The DRIFT Transitions Podcast

For the first season of the DRIFT Transitions Podcast, we are republishing a number of English-language episodes on transition science and practice that we previously recorded for our Dutch-language channel.

What is it like to work on environmental and human rights issues from both ends, so from both the Global South (or majority world) and the Global North? And not to work *for* but *with* global organisations that are seeking justice, pointing out that those in power have to be more inclusive?

In this episode from 2023, we sat down with Daniëlle Hirsch. Daniëlle has since become a member of the Dutch House of Representatives for the Dutch green party GroenLinks, but at the time of recording, she was a politican as well as director of Both ENDS. This Netherlands-based environmental and human rights organization devoted to funding, knowledge-sharing and policy work within a large global network of civil society actors.

If Dutch pension funds invest in a Ugandan oil pipeline that spells tragedy for local communities and a liveable planet, Both ENDS connects Ugandan experiences with Dutch conversations. And Daniëlle also speaks of campaigning with indigenous leader and environmental activist Berta Cáceres against Dutch development bank FMO’s activities in Honduras. Sadly, Berta was killed.

And though it may not be what researchers like to hear, Daniëlle doesn’t define justice as such in her work. Instead, she is fiercely devoted to the process. Do we organize processes to share power? Are enough ‘powerless’ voices included to ensure suffering stops? And why does the Netherlands have such a specific ‘do-gooder’ self-image on the global stage?

Handy links:
Both ENDS website: https://www.bothends.org/en/
Guardian photo journalism on Uganda’s East Africa Oil Pipeline: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/gallery/2023/feb/24/counting-the-cost-of-ugandas-east-africa-oil-pipeline
Slain Honduran activist’s daughter seeks criminal probe (Al Jazeera): https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/7/18/slain-honduran-activists-daughter-seeks-criminal-probe

For more transition know-how and how-to, please go to https://drift.eur.nl 
 
Thanks to: Audrey Wientjes for voice-over, Marius Kooij for editing, Igno Notermans for producing, Walvisnest for music, Lieven Heeremans for all sorts of advice and all our DRIFT colleagues for support and inspiration.

What is The DRIFT Transitions Podcast?

How is it that societies can plot the same course for years and years and then suddenly change at lightning speed? And why do sustainable innovations seem to pop up everywhere, while so few of them truly break through?

To understand this, perhaps a new perspective on fundamental change can help. If we want to grasp how our society can truly transform, we must look at it through the lens of transition thinking.

In this show, Wouter Mulders and a rotating cast of colleagues speak to a number of theoretical and practical experts about transition science. Because by understanding transitions toward sustainability and justice, we can also accelerate them—or at least, that’s what we hope.

The DRIFT Transitions Podcast is produced by DRIFT, the Dutch Research Institute for Transitions, part of Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands.