Petra Kelly
Caroline Lucas explores the impact of the radical German politician Petra Kelly who founded Die GrΓΌnen and inspired a generation of European Green politicians.
Petra Kelly did more than perhaps anyone else to raise the profile of green politics. As the most prominent member of West Germanyβs Green Party, Die GrΓΌnen, Kellyβs energetic campaigning played a critical role in catapulting her party to electoral success in the 1983 Bundestag elections, where they won 27 seats.
Outside Germany, Kelly was an internationally famous campaigner against nuclear weapons and nuclear power, issues which galvanised the early green movement. But in 1992, at the age of just 44, Kelly was found dead in mysterious circumstances, alongside her lover Gert Bastian.
The Green Party MP Caroline Lucas looks back on the career of a politician who inspired her and considers Petra Kellyβs relevance to the environmental movement today.
βFor Petra Kelly, green politics was never confined to Parliament,β she says, βit happened out on the streets, embracing non-violent protest and direct action.β
Producer: Dan Hardoon
Series Editor: David Prest
A Whistledown Production in association with The Open University.
Last on
Broadcasts
- Wed 8 Jan 2020 13:45ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Sun 1 Aug 2021 00:15ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Sun 1 Aug 2021 14:45ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Hear our βStories of Changeβ interviews with various experts and campaigners for further in depth discussions.
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