1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha, and welcome to stuff. 2 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: I never told your prediction of iHeartRadio. 3 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 2: Happy twenty twenty six Black History Month. Everyone, it is 4 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 2: that time of year in the US, and we're going 5 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 2: to start our time featuring an amazing activist Arthur and 6 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 2: I think a former podcaster because I haven't seen any 7 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 2: new podcasts from her specific one since twenty twenty two, 8 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 2: but you know she's still part of that crew. To me, 9 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 2: once you're in there, you're always in there, am I right? Annie? 10 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: I think so? 11 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 2: Okay? Anyway, So I'm talking about MICHAELA. Loach. Loach is 12 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 2: a British climate justice activist and many other things social 13 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 2: activists and organizer who's been using her voice, skills and 14 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: passion and fighting for the through different mediums to bring 15 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 2: awareness for human rights, social justice and climate justice as well, 16 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 2: all in one. She's all about that intersectional life and 17 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 2: she really does an amazing job in putting all of 18 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 2: that together and talking about why there are all interrelated, 19 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 2: which I think if you know anything about our podcast, 20 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 2: we absolutely hold to that and one can't be fixed 21 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 2: without the other needing to be fixed as well. So 22 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 2: moving on, So this is from her site Mikayla Loach 23 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 2: dot com. Quote Michaela's work is deeply rooted in community organizing. 24 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:35,119 Speaker 2: Her activism includes organizing with grassroots climate movements such as 25 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 2: Stop Cambo, Fossil Free Books, Resist Glencore and the UK 26 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 2: Black Eco Feminist Collective, conducting workshops at international climate justice 27 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 2: camps and at local schools, one of which even named 28 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 2: a classroom after her, and delivering keynote speeches at various 29 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 2: events ranging from community gatherings to large institutions, and appearances 30 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: on national TV and in the press. And there's such 31 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 2: a great feature of Loach's work in the Guardian article 32 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 2: where they actually talk about her childhood, so I wanted 33 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 2: to kind of talk about that as well, because she 34 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 2: does mention this throughout her different interviews. Lochu's upbringing laid 35 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 2: the seats for her defining belief in the power of 36 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 2: incremental change. She was born in Kingston to a Jamaican 37 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 2: mother and British father, and the family moved to a 38 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,399 Speaker 2: village in Surrey when she was two and a half. 39 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 2: Her mother now works in computer stuff and her dad 40 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 2: and pension stuff. What she with her gen Z perspective, 41 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: describes as conventional jobs that people have for many years. 42 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 2: Her family moved for the same reason as many people 43 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: who end up being part of the diaspora. Her parents 44 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 2: raised Loach and her younger brother to question the status quo, 45 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 2: armed with a breadth of historical knowledge not found in 46 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 2: UK texts or classrooms. So it's interesting because she does 47 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:50,079 Speaker 2: talk about her family teaching her so much of her history, 48 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 2: things that you couldn't see or you wouldn't find in 49 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: a regular classroom, because we know they try to take 50 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 2: out all of the darkness when it comes to the 51 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,959 Speaker 2: revolutions and war that happened, especially when it comes to colonialization, 52 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 2: and she talks about the fact that her father was 53 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:07,920 Speaker 2: very adamant that they learn about these events, specifically for 54 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 2: her own history and for her lineage. So she also 55 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 2: talks in an interview with Channel four dot com, which 56 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 2: is a news program in the UK, she talks about 57 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 2: her experience watching devastating disasters like Tsunamis destroying lands and homes, 58 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 2: and her being challenged by her father about what she 59 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 2: might do to help, which led to her having a 60 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 2: bake sell at her school to raise money or those impacted. 61 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 2: And she did talk about how yes she was young, 62 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 2: and you know, it seemed kind of silly for some 63 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 2: maybe because children were having a bake sale, but it 64 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 2: really taught her about community and how other students came 65 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 2: together joined her in this event, and realizing that this 66 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 2: was a bigger thing and others wanted to help as well. 67 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 2: So with all that, she continued to organize and rally 68 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 2: others to help, including speaking and publishing her own works. 69 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 2: So she has published two books so far. Again, we're 70 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 2: actually gonna probably read one of these BT douves, so 71 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 2: get a you know, go ahead and get you the copy. 72 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 2: The first book she publish is It's Not that Radical 73 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 2: Climate Action to Transform Our World, which she did in 74 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 2: twenty twenty three, and then she also published Climate Is 75 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: Just the Start, and that was released last year, so 76 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five. And here's a bit about her first 77 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 2: book from the Guardian dot com. And It's not that Radical. 78 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 2: Loach reframes the climate change debate, arguing that it requires 79 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 2: racial equality, a pathway to a better world for everyone, 80 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 2: regardless of class, color, where you live, or any other 81 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 2: stratification that currently shapes life. She wants everyone to know 82 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 2: that the climate crisis came from the systems of a 83 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 2: repression that caused people harm. Today they get beega one. 84 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,720 Speaker 2: According to her, I do see it as a part 85 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 2: of my calling in this movement to make the diaspora 86 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,919 Speaker 2: phil welcome, even though we didn't cause the crisis, and 87 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 2: it's not our fault. I think it's our responsibility because 88 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 2: we live in the core of the empire and in 89 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 2: the core of imperialism. Here we have a huge proximity 90 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 2: to power that our siblings on the African continent or 91 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 2: in Jamaica and all the Caribbeans don't have. So she 92 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:06,679 Speaker 2: has talked in depth of the intersectionality of climate change 93 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,280 Speaker 2: as well, calling out the imbalance of power and how 94 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 2: white supremacy and imperialism have welcomed and allowed for the climate 95 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: crisis to begin with. The Guardian continues saying both persist 96 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 2: today and need to be dismantled if climate justice a 97 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 2: better world for everybody is to be achieved. So from 98 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 2: another article from blogger Curious dot Earth, they talk about 99 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 2: the specific chapter from the book titled Beyond White Environmentalism, 100 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 2: saying this Loje expounds how white supremacy has not only 101 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 2: caused the climate crisis through colonialism, creating the blueprint for 102 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 2: the extra activism, exploitation, detachment from nature, devaluing of life, 103 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:46,359 Speaker 2: and violence still employed by fossil fuel companies today, but 104 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 2: has also quote made our climate movements sick by exclusion 105 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 2: and silencing the voices of those most impacted by the 106 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 2: crisis through its manifestation in white environmentalism. They emphasize the 107 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 2: need for balance between the creation of SAT safe regenerative 108 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 2: organizing spaces for bipock people to mobilize together, and for 109 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 2: mainstream organizing spaces to diversify and become safer and more 110 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 2: anti racists. Again, really big statement. I think that says 111 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 2: a lot in what we talked about previously and how 112 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 2: environmentalism climate justice has to be inclusive and how that 113 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 2: has to be intersectional as well, and who we're bringing 114 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 2: at the table in this conversation. But with that, she 115 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 2: has also published our second book, which is actually a 116 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 2: children's book. So here's a descriptor from goodreads dot com. 117 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 2: Kids hear about the climate crisis pretty much every day 118 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 2: from their parents, from their teachers, on social media, and 119 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 2: in the news. There's no escaping it. Against they brought 120 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: her backdrop of social inequity and unfairness it's easy for 121 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 2: young people to feel a sense of doom about everything 122 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 2: and to feel powerless, and climate is just the start. 123 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,919 Speaker 2: UK based climate activist MICHAELA. Loach offers her urgent and 124 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 2: inspiring messages for kids who want to stop the climate 125 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: crisis and start building a better world for everyone. Loach 126 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 2: explains the climate crisis and it's broader social implications through 127 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 2: personal stories about her activism journey. She writes about friends 128 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 2: from around the world who are experiencing the worst of 129 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 2: it today and about what they are doing to fight back. 130 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: She delivers a message of not only hope, but also 131 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 2: of excitement for the opportunity to create a sustainable future 132 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 2: for Earth and better lives for people in the process. 133 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 2: So that may be the book for this month. Listeners, 134 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 2: just a heads up. We'll see and yes she is 135 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 2: a woman of action. In twenty twenty three, she staged 136 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 2: a protest at the Edinburgh Book Fest for having fossil 137 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 2: fil companies as sponsors of the event. The Guardian again 138 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 2: covered this protest and they wrote this. She said to 139 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 2: the audience, I can't actually in good faith continue just 140 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 2: talking about these issues without doing something, especially given that 141 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 2: the festival is sponsored by an investment firm that is 142 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 2: bankrolling this climate crisis. In an emotional speech, the author said, 143 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 2: I think, especially recently, if you look across the world, 144 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 2: Maui is literally on fire, as we've seen right now. 145 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 2: So this was in twenty twenty three. Loach, who was 146 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 2: British and was born in Jamaica, added, I don't know 147 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: if my ancestral land will still be here if I 148 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 2: have children, or if I have descendants. The reason for 149 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 2: this is because of fossil fuel companies not caring about 150 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 2: the climate crisis, whether they say they do or not. 151 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 2: So we have to remove the finance from them, any 152 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 2: tactic that we can, we have to stop them from 153 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 2: being able to exist. So again, she has done so 154 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 2: much more. This is just one of the many events. 155 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 2: She has done, many more organizing and continues to do 156 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 2: much of our activism. She was a part of campaigns 157 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 2: with Climate Camp Scotland. She's been there to push back 158 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 2: against fast fashion and how they are unsustainable and so 159 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,719 Speaker 2: much more. As we talked about early and one of 160 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 2: the things that she's also talked about has been continued 161 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 2: to hold onto herself as a what she says soft 162 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 2: black girl, talking about wanting to be able to be 163 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:13,079 Speaker 2: still moved and compassionate about the things around her, allowing 164 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 2: her self to grieve and needed and being moved to action. 165 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 2: She even talks about wanting to wear pink because of 166 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 2: the stereotype that we hear for women who are in 167 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 2: charge or who are vocal about their activism, that oftentimes 168 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,839 Speaker 2: they're being painted as aggressive, and she wants to move 169 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,839 Speaker 2: away from that and to show her in herself. And 170 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 2: with all of that, she has many accolades under her belt, 171 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 2: including one of the most Influential Women in the Climate 172 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 2: Movement by Forbes and The Guardian and BBC Woman's Hour. 173 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 2: She was also featured as a world's Top thinker by 174 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 2: Prospect magazine. So yeah, she's doing a lot and continues 175 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 2: to do a lot, and I can't wait to see 176 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 2: more stuff from her. 177 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: Yes, well, listeners, be on the lookout for our book 178 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 1: pick of the month. I'm very excited about it. I 179 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 1: think it'll be fun. And Yes, if you have any 180 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: thoughts about who we should cover next, any other resources, 181 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: we would love to get those from you. You can 182 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: email us at Hello at Stuffannever Told You dot com. 183 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: You can find us on Blue Scott mom Stuff podcast 184 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: or on Instagram and TikTok at stuff. We Never Told You. 185 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: We're also on YouTube. We have some merchandise at Coop Bureau, 186 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 1: and we have a book you can get wherever you 187 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: get your books. Thanks, It's always too our super produced Christina, 188 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: our executive Prus And and your contributor Joey. 189 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 2: Thank you, Sorry. 190 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: Always, thank you, and we love you. We're sorry and 191 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 1: thanks to you for listening. Stuff I Never Told You 192 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: is production by Heart Radio. For more podcasts my heart Radio, 193 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: you can check out the heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 194 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.