It’s July. And here at our headquarters in the northern hemisphere that means that we’re smack dab in the middle of summer. Days are hot, and our cravings for popsicles and beach reads are the strongest they’ve been all year.
For those looking for a little more insight from your reading material this season, look no further. Our staff has compiled the below list of our favorite books, podcasts, and films related to environmental issues and human rights.
Watch
- “Chasing Coral”: Coral reefs around the world are rapidly disappearing, sparking a team of divers, photographers and scientists to set out and figure out why. This film captures how exactly climate change is affecting our marine ecosystems, and why it’s not too late to reverse the effects. Now available on Netflix.
- “Berta Vive”: Berta Cáceres, an indigenous Honduran activist, dedicated her life to defending the Lenca territories against the construction of a dam on the Gualcarque River. On March 2, 2016, Berta was murdered for her efforts to protect the river sacred to her community. This documentary is a reflection on the life and death of Berta, a woman whose struggle has brought worldwide attention to environmental defenders and the threats they face.
Listen
- “Stepping Up”: This podcast highlights the stories of climate advocates taking action in unexpected ways. The first episode is called “The Loudest Smallest Voices,” and features a group of twelve year olds working to save the oceans from climate change.
- “Will Giving the Ganges Human Rights Protect the Polluted River?” – Featured on All Things Considered, this podcast explores what giving rights to a river really means for the future of a waterway that serves as a lifeline for 500 million people.
Read
- Blood and Earth: Modern Slavery, Ecocide, and the Secret to Saving the World by Kevin Bales: Offering a powerful examination of the correlation between environmental destruction and human trafficking, the author, Kevin Bales, follows up with next steps on how to save the planet we share.
- No is Not Enough by Naomi Klein: Written by acclaimed author and activist Naomi Klein, this book warns of the toxic potential of the Trump presidency and calls for unified action and resistance.
- Smart Risks: How small grants are helping to solve some of the world’s biggest problems edited by Jennifer Lentfer and Tanya Cothran: Sponsored by our friends at Thousand Currents, this book features thirty essays written by twenty two authors examining the impacts of grassroots grantmaking in the Global South. For anyone interested in global poverty and social injustice, the book shows how and why relationships with grassroots leaders, organizations, and movements is “worth the risk”.
- Defenders of the Earth: In 2016, four environmental defenders were murdered each week for standing up to corporations threatening their land, resources, livelihoods, and ways of life. This report from Global Witness takes an in-depth look at why being an environmental activist is more dangerous now than ever before.
For more recommendations, check out our reading list from last year.