The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast

Nightjars vs Speedway

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Episode notes

Why shouldn't a couple of birds ruin the entertainment for thousands of people?

Every year, thousands of people flock to watch the high-speed thrills of motorcycle speedway, but at what cost to the environment? Is it worth sacrificing the habitat of a few Nightjars for the entertainment of the masses?

But here's where things get complicated - it's not just about a couple of birds. It's about a balance - a balance between conservation and entertainment, between preserving habitats and providing jobs and economic growth. As they say, death by a thousand cuts - it's only a few Nightjars, but if we follow that thinking, we can justify any development until their population is wiped out.

So, where do we draw the line? Should we prioritize the needs of the environment or the desires of the people? And why shouldn't an environmentalist also enjoy motorsports? After all, motorcycle speedway is not the most polluting motorsport - the majority of the environmental impact comes from the transporting of the riders around the world.

But then again, perhaps an environmentalist is just a label placed on someone by others. Is it possible to be both a conservationist and a motorsport enthusiast? Can we find a way to strike a balance between these seemingly opposing forces?

This discussion between your co-hosts Stuart and William was sparked by the following question sent in by Daphne in Exeter, Devon, England.

“Stuart, you mention you are interested in the sport of Speedway, what are your thoughts on the failed planning application to build a new venue for Exeter Speedway? It was turned down because rare Nightjar birds that nest nearby would be disturbed. How can a few birds be more important than thousands of people's entertainment? How can you be an environmentalist and still like motorsport?”

In this episode Stuart and William were joined by long time listener Hedley Thorne, who was invited to take his place in the ‘Listeners Chair’, where he sat in and contributed to the recording, and gave his opinions on the topic discussed.

To get your chance of appearing on the podcast and sit in the ‘Listeners Chair’, we have a stretch goal on our Patreon page where once we get to ten Beyond Stereotypes support tier backers, everyone on this tier will be entered into a quarterly draw, and the winner will be offered the opportunity to make an appearance on the podcast.

What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to [email protected], or record us a message in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message

This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.

In today's episode Stuart and William again talk about Environmental Debate Live & Unscripted happening on the 27th May at the Bothy Vineyard, in Oxfordshire. Here’s a link to book tickets for this event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/environmental-debate-live-unscripted-tickets-514832145807

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