Ideas What does it mean for a river to be ‘alive’?
Sep 3, 2025
In this captivating discussion, award-winning natural history writer Robert Macfarlane, historian John Johnson, and environmental historian Jennifer Bonnell explore the idea of rivers as living entities. They delve into the intricate relationship between rivers and human communities, emphasizing the rights of nature and the environmental movement advocating for legal recognition of rivers. The conversation also touches on Indigenous perspectives and the revitalization of urban rivers like Toronto's Don River, weaving together themes of ecological health, community history, and cultural identity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Rivers As World-Changing Concepts
- Robert Macfarlane argues that whether a river is alive depends on how we define life and living.
- Reimagining rivers as living forces changes law, culture, and how we relate to water.
Privatization Narrows River Value
- Macfarlane links rationalist views to river degradation through privatization and assetization.
- Treating rivers as mere resources has produced widespread ecological decline in England.
Use Law To Protect Rivers
- Recognize nature's rights in law and imagination to protect ecosystems.
- Follow Ecuador's constitutional example and New Zealand's Whanganui act to grant legal protections.
