Summary: <p>Crankstart Intern Suzi Darrington from Oxford University, who's with us for six weeks, is in the Listeners Chair. This is the third of eight episodes where she will reside in that seat.</p> <p>Listener Heather in Ablington, Wiltshire, England, sent in the following question for discussion today:</p> <p>“Some companies are suggesting climate protesters should actually go and work for them and help them be more sustainable, which is what many companies say they want to be. Is this an honest attempt at bringing in fresh energy and ideas to improve internal sustainability, or a cynical attempt at silencing protest?”</p> <p>Suzi believes it's a cynical effort to stifle protest. For instance, if someone opposes the fossil fuel industry and is invited by someone within that sector to collaborate for improvement, it undermines the initial stance that the industry should cease to exist.</p> <p>Moreover, suggesting that protestors' actions have minimal impact, and that joining the protested company would be more effective, often comes across as insincere. Companies frequently don't follow through on such offers, merely creating noise. Hiring individuals capable of creating real change, who are likely more skilled than protesters, would be more meaningful.</p> <p>Suzi also delves into how protesters lobby governments for regulations on these companies, as opposed to relying on the free market. The free market, driven solely by profit, won't address social and environmental concerns. Suzi questions if a global agreement on regulations is necessary, as shifting a company to another country due to regulatory disagreements isn't always straightforward.</p> <p>She introduces an action: reevaluating our perception and dialogue about protestors. Is the inconvenience they cause comparable to the existential threat of climate change?</p> <p>William notes protesters' varied backgrounds and the risk of internal disruption if they infiltrate organizations.</p> <p>He discusses legislative vulnerabilities. Companies seek lax regulations abroad if local ones are restrictive. Suzi agrees. William questions global legislation.</p> <p>Stuart states that in some industries it is a cynical attempt, but can’t a polluting industry be allowed to become sustainable? If so, why wouldn’t it do that by employing people that were formally protesters? Stuart is playing devil’s advocate in this episode. He suggests there’s room to bring in fresh blood to make all these industries sustainable, and shouldn’t the most polluting companies be allowed to adapt, or should we be getting rid of them? There are protesters out there that are calling for the fossil fuel industries to end now, when some of those companies could alter what they sell, as well as already having the infrastructure and staff we need to make the mass transitions we need. </p> <p>Stuart, William and Suzi all agree when it comes to the fossil fuel industry, there needs to be a serious reduction. Will we ever reach a point where we won’t have a fossil fuel industry though?</p> <p>What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to <a href="mailto:thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com">thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com</a></p> <p>We like to give you an ad free experience, so be assured, that will never happen. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers.</p> <p>This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. </p> <p>Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends<a href="https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view"> https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view</a> , support our work through Patreon<a href="https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside"> https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside</a> or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link:<a href="https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside"> https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside</a></p> --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message
