Theatre>> Climate Change • The UK
There has been a highly successful run at the Royal Court Theatre in London, not of a play in the usual form but a lecture by Stephen Emmott, who leads Microsoft’s Computational Science Laboratory in Cambridge university. The play, Ten Billion, offers a dossier of evidence about the perils of spiralling populations that may rise to this number by the end of the century.
“I’m a scientist, not an actor,” Emmott declares at the start, and that is proven within minutes as he delivers his lecture in a replica of his office. “I was at one time sceptical about global warming... but now there seems to me little room for doubt that humanity is in a severe predicament, both from the aspect of resource depletion and treating the planet like a giant landfill tip,” says the 52-year-old, putting forth sheer facts and figures before the audience. “So can we do anything to halt the devastation that lies ahead?” Emmott asks as he reaches the end of his show. “In truth, I think we are already fucked,” is his answer.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.