Ah Now

With Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro now Covid-19 positive, we look at how his policies and mismanagement of the Amazon Rainforest during the pandemic could soon see the last of the Indigenous populations in the region. He has allowed illegal logging and mining to increase exponentially resulting in severe deforestation that could see the rainforest all but disappear in the next 50-100 years. 

With major trade deals on the table with the EU, we explore what people and other governments can do to prevent the destruction of Earth's greatest, and most vital, rainforest.

This weeks guest are;
Karla Mendes: An award-winning Brazilian journalist working as a Rio de Janeiro-based Contributor Editor for Mongabay. She has been working as a correspondent for international outlets since 2015 and in the last two years she specialised in covering environmental, land and property rights issues.

Rebecca Loudon: An environmental social activist based in the UK.

Links to Indigenous Groups and Associations in need of support:

Growing at twice the national rate, accounting for 1 in 8 businesses in the UK, and worth over £100 billion a year, the creative sector stands on the precipice of collapse with no bailout on the cards. Within the realm of music, Glastonbury, the Royal Albert Hall, and over 600 small music venues face closure.  The lady is singing and the curtains are coming down...so why isn't the government doing anything to help?

I am joined this week by; 

Ryan Jones: Retired (by popular demand) rock musician who is now focusing on songwriting tuition, youth music projects, and writing for wellbeing.

Rob Simpson: MD of Nub sound, Production Manager and Sound Engineer working on tour with artists such as; Jamie Lawson, Bon Jovi, Ed Sheeran, Sam Fender, and Marmozets - to name a few.

Louise Martin: Event Organiser and Music Programmer working at various festivals around the UK for over 15 years including; Boardmasters, Lovebox, The Great Escape, and many more. She is also a partner at Coalition Music Alliance - a music development & management company.

#WeMakeEvents

This week we explore the difficulties surrounding social discourse, how online conversations create a false representation of reality when it comes to social issues, and our passive - or occasionally active - roles within them. 

From Black Lives Matter, the Me Too movement, education, statues, and various forms of media we ask; how can we bridge the divide between different sides of society without causing offense to the point where conversation can no longer take place? Have we already fallen into this chasm of inept articulation? Are we incapable of critical thinking? How can we save ourselves?

In this episode, I will be exploring the historical context of Colston's presence in Bristol, the hierarchical structures within education and how teachers can utilize their recent experiences of online learning to re-shape the classrooms of the future. 

Special Guests Include;

John Whitehead: Former headteacher of Colston Girls School in Bristol, who received national attention in 2017 when his proposal for a name change was swiftly rejected by the Chair of Governors and School Trust.

Our first episode!

This week we discuss the Covid-19 pandemic, and the use of Hydroxychloroquine, in relation to Brazil and the actions of President Jair Bolsonaro - a man who continues to act like a puppy dog to a certain orange-faced dictator north of the equator, Mr. Donald (does-this-bible-make-my-hands-look-big) Trump. 

We will explore the ramifications of such leadership as it impacts struggling communities within the city of Rio de Janeiro, as well as the ongoing protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement around the world.

Special guests include;

Angel Melo: Award-winning film producer/director and human rights campaigner from Rio de Janeiro. 

Beatriz Miranda: A Brazilian International Relations graduate, freelance journalist, and photographer. She covers social issues, politics, and culture in Brazil for independent media outlets.

Articles and Websites referenced throughout the episode are available below; 

(Most of these can be translated into English using the Translation tool on web browsers such as Google Chrome)