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There are growing calls for the crime of "ecocide", meaning mass damage and destruction of ecosystems, to be recognised in international criminal law. This would ensure that individuals, company directors, CEOs, can be prosecuted for the ecological damage caused by the organisations they head up, like oil spills, deforestation, or soil pollution, wherever these organisations may be. Could this be the missing piece in the broader battle against climate change? Is it workable? And what are the steps to get there? We interview Jojo Mehta, executive director and co-founder of Stop Ecocide International, to find out. More info about Stop Ecocide International: https://www.stopecocide.earth/
Mentioned in the podcast
Stop Ecocide International Young Climate Activists Lead Blockade at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Eradicating Ecocide by Polly Higgins The World We Made by Jonathon Porritt #futuregen, Lessons from a Small Country by Jane Davidson

Not so long ago, the term “green politics” had a much more radical meaning, and a vote for a Green party was a vote for climate justice. Green parties have benefitted politically from the impact of growing movements like Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion. They have entered government in countries like Germany and Austria, partnering with far-right parties in the process. In Germany, they are razing villages to open the way for new coal mining, while the world is careening towards the crucial 1.5 °C mark in the average global temperature rise. And when it comes to world affairs, while previously firmly anti-war, some are now taking pro-war stances. In addition to this, terms like “green” and “sustainable” are being coopted by politicians and corporations alike (with the EU’s recent Beyond Growth Conference providing some fresh examples). What happened? Our team, including Yanis Varoufakis, Julijana Zita and Dusan Pajovic, investigates.

In the next few days, we’ll make history: for the first time ever, an international left-wing movement will be running in elections in two different countries, just a week apart. Our political parties MERA25 will be on the ballot in general elections in Greece, and in the German state of Bremen. In a sense, these two bids couldn’t be more different. In Greece, our party has been in parliament for four years, and we’re led by a former finance minister. In Bremen, we’re building something from the ground up, with a dedicated local group of mostly first-time activists. But both cases are a chance for us to put DiEM25's groundbreaking proposals, radicality and spirit of internationalism to the electorate. So on tonight’s livestream, we’ll be checking in with the candidates and campaign teams. What is electoral campaigning like in 2023? What challenges have they faced? And what’s the historic significance of the coming few days?

Speaking during an official visit to China, Emmanuel Macron said that Europe should chart its own course and be a 'third pole' in world affairs between Washington and Beijing – and not be a vassal to either as the New Cold War threatens to escalate. Unsurprisingly, his comments have caused unease among many European leaders, for whom unquestioned alignment with Washington is the only way. Is Europe today “a vassal” of the US? And if we were to chart our own course, what should that look like? We’ll explore these questions in detail – including how they relate to DiEM25’s campaign for a New Non-Aligned Movement.

Why is housing broken in so many countries in Europe? And how can a political party that goes beyond national borders make sure that having a roof over your head goes back to what it should always be: a basic right? Join activists from our political parties – MERA25 Germany, MERA25 Italy, and MERA25 Greece – as we debate this, and much more, in the first episode of MERA25 Talks!

Join Yanis Varoufakis and the coordinating team of DiEM25 for a live discussion on the potential impact of AI on our lives, in light of the recent release of GPT-4. We’ll explore the ways in which AI could revolutionise the political landscape, potentially altering the way decisions are made and how we engage with our leaders. We’ll look at the implications of AI on the job market, on activism, and on people’s lives more broadly. And, of course, we’ll take your questions and comments. Tune in!