The Brent Poland Podcast

In a three part podcast Brent will cover the most important of all the topics which is that of health. As it is said “your health is the wealth of the world” and with the backdrop of the recent public health crisis that is the covid 19 pandemic, Brent will try to relay his progressive thoughts and feelings on our sacred NHS.In Part One, Brent will outline the origins and function of our NHS and how it has evolved over time. He will discuss the current situation and crisis in public health and the current government response. Giving some historical insights, Brent puts into context why our society feels so strongly about the national institution that is our NHS. We know there has been a creeping privatisation and crisis in our health service before the pandemic and Brent will look at the political stances taken on our health care and the impacts of staff shortages in particular GP’s despite pledges made as yet to be honoured. There is a recruitment and retention problem with our NHS and recent political decisions such as pay, conditions and Brexit are feeding into a staffing crisis, Brent will lay out the implications of these shortages. In the second part, Brent will using the Chief medical officer’s (Chris Whitey) report on the health of the nation Dec 2020. There are some revelations about our demographics and trends in the health of the nation, negative and positive with implications for our lives now and in future. We are seeing an ageing population and a rise in dementia cases and although smoking rates are decreasing we still have rising rates of respiratory illnesses especially linked to depravation again in the north. The findings show a stagnation since 2011 in much of our health statistics and despite increased funding at unprecedented levels we are no further on in closing the North south gap, or the gaps in health that are connected to deprivation. We are still shamefully behind other developed nations in treating cancers this despite the service that is our NHS. Brent will use research from the Kings Fund, NHS, Nuffield Trust, Royal College of physicians, British Medical association and the Health Foundation. In the final part of the podcast, Brent will offer progressive solutions and policies from the Green movement which he believes are in keeping with the core principles and mission set out for our NHS. As the only major political party not to have made a mess of it or to have started or continued the process of privatisation, Brent believes that his party have the right core values that match the values of our NHS, that of equality, fairness and selflessness for the greater good. Policies on mothers, prescription charges, mental health, young people, education , diet and empowerment in active and informed citizenry are all explored. For more informatrion about Brent Poland and The Green Party please visit:Twitter: @BrentPoland1YouTube: BRENTPOLAND1

In the third podcast of season 2 titled “Policing Our Streets”, Brent will not shy away from the current debate on how we should be policed, although grateful and supportive of how police have conducted themselves during the covid crisis, Brent like others has become concerned about the recent change of tactics especially to peaceful protestors. Brent will discuss his feelings as a progressive and as a Green candidate in the upcoming elections on the recent developments concerning the Crime bill and Spy cops bills. These are currently in Parliament and address what he sees as an extension of the state through excessive powers to our police. Drawing parallels with the heavy- handed policing of his childhood and insights as a social scientist Brent will put the dangers of this state over reach into context.In the 2nd part of the Podcast Brent will explore the core values and Green philosophy of policing and crime which would be by consent and through the community. Looking at restorative justice and reforming rather than simply locking up people. Brent will outline Green policies such as: community justice, reparations to victims, greater diversity and localism of police, independent investigations not police conduct, increasing community and local police numbers and stations. In particular to the Green core values of equality the Green Party policies are tough on domestic abuses, environmental and economic crimes at a large level which in itself can cause huge damages to whole communities.

In this week’s episode, Brent will tackle the issue of clean air. In this country it is estimated that air pollution is responsible for the deaths of 40,000. This is a social and environmental issue that needs to be a higher priority for those in all levels of authority of this country. For Brent, access to clean air is a social justice issue, and the shocking statistics of health problems associated with poor air quality is of the highest national and local importance. The issue has been cited as one of the causes of higher death rates during the covid crisis and in some areas, the high degree of particulates in our air is impacted all ages in different ways. The first recorded death in the world from air pollution was recorded in December 2020 and yet since then, the government has been slow to respond. Brent will explore the concept of “environmental racism” and how members of the BAME communities are more likely to be breathing poor air which has a negative impact on their life expectancy.Looking at Green policies ahead of the upcoming council and mayoral elections, Brent will explore the ideas and philosophy of Green solutions that can help resolve the social and environmental problems of poor air quality.

Season 2 The Brent Poland Podcast episode 1 – Housing In his second season Brent will be exploring political issues in the lead up to the May council elections, each week Brent will take an issue that is relevant at a local level and give a progressive opinions, insights, problems and potential Green solutions. In this podcast Brent will look at the locally divisive issue of Housing its planning, demand, supply, local and national government policies and potential changes to those long-standing policies by the current government. Citing local examples and experiences with stakeholders in his local community and using his academic background in humanities Brent will argue against the changes being brought it. Brent will question the type of housing being built which to him is the “wrong housing being built by the wrong people, in the wrong place for the wrong reasons” He also believes that this building spree and freeing up of regulations is the wrong approach and that it should not be “build back better” but “ better what we have built” in that our current housing stock needs improving and so does accessibility and the affordability of the housing market. As a progressive and a Green, housing is a fundamental right and cannot be solved in isolation therefore Brent will look at wider Green policies and ideas to solve more that our housing issues.

Inspired by the everyday bravery displayed by our key workers and the example set by thelate Captain Sir Tom Moore Brent looks at the concept of heroism in our society and in ourHistory. Every culture has its heroes but what does it take to be a hero, who chooses peopleto be elevated to hero status? Why are some of our heroes forgotten?As a progressive and a teacher of History Brent has some alternative interpretations of thetraditional heroes who have statues and instead believes we should be honouring as we arenow the ordinary everyday heroes. Citing the examples of Heroes in History who only nowget recognition such as Rosa Parks, Alan Turning and those that participated in the Peterloo.Brent will show how selective amnesia has removed the contributions of some of our deadheroes for political reasons while elevating others to cult status. In the end Brent believesthat we can be heroes and that the best of us already are.

In the next instalment of his podcast Brent addresses some controversial issues regarding identity, race and politicisation of historical crimes against humanity. Drawing on his own historical research, teachings and experiences Brent will try to come to terms in with the dark parts of mankind’s past and present. The inspiration for this came from the reading of his child’s book, “It is ok to be different” by Todd Parr which is a progressive text for encouraging children to celebrate differences. Brent will theorise that we are one race the human race and that our differences are irrelevant.

In his latest podcast Brent ponders freedom and the different forms our own personal freedom takes throughout our lives. Using his experiences of growing up at the height of the troubles on the border in Northern Ireland and his academic background in Humanities he will explore the difference between the lack of physical freedom he had but discuss reflect on the freedom of the mind which he will argue is infinitely more important to us all. The Freedom of the mind Brent will warn us that is being manipulated and under attack from media and those who have always sought to influence us.Brent will discuss current affairs issues in a progressive stance on Globalisation, Trumpism, Brexit, BLM and speculate as to how actually free we are now in a world of high technology. An eclectic range of literature as “The Beach” by Alex Garland to the Political philosophy of JS Mill’s “On Liberty” will be cited by Brent as inspirations for his views on freedom.

In the second of his new podcasts Brent plays his chance card and talks about the idea of luck. Is there such a thing as luck?As a Irishman he questions the stereotype of the “luck of the Irish” and the culture surrounding the idea that we have or have not luck. Brent uses his insights into wider historical examples of luck or not so lucky with discussion on the exploits of leaders like Churchill, Elizabeth I and the school favourite of William the Conqueror. As a Progressive Green, Brent theorises, that mankind’s very existence is indeed lucky while using examples from writers such as Bill Bryson and that we maybe pushing our luck with our current behaviour. Underpinning Brent’s thoughts is early academic studies of the much vaulted Machiavelli and the philosophy that you make your own luck in fortune favouring the brave.