Sorry For The Inconvenience, But This Is A Climate Emergency

As floods, fires and unprecedented heatwaves rage across the planet, more and more people are turning to nonviolent action to achieve political change. Can it work?

Join Chris Packham, Lucy Siegle, and Dr Lynne Jones at Conway Hall as they discuss protest and the climate crisis, marking the publication of Lynne’s book ‘Sorry for the Inconvenience But This Is an Emergency.’ 

Dr. Lynne Jones delivers a compelling, grassroots perspective on the last five years of protests in the UK, examining the motivations behind ordinary citizens’ adoption of extraordinary tactics to combat the global climate and nature crises. Drawing on her experiences opposing nuclear weapons at Greenham Common airbase in the 1980s, and sharing her journey in movements like Extinction Rebellion today, Lynne, and our panel, reflects on both public history and their personal stories to answer key questions about nonviolent action in a world on the brink. 

Joining her is naturalist, television presenter, writer, conservationist, and campaigner Chris Packham, alongside journalist, broadcaster, and climate and nature issues expert Lucy Siegle.

Chris Packham is a broadcaster, environmental activist, and animal welfare campaigner. His recent TV credits include “Earth” for the BBC and “Is it Time to Break the Law?” for Channel 4. He serves as an ambassador for numerous wildlife and environmental NGOs and organizes his own independent campaigns, most recently including ‘No New Oil’ and ‘Restore Nature Now’. Alongside the co-directors of Wild Justice, he is engaged in almost constant litigation with the UK’s devolved governments. 

Chris campaigns for just transitions towards positive environmental necessities – from fossil fuels to renewable energies, from industrial and intensive animal agriculture to plant-based alternatives, and from declining biodiversity to nature recovery. 

His autobiographical work “Fingers in the Sparkle Jar” was BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week and topped The Sunday Times Bestsellers list. In autumn 2023, he collaborated with young filmmakers on the ‘8 Out of 10 Bats’ YouTube series. 

Lucy Siegle is a journalist, broadcaster, and expert on climate and nature issues. She holds the distinction of being the first dedicated eco columnist appointed to a national newspaper in the UK; her Ethical Living column ran in The Observer for over a decade. On television, she is renowned for her comprehensive reporting on various environmental topics for BBC1’s “The One Show”. Her previous books include “Turning the Tide on Plastic” and “To Die For“. The latter was adapted into the hit Netflix documentary “The True Cost” (with co-executive producer Livia Firth). She serves as a trustee for the environmental NGO Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and is an ambassador for WWF UK. 

Lynne Jones OBE is a child psychiatrist, aid worker, and writer. Over the past 30 years, she has dedicated herself to establishing mental health programs in conflict and disaster areas around the world, many of which are climate-related. An Honorary Associate Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, she consults for WHO and UNICEF. She is also the acclaimed author of works such as “Outside the Asylum”, “The Migrant Diaries“, and “Then They Started Shooting“. Her field diaries have been featured in BBC Radio, The New Statesman, the London Review of Books, and O, The Oprah Magazine. 

Age Recommendation

16+

Price

Standard £15 • Consessions £12 

Access Information

Due to the age and Grade Il listing of the building, there is no lift access to rooms above the ground floor.

All the ground-floor rooms are fully accessible by wheelchair. Main Hall (street access, step-free), Brockway Room (street access, step-free), Bertrand Russell Room (street access, shallow ramp), Hive Cafe (street access, step-free), There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor opposite the Brockway Room.

If you have any questions regarding your access needs, please get in touch with our team and we will accommodate as best as we can. Get in touch: info@conwayhall.org.uk