We Need to Act

In this episode of We Need to Act, host Sara Rego speaks with Helena Norberg-Hodge—one of the world’s most influential voices on localization and the new economy movement.

Helena Norberg-Hodge, linguist, author, filmmaker, and pioneer of the global localization movement, is the founder and director of Local Futures and the convenor of World Localization Day and the Planet Local Summit. She is the author of the classic Ancient Futures and Local Is Our Future, and producer of the award-winning documentaries The Economics of Happiness, Planet Local, and Closer to Home. She also founded the International Alliance for Localization and co-founded both the International Forum on Globalization and the Global Ecovillage Network. Her work has been recognized with the Alternative Nobel Prize, the Arthur Morgan Award, and the Goi Peace Prize for her contributions to cultural and biological diversity and the strengthening of local communities worldwide.

Together, Sara and Helena explore how globalization undermines well-being, why local economies create happier and healthier societies, and what we can do to restore community, meaning, and democratic power. They discuss the importance of feminine values in healing our fractured world, the dangers of centralized technological systems, and the joy that comes from rebuilding relationships—with each other and with nature.

A hopeful, human-centered conversation about reclaiming our future through localization and the economics of happiness.

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En este episodio, nos asociamos con Cool Earth, una organización cuya misión es proporcionar dinero y datos directamente a las personas que viven en la selva tropical para que puedan hacer lo que mejor saben hacer: protegerla. También hablamos con Equal Right, la organización socia de Cool Earth en el proyecto Income for Peace with Nature en Colombia.

Nuestros invitados, Isabel Felandro, Directora de Programas en Cool Earth, y Carlos Adrián Pérez, Director para América Latina en Equal Right, discuten el potencial transformador de la renta básica para las comunidades indígenas en el Amazonas, particularmente en Colombia y Perú. Exploran cómo el apoyo financiero puede empoderar a estas comunidades para proteger su entorno mientras se abordan las desigualdades sociales.

La conversación destaca la importancia de la colaboración, la confianza y la educación en la implementación de estas iniciativas, así como los desafíos de navegar en contextos políticos y culturales complejos. También reflexiona sobre los resultados de la COP16 y la defensa continua de la financiación climática dirigida a los pueblos indígenas.

Puntos clave

• El problema no es el dinero en sí, sino su redistribución.

• La renta básica puede ayudar a reducir la dependencia de las industrias extractivas.

• Las alianzas con organizaciones indígenas son cruciales para el éxito.

• El monitoreo es esencial para garantizar un impacto positivo en la comunidad.

• La renta básica puede mejorar el bienestar y la felicidad de las comunidades.

• La educación es clave para fomentar la conciencia social y la responsabilidad.

• La renta básica debe verse como un derecho, no como un subsidio.

• La defensa de la financiación climática debe priorizar a las comunidades indígenas.

• La interconexión de las comunidades es vital para el progreso.

• La COP16 proporcionó una plataforma para la colaboración y futuras iniciativas.

  
  

Capítulos

00:00 Transformando el dinero para la justicia ambiental
03:02 Lecciones desde Perú: ampliando la renta básica a Colombia
05:55 Construyendo confianza y colaboración con comunidades indígenas
08:28 Renta básica: una herramienta para el impacto ambiental y social
10:52 Desafíos y oportunidades en la implementación de la renta básica
12:55 Monitoreo del impacto y asegurando el bienestar comunitario
15:53 El papel de la educación en la formación de la conciencia
18:05 Navegando desafíos políticos y culturales
19:40 Defensa de la financiación climática y derechos indígenas
21:57 Reflexiones sobre la COP16 y direcciones futuras

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📬 Suscríbete a nuestro boletín informativo en nuestra página web.

In this episode, we partner with Cool Earth, an organization whose mission is to provide cash and data directly to people living in the rainforest so they can do what they do best — protect it. We also speak with Equal Right, Cool Earth’s partner organization in the Income for Peace with Nature project in Colombia.

Our guests, Isabel Felandro, Head of Programmes at Cool Earth, and Carlos Adrián Pérez, Director for Latin America at Equal Right, discuss the transformative potential of basic income for Indigenous communities in the Amazon, particularly in Colombia and Peru. They explore how financial support can empower these communities to safeguard their environment while addressing social inequalities.

The conversation highlights the importance of collaboration, trust, and education in implementing such initiatives, as well as the challenges of navigating complex political and cultural landscapes. It also reflects on the outcomes of COP16 and the ongoing advocacy for climate finance directed towards Indigenous peoples.

Takeaways

• Money itself is not the problem; it's the redistribution.

• Basic income can help reduce dependency on extractive industries.

• Partnerships with indigenous organizations are crucial for success.

• Monitoring is essential to ensure positive community impact.

• Basic income can improve well-being and happiness in communities.

• Education is key to fostering social consciousness and responsibility.

• Basic income should be viewed as a right, not a subsidy.

• Advocacy for climate finance must prioritize indigenous communities.

• The interconnectedness of communities is vital for progress.

• COP16 provided a platform for collaboration and future initiatives.

Chapters

00:00 Transforming Money for Environmental Justice

03:02 Lessons from Peru: Expanding Basic Income to Colombia

05:55 Building Trust and Collaboration with Indigenous Communities

08:28 Basic Income: A Tool for Environmental and Social Impact

10:52 Challenges and Opportunities in Implementing Basic Income

12:55 Monitoring Impact and Ensuring Community Well-being

15:53 The Role of Education in Shaping Consciousness

18:05 Navigating Political and Cultural Challenges

19:40 Advocacy for Climate Finance and Indigenous Rights

21:57 Reflections on COP16 and Future Directions

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"Yesterday the word was not sustainability. Yesterday the word was life. And today we have to learn how to be life." - Uncle Kimokeo

In this episode, we welcome a very special guest from Hawai‘i: Kimokeo Kapahulehua — respected kūpuna, cultural practitioner, paddler, and founder of the Kimokeo Foundation.

Uncle Kimokeo has dedicated his life to preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian culture, language, and traditions through community work, education, land stewardship, and outrigger canoeing. He also co-founded Paddle for Life, supporting cancer care through traditional voyaging.

In this inspiring conversation, Uncle Kimokeo shares ancestral wisdom on sustainability and our kuleana (responsibility) to care for the ocean, land, and one another. We explore the profound role of storytelling, spiritual connection to nature, cultural healing, and how traditional Hawaiian practices offer guidance for the challenges of today. His message is clear: to care for Mother Earth is to become good ancestors for future generations.

Key Takeaways

• Sustainability is rooted in learning from and maintaining balance with nature

• Ancient practices provide solutions for modern environmental challenges

• Kuleana is shared responsibility and action

• Language and education protect cultural heritage

• Healing requires expression and continuity of traditions

• Storytelling sustains indigenous knowledge

• Spiritual connection to nature supports well-being

• The Hawaiian moon calendar guides sustainable living

• We are one family connected through the earth

• Caring for Mother Earth benefits future generations

  
  

Chapters
00:00 — Returning to Ancient Wisdom
06:11 — Cultural Connection to the Ocean
09:04 — Understanding Kuleana
12:26 — Preserving Hawaiian Culture Through Education
13:52 — Healing & Reconciliation in Hawai‘i
16:37 — The Power of Indigenous Storytelling
20:50 — Spiritual Connection to Nature
22:15 — Becoming Good Ancestors

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“Yo vengo de una comunidad que hasta ahora trata de no depredar lo que tiene; entonces, cuida. Cuida la vida de las personas, pero también cuida la vida de su entorno. Para nosotros, la sostenibilidad significa justamente usar lo que tenemos alrededor de modo racional, sin depredar, sin exterminar.” - Tarcila Rivera Zea

Hoy nos acompaña Tarcila Rivera Zea, activista quechua de Ayacucho y una de las voces indígenas más reconocidas del Perú y del mundo. Desde hace más de 25 años, lidera la defensa de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas a través de CHIRAPAQ, organización que fundó y preside, así como desde diversas redes internacionales.

🎧 Destaques de la conversación

Introducción y contexto
Aborda el recorrido de Tarcila y el contexto de su trabajo. (Inicio)

Sostenibilidad y perspectivas indígenas
Explora el enfoque indígena hacia la sostenibilidad y la gestión de los recursos. (Aprox. 03:00)

Empoderamiento y preservación cultural
Se centra en el empoderamiento de las mujeres indígenas y en la importancia de preservar el patrimonio cultural. (Aprox. 09:00)

Incidencia global y desafíos
Describe la participación de Tarcila en foros internacionales y los desafíos que enfrentan las comunidades indígenas. (Aprox. 15:00)

Sabiduría intergeneracional y perspectivas futuras
Analiza la importancia de transmitir el conocimiento tradicional y de abordar los desafíos del futuro. (Aprox. 21:00)

🔗 Más información sobre el trabajo de Tarcila en chirapaq.org.pe

🎧 Dale play al episodio y no olvides seguir el podcast para no perderte las próximas conversaciones sobre sostenibilidad.

Apóyanos mostrando tu interés de las siguientes maneras:

🎧 Escucha y suscríbete al podcast We Need to Act en Spotify o Apple Podcasts.☕ Apoya a nuestro trabajo comprándonos un café. 📲 Únete a nuestra comunidad en Instagram, LinkedIn, y YouTube📬 Suscríbete a nuestro boletín informativo en nuestra página web.

"We, in terms of Indigenous people, come from a holistic society. We don't come from a dichotomous society that cuts everything out. So land, water, people, environment, and non-human kin are all intrinsically entwined because they make up what we say the balance and the peace and the harmony for good life."

In this episode, we sit down with Prof. Anne Poelina, a Nyikina Warrwa woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia — a community leader, filmmaker, and advocate for human and earth rights.

Prof. Poelina shares powerful insights into how Indigenous wisdom and modern science can come together to guide us toward a more harmonious relationship with the Earth. We explore the deep connections between culture, consciousness, and environmental stewardship, and discuss how collective action and community can shape a sustainable future.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will expand your perspective on what it means to care for Country — and for one another.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgment of Indigenous Wisdom

02:54 The Importance of Community and Collective Care

06:04 Interconnectedness of Nature and Human Existence

08:53 Clash of Values: Indigenous vs. Western Perspectives

12:01 Unlearning Colonial Mindsets

15:01 The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Environmental Stewardship

18:04 The Impact of Climate Change on Indigenous Lands

20:52 The Future of Development and Economic Justice

Please show us your support by...

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"Behavioral psychology is key to effective sustainability programs. Understanding the psychology of people is crucial to communicate and manifest change in them."

In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Katie Patrick, an environmental engineer, climate action designer, and author of How to Save the World and Zerowastify. Katie brings a unique fusion of environmental science, behavioral psychology, and game design to tackle climate change, creating tools like apps and campaigns that inspire real-world action.

She’s worked with organizations like NASA JPL, Google, UNEP, and Stanford, and co-founded Energy Lollipop and Urban Canopy to reduce CO₂ emissions from the electricity grid. Through her podcast and projects like The Imagine Project,Katie champions the power of creativity, optimism, and evidence-based design in shaping a sustainable future.

Key topics

• The Role of Play in Sustainability
• Motivating Change Beyond Environmental Calls
• Gamification and Community Engagement
• Children as Agents of Change
• The Importance of Behavioral Psychology in Sustainability

Chapters

00:00- Introduction and Katie's Background

00:03 - The Role of Play in Sustainability

00:09 - Challenges and Sacrifices in Environmental Action

00:15 - Motivating Change: Beyond Environmental Calls

00:21 - Gamification and Community Engagement

00:27 - Working with Children and Eco-Imagination

00:33 - Current Projects and Future Plans

00:39 - Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Please show us your support by...

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"El derecho que tenemos todas las personas a vivir en un ambiente sano, y para poder vivir en ese ambiente sano, necesitamos —llamémoslo— un desarrollo normativo: una serie de normas y principios que configuren y materialicen esa garantía del derecho a un ambiente sano. Por eso, la relación entre el derecho humano a un ambiente sano que tenemos todas las personas, como un núcleo para una vida digna en términos ambientales, se desarrolla y se complementa con el derecho ambiental." — Mauricio Madrigal

Hoy les traigo a un invitado muy interesante para hablarnos sobre el derecho ambiental. Mauricio Madrigal es abogado ambiental en Colombia y México, especialista en derecho ambiental, magíster en derecho y doctor en derechos humanos. Además, es profesor universitario y especialista en democracia ambiental y derechos humanos en WWF Colombia.

Capítulos

• Introducción al Derecho Ambiental
• La interconexión entre los Derechos Humanos y el Derecho Ambiental
• Desafíos en el Derecho Ambiental y los Derechos Humanos
• El papel de los Pueblos Indígenas y el Pluralismo Jurídico
• El Acuerdo de Escazú y los Defensores Ambientales
• Abordar las Injusticias Históricas en el Derecho Ambiental
• El Reconocimiento de los Derechos de la Naturaleza
• El Cambio Filosófico en la Relación con el Medio Ambiente
• El Papel de la Educación en la Conciencia Ambiental
• Colaboración y Co-creación en los Esfuerzos Ambientales
• Futuros Caminos del Derecho Ambiental
• Conclusión y Llamado a la Acción

🎧 Dale play al episodio y no olvides seguir el podcast para no perderte las próximas conversaciones sobre sostenibilidad.

Apóyanos mostrando tu interés de las siguientes maneras:

🎧 Escucha y suscríbete al podcast We Need to Act en Spotify o Apple Podcasts.
☕ Apoya a nuestro trabajo comprándonos un café.
📲 Únete a nuestra comunidad en Instagram, LinkedIn, y YouTube
📬 Suscríbete a nuestro boletín informativo en nuestra página web.

"When we remove freedom from people, it's a social death. We are killing them. We are killing their relatedness to the world because we are closing them off from their relations."

In today’s episode, I’m joined by a very special guest: TysonYunkaporta. He’s an Aboriginal academic, thinker, and founderof the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab at Deakin University in Melbourne. He is a member of the Apalech Clan from Far North Queensland, and you might know him as the author of Sand Talk, Right Story, Wrong Story, and most recently, Snake Talk. Tyson’s work centers on using Indigenous methods of inquiry to address global existential threats and develop regenerative responses to crisis.

I first read Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking CanSave the World some time ago, and it sparked a deep curiosity about Tyson’s work and the relevance of Indigenous knowledge systems to today’s global challenges. That curiosity led to this conversation, which I’m really excited to share with you. Let’s dive in.

Key Highlights

• Our thinking should be shaped by creation, not the other way around.

• Wealth isn't inherently bad, but linking it to power can be dangerous.

• The binary of good and evil oversimplifies complex realities.

• Disconnection from nature leads to a distorted understanding of our place in the world.

• Colonialism is not a thing of the past; it continues to shape our realities.

• Indigenous knowledge systems can provide valuable insights for modern challenges.

• AI has the potential to be a relational tool, not just a utility.

• Tools should be integrated into our communities and lives as relatives.

• Storytelling is a powerful way to convey complex ideas and values.

• We must learn to think like a fox to navigate our relationships and environments.

Chapters

00:00 The Wrong Side of the Story

03:01 Wealth, Power, and Freedom

05:48 The Illusion of Separation from Nature

08:11 Complexity vs. Simplicity in Human Systems

11:11 Religion and the Human-Nature Divide

14:08 Colonialism and the Narrative of Progress

16:59 Indigenous Knowledge and Modern Challenges

22:49 Creating a Complex Ecosystem of Investments

24:13 The Importance of Dialogue in Cultures

25:28 Exploring Serpent Stories and Their Wisdom

26:52 The Ten Commandments of the Serpent Law

29:10 The Connection Between Women and Snakes

32:47 Navigating Relationships with Invasive Species

34:59 The Impact of AI on Human Intellect and Community

39:42 The Role of Tools in Community and Relationships

40:38 Storytelling as a Means to Convey Wisdom

Please show us your support by...

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Can technology save us from the environmental crisis? For Megan Pillsbury—engineer, entrepreneur, and innovation leader—the answer is more complex than a simple yes. In this episode, Megan explores the role of tech in solving environmental challenges, while urging a more holistic, humble approach.

Founder and CEO of Dunya Analytics, Megan brings rich experience in tech, sustainability, and finance. After years in Silicon Valley, she now helps companies measure their environmental impact and shift toward a nature-positive economy.

Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on innovation, biodiversity, and building a more sustainable future.

Highlights from the episode:

Career Shift and Inspiration: Megan Pillsbury shares her journey from being an electrical engineer in Silicon Valley to founding a nature tech company, inspired by the book "Natural Capitalism."

Sustainability and Business: Megan emphasizes aligning social and environmental outcomes with financial goals, discussing her efforts to create sustainability roles and pursue business education.

Role of Technology: While acknowledging technology's role in environmental challenges, Megan advocates for a holistic approach that includes Indigenous knowledge and humility.

Gender and Leadership: Megan discusses the challenges and opportunities for women in tech and sustainability, highlighting the importance of diverse perspectives for equitable solutions.

Eco-Entrepreneurship: Megan describes eco-entrepreneurship as developing businesses that address environmental problems or reinventing processes to be regenerative.

Empowerment and Hope: Megan shares an inspiring message about the power of individual contributions and encourages listeners to pursue their passions and make a difference.

Please give us your support by...

• Tune in and subscribe to the We Need to Act podcast via Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
• Support our show by ⁠⁠⁠buying us a coffee⁠⁠⁠.
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