Rupert Read is a highly respected activist and thought-leader, eco-philosopher, campaigner and self-described “recovering academic”, who has influenced public and academic opinion on issues like climate, genetic engineering, technological development and advertising to children. Rupert has (co-)authored books including ‘A Film-Philosophy of Ecology and Enlightenment’ and ‘This Civilization Is Finished’. He has been a spokesperson for the Extinction Rebellion movement and the UK Green Party, and now directs the Climate Majority Project.

In this episode, Rupert explores the possibilities for renewal and reconnection latent within the ecological, social and spiritual catastrophes of industrial modernity. He suggests we can, through the localization movement, simultaneously humble ourselves enough to address our civilizational predicament, while healing ourselves and nature. He calls us to take action at the level of human-scale groups and institutions to bring about the local future "our hearts know is possible", making a plea that we embrace this future through conscious choice, rather than being delivered to it through traumatic collapse.

To watch the video of this series, visit: Planet Local Voices interview series.

The music for this series is ‘Pines and Violet’, by Sky Toes.