Amitav Ghosh: The Great Derangement - Rebel Book Club (1)

Extinction Rebellion Podcast

This is the first of a brand new series by the Extinction Rebellion Podcast, with Writers Rebel, looking at iconic green books that shape our understanding of the new world we find ourselves in: after climate change, the sixth mass extinction, and the Ecological Crisis.
We are thrilled to begin with "The Great Derangement", which questions the cultural silence around the Climate & Ecological Emergency but also looks at issues of colonialism, and its modern day influence, on the Climate Crisis and beyond. It is a seminal work, though it is better known in the USA; published in 2015 before Extinction Rebellion and the Youth Strikes.
Author Amitav Ghosh was born in India but lives in New York, where he is a professor at City University of New York (CUNY). He has written nine novels, the most famous of which is "The Glass Palace".
Featuring an interview with Amitav Ghosh and a discussion with Mothiur Rahman (XR Muslims, Guardianship and Visioning Circles); Ami Amlani (XR Walthamstow); Miles Glyn and Paul John Nelson (XR Arts). Our rebels met in the back room of the Ridley Street social club to discuss the novel over some beers.
Next month’s book will be: David Wallace-Wells' "The Uninhabitable Earth".
Extinction Rebellion has three demands.
1) Tell the Truth - Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
2) Act Now - Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
3) Beyond Politics - Government must create and be led by the decision of a Citizens' Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
Producer, Presenter - Jessica Townsend
Presenter - Marijn Van De Geer
Sound Editor, Engineer, & Mixer - Seán Hickey
Social Media Producer - Barney Weston
With thanks to Bill, Chloe, Phil, & Michaela.