How do we protect “The Right to be Cold”?

We are delighted to invite you to join us at the British Library, October 28 at 7 pm to hear Canadian Inuit activist and Nobel nominee Siila Watt-Cloutier in conversation with Dr Polly Russell.  In the lead up to the much-anticipated COP-26, Siila will be sharing her thoughts on the current environmental crisis and what’s required to address the challenges. Siila’s presentation is the cornerstone of three days of British Library workshops called  Living Nature:  Art, Science and Indigenous Knowledge. Through the lens of art, science and indigenous wisdom, the  programme of talks, discussion and performance is designed to reimagine the potential of human relationships with nature.

A week before the COP 26 climate change conference, Living Nature will bring together leading artists, scientists and indigenous figures to join the audience in exploring questions such as what can humans learn from the rest of life? What do creativity and diversity bring to a threatened planet? Why is it critical to listen to indigenous voices now?

The event is a hybrid, ie you are warmly welcomed to either attend in person at the British Library, or view  online, as you prefer.  Tickets are available through the British Library by registering now.

More about Siila Watt-Cloutier and Polly Russell

 Sheila Watt-Cloutier is an Environment, Cultural and Human Rights Advocate and has for decades represented the issues pertaining to the protection of Inuit culture and the Arctic. In 1995 she was elected President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC). As its spokesperson, she played a critical role in the UN negotiations to ban the use of Persistent Organic Pollutants which had been polluting the Arctic food chain. More recently, Watt-Cloutier has focused upon the impact of climate change on Inuit communities. As Chair of ICC representing the four countries of Canada, Alaska, USA, Greenland and Russia where 165,000 reside, in 2007 she launched the first legal petition to the Inter American Commission on Human Rights, linking climate change to human rights. She received a 2015 Right Livelihood Award for her work on climate change in the Arctic and has been awarded the Aboriginal Achievement Award, the UN Champion of the Earth Award, and the prestigious Norwegian Sophie Medal. In 2007 Watt-Cloutier was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Her book, The Right to be Cold, about the effects of climate change on Inuit communities, was published in 2015.   

Polly Russell is Head of the Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library. Polly read American & Commonwealth Arts at Exeter University, was awarded a Masters in Journalism at Louisiana State University and holds a PhD in Human Geography from the University of Sheffield.  Her research focusses on twentieth century women’s activism and feminism as well as the history and politics of food. Since 2012 Polly has had a column in the Financial Times Saturday magazine, The History Cook and she is the historical presenter on the BBC2 history series Back in Time.