On 11 October 2019, a group of writers congregated in Trafalgar Square to protest against climate change as part of Extinction Rebellion’s October Uprising. In a four-hour marathon of readings from novelists, poets, screenwriters and academics, writers insisted on the responsibility of artists to address our climate crisis. But can their protest make a difference? How do writers regard their role in leading social change? And does literature have to be about climate change to alter political and social action to save our environment?

Chloe Aridjis is a London-based Mexican novelist and writer. 

A.L. Kennedy (@Writerer) is a Scottish writer, academic and stand-up comedian. 

Daljit Nagra is is a British poet whose debut collection was published by Faber in February 2007.

Ganga Shreedhar (@geeshree) is Assistant Professor in Behavioural Science at LSE. 

Rebecca Elliott (@RebsFE) is Assistant Professor of Sociology at LSE.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEFestival

This event forms part of the “Shape the World” series, held in the run up to the LSE Festival, a week-long series of events taking place from Monday 2 to Saturday 7 March 2020, free to attend and open to all, exploring how social sciences can make the world a better place.

Podcast

A podcast of this event is available to download from Writers Rebel.

Podcasts and videos of many LSE events can be found at the LSE Public Lectures and Events: podcasts and videos channel.