The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast

Stuart and William are taking a well deserved step back for the month of December, to rest and recuperate over the Christmas and New Year period. So, instead of the usual discussion, they’ve each picked four episodes that they feel you and they would like to or should listen to, either again, or maybe for the very first time. In this, the fourth of eight episodes, in the mini series they’ve called December Reflections, Stuart has chosen the episode that was originally released on the 30th August 2022 where they discussed the following question from listener Lyn in Australia, "Is disability a barrier to having your voice heard in the climate emergency debate?". Stuart chose this particular episode as when listening back to it, he was quite struck by the points both he and William raised, and to him he this is one of the best questions that has ever been set by a listener of the podcast. This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends https://bit.ly/3Avt0b4 , support our work through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

Stuart and William are taking a small step back for the month of December to rest and recuperate over the Christmas period. So instead of the usual discussion, they’ve each picked four episodes that they feel you and they would like to or should listen to, either again, or maybe for the very first time. In this, the third episode of eight, in the mini series they’ve called December Reflections, William’s picked the episode that we released on the 14th January 2020, and he chose it as he feels it's a very significant one. Its significance is that this was the very first episode where Stuart and William discuss a question sent in directly from a listener, which has subsequently become a staple and direction of this podcast during the Covid crisis and beyond. Listener questions are still the focus of this podcast, even now, and we thank each and every listener who stepped forward especially during Covid, as you kept this podcast going. We have over 60 listener questions still to get through, which will take us to September 2023, so that really helps secure the future of this podcast. This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends https://bit.ly/3Avt0b4 , support our work through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

Stuart and William are taking a small step back for the month of December, to rest and recuperate over the Christmas season. So instead of the usual discussion, they’ve each picked four past episodes that they feel you and they would like to or should listen to, either again, or maybe for the very first time. In this second episode of eight, in the mini series they’ve called December Reflections, Stuart’s picked an episode from the 9th August 2020, which was recorded between the first and second COVD lockdowns in the UK. Stuart chose this one because even though he was a little bit fractious at the time, he felt he was perhaps more willing to explore the harder, and maybe harsher truths of life. They particularly explore in this episode the inclusion and maybe under recognized habit of using warlike rhetoric within activism. Is this the best way, or even the only option of getting the message across? This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends https://bit.ly/3Avt0b4 , support our work through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

Hosts Stuart and William, mark World Soil Day, in this bonus episode of The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast. World Soil Day 2022 (#WorldSoilDay) and its campaign "Soils: Where Food Begins" aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being, by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, increasing soil awareness and encouraging societies to improve soil health. You can read more about this important day here: World Soil Day | United Nations --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

Stuart and William are taking a small step back for the month of December, to rest and recuperate over the Christmas season. So instead of the usual discussion they have each picked four past episodes that they feel you and they would like to or should listen to, either again, or maybe for the very first time. In this first of what they’ve called the December Reflections series, William has selected the very first episode of this podcast. Originally released via Soundcloud only on the 25th July 2018, it was then subsequently re-released on all the major podcast platforms on the 21st July 2019. In this episode they welcomed guest Pete Hughes, who at the time was working for The Oxford Mail. Three questions were discussed that day which were. How much effect do humans have on other animal's survival? Are we causing more extinction than before? Is human existence always at a cost to nature and is talking about how bad the state of nature is really making a difference? Is eating animals bad for the environment? This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends https://bit.ly/3Avt0b4 , support our work through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

Hosts Stuart and William, mark National Pollution Control Day, in this bonus episode of The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast. National Pollution Control Day is celebrated every year on the 2nd of December in India, in order to honor and memorialize thousands of human beings who had lost their lives because of the Bhopal gas disaster. It focuses on preventing pollution and raising awareness about the ways we keep exploiting mother nature. You can find out more about this day here: All You Need To Know About National Pollution Control Day (drishtiias.com) During this bonus episode William mentions the episode where Julie Macken was their guest, here is a link to that episode: The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast with guest Julie Macken Deputy Queen Bee of Neve's Bees. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

“Simple question lads, just interested to know, who edits this podcast and how do you do it?”. In this short episode, Stuart and William talk through the process of creating this podcast. From the recording, through to the editing, the writing of each episode title and bio, through to release. They talk about how the process is simple, and how they try to keep a good cache of material to keep ahead of the curve with releases. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com, or record us a message in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends https://bit.ly/3Avt0b4 , support our work through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

“What’s the best photo that either of you have taken?” Stuart and William discuss what are the best photos they have ever taken. This discussion was sparked by the above question which was sent in by Iris in Wetley Rocks, Staffordshire, England. They talk about the various photos they’ve taken over the years that they particularly like. As a photographer William in particular has a few photos which he feels are his best. They go on to talk about photography in general, introducing a particular image that William thinks as one of the best, of all time. The photo he mentions is by the photographer Pennie Smith, and in particular a photo taken of the rock band The Clash, which became the cover artwork for the band’s album London Calling. Here is a link to that artwork: Wikipedia.org/LondonCalling You can also see the bass guitar featured in the shot, and the photo, on display in the World City Gallery at the Museum of London. You can find out more about this with the following link: museumoflondon.org.uk/paulsiminonssmashedbass What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com, or record us a message in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends https://bit.ly/3Avt0b4 , support our work through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

“Is it already too late to save ourselves? People keep saying this is the last chance to deal with the climate and ecological emergency we face, but isn’t that where they go wrong, as they keep saying it? Last year they said it was the last chance, and this year they say the same. Is moving the deadline of the last chance undermining the message? Humans tend to crap in their own backyard in pursuit of money, regardless of what's down the line. In the end we tend to wake up and realise, but too often that doesn't happen until it's too late. Is it worth still trying to save ourselves, or just give up, without even trying to adapt?” Stuart and William once again embark on a discussion framed around a question sent in by a listener. Today’s question, which you can see above, was sent in by Paco from Wimbledon, Greater London, England. In each episode they aim to stop the big issues disappearing into the shadows, and open the door to the tough conversations. They discuss the ideas around what a last chance really means when it comes to the climate crisis, and how we need to reach a critical mass to make real change happen. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com, or record us a message in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends https://bit.ly/3Avt0b4 , support our work through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

“It’s all very well consumers purchasing products and services that are more sustainable, but isn’t that just pratting about at the edges of the challenge? What we need to focus on is the big economic and political stuff. Yes we can fly less and eat less meat, as those industries have big impacts until they change and evolve, but limiting the use of plastic cups, changing our cotton buds, etc etc, is ineffective pratting about at the edges of the issues we face. I agree though, as consumers we can make a difference, but we’re too often distracted by miniscule pathetic micro consumerist improvements we can make as individuals, by those who want to perpetuate a system, and set of processes, that are innately toxic to humankind. We need to overhaul and overthrow the systems and the capitalist drivers behind all this. When was GDP ever a good sensible measure of the population's wellbeing? Yet that's the main focus of most governments, boosting GDP. That system’s already destructive yet we want to grow it, double it and then, wait for it, quadruple it again. The poor don’t get richer as the rich get richer, (which is what Mrs Truss, your Prime Minister in the UK still seems to be hoping) rather the poor die out and the rich get poorer, as they don’t have anyone to make their wealth out of. Perpetual growth will kill most of us off, it's madness, do you two agree with that? Ecological restoration and rewilding will draw down huge amounts of the carbon, and make the world nicer, yet as there's less profit in it, so we don’t do it. The ultimate floor in profit and perpetual growth systems is they die as their fuel burns out. Like our sun will. Any thoughts?” The above is a fantastically thought out question from listener Adriana in Utrecht, in the Netherlands, which Stuart and William discuss in wide ranging conversation, talking about consumerism, the influence of the media, and whether GDP is really the true measure of success and a population's wellbeing? Are we really just pratting around the edges when it comes to buying greener products, are we really making a difference? We need to get into the habit of taking on personal responsibility: for example, we don’t need to just fly less, we need to do everything less, we need to do everything sustainably. There’s also the clothing industry and its impact to the environment, as that’s even bigger than say the flight industry and shipping industry combined. Though its impacts are hidden away, whereas you can see the planes in the sky. It’s time we all took responsibility for how we act and what we buy, but also a responsibility to put pressure on the decision makers to make the changes needed. During this episode William mentions the youTube channel Kurzgesagt, and in particular one of their videos, here is a link to that episode title The Last Human – A Glimpse Into The Far Future. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com, or record us a message in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

“Has Brexit proven to be a good or a bad thing? I’ve heard there could be mass civil disobedience in the UK, with increasing home energy costs in Autumn 2022. Resulting in many people refusing to pay their bills. Is this a good idea?” During every episode of this podcast your hosts explore and delve into the challenges we all face, and this iteration is no acception. Stuart and William have a very honest discussion which was sparked by the above question sent in by listener Elaine in Telford, Shropshire, England. They talk around Brexit in particular, and how it’s hard to see where its effects start and end due to many other factors, including the war in Ukraine, and the COVID pandemic for example. To be clear and upfront, Stuart didn’t vote at all in 2016 EU referendum, though a lot of people thought that if he had his vote would have gone to leaving. William on the other hand did vote to remain as he looked at Europe through an historical lens, and that there has been no significant conflicts between the nations of the continent since the foundations of the current EU were put into place, post world war 2. This episode isn’t just about Brexit though as they move onto the subject of civil disobedience around the world, how people want to set up their own systems to live off grid, and the cost of living. This podcast's overarching themes are always nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com, or record us a message in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view , support our work through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

Hosts Stuart and William, mark World Kindness Day, in this bonus episode of The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast. World Kindness Day is to highlight good deeds in the community, focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness for good, which binds us. Kindness is a fundamental part of the human condition, which bridges the divides of race, religion, politics, gender and location. Here are a couple of links about the day: Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Kindness_Day World Kindness Day: https://kindnessuk.com/world_kindness_day_kindness_day_uk.php --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

“What’s important?” Watch out, there is a slightly ridiculous and loud start to this episode! You’ve been warned! Inspired by the question above, sent in by listener Fanaka from Kenya. During this short discussion your hosts Stuart and William tackle what is a quite deep and profound subject. Starting from the very top, which William asserts he believes is happiness is important, with Stuart asking, if happiness really is achievable, and what happiness even is in the first place? Throughout this episode they bring up many ideas that they believe to be important, do you agree with them? For example honesty, good relationships, having a good general balance, and a good work life balance. They end up asking the question, what’s important to you? What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com, or record us a message in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view , support our work through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

“Seems a bit strange that some countries want to leave the Commonwealth, but still have the Queen as head of state, and that some countries like Mozambique want to join this group of nations, without really being part of the old British empire”. This discussion as a whole is mainly framed around whether or not the Commonwealth is still relevant, and what both the pros and cons of membership are. Stuart and William took the accuracy of the above question, sent in by Trevor in Wood Farm, Oxford, England, very much at face value, and their resulting recorded discussion shows that they don’t have a strong knowledge of the true Commonwealth concept, and nor do many listeners it seems. During subsequent research after the recording, which was the action suggested during the episode, they found that Mozambique is actually already a member of the Commonwealth, as is South Africa, which neither Stuart or William were sure about. The fact that Mozambique was a British Colony but not constitutionally governed by Britain was another subsequent piece of learning, and you’ll note William didn’t feel during the recording that Mozambique was even a former colony. Stuart and William always try to be proactive podcast presenters, and continue to look at these questions even after the recording sessions end, so they continue their learning. We hope these discussions inspire you too to keep learning about the issues raised in this podcast's output, even when the episodes conclude. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com, or record us a message in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view , support our work through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

“Was the pollution caused, and costs incurred by staging a four day Platinum Jubilee celebration, justified, due to it being a special occasion?” Stuart and William take a deep dive into the above question, sent in by listener Trevor in Wood Farm, Oxford, England. During this discussion they set out some strong challenges for you the listener to consider. Was this public celebration event really that good for morale generally? Was it a wise move to celebrate the platinum jubilee when people are struggling? Are some events more important than others? Was it justified to have a four day platinum jubilee? There was a large display of jets in a flyover, and it was a huge event, but did it really bring people close together? What is the long term effect, the legacy of this event? It’s easy to go out there, wave flags, sing songs, but is that the only way we can mark these occasions? What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com, or record us a message in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view , support our work through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message