Advertisement

Radio host mocked for telling Insulate Britain activist you can grow concrete

Watch: Radio host tells Insulate Britain activist you can grow concrete

A radio host has been mocked on social media after he told a climate change activist that you can grow concrete.

Mike Graham, a host on talkRADIO, made the somewhat unusual claim during an excruciating interview with a spokesman for Insulate Britain.

The climate change group have caused controversy in recent weeks with a series of demonstrations causing disruption to traffic in and around London.

Read more: Video shows raw sewage being pumped into harbour for 49 hours

On Monday, there were 53 arrests after a number of protesters glued themselves to the ground near the city’s financial districts.

Radio host Mike Graham, left, cut off his interview with Insulate Britain's Cameron Ford, right, after less than a minute. (talkRADIO)
Radio host Mike Graham, left, cut off his interview with Insulate Britain's Cameron Ford, right, after less than a minute. (talkRADIO)

In an interview that Graham cut off after less than a minute, the radio host tried to insist to Insulate Britain’s Cameron Ford that concrete can be grown.

READ THE AWKWARD INTERVIEW IN FULL BELOW

Graham accused Ford of “killing trees” after the activist told him he was a carpenter.

When Ford said being a carpenter was sustainable because you can grow trees, Graham said “you can grow all sorts of things”.

Ford then said: “Well, you can’t grow concrete.”

Graham replied: “You can.”

This was met with six seconds of silence from Ford, before Graham cut off the interview.

However, the radio host was mocked on social media by those who had watched the awkward exchange.

One user wrote: “Any chance you can supply me with some concrete seeds big fella?”

Another said: “Hi Mike. I need some help. I'm growing concrete plants out the back but they haven't gotten bigger since I got them. Can any of your listeners let me know what I am doing wrong.”

Another user tweeted: “Hi Mike what is the best time of year to plant a patio slab please?

“I want to plant at the optimum time so I can grow the biggest patio possible.”

Radio host Mike Graham made the astonishing claim that you can grow concrete. (talkRADIO)
Radio host Mike Graham made the astonishing claim that you can grow concrete. (talkRADIO)
Insulate Britain activist Cameron Ford, pictured, was left speechless by radio host Mike Graham's claim that concrete can be grown. (talkRADIO)
Insulate Britain activist Cameron Ford, pictured, was left speechless by radio host Mike Graham's claim that concrete can be grown. (talkRADIO)

The world’s leaders are under pressure to deliver on climate change when they meet at the UN’s COP26 summit in Glasgow, which begins on Sunday.

According to think thank Chatham House, cement – the key ingredient in concrete – is the source of about 8% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions.

Read more: Animal Rebellion activists scale Defra building in London

The process of producing “clinker”, the key component of cement, emits the largest amount of CO2 when making it.

To make cement, raw materials limestone and clay are quarried and crushed, then ground with other materials such as iron ore or ash. They are fed into a kiln and heated to about 1,450C.

The material is split into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide, while a new substance called clinker emerges as little round grey balls.

The clinker is cooled, ground and mixed with gypsum and limestone. The resulting cement is supplied to ready-mix concrete companies.

The talkRadio interview in full:

Mike Graham: “What are you glued to, Cameron?”

Cameron Ford: “Just your screen, unfortunately.”

MG: “What do you do for a living, Cameron?”

CF: “I’m a carpenter.”

MG: “How safe is that for the climate?”

CF: “I work with timber, which is a much more sustainable material rather than concrete.”

MG: “But you work with trees that have been cut down then, don’t you?”

CF: “It’s a sustainable building practice.”

MG: “How is it sustainable if you’re killing trees?”

CF: “Because it’s regenerative, you can grow trees.”

MG: “Right. Well, you can grow all sorts of things, can’t you?”

CF: “Well, you can’t grow concrete.”

MG: “You can.”

Six seconds later…

MG: “See you, Cameron. Cheerio. That was Cameron, he grows trees then cuts them down and then makes things from them. Brilliant. Marvellous. I don’t think I ever want to talk to any of those people.”

Watch: Insulate Britain return to the roads after 10-day break