Welcome to Compassiviste Dialogues. I'm Ali, your host, and my mission with this podcast is to shed light on critical social and environmental issues worldwide, exploring avenues for positive change.

What is the real legacy of activism? In this powerful conversation with Kumi Naidoo, one of the world’s most influential voices on climate justice and human rights, we explore why activism wins battles but rarely wins the war and what must change for movements to create lasting systemic equity. This interview uncovers the deeper truth behind activism’s failures, its victories, and its future.

In this dialogue, Kumi explains why climate activism has kept humanity alive “by a thread” and reveals how ordinary people not political leaders have always been the real drivers of justice. He also shares the emotional story of his friend Lenny, whose philosophy reshaped his understanding of sacrifice and lifelong dedication to justice.

ABOUT GUEST:

For over 40 years, Kumi Naidoo has been a voice amongst many for social, economic and environmental justice. From his humble township upbringing in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, to his work as an anti-Apartheid activist, to his leadership of international NGOs, Kumi has remained rooted in Martin Luther King’s Creative Maladjustment principles - refusing to normalize inequality and devoting himself to exposing injustice.

​Kumi was International Executive Director of Greenpeace International, from 2009-2015, and Secretary General of Amnesty International, from 2018-2020. As of June 2020, he is Global Ambassador for Africans Rising for Justice, Peace & Dignity.

He has served as the Secretary-General of Civicus, an international alliance for citizen participation, from 1998 to 2008.

Kumi has also served the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and the Global Call for Climate Action (Tcktcktck.org), which brings together environmental aid, religious and human rights groups, labour unions, scientists and others and has organised mass demonstrations around climate negotiations.

In this next chapter of his activism journey, Kumi is dedicating himself to getting back to his 'roots', with a focus on contributing more to the growth of activism movements and organisations, academia, as well as paving the way forward for a new generation of activists. 

KEY NOTES:

Why activism rises and falls like tides and why that’s normal

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Intro

THINGS MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST:

Website: https://www.kuminaidoo.net/

X: https://x.com/kuminaidoo

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kumi-naidoo-073ab723/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kuminaidoo

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kuminaidoo804

Medium: https://medium.com/@kuminaidoo

Kumi's Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Letters-My-Mother-Making-Troublemaker/dp/1431432881

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Tune in, follow, and embark on this insightful journey with us. Your vision's transformation begins now. 🚀🌟

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