Earth Matters

Vicky Ellmore is an organiser from the Act on Climate initiative within Friends of the Earth Melbourne. Vicky joined us to chat about the need for climate adaptations,  and findings from recent research undertaken by Friends of the Earth. Find their  report about climate adaptation here.Aawa is from Kinglake Friends of the Forest (KFF), a volunteer community group committed to protecting native forests and relishing the joy of their unique biodiversity. Since the end of VicForests, KFF have turned their attention to the industrial burning of forests the occurs under the guise of bushfire management.Find their petition here. Eart...

Tackling Plastic Waste: Producer Responisibility + Plastic-Free July ‘…85% of Australians are hugely concerned about plastic pollution…We need our leaders to lead by example and show that the circular economy is possible…’ Birte Moliere, Packaging Campaign Lead, Boomerang Alliance This week Earth Matters speaks to Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, founder of the Plastic Free Foundation and Plastic Free July and Birte Moliere, Packaging and Product Stewardship Lead at the Boomerang Alliance about the solutions being actioned at community, national and international levels to reduce plastic waste.We hear how the Plastic-Free July challenge is reaching MPs in Parliament and what you can do to join the fight.Mor...

In this episode of Earth Matters, host Keiran Stewart-Assheton discusses the ongoing impacts that PFAS contamination has had on the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community, as well as a look at the broader impacts of PFAS globally.

In his introductory show, host Keiran Stewart-Assheton talks about his people's historic connecion to Beowa (Orcas) of the South Coast, and the impacts of the extractive whaling industry post-colonisation.

The food system accounts for about 25% of total greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is commonly left out of discussions about the climate emergency. Over half of the land on this continent is used for agriculture, but rarely do we bring food and farming into landback discussions. As a climate solution, as a nexus of decolonisation, as a battleground for workers’ rights and more, food is so close, so ever-present, we can forget to pay attention. There are, of course, exceptions; individual and communities who are working to fix what’s fixable, halt what’s causing harm, and build better food systems...

Western hubris about water leads to really bad water policy - kate harriden  Australia’s First Peoples looked after the country’s waterscapes for millennia before colonisation brought Western ways that exclude their contribution. This week on Earth Matters Wiradyuri woman and indigenous water expert kate harriden from the Monash Sustainable Development Institute explains how educating settler societies about indigenous ways of knowing is crucial to decolonising water management in Australia. Produced by Claudia Craig at the studios of 3CR on unceded Wurundjeri land. Sound recordings of Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, created and supplied by kate harriden.  MSDI Water camp, May 20-22  MSDI Wa...

Join the throng of Seed Savers with their small table stalls of free seeds and activities at the Canberra City Farm. Why save seeds?How to save seeds.Make a Seed bomb.  Guests:Arien MacVeigh; Founder; Canberra Seed Savers NetworkVarious Folk. Dave on Guitar.  Episode #1500 was produced by Bec Horridge on Ngnunawal and Ngambrii Country in Canberra.

Calls for national Moratorium on Seismic BlastingCommunities gathered in Warrnambool to call for an end to gas exploration in the Otway Basin and a national moratorium on seismic blasting to stop the damage being done to marine life and the marine environment. They want the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry into the Impact of seismic testing on fisheries and the marine environment implemented.We hear from:Lisa Deppeler, founder of OCEAN, the Otway Coastal Environment Action Networkhttps://www.ocean.org.au/Ben Druitt, Fight for the Bight, Port FairyYaraan Couzens-Bundle, Gunditjmara Whale Dreaming Custodian and Coordinator of SOPEC, the Southern...

Restoring Democracy in the Disinformation Age Access to reliable, accurate information is essential for democracy. From misleading health advice to conspiracy theories, unchecked disinformation risks swaying elections, jeopardising ecosystems, and even inciting violence. In fact, the World Economic Forum ranks misinformation and disinformation the number one short-term threat to humanity and progress.This week on the show, we hear from experts at the Disinformation and Democracy Forum hosted by Australian Democracy Network last month in Narrm (melbourne). It’s a timely opportunity to hear from those dealing with the impacts of disinformation, about how we can address the threat while saf...

Trump politics, anti-woke rhetoric and Australian climate policy. Wilderness Society takes on Federal Minister for Environment ahead of election. As Trump shockwaves ricochet around the world, we ask how significant is the President’s election for future global climate change action? And how is the changing world order affecting the political appetite for climate action at home? In this episode of Earth Matters we hear from Professor Robyn Eckersley, an academic working at the intersection of democratic theory and climate justice. Professor Eckersley shares her reflections on the dangerous trajectory of global democracy and its impact on Australian climate policy. We also hear...

In the Northern Territory, communities are in the fight of their lives. The fracking industry is determined to expand operations, which have so far been exploratory, and begin to produce gas for commercial sale - as soon as this year. This poses serious threats to water security, cultural sites and climate, and has community advocates turning out to protect country and our future.  In the second part of this two-part feature on fracking, we hear young advocate Ivy Sheng in conversation with Hannah Ecken (Frack Free NT) and Dr Thomas Hooley (Climate Analytics) about the risks fracking poses to country a...

In what has been called a ‘transformational decade’ towards 2035 emissions reduction targets, this conversation explores how two underrepresented groups in climate change decision making, First Nations and settler women, can form innovative partnerships to amplify, while not conflating, First Nations and all women’s voices to support gender justice and self-determination to transform nation-building towards climate security and long-term human and planetary wellbeing.For this important conversation, WCC Founder, Dr Janet Salisbury, was in conversation with:Bec Blurton (Managing Director, First Nations Affairs and WCC Steering Circle member),Robyn James (Global Leader for Gender Equity at The Nature Conservancy)Terri Reid (P...

Today’s show is the first of two exploring fracking, one of the more controversial elements of the government’s ‘gas-led’ future roadmap. We hear from climate scientist and policy expert Dr Bill Hare, on why fracking poses a serious risk to our climate, and from Dr Monique Ryan, independent Member of Parliament for Kooyong and outspoken opponent of fracking. This episode was produced in collaboration with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition’s From Us, For Us project, and the interviews were conducted by participant Ivy Sheng. As a high school student, Ivy speaks speaks from a challenging and underrepresented position: t...

Climate Fear in an Election Year As we prepare to hit the polls again this year, the major parties are scrambling to demonstrate their environmental credentials. Grassroots organisers are looking at what it will take to cut through the noise and mobilise voters for climate action.In this episode, we hear from grassroots campaigners who are mobilising for climate action. Speaking at a recent 350 campaign launch, CEO Te Raukira O’Connell Rapira shares learnings from the Rock Enrol campaign in Aoteroa New Zealand, and Olympic medallist Rhydian Cowley poses sport as a point of connection and concern for voters. We als...

Have you been to a farmers’ market recently?  If so, you’ll know the great feeling that buying locally grown food and connecting with your community brings. You’ll also be contributing to something bigger. Localisation is a rapidly growing movement resisting globalisation through the rebuilding of place-based cultures, strengthening local communities, and reconnecting people with nature. It’s an alternative economic model offering a healthier way of living in the face of increasing threats to human and ecological wellbeing. This week on Earth Matters we speak to Helena Norberg-Hodge, founder of the worldwide localisation movement and the international non-profit organization L...

The founder of The Women’s Climate Congress (WCC) Janet Salisbury invites women of Australia, in all diversity, to come together in Castlemaine at the end of March, with other women to explore how women are leading a national and international paradigm shift to promote more rapid action on climate change based on compassion, kindness, and care for all life on Earth. The  Arid Lands Environment Center in Alice Springs punches above its weight. Perhaps that's why the Country Liberal Party has defunded it by $100,000. Alex Vaughan presents their campaigns opposing the extractivist profiteers bent on turning the wild and beautiful...

Today we see inside one of Australia's longest-running environment organizations, the Gecko Environment Council on the Gold CoastTackling Council and State Government, this volunteer-based group has shaped the look of their skyscraper city and 50 kilometers of beachside suburbs. It is also trying to protect the Gondwana land magic of Springbok National Park from human impacts like illegal biking trails and litter. You might find some common threads with issues in your area. The Arid Lands Environment Center just lost $100,000. The Country Liberal Party defunded them. Alex Vaughan, their policy officer is not daunted. Earth Matters will be telling their story over th...

Native Title and Nuclear Colonialism "The sacred sites we're protecting have been handed down to use from generation to generation... We're fighting to protect that country because that's where it all is... Our spirituality is out there, that's our church, our grocery shop, our butcher's, our pharmacy. Everything that we have been taught over all our lives is on country." - Aunty Sue Coleman-Haseldine In the wake of Peter Dutton’s nuclear energy plan announcement, First Nations organisers and allies are wondering where all the waste will go, and calling out the corrupt consent processes used by corporations and governments to get...

As fires rage and temperatures exceed the 1.5-degree threshold, learning about environmental changes in Antarctica helps us understand what's happening.This week we speak to two women raising awareness about Antarctica’s crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate systems.In the first half of the programme acclaimed filmmaker and climate activist  Liz Courtney speaks about her documentary film 'Antarctica - the Giant Awakens’ and the science behind Antarctica’s global climate impact. Liz is artist-in-residence at the Earth Observatory of Singapore and was the 2024 winner of the Women Changing the World in Media award.In the second half, we hear from viro...

Indigenous rangers in the Kimberley have put metal turkey feeders filled with kangaroo pellets to help one of Australia’s rarest animals survive, after a devastating wildfire swept through its habitat.Thankyou to the World Wide Fund for Nature for audio. In the second half, Gurridyula is convincing telling why water is sovereign.Music: Gurridyula "Onamission" [edited for profanity] with permission to podcast.Pay some rent to this fund keep the camp at the mine site going. Chip in to the Wangan Jagalingou legal defence fund.https://chuffed.org/campaign/106614-wangan-and-jagalingou-nagana-yarrbayn-cultural-custodians-legal-defence-fund/20250117a2?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2kC2lDcZYXoSm2ygX_pjoXKTOYu13MHWmNFU63sS...

Time to meet Anjali Beames an 18 year old climate activist, co -coordinator of the Rising Tide caucus for People of Color, interviewed by Nicky Page from Radio Adelaide. “When People of colour shape what the movement looks like,it's not also just for the benefit of people of colour, but for the benefit of all marginalised identities and everyone in general"  Anjali Beames Hear about her involvement with  School Strike for Climate and Rising Tide and the campaign to cancel all new fossil fuel projects in our country  and close the coal port of Newcastle.  Understand why:  it’s not cool to go round saying how...

Join the community at the Rising Tide Peoples Blockade of the ships that export coal and the climate crisis. Put on this life jacket, and you can paddle out with Bec and Tatt. It's safe to leave your luggage at the Knitting Nanas bag check.   Then meet a couple of mums who took their children to the Rising Tide protestival.  Hear why Jill got up at 4am. The stirring Yarrabar Performers bring this historic event to a close at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra. Guests: Lorraine: Knitting Nana on bag chick in for KyackersTatt: Hunter activist who heard about the Protestival...

A small community are putting their bodies on the line to save Greater Gliders before they are gone forever their homes felled by Forestry Corp.  Even the local retired school principal has been arrested.Susie Russel almost flys with the Greater Gliders as she describes how they live in the forest, their plight and the deaf ears of the government.Then long time campainer Dailan Pugh from the North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) unpicks the vested interests in the Northern NSW native forests logging industry: the people and companies profiting from the destruction of the homes of our unique and thr...

John Seed and his colleagues are helping people all over this country and overseas  find their ecological self.Plus:  John gives practical suggestions on how to find direction in life.Music: A new recording of Johns Seed singing his song Expanding Universe.Links:John Seeds Deep Ecology workshop schedule on The Rainforest Information Centre(link is external) website.Falling in Love with the World - Active Hope Spiral - free online, Sundays @5pm AEDT. (link is external) Hosted by Nettie Hulme"Active Hope is a practice that encourages us to find and offer our best response to global issues during this time o...

The Lake Bolac Eel Festival is held at Lake Bolac in southwest Victoria in autumn to celebrate the Eel harvest. It continues a tradition that goes back tens of thousands of years when Indigenous peoples from the area gathered for important business; to trade goods, conduct ceremonies and share stories.Begun in 2005 by Neil Murray, singer/songwriter from the area and founding member of the Warumpi Band, the Festival recognises this historic gathering and attracts people from all walks of life to come to the shores of Lake Bolac for the eel harvest to share, learn, remember and celebrate. The...

Buddy up with Bec and  experience this multifaceted Protestival.  We will be chatting to the people involved, hearing fab and funny speakers and  kicking  off  shoes to groove with Gurridyula. Aunty Sue s summary of the Australian Parliament is hilarious. Guests:  Frankie Kellie: School Strike for Climate, Aunty Sue Ellen: Gomeroi Elder, Bev Smiles: Hunter Community Activist, Rohan 7yo, George- Newcastle activistMusic: Gurridyulas song supporting Pilliga activists; a live recording with   permission to broadcast.Lots of information and pictures at Rising Tide Earth Matters  #1481 was produced on the lands of the Woromi  and Awabakal people  by Bec Horridge

Join the the circle of thousands and be challenged by a deep and unique Welcome to Country at the Peoples Blockade of the worlds largest coal port. Uncle Judulu, didge and singing  melds to a deep plea to care for the land, before hundreds of people and canoes entered the coal port shipping channel to disrupt movements of coal ships. Over 170 people were arrested for blocking the coal shipping channels but that was only a fraction of what happened at this well organised and uplifting event. Guests:Renae Lamb: Wiradjuri & Wongibong woman; visionary artist with  Midnight Dreaming Judulu and  Woomera  Mob YARRABA...

Would you prefer gas, secrets or radioactivity with your cancer? The proposed Middle Arm Gas Hub in Darwin threatens residents with cancerous fumes and us all with global heating.  The ask is simple; redirect the 1.9 billion dollar subsidy and Stop Middle Arm. Nuclear power is at the heart of the Dutton opposition’s energy policy. His leadership style was exposed when he  tried to slip out a back door in Collie, Western Australia after excluding  traditional owners from discussion, on whose land he wants to build  radioactive towers. Guests:Dr Barry Trail director of Solutions for Climate Australia and with Vote Climate  Lau...

We all have to respond to climate extremes yet many groups are still cant  find seats at climate negotiation tables.  This Earth Matters gets into the nitty gritty of inclusion issues at the  global heating international negotiations known as COP. Guests: Dr Sally Box,  Australia's Chief negotiator at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) conferences. Kesaya Baba a Senior Manager for COP31 Strategy and Partnerships with  WWF-Australia and  Tamara Inkster-Draper; Programme Manager of the International Climate Politics Hub  With Womens Climate Conversation host: Janet Salisbury  Earth Matters is grateful for this collaboration with the Womens Climate Conversations Earth Matters #1478 was produced by Bec Hor

Sonia Randhawa (Wednesday Breakfast) interviews geospatial analyst with the World Resources Institute Radost Stanimirova about the loss of forest cover related to mining.  Read more here:  https://www.wri.org/insights/how-mining-impacts-forestsSamoan climate justice activist Suluafi Brianna Fruean interviewed by Priya Kunjan (Thursday Breakfast) speaks with us about centring Pacific climate priorities during this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which was held in Apia, Samoa, the first time that the gathering has been hosted by a Pacific Island Nation. Brianna also talks about presenting The Coconet's documentary series 'The Forgotten Pacific', which travels across five Pacific Islands to discover how...

A small community are putting their bodies on the line to save Greater Gliders before they are gone forever their homes felled by Forestry Corp.  Even the local retired school principal has been arrested.Susie Russel almost flys with the Greater Gliders as she describes how they live in the forest, their plight and the deaf ears of the government.Then long time campainer Dailan Pugh from the North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) unpicks the vested interests in the Northern NSW native forests logging industry: the people and companies profiting from the destruction of the homes of our unique and thr...

Warmly, three skilled and powerful women share what they actually do in their jobs as international climate negotiators and advocates. Dr Sally Box, explains her role as Australia's Chief negotiator at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) conferences. Kesaya Baba a Senior Manager for COP31 Strategy and Partnerships with  WWF-Australia and  Tamara Inkster-Draper; Programme Manager of the International Climate Politics Hub joins the conversation.. With Womens Climate Conversation host: Janet Salisbury  Music: Visionary artist ZOE from Earth with her fourth single, This Too Shall Pass, completing the release of the Sun EP. Earth Matters is grateful for this collaboration with the Womens Cli...

Today on Earth Matters, in the lead up to an upcoming Federal Election, we are looking at how so called fake news is slowing down the environmental action in Australia. We explore how traditional media, and its newer social media cousin, is driving a twin crises that threatens not only the environment, but our minds aswell.Thanks to ABC Friends for their assistance.Check out the Climate of Misinformation report here.Featuring music from Australian artists, Monkey Marc and Combat Wombat. Earth Matters #1474 was produced by Phil Evans on Whadjuk Noongar boodja.

Today's show features an interview from the 26th of September this year with members of Cook Islands grassroots collective Ocean Ancestors Louisa Castledine and Dr Teina Rongo, who spoke about Cook Islanders' concerns about and resistance to deep sea mining in their waters. On the 18th of September, Ocean Ancestors were involved in organising a sail-out rally to demonstrate community support for the fight to protect marine environments, ecosystems and kin from the threat posed by offshore extractive industries, as well as climate change, pollution and overfishing. During this interview, Louisa and Dr Rongo also discuss the community and economic...

Yuin elder, Tom Slockee describes his experience organising the rehousing of aboriginal families who fled their burning houses in Mogo NSW in 2019. Music: Why you tryna bring us down  from Melbourne based artist Canisha Barkindji song woman Nancy Bates, latest single, "Blood Red Moon". Set against the backdrop of the Menindee Lakes, in far west New South Wales. It is a celebration of the healing power of nature, friendship, and the enduring strength of women. Wyirrt Wyirrt (Food of the Country);A version of a traditional song, which comes from Karajarri Country in WA's north-west and was sung by Family Shoveller...

The Connecting Communities gathering on Walbunja and Brindja-Yuin Country, Moruya on Saturday 23rd March, bought hundreds of  people together for a day of solidarity, unity and acknowledgment of the shared struggles of First Peoples locally and around the globe.A Unity Walk of song and dance, led by Walbunja Songman Jordan Nye, of the Muladha Gamara cultural performers, saw hundreds of people make a Snake Dance across the Moruya Bridge.Eliza Cannon: Co-creator for the day said that the event arose in response to the challenge of holding our grief and hope for peace in Palestine while living on unceded Aboriginal lan...

This  Womens Climate Conversation identifies some tools and ways forward to caring for future generations and all life.  Guests: Susan Moylan-Coombs is the founding director of The Gaimaragal Group, which she established to create a new story of connection and wellbeing for all Australians.The group’s aim is to facilitate the voice for our Elders in the contemporary social space, empower First Nations youth to realise their full potential, and provide two-way cultural translation to bring individuals and communities together. Susan’s ancestry is Woolwonga and Gurindji from the Northern Territory.  She has extensive experience working with First Australian communities...

“Caring for future generations and all Life” is the topic of this ground breaker Womens Climate Conversation.   “How do we look to the future when we haven’t addressed the historical issues of the past”. Susan Moylan-Coombs Guests: Susan Moylan-Coombs is the founding director of The Gaimaragal Group, which she established to create a new story of connection and wellbeing for all Australians.The group’s aim is to facilitate the voice for our Elders in the contemporary social space, empower First Nations youth to realise their full potential, and provide two-way cultural translation to bring individuals and communities together. Susan’s ancestry is...

1080 is primarily used in the struggle to protect native species from other invasive animals - but it is even used to control native dingoes, and other species of wallaby, possum and pademelon. Is it right to cause death in such a traumatic way? And what about the impact on our domesticated four legged friends?We talk to Alex Vince from the Coalition Against 1080 about their push to stop the use of this dangerous chemical.Earth Matters #1465 was produced on Jabirr Jabirr Land by Phil Evans

Samuel Janama Sandy is chair of the Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation representing eleven native title areas across the Beetaloo area that is slated for intensive fracking.   Samuel shares some good reasons why fracking companies must: “Pack up and go home”. He documents the unfair “negations” fracking companies imposed on his community to get so-called “agreements” to frack. The impact of fracking chemicals forced into four kilometer deep holes through precious water aquifers is of huge concern. Guest: Samuel Janama Sandy, Chair of the Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation Stop Fracking the Territory Petition: Frack Free NT Music: MidIlbingini Agiyabarda (When The Water Goes Down) David Garnham & the Re...