Listen to the Earth: The Gone West Show

Episode 19 - Mohammed Sallam - Palestine Centre for Communication and Development Strategies

Mohammed Sallam is the co-founder of PCCDS [http://www.pccds.com/], as well as numerous other projects, such as Green Shelter for Future Generations. He has a diploma in law and humanitarian law from the university of Oujida in Morrocco, and is from Palestine where he lives and oversees projects from. With his background in law and from his home in Palestine Mohammed has many interesting insights into the relationship between social and environmental issues in Palestine. We talk about the work PCCDS are doing, activism, system change and practical policies and so much more. Although we didn’t touch on it a lot, the issues in Palestine politically are also very real, and very difficult, if you want to read more about it: https://bdsmovement.net/

Episode 18 - Irene Di Lauro - Food Waste Activist & PhD Student

How did we end up wasting 1.3 billion tonnes of food while facing food insecurity in some of the wealthiest countries on earth? Irene, a passionate food waste activist blending activism and academia, delves deep into the heart of this issue in our latest episode. Join us as we explore the dysfunctional food and economic systems that lead to unfair income distribution and widespread inequality, with alarming consequences for public and environmental health. Irene's expertise as a dumpster diver, urban forager, community builder, and PhD candidate in "Sustainable Food Systems" at the University of Tasmania creates an action-packed, theory-heavy discussion you won't want to miss! Discover the historical and political lock-ins that perpetuate wasteful food systems and gain insights into how we can revolutionize the way we deal with food waste. If you're passionate about food waste activism, climate grief, and the concept of degrowth, this episode is a must-listen!

Episode 17 - Isabella & Evans - Books For Trees

“Knowledge is power.” Today we have two interviewees: Isabella Ostovary in the office of Books for Trees in Europe and Evans on the ground at their project Badilisha on Rusinga Island in Kenya.  Books for Trees organizes resources that Kenyans use to plant trees, operate sustainable businesses and pass on these experiences to future generations. Rusinga Island is suffering from poverty and natural degradation. By involving local communities in all decision-making with this project, they are shifting the trend. We talk about the importance of education and its critical role in the fight against climate change.

Episode 16 - Margreen - Green Influencer and Activist

“The biggest challenge is the disconnection between humans and nature.” Marga is a green influencer and activist. Her brand name ‘Margreen’ seeks to find and share solutions and methods to help make our everyday more eco-friendly. In this captivating conversation, Marga fearlessly tackles the negativity surrounding environmental news and the overwhelming attention given to pessimistic content on social media. Discover how she's determined to break this cycle and create a positive shift by sharing practical solutions that prove it's not all gloom and doom. But that's not all! Marga's journey takes us beyond her inspiring words, as she reveals her privileged collaborations with remarkable individuals and groundbreaking start-ups at the forefront of combating climate change. Be prepared to be amazed by their innovative solutions that are shaping a sustainable future. Tune in now and join the movement with Marga on Gone West's podcast!

Episode 15 - Loyd & Claire - Siesta Campers

“Great story starts in a VW camper.” Loyd and Claire are the owners of Siesta Campers, the van rental company that owns and restores old VW buses in Portugal. It all started with the first VW bus brought all the way from California. Nowadays, Siesta Campers rents over 70 vehicles from 4 locations in Portugal and Spain.  We at down at their home in Southern Portugal, where we planted trees together. We talk about Siesta Campers [https://www.siestacampers.com/], their camper van rental company and how it evolved, about slow travel, electric vehicles and the move towards off-grid life. Note: in this episode we mention electric vehicles. However, we realize the issue with battery recycling is much more complicated, and we do not promote this as an ultimate solution to a transportation issue related to climate change.