Episode 15 - Green Politics and Activism with Rachel Smith-Lyte

COP26, the conference hoping to bring the world together to fight the climate emergency, is now over. 

Media attention has led to a growing awareness of the danger that faces us, although some are still blissfully ignorant. But there are many people who've been focused on 'green issues'  for decades - researching, campaigning and now actively protesting - calling for leadership and the changes that need to happen if we are going to protect life on our planet.

In this episode Where Does It Come From? founder Jo Salter chats with Rachel Smith-Lyte.  A long-time eco-activist with Greenpeace and later Extinction Rebellion, Rachel realised that with the looming climate and biodiversity crisis, she needed to get involved politically.  She joined the Green Party in 2011 and has stood three times in local elections, including in the 2015 General Election where she gained 6% of the vote share (thus retaining the deposit for the first time). In May 2019 Rachel secured her first seat on the new East Suffolk Council – the first Green to be elected in the old Suffolk Coastal district.  

As an activist Rachel attended COP26 and has taken part in Extinction Rebellion protests.

The Green Party - https://vote.greenparty.org.uk/

Extinction Rebellion - https://extinctionrebellion.uk/

The People versus Climate Change (on iplayer) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p097sbzc

Extinction Rebellion East of England - https://xreoe.earth/events

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk