’s clear the GWPF is still very active in the run up to COP26 in its attempts to make sure the UK Net Zero plans come to nothing and to ensure the international talks are a failure, putting all our lives at risk. The group never declare their funders but it’s clear they are acting covertly on behalf of big oil and other vested interests.  Their focus now is on delaying domestic and international transformation to meet net zero targets. And their tactics are no longer denial of the science. In this podcast, the first for many months, presenter Jessica Townsend and Tom Hardy from the Media Tell The Truth group look at the launch of the GWPF back in 2009 and find that their tactics were there from the beginning: bending the truth, using connections in right wing media, and raising doubts on every aspect of moving forward with the race to decarbonise. We talk to Richard Black a long-time BBC environment correspondent, and the author of Denied: The Rise and Fall of Climate Contrarianism.  Show credits: Producer and presenter: Jessica TownsendEditor and presenter: Tom Hardy 

The episode begins with the stirring words of XR’s Clare Farrell and Marvina Newton from ‘United for black Lives’ speaking against the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts bill in parliament Square on April 3rd at a Kill the Bill coalition event. This podcast looks at the oppressive new legislation that Priti Patel is trying to foist upon us, and at what it means in both practical terms for those organising protests but also in the wider sense of democracy. We explore this with the Lib Dem peer and environmental spokesperson Lord Jonny Oates. Of course, XR is fervently non political in a party sense but Lord Oates has also signed up to the CEE bill which aims to make XR’s three demands into British law so he is an ally. The bill does many things besides attack our right to protest – it also takes away the rights of traveller communities and includes provisions on trespass, and extends the penalties for many offences but since the government admits that the protest legislation has been geared to limiting the powers of both Black Lives Matter movement and Extinction Rebellion, the podcast focusses on that issue. Finally we widen the frame with an interview with a tremendous writer and XR activist Jay Giffiths author of Wild and Why Rebel? and ask about whether these political moves can be associated with fascism. How are they related to the Libertarianism incubated in Trump’s America and what parallels can we find from earlier times in history? Please share and subscribe to the podcast. Why not share with your XR curious friends? We urgently need to grow the movement and exert pressure to make this year an historic one for climate. PS: a group of podcasters are campaigning for a climate category so that people could find green podcasts and would mean we’d get listeners but you could also find other material worth listing to. The campaign targets apple because they set the industry standard. The deadline is Earth Day 22nd April. If you’d like this to happen click here: https://www.podcastersdeclare.com Crew Editor and Producer Bill LeutyPresenter and producer Jessica TownsendEditor Harrison LewisExtra editing Alex Dopiera and Tom Stallard

In this collaboration with Rebel Radio, Anna Hyde hosts this Special with the director and some of the protagonists of the film 'Race to Save the World'. Anna first speaks to director Joe Gant about what made him create this film. Joe explains that once you know how bad the climate and ecological emergency is, you can't ever unknow it - but it can make people feel overwhelmed and powerless. His film is aims to inspire those who are aware to start taking action. And not stop until we have achieved what is required.The film follows several activists in the USA and documents their actions as well as the implications these actions have on their lives. Anna interviews three of these activist: Abby Brockway, Michael Foster and Bill Moyer.

In this episode Jessica is joined by artist Tom Stallard, a member of the XR samba band and Walthamstow XR. Jessica interviews with Dr. Charlie Gardner, a conservationist and researcher based at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology at the University of Kent. Dr. Gardner lived in Madagascar for 10 years helping to establish new protected areas, but now focuses primarily on the intersection of the climate and ecological crisis. He has been a member of Extinction Rebellion since early 2019 and is active with both Scientists for Extinction Rebellion and Scientists Rebellion. He was also an expert contributor to the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill. The episode looks at present-day ecological realities and what will happen if we don’t urgently change our approach to nature in the near future. We begin with a reading from author Jay Griffiths of her piece ‘Letter to an Endling,’ read at the Tufton Street Writers Rebel event in September 2019. This is the first episode on biodiversity before Biodiversity COP, which takes place 17-30 May 2021 in Kunming, China. | Extinction Rebellion has three demands. 1) Tell the Truth – Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change. 2) Act Now – Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025. 3) Beyond Politics – Government must create and be led by the decision of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice. |Presenter/producer - Jessica Townsend | Presenter/editor - Tom Stallard | Additional editing - Bill Leuty

This episode Jessica Townsend and Ferghal McEntee look at some brave people putting their lives on the line to protect trees both in the UK and in the Amazon. We begin with the fierce anti-felling poem Heartwood written and read by Robert Macfarlane to honour all those doing this great work and the trees they love. The recording we use is of the well-loved author speaking in Trafalgar Square in 2018 as part of the inaugural Writers Rebel event. Then we interview Larch, or Dr Larch Maxey, a key figure in the HS2 protests who is, at the time of this podcast, literally holed up in a tunnel underneath Euston Square Gardens. He speaks to us about his love of the natural world and relationship with trees which motivate his work. To donate in support of this work: https://chuffed.org/project/stophs2ateuston Next up is Beth Pitts author of the Moon ethical Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands who has been working with indigenous communities in Ecuador since 2013. She is also part of the Writers Rebel team. Here she shares interviews and recordings she has made about the guardians of the forest and the Ceibo tree. One of the interviewees describes what the guardians look like. If you wish to support the work of Jimmy who has set up an NGO to educate youth in the Ecuadorian rainforest this is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/siekopai-indigenous-amazonian-youth-foundation Our last interview is with Natasha Somers and Mark Shipperlee from XR Rewilding and the Save the Oaks campaign who are trying to save 750,000 oak trees which are threatened with destruction because of COVID. Marijn Van De Geer one of the podcast founders asks the questions and the interview was first broadcast on Rebel Radio. https://savetheoaks.org | Extinction Rebellion has three demands. 1) Tell the Truth – Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change. 2) Act Now – Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025. 3) Beyond Politics – Government must create and be led by the decision of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice. | Producer and editor - Bill LeutyProducer and presenter - Jessica TownsendPresenter - Fergal McEnteeInterviewer - Marijn Van De GeerFurther editing and producing - Michaela HerrmannSocial Media - Brigitta Bence

On this fifth anniversary of the Paris agreement, three young people are launching a case against the British Government for their failure to safeguard their futures and those of their families in the global south. We talk to one of the plaintiffs, student Jerry Amokwandoh, about what has motivated him to take such a powerful step.We also talk to lawyer Tim Crosland from Plan B about the legal basis for the case and to Esther Standford-Xosei about why Stop The Maangamizi is supporting the action.Extinction Rebellion has three demands. 1) Tell the Truth – Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change. 2) Act Now – Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025. 3) Decide Together – Government must create and be led by the decision of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice. | Presenter - Jessica Townsend; Producers - Bill Leuty and Jessica Townsend; Editor - Bill Leuty.

Where is the heart of climate denial in the UK? Who are the main individuals & organisations coming between the people and the policy progress we need to address the climate & ecological emergency?Questions like this led Writers Rebel to organize an action in a quiet, privileged street in the heart of London's parliamentary district.The Writers Rebel action in Tufton Street, No More Lies About Climate Change, has now gone down in Extinction Rebellion history. This episode chronicles that historic event. Compered by Mark Rylance and Juliet Stevensen, the line up was starry and included so many top literary and journalistic writers and thinkers that the podcast can only provide a selection. It includes speeches by Zadie Smith, George Monbiot, Jay Griffiths, Caroline Lucas, Chloe Aridjis, Toby Litt and Charlotte DuCann.It also includes the arrests of podcast presenter & Writers Rebel co-founder Jessica Townsend alongside philosopher Rupert Read for spraying ‘Lies Lies Lies’ on the white pillars of Tufton Street and pouring blood down the steps. The Tufton Street protest was organised in conjunction with Money Rebellion, which launches November 2020. Writers Rebel is organising its next event on the Remembrance of Lost Species Day. Tickets and more information about On The Brink can be found here at writersrebel.com/act.Correction: In the podcast Jessica refers to scaffolding poles. They were actually bamboo poles. | Extinction Rebellion has three demands. 1) Tell the Truth – Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change. 2) Act Now – Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025. 3) Beyond Politics – Government must create and be led by the decision of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice. | Presenters - Jessica Townsend and James Miller;Producers - Phil Smith and Jessica Townsend;Editor - Phil Smith;Theme Music - Mark Richards at Mutiny Studios with music by Punch Deck;Additional Music - Phil Smith

Extinction Rebellion UK's Third Demand is a government commissioned, independently run Citizens' Assembly on Climate and Ecological Justice. But what does that mean? Join Marijn van de Geer as she speaks to XR UK's Citizens' Assembly Working Group (CAWG) to find out what exactly the Third Demand means, and look into some of the deeper questions rebels have been asking about citizens' assemblies.To find out more about citizens' assemblies and Extinction Rebellion's Third Demand, please visit www.xrcitizensassembly.uk or find CAWG on Twitter on @citizensXRExtinction Rebellion has three demands. 1) Tell the Truth – Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change. 2) Act Now – Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025. 3) Beyond Politics – Government must create and be led by the decision of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.|Producer and presenter - Marijn van de Geer; Editor - Harrison Lewis;Contributors - Alex Bradbury, Nessy Matos, Kathie Conn, Keith Garrett, John Whiten;Music - Upbeat Party by Scott Holmes (used with permission)