Extinction Rebellion Radio

In the United Nations Genera Assembly, of all places, President Trump threatened to "annihilate" Iran and to ensure "no future generations." He is suggesting nuclear holocaust on the most severe level. For the President of a nuclear superpower to make such a threat is the biggest news of the year, and yet no one seems to be talking about it. Well, we are. And we're letting you know what it has to do with the climate crisis and global oil supplies.

Amid other climate news in this episode: One of the more bizarre pardons President Trump has issued came for a man who claimed he was making electric trucks when he was not. The bizarre circumstances of this case show nothing bad at all about the climate tech industry. In fact, they prove there is great eagerness and a large market for electric trucks. What they discredit is the competence of the finance industry, and we explain why.

A rebel group on the Arabian Peninsula called the Houthis have seized the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the narrow strip of water between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. This is the corridor for a vast amount of global shipping, the way from Asia to Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Yet another major disruption, or threat of disruption, to oil supplies. Yet another hike in prices of just about everything because the world cannot wean itself away from burning oil. In this episode, we talk about this latest big development in the Middle East and why it is one more reason to stop depending on oil as fast as we possibly can.

To avoid forgetting immediately about the climate disasters that are ending and disrupting life all around the world, this episode continues the occasional series of recounting what the climate crisis is doing right now. We cover the glacial collapse in Nepal and Tibet, Typhoon Dolphin shutting down much of Asia, and actual death in Death Valley, among many others.

Europe just had the summer from hell, and incredibly, they have changed E.U. policy to allow MORE carbon emissions, not less. Their land will burn faster and their rivers will dry up faster as a result. This is climate suicide. Also, our comments on the US-Canada trade war, and the US-Venezuela oil extraction agreement.

We continue to run down the list of what the climate crisis is doing right now in unsparing detail. This month's tally includes the enormous wildfires in France and Spain, the largest those countries have ever seen. The fires went right up to the outskirts of Bordeaux and Madrid. Less widely reported were fires on the outskirts of London, too, where there will likely be a shortage of certain foods because all of Wales and half of England is in drought. And much more.

In this episode, we criticize the way news media report climate science, AND the way that the scientists express it. We have a communication breakdown. The message that volatile weather is due to climate change isn't coming through clearly in news coverage. So scientists (myself included) : let's look in the mirror. We can't wait for the 99% statistical significance threshold each time a reporter has a question. Also: artificial intelligence data centers are an easy climate-related issue for community organizing. And other climate topics.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know that climate change is causing devastating weather, drought, and heat, and it's all piling up in July. From a flood in Accra, Ghana to drought-fueled fires throughout Britain to atrocious air quality across the midwestern and eastern United States, this was an awful month.

Alycee and Matthew talk about the EMPTY promises of Cop 26. Governments from around the world gathered in Glasgow to perform a ritual of talking about climate change while doing absolutely nothing to tackle halt our unfolding climate emergency. As the world faces increasing climate catastrophes that displace millions, accelerate extinction, threaten our food supply, and compromise our health, leaders gathered not to 'phase out' but to 'phase down' subsidies for oil and gas. And no surprise there. The fossil fuel industry constituted the biggest delegation at Cop 26"they literally had more lobbyists than any country had delegates"a delegation that continues to steer humanity toward collective disaster. This is the fifth anniversary of that meeting, humanity's last chance to act boldly to avert catastrophe.

"Close the 1.5 degree Celsius gap to stay alive." That's a quote straight out of a World Health Organization report, a report we discuss in this episode. No mincing words. No sugar coating. Just the plain truth: To stay alive, we must close the 1.5 degree Celsius gap. We'll also be speaking with members of the Coalition of Concerned Medical Professionals (CCMP) about our climate crisis and health. And finally we have a few words to say about the Democratic establishment's derailing of India Walton's bid to become Mayor of Buffalo, New York. Originally produced in late 2021 but completely relevant to the global and political situation in 2026, this is not a rebellious conversation you want to miss.