In this podcast, Beyond Zero radio talk to Dr Amanda Cahill, founder and director of the Centre for Social Change, who has a PhD in Human Geography and has worked with communities in Brazil, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste and indigenous Australia. She was also a former Board member of BZE.
"Building a New Economy – Economics for a Just and Sustainable Future.” [Photo supplied by Dr Amanda Cahill]
BZE Technology Radio Show: 23 June 2017: Podcast
Beyond Zero Emissions talks to Dr Amanda Cahill
BZE Interviewers: Natalie Bucknell, Kay Wennagel, Michael Staindl, Laura Perri
Interview broadcast on: 23 June 2017
From Radio 3CR in Melbourne, Australia
Commentary by Bev McIntyre:
Why do the media, politicians and and the general population blame the demise of Hazelwood for rising prices of electricity and gas when it only contributed 5% of available power?
To discuss more enlightened views Dr Amanda Cahill said the focus began 3 years ago when she was invited to speak with a group in Mackay, Northern Queensland on the downturn of coal where she said she found "lots of fear around" about perhaps how to transition and diversify. As she mentioned business concentrates mainly on maximising profits at any costs and focuses on disparate areas such as forestry and agriculture, land and energy instead of climatic, ecological, hydrological etc.
During her travels she visited Latrobe Valley but the area was then in crisis mode so a bit late to plan, rather a task of supporting and deploying workers, and to empower people. A need for "rebranding" instead of jobs vs. environment attitude.
As John Hewson remarks "rising costs are the direct result of appalling policy and neglect", that many had hoped the Finkel report "would have been a circuit breaker in what has been a divisive and grossly irresponsible "war" over climate policy"
There is a great need for more Amandas!
Further reading:
Reports from the Centre for Social Change
http://www.centreforsocialchange.com.au/resources/
“Economic success alone is not enough to improve our wellbeing“
“Rewiring the economy: measuring environmental impact”
"Moving Beyond CSR: The Business of Social Change"