Session Twenty-Two
Happy New Year, 2026!
It’s been a bleak start to the year for all of us concerned with the world today. The disturbingly brazen attack on Venezuela is a stark reminder of the role of brute force, military power, and war, to obtain valuable resources. It’s a relationship that extends across history, the world, and runs much deeper than what we might see on TV.
Wind and solar are a milestone improvement to keep warm for less money and emissions, but mining the resources we need for a fossil-free future falls far short of what we should expect from just transition. Critically, mining continues to rely on deadly force and weaponry to control land and people, unearth precious metals and minerals, leaving destruction in its wake.
This month, for our Fuel For Thought educational, we’re looking at the close relationship between renewables, mining, warfare, and the military. Why resisting militarism is central to achieving fair renewables and affordable energy that’s under the control of people and communities, and how we can get there.
🗓️ Thursday, 22nd January
⏰ 6.30PM GMT
🌐 Online, RSVP for the link
Confirmed speakers include:
🌟 Daniel Selwyn | Researcher and educator with the London Mining Network. Daniel’s research focuses on the intersections between resource extraction, the arms trade and British Imperialism.
🌟 Lorah Steichen | Global Systems and Policy Manager at the Climate and Community Institute (CCI). Lorah leads research and strategy development on international financial systems, militarism, and global industrial policy.
🌟 Dr. Phillip Johnstone | Visiting Professor University of Tartu, Postdoctoral researcher University of Utrecht, Visiting Research Fellow, University of Sussex. Philip has a background in Human Geography and Science and Technology Studies interested in the political and democratic implications of sociotechnical change and innovation.
