Speakers Forum
SPEAKERS FORUM, GREEN FUTURES FIELD 2024
WEDNESDAY
1pm Updates From Myanmar – Chris Gunness, Friends and Families of Travellers Billy Welch, Sindy Joyce.
2pm Comics Without Borders – Kate Evans
3pm Organising for free movement: 10 years of Alarm Phone – Philippa Metcalfe
4pm Grenfell, The Fight for Truth and Justice – Karim Mussilhy
5pm West Afrika, Climate and the Global North – Gail Bradbrook
6pm Gaza; Flowers don’t grow where bombs drop – Aisha Kherallah
7pm Reel News Palestine: An unprecedented movement
THURSDAY
10am Climate Justice means Migrant Justice – Tyrone Scott
11am Climate Emergency Centres – Phoenix
12 How would the suffragettes stop banks lending to oil companies? – Sophie Cowen & Clare Farrell
1pm Aviation Flying in the Face of Climate Science – Alice Larkin
2pm Renewable Energy – Everything You Need to Know in 55 minutes. – Fergal McEntee
3pm Phones: Filming for Change – Zoe Broughton
4pm Just Transition -Workers movements shift away from fossil fuels – Reel News
5pm Psychedelic Medicine – Rayyan Zafar
6pm Unprepared – Andrew Simms / Rebecca Gibbs
7pm Reel News MeTU: Reclaiming our unions from sexism and misogyny
8pm Dartmouth Films Present: My Extinction + Q&A with Director Josh Appignanesi, Producer Chris Hird, Sophie Cowen, Clare Farrell hosted by Pavel Ivanov.
FRIDAY
10am Vulture Capitalism – Grace Blakely with Jack Symes
11am Mending our broken politics – Molly Scott Cato
12 The blind spot: the climate risks missed by government. – Laurie Laybourn
1pm Carbon markets, big business and net zero – Patrick Greenfield
2pm New North Sea Oil or not ?- Dale Vince, Molly Scott Cato, Tamasin Cave, Will McCallum Justin Rowlatt
3pm Dale Vince with Roger Harrabin
4pm JSO, XR, GNDR Where Now? Clare Farrell, Joe Howlett, Mel Kee
5pm Approaching Tipping Points – Prof Tim Lenton with Justin Rowlatt
6pm Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others – Jolyon Rubinstein
SATURDAY
10am Badvertising- how to stop adverts fuelling climate chaos – Andrew Simms
11am Andy Burnham with John Harris
12 The Gaza War: Media Reporting, Public understanding and the potential for activism. – Mike Berry
1pm Community Activism – Luke Hurst
2pm Revelations from the Spycops Inquiry – Tom Fowler, Baroness Jenny Jones
3pm Biophobia – Jarvis Cocker
4pm Is Net Zero by 2050 still possible? Kevin Anderson, Molly Scott Cato, Rebecca Gibbs
5pm Overcoming Climate Denial, delusion and group think – George Marshall
6pm Media and Science – Justin Rowlatt, Kevin Anderson, Richard Betts, with Roger Harrabin
SUNDAY
10am Right to Food – Sarah Wooley, Fliss Premru
11am Taking on the oil industry and winning – Tamasin Cave
12 Are climate experts part of the climate problem? – Kevin Anderson with Alice Larkin
1pm Reform, Protest or Resistance – Clare Farrell, Will McCallum, Shane Collins, Joe Howlett, Mel Kee, Bee Rowlatt
2pm Up Shit Creek – Zac Polanski
3pm Every Struggle Writes A Song – Seize the Day
Talk Descriptions
Wednesday 21st
1 pm Updates from Myanmar – Chris Gunness
Speaking truth to power in times of genocide and war. Chris has spent decades advocating for the rights of Palestinians in Gaza and oppressed people in Burma/Myanmar.
1.30 pm Solidarity with Romany and Travellers – Friends & Families of Travellers
Sindy Joyce is an Irish Traveller, a human rights defender and a sociologist at Limerick University; her research focuses on human rights, racism, hate crime, ethnicity/identity, and social/political constructions of Irish Travellers. Billy Welch is a Romany Gypsy and public speaker, who advocates for the rights of Romany people and gives talks about Gypsy history and culture.
2 pm Comics Without Borders – Kate Evans
Comics! Cartoonist Kate Evans explores graphic narratives by and about refugees and migration. Kate shows how comics give voice to the most vulnerable in our society and argues that national borders are fictional, and must be abolished.
3 pm Alarm Phones for Sea Migrants – Philippa Metcalfe
People are drowning. Phillipa Metcalfe, an activist with the ‘Alarm Phone’ emergency hotline for people crossing the borders of Europe, shares insights into state violence, non-assistance and pushbacks at sea and explores forms of solidarity with people on the move. Phillipa is a research fellow at Warwick University in the Politics and International Studies Department.
4 pm The Fight for Truth, Justice and Change Following the Grenfell Fire – Karim Mussilhy
Hear about where the campaign has got to seven years on, and what needs to happen for families to see any form of justice any time soon. Karim Mussilhy is a bereaved family member, having lost his uncle in the fire, and has been the Vice Chair of Grenfell United since September 2018.
5 pm An Active Decolonial Approach to Environmental Activism – Gail Bradbrook
What is happening in West Afrika and why does it matter to the climate movements in the Global North? Gail Bradbrook has spent the last three years in dialogue with pan Afrikanists and somatic abolitionists, folks of colours and outsided cultures to understand why our struggles are separated and what we can do about it. How do we support the unification of peoples struggles across the world? Current decolonial struggles hold specific hope for making the necessary changes. Come join the global family! Gail was one of the co-founders of Extinction Rebellion.
6 pm Gaza: Flowers Don’t Grow Where Bombs Drop – Aisha Kherallah
Amid the genocide in Gaza, Israel and its allies have discharged more annual emissions than 20 countries. This talk will look at first-of-its-kind data which shows the true carbon footprint of colonial powers where the human cost of this war is compounded by an environmental crisis.
Aisha Kherallah is a multimedia producer at ITV News. She recently produced a BBC World Investigation that reveals how the Israeli army is arbitrarily arresting, torturing and forcibly disappearing thousands of Gazan civilians at an Israeli black site.
7 pm Palestine: an Unprecedented Movement Explodes Onto the Streets – Reel News Films
The horror at the genocide in Gaza has given rise to a mass movement on the streets unprecedented in its size and its militancy. Reel News screens highlights from the past nine months, virtually none of it seen in mainstream media. PLUS videos of the incredible student movement in the USA which has echoes of the movement against the Vietnam war. Reel News is a London based activist video collective, using film to help bring about social change.
Thursday 22nd
10 am Climate & Colonialism: the Call for Reparations – Tyrone Scott
Come and explore the links between climate change and colonialism, and learn about the disproportionate effects climate change has on communities of colour, both globally and here in the UK. What should climate reparations look like? Tyrone Scott is the Senior Movement Building & Activism Officer at War on Want, and is chair of the Green Party’s Greens of Colour Group.
11 am Climate Emergency Centres – Phoenix
The author of ‘How to set up a Climate Emergency Centre in 10 steps’ talks about The Climate Emergency Centre Network. Phoenix has been a community activist for thirty years, running eco-community centres that have been at the heart of the environmental movement of movements.
12 noon What Would the Suffragettes Do? Stopping Banks from Lending to Oil Companies – Sophie Cowen & Clare Farrell
Over the last 18 months, over 20 women have smashed windows at global banks and faced potential prison sentences at Crown Court trial. Join Sophie and Clare, of the Barclays 7 and HSBC 9, as they share stories of the women using suffragette tactics to break through business as usual, and the surprising complexity of responses from the banks, the criminal justice system, and the Government.
1 pm Ships vs Planes: when Climate Science Points to Lifestyle Change – Alice Larkin
Ships and planes release a large proportion of their climate damaging emissions in international airspace and waters, meaning they have something in common. But that’s where the similarity ends. This talk highlights the options for the urgent cuts to emissions that are needed, the importance of shipping and aviation (or not) in people’s lives, and why air travel is so much more damaging to our climate than often presented. Did you know that many big ships may be using sails again soon – if not, I’ll tell you more!
2 pm Renewable Energy: Everything You Need to Know in 55 minutes – Fergal McEntee
This talk will empower you to embrace renewable energy. Part 1 – Debunking myths and explaining the grid system, low carbon technologies and the engineering challenges to be overcome. Part 2 – Practical applications of renewables in the home including solar thermal, solar photovoltaic , heat pumps, energy efficiency, home insulation and smart metering. Fergal McEntee is a climate activist and founder of Funky Renewables Ltd.
3 pm Phones: Filming for Change – Zoe Broughton
How to use your phone to film and livestreaming to support your campaign: evidence from the frontline!
Zoe Broughton celebrates 30 years of video activism. She has filmed hundreds of protests and campaigns, from the Undercurrents News Video Magazine of the 90’s, through to coordinating multi-camera, global livestreams networking climate activists across the world. She tutors documentary makers and livestreamers and is writing a book about her experiences.
4 pm World Wide Workers’ Movements: A Just Transition from Fossil Fuels – Reel News Films
Footage of incredible workers’ struggles from Colombia, Mexico, South Africa, Tanzania, Germany, Netherlands and the astounding GKN factory occupation in Italy, with discussion led by Reel News with Sarah Woolley (BFAWU Bakers union).
5 pm Psychedelic Medicine – Dr Rayyan Zafar
Before the drugs were banned in 1971, there were clinical trials into the potential for LSD, psilocybin and MDMA to treat mental health conditions, including addiction, PTSD, anxiety, eating disorders and more. Learn about the past, present and future of psychedelic medicine and how it is impacting science, policy and medicine in the 21st century.
Dr Rayyan Zafar is a UKRI postdoctoral fellow at Imperial College London and a senior researcher at Drug Science exploring how drugs such as psychedelics, ketamine, MDMA and cannabis work in the brain.
6 pm Unprepared – Andrew Simms and Rebecca Gibbs
Serious times are coming, and government efforts on adaptation to climate change are ramshackle and threadbare, leaving people lethally exposed. We can see from Covid, Grenfell and other serious events that communities themselves are the first responders, so how can we forge local connections and rally with mutual aid? Andrew and Rebecca will brainstorm you through a climate preparedness workshop to help you make a difference in an emergency.
7 pm MeTU: Reclaiming our Unions from Sexism and Misogyny – Reel News Films
The meTU movement has had astonishing victories in the past two years in rooting out sexual harassment, assaults and bullying in the trade union movement, and taking down the entire leadership of one union. Now there are strikes in three unions to change the toxic culture at the top. Followed by a discussion led by Fliss Premru (TSSA transport union) and Sarah Woolley (BFAWU bakers union).
8 pm Dartmouth Films Present: My Extinction + Q&A with Director Josh Appignanesi, Producer Chris Hird, Sophie Cowen, Clare Farrell hosted by Pavel Ivanov.
What does it take for us to act on the climate crisis — especially if we’re the kind of person who should already be acting? In this funny, relatable portrait, a concerned yet ineffectual dad finds the first step is letting those unbearable feelings of climate anxiety in, instead of pushing them aside. But as he meets others like him, he discovers how oil-backed propagandists fund our denial and paralysis. My Extinction is a revealingly honest account of how to feel your feelings, act on your privilege, and get active when threatened with extinction.
Friday 23rd
10 am Vulture Capitalism – Grace Blakeley and Jack Symes
Acclaimed journalist Grace Blakeley joins public philosopher Jack Symes to discuss the causes of the climate emergency and how they are the intended result of our capitalist system. From Amazon to Boeing, Henry Ford to Richard Nixon, see exactly where late-stage capitalism has gone wrong and what we must do to overcome the climate catastrophe.
Grace Blakeley is a staff writer at Tribune Magazine and the author of Sunday Times bestseller, Vulture Capitalism. Dr Jack Symes is an award-winning public philosopher and the author of several popular philosophy books
11 am Mending our Broken Politics – Molly Scott Cato
Brexit, the Kamikwaze budget, Brexit and the election of President Trump all show how the failure to make good judgements is undermining our democracies. So what’s gone wrong? It is easy to blame ‘social media’ or the digitalization of life, but that is an unacceptable type of learned helplessness. We need to find the time and space to think, to listen to views we don’t agree with, to deliberate with others over difficult subjects. In this session we’ll practice engaged listening and having respectful dialogue to help us make deliberative decisions.
12 noon The Blind Spot: the Climate Risks Missed by Governments – Laurie Laybourn
It’s widely understood that the climate and nature crisis is the greatest threat we face, yet official assessments often disagree. From your pension fund to the government, many decision-makers are using risk analyses that predict the crisis won’t be that bad and might even be beneficial. We’ll explore this blind spot, why it happened, and how to close it.
Laurie Laybourn leads the think-and-do-tank Strategic Climate Risks Initiative, and is an associate fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research.
1 pm Carbon markets: Big Business and Net Zero – Patrick Greenfield
As billionaire Jeff Bezos pumps $10bn into the Bezos Earth Fund, concerns are growing that corporate cash is undermining scientific impartiality, and diverting focus away from meaningful carbon cuts towards greenwash carbon credits. Patrick Greenfield is an environment correspondent for the Guardian.
2 pm New North Sea Oil or Not ? – Dale Vince, Molly Scott Cato, Tamasin Cave
Is new North Sea exploration incompatible with UK Net Zero 2050 targets? And how do we stop it?
Dale Vince is a green industrialist and Labour funder, Molly Scott Cato is an economist and ex Green MEP, Tamasin Cave is an author and activist with the pressure group Uplift. Chaired by BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt.
3 pm Dale Vince in conversation with Roger Harrabin
Green industrialist Dale Vince OBE has gone from ‘enemy of the state’ to ‘green energy tycoon’. He started the world’s first green energy company, Ecotricity, in 1996, leads Forest Green Rovers FC, creates diamonds out of atmospheric carbon, builds windmills for export, has launched a range of plant-based school dinners and earlier this year launched the world’s first electric airline. He also made the first electric supercar and built the the UK’s national network of EV charging stations. Signed copies of Dale’s book ‘Manifesto’ will be given away after the talk.
4 pm Youth Climate Action: Where Now? Where Next? – Clare Farrell, Sarah Lunnon, Mel Kee.
In the past few years new youth-led climate groups have sprung up and shifted the agenda with their varying tactics. Meet and talk with rabble-rousers Clare Farrell (Extinction Rebellion), Sarah Lunnon, (Just Stop Oil and former member of Insulate Britain), and Mel Kee, head of Campaigns at Green New Deal Rising, a movement of young people fighting for climate justice.
5 pm Professor Tim Lenton in conversation with Justin Rowlatt
Tim will talk about the dangerous tipping points in the climate that we are approaching, and the positive tipping points in society that we need to trigger to avoid climate breakdown.
Professor Tim Lenton is the founding Director of the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter and Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science. Tim is renowned for his work identifying climate tipping points, which informed the setting of the 1.5C climate target, and is the lead author among 200 scientists of the 2023 ‘Global Tipping Points Report’, published at COP28.
6 pm Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others – Jolyon Rubinstein
Drawing inspiration from George Orwell’s timeless allegory, Rubinstein explores the nuances of power, privilege, and inequality in today’s society. From Westminster to Gaza, from Washington to the DRC, through engaging anecdotes, sharp observations, and thought-provoking insights, Rubinstein challenges audiences to confront uncomfortable truths and reexamine their perceptions of fairness and equity.
Saturday 24th
10 am Badvertising – Andrew Simms
The book that raises the alarm on an industry that is making us both unhealthy and unhappy and, by driving overconsumption, pushing the planet towards environmental collapse and climate breakdown. What is the psychological impact of relentless exposure to advertising? How does the commercialisation of our public spaces weaken our sense of belonging? How are car manufacturers, airlines and oil companies lobbying to weaken climate action? And, what can we do to stop it?
11 am Council Crisis – Andy Burnham with John Harris
The Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham shares insights with Guardian columnist John Harris about the crisis of Council funding.
12 noon The Gaza War: Media Reporting, Public Understanding and the Potential for Activism – Mike Berry
What information on the Israel-Palestine conflict is available in the mass media and on social media platforms? And how does that affects public opinion? How can activists change the public conversation and pressure governments to support peace and justice?
Mike Berry teaches Media and Journalism at Cardiff University and researches how news and social media affects public opinion.
1 pm Community Activism – Luke Hurst
Luke Hurst will teach you the tools, tips and tactics for how to build campaigns that unite people usually pitched against one another: MPs and the public. By following the best organising principles, and learning from grassroots campaigns across the world – like those that got Obama and AOC into power – let us restore your faith in the possibilities of politician-public partnerships, and find out how we win big for the climate. Luke Hurst is local campaigns organiser with Compass.
2 pm Revelations from the Spycops inquiry – Tom Fowler, Baroness Jenny Jones
For over 50 years political secret police officers, using the identities of dead children, have targeted women activists and deceived them into sexual relationships, in some cases even fathering children with their victims. As the public inquiry into undercover policing inches into its ninth year, and with a cloak of secrecy protecting the identity of officers involved, will justice ever be served?
Tom Fowler was targeted by undercover officers and has spent 14 years taking legal action against the police, doing live reports from court and producing the Spycops Info Podcast. Jenny Jones is a Green Member of the House Lords who has had police files on her destroyed by the police.
3 pm Biophobia – Jarvis Cocker
This talk explores Cocker’s personal journey to cure his “fear of nature” (biophobia). Featuring photographs, movie clips, poetry, a live performance and plenty of Cocker’s trademark comic one-liners.
Jarvis Cocker, yes, that Jarvis Cocker, from Pulp.
4 pm Is Net Zero by 2050 Still Possible? Kevin Anderson, Molly Scott Cato with Rebecca Gibbs
Are Labour’s 2050 Net Zero targets attainable with recent green investment retreats? Clive Lewis, Labour MP, Prof Kevin Anderson, professor of Energy and Climate Change at the University of Manchester and Molly Scott Cato ex Green MEP with Rebecca Gibbs from Cadence.
5 pm Overcoming Climate Denial, Delusion and Group Think – George Marshall
George Marshall, activist, author and communications specialist, explains how to deal with your crazy Uncle Jack ranting that “CLIMATE CHANGE IS ALL A HOAX!”. Come prepared to challenge your own mental blocks about our shared reality, and get ready to wake people up.
6 pm Media and Climate Science – Justin Rowlatt, Kevin Anderson, Richard Betts, with Roger Harrabin
BBC Climate editor Justin Rowlatt, climate scientist Professor Kevin Anderson, and Richard Betts, head of Climate Impacts at the Met Office strike up a conversation about the communicating the realities of climate change. They will discuss the power of the media and positive experiences of responsible journalism, as well as the influence of vested interests and climate denial. Chaired by Roger Harrabin, ex-BBC Environment and Energy editor.
Sunday 25th
10 am Right to Food – Sarah Wooley, Fliss Premru
As foodworkers and other key workers struggle to access decent, nutritious, affordable food, what are the flaws of the current foodbank system, and what structural change is required? Sarah Wooley (BFAWU bakers union) and Fliss Premru (TSSA transport union) outline new connections and campaigns from the Food and Work Network.
11 am Taking on the Oil Industry and Winning – Tamasin Cave
Learn about Stop Rosebank and the campaign to phase out North Sea oil and gas production and secure a fair transition. Tamasin Cave is a writer and campaigner with a background in investigating corporate lobbying. She is co-author of ‘A Quiet Word: Lobbying, Crony Capitalism and Broken Politics in Britain’.
12 noon Are climate experts part of the climate problem? – Kevin Anderson and Alice Larkin
Two climate experts discuss whether we are running scared of our own conclusions, if so why, and what does this mean for the climate emergency. To be followed by Q&A.
1 pm Reform, Protest or Resistance? – Shane Collins, Clare Farrell, Sarah Lunnon, Mel Kee with Bee Rowlatt
1.5C of global heating is inevitable. So how do we stop a further rise? A look at the different avenues for change. Clare Farrell is a founder member of Extinction Rebellion, Sarah Lunnon is a Just Stop Oil spokesperson, Mel Kee is Head of Campaigns at Green New Deal Rising, Shane Collins is a Green Councillor. Chaired by author and broadcaster Bee Rowlatt.
2 pm Up Shit Creek – How to Clean up the Water Companies’ Mess – Zac Polansk
How can we fix Britain’s water system? Carla Denyer explores what needs to happen to tackle droughts, flooding, and sewage leaking into our rivers and seas.
Carla is co-leader of the Green Party and candidate in Bristol Central.
3 pm Every Struggle Writes A Song – Seize The Day
The songs of front line folk band Seize The Day are a musical history of 25 years on picket lines and direct action protest. Antidotes to apathy, from the band that’s played every Glastonbury since 1997.
4 pm CLOSE
Big thanks to all the speakers and sound team – John Carrington, Ruth Miller, Steve Murrell, recording – John Moore, film – Zoe Broughton, Jamie Lowe, Reel News – Shaun Dey, Fliss Premru, programme – Rebecca Gibbs, Shane Collins, Steve Muggs Muggeridge, and last but not least power – Simo, Zia Systems, for giving up their time and energy to create the Speakers Forum.
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‘Speakers Forum is one of the jewels of Glastonbury. People go to Glasto for all sorts of reasons, and getting an injection of green tonic is one of them. The forum consistently attracts really good speakers from different strands of society And the best of them really prompt people to think.’ I’m delighted to be a part of it.”
Roger Harrabin, Environment and Analyst. Ex BBC Environment and Energy Editor.
“The Speaker’s Forum is part of the Glastonbury Festival’s soul. It’s a true melting pot where politicians of all stripes, activists, scientists, artists, economists, and of course the Glastonbury crowds meet to discuss climate change, inequality, justice, freedom and anything else that’s on their mind. There’s tea, shelter from the rain, shared cider and always high quality discussion. It upholds the festival’s long-standing commitment to free speech making the Speaker’s Forum an essential part of Glastonbury’s unique community.
Justin Rowlatt, BBC Climate Editor
“The Speakers Forum is the beating political heart of Glastonbury Festival. 53 talks over 5 days covering all aspects of the climate crisis. As well as informing the public this is where academics, journalists, organisers and activists get together, network and make plans.”
Cllr Shane Collins, Green Party, Somerset Council, Speakers Forum.