Terra Viva

My Life in a Biodiversity of Movements

By: Vandana Shiva

Narrated by: Sudha Bhuchar

Vandana Shiva has been described in many ways: the “Gandhi of Grain,” “a rock star” in the battle against GMOs, and “the most powerful voice” for people of the developing world. For over four decades, she has vociferously advocated for diversity, indigenous knowledge, localization, and real democracy; she has been at the forefront of seed saving, food sovereignty, and connecting the dots between the destruction of nature, the polarization of societies, and indiscriminate corporate greed.

In Terra Viva, Dr. Shiva shares her most memorable campaigns, alongside some of the world’s most celebrated activists and environmentalists, all working toward a livable planet and healthier democracies. For the very first time, she also recounts the stories of her childhood in post-partition India—the influence of the Himalayan forests she roamed; her parents, who saw no difference in the education of boys and girls at a time when this was not the norm; and the Chipko movement, whose women were “the real custodians of biodiversity-related knowledge.” Throughout, Shiva’s pursuit of a unique intellectual path marrying quantum physics with science, technology, and environmental policy will captivate listeners.

Terra Viva is a celebration of a remarkable life and a clear-eyed assessment of the challenges we face moving forward—including those revealed by the COVID crisis, the privatization of biotechnology, and the commodification of our biological and natural resources.

©2022 Vandana Shiva (P)2022 Chelsea Green

The ability to eat naturally is crucial to freedom

Freedom means many things to many people and Vandana Shiva and I probably don't see everything the same way but she has helped shed light on a subject that I really had not studied or been to concerned with until now. She is absolutely a great asset for anyone that wants to know why the world needs advocates to stand up for humans, not just in any certain country but around the world. More evidence of why supporting your local farmers is critical.