Nature, Humanity, Potential

The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast

Join your co-hosts Stuart 'The Wildman' Mabbutt and William Mankelow as they tackle two thought-provoking questions sent in by listeners in this engaging episode of The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast.

Recorded in Stuart's garden, the duo dive into two intriguing queries that challenge perceptions of nature, society, and personal growth.

The first question they tackle is an epic one from Debs in Didcot, Oxfordshire, England, which is as follows:

“Humans, at the core, are selfish beings, as proved by many of us willingly locking down during the Covid pandemic, because we wanted to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities. Was nature considered in that? Biodiversity is often lost in many societies and cultures. How on earth do we put it back, or insert it afresh?

At the Oxfordshire RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Marsh Harriers bred for the first time four years ago, and I note there is a pub of the same name in Oxford. The RSPB could have purchased everyone in there a drink to celebrate, but they didn’t. These opportunities are almost always missed. 5000 road names in Oxfordshire, especially in Bicester and Oxford are named after aspects of nature, why isn’t that leveraged to raise awareness?

We need to stand in the shoes of nature to really understand the thread. I know of a farmer who stood in the shoes of a dung beetle during an event, and that really helped develop her perspective.

We really are a cancer on planet earth, and we really need to add nature's voice to governance. We really need to add more groups including cultural groups to this debate. Yet has anyone asked what aspect of nature these groups care about the most, as a way of understanding how to motivate them to get involved?

If a CEO of a business didn’t know this about their client base, they would be sacked. When trying to engage a wider demographic, and broaden it out from white middle aged people, should we be trying to attract them to our events, or getting involved with their events?”

In response to Debs' question Stuart and William offer a nuanced perspective on human behaviour and our relationship with nature. Stuart observes that the COVID-19 lockdowns demonstrate our tendency to follow rules and conform, at least initially, while William adds that this behaviour also reveals our inherent selfishness. Stuart points out that nature was largely overlooked during this period, highlighting our disconnect from the natural world. This prompts William to question whether selfishness is uniquely human or a trait shared by other species.

The second question they dive into in this episode is from Yenifer from which is as follows:

“Can we really be whatever we want to be?”

In response to Yenifer's question about personal potential, Stuart and William offer a balanced view on individual aspirations and societal constraints. Stuart cynically notes that our choices are limited by societal structures, mentioning the "old boy's network". William agrees but suggests using positive self-talk to shape our identity and goals.

What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠[e-mail]

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This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.

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