THUNK>ON: Chris Packham interview

Chris took time out of his massively busy schedule to talk to THUNK co-founder Mark Fewell about a new film he’s collaborated on called Greenwashed, and the perilous state we’re in as climate breakdown accelerates - but importantly what we can do about it. 

Here’s his top tips

  • Collective action - societal change can be achieved when just 25% of the population demands it. “We don’t need everyone…it’s only a quarter of us that need to say, enough’s enough”

  • Financial protest is the most powerful tool - by choosing where we invest our money and spend our money we can effect real change, he says: “The most powerful protest tool that we have is not soup to throw on a painting, or corn starch to throw over a national monument, or glue to glue yourself to a motorway. It’s the pound in your pocket.”

  • Empowering young people to make decisions can lead to faster progress. “While we have a world being run by post 80-psychotic white males, we’ve got a problem, There’s no question about that”.  

  • Humanity is not a scourge - Chris emphasises human innovation, resilience and creativity can get us out of the mess we’re in. “We are inventive, we are resilient, we’re resourceful, we are creative”.

  • The problem is Coca Cola - we shouldn’t beat ourselves up over recycling, when the responsibility for plastic waste lies with manufacturers like Coca-Cola. “If you don’t buy it, they can’t sell it and they won’t make it.”

Chris used the analogy of the misunderstood punk rock movement for today’s misrepresented climate activism.

Punk, he says wasn’t just about “spitting, spiky hair and anarchy” but it was fundamentally about “a do-it yourself creativity” and rising up against  “a world that was burdened by homophobia, racism and misogyny.”  

Chris’ message, overall, is one of hope over adversity. “We’re going through a very rough patch,” he says, but “humans are a remarkable organism.”

And no, we didn’t let Chris go without asking him for his THUNK Punk Playlist…  afraid, you’ll need to watch the podcast to find out who’s on it! Enjoy!

To watch the podcast got to THUNK>ON channel on YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxsEeNFCKeI

Or watch it via the link below on THUNK.World. 

People . Planet . Play it >

THUNK>ON is is THUNK.World’s new YouTube channel, adding audio-visual, thought provoking, informative, engaging and entertaining content to the THUNK.World platform. Go on, you know you want to!

THUNK On The Ball

After our record breaking journey to the dark side of the moon and back it’s time to step out of the capsule, if we dare, and shift our focus to more earthly pursuits. Yes, in case you hadn’t noticed, it’s the football World Cup ‘26.

THUNK loves football. What could be simpler and more enjoyable than knocking a ball around with a few pals in the park, on the beach or a patch of dusty scrubland.

World Cup ‘26 is the largest football tournament ever with, more teams, more games, more fans, more carbon, more waste and presided over, it seems, by more-ons. THUNK loves football but is the new format better for the fans, the players and the planet? Probably not, but THUNK aims to celebrate the beautiful game for a beautiful planet with a video podcast series THUNK ON THE BALL on YouTube THUNK-ON, discussing all of the above and more.

Often referred to as ‘The Beautiful Game’, football is the Worlds largest participatory and viewed sport with approx 500 million playing and 5 billion tuning into FIFA’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It’s predicted that almost 3/4s of humanity will watch the 2026 World Cup. Since the mid 1970’s football has experienced explosive growth from a few hundred million (at most) to $8.7 billion, an increase of several thousand percent over 50 years, driven by globalization, broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and digital engagement

So what became of ‘Our Beautiful Game’?

In todays frenzied exploitation of football tournaments, leagues, players, merchandise advertising and broadcasting rights, roughly every kick of a ball during the World Cup ‘26 generates a staggering $69,000*

For the first time in its history the World Cup finals will have 48 teams (from 32), which means 104 matches with 3.5 million fans set to attend. While many of these will be local the mind boggles at the additional carbon footprint of the tournament as hundreds of thousands of fans criss cross the host nations as the tournament progresses.

THUNK asks - does the new format of the 2026 World Cup benefit the fans or is it just another way for the gatekeepers of ‘our beautiful game’ to line their already bulging pockets?

And what about the planet? Be prepared for plenty of greenwash to justify this lucrative new direction.

TOTB: Episode One - The World Cup ‘26 Preview Show

TOTB: Episode Two - A Refreshing Break From The Norm

In Episode 2 we discuss some of the early matches of the tournament and anything that caught our eye. From Scotland's Tartan Army in school buses, the big guns, Messi, Mbappe and Haarland firing them in, hanging flags and banners in stadiums, how Neymar will make use of a rehydration break, FIFA's billions and Doughnut Economics, before we look to England's first game against Croatia from a chaotic Strongroom Bar in London's Shoreditch.

“We’re going through a very rough patch” but “humans are a remarkable organism.”

Chris Packham