Shows
EarthRightsS5 E2: 'Nature is our leveller' with Ian Solomon-Kawall (May Project Gardens)In our next episode of the Food for thought series we are with artist, teacher and co-founder of May Poject Gardens, Ian Solomon-Kawall.In this episode, 'Nature is our leveller', Ian explores both how nature can put us on a level playing field both in societally and individually.
2024-02-0155 min
EarthRightsS5 E1: Thinking of foodThinking of foodIn this first introductory episode of 'Food for thought,' EarthRights' hosts, Mel and Pippa, welcome listeners to revive their connection to the land and nourish change. The episode unfolds during the harvest season with vivid reflections on Mel's recent experiences at Coed Talylan in Wales and Pippa's stay on a farm in the Montenegran mountains, where they both immersed themselves in tending to the land and the seasons, chopping wood, constructing eco-homes, harvesting food from lush gardens, and feeling deeply absorbed by their surroundings. These profound connections spark a...
2023-11-0933 min
EarthRightsS5 Intro: Food for thoughtIn the realm of "Food for Thought," hosted by Mel and Pippa of EarthRights, the series explores environmental justice, human rights, and sustainability through food. Mel's transformative experience in the Brecon Beacons in the forst and Pippa's at a farm in Montenegro reignite their connection with Earth, inspiring them to delve into the complexities of the current food system. Focusing on everyday practices rather than global politics, the series delves into themes like food sovereignty, urban farming, and land rights, featuring discussions with experts like Nick Hayes. Addressing challenges such as land privatisation and seed concentration, the p...
2023-10-1103 min
EarthRightsS4 E22: [Un-edited] Coming back down to EarthRights - the healing power of nature"Coming back down to EarthRights: The Healing Power of Nature"In the final episode of our Cycle for Life series, join me (Mel) for a walk in the woods where I bring our journey full circle, exploring the profound impact of nature on mental health and well-being. As avid cyclists, we embarked on a remarkable 10,000km journey, not just as a personal challenge, but as a testament to the healing power of nature and the urgent need to reconnect with our natural world.We begin by addressing the core ethos of our podcast...
2023-10-0357 min
2023-08-231h 04
2023-08-2252 min
2023-08-2157 min
2023-07-211h 07
2023-07-201h 02
2023-07-191h 07
2023-06-181h 01
2023-06-171h 05
EarthRightsS4 E13: [Un-edited] Cycling with Sasha - escaping conscription in Russia (Selcuk - Datca)
2023-06-171h 00
2023-06-0552 min
2023-05-211h 11
2023-05-211h 11
2023-04-271h 11
2023-04-081h 01
2023-03-311h 09
2023-03-2852 min
2023-03-171h 01
EarthRightsS4 E4: [Un-edited] BuraIn this episode of the Cycle for Life series, Mel and Arthur reflect on the inability to avoid winter in Europe. They cycled through huge storms, including the 'Bura', which is a North-Westerly wind coming off the Velabit mountain range of Coatia, and nearly took them off their bikes. They experienced gusts of 125km/h and encountered snow on the islands of Croatia - unheard of! This epsiode explores the more lonely and stark side of cycling through the winter months.
2023-03-151h 00
EarthRightsS4 E3: [Un-edited] 5 Days 5 Borders5 days 5 borders - a conversation about the first 5 days of Mel and Arthur's cycle for life, through France, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Slovenia and into Croaita. A sunny and mountainous start, foggy and flat middle, and a final 50k along a blissful stretch of the Slovenian-Mediterranean coast on Euro Velo 8. An Epic first chapter of their journey.
2023-03-061h 03
EarthRightsS4 E2: [Un-edited] Mekey's Farm a.k.a. BouncelandEpisode 2 reflects on Mel and Arthur's time in Sardinia with Highlining Bounceland crew. Beautiful memories were created.The community in the hills of Mekey's Farm next to Samugheo was established a few years ago by some highliners. It was thanks to 76 year old farmer, Mekey, that highliners and climbers are able to use his gorgeous land to train, build community and learn new skills. The community has grown over the past 3 years and now there are delicious veggies being grown, hundreds of chickens, cows with charming, chiming ringing bells and trees to be tended to and chopped...
2023-03-0154 min
EarthRightsS4 E1: [Un-edited] It's Just The BeginningIt's just the beginning is the first episode of a new EarthRights series: Cycle for Life. In this episode Mel and Arthur share their stories of the first two weeks of their trip so far. Join for lots of laughter over the silly, ridiculous, oftentimes surprising situations they found themselves in.Cycle for Life is a new, more adventurous podcast series following Mel from EarthRights and her partner, Arthur, on their 5000km cycle for life in memory of a close friend lost to suicide and in celebration of life itself.Please help support...
2023-02-0255 min
EarthRightsS4 Intro: Cycle for LifeJoin for an introduction to a new, more adventurous podcast series following Mel from EarthRights and her partner, Arthur, on their 5000km cycle for life (from Italy - Cairo) in memory of a close friend lost to suicide and in celebration of life itself.Please consider supporting the two suicide prevention and bereavement support charities they are raising for on this cycle:www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/50…cle-for-darragh
2023-02-0103 min
EarthRightsS3 E9: The Threat of Eviction - Protecting the rights of those living on the road with Juliet MurrayIn this episode of the EarthRights podcast, Mel is joined by fellow vehicle dweller, Juliet Murray, to discuss life on the road, fighting against eviction and protecting the rights of vehicle dwellers within the wider Gypsy, Roma, Travller community.***Juliet and Mel recorded this a few weeks ago, the Community with Mel representing has since gone to court, but it was adjourned for want of trial papers from the Council... They will be heading to court again on Thursday 7th July***For some context, Mel has been converting and living in...
2022-06-3054 min
EarthRightsS3 E8: Scarring the Earth - Other Sides of the War in Ukraine with Kate Liashchenko & Anastasia LaznyaIn this episode of the EarthRights podcast, Pippa is joined by Kate Liashchenko and Anastasia Laznya for a follow up conversation about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Expanding on the conversation EarthRights had with Kate in Feburary just days before the Russian invasion, Anastasiya, a Ukranian ecologist/marine biologist, discusses further issues that relate directly to the issues of human rights and the environment, such as the impact of the war on global energy production, food scarcity and environmental degradation.Gas prices and food security The war in Ukraine m...
2022-04-2133 min
EarthRightsS3 E7: Igniting Conflict: Ukraine v Russia with Kate LiashchenkoA timely and critical conversation with EarthRights' Ukrainian friend, Kate Liashchenko, as today Putin has officially invaded Ukraine, unprovoked. It is sending shivers down the spine. To get a clearer picture on the ongoing conflict and tense relationship between Ukraine and Russia, listen to Kate, Pippa and Mel's discussion on this tense and emotional situation on the EarthRights podcast. In the episode, they confront the recent history between the two nations, since the fall of the Soviet Union, highlighting how the invasion of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing troubles in the co...
2022-02-2453 min
EarthRightsS3 E6: Perspectives in Taiwan with Ray ChangThe EarthRights podcast is back with new music and an insightful conversation with Ray Chang about living in Taiwan under the threat of Chinese invasion. Ray is a recent Taiwanese graduate in political science, who we met in Prague awed by his break-dancing moves. Today's episode begins with a historical account of the relationship between Taiwan, China and the South China Sea. Tensions revolve around disputes over land and territory. The first known settlers in Taiwan were Austronesian tribal people, who are thought to have come from modern day southern China. Since AD239, when...
2022-02-1745 min
EarthRightsS3 E5: You're not crazy, the world is: Our end of year chat.Pippa and Mel reflect on their year of podcasting with EarthRights, their current concerns in terms of politics and the media, their jobs, COP26 and their personal favourite moments.
2021-12-3031 min
EarthRightsS3 E4: Fleeing, not only from persecution with Alphonsine KabagaboEarthRights is in conversation with Alphonsine Kabagabo, Director of Women for Refugee Women, about the difficulties in seeking asylum and being a refugee. We are focusing on women and other systemically disadvantaged groups, such as children and LGBTQ+ groups. This is so important as we must give a voice to the most vulnerable.We discuss why people flee their homes. Women may flee, not only from persecution but from gender based violence in private and public domains. Women are also being forced to flee increasingly from environmental devastation destroying homes, food and...
2021-12-2239 min
EarthRightsS3 E3: Life in Limbo. Trafficked: Siva's survival story from Sri Lanka to EnglandThis is a very special episode. EarthRights is with Siva, a human trafficking survivor.Starting with Siva's poem about growth and perspective, we spend the episode going through Siva's 4 year journey from Sri Lanka to the UK, as well as the difficulties that he has faced since arriving and living in the UK. After all he has been through, he was only granted leave to remain in the UK last year!When Siva left Sri Lanka, at the height of the ethnic conflict in the 1980s, he did not know anything but war. He did...
2021-11-2453 min
EarthRightsS3 E2: The Colombian Civil War and Peace Process with Paola and MaryIn this next BONUS episode of the EarthRights Podcast about post-war peace processes, Mel is in conversation with Paola (Colombian national living in the UK) and Mary (PhD student researching the impact of the armed conflict and drug policy in Colombia).In view of the very recent uprisings and protests going on in Colombia and Europe, Paola and Mary tell us about the history of this conflict, the establishment of FARK, the left wing illegal army and the post war peace process currently in a state of flux. Many social leaders have been killed during t...
2021-07-2146 min
EarthRightsS3 E1: The Ethnic Conflict and Peace Process in Sri Lanka with Ovida Dias GunasekaraIn today's BONUS episode, of the EarthRights Podcast Mel and Pippa talk to Ovida about Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict and the problems with peace processes. In this episode, we start by defining what peace processes are and exploring the difficulties that can occur when other nations intervene with internal conflicts. Ovi gives a detailed explanation of the deeply routed history of the conflict between the Sinhalese and Tamil communities and how this conflict dates back to the colonial era in Sri Lanka. He believes it is fundamental to uncover the past in order to...
2021-07-1446 min
EarthRightsS2 E10: Deviant Leisure or Political Freedom? The History of Berlin's Clubbing Scene with Philipp ReimannIn this timely episode of the EarthRights Podcast, as people experience a new-found freedom in heading out of the year of 'lockdowns', Mel is in conversation with their dancing companion, Philipp Reimann, about the history of Berlin's liberal clubbing culture. Mel and Philipp talk about the difficult to define right to leisure. Leisure, play time and free time differ from society to society, individual to individual. But dancing and music are certainly one way people choose to spend their free time.As a human right, leisure and rest are recognised in the International...
2021-06-0952 min
EarthRightsS2 E9: Mexico's Border Crisis with Frank HernandezMel and Pippa are in conversation with Mexican journalist, Frank Hernandez, for Episode Nine of the EarthRights Podcast. They discuss the Mexican border crisis and whether the new Biden administration is a cause for hope or concern.Frank was born and raised in Ciudad Juarez, a Mexican town on the border of the U.S.. He is now residing in the U.S., working for the Mid-West Centre for Investigative Reporting, a non profit newsroom in Illinois covering agriculture and rural life in the U.S. The Mexico border c...
2021-06-0245 min
EarthRightsS2 E8: Are we chilling in Orwell's 1984? - Media, Migration & Identity with Melis OmalarFor Episode Eight of the EarthRights Podcast, Pippa and Mel are in conversation with Melis Omalar, journalist at Guiti News(an independent news outlet that focuses on migration) and communications assistant at the International Rescue Committee.Identity is so complex - there are so many different aspects to each person's live. Melis shares with us her experience living in Berlin, Germany as a Turkish-German. She has often felt 'othered' - German people often pre-judge Turk-Germans and. A lot of tension in recent years has revolved...
2021-05-2655 min
EarthRightsS2 E7: Creating Climate Justice with Roxane ChaplainDuring Episode Seven of the EarthRights Podcast, EarthRights is in conversation with Roxane Chaplain, Personal Assistant to Marie Taussaint at the European Parliament. Together they work on environmental and legal matters at the EU level.Roxane, Pippa and Mel discuss the concept of climate justice, which means to frame the climate emergency as a political and legal issue rather than one purely physical in nature.Roxane has also worked for Notre affaire à tousover the past few years and assisted the NGO, along with three other organisations, in...
2021-05-1945 min
EarthRightsS2 E6: Love and Rage - XR in Portugal with Cheila Collaço Rodrigues and Inès Deroche RiosWelcome to Episode Six of the EarthRights Podcast; Mel and Pippa are in conversation with Cheila Collaço Rodrigues and Inès Deroche Rios, current and former Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists in Portugal. We start with the impact of the Portugese dictatorship, which Cheila explains moulded modern Portugese culture. People are very conservative and fearful, having experienced dictatorial violence so activism has often been hidden quiet; but this makes the XR movement there very special as it makes Portugese resistance louder and more public.Inès and Cheila also open up about how the...
2021-05-1257 min
EarthRightsS2 E5: Secrets of Russia with Russia's Anonymous HeroesFor Episode Five of the EarthRights Podcast, Mel and Pippa are in conversation with two Russian friends, who have asked to remain anonymous given the current unstable political situation in Russia. Ideology, corruption, propaganda, Alexei Navalny and methods to silence criticism - this episode aims to unveil some of Russia's secrets... Whilst the interviewees oppose the Russian government, much to the surprise of Westerners, they are in the minority - a lot of people will not agree with them. Mel, Pippa and anon discuss Russia's 20th century history, starting with the O...
2021-05-0535 min
EarthRightsS2 E4: Fighting Corruption and Fostering Inclusion in the Czech Republic with Marketa FišarováFor Episode Four of the EarthRights Podcast, we are in conversation with Marketa Fišarová, former Social Inclusion Officer in the Czech government.When Mel first moved to Prague for her Masters, Marketa offered Mel a place to live and consequently showed her around the city and taught her about the Czech way of life. This laid the foundations for an international friendship, one that is quite uncommon among the majority of the nationalist Czech population. Marketa tells us about the deeply rooted corruption within the Czech government and its ties wi...
2021-04-2848 min
EarthRightsS2 E3: Frozen Conflict: Ukraine's Coal Crisis with Kataryna Liashchenko For Episode Three of the EarthRights Podcast, we are in conversation with Kataryna Liashchenko, Ukrainian Sociologist, about the Frozen Conflict: Ukraine's Coal Crisis.This is an extremely informative episode on how Ukraine's failure to move away from coal production has led to an environmental crisis, but also a society and economy rooted in corruption. Corruption has subsumed Ukraine since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, leading to a frozen conflict with Ukrainian separatist groups in the coal-rich region of Donbas.At the beginning we discuss Kate's experiences of the 2014 Orange Revolution, a...
2021-04-2153 min
EarthRightsS2 E2: Creating a Circular Economy in Ukraine with Vlada Melnychuk and Olja BruskoIn this episode of the EarthRights Podcast Series Two, Pippa and Mel are in discussion with Vlada Melnychuk and Olja Brusko, two climate activists from Ukraine, who formed Zero Waste Society Ukraine. The discussion starts with #FridaysForFuture Movement, which began in August 2018, after Greta Thunberg and other young activists sat in front of the Swedish parliament every day for three weeks and their strike went viral. Since then, Vlada and Olja have been organising strikes of this kind in Ukraine, particularly Kyiv, with over 2000 participants.V...
2021-04-1423 min
EarthRightsS2 E1: Roma Rights (UK and Czechia) with Fil SysWe are kick starting Series Two of the EarthRights podcast in conversation with Fil Sys, trainee lawyer and Roma rights campaigner. "There is a creeping injustice across Europe that is just not talked about. Roma people are the largest minority in Europe yet these people are subject to some of the most medieval racism, segregation and prejudice in Europe."As a Roma man himself, Fil openly and honestly shares his first-hand experiences of racism and discrimination with EarthRights. This is an extremely powerful episode and we urge you to listen, learn a...
2021-04-0753 min
EarthRightsS2 Intro: International ConversationsEarthRights is back for Series Two to unravel the connection between human rights and climate change like never before.Join Pippa and Mel for conversations with activists and professionals from around Europe and beyond telling their stories of struggle against human rights abuses and the climate crisis.Visit our website for more information and talking points. Follow EarthRights on Instagram and Twitter.
2021-03-2902 min
EarthRightsS1 E8: The Need for an Ethical Recovery from Covid-19 with Dr VenkatapuramIn this final episode of the first series of the EarthRights podcast, Pippa and Mel are discussing what the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed; the fragilities and inequalities in our system, and why ethical standards need to be restored on our road to recovery.Ethical standards guide laws, human rights and the ways we live our lives. So Pippa and Mel thought it appropriate to highlight the injustices exacerbated by the pandemic and which therefore need ethical values restored at their centre. Be it state benefits, mental health, domestic abuse, racial injustice and access to food, there have...
2021-02-2454 min
EarthRightsS1 E7: A Green Recovery from Covid-19 with James Melling & Carolyne CulverIn episode 7, EarthRights looks at the possibility for a green and environmentally focussed recovery from Covid-19. The lockdowns which were introduced at the start of the pandemic provided the earth with a break, a tiny chance to recover and pause.It also provided the opportunity for many of us to slow down our previously fast-paced lives and take in the beauty of our natural world. Pippa and Mel discuss the main lessons they learned from living in this new way and the changes they have seen at the national and global level.During their conversation...
2021-02-1744 min
EarthRightsS1 E6: OIL or LIFE with Miles RudgleyIn episode 6 of the EarthRights Podcast, we talk with Miles Rudgley about his research into Ecuador, oil extractivism and the rights of nature. Miles is currently working as a research associate at Fidelio Partners, which focuses on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in the UK and abroad. At the end of his year abroad working in Peru, Miles took a boat down the River Napo, which is in the East Ecuadorian part of the Amazon in the midst of indigenous lands, and saw a billboard saying ‘OIL OR LIFE’.This contradictory slogan, Oil or Life, formed the basis of M...
2021-02-1044 min
EarthRightsS1 E5: Corporate Sustainability with Curtis MacGeeverIn Episode 5 of the EarthRights Podcast we discuss the ins and outs of corporate sustainability with Curtis MacGeever, Senior Sustainability Consultant at Anthesis. Curtis’ role is extremely important because he helps to map action plans for businesses and local authorities in order for them to meet targets under the Paris Agreement.Sustainability is a broad term; for Curtis “it is about society being able to thrive in a fair way that does not exploit our planet, ecosystems or people”.The discussion moves on to why a more sustainable approach is needed in the UK (and across the world). Because our cu...
2021-02-0337 min
EarthRightsS1 E4: The Language Of Climate ChangeIn episode four of the EarthRights podcast, Mel is interviewing Pippa about her dissertation, where she investigated the metaphors used when politicians are talking about the climate crisis. Pippa chose to focus on Obama’s speech from the 2015 Paris Climate Conference. To begin with, Pippa explains why she made this decision and why this is a landmark speech when it comes to the climate movement. It is easy to think of metaphors as a purely rhetorical device used in poetry or creative writing, but in fact, metaphors are pervasive throughout the English Language. Many of our daily expressions are me...
2021-01-2736 min
EarthRightsS1 E3: Human Rights Issues In CubaWelcome to Episode 3 of EarthRights podcast. Today, Pippa is interviewing Mel on her research into the human rights situation in Cuba but dealing with it from a non-traditional perspective. The traditional perspective being that Cuba has an appalling record of upholding many basic civil and political rights. As you’ll hear early on in the episode, Mel thought there was more to it than that. Starting with the inspiration for the topic, Mel and Pippa talk about a conference they went to together in Prague 2017 during the week of ‘Festival Democracy’ called NOT A USEFUL ARTIST. At the conference many e...
2021-01-2045 min
EarthRightsS1 E2: Fast fashion, human rights and the environmentFor episode two, EarthRights dives into the fashion industry, one of the greatest culprits of environmental degradation and unrelenting violators of human rights. Because the fashion industry plays off consumer trends, we want to show you why individuals have the power to change it. As Lily Cole states: “Realise the political power of your money and spend it with the brands you know are treating their workers and the environment in the best possible way”.The cycle of fashion picked up speed during the industrial revolution in Europe with new textile machines enabling clothes to be mass produced. In the...
2021-01-1347 min
EarthRightsS1 E1: The Connection Between Human Rights And The EnvironmentFor this first episode, we expand and explain why the EarthRights podcast focuses on human rights and environmental issues. The two topics, as you’ll hear, are inextricably linked; we cannot and must not deny the undeniable connection between human behaviour and its harmful impact on the climate, wildlife and human life. We begin with the concept of human rights and how rights came to be internationally recognised, as well as what climate change, global warming and biodiversity loss entail.We then delve into what is an inexhaustible list of rights and how environmental destruction around the world, which is...
2021-01-0634 min
EarthRightsS1 Intro: EarthRightsIn this Introduction to EarthRights, Pippa Neill and Melanie Desert explain their motivations for starting their podcast, where they met, and a look-in to what they will be discussing Series One. Their main aim for the podcast is to highlight the connection between between human behaviour, systemic injustice and the ecological crisis.
2020-12-0202 min