Episode 17 - No More Lies, with Zadie Smith, George Monbiot, Jay Griffiths and more at Tufton Street

Extinction Rebellion Podcast

Where is the heart of climate denial in the UK? Who are the main individuals & organisations coming between the people and the policy progress we need to address the climate & ecological emergency?
Questions like this led Writers Rebel to organize an action in a quiet, privileged street in the heart of London's parliamentary district.
The Writers Rebel action in Tufton Street, No More Lies About Climate Change, has now gone down in Extinction Rebellion history. This episode chronicles that historic event. Compered by Mark Rylance and Juliet Stevensen, the line up was starry and included so many top literary and journalistic writers and thinkers that the podcast can only provide a selection.
It includes speeches by Zadie Smith, George Monbiot, Jay Griffiths, Caroline Lucas, Chloe Aridjis, Toby Litt and Charlotte DuCann.
It also includes the arrests of podcast presenter & Writers Rebel co-founder Jessica Townsend alongside philosopher Rupert Read for spraying ‘Lies Lies Lies’ on the white pillars of Tufton Street and pouring blood down the steps.
The Tufton Street protest was organised in conjunction with Money Rebellion, which launches November 2020. Writers Rebel is organising its next event on the Remembrance of Lost Species Day. Tickets and more information about On The Brink can be found here at writersrebel.com/act.
Correction: In the podcast Jessica refers to scaffolding poles. They were actually bamboo poles. |
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. |
Presenters - Jessica Townsend and James Miller;
Producers - Phil Smith and Jessica Townsend;
Editor - Phil Smith;
Theme Music - Mark Richards at Mutiny Studios with music by Punch Deck;
Additional Music - Phil Smith