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

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)

This episode Jessica & #MoneyRebellion’s Will talk to Kate Raworth, the most influential alternative economic thinker of the present moment. Her book Doughnut Economics has been hugely influential amongst sustainable development thinkers, progressive businesses, and political activists. She has also presented it to audiences ranging from the UN General Assembly to the Occupy movement. To view a diagram of the doughnut see: https://www.kateraworth.com/doughnut/ Kate is now moving from theory to practice with a network of Doughnut Economics Action Labs. The most famous is in Amsterdam, where the city is rethinking how it operates post-COVID-19 and taking a holistic approach to everything including housing, sustainability, the living environment, and the ethics of its supply chains.Kate Raworth teaches at Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute and in the past has worked for Oxfam. 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. Producers – Jessica Townsend and Bill Leuty; Presenters – Will Farbrother and Jessica Townsend; Editor – Bill Leuty; Social Media Producer – Michaela Herrmann

This podcast focuses on the new book ‘Who Killed Berta Cáceres' by Nina Lakhani. The book is a compelling, thriller-like read based on the murder of the brave indigenous activist Berta Cáceres who was fighting the development of a dam using World Bank funding in her region in Honduras.Also included in this episode is an interview with James Arango, a present day environmental protector from Columbia and member of XR Bogota. In the early months of this year between January and April 100 environmental activists were killed. 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. Producers – Jessica Townsend and Phil SmithInterviewers – Jessica Townsend and Phil SmithPresenters – Michaela Herrmann and Jessica TownsendEditor – Phil SmithSocial Media Producer – Kary Stewart