Goody, humans. Welcome to the safe space for dangerous ideas. What should become of

environmentalism and of the left and of capitalism and of planet Earth? Today's guest is one of

the most successful environmentalists in Australian history, probably would have to

make the top 10 list of most important and influential environmentalists of all time in the world.

He's a former senator, Bob Brown. He actually co-founded the world's first ever Green Party.

It was in 1972, and it was right here in Australia, in Tasmania.

He then went on to become the first parliamentary leader of the Greens Party in Australia

and was the leader of the party in Parliament for decades. Now, interesting side note that

we don't discuss in this conversation. When President George W. Bush visited Australia in

2003 as a little thank you to his regional junior undersecretary deputy sheriff in the South

Pacific for joining the Iraq war, he gave a big speech to a joint session of both houses of parliament.

And during this speech that the US president was giving, this august, this illustrious event,

then Senator Bob Brown stood up in the chamber, defied the president of the United States to his face and shouted and yelled that if the

president respected international law, then he would be respected. And if he didn't, then he would

not. Today, Saddam's regime is gone and no one. Senator Brown, I warn you,

Senator Brown will excuse himself from the House.

Senator Brown was ejected from the chamber and suspended from the Senate.

I play that moment for you just as one small example

of a very long history of protest and defiance.

First, as an openly gay environmentalist at a time when homosexuality was still illegal,

later as a leading voice for environmental conservation and for the Green Movement worldwide.

Bob Brown is now 80.

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