Plenary Event: The Lion and The Seed II

Air Date: 20 June, 2023

Dr. Vandana Shiva is an intellectual and activist from India, who has worked in a wide range of different fields inspiring change globally. Her activism is rooted in promoting counter-development and supporting grassroots networks, women’s rights and ecology. As the author of numerous important books and articles, Shiva has shown a lifetime interest in campaigning against genetic engineering and the negative impacts of globalisation, advocating for the crucial importance of preserving and celebrating biodiversity.

Shiva’s record has been that of the totally committed, very productive and effective activist-advocate-intellectual. As an activist, she has coordinated, supported and learned from grassroots networks on a wide range of issues across India. As an advocate, especially in international fora, she has proven to be one of the most articulate spokespersons of counter-development in favour of people-centred, participatory processes. As an intellectual, she has produced a stream of important books and articles, which have done much both to form and address the agenda of development debate and action.

Linda Tucker – After being rescued by a Tsonga medicine woman from a life-threatening encounter with a pride of lions in 1991, Linda Tucker gave up a career in International marketing to become a conservationist. Since this time, she has dedicated her life to the urgent protection of the critically endangered White Lions, venerated as the King of Kings by African elders. Despite their rarity and cultural importance, the White Lions have no protected status and may be trophy hunted in the wild and in captivity.