Power, People and Planet

 In this powerful episode of Power, People and Planet, Kumi Naidoo sits down with Syrian writer and cultural activist Reem Turkmani to explore how power operates beyond force — shaping minds, narratives, and imagination.Reem reflects on growing up under authoritarian rule, where education, media, and even art were used to control thought and normalize injustice. Together, they unpack how climate stress exposed governance failures in Syria, how propaganda systems shape public consciousness, and why the real battleground is often cultural, not just political.From the enduring phrase “the constitution was eaten by the donkey” to the role of storytelling in resistance, this conversation reveals how art can either reinforce silence or inspire action. Reem also shares the story of a 100-year-old Iraqi protest song — a powerful example of how culture can carry coded resistance, build solidarity, and offer healing in times of struggle.This episode is a reminder that resistance is not only about confronting power — it is about reclaiming truth, memory, and imagination.In this episode, we discuss: ✅Growing up in Syria under patriarchy and authoritarian control✅Why the 2010–2011 uprising happened — beyond the “Arab Spring” narrative✅How climate stress exposed governance failures and deepened grievances✅The role of education, media, and culture in shaping public consciousness✅How propaganda normalizes injustice — including the phrase “the constitution was eaten by the donkey”✅The power of arts and culture in both reinforcing and resisting authoritarianism✅Reem’s work with 1+1 Show, using media to build civic awareness across divided societies✅The overlooked contributions of Arab and Muslim civilizations to modern science✅A 100-year-old Iraqi protest song — and how art carries coded resistance, solidarity, and healingSONGChal Chal by The Famous Arabic Crossover Musician Ilham Al Madfai @ilhamalmadfai  (https://www.instagram.com/ilhamalmadfai/ ) @m.madafai (https://www.instagram.com/m.madfai/ )RESOURCESFollow Reem on Social Media - https://www.instagram.com/rimturkmani/1+1 Show : https://www.youtube.com/@1plus1showSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

What does it mean to be an activist today — and who gets to claim that title?In this episode of Power, People & Planet, Kumi Naidoo is joined by Hardi Yakubu, Coordinator of Africans Rising for Unity, Justice, Peace and Dignity, for a powerful conversation on leadership, solidarity, and building people-powered movements across Africa.From Hardi’s early experiences of standing up to injustice in school to his current role helping lead a pan-African movement with tens of thousands of members, the conversation challenges narrow, NGO-centric definitions of activism and calls for organising that goes beyond moments of protest.At a time of overlapping crises — from climate breakdown to economic injustice — this episode asks how movements can rise with clarity, courage, and care.Because pessimism is a luxury we simply cannot afford.🧭 Topics Discussed✅Early experiences that shape a life of resistance✅The origins and growth of Africans Rising as a pan-African movement✅Why mobilisation is not enough — and why organising matters✅Building collective leadership beyond charismatic individuals✅Challenging extractive economic models and imperial power✅Unity, justice, peace, and dignity as foundations for Africa’s futureRESOURCES:Hardi Yakubu- https://www.facebook.com/sonofafrica/Africans Rising for Unity, Justice, Peace and Dignity- https://www.facebook.com/AfricansRisingSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

“Your eco-anxiety is a sign your humanity is intact. You’re reacting rationally to an irrational world.”In this episode of Power, People & Planet, Kumi Naidoo sits down with climate justice activist, author and musician Tori Tsui (It’s Not Just You) for a profound and unfiltered conversation about the world we’re living in — and the world we must build.Together they explore:🔥 Why climate change is not an “environmental issue” — but a failure of our political, economic & military systems🔥 The deep connection between climate justice and the genocide in Palestine🔥 How the military–fossil fuel industrial complex drives conflict and global emissions🔥 The urgency of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty🔥 Eco-anxiety: why it’s a rational response to an irrational world — and how grief, rage and sensitivity can be transformed into collective power🔥 Artivism: how culture, music and imagination fuel resistance and liberationTori shares her journey from wildlife scientist to outspoken activist, her work with Brian Eno and Earth Percent, and the “Together for Palestine” concert at Wembley. Kumi reflects on the need to centre artists, storytellers and culture-makers to reach hearts, not just minds — and why validating eco-anxiety is essential for building a resilient, people-powered movement.➡️ JOIN THE MOVEMENTSupport the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty: https://fossilfueltreaty.orgJoin the Global Artivism Movement: https://globalartivism.org➡️RESOURCESFollow Tori Tsui at : https://www.instagram.com/toritsui_Together for Palestine: https://www.instagram.com/t4plive/Massive Attack: https://www.instagram.com/massiveattackofficial/______________Check out Centre for Public Impact's latest episode for the Reimagining Government Podcast! This podcast shines a light on government changemakers around the world. This season explores what happens when those too often excluded from decision-making lead the way, and what their leadership reveals about how governments can work differently.Learn more here: https://centreforpublicimpact.org/our-work/reimagining-government-podcast/Subcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

Can beauty become the backbone of a social movement? 🧠✨In this episode of Power, People & Planet, I sit down with artist and artivist Shilo Shiv Suleman to explore how art, beauty, and fearless imagination turn fear into love, trauma into healing, and streets into living canvases of resistance.From building an “army of fearless” women reclaiming public space, to creating climate monuments with frontline and Indigenous communities, we talk about:☑️ How beauty can save us and help us heal☑️ Why rebellion and imagination are essential political tools☑️ What it means to root climate action in wonder, magic realism, and ancient wisdom☑️ How art and culture are powering a new wave of global, feminist, decolonial movementsIf you’ve ever doubted that art can change the world, this conversation is for you. 🌟#PowerPeoplePlanet #Artivism #FearlessImagination #ShiloShivSuleman #ClimateJustice #FeministFutures #GlobalArtivismShiloh Shiv Suleman: https://www.instagram.com/shiloshivsuleman/Fearless Collective: https://www.instagram.com/fearlesscollective/Subcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

🔥 In this episode of Power, People and Planet Podcast, Kumi Naidoo sits down with Thiago Mundano — the Brazilian street artist and activist turning waste, ashes, and struggle into art that speaks for the planet.From the streets of São Paulo to the heart of the Amazon, Mundano’s work bridges the worlds of waste pickers, Indigenous defenders, and environmental justice — transforming discarded materials into powerful symbols of resistance and renewal.This conversation dives deep into:🌍 How art can challenge systems of extraction and inequality♻️ The dignity and power of waste pickers as environmental frontliners🔥 Mundano’s project “Ashes of the Forest”, created from the remains of Amazon wildfires🎨 The role of artivism in reclaiming hope and humanity amid climate chaosKumi and Mundano explore what happens when artists dare to confront power — and when creativity becomes both a weapon and a lifeline.💬 “When art comes from the ashes, it carries truth. And when truth moves people, change begins.” Join us in this journey through art, courage, and the fight for the Earth’s lungs.📍ReferencesThiago Mundano: https://www.instagram.com/mundano_sp/Pimp My Carroca: https://www.instagram.com/pimpmycarroca/#PowerPeoplePlanetPodcast #KumiNaidoo#GlobalArtivism#ClimateJustice Subcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

“Laudato Si’ reframed climate change as an issue of justice, shifting the conversation into the moral and spiritual realm.”In this episode, Kumi Naidoo speaks with Joe Moeono-Kolio, Pacific Regional Director of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, about the spiritual and cultural dimensions of the climate struggle. Joe leads the Initiative’s diplomatic and campaign efforts across the Pacific. They explore how Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ reframed climate change as a moral and ethical crisis, connecting “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” Joe reflects on how faith traditions, indigenous wisdom, and Pacific spirituality continue to inspire action and resilience.🎶 The conversation also highlights the vital role of arts and music as living archives of Pacific resistance. From colonial struggles to today’s climate fight, songs and cultural expression carry memory, healing, and power—reaching hearts where reports and policies cannot.🔥 Key themes in this episode:Faith leadership and the impact of Laudato Si’How spirituality and culture deepen the fight for justiceArts and music as tools for healing, resistance, and movement buildingPacific traditions and their role in global climate activism🎶 Featuring: This Is Our Home – Pacific Artists for Climate Justice________🔗REFERENCESPersonal: @joe.moeonokolioOrganizational: @project.thisisourhomehttps://www.fossilfreepacific.org/#LaudatoSi #FaithAndJustice #ClimateJustice #Artivism #PacificWarriors #KumiNaidooSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

🔥 What can young leaders, indigenous wisdom, and the arts teach us about saving our future?In this episode of Power, People, Planet Podcast, Kumi Naidoo sits down with Alopi Latukefu — Director of The Global Centre for Social Justice and Advocacy Leadership — to talk about his remarkable journey from Papua New Guinea to global advocacy and to explore stories of resilience, leadership, and justice from the Pacific to the world. Together, they explore the Pacific’s leadership on climate justice—from law students in Vanuatu bringing the climate crisis before the International Court of Justice, to the region’s push for a Fossil Fuel Treaty that challenges global dependency on extraction. They highlight the urgent need to uplift indigenous knowledge, center cultural wisdom in climate solutions, and harness the power of art and music as tools for mobilization. The episode closes with the song “Don’t Mess It All Up” by Alope’s daughter Meena Siali, reminding us that protecting our planet is both a responsibility and a legacy.🔑Episode Highlights:How young Pacific law students brought the fight for climate justice to the International Court of JusticeWhy indigenous knowledge and wisdom are essential for humanity’s survivalThe Pacific’s leadership in pushing for a Fossil Fuel Treaty and the global transition away from extractionThe rising role of art and culture (“artivism”) in communicating the urgency of climate action👉 Watch, listen, and be inspired to act: the fight for climate justice needs all of us.🔗RESOURCESA Just(ER) Generation Podcast (Episode with Kumi)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYnGjL0xWvsAlopi Latukefu Linkein: Mina-Siale Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6cgRFKW05DZQz6XJPkLgSRSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

Can small, hidden acts of resistance change the world? Kumi Naidoo talks to Dr. Ivetta Sergeeva, postdoctoral scholar at Stanford’s Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, to explore the concept of stealth activism— the covert resistance necessary to navigate life in authoritarian regimes. As co-founder of the OutRush Project, Ivetta studies and supports Russian migrants who fled after the invasion of Ukraine, documenting their displacement and their ongoing covert defiance. In this episode, we’ll learn: What “15 minutes a day to fight the regime” can mean for anyone, anywhere Why supporting small, individualized acts of resistance is vital to long-term social change The distinction between visible protest and subtle dissent How activism takes on different shapes in repressive societies—and why that matters (4th) Why everyday acts like writing letters to political prisoners can be revolutionary How activism takes on different shapes in repressive societies—and why that matters With warmth, humility, and analytical clarity, Ivetta reminds us that power lies not just in marches and megaphones, but in maps, data, and silent courage.  Produced by Larj Media  🔗 Resources & Mentions OutRush Project (verify the final link with Ivetta) Stanford CDDRL Write to Russian Political Prisoners – OVD-Info Guide (Russian Human Rights Org) “Weapons of the Weak” by James C. Scott [Stealth Activism concept – Alinea Salnikova-Cook’s work] Kumi Naidoo at Amnesty International  Follow her work: @IvettaSergeeva Full show notes and links: powerpeopleplanet.org Subcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

Kumi speaks with journalist and Coda Story co-founder Natalia Antelava about reinventing journalism in the age of authoritarianism, disinformation and algorithmic manipulation. From reporting in Yemen to pioneering context-driven coverage at Coda, Natalia shares how storytelling can resist authoritarian playbooks and (re)build public trust. They explore the role of media as activism, the dangers of being slaves to the “breaking news” cycle, and how narratives around family values and identity have been co-opted to fuel global authoritarianism. Natalia also reflects on her work with the ZEG Festival, an experiment in imagination and cross-disciplinary resistance that brings artists, journalists, and philosophers together to shape the “day after tomorrow.” This episode asks: Can arts and media help us move from information overload to deep understanding—and action? Can journalism reclaim its place as a bridge between divided realities?  Resources & Links Coda Story (co-founded by Natalia): www.codastory.com ZEG Festival (co-organized by Natalia): www.zegfest.org Coda's coverage on disinformation and authoritarianism: 👉 Coda’s Authoritarian Tech Section 👉 Coda’s Disinformation Section “Burning with Optimism” essay by Kumi Naidoo (on resistance, burnout & activism): openDemocracy Article Produced by Larj Media Subcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

Is Culture our most powerful tool for making a just world? Artist Favianna Rodriguez joins Kumi Naidoo to explore how art isn’t just a mirror to society—it’s a hammer to shape it. As a cultural strategist Favianna reframes activism as a creative, emotional, and embodied act. From growing up amid the drug war and police brutality in East Oakland to leading national protests and organizing artists globally, Favianna’s life is a testament to culture as a catalyst. Together, they discuss: How culture shapes imagination and why imagination is essential for justice Why every movement needs art, music, and joy to thrive The systemic erasure of communities of color and why representation matters. Real-world examples of how culture preceded political victories—from LGBTQ+ rights to environmental protection. How right-wing politics have captured pop culture and what the resistance can learn from it. Her call to action: Make art. Make noise. Make joy irresistible. 🔗 Resources & Mentions Favianna Rodriguez’s website The Center for Cultural Power Sun City by Artists United Against Apartheid Bob Marley – Get Up, Stand Up “Migration is Beautiful” project [Global ARTivism Gathering, Nov 3–9, 2025 – details TBA]  Produced by Larj Media Subcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

Kumi speaks with decolonial thinker Dr. Vanessa Andreotti about what it means to create change in a collapsing world.  Together they explore how art, activism, and even artificial intelligence can become tools for healing, resistance, and reimagining justice. From her upbringing in Brazil marked by colonial violence to now co-authoring a book with an AI named Aiden Cinnamon Tea, Vanessa dispels modern myths of what progress means and dares us to embrace complexity, humility, and relational intelligence. This is not your typical conversation about tech or protest—it's a call to transform how we live, relate, and build the future.  Featured Works & Resources Burnout From Humans (free book co-authored with AI “Aiden Cinnamon Tea”): burnoutfromhumans.nethomewardbound.org Hospicing Modernity (book): Hospicing Modernity: Facing Humanity’s Wrongs and the Implications for Social Activism climatewords.org Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures (collective): https://decolonialfutures.net/people/  Produced by Larj Media Subcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

Kumi speaks with decolonial thinker Dr. Vanessa Andreotti about what it means to create change in a collapsing world.  Together they explore how art, activism, and even artificial intelligence can become tools for healing, resistance, and reimagining justice. From her upbringing in Brazil marked by colonial violence to now co-authoring a book with an AI named Aiden Cinnamon Tea, Vanessa dispels modern myths of  what progress means and dares us to embrace complexity, humility, and relational intelligence. This is not your typical conversation about tech or protest—it's a call to transform how we live, relate, and build the future. Featured Works & Resources Burnout From Humans (free book co-authored with AI “Aiden Cinnamon Tea”): burnoutfromhumans.nethomewardbound.org Hospicing Modernity (book): Hospicing Modernity: Facing Humanity’s Wrongs and the Implications for Social Activism climatewords.org Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures (collective): https://decolonialfutures.net/people/ Produced by Larj Media Subcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

Feeling at all freaked out by the state of the world at the moment?   Wondering what you can do about it?  Join Kumi Naidoo, the veteran social and environmental justice campaigner, to tackle some of the biggest issues of our time. In each episode Kumi is joined by activists, artists and community leaders who are dismantling our broken system - and building something better in its place.  Hear their stories.  Learn what has kept them fighting.  Find out how we all can make a difference.  Learn more about the podcast by visiting: powerpeopleplanet.org  Subcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

In this special episode, which concludes Season 2 of the podcast, Kumi speaks with Indian activist Harsh Mander. This episode was recorded in August 2022 at a time when Harsh was under intense scrutiny for his activities by the Indian government. At the time of recording, he was on the point of returning home to India despite great risks to his personal liberty and pressure from family and friends not to do so. Still, he returned, committed to standing with those in need and fighting hate, Islamophobia, homelessness and violence. Learn more about Power, People & Planet on the website:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgTo watch full episodes of the podcast follow Kumi's YouTube channelFollow Kumi on social media:LinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebook-----------------------Power, People and Planet is produced in association with the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy:https://greeneconomycoalition.orgAdditional support for the podcast was provided by the Robert Bosch Stiftung:https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/enSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

Kate Raworth is a renegade economist focused on making economics fit for 21st century realities. She is the creator of the Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries, and co-founder of Doughnut Economics Action Lab.-----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet on the website:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgTo watch full episodes of the podcast follow Kumi's YouTube channelFollow Kumi on social media:LinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebook-----------------------Power, People and Planet is produced in association with the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy:https://greeneconomycoalition.orgAdditional support for the podcast was provided by the Robert Bosch Stiftung:https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/enSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

In a wide-ranging discussion on South Africa with veteran activist Vishwas Satgar, Kumi explores the country's political past, present and future. With crucial elections taking place in 2024, what impact will they have for a country in crisis? What are the systemic issues that perpetuate these problems? And what can be learned from the historical victories and failures of South African political resistance?Our Guest:Vishwas Satgar is an associate professor of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He is the editor of the Democratic Marxism series, and is the principal investigator for the Emancipatory Futures Studies in the Anthropocene project and a democratic eco-socialist.Follow Vishwas's work:Emancipatory Futures website: https://emancipatoryfutures.co.za/On X: https://x.com/VishwasSatgarLearn more about Power, People & Planet on the website:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgTo watch full episodes of the podcast follow Kumi's YouTube channelFollow Kumi on social media:LinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebook-----------------------Power, People and Planet is produced in association with the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy:https://greeneconomycoalition.orgAdditional support for the podcast was provided by the Robert Bosch Stiftung:https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/enSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

In the early 1980s there was a slogan: think globally, act locally. Behind the slogan was the idea that, irrespective of the issue we were trying to address at the local or national level, we needed to better understand how global discourse, global processes and global power had the ability to impact what you could or could not achieve at the local or national level. In the 1990s, a feminist organisation from the global South called Development Alternatives for Women in a New Era (DAWN) said that perhaps what we need to be doing is thinking locally and acting globally: to think in terms of what is needed at the local level and then advocate at the global level if that’s where real power resides. In reality, it’s not a question of choosing one or the other but about getting the right balance.In this episode Kumi explores the different avenues of global engagement to understand the pitfalls and opportunities of such engagements. Our Guests:María Fernanda Espinosa is an Ecuadorian diplomat, politician, poet, linguist and academic with more than 30 years of experience in international organisations, the Ecuadorian government, NGOs and academia.She served as President of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (2018-2019). She has held no less than three different senior ministerial positions in Ecuador’s government. She has also served as ambassador and permanent representative of Ecuador to the United Nations in New York (2008-2009) and Geneva (2014-2017). As of January 2023, she sits on the board of trustees of the International Crisis Group.Follow María’s work:Twitter: @mfespinosaEC LinkedInMeena Raman is the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth Malaysia), an environmental NGO based in Penang, Malaysia. She is the Legal Advisor to the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP), a Malaysian NGO that has been advancing the rights and well-being of consumers. Since 2007 she has also been head of programmes of Third World NetworkAn expert on climate change, especially on the global negotiations including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), she monitors and reports on the negotiations and provides analysis and support both to developing country governments as well as to civil society participants.Follow Meena’s work:Sahabat Alam Malaysia website: https://foe-malaysia.org/-----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet on the website:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgTo watch full episodes of the podcast follow Kumi's YouTube channelFollow Kumi on social media:LinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebook-----------------------Power, People and Planet is produced in association with the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy:https://greeneconomycoalition.orgAdditional support for the podcast was provided by the Robert Bosch Stiftung:https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/enSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

Unjust laws certainly should be broken. Mandela, Rosa Parks, and many other inspirational leaders had no hesitation in calling to break unjust laws. But laws that prevent the voices of ordinary people from being heard also need to be resisted, because right now, in more than 100 countries around the world, governments in the last decade have taken various actions to shrink the civic space by restricting freedom of association, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression.At a time when there is so much hate, violence, and aggravation, activism must be imbued by love, compassion, caring, and a sense of justice, peace, and dignity. How can we embolden creative, peaceful, civil disobedience on a significant scale to wake up our leaders before it is too late and dig in deep to have the stamina and perseverance to keep going until those injustices are removed?Our guests:Clare Farrell is an active citizen, devoting her creativity, her energy, and occasionally her personal liberty to fight against climate collapse and the wider environmental crisis. She is also a fashion designer and lecturer. She has been arrested numerous times for her climate activism and as one of the founders of Extinction Rebellion she helps coordinate a mass movement of people using non-violent civil disobedience.Marta Benavides is a theologian, ordained minister, permaculturist, educator, and artist. A leader of an ecumenical revolution focused on bringing peace to her country El Salvador, she is an ordained pastor who chose “to live and not die for the revolution” and has been bringing people from all fields to defend human rights and develop a culture of peace. She worked closely with Archbishop Oscar Romero who was assassinated in 1980, which would see her go into exile in Mexico and the US, she returned to El Salvador in ‘92 following the peace accords.-----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet on the website:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgTo watch full episodes of the podcast follow Kumi's YouTube channelFollow Kumi on social media:LinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebook-----------------------Power, People and Planet is produced in association with the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy:https://greeneconomycoalition.orgAdditional support for the podcast was provided by the Robert Bosch Stiftung:https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/enSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

The contribution of the legal community through innovative, strategic litigation and other legal efforts is going to be one of the most critical undertakings in the fight for climate justice. Currently, there are more than 1,400 climate lawsuits underway. These legal battles address the destruction of our ecosystems and the attempts of indigenous people to uphold their rights through a range of different struggles.Litigation and legal strategy has been a critical part of ensuring the strength of the activist community. Indeed, the legal community has a critical role in defending the shrinking democratic space in multiple countries throughout the world. However, the challenge remains in determining how legal strategies intersect with other mobilising strategies. Another challenge is determining the proportionality of effort that should be afforded to litigation battles, especially given that the wheels of justice turn very slowly in many countries: the climate crisis cannot wait for deliverance from protracted litigation in new areas of environmental law, corporate law and elsewhere.Our guests:Markus N. Beeko was appointed Secretary General of the German section of Amnesty International in 2016. He has been active in leadership positions for Amnesty in Germany and the International Secretariat in London since 2004. He is the Chair of Amnesty’s international steering group on "Human Rights in the Digital Age". He chairs the board of trustees of Stiftung Menschenrechte, and he is also Vice Chair of the board of the German Institute for Human Rights.Follow Markus’s work:Twitter: @mnbeeko LinkedInNani Jansen Reventlow is an internationally recognised human rights lawyer specialised in strategic litigation at the intersection of human rights, social justice, and technology. She is the Founder of Systemic Justice, the first Black-led, majority BPOC organisation in Europe working to radically transform how the law works for communities fighting for racial, social, and economic justice.Follow Nani’s work:Website: https://www.nanijansen.org/Twitter: @InterwebzNani -----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet on the website:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgTo watch full episodes of the podcast follow Kumi's YouTube channelFollow Kumi on social media:LinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebook-----------------------Power, People and Planet is produced in association with the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy:https://greeneconomycoalition.orgAdditional support for the podcast was provided by the Robert Bosch Stiftung:https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/enSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

The challenge of activism today must include winning over those with whom we disagree, for example, those who have not yet embraced the agendas of climate and economic justice. In a country like the US where about 40% of people have been misled by the falsehoods of right-wing media, democracy is under great threat if activists for justice are not able to win over a significant number of those who support antidemocratic ideas. This episode explores the questions of why this is so difficult and what strategies we may employ to build much-needed bridges of dialogue, engagement, and possibly conversion. Can we build narratives and messages that help people break out of ideological silos? How do we win over people who occupy positions vastly different from those promoting economic, gender, and climate justice?Our guests:Sharan Burrow is the general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and a former president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. Sharan is a passionate advocate and campaigner for social justice, women’s rights, the environment, and labour law reforms, and has led union negotiations on major economic reforms and labour rights campaigns in her home country of Australia and globally. She has also served as a member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation and is represented on a number of international commissions concerning climate action, industrial transition, and economic reform.Follow Sharan’s work:The International Trade Union Confederation website: https://www.ituc-csi.orgTwitter: @SharanBurrow Alnoor Ladha is a political strategist, writer, and activist. Alnoor’s work focuses on the intersection of political organising, storytelling, and technology. He was the co-founder and Executive Director of The Rules, a global network of activists, coders, researchers, writers, and others focused on changing the rules that create inequality, poverty, and climate change. The Rules started in 2012 as a time-bound project and an experiment in anarchist organisational design, exploring new ways of how to work, play, and make trouble together.He is a co-founder of Tierra Valiente, an alternative community and healing centre in the jungle of northern Costa Rica. He is a board member of Culture Hack Labs and The Emergence Network.Follow Alnoor’s work:Culture Hack Labs website: https://www.culturehack.ioTwitter: @alnoorladha -----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet on the website:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgTo watch full episodes of the podcast follow Kumi's YouTube channelFollow Kumi on social media:LinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebook-----------------------Power, People and Planet is produced in association with the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy:https://greeneconomycoalition.orgAdditional support for the podcast was provided by the Robert Bosch Stiftung:https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/enSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

With the crises in front of us so complex, are their solutions to be found at the global or local level? Will our technologies emerge fast enough to avert the greatest threats and, if not, how do we prepare for that unknown future? And how can even the boldest of activist movements hope to have an impact against overwhelming economic and cultural power? In this episode Kumi discusses ways to reimagine and reinvent the ways we live with one of Britain’s leading figures in the fight for a better world.Our guest:George Monbiot is a trained zoologist and scientist but is most commonly noted for his journalism, writing and his political and environmental activism, in which he has been engaged for over 30 years. He is a columnist for the Guardian and was awarded the 2022 Orwell Prize for Journalism. His latest book Regenesis: Feeding the World Without Devouring the Planet explores a new future for food production, one of the most climate-devastating industries humanity currently engages in. Follow George's work:George’s website: https://www.monbiot.com/Twitter: @GeorgeMonbiot -----------------------Click here to watch a full video version of this episode.Learn more about Power, People & Planet on the website:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgTo watch full episodes of the podcast follow Kumi's YouTube channelFollow Kumi on social media:LinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebook-----------------------Power, People and Planet is produced in association with the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy:https://greeneconomycoalition.orgAdditional support for the podcast was provided by the Robert Bosch Stiftung:https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/enSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

The right to participation is one of the most powerful and basic rights, and far too often people who are living in the frontlines of various struggles at the grassroots levels are spectators where they should be central players. In the climate movement we have seen how activists from the global south and the lives of everyday people are consistently sidelined in the climate summit negotiations.These spaces often purport to be an opportunity for activists to engage with power but in reality these engagements and spaces only reify the current power dynamics while serving as tokenistic acts for both activists and those in power. Bringing the voices of those that do not make it out of the congested media environment, which is already stacked against them, is one of the many struggles that face grassroots activists in poor and marginalised communities around the world. So what do we need to strengthen the voices of grassroots activists? What are the barriers to the voices of grassroots activism being heard? Our guests:Luisa Neubauer was one of the lead organisers of Fridays For Future in Germany - a movement that brought 1.4 million people to the streets of German towns and cities in September 2019. A talented community organiser and rousing public speaker, she has since become a powerful voice among a generation of young Germans who are taking a stand against climate inaction.Follow Luisa’s work:Twitter: @Luisamneubauer Instagram: @luisaneubauer Sashi Kiran is the trailblazing founder and chief executive officer of a grassroots not-for-profit that provides economic opportunities for underserved communities in Fiji. She started FRIEND as it is better known, after Fiji’s 2000 political crisis to create income generating opportunities for women and men from rural and peri-urban settlements and villages, youth and people with special needs; and to strengthen relations between Fiji’s two main communities. She has worked with the Commonwealth Foundation, and networks such as CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education and serves on the Regional Advisory Group Member of the Global Network of CSOs on Disaster Risk Reduction (GNDR). Follow Sashi’s work:FRIEND Fiji website: http://friendfiji.comLinkedIn -----------------------Click here to watch a full video version of this episode.Learn more about Power, People & Planet on the website:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgTo watch full episodes of the podcast follow Kumi's YouTube channelFollow Kumi on social media:LinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebook-----------------------Power, People and Planet is produced in association with the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy:https://greeneconomycoalition.orgAdditional support for the podcast was provided by the Robert Bosch Stiftung:https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/enSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

In this special live episode, Kumi discusses the connection between arts and activism with the renowned artist Olafur Eliasson and Molly Fannon, CEO at Museum for the United Nations - UN Live. In the face of collective action problems such as the climate crisis, one of the biggest weaknesses in activism is the inability to communicate its narratives, messages, and vision beyond certain groups of people. How can the work of artists help create change? What can art and activism learn from each other?This episode was recorded at an event hosted by the Robert Bosch Stiftung on the 20th April 2022.Our guests:Ólafur Elíasson is an Icelandic–Danish artist known for his large-scale installation art employing elemental materials such as light, water, and air temperature to enhance the viewer's experience. Regarded as a leading artist in bringing awareness of climate and environmental issues to the public, Ólafur’s work often focuses on the interaction  between spectator and environment, and the common ground between art and science. He currently lives and works in Berlin, where he was a professor at the Berlin University of the Arts. His studio now employs more than 40 people including  artists, architects, scientists, and technicians. Follow Ólafur’s work:Website: https://olafureliasson.net/Instagram: @studioolafureliasson Molly Fannon is the CEO of Museum of the United Nations - UN Live, a global institution based in Copenhagen with a mission to “unleash the power of culture to inspire local action and drive global change”. Before joining UN Live, Molly was Director of the Smithsonian’s Office of International Relations and Global Program, leading partnerships with major global organizations such as the World Economic Forum and governments worldwide. Molly’s early career centred around designing and managing largescale international development programs, funded by institutions such as USAID and the World Bank. Her professional experience spans more than 40 countries on 6 continents. Follow Molly’s work:UN Live website: https://www.museumfortheunitednations.com/LinkedIn-----------------------Click here to watch a full video version of this episode.Learn more about Power, People & Planet on the website:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgTo watch full episodes of the podcast follow Kumi's YouTube channelFollow Kumi on social media:LinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebook-----------------------Power, People and Planet is produced in association with the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy:https://greeneconomycoalition.orgAdditional support for the podcast was provided by the Robert Bosch Stiftung:https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/enSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

In this episode, we reflect on the critical importance of the power of intersectional approaches between different movements so that they might win bigger battles faster. Intersectionality refers to the interconnected nature of social categories such as race, class, and gender. They create overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage. Intersectionality is a lens that allows us to view the hidden and invisible connections in our society. While many in civil society and different movements recognize this theoretically, there’s still far too high a propensity towards siloed activism. Our guests:Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, columnist, and international bestselling author of eight books including No Logo, The Shock Doctrine, This Changes Everything, No Is Not Enough and On Fire, which have been translated into over 35 languages. She is a Senior Contributing Writer for The Intercept. She was the inaugural Gloria Steinem Endowed Chair in Media, Culture and Feminist Studies at Rutgers University, and is now Honorary Professor of Media and Climate at Rutgers.Follow Naomi’s work:Website: https://naomiklein.org/Twitter: @NaomiAKleinLaura Garcia is a Mexican feminist who has advocated for human rights, social justice, and civil society throughout her career. Before joining Global Greengrants as CEO, Laura served for seven years as the Executive Director of Fondo Semillas, a Mexican non profit organisation that finances grassroots organisations to achieve gender equality. Laura has co-created networks to promote community philanthropy in the Global South. She currently serves on the boards of Oxfam Mexico, Co-Impact, and the Global Fund for Community Foundations.Follow Laura’s work:Global Greengrants Fund website: https://www.greengrants.org/Twitter: @lauragarciacGeorgia Hirsty is the co-founder and executive director of Frailty Myths, a community-rooted diversity, equity, and inclusion group that uses hands-on activities and the principles of practice to transform oppressive cultures and advance justice. Georgia has worked extensively with Greenpeace and across social and environmental movements in a variety of leadership roles, with a focus on direct action, empowerment, and a deep interest in long term behaviour change. All of her work grows from the ethos that we must practice being in the new world we want to live in so as not to replicate destructive patterns. Follow Georgia’s work:Frailty Myths website: https://frailtymyths.org/Georgia’s blog: https://georgiafayehirsty.wordpress.com/-----------------------Click here to watch a full video version of this episode.Learn more about Power, People & Planet on the website:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgFollow Kumi on social media:LinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebookPower, People and Planet is produced in association with the Green Economy Coalitionhttps://greeneconomycoalition.orgAdditional support provided by the Robert Bosch StiftungSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

Power, People and Planet returns for its second season to tackle the toughest and most urgent questions of our time. In this new series of in-depth discussions, host and veteran activist Kumi Naidoo talks with guests from across the globe about the current state of activism, its failure, its successes and its future.In the most consequential decade in humanity's history, we must focus and improve our efforts not simply for change but for a just transition to a more equitable, more inclusive and more sustainable world.  ***Learn more about Power, People & Planet: https://powerpeopleplanet.orgFollow Kumi Naidoo:TwitterInstagramLinkedInFacebook***Power, People and Planet is produced in association with the Green Economy Coalitionhttps://greeneconomycoalition.orgAdditional support for this season was provided by Robert Bosch Stiftunghttps://www.bosch-stiftung.de/enSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

"We utilise the power of culture to our own benefit"Islam Elbeiti is a Sudanese bass player, radio presenter, and social change activist. She serves as Community Engagement Lead at The Innovation for Policy Foundation, Cultural Wave Support Lead at The Global Assembly and is co-founder of the Sudanese Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network.In this episode, Kumi speaks with Islam about her journey as a bass player, the enduring and transformative power of culture, the role that music played in the Sudanese revolution and changing attitudes towards female artists in Africa. ----------------------Produced by the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy: https://greeneconomycoalition.orgIslam on Twitter: @islamelbeitiIslam on Instagram: @islamelbeiti-----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet by visiting: https://powerpeopleplanet.orgSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

"There is no alternative to alliances and there is no alternative to solidarity"Born in Mumbai, Lysa John started out building grassroots campaigns around urban poverty, governance and housing rights. Since then she has worked with Save the Children International and as Head of Outreach for the UN High Level Panel on the Sustainable Development Goals, and today describes herself as “a relentless enabler of activism.” She currently serves as the Secretary General of CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists. In this episode Lysa and Kumi discuss the future and vulnerability of citizen action and civil society, the limitations of international organisations, and the growing dangers of the widening inequality gap. They also speak about her early work as a grassroots organiser in Mumbai, outdated geo-political thinking and her idea that "the present system is not merely broken but deliberately malevolent".----------------------Produced by the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy: https://greeneconomycoalition.orgLysa on Twitter: @lysajohnCIVICUS on Twitter: @CIVICUSallianceCIVICUS website: https://www.civicus.org/-----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet by visiting: https://powerpeopleplanet.orgSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

“What we need are good politicians… who understand how basic access to water and sanitation is, if you want to deliver on any other development priority ”Lawyer and human rights activist Catarina de Albuquerque made history as the first person to serve as United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation (2008 - 2014). She currently serves as CEO of Sanitation and Water for All, a global multi-stakeholder partnership with the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation worldwide.In this frank and powerful conversation, Catarina and Kumi discuss the vital but often overlooked topics of water and sanitation. While access to these have been human rights since 2010 (thanks in part to Catarina’s work) she explains the ongoing crises and impacts that continue to affect billions in both the Global North and South. Water and sanitation, as you will hear,  are not just matters of health and well-being but impact every aspect of human development from security, to education, to national prosperity. ----------------------Produced by the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy: https://greeneconomycoalition.orgCatarina on Twitter: @CatarinadeAlbuqSanitation and Water for All website: https://www.sanitationandwaterforall.org/-----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet by visiting: https://powerpeopleplanet.orgSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

“There are no prisons big enough for ideas. They can’t put our ideas behind bars. Your movement and what you work for will always be bigger than you.”Disha Ravi is an Indian climate and environmental activist. She is a founder and active member of Fridays For Future India with a focus on “MAPA” (most affected people and areas). Her arrest and detention by the Indian government in February of 2021 was met with widespread international condemnation. In conversation with Kumi, Disha shares her perspective as a youth climate leader from the Global South. She explains what it means to be part of a movement that is bigger than oneself, how the climate struggle differs between rich and poor countries, and speaks passionately about what brings her inspiration and keeps her fighting.----------------------Produced by the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy: https://greeneconomycoalition.orgDisha on Twitter: @disharaviiDisha on Instagram: @disharaviiFridays For Future website: https://fridaysforfuture.org-----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet by visiting: https://powerpeopleplanet.orgSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

“The social contracts can always be negotiated. I think our responsibility actually is to be constantly negotiating what that social contract looks like. How we relate to each other. How we live with one another.”Dr Amara Enyia is a community organizer, lawyer and political strategist. A former candidate for Mayor of Chicago, she is currently the managing director of Diaspora Rising, an advocacy hub dedicated to strengthening the bonds amongst members of the global Black family.In this conversation, Kumi and Amara take an in-depth look at the relationship between cities and their residents, the intersection between environmental & urban justice issues, and what it means to be an organiser and activist on both local and international levels.----------------------Produced by the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy: https://greeneconomycoalition.orgDr Amara Enyia on Twitter: @AmaraEnyiaAmara's website: https://amaraenyia.comDiaspora Rising website: www.diasporarising.org-----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet by visiting: https://powerpeopleplanet.orgSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

“Understanding that actually power lies inherent in us. It’s the responsibility and the rights and the beauties and the power to actually change society from within and outside.”Ashish Kothari is an Indian green activist, scholar and co-founder of the Kalpavriksh Environmental Action Group. He has served as chair of Greenpeace India, on the board of Greenpeace International and has been active with a number of people’s movements. He has also been part of the Indian government’s Environmental Appraisal Committee and other government initiatives. In this episode, Kumi and Ashish discuss alternatives to how societies can govern themselves, the need for radical ecological democracy and how activists can fight back against increasingly hostile governments.----------------------Produced by the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy: https://greeneconomycoalition.orgAshish Kothari on Twitter: @chikikothariKalpavriksh website: https://kalpavriksh.org-----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet by visiting: https://powerpeopleplanet.orgSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

"Health is a public good. So if we have a market system that's not working for the public good, then that needs to change."Dr Tolullah Oni is a public health physician and urban epidemiologist. She grew up in Lagos and today is a Clinical Senior Research associate with the University of Cambridge as well as an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town. She is also Founder of UrbanBetter, an Africa-led, youth-privileged, science-based and equity-centred learning collaborative designing health and sustainability in cities.In this episode, Tolullah explains the deeper structural issues that surround public health, how cities can play an important role in health, and the failures the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed in our systems. ----------------------Produced by the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy: https://greeneconomycoalition.orgTolullah on Twitter: @DrTolullahUrbanBetter website: https://urbanbetter.science/-----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet by visiting: https://powerpeopleplanet.orgSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

"There's nothing like watching the home that you live in being demolished by bulldozers to make you politically conscious."Growing up in Cape Town's District 6 in the 1970s, Tasneem experienced racial segregation, forced eviction and discrimination first hand. Her anti-apartheid activism eventually took her into politics, serving as a provincial environment minister in South Africa’s post-apartheid ANC government. As a radical minister within a conservative bureaucracy, Tasneem fought to connect environmental issues to poverty and development.Since then, Tasneem has served as WWF's head of global climate policy, going behind the scenes as head of delegation at the Paris Climate Talks, and now leads the Climate Action Network – the planet’s largest coalition for climate justice.----------------------Produced by the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy: https://greeneconomycoalition.orgClimate Action Network website: https://climatenetwork.orgSocial media: @TasneemEssop, @CANIntl-----------------------Learn more about the Power, People & Planet podcast, subscribe and find more episodes:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

“Due to COVID 19 people have been questioning their basic contract. Is this government protecting me, and are these politicians doing what they claim to do, which is to look after us and to protect our health?”  Once a British diplomat and now self proclaimed 'gentle anarchist', Carne Ross describes how solving today’s problems starts with shedding our assumptions about what works and what is possible. Drawing inspiration from diverse movements and places - the ancient Greeks, the philosophy of anarchy, and a Brazilian city - Ross reveals practical steps for re-imagining democracies so that they are capable of tackling the biggest challenges of our times. ----------------------Produced by the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy: https://greeneconomycoalition.orgCarne Ross on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/carnerossCarne's website: http://www.carneross.comIndependent Diplomat: https://independentdiplomat.org-----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet by visiting:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

“We need to centre care, care in the widest sense of the word, as we try to rebuild in this post COVID era.”Aruna Rao is a feminist, an activist, and the co-founder of Gender At Work, an international network dedicated to building new cultures of equality and inclusion.In a passionate and wide-ranging conversation that opens with Aruna’s rendition of the spiritual Wade in the Water, Kumi and Aruna explore hope, fear, Black Lives Matter, intersectionality and structural change. They ask whether we have been failed by the institutions that were set up to protect us – the police, social services, the UN, development charities and aid agencies – and whether it’s better to try to change them from within, or tear them down and start again?This episode was recorded on Juneteenth 2021, a date that celebrates African American culture and the end of slavery – as well as the first Juneteenth to be recognised as a US federal holiday.----------------------Produced by the Green Economy Coalition, the world’s largest movement for a green and fair economy: https://greeneconomycoalition.orgG@W’s website:  https://genderatwork.orgAruna’s podcast, “Feminists Rethinking Transformational Strategies”:  https://genderatworkpodcast.org-----------------------Learn more about the Power, People & Planet podcast, subscribe and find more episodes:https://powerpeopleplanet.orgSubcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/

Feeling at all freaked out by the state of the world at the moment? Wondering what you can do about it? Join Kumi Naidoo, the veteran social and environmental justice campaigner, to tackle some of the biggest issues of our time. In each episode Kumi is joined by activists, artists and community leaders who are dismantling our broken system - and building something better in its place. Hear their stories. Learn what has kept them fighting. Find out how we all can make a difference.Subcribe to Kumi Naidoo's Power People and Project for more updates and episodes! https://www.powerpeopleplanet.org/