The power of storytelling and activism
Speakers
We know the importance of data and evidence in tackling global crises like climate change, but is it stories rather than statistics that will drive change? Our panel discuss how art, literature and performance can be used to connect and inspire people, and how this feeds into activism.
Meet your speakers and chair
Yassmin Abdel-Magied is a Sudanese author, screenwriter and award-winning social advocate. Born in Sudan, Yassmin's first job as a teenager was in a coal mine in rural Australia. After graduating with first class honours in Mechanical Engineering, Abdel-Magied trained and worked as a MWD (Measurement While Drilling) contractor and drilling engineer across Europe, Australia, Asia and the USA.
Her debut literary novel At Sea will be published on 21 May 2026, a takedown of the machismo of Big Oil. Yassmin is dedicated to the civilian movement in Sudan, and the celebration and amplification of Sudanese culture. In all her work, Yassmin is an advocate for transformative justice and a fairer, safer world for all.
Yassmin's previous titles include action packed teen fantasy Silverbrook: the essay collection Talking about a revolution; and two novels for younger readers, You must be Layla and the award-winning Listen, Layla. Yassmin is currently a writer on British continuing drama Emmerdale, and her original drama series Cruise Control is in development with the BBC.
Amir Nizar Zuabi is an award-winning playwright and director. He was the founding Artistic Director of ShiberHur Theater Company in Palestine, an Associate Director of the Young Vic Theatre, a member of the United Theaters Europe for artistic achievement, and an alumni of The Sundance Institute Theatre Program.
As Artistic Director of The Walk Productions he led The Herds (UN Live's Top 10 Culture for Impact 2025) and Little Amal (Time Out New York's No. 1 Art Event of 2022 and winner of the the RSGS Livingstone Medal for outstanding service of a humanitarian nature.)
Joanna Lewis is a Professor in the Department of International History at LSE, and Director for the Centre for Women, Peace and Security in the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa. She is a historian of Africa, empire, and world history explored through imperialism, colonialism and inequality. Her last book Women of the Somali Diaspora: Refugees, Rebuilding and Resilience (Hurst, 2021) was inspired by her Somali undergraduate women students.
More about this event
This event is part of the LSE Festival: How to save the planet running from Monday 15 to Saturday 20 June 2026. This year's Festival explores how existential threats including the climate crisis, conflict and AI are affecting all parts of the world, transforming the way and where we live, and how our societies function. With a series of events asking what can we be doing to save the Earth, its people and environment? Booking for all Festival events will open on Monday 18 May.
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