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One Planet: 10/09/2009

Factual: Science & Nature

10/09/2009

BBC World Service - One Planet, 10/09/2009

Mike tackles Patrick Moore, learns about tidy India and hears from Jamaican mums

We don't set out to be controversial on One Planet - just to provide a platform for views and opinions on development and the environment that might teach us something. The team don't have the answers to our problems, so we're searching for them, and helpfully you'll find some with us along the way. But controversy is, I suspect, going to come from an interview Mike's just finished with the environmentalist Patrick Moore.

Patrick is a former director of Greenpeace International, and was in fact one of the select band of people involved in the organisation's first ever direct action some 38 years ago. He left in the late 1980s, and now runs a consultancy business advising companies on sustainability. But he's not worried about ruffling the feathers of his former colleagues. Have a read of some of the views he expressed during our interview:  

"I do not believe that we know for certain that we are causing global warming or climate change. I believe the subject is so much more complex than we understand."

"In retrospect it's clear to me, that myself and all the rest of us made a very serious mistake in lumping nuclear energy with nuclear weapons... Nuclear energy uses radioactive substances to produce energy that is emissions free, and greenhouse gas emissions to boot."

Whether you share his views or not, I'm sure you'll agree it's interesting to hear these opinions from someone who spent so many years at the top of one of the world's largest environment organisations. 

Also in this week's show, we visited the cleanest village in India, and explore the idea of an individual's responsibility to the environment. Plus, one year on from the global financial crisis, we look at what developing nations are doing to help the poorest cushion the blow of the downturn.

As ever, tune in or download and have a listen. Let us know what you think. Mike covered a whole range of issues with Patrick, I'm sure you've got a view on some of the opinions expressed - email us at oneplanet@bbc.com. We read and reply to every email (except those offering body part enhancements). And remember, you can always join in the debate on our Facebook site.

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