6 February, 2024

Martha Henriques in London, UK Hello and welcome to this edition of Future Earth, coming to you this week from me, Martha Henriques, in London, UK. I'm one of Future Earth's editors, and I wanted you to meet Sarah Corbett, a climate activist unlike many you may have heard of. She's not a loud presence on protest frontlines, she doesn't wave too many placards, and acts of civil disobedience are not her thing. But as an articulate, thoughtful introvert, she's found her own way to make her voice heard. Carl will be back with you in two editions' time, and meanwhile we consider "forever jumpers" and the benefits of straw houses. CLIMATE CONVERSATION The paradox of the 'gentle protest' Craftwork is being used as a form of "gentle protest" for the climate. Credit: Craftivist Collection On a warm day on England's south coast in Christchurch, Dorset, a family set out hand-painted yellow chairs by the quayside. They were dressed in yellow, and settled down by the water with needles, spools of thread and sheets of yellow felt. It was a first for the English seaside town, in more ways than one.   Lorna Rees, a local resident, was making a string of yellow canaries out of felt with her family, including her mother Alex and her son Dylan. Their dog too, wore a fetching yellow felt collar. As the family worked and talked, passers-by stopped to ask what they were doing. They replied they were worried about the climate crisis, and planned to send their carefully crafted canaries to their local councillors.   It's not the typical scene that springs to mind when you picture a climate protest. But the "gentle protest" movement has been growing in popularity in Australia, Europe and North America. A stitching project devised by craftivist Sarah Corbett. Credit: Martha Henriques Rees' mother had never taken part in climate action before, nor been involved in any form of protest. "She would never wave a placard, there's no way," says Rees. "That's not something she would engage with."   Another first was the fact that the family were making a statement together, despite holding different political views. "We vote quite differently, but we could all be on board with this issue," says Rees. "We could all see there's something happening here that's beyond party politics." Picking up the thread Craftivism has been taken in different directions by grassroots groups around the world since its inception 20 years ago, from straightforward awareness-raising, to punk-inspired "yarn bombing" of public spaces, where trees, lampposts and postboxes are covered with knitted "graffiti". Not all forms are wholesome – more sinister varieties include creating voodoo dolls of world leaders.   Craftivists like Sarah Corbett believe in a quiet approach centred around handmade gifts created with empathy and kindness, which are then given to decision-makers, such as politicians or business leaders. She coined the term "gentle protest" in 2008 after feeling burnt out from conventional, confrontational forms of protest.   Today, Corbett's flat in south London is filled with cupboards, drawers and a stack of suitcases brimming with the tools of her trade – needles and thread, yarn and felt. Riffling through Corbett's meticulously ordered and labelled drawers, I pick out small stuffed white clouds embroidered with environmental messages, several stitch-the-dot cards (like connect-the-dots but with thread), and a handkerchief embroidered with a message to an MP. Crafting for change "We have questions for the crafter to think through while they're making, saying, 'If I was a politician, how difficult is my job? How can I encourage them and not demonise them? How can I hold them account but in a gentle, loving way?'" says Corbett.   While these crafted products often find their ways to politicians and business leaders, other influential leaders are picking up the thread. Malala Yousafzai, a female education activist who was awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, took part in one of Corbett's events (she's an excellent crafter, Corbett tells me: "I had to tell her to slow down, slow down"). Christina Figueres, architect of the Paris Agreement, wore an embroidered green heart made by Corbett on her sleeve to several public events.   It might seem counterintuitive that a form of protest that can be solitary, reflective and thoughtful has reached so many. Nor is it without its controversies and criticism, such as being a largely white and privileged activity. But for a quiet form of protest, its ripples have spread far and wide.   You can read the full story on the gentle protest movement on BBC Future Planet. NUMBER OF THE WEEK $2m The cost per mile of laying the US's first wireless charging road, in Detroit. Is this the future of transport?