Episode 67 - Ocean Mic - Paul Powlesland - River Guardian and Lawyer in an ecological crisis

Why do rivers need guardians ? What does it mean to be a lawyer in a time of climate and ecological crisis ? Can nature have legal rights? Paul Powlesland is a civil barrister, environmental activist and guardian of the River Roding in East London. Over the last few years single handedly bringing life back to  this river and growing a community of crew re-connecting and regenerating the river and exploring what the legal rights of a river might look like. Paul is shaking up what it means to be a lawyer in a time of climate and ecological crisis. After practising as a barrister in London for a decade, Paul realised the urgent need to create greater respect and protection for the natural world within our legal system.  He founded Lawyers for Nature to represent the natural world and all who are seeking to defend it in the courts as best he can within the current legal framework.  He has a deep affinity for wild water, lives on a boat, on a stretch of tidal river, and has founded community project The River Roding Trust to bring life back to the River Roding in East London. This episode weaves many threads including - - what it means to be a lawyer in a time of environmental crisis, - the importance of reconnecting with nature, our more than human family - the beautiful inquiry into making rivers sacred again and giving them legal rights. This is also a very special episode for us - being the first Ocean Mic episode  -  a new collaboration between The Spaceship Earth podcast and Finisterre.