People vs Inequality podcast & blog

In 2015, 1500 activists blocked a brown coal mine in West Germany. It was the start of one of the most radical and effective European movements using peaceful civil disobedience and direct action for climate justice.   Last year the art exhibition ‘ People Powered Movement vs Shell ’ showed decades of resistance to the injustices of an oil giant.  Chihiro Geuzenbroek is a Bolivian-Dutch activist, artist and filmmaker, who played an important part in both events - and many more in a decade of climate movement building.  In this fourth episode of our climate justice series I went back to my home country of the Netherlands to explore where the movements are at. And to take a deep dive into two approaches that we haven't discussed yet in this podcast, even if we know from history that civil disobedience on the one hand, and music and arts on the other, have been crucial in bringing about change. We ask Chihiro why it is so important to take a radical approach...

How can we get urgent climate action that is also just? This is the question we explore in series two of the People vs Inequality Podcast. In episode three we hear from long standing Indigenous rights defender Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, someone I have long admired and that brings a wealth of experience and wisdom on an issue that is truly existential! Vicky explains why we need to put indigenous perspectives central in tackling climate change and what that means for climate justice.   From mobilising her own community in the Philippines against destructive dams and dictatorship to serving as a UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, her mission has not changed: to bring Indigenous voices and knowledge into decision-making.  But how to combine insider and outsider roles to get tangible results? And how to make sure commitments actually lead to change for Indigenous peoples and our planet?   Tune in for Indigenous lessons on how to get...

  ‘We need to hear about strategic litigation!’ one of our followers said when we asked you what perspectives should not be missed in the series on climate justice. And we agreed. The growing movement and record amount of (winning) court cases of citizens against states and companies not living up to their climate duties is inspiring and important. It became the topic of th is second episode with the amazing Tessa Khan , a leading environmental and human rights lawyer that played an important role in winning landmark court cases. She also won the 2018 climate breakthrough award and recently set up a new NGO called Uplift. We take a deep dive into the role that strategic litigation can play, but also learn that there is much more to it when taking the need for a just transition seriously. We hear about her decision to focus her fight on a just and fossil fuel-free UK. How is she taking one of the most powerful industries in the world and why does she think we will win? And h...