Nature Writer and Cambridge Professor Robert Macfarlane - Is a River Alive?
May 13, 2025
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Join Robert Macfarlane, a celebrated nature writer and Cambridge professor, alongside author Horatio Clare, as they explore the captivating idea of whether rivers are alive. They discuss the revolutionary 'Rights of Nature' movement and share stories from the cloud-forests of Ecuador to the river rights campaigns in Quebec. Their conversation touches on the emotional and philosophical connections we have with rivers, advocating for a deeper ecological awareness. This delightful dialogue challenges listeners to reimagine their relationship with nature.
Robert Macfarlane's exploration of whether rivers are alive compels us to reconsider our relationship with nature and the concept of life.
The Rights of Nature movement highlights the need for legal recognition of rivers' rights, transforming how we view ecological relationships.
Community efforts to daylight hidden urban rivers symbolize a push for environmental justice and the reclamation of lost natural narratives.
Deep dives
The Concept of Exploration
Exploration is more than just traveling to new places; it embodies examination and analysis, rooted in the notion of overcoming obstacles and grappling with the self. The discussion emphasizes the etymology of the word 'explore,' linking it to the painful hunter's cry, suggesting that exploration involves a degree of suffering. This notion resonates with the author's upbringing as a mountain climber, where rivers not only served as routes for ascent but also shaped his memories and understanding of nature. Thus, the book emerges as a poetic exploration of life and its interconnectedness with these natural elements.
The Journey to Understand Rivers
The motivations behind questioning whether a river is alive stem from a desire to address the slow violence inflicted on such bodies of water in contemporary society. The author outlines three pivotal questions that guided his writing journey: whether forests can think, if mountains have memory, and ultimately, if rivers are alive. These questions reflect an urgent need to reconsider the neglect rivers have faced, especially as societal awareness of environmental degradation rises. This introspection leads to the realization that rivers embody a dynamic essence, constantly gathering and flowing toward the sea, much like the book aims to reach its readers.
Rivers and Their Rights
The podcast highlights a burgeoning movement advocating for the rights of rivers and nature, primarily illustrated through examples from Ecuador and Canada. In Ecuador, constitutional rights for nature have been established, allowing individuals to sue on behalf of rivers when their rights are violated, enabling a reimagining of human-nature relationships. In Canada, the recognition of a river's rights marks a significant legal advancement, challenging existing paradigms and emphasizing the importance of rivers in ecosystems. By showcasing these movements, the discussion stresses the necessity of ascribing rights to nature that acknowledge the intrinsic value of rivers within the broader ecological framework.
Voices of the Unseen
When discussing urban rivers, the podcast emphasizes the importance of recognizing and bringing awareness to rivers that have been hidden or forgotten in cities. The practice of 'daylighting' buried rivers—restoring them to the surface—serves as a powerful metaphor for reclaiming lost narratives and fostering a connection between urban dwellers and their waterways. The conversation explores how communities can mobilize to challenge the status quo and advocate for the visibility and health of their rivers. Ultimately, the revitalization of these hidden rivers symbolizes a larger movement toward environmental justice and awareness.
Hope in Environmental Activism
Despite the grim realities of river pollution and ecological degradation, the discussion conveys a sense of hope through grassroots activism and community efforts. The conversation points to the increasing recognition of environmental issues in political realms, with rivers becoming a focal point for activism and legal reform. This optimism emphasizes the transformative capacity for humans to care for their environments and suggests a collective awakening to the necessity of protecting natural resources. By highlighting the resilience of river guardians and activists, the discussion inspires listeners to engage in their communities and advocate for the rivers that shape their lives.
Our greatest living nature writer, Robert Macfarlane shares with Horatio Clare a single, transformative idea: are rivers alive?
Robert Macfarlane is both the author of prize-winning bestsellers including Underland, Landmarks, and The Old Ways, and an artistic polymath whose collaborators include many of the most distinguished artists, musicians, and poets of our time, including Olafur Eliasson, Johnny Flynn, and Jackie Morris.
Inspired by the activists, artists and lawmakers of the young ‘Rights of Nature’ movement, Macfarlane takes us on an exhilarating exploration of the past, present and futures of this ancient, urgent concept.
Transporting us from the miraculous cloud-forests of Northern Ecuador to the wounded rivers and lagoons of Southern India; and from north-eastern Quebec, where a spectacular wild river – the Mutehekau or Magpie – is being defended from death by damming in a riverrights campaign, to the fragile chalk stream that rises a mile from his house and flows through his years and days, this is a magical and radical listen that will make you rethink what you think you know about rivers and about the nature of life.
