There’s a mega climate problem with our megacities

Greening our cities makes them more liveable and more sustainable, but is this coming at too high a cost for some? Today, about 56 percent of the world’s population is urban; by 2050, it will be nearly 70 percent. Cities have the potential to be really efficient hubs of humanity that can support sustainable living; however, many of them haven’t been designed that way. So urban planners around the world are trying to create “green” or “smart” cities. But how green and smart are these urban innovations? And do they result in a greener city for everyone, or just a chosen few? In the fifth episode of All Hail The Planet – a series delving into the social, economic and political forces undermining meaningful global action on climate change – Ali Rae speaks with the director of the African Centre for Cities, Edgar Pieterse; the director of the Barcelona Lab for Urban Environmental Justice & Sustainability, Isabelle Anguelovski; and a professor of urban planning at the University of Lagos, Taibat Lawanson.

Our plastic problems are worse than you think

Why we can’t recycle our way out of the planet’s plastic crisis. Plastics are the lifeblood of a modern culture of speed, convenience and disposability – but we rarely stop to ask: Where does it all come from? What a lot of people don’t realise is that 98 percent of the inputs of plastics are fossil fuels. Extracting these fossil fuels are just the start of a long chain of toxic processes involved in the lifecycle of plastic. In the fourth episode of All Hail The Planet – a series delving into the social, economic and political forces undermining meaningful global action on climate change – Ali Rae speaks with co-executive director of Greenpeace USA, Annie Leonard; “Cancer Alley” campaigner, Sharon Lavigne; and environmental engineer; Yuyun Ismawati.

Do Carbon Offsets Even Work

In this episode, Ali speaks with environmental justice researcher, Joanna Cabello; executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, Tom Goldtooth; and professor in environmental modelling, Britaldo Silveira Soares Filho, about the realities of carbon offsets, global carbon markets and so-called ""nature-based solutions"".

Green Tech Can't Save Us

“Earth’s resources are limited - but human ingenuity is infinite!” That's the belief at the heart of the techno-optimist view that technology and innovation can provide solutions to the ecological breakdown. But are tech innovations actually delaying the most crucial climate action of all - slashing emissions? In this episode, Ali speaks with environmental justice researcher, Joanna Cabello; executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, Tom Goldtooth; and professor in environmental modelling, Britaldo Silveira Soares Filho, about the realities of carbon offsets, global carbon markets and so-called "nature-based solutions".

Food, photography and social justice

Asma Khan is the first British chef to feature on Netflix's Emmy-nominated Chef’s Table. She uses her restaurant, Darjeeling Express, as a social enterprise to elevate those working behind the scenes in the food industry and to promote the breaking of bread to break barriers. Syrian refugee and photographer Hassan Akkad documented his crossing in 2015 as part of a BAFTA-winning BBC series called Exodus: Our Journey to Europe. Hassan's political activism helped change a United Kingdom policy benefitting healthcare workers during the pandemic. In Part 2 of Studio B: Unscripted, Asma and Hassan discuss problematic social hierarchies and how to shake them.

Can you really argue with a racist?

Adam Rutherford is a geneticist, broadcaster and author of the book How to Argue with a Racist. Faiza Shaheen is an economist and activist who grew up in a working-class immigrant family in London and currently leads a project on global inequality at NYU. In Part 2 of their conversation, Adam and Faiza discuss the challenges they face as public figures standing up to racism and explore how to build a more inclusive society after the ravages of a global pandemic.

Inequality, race and pseudoscience

Adam Rutherford is a geneticist and author. In his latest book, How to Argue with a Racist, he provides the tools to dismantle the myth of biological race. Faiza Shaheen is an economist, activist and one-time candidate for the Labour Party, United Kingdom. Using statistics, she exposes how class, gender and racial prejudice are institutionalised in our economies. In this episode, Adam and Faiza discuss how to combat racism in their respective fields of genetics and economics. They also examine the legacy of empire and how this has affected notions of identity and belonging at a time of polarisation and distrust.

Rewriting stories of migration

Asma Khan, the first British chef to feature on Netflix's Emmy-nominated Chef’s Table, uses her restaurant Darjeeling Express as a social enterprise to elevate those working behind the scenes in the food industry and beyond. Syrian refugee and photographer Hassan Akkad documented his crossing in 2015 as part of a BAFTA-winning BBC series called Exodus: Our Journey to Europe. As an activist, he has been outspoken on issues of inequality - from Black Lives Matter to the need to respect health service support staff. Together they discuss how they use their tools - food and a camera lens - to combat injustice.

Greenwashing and fast fashion

Sustainability writer and stylist Aja Barber has made it her mission to call out big brands on their environmental and workers’ rights records. In her upcoming book, Consumed, she addresses problems with the fashion industry. Executive director of anti-poverty charity War on Want, Asad Rehman has spent more than 25 years as a climate and social justice activist working with global movements and front-line communities. Aja and Asad break down why they believe modern economic structures are flawed by design and how the fast fashion industry is a microcosm of an unfair and unsustainable system.

Alain de Botton and Ayishat Akanbi Pt.1

On this episode of Studio B Unscripted, philosopher Alain de Botton is in conversation with stylist and social commentator Ayishat Akanbi. Part1

Elif Shafak and Wole Soyinka Pt.2

In this episode of Studio B: Unscripted, renowned novelist and academic Elif Shafak sits down with award-winning playwright and essayist Wole Soyinka to talk nationalism, safe spaces, and the role of storytellers in the modern age. Part 2

Alain de Botton and Ayishat Akanbi Pt.2

On this episode of Studio B Unscripted, philosopher Alain de Botton is in conversation with stylist and social commentator Ayishat Akanbi. This meeting of two minds from different backgrounds explores a range of topics from ancient Greek tragedies and Russian literature, to racism, social media and loneliness. The topics of conversation revolve around the nature of good vs evil, the notion of empathy towards others and how emotional intelligence can be a vehicle towards a better society for all.

Neocolonialism and the Green New Deal

Executive director of the anti-poverty charity War on Want, Asad Rehman has spent more than 25 years as a climate and social justice activist working with movements and front-line communities across the globe. Sustainability writer Aja Barber has made it her mission to call out big brands on their environmental and workers’ rights records. In part two of Studio B: Unscripted, Aja and Asad talk about what at times alienated them from the climate movement, whether the individual can really make a difference to climate change and if the Green New Deal could actually reinforce inequality rather than alleviate it.

Feeding the Billions: A New Frontier for Sustainable Eating

Zero waste restaurant and jellyfish dinners: Alternative food solutions could help alleviate an impending food crisis. With global demand for food set to increase by nearly 70 percent by 2050, sustainable food production is one of the biggest challenges for the future. The food industry is one of the most ecologically damaging industries and we will need to completely rethink its approach if we are to keep meals on the table for generations to come.

Reimagining Plastic: Turning Waste into Products

Bottle boats in Cameroon and recycled gum in Britain: How to tackle the scourge of plastic waste plaguing our planet. The explosion of plastic waste across the globe is threatening the very survival of life on the planet. Every year, up to 12 million metric tonnes of plastic enter our oceans, and plastic waste in the environment is set to triple in the next decade – poisoning marine life, littering landscapes and clogging waterways. earthrise went to Cameroon and the UK to look at solutions to ridding the world of our most pressing waste.

Life After Conflict: Healing the Environmental Wounds of War

Earthrise looks at ways of healing one of the silent and often forgotten casualties of war – the environment. In conflict, one of the silent and forgotten casualties is often the environment. From the chemical contamination of soils with chemicals and the collapse of water and food supplies to the habitat damage caused by displacement, war has devastating consequences. Not only man-made infrastructures, but also natural ecosystems are destroyed and lives lost. But even amid the most vicious struggles, there are people fighting to protect the world we live in and recover what was lost.

The People’s Voice: Fight for our Environmental Future

Earthrise learns about the social movements fighting for our environmental future before humanity reaches a point of no return. As the adverse effects of the climate crisis intensify, many believe governments around the world are responding too slowly. It is now unlikely that the Paris Agreement target of keeping the rise in global temperatures below two degrees will be met unless there is immediate action taken to prevent further warming. This episode of earthrise visits those putting themselves on the line and pushing for urgent climate policy reform before humanity reaches a point of no return.

Rewilding Patagonia: Chile’s Great Conservation Leap Forward

A 304,000-hectare national park in Chile is being brought back to life by restoring the land to nature. Three-quarters of all land on Earth is now significantly affected by human activity and the few remaining pockets of wilderness are themselves at risk of becoming ecological deserts. Agriculture, industry, urbanisation, climate change – all these are decimating ecosystems and destroying biodiversity. Some 60 percent of the world’s animals have been wiped out since the 1970s. earthrise heads to Patagonia in Chile, where a 304,000-hectare national park is being brought back to life.

Wild Recovery: Protecting nature and preventing the next pandemic

Earthrise looks at protecting wildlife and preventing pandemics through the stories of two endangered mammals which have been investigated for links to COVID-19. Covid-19 is just one of many illnesses that have spilled over to us from wildlife. Its exact origins are unknown but investigations have been carried out into the likes of bats and pangolins. Some species of these mammals are amongst the one million plants and animals threatened with extinction.

Fixing the Food Cycle

Earthrise travels to Kenya and South Korea to look at two initiatives redressing some of the imbalances in our global food system. Our global food system is topsy-turvy. It fuels climate change, degrades land, pollutes soil and water supplies and wipes out wildlife, including the pollinators we need for our crops. So it is actually robbing us of the ability to feed our growing population. At the same time, we are wasting what we have: 1.3 billion tonnes of perfectly edible food are binned each year while nearly 700 million people go hungry. In Kenya, we meet the smallholders working with soil scientists to restore degraded land while improving yields. And in South Korea, Babel Films explores how one of the world’s most efficient recycling programmes is putting food waste to good use.

Change of Power: The green energy transition

Earthrise goes to Norway and the Orkney Islands in the UK to explore two solutions with a part to play in the transition to a carbon neutral world. The world is in the middle of the biggest economic transition since the Industrial Revolution. The hegemony of fossil fuels is being challenged as the price of renewables comes down. But there is still a long way to go. Global greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by 2030 to have any hope of reaching net-zero by 2050. With reports by Cassie Farrell in the UK and Inspire Films in Norway, this programme explores the green society that could be ours.

Natural Wisdom: Indigenous communities and defending biodiversity

Earthrise meets two indigenous communities in Brazil and Australia protecting unique ecosystems in their territories. Being in tune with nature used to be instinctive for all humans. It was a matter of survival. But over the centuries, as we urbanised and industrialised, the connection has become weaker. But Indigenous communities around the world have not forgotten what it means to live in harmony with Earth. They make up around 5 percent of the world’s population and yet safeguard 80 percent of the planet’s biodiversity. The natural wealth they defend makes them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

Healthy Eating: What to do about meat and dairy?

Earthrise goes to the UK and Chile to explore ways to break our addiction to animal protein and eat dishes that are healthy for both people and the planet. As populations grow and incomes rise, we are eating more and more meat and dairy. Intensive livestock farming, however, requires huge amounts of resources and is highly polluting. Yet, animal protein is essential to the 1.3 billion people who depend on livestock to survive. So, what is the solution? To forego animal protein? Eat less of it? Or get it from sustainable and ethical sources? With reports from We Are South in Chile and Cassie Farrell in the UK, we see that diets can be good not only for people but also for the planet.

Gurinder Chadha and Skin Pt.2

Gurinder Chadha is a multi-award winning film director and producer, whose box office hits include Bend it Like Beckham and Blinded by the Light. Chadha was the first British-Asian woman to direct a full-length feature film in the United Kingdom. In Part 2, Gurinder Chadha and Skin discuss the importance of using cinema and music to champion new forms of hybrid identity and they reflect on the challenges of ensuring greater diversity and inclusion in the creative industries

Gurinder Chadha and Skin Pt.1

Gurinder Chadha is a multi-award winning film director and producer, whose box office hits include Bend it Like Beckham and Blinded by the Light. Chadha was the first British-Asian woman to direct a full-length feature film in the United Kingdom. In this episode, Chadha and Skin share their experiences of growing up as second-generation immigrants and coming to terms with their identities. They discuss marginalisation, empowerment, and what pushed them to forge new creative paths in the worlds of music and cinema.

Ai Weiwei and Anish Kapoor Pt.2

Ai Weiwei is one of the world’s most influential living artists and activists, known for addressing human rights and freedom of expression issues through his work. Sculptor and installation artist Anish Kapoor has created large-scale artworks across the globe that challenge us to engage subjectively with them. In Part 2 of Studio B: Unscripted, Ai and Kapoor explore the idea of “home” and belonging in a globalised world, as well as the changing face of art today.

Ai Weiwei and Anish Kapoor Pt.1

Ai Weiwei is one of the world’s most influential living artists and activists, known for addressing human rights and freedom of expression issues through his work. Sculptor and installation artist Anish Kapoor has created large-scale artworks across the globe that challenge us to engage subjectively with them. The two global icons compare notes on freedom of expression, how art can challenge power, and what subversive art looks like today.

Kumi Naidoo & Winona LaDuke Pt.1

Author, economist and two-time vice presidential candidate of the US Green Party, Winona LaDuke, is co-founder of Honor the Earth, a non-profit organisation dedicated to environmental and Indigenous rights. An anti-apartheid activist from age 15, Kumi Naidoo later helped with South Africa’s inaugural democratic election. He went on to head Greenpeace and Amnesty International, and is currently Global Ambassador for Africans Rising. In Part 1, they discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic is a wake-up call for major system redesign.

Kumi Naidoo & Winona LaDuke Pt.2

Author, economist and two-time vice presidential candidate of the US Green Party, Winona LaDuke, is co-founder of Honor the Earth, a non-profit organisation dedicated to environmental and Indigenous rights. An anti-apartheid activist from age 15, Kumi Naidoo later helped with South Africa’s inaugural democratic election. He went on to head Greenpeace and Amnesty International, and is currently Global Ambassador for Africans Rising. In Part 2, they discuss lessons from Indigenous knowledge and the anti-apartheid struggle for the climate movement.

Maria Ressa and Christopher Wylie Pt.1

In this episode of Studio B: Unscripted award-winning Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and Cambridge Analytica whistle-blower Christopher Wylie discuss the weaponisation of information and how social media threatens democracy around the world. Pt 1

Maria Ressa and Christopher Wylie Pt.2

In this episode of Studio B: Unscripted award-winning Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and Cambridge Analytica whistle-blower Christopher Wylie discuss the weaponisation of information and how social media threatens democracy around the world. Pt 2

The Scottish islanders trying to save their vanishing population

Scotland’s Outer Hebrides look idyllic. But the population is plummeting. A Sense of Community meets those fighting to save their island way of life. Scotland’s Outer Hebrides are known for their spectacular cliffs, pristine white sand beaches, wildlife and rich history. Residents live in small towns and villages scattered across 15 islands. But today, these communities are under threat.

Raising champions: The Kenyan runners confronting domestic abuse

Renowned for their stamina, strength and speed, Kenyan runners have won 34 Olympic gold medals and countless marathons. Many train in Iten, a rural town in the high altitudes of the Rift Valley. Situated among acres of maize fields and pine trees, with cool air and endless dirt trails, Iten is a runner’s dream, attracting athletes from around the world. Aspiring professional athletes train in camps dotted across the town, running in large packs from early morning. While Iten has been lauded as the perfect training ground, the recent killing of world record holder Agnes Tirop shocked many, exposing Kenya’s issues with gender-based violence.

Home away from home: The untold story of Canada’s ‘Little Tibet’

Home to one of the largest Tibetan populations outside Asia, Parkdale is a food mecca fighting to maintain its unique identity in gentrifying Toronto. Tucked away within Toronto’s inner city is a small enclave known as “Little Tibet”. Located in the Parkdale neighbourhood, the restaurants here are famous for delicious Tibetan dumplings known as momos.

From crime zone to ‘utopia’: Welcome to Iztapalapa, Mexico City

Iztapalapa in Mexico City is notorious for soaring crime levels and poverty. But in 2018, the local government began working to turn the borough’s fortunes around by investing in community initiatives to foster social cohesion. Iztapalapa’s two million residents now have access to more public arts programmes, government services and sporting facilities. But challenges remain in a community where there are high rates of violence on the streets and within family homes. A Sense of Community visits this Mexican community during its busiest week, when residents stage one of the world’s largest festivals to mark Easter and cement cultural traditions.

South Africa: Young women rewrite the activism script

Activists Sera Farista and Keitumetse Fatimata Moutloatse on their fight for climate justice and human rights. In this episode of Generation Change, we travel to Johannesburg to meet two young activists. Sera Farista is the founder of Climate Warriors and member of The Collective Movement, an organisation focused on achieving social change through climate justice. Keitumetse Fatimata Moutloatse is the founder of the Black Womxn Caucus, an organisation that advocates for the end of gender-based violence in South Africa. In this episode, presented by Ayanda Charlie, Sera and Keitumetse discuss the legacy of apartheid on activism in South Africa, gender-based violence, climate justice and how these issues intersect with racism and other social inequities.

US: Police Brutality and Black Lives Matter

Activist Chelsea Miller and data analyst Samuel Sinyangwe on racial justice, Black Lives Matter and police reform. In the first episode of Generation Change, a new series looking at young people pushing for change around the world, we travel to the United States to meet two Generation Z activists. Chelsea Miller is an anti-racism activist and co-founder of the civic organisation Freedom March New York City. Samuel Sinyangwe is a data and policy analyst who co-founded Mapping Police Violence – a database recording police brutality in the US. In this episode presented by Zahra Rasool, Chelsea and Samuel discuss police brutality, Black Lives Matter, organisation and how global networks of solidarity can be created using technology.

UK: Structures of power and systems of exclusion

Community activist Temi Mwale and political activist Athian Akec are on a mission to end youth violence in the United Kingdom. In this episode of Generation Change, London-based journalist Iman Amrani meets two activists who are confronting the root causes of youth violence in the United Kingdom. At the age of 15, Athian Akec became a youth MP and put knife crime at the top of his political agenda. Temi Mwale founded the 4Front Project, an organisation that helps young people who have been affected by violence. Athian and Temi talk about the structural, political and social issues that are excluding many young people and can lead to violence.

Lebanon: Can youth bring about radical reform?

Youth leader Karim Safieddine and journalist Azza el-Masri on ways out of Lebanon’s economic and political crises. In the third episode of Generation Change, we travel to Lebanon to see how young organisers are mobilising to halt one of the most serious economic and political crises in Lebanon’s history. Karim Safieddine is an activist and leading member of MADA, Lebanon’s first youth-led political movement. Azza el-Masri is a journalist and media researcher specialising in disinformation and its effects on sectarianism. In this episode, presented by Luna Safwan, Karim and Azza discuss Lebanon’s political gridlock, the August 4 Beirut blast, as well as strategies to end corruption and dismantle the sectarian power-sharing system.

On the White Nile: A South Sudan businesswoman

An immersive river ride into the world of Rebecca Chol, a spirited and resilient South Sudanese fisherwoman. On the White Nile, by filmmaker Akuol de Mabior, takes us into the world of Rebecca Lith Chol. From the stern of her long wooden boat, Rebecca steers her crew down the White Nile, running her small fishing business.

Colours Are Alive Here: A Kenyan fashion designer

Based in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, David Ochieng aka ‘Avido’ is a rising star in fashion, with his designs sold around the world. David Ochieng, also known as ‘Avido’, is a Kenyan designer whose brand is making a noise in the fashion industry. But while his clothes are sold around the world, he stays true to his roots in Nairobi’s Kibera slum. Colours Are Alive Here, by filmmaker Seydou Mukali, steps into his bustling life to see the young designer in action as he gets a new pop-up event off the ground. The film chronicles the creative life of this inspirational “son of the slums”, who remains deeply grounded in his community as his successes reach great heights. Seydou Mukali is a Kenyan writer/director based in Nairobi. He has produced content for television and film for more than a decade. His feature film Veve won several awards and was acquired by Netflix. He is developing his next feature film based on Kenyan history, Searching For Lebo.

Trucking: The world of a female trucker in Ivory Coast

On the road with heavy-duty truck driver Clémentine, contemplating her life in Ivory Coast. Clémentine Zeregbe Goli is the only female heavy-duty truck driver among 1,500 men in her area – and a grandmother at that. She has overcome obstacles to do this job and works hard for her future and her life beyond the road. In Trucking, by filmmaker Mireille Niyonsaba, we travel with Clémentine while she reflects on her life and that of those around her, navigating society’s poverty and injustices as well as the rough roads of Ivory Coast. Mireille Niyonsaba is a Burundian documentary writer and director living in Ivory Coast. She has made numerous short films across Africa and collaborated on many other documentaries. She also works as a cinematographer and editor.

Sounds of Home: A musical odyssey in Rwanda

Musician Michael Makembe journeys into the hinterland to record traditional sounds for all Rwandans to share. Michael Makembe collects the authentic sounds of his Rwandan homeland. As a musician and producer, he tracks down and records traditional singers and songs, collaborating with people in remote regions to create an audio “museum” of Indigenous music for Rwandans.Sounds of Home, by filmmaker Samuel Ishimwe, follows Michael to Nkombo Island in southwest Rwanda, where local singers share their music and stories. Back in his studio, he weaves these songs into contemporary mixes. This is music from the heart and sounds of home. Samuel Ishimwe is a filmmaker based in Rwanda. His short graduation film won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and other awards including an Alexa Award at Palm Spring International ShortFest.

Diggers and Merchants: A Congolese copper digger

Josué Mukeba, a copper digger in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stands up for diggers’ rights. Diggers and Merchants, by filmmaker Nelson Makengo, immerses us in a life of exhausting physical labour and brutal conditions. Josué Mukeba has worked in the copper quarries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for years. Now he wants a stake in the new order. With a new mining code requiring contractors to be Congolese nationals, he stands up for himself and the other local diggers. They do not see themselves as victims; they just want a fair chance and some respect. Nelson Makengo is a Congolese director, visual artist and producer based in Kinshasa. His short films have won many leading international awards and have been screened worldwide, including at IDFA and Sundance. He recently won the bronze award for his short film Nuit Debout (Up at Night) at FESPACO. He is a Sundance Documentary Film Institute grantee.

The Painter: Art and happiness in Burkina Faso

Renowned artist Adjaratou Ouédraogo shares the joy of painting in her home city in Burkina Faso. Artist Adjaratou Ouédraogo is more famous abroad than at home in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In The Painter, by filmmaker Ousmane Zoromé Samassékou, she organises a street art event called “My City In Painting” to encourage locals to celebrate and participate in art. In this thoughtful, immersive film we also see her at work in her studio while she contemplates her craft and shares the story of how she found her voice and her happiness through painting. Ousmane Zoromé Samassékou is a multi-award winning producer and director based in Mali. His feature documentary, The Last Shelter, won Grand Prize at CPH DOX in 2021 and has screened globally to great acclaim. He has produced several films for Africa Direct.

Desert Libraries: A scribe in Mali

Boubacar Najim is one of Mali’s few remaining copyists, determined to preserve Timbuktu’s famous manuscripts. Timbuktu is renowned for its ancient texts, which date back to when the Malian city was a vital scholastic centre over 500 years ago. Boubacar Saddeck Najim is one of the few remaining copyists who painstakingly replicates these precious manuscripts for posterity. Some 300,000 documents are still held by a few old families in private collections. Beïrey-Hou: Desert Libraries, by filmmaker Andrey S Diarra, delves into Najim’s world of crumbling pages, magnificent scripts, inaccessible collections, and some reluctant lenders. Andrey S Diarra is a Malian producer and director. Since his first feature documentary Hamou-Béya (Sand Fishers) in 2012 won several international awards, he has produced more than 10 feature documentaries with African filmmakers, as well as approximately 50 films with various international NGOs in West Africa through his company DS Productions.

She Saw the Sea: A marine biologist in South Africa

Kholofelo Sethebe never learned to swim. Now, as a marine biologist, she braves the open seas to swim with seals. Kholofelo Sethebe was first drawn to the sea as a child, on a visit to Cape Town from her landlocked home province in South Africa. But traditional fears of the ocean were deep, so it is only now, as a qualified marine biologist, that she is teaching herself to swim. She Saw the Sea, an uplifting film by Karin Slater, follows the vivacious Kholofelo as she braves the ocean to find a beautiful new underwater world. Karin Slater is a South African director and cinematographer, with more than 30 years of experience. Her films have been shown by international broadcasters and at major festivals. She has won many awards, including at Mipdoc and the Innovative Film Festival in Switzerland. She specialises in wildlife filmmaking and is a judging member of the Academy (Oscars)

The Adventures of Boubacar: A miner in Mali

Boubacar’s quest to support his family in Mali takes him to the hazardous depths of artisanal gold mining. Boubacar Gadiaga is determined to earn enough to educate his children, so he embarks on an arduous journey to seek work as an artisanal gold miner. In The Adventures of Boubacar, filmmaker Ousmane Zoromé Samassékou closely follows Boubacar’s pursuits as he learns about this dangerous and life-threatening business from a small community of miners. This film takes a deep and unflinching look into their lives as Boubacar navigates his new work with the hope of supporting his family. Ousmane Zoromé Samassékou is a multi-award-winning producer and director based in Mali. His feature documentary, The Last Shelter, won Grand Prize at CPH DOX in 2021 and has screened globally to great acclaim. He has produced several films for Africa Direct.

The Man Who Plants Baobabs: A Burkina Faso hero

Meet El Hadji, the man whose baobab forest provides food and climate protection in Burkina Faso. El Hadji Salifou Ouédraogo has nurtured thousands of baobab trees from tiny seeds to expansive forests for the past 47 years. The trees in turn help his family, his village and the Earth. Filmmaker Michel K Zongo’s uplifting film, The Man Who Plants Baobabs, meets this charismatic old man with a youthful spirit and a lifelong commitment to his trees, which are both a lifeline and a legacy for his community. Michel K Zongo is a cinematographer and director based in Burkina Faso. He has made three feature-length documentaries that have screened internationally and won several awards. He is also the artistic director of the Koudougou Doc Festival and has been an Academy (‘Oscars’) member since 2020.

In the Aluminium Village: Recycling in Benin

Bernardin respects the aluminium recycling traditions of his Benin village but his temper gets him into trouble. In the Aluminium Village, by filmmaker Onésiphore M Adonai, introduces us to Bernardin Sabadagbo, a young man in search of opportunities for his future, who must balance his needs with those of his community and the attitudes of his elders. Cana village in Benin is remote and traditional, with a hierarchy of rules and expectations that do not always match Bernardin’s style. His backbreaking daily work involves sifting through the local rubbish dumps for aluminium refuse, which the village blacksmiths recycle, smelt and cast into ceremonial and practical pieces. Filmmaker Onésiphore M Adonai is a young Beninese director. He has written and directed several successful short films, including Sens Eteint, nominated at the International Festival Clap Ivoir, and Grand Prix Djimon Hounsou, as well as several other awards.

The Big Picture France in Focus

In this episode, we examine one of France’s core principles, the French version of secularism – laicite – the separation of religion and state. More than a century ago, laicite was meant to keep the church out of state affairs and vice versa, but now, according to critics, it is being weaponised to discriminate against certain communities, especially Muslims.

The Big Picture France in Focus: The legacy of colonialism in France

The second of a four-part series examining France’s struggle to live up to its founding ideals. This episode explores the legacy of colonialism in France today. France is in the midst of an identity crisis – grappling with some important questions about what kind of country it is, and what kind of country it wants to be. In this episode of The Big Picture: France in Focus, we will deal with a legacy of France’s history that still plays a crucial role in its present colonialism. Presenter Myriam Francois is taken on a “colonial tour” of Paris museums by Congolese activist, as well as speaking to a “decolonial coach” about transgenerational trauma. Joining her in the studio discussion are Grace Ly, Sally Alassane Thiam and Dorothee Myriam Kellou.

The Big Picture France in Focus: Flirting with the far right

The third in a four-part series. A look at far-right populist influence on mainstream politics in France. France has a long history of flirting with the far right. In April 2022, Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally party, was President Emmanuel Macron’s closest challenger in the presidential election, gaining more than 40 percent of the vote. Although she did not win, racist and Islamophobic ideas promoted by far-right parties now reverberate across French society. In this episode of The Big Picture: France in Focus, we take a close look at what lies behind the far right’s appeal, and the effect on the people in its firing line.

The Big Picture: France in Focus: Are civil liberties under threat?

The fourth in a four-part series examining France’s struggle to live up to its founding ideals. Freedom is a key right preserved and protected by most countries around the world, and in France, it is one of the central tenets of its very identity. But in recent years, the French government has been accused of restricting some of the freedoms it is meant to uphold. In this episode of The Big Picture: France in Focus, we examine how civil liberties, the rights protecting French people against state actions, are increasingly under threat. From the right to protest, to the protection against police violence, freedom for sections of the French population is being eroded by the French state.

Sisters of the Blood Feud: Revenge Killings in Albania & Children of the FARC: Baby Boom in Colombia’s Jungles & Dreamer Mums: Divided by US Deportation

Three years ago Beta's brother killed another boy in her village in northern Albania, triggering a blood vendetta against her family. Two Colombian guerrilla fighters prepare to give birth for the first time, as their rebel army lays down its arms. In Mexico, one woman dreams of reuniting with her family in the US legally as she supports other deported mothers.

Sister Angelique ‘The hand of God & A Shelter From Home

In DRC, Sister Angelique has been transforming the lives of thousands of Congolese women and children. & In 2019, Al Jazeera covered the story of a family’s migration north from Venezuela, crossing the border into Colombia

PSS Sleman

PSS Sleman football club’s main fan group is a spectacle to witness as they celebrate football and promote peace in Indonesia. PSS Sleman has become more than just a football team. They are a symbol across Indonesia. The club’s supporters have redefined the profile of the football fan throughout the country. In a nation where sports is considered the domain of men, what is unique about PSS Sleman is that women make up the core of the club’s most passionate supporters.

Boca Juniors FC

The story of Boca Juniors, their super-fans and how they became a team for the working class in Argentina. Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires has the largest concentration of football clubs in the world. The two most famous are Boca Juniors and River Plate. Their stadiums are only seven kilometres apart and most of Argentina’s population is loyal to one of these two clubs. But, while they may share the same city, they each have a vastly different ethos. Club Atletico Boca Juniors were founded in 1905, and have become known as the team for the working class. It was Boca Juniors who nurtured the rise of the Argentinian hero, the late Diego Maradona – a God-like figure among many football fans. To the supporters of these two clubs, it is not just football rivalry. It has become a battle between rich and poor. This documentary follows Boca Junior super-fans as they reveal how and why they became the voice for the common man and woman.

Liverpool FC

How Liverpool FC became a symbol of defiance for its city and grew into one of the most popular teams on earth. You’ll Never Walk Alone is Liverpool Football Club’s war cry for the underprivileged – a cry of unity against adversity and authoritarian rule – and it rings loud and in unison at every Liverpool match. For Liverpool fans, it is about more than football. It is a fight for equality, social justice and a voice for the United Kingdom’s working-class often ignored by a series of right-wing governments who neglected the country’s north. Being a hotbed of left-wing socialism, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher set out to make an example of Liverpool city while it was enduring drastic economic decline after the UK joined the Common Market in 1973. Her crushing policies of “managed decline” left much of the population jobless. Thatcher expected the city’s people to buckle to her authority, but she did not realise she was also up against the power of the city’s football team, which brought strength and hope to its city. This film looks into how Liverpool FC became a symbol of defiance on top of its shining success. Liverpool FC’s famous stadium sat within the working classes of the city and stood in the face of a government set on treating victims of poverty as collateral damage. And despite the money behind the multimillion-dollar game, Liverpool have remained a team that continues to put the people before profit.

Celtic FC

Celtic have some of the most passionate fans in the world but their cause goes beyond sport to fight human rights issues. Celtic Football Club supporters hold British and European records for the biggest-ever crowds. In 2017, they were awarded “best fans in the world” by FIFA. Many of the world’s greatest players are enthused by the atmosphere created by the Celtic “faithful”. Still, the team and their fans are about more than the sport.

FC Saint Pauli

Football chants, rock music and anti-establishment flair – St Pauli fans go beyond sport to focus on political activism. Since it was established in 1910, FC St Pauli of German football’s second tier has become one of Hamburg’s best-known exports. But it is not their football that has garnered so much attention. It is their unwavering fandom cultivated over decades that has made the club famous around the world. Proudly anti-establishment, St Pauli supporters are united in empathy, representing the poor and downtrodden – a far cry from violent hooliganism common amongst football “ultras” in other parts of Europe.

Raja Casablanca FC

Raja Casablanca fans transform the political landscape of Morocco from inside the national stadium as they use the stands to send messages of defiance. The Mohammed V football stadium in the centre of Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city, holds more than its sports legacy. It is a space to protest the country’s social, economic and political structures on national television. As Raja Casablanca play, a sea of green from the stands blares out messages of defiance. When the TV director quickly orders the cameras to switch to another part of the stadium, another message appears at his chosen spot.

The Amazon's Tech Warriors & The King of Condom

While the Amazonian basin is most often touted for its biodiversity, there are also hundreds of indigenous tribes that live in the rainforest. Many of these tribes are under direct threat of displacement by resource extraction and deforestation. & Dressed in his bright red “King of Condom” uniform, Stanley Ngara uses humour and empathy to spread awareness about safe sex and protection from sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) among people in Kenya.

Sexual violence survivor’s journey to justice

After experiencing sexual violence, Vasilisa Komarova succeeds in getting justice through determination. She continues to fight for survivors of sexual violence worldwide. “My dream is to make this world safer,” says Komarova, “and to live in a world without sexual violence, where one woman as myself can travel and not be afraid to be on her own.”

Elif Shafak and Wole Soyinka Pt.1

In this episode of Studio B: Unscripted, renowned novelist and academic Elif Shafak sits down with award-winning playwright and essayist Wole Soyinka to talk nationalism, safe spaces, and the role of storytellers in the modern age. Part 1

Uganda’s Lady Justice & India’s Acid Attack Survivors

From death row to national icon, Susan Kigula fights for the reintegration of former prisoners in Uganda & India’s Acid Attack Survivors is a documentary spanning five years in the lives of three young women as they struggle and persevere with life-altering injuries.

Fresh Farm & Fishing Wood & The Charlottes

"Nomaliso Musasiwa’s tech business connects farmers and consumers to provide fresh produce to Zimbabweans. Nomaliso Musasiwa does not believe in waiting for the government to fix problems, so she is tackling Zimbabwe’s food challenges directly. She runs a fresh food tech company, connecting small farmers to online clients – from locals looking for fresh, affordable food, to diaspora Zimbabweans who want to support relatives back home. Fishing Wood, by Alsanosi Adam, takes us onto the Blue Nile in Al-Damazin district, Sudan. We meet Yousif and his fellow fishermen who, after a fruitless day on the river, repair their nets and speculate about the changes that threaten their livelihoods. A facial recognition app designed by software engineer Charlette N’Guessan, a woman with unique identity issues. Charlette Désiré N’Guessan comes from an intriguing family, where all the women share the same name: Charlette."