83: Climate Solstice (w/George Monbiot)

The global pandemic response is a microcosm of the global climate collapse response. In both  we get to see what’s really under the hood when the pressure is on. In the face of endless and relentless odds and near-constant demoralization, what stories do we turn to, what bonds do we form, and who do they help? 

Climate journalist emeritus George Monbiot joins Matthew to discuss the never-ending road of empathy and activism, and what happens on that road when otherwise brilliant and sensitive people “lose their mirror,” or sense of responsibility to the commons. What happens when they aestheticize grief. What happens when they have enough privilege to fetishize renunciation. 

Their discussion orbits around the recent conspirituality spiral of a writer who has been  a hero to many in the realm of climate literature and consideration. Paul Kingsnorth has recently converted to Romanian Orthodox Christianity... and vaccine skepticism. He's also wondered aloud whether the virus is not "a delicious little sign from God" that humanity deserves punishment. 

Links:

The Dark Mountain Manifesto 

Earth Talk: Five years on a mountain - Paul Kingsnorth and Dougald Hine

Is there any point in fighting to stave off industrial apocalypse? | Paul Kingsnorth and George Monbiot | The Guardian 

After the failure of Cop26, there is only one last hope for our survival | George Monbiot  

The Vaccine Moment, part one - by Paul Kingsnorth

The Vaccine Moment, part two - by Paul Kingsnorth  

The Vaccine Moment, part three - by Paul Kingsnorth 

George Monbiot on Twitter: "I've read Paul Kingsnorth's anti-vaccine essay on Substack, and I suspect it might contribute to quite a few deaths. Why? Because his writing is elegant and powerful, but some of his facts are simply wrong. Here's a very small sample: Thread/"