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I was kindly invited to attend the “Climate Criminals: Is It Illegal to Save Our Planet?” Science Speakeasy Event at Life Science Centre in Newcastle so thought I’d share an honest review.
To accompany me I invited my not so little brother Patrick to join me for the night.
Unbelievably this was his first ever time at the Life Science Centre in Newcastle, I will definitely have to take him for a a visit during the day!
I studied sociology at Newcastle University and was chuffed to hear there were a few sociologists on the panel for this Science Speakeasy event.
“Climate Criminals: Is It Illegal to Save Our Planet?” Science Speakeasy Event at Life Science Centre was held on Thursday 19 September 2024.
This adult event is part of Life’s Science Speakeasy programme – a series in which important and often controversial topics are debated in a quirky and informal way.
No topic is taboo, so these events are not suitable for anyone who is easily offended!
The team do, however, ensure that all discussion is based on correct science to avoid the spread of misinformation.
Questions to the panel are encouraged, or you can just sit back and enjoy the event.
Limited tickets available.
Pay bar available on the evening.
So join under Gaia – the mesmerising 7 metre recreation of Earth – for a fun evening of lively debate.
The “Climate Criminals: Is It Illegal to Save Our Planet?” Science Speakeasy Event was an eye-opening and thought-provoking discussion that tackled some of the most urgent and controversial topics surrounding the climate crisis.
The evening was not only informative but also challenged the audience to think critically about the legal and moral lines of activism.
We arrived at the Life Science Centre with about twenty minutes to spare.
After having our tickets scanned at the desk near the entrance we headed to the bar for some soft drinks before finding a seat under the Gaia – the mesmerising 7 metre recreation of Earth.
One of the highlights was hearing from Anna Holland, who recounted her involvement in the high-profile protest where she and a partner threw soap over Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers painting.
While many may remember this as an act of vandalism, Anna provided a deeper perspective, explaining that after years of peaceful activism and advocacy that saw little impact, they felt forced to take more radical action to draw attention to the climate crisis.
Importantly, only the frame was damaged, as the painting itself was protected by glass.
Despite the minimal damage, Anna and her partner now face the possibility of imprisonment, sparking discussion on whether civil disobedience should be criminalised when it aims to highlight issues as pressing as climate change.
The panel delved into broader systemic issues, particularly the role of large polluting industries like oil and energy corporations.
I found the look back through history at other large-scale political movement such as the Suffragettes fight for women’s rights to vote and the civil rights movement in America fighting for voting and other rights for African Americans really fascinating.
The discussion around how these movements galvanised people on mass in a way that current climate activist groups struggle to replicate was particularly compelling to the sociologist in me!
And both Patrick and I were interested to hear about steering toward the idea of reclaiming public control of assets currently held by these powerful industries, which many feel are contributing disproportionately to environmental degradation.
The notion of how to redistribute power and wealth to tackle these crises effectively was a recurring theme.
A particularly intriguing point raised, was the findings from a survey of global extinction protesters at major demonstrations.
Contrary to popular belief, education, not age or ethnicity, was found to be the most significant factor among protesters, with 90% having attained at least a degree-level education.
This insight added nuance to the discussion, demonstrating that climate activism is often driven by informed individuals who are aware of the scientific and social implications of the crisis.
I felt that this was more than just a discussion—it was a call to rethink the boundaries of activism and responsibility in the fight against climate change.
Both Patrick and I really enjoyed the event, I thought it was chaired well and although only a few audience questions were able to be answered it was a really engaging and thought-provoking evening.
There’s a whole calendar of after hours adult events hosted at which all sound worthy of a visit.
The next Science Speakeasy is on Thursday 7 November and is entitled Mind the (Generation) Gap delving into the sterotypes around the different generations.
Tickets are on sale now for £10 per person available on the Life Science Centre website.
This review has been written with 100% honesty.
I was not financially compensated for this post. I was invited to this show in return for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this post are completely my own based on my own experience.
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