Today, we’re again taking a break from our usual format, to give more time and to encourage you, our valued listeners, to send in more questions, for us to explore in future episodes.

In this episode, we discuss a question set by an attendee of last year’s iteration of Environmental Debate Live & Unscripted, the live incarnation of this podcast. This was a ticketed event, unrecorded, and held in front of a live audience.

During the interval of this event we asked attendees to set questions for the panel to discuss in the second half. However, due to the number submitted, we didn’t get around to discussing them all, so we are now slowly working our way through those questions.

The question discussed in today’s episode was set by Daryl, and is as follows:

“Given human population growth and consumerism is so impactful, should we think about a 1 child policy, like China did, and build our population through immigration?”

William discusses the significant environmental impact of having children, due to the resources required to raise them. Stuart notes that only dictatorships can enforce a one-child policy and points out that some places prefer male children. Stuart believes we produce enough food to feed the world, but much of it is used to feed livestock instead of humans, and this livestock feeds a small percentage of us. The conversation then shifts to immigration and the barriers that are often put up.

William then brings up advancements in medical science and crop production as drivers of population growth and questions the practicality of enforcing a one-child policy. Stuart brings up the subject of the societal belief of the right to have children and suggests questioning these traditional rites of passage activities. William raises the societal expectation of marriage and children, and Stuart responds by saying it’s okay to choose a different path.

The discussion touches on the movement of people and the idea that all humans can trace their ancestry back to two women, highlighting our common heritage.

Stuart suggests an action: reflect on your own behaviour, views, and habits regarding family building and rites of passage.

William’s action is to see yourself as the sum of your parts and consider the many people we have all descended from.

We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers.

This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.

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 ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com

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Today, we're taking a break from our usual format, to give more time and to encourage you, our valued listeners, to send in more questions for us to explore in future episodes.

In this special episode, we revisit a thought-provoking question posed by Peter T. during our Environmental Debate Live & Unscripted event in May 2023. This was the ticketed second live iteration of this podcast, in front of an audience. Peter T. asked, "If any human activity is practiced by the majority of people, doesn’t it automatically become unsustainable?"

Join Stuart and William as they dive deep into this complex question, examining it from various angles. Stuart begins by asserting that the question is rooted in environmental concerns, specifically focusing on sustainability. He believes that the answer isn't a straightforward yes or no. For instance, if everyone chose to walk instead of drive, this wouldn’t necessarily be environmentally sustainable. Stuart also emphasises that not all widespread activities are inherently detrimental to the environment either.

William adds another layer to the discussion, pondering whether the question implies that the sheer volume of participants in any activity could lead to negative environmental impacts. Both hosts agree that rarely is anything categorical in our world, and nuances are crucial.

Stuart also reflects on the origin of Peter’s question, suggesting it might stem from a perception that environmentalists want everyone to conform to a single way of living.

Listen in for a compelling conversation that challenges the way we think about our everyday actions and their environmental implications. Don’t forget to send in your questions for future episodes!

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 ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com

This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.

We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not just after numbers.

Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: https://www.change.org/p/improve-the-oxfordshire-countryside-accessibility-for-all-disabilities-and-abilities

Fundraiser For An Extreme 8 All-terrain Wheelchair: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/wildmanonwheels

Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends ⁠https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view⁠ , support our work through Patreon ⁠https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside

Why do we do this podcast?

We do it to stop the big issues slipping into the shadows. We talk about listener questions as that's what's important to them, and always try to bring it back to the natural world in some way. We have the conversations that need having.

It’s not the usual ambience in this episode, as we are back out in Stuart’s courtyard garden again. So expect some interesting background sounds.

Shreenika, Western Province, Sri Lanka is the listener tasked with asking the first question.

“How often does ego permeate human consciousness on an individual basis and how damaging is it?”

Your co-hosts Stuart and William feel ego is like that one song that gets stuck in your head—permanently permeating human consciousness. But if it’s left uncontrolled, it’s like an annoying earworm that just won’t quit!

Removing ego would be like stripping a pizza of its toppings—you’re left with a bland nothing. Ego’s a good tool, but a terrible master. It’s like having a pet tiger: assertive when needed, but you better know when to back off!”

Ego’s always there, lurking in the shadows. Like that neighbour who insists on borrowing your lawnmower every weekend.”

So, let’s treat ego like a Swiss Army knife—useful, but not the boss. Be aware of its role, wield it wisely, and don’t let it take over the show!

Yusuf, Kocaeli, Turkey asks the second listener question “Are we overly obsessed with what day of the week it is, or is that another example of how we categorise things. This time, time itself?”

William believes we’re overly obsessed with what day of the week it is. He particularly likes the saying “it does feel like a Monday today”, yet, what is a Monday actually meant to feel like?

Stuart has worked a lot on his own over the years, and he always mixed up his working week schedule as he didn’t want to feel that he was on a treadmill. When he had staff, he found they struggled with that unpredictability. Stuart feels we are obsessed with categorising. This can be damaging. This can be a barrier to quick adaptation.

William feels that the week comes from the structure of schooling, and on the topic of working hours, there are times we are extremely productive, and times we aren’t, but we still need to sit at our desk till our allotted time is done. For what conceivable reason would any employer or employee want to engage in such an activity when looking at the bigger picture?

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 ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com

We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers.

This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.

Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: https://www.change.org/p/improve-the-oxfordshire-countryside-accessibility-for-all-disabilities-and-abilities

Fundraiser For An Extreme 8 All-terrain Wheelchair: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/wildmanonwheels

Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends ⁠https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view⁠ , support our work through Patreon ⁠https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside

No waffle in this episode, we get straight into the listener questions, the first of which today is from Tess, in Stranrear, Scotland - “How damaging do you feel dismissing someone's opinion that you don’t like can be?”

Stuart emphasises that dismissing someone’s opinion is detrimental, limiting both yourself and the person you’re conversing with. Active listening fosters better understanding. He encourages us to listen to everyone and be open to challenging their and our own viewpoints.

William agrees, highlighting the danger of stereotyping. Forming quick judgments prevents us from truly hearing others. He notes that people may avoid listening out of fear they’ll agree. Stuart warns against falling into this habitual trap.

Tom, from Eastney, Portsmouth, England asks todays second question - “Wildlife campaigners are claiming huge amounts of countryside has been unnecessarily lost after the HS2 fast rail link was classed by a watchdog as, “unachievable”. The Infrastructure And Projects Authority (IPA) has given the programme a ‘red’ rating. After analysing plans for the construction of the first two phases from London to Birmingham and then onto Crewe in Cheshire, the official infrastructure watchdog, said in its view the project was undeliverable, in its current form. Estelle Bailey the Chief Executive of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust said “The vast project has been mismanaged from the start. It's taken a wrecking ball to nature”. In February 2023 the Wildlife Trusts claimed HS2 Limited “Made fundamental flaws in the way it assessed the value of nature along the construction path”. Estelle Bailey said further “It made huge errors in its calculations, undervaluing natural habitats and over-valuing the impacts of its compensation measure. If the project is abandoned then huge amounts of nature will have been lost, for nothing. We need to learn from this debacle. We’re living through a climate crisis and we can’t afford to make these costly mistakes”. Chap’s, what are your thoughts on this? I know you’ve done numerous episodes on HS2 as I’ve been quietly listening for a number of years now, but please revisit. Thanks”.

William criticises the management of the HS2 project, considering it a debacle. Despite being pro-HS2 due to the outdated Victorian-era rail routes, he acknowledges the mismanagement. Even though nature is always impacted by big projects, stopping the project now would mean nature’s loss has been potentially in vain, especially during the climate crisis. William emphasises the need for caution, recognizing human fallibility. He also highlights the overcrowded trains and the necessity of an improved rail system to reduce car usage.

Stuart questions whether HS2 is permanently unachievable and whether large projects can avoid harming nature. He suggests that a point system valuing nature in these project might be impractical.

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 ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com

We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers.

This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.

Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: https://www.change.org/p/improve-the-oxfordshire-countryside-accessibility-for-all-disabilities-and-abilities

Fundraiser For An Extreme 8 All-terrain Wheelchair: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/wildmanonwheels

Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends ⁠https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view⁠ , support our work through Patreon ⁠https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside

Trigger Warning: This episode covers the sensitive topics of euthanasia and death. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

On this thought-provoking episode of The People’s Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast, your co-hosts Stuart 'The Wildman' Mabbutt and William Mankelow tackle two profound questions from listeners in Scotland.

First up, Tess from Stranraer asks the following:

“Is the time now right in the UK for assisted dying, assisted suicide or assisted Euthanasia, whatever you want to call it, to be legalised? Some of the public seem to want it, when some people working in palliative nursing still don’t. So who is right? Should it just be for people close to death to relieve pain and suffering, when the alternative to assisted dying means more pain and suffering in the lead up to certain death? Do you think we need to improve the palliative care that's available to avoid this, or pursue assisted dying for certain types, on a case by case basis? If so, who moderates that as you often say on this podcast?”

Stuart believes it should be legalised on a case-by-case basis, but not institutionalised, expressing concern that legislation could turn it into a bureaucratic "tick box exercise". William explores how death remains an uncomfortable topic in Western cultures, fraught with intense emotions, even around unassisted passing. Both hosts agree euthanasia is a complex issue without clear answers, so society must continue discussing openly.

Then, Tommy from Alloa in Scotland poses the next question for discussion:

“You talk about thinking 8 generations forward and back. With that in mind, are we doing the right stuff right now for the generations to follow when considering the climate crisis we indisputably face?”

Stuart brings up the fact that merely recognizing the impact on those eight generations is a good start. William advocates learning from the past about what we did well and poorly, while avoiding rushed construction that fails to fully consider long-term ramifications. Both Stuart and William challenge listeners to embrace "intergenerational thinking" in all their endeavours, looking beyond short political cycles, and more towards lasting positive change.

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 ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com

We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers.

This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.

Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: https://www.change.org/p/improve-the-oxfordshire-countryside-accessibility-for-all-disabilities-and-abilities

Fundraiser For An Extreme 8 All-terrain Wheelchair: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/wildmanonwheels

Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends ⁠https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view⁠ , support our work through Patreon ⁠https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside

In their signature unvarnished style, your co-hosts, Stuart ‘The Wildman’ Mabbutt and William Mankelow aren't afraid to push boundaries, and explore taboo subjects often left undiscussed. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged, as these two plumb the depths of protests and trigger warnings, from refreshingly candid angles.

First up, Stuart and William dive into the nature of protests, which was prompted by the following question from listener Imelda in Pichincha, Ecuador - “Does effective protest have to be disruptive and noisy?”

Stuart ponders if art can be a form of protest, while William wonders aloud what even constitutes a true "protest". From silent sit-ins to raucous street marches, they explore the many faces of activist expression.

Next it's on to the prickly topic of trigger warnings, where your co-hosts are triggered into the conversation by the following listener question, which came from Layla in Bahrain - “Are trigger warnings really needed? I know they are good for strobe lights etc that can have physical impacts, but let's focus on things like Shakespere plays, where we half expect to see scenes of violence. It can have more impact if we’re not fully expecting it. Should TW’s be on podcasts like yours, because I worry about the potential learning by the listener being exposed to such material, is watered down because we might be pussy footing around people's feelings too much? It's vital we get the balance around this right, but where is that balance, and who dictates where that is? Balance means different things in different countries too”.

Stuart argues some trigger warnings are necessary (like seizure warnings), but that we risk being overly cautious. William raises the example of film ratings providing upfront content advisories. But is there value in experiencing art's shocks and surprises organically and unexpectedly? The pair debate whether ubiquitous trigger warnings diminish their purpose and cause us to live lives of avoidance, or if they are simply a necessity in our hyper-connected age.

This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice, and we like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers.

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 ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com

Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends ⁠https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view⁠ , support our work through Patreon ⁠https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside

The fundraiser to get Stuart back out into nature with an all-terrain chair is also mentioned again today, and you can donate here ⁠https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/wildmanonwheels?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=20240518_⁠

Charlie, from Montrose, Scotland has sent in this listener question - “Who owns land is at the heart of the housing crisis in the UK. It's not because bricks and mortar have suddenly become incredibly expensive. It's because the value of land has gone through the roof. Is it possible to own land though when we as humans came from it, are part of it, and ultimately, will go back to it?”

Stuart feels that land ownership is all an illusion and the concept of land ownership has been going on for centuries. Indigenous cultures ask the question, how can you own yourself? Stuart contests Charlie’s question, exploring that isn’t the way that we disperse our population, and how we use and repurpose the buildings we already have, really at the heart of this matter?

Stuart’s action is for you to stand back and look at your life, and ask yourself do you really own anything?

William sees land ownership, in the UK, as a form of control. You get to dictate who is allowed on your land. He contrasts this with what happens in Finland which has the right to roam. He believes that land ownership is just a piece of paper that states you do. He further explores how there can often be issues with legacy that leaves housing empty.

William’s action is to put some pressure on politicians for how we use existing buildings that can be easily utilised as housing, but currently aren’t. He goes on to want people not to get onto the property ladder just because you feel you should, just to keep up.

Gary, from Stirling, Scotland asks the second question - “Can you guys recommend any books that are worth reading?”

Stuart recommends

• The Bible,

• The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben.

• • https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Hidden-Life-of-Trees-by-Peter-Wohlleben-author-Jane-Billinghurst-translator/9780008218430

William recommends

• Notes On A Nervous Planet by Matt Haig.

• • https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Notes-on-a-Nervous-Planet-by-Matt-Haig/9781786892690

• Bulletproof by Chantal by Chantal Burns.

• • https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Bulletproof-by-Chantal-Burns/9781292330020

William’s action is to become a member of your local library as it is an amazing resource. It’s good for you, and it is good for the library, as they often offer lots of other really useful services.

The fundraiser to get Stuart back out into nature with an all-terrain chair is also mentioned again today, and you can donate here https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/wildmanonwheels?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=20240518_

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 ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com

This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.

We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers.

Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends ⁠https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view⁠ , support our work through Patreon ⁠https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside