Dr Pete Knapp
LightNews LightNews
peteknapp.bsky.social
Dr Pete Knapp
@peteknapp.bsky.social
3.7K followers 200 following 470 posts
Air quality scientist/journalist. Making a film: Fires and Fascism https://fires-and-fascism.co.uk
Posts Replies Media Videos
peteknapp.bsky.social
Great to see @mattywin.bsky.social's book 'Hot Mess' on Rolly's table in the latest @climatetown.bsky.social video about Exxon’s $600 Million Dollar Lie.

Always smashes it:
youtu.be/HUeC39CZO44
Matt Winning's book Hot Mess on a table next to Rollie Williams
November 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
My film 'Fires and Fascism' got two reviews in @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social's Felix!

"The real merit lies in the space local people have to tell their story"

"Knapp shows how even the best intentions can be twisted when profit comes first"

Screenings: fires-and-fascism.co.uk#screening-da...
Fires & Fascism A documentary film on wildfires directed by Imperial alumnus Pete Knapp After completing a PhD in indoor air pollution at Imperial, Pete Knapp immediately started the production of this film. Focusing on the increasing number and violence of wildfires across Europe, Knapp seeks to push public awareness on how not only climate change, but corruption and far-right politics, contribute to their escalation. The film is a collection of drone footage and interviews, which together manage to push different perspectives. Both remind the viewer how large-scale the damage they cause is, and also how closely they affect the local population. He starts in Greece, in the Evros region, where the wall which separates Greece and Turkey is shown slicing the land unnaturally. A wildfire devastated the region in 2023, burning down almost 1,000 square kilometres of the Dadia Forest. Lasting for two weeks, it is the largest wildfire ever recorded in Europe. The government laid the blame on refugees who live in the forest – they mentioned nothing of the fact that nonprofit organisations such as the Panhellenic Federation of Volunteer Forest Protection and Firefighting Organisations in Athens tend to have more equipment than official fire-fighting services. Or that climate change affecting wind patterns, temperature and humidity all compound these issues of larger, longer and deadlier wildfires. In pointing the finger of blame, they find themselves no responsibility. Meanwhile in Sicily, fires have been linked to the mafia, who are known to control much of the wild farm construction business. They start fires strategically so that they burn farmland belonging to local, independent owners once their land is ruined, the farm owners are coerced into selling it to the wind farm companies – that is, the mafia. In Portugal, the mass industrial planting of eucalyptus, which burn much more easily than their local predecessors, have caused wildfires to start more often and gr…
November 15, 2025 at 3:41 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
My film Fires and Fascism at Norwich (Cinema City) on Wed 19 Nov with a great panel to discuss the far right afterwards:
@rupertread.bsky.social @helenb92.bsky.social @bridgetmck.bsky.social

Get your tickets from Picturehouse: www.picturehouses.com/movie-detail...

Trailer: fires-and-fascism.co.uk
Cinema city, norwich WED 19 nov 6pm £10-£14 Panellists Pete knapp director Helen benyon author RUPERT READ climate majority project BRIDGET MCKENZIE climate museum uk
November 14, 2025 at 10:24 AM
peteknapp.bsky.social
Last night’s screening of Fires and Fascism and Plan Z in Southampton @mayflower.org.uk was a huge success.

Over 70 people from @standuptoracismuk.bsky.social @unitetheunion.bsky.social
@friends-earth.bsky.social

More screening dates: fires-and-fascism.co.uk#screening-da...
Panel discussion with directors of both films and a representative from Unite the Union Screen of Fires and Fascism with 70 people in the audience
November 12, 2025 at 12:28 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
Anybody want a laugh?

The MOD constantly fly their jets over Norfolk.

Their response to a complaint:
- military aircraft emissions don't cause climate change
- they are diluted anyway
- 0.5% of our fuel is from crops that destroy rainforests
Dear , Thank you for your email of 17 October to the Low Flying Complaints and Enquiries Unit, regarding disturbance from military flying over Attleborough, Norfolk. We have been asked to write to you on behalf of Headquarters Air Command. We can confirm the airspace over Norfolk is used by RAF flying units at Coningsby, and Marham and the United States Air Force (USAF) bases at Mildenhall and Lakenheath. You can therefore expect to see military aircraft operating at medium and high level as they make their way to areas in which to train, including over the North Sea. In addressing your concern regarding aviation fuel, there is no evidence to suggest that fuel emissions from military aircraft have a significant effect on the environment, even in locations where intensive low flying takes place, such as military training areas. Furthermore, due to the nature of aircraft operations, exhaust emissions are significantly diluted when emitted to the atmosphere. However, in recognising the importance of decarbonising our aviation capabilities, in July 2023, in consultation with our industry partners and the wider aviation industry, Defence issued the Defence Aviation Net Zero Strategy which sets out the five strategic steps which Defence will take on its journey towards decarbonisation. The RAF have now entered a strategic partnership with the Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA), an international industry-academia partnership led by the University of Cambridge whose mission is to accelerate the journey to sustainable aviation. In the meantime, in relation to fuel specifically, the RAF continues to drive forward the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in its platforms and will procure 5.15M litres in FY 24/25 increasing from 4M litres in FY 23/24. Whilst these quantities represent approximately 0.5% of the MOD’s overall aviation fuel procurement per annum, they will continue to increase year on year subject to wider market availability which is a key limiting factor. We hope this information is helpful and apologise again for any disturbance caused.
November 10, 2025 at 3:33 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
My film ‘Fires and Fascism’ is showing TODAY IN DERBY at 15:30.

Sun 9 Nov
Derby Quad
Director Q&A afterwards

www.derbyquad.co.uk/events/fires...
Screen showing films including mine
November 9, 2025 at 2:08 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
Fires & Fascism showing at:
Portsmouth, Southsea Cinema
Thu 20 Nov, 6pm
southseacinema.savoysystems.co.uk/SouthseaCine...

@pompeygreens.bsky.social
@drstevenkapp.bsky.social
@pinetreeactivism.org
@andreanoble.bsky.social
@progress0n.bsky.social
@emzconk.bsky.social
@xrscout101.bsky.social
Poster for Southsea showing
November 7, 2025 at 12:50 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
Fires & Fascism showing at:
Stirling Uni, Room A4
Thu 13 Nov, 6pm

@stir.ac.uk
@stirling4europe.bsky.social
@stuartphysics.bsky.social
Film poster
November 7, 2025 at 12:50 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
Fires & Fascism showing at:
Southampton, Mayflower
Tue 11 Nov, 18:30
www.mayflower.org.uk/whats-on/hat...

@sotonpolitics.bsky.social
@sotonoceanearth.bsky.social
@greenpeacesoton.bsky.social
@publicpolicyuos.bsky.social
@incommon.bsky.social
@frankiesoton.bsky.social
@jbaverstock.bsky.social
Poster of double bill with Plan Z
November 7, 2025 at 12:50 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
There are 10 screenings of my film 'Fires and Fascism' coming up around the UK in November:
9 Nov - Derby
11 Nov - Southampton
13 Nov - Stirling
17 Nov - Wivenhoe
18 Nov - Manningtree
19 Nov - Norwich
20 Nov - Portsmouth
21 Nov - Didcot
23 Nov - Stroud
25 Nov - Stoke

Details in next 10 posts...
Map of the UK with screening locations
November 7, 2025 at 12:50 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
A good screening at @granthamicl.bsky.social at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social with staff and students this evening.

The Q&A focused on the role of academia in society, ethical funding, and how we break down silos.

Next screening details in Derby on 9 Nov below.
Audience watching Fires and Fascism
November 5, 2025 at 8:06 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
Volvo Environment Prize? As in the car company involved in the environmental Dieselgate scandal?
The Volvo Group, a leading manufacturer of vehicles and heavy-duty machines, finances the Foundation’s work. The Group is committed to sustainable processes in its entire value chain. Environmental concern and sustainability have been part of Volvo Group’s core values since the 1980s, and it collaborates with partners to constantly raise awareness through research and innovation. They claim that the PDDs installed in the cars allowed them to detect when they were being tested and alter the amount of harmful emissions produced, allowing them to pass. The vehicles in the claims were made by Mercedes-Benz, Opel-Vauxhall, Nissan and Renault, Volkswagen and Porsche, Peugeot and Citroen, Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Suzuki, Volvo, Hyundai and Kia, Toyota, and Mazda
November 3, 2025 at 11:20 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
Another successful screening of my film at Imperial College Union cinema this evening with some thought provoking questions in the Q&A about academics’ roles; renewable energy; and cherrypicked histories to suit far right narratives.

For more screenings: fires-and-fascism.co.uk#screening-da...
People watching the film in the cinema Map of the UK with over 40 locations marked
November 3, 2025 at 11:13 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
Getting the film loaded into the projector for this evening’s screening with Imperial College Union cinema

@imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social
Poster with sign to second floor Projector with label ICU cinema
November 3, 2025 at 4:35 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
Tonight (Monday) I’ll be screening my film at the Imperial College Union cinema, open to the public.

Tickets: www.imperialcollegeunion.org//shop/csp/ci...

For more screening dates across the country: fires-and-fascism.co.uk#screening-da...
Film poster with the same details as the post, £5 entry
November 3, 2025 at 11:17 AM
peteknapp.bsky.social
A great screening at ActOne cinema in Acton this evening, which is community-run, and a thought-provoking Q&A.

Tomorrow’s screening will be at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social Union Cinema in South Ken, London, open to the public, at 6pm:
www.imperialcollegeunion.org//shop/csp/ci...
Cinema with ‘Fires and Fascism’ on the projection
November 2, 2025 at 10:31 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
A good screening in Cotham, Bristol this evening with @xrbristol.bsky.social.

The Q&A covered topics such as how local groups can engage with wider communities, whether the future of activism can be legal or not, and how I interviewed people in languages that I don't speak!
20 people watching Fires and Fascism shown from a projector
October 28, 2025 at 10:59 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
A great turnout to watch ‘Fires and Fascism’ this evening in Exeter after the counter protest.

Looking forward to the discussion afterwards about the far right and ways to build community in a safer and more resilient way.

@exetergreens.bsky.social
@exeter.ac.uk
Audience watching the film Audience watching the film
October 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
This fantastic banner sums up the film I'll be showing tonight: that the rich and greedy are causing huge problems in society; and the most vulnerable are suffering directly or being targeted.

'Fires and Fascism' at Southernhay church at 6pm
www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticket...

#ExeterIsForEveryone 🍉🌿🌈💚
Banner saying 'your problems caused by rich and greedy are blamed upon the weak and needy'
October 25, 2025 at 3:26 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
The counterprotest had dances, singing, joy, and unity.

People from all over the world felt comfortable to share their culture and experiences over the microphone.

#ExeterIsForEveryone 🍉🌿🌈💚

2/3
Two people hugging with 'talk to your enemy' banners
October 25, 2025 at 3:26 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
I was at the Exeter march today to see the much larger #RefugeesWelcome counterprotest.

It was quite a sight.

Tonight I'll be showing my film 'Fires and Fascism' at Southernhay church at 6pm. It's about building community and suppressing fascism.

@ucu.org.uk

#ExeterIsForEveryone 🍉🌿🌈💚

1/3
October 25, 2025 at 3:26 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
Very pleased to see that @charlottechurch.bsky.social was referred to as a ‘Singer & Activist’ on #CelebrityTraitors.

Her work with Hacked Off, the environment, and Palestine are inspiring and hugely important.

More celebrities should be happy to be referred to as activists.
Charlotte Chuch on celebrity traitors with label ‘Singer and Activist’
October 23, 2025 at 3:23 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
This piece from @lottieelton.bsky.social in this week’s @bigissue.com says:

AI is bad for translation.

I am using human translators for my film ‘Fires and Fascism’ for the same reason…

“it’s about nuance, culture, meaning. It misses subtleties - empathy, context, cultural understanding”

👏
Photo of piece in the Big Issue with quotes mentioned in the post
October 23, 2025 at 12:48 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
Upcoming screening of 'Fires and Fascism'

Falmouth, 23 Oct, 6pm
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fires-and-...

Exeter, 25 Oct, 6pm
www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticket...

@transitionfalmouth.org.uk
@climatealex.bsky.social
@rosseaston.com
@rebel44cz.bsky.social
@gsiexeter.bsky.social
@yescornwall.bsky.social
Film poster of Fires and Fascism with matchbox and money coming out of it
October 21, 2025 at 1:12 PM
peteknapp.bsky.social
Next screening of 'Fires and Fascism'

Bath - St Johns (Bathwick)
Tue 21st Oct, 6:30pm
Director Q&A
£ donation
www.tickettailor.com/events/extin...

More dates: fires-and-fascism.co.uk#screening-da...

@banesgreens.bsky.social
@bathnesgreens.org.uk
@uniofbathnews.bsky.social
@arc-161.bsky.social
Same info as written post
October 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM