How cinema can change the world
This article first appeared in Green World Film is the great popular art form of our time. It may not always be – perhaps it might be displaced by interactive games of some sort, at some point – but right…
Writings
Extinction Rebellion beyond London
This article was first published in The Ecologist. The Extinction Rebellion (XR) has rapidly made a name for itself – by way of unleashing an unprecedented scale of non-violent direct-action (NVDA) in London. The first phase of protests came to…
I’m an academic embracing direct action to stop climate change
This article was first published on The Conversation. Not heard of the “Extinction Rebellion” before? Then you heard it here first. Because soon, everyone is going to have heard of it. The Extinction Rebellion is a non-violent direct action movement…
A dream of now
This article was first published on Medium. I’ve just published a book, called A film-philosophy of ecology and enlightenment. (You can read the early part of it for free here … Don’t attempt to buy it unless you are independently…
Is civil disobedience the only way to make governments listen on climate change?
This article was first published in The Independent October 31st – All Hallows’ Eve – is the day of the launch of “Extinction Rebellion”. Hundreds of us will be descending upon Parliament Square, to declare that we’re no longer willing…
After the IPCC report, #climatereality
This article was first published on Medium. Climate-nemesis is near-certain. But “near-certain” is not yet “inevitable”. On the contrary, it is still uncertain. By making it sound inevitable, we run the risk of fomenting inaction at the worst possible time.…
Sorry, BBC: I will no longer debate climate-change deniers
This article was first published on Left Foot Forward. As the saying goes: it isn’t easy being green. For starters: Because we don’t get nearly enough air-time (lacking enough rich backers with the ear of the government, perhaps. But this…
I won’t go on the BBC if it supplies climate change deniers as ‘balance’
This article was first published on The Guardian. Like most Greens, I typically jump at opportunities to go on air. Pretty much any opportunity: BBC national radio, BBC TV, Channel 4, Sky – I’ve done them all over the years,…
Climate breakdown, civilisation breakdown?
This article was first published on Green World. Green World, like the Green Party itself, has been ahead of the curve on so many issues. Possibly the most important issue of them all is the climate crisis. But we have…
What is grief? A personal and philosophical answer
This article was first published on Medium. A few years ago, I lost a very close friend. His name was Matt. I found this loss an appalling and bewildering experience, in part because I’d never lost anyone as close. I’d…
How to save the Precautionary Principle: Some thoughts for Lords and Ladies
By Victor Anderson and Rupert Read. This article was first published on Medium. The Precautionary Principle (PP) aims to ensure a high level of environmental protection through preventative decision-taking in the case of risk and particularly of uncertainty. It is…
The Precautionary Principle: the basis of a post-GMO ethic
This article was first published in The Ecologist. A swathe of Ecologist articles have recently considered various different aspects of the case against GM crops. The purpose of the current article is slightly different. It is to take a step…