Climate Action Show

GREENWASHOctober 12th 2020Production: Vivien Langford and Andy BrittInterviews: Kurt Johnson with Sandra Capone of Good On You fashion App. James Whitmore with Dr Ted Trainer of UNSW http://simplicityinstitute.org/  When the CEO of Royal Dutch Shell says "We cannot go faster than society. We cannot sell what customers don't want", we have to wonder who persuaded us to want oil?  IN Australia as COVID recovery plans promote gas we need to ask, Who filled our minds with the idea that gas is "cleaner", more modern, and the gas companies are a commmunity asset.? https://mumbrella.com.au/gas-billboard-claiming-to-be-cleaner-and-greener-pulled-by-watchdog-for-misleading-consumers-635364 The Guardian this year decided to refuse all ads for oil and gas. They were driven by the urgency of climate action reported by their journalists.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jan/29/guardian-to-ban-advertising-from-fossil-fuel-firms-climate-crisis Client Earth launched a complaint against BP's global advertising. Australian Lawyer Sophie Marjanac said  “BP is spending millions on advertising to give the impression that it’s racing to renewables, that its gas is cleaner, and that it is part of the climate solution.” BP is an oil and gas giant and historically the fifth most polluting fossil fuel company in the world."We ask should all fossil fuel ads be banned or should they carry a tobacco style warning from the IPCC? SANDRA CAPPONI talks to  Kurt  about  Good On YOU. : Greenwashed Fashion means that you may need this  app to buy ethically produced clothes.It is used globally and Emma Watson is their No 1 Supporter . She says" On the red carpet we’re often asked not what we are wearing but ‘who’. It’s as if the ideas behind the clothes – the label, the designer, the collection – have more meaning than the garment itself. But there’s something missing.........In truth, we can all play a part in driving fashion to be more sustainable and ethical. By choosing to wear clothes from labels that embrace transparent, creative and innovative production methods; and by re-wearing, recycling, swapping and thrifting.Good on You: https://goodonyou.eco/TED TRAINER repairs his own clothes and lives frugally. He talks to James about a life of simplicity and a radical reorganisation of society based on co operative communities. COVID may have made us more receptive to his ideas and we have had a taste of the alternatives in lockdown. Without  the delusions created by GREENWASH maybe we could take back some of our power as citizens instead of being powerless consumers. As Thoreau said:  "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach me, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”Thoreau. Waldenhttp://thesimplerway.info/ The article mentioned by Ted Trainer about decoupling is by Parrique et al https://eeb.org/library/decoupling-debunked/ Introduction to Sam Alexander https://theconversation.com/life-in-a-degrowth-economy-and-why-you-might-actually-enjoy-it-32224

SCIENTISTS AND JOURNALISTSWHAT'S IT LIKE WHEN YOU'RE EXPOSED TO TOO MUCH CLIMATE CHANGE AND NOT ENOUGH ACTION?October 5th 2020.Production: Vivien Langford.Podcast : Andy BrittGuestsDr Joelle Gergis - Climate Scientist at ANU, Canberra. Author of Sunburnt Country and Witnesing the Unthinkable Prof. Johan Rockstrom - Earth Systems scientist at the Potscdam Institute for Climate Impact research, Berlin Nigel Topping - UK High level Climate Action Champion, London Marian Wilkinson - Esteemed journalist and author of The Carbon Club in conversation with Prof Bob Carr at the Institute for Sustainable futures, UTS Sydney Coral Wynter - Journalist , scientist and camp[aigner against Narrabri Gas project Music  Ode to Mother Earth by Aunty Ruby  recorded at a BZE event by Dominique Hes What is it like when your day job is "witnessing the unthinkable?"Joelle Gergis reads her article about the nightmare she has as a result of being exposed to the most horrifying tipping points in global heating. The Great Barrier Reef and its much attacked climate scientists comes to mind.Thanks to Mark Spencer at CLIMACTIC podcasts for his recording. Joelle's time as an IPCC author is so valuable I didn't want to bother her for an interview. Johan Rockstrom is an expert on Tipping Points.He says "we can no longer exclude crossing irreversible tipping points" at the  "We don't have time" global broadcast out of Sweden.He is energised by the Exponential Roadmap initiative, by serious commitments in the EU, China and potentially the USA(2021) as trillions are spent on an exponential leap in ambition and a low emissions COVID recovery.  Nigel Topping sees that we are already headed for ewxponential change as co alitions of businesses accelerate a zero carbon economy. Marian Wilkinson, during her time as a foreign correspondent in Washington amassed a pile of interviews with climate sceptics and others who she now calls The Carbon Club. She realised that they had to foster doubt around the climate science "to remove the moral imperative to act on climate change". She reveals how the carbon club mentored Australians who wanted to protect our carbon intensive economy from "so called climate alarmists", even though "these included the overwhelming majority of climate scientists" Coral Wynter briefly reports on the anguish of citizens who have been trying to protect the Great Artesian Basin water and productive farmlands of Northern NSW from a new gas project at Narrabri. It was breaking news as it had just received the green light from the "Independent" Planning Authority, despite over 90% of submissions from thousands of scientists, First Nations people and farmers who opposed  this climate wrecking project.LINKSJOHAN ROCKSTROMhttps://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceshow/johan-rockstrom.jpg/12704150 JOELLE GERGIShttps://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2020/july/1593525600/jo-lle-gergis/witnessing-unthinkable#mtr MARIAN WILKINSONhttps://uts4climate.uts.edu.au/marian-wilkinson/ NARRABRI GAS PROJECThttps://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2020/10/03/criminally-irresponsible-climate-experts-slam-narrabri-coal-seam-gas-approval WE DON'T HAVE TIME GLOBAL BROADCAST https://www.wedonthavetime.org/events/exponential-climate-action-summit-202009This includes talks by Christiana Figueres https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW42PZN157A&t=1330sBertrand Piccard- Adventurer / Solar Impulse plane  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW42PZN157A&t=10421s

FIGHT FOR PLANET AA BZE DISCUSSION GROUP September 28th - Produced by Vivien Langford and Andy Britt Guests: Craig Reucassel  - Director of the ABC Series Fight for Planet ADamon Gameau - Director and Producer of the film "2040"Jess Panegyres - Forest Campaigner and land use solutions expertImogen Jubb - Zero Carbon Communities manager for BZEAimee Mehan - Climate leader and Hunter Valley entrepreneurMusic by David Rovics - The flames of History The climate community is working overtime to influence the way  COVID Recovery funds are spent . It's a unique opportunity for  lasting, life enhancing and carbon reducing projects. It may seem to people outside this community that nothing much is happening, that emissions are still rising. However, community organisiing such as we saw on the Schoolstrike4climate at over 200 locations here and also globally means that a lot is happening. Quarry Vision is easy. Business as usual is comforting, Grappling with the transition of industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and transport are complex. But two film makers have gone out to find what the best solutions are and are here to discuss them. Damon Gameau says " You're watching an energy transition happen but you're also going to see one happen in other industries as well. It's a wonderful time to be alive. Keep up the hope, try to find the good stories. Our media is crowded with the negative stories . Outrage sells. Go beyond that. The hope is in the shadows, where people are doing amazing things."Jess Panegyres says " We need strong state land clearing laws. We actually know it's worked in the past to bring deforestation right down"This is a sparkling discussion filled with examples of Zero Carbon Communities leading the way. Thanks to Mark Spencer of Climactic Podcasts for help with audio https://www.climactic.com.au/ Thanks to Leigh Baker - Edit/Adaptation - find her at balance3.com.au ResourcesFind out what your local government issues are at: https://snapshotclimate.com.au/ (which comes with share options so you can engage with your council).Join (or start) climate action in your community with the help of BZE’s Zero Carbon Communities Guide https://bze.org.au/zero-carbon-communities/zero-carbon-communities-guide/ Explore the BZE Million Jobs Plan: https://millionjobs.org.au/ What’s Your 2040? offers resources for activating your own REGENERATION plan: https://whatsyour2040.com/activate-your-plan/ Tools from Fight for Planet A: https://www.goodforthehood.com.au/toolkits-and-resources/abc-fight-for-planet-a-toolkit/ And you can watch the full recording of the webinar here: https://vimeo.com/455657185 The innovation skills courses mentioned are:https://www.coursera.org/learn/design-strategy https://www.marsdd.com/e101-registration

COVID RECOVERYSCHOOLSTRIKE4CLIMATE " FUND OUR FUTURE- NOT GAS" September 21st 2020Production : Vivien LangfordPodcasts: Andy BrittGuests: Daisy Millpark - Schoolstrike4climatePenny Howard - Maritime Union of AustraliaMark Ogge - The Australia InstituteExtra items : Professor Andrew Blakers ANU in an interview with Fran Kelly ABC/RN  and Greta Thunberg in an interview with Steve Colbert at CBS COVID Economic Stimulus is a good way to see the difference between  countries serious about climate action and those  giving  public money to  coal oil and gas exploitation. We look at the Green Recovery stimulus in Europe v countries leading the recovery with more climate changing fossil fuels. The Europeans and NZ are leading the way with massive thermal retrofits for social and private  housing.https://www.vivideconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/200605-Green-Stimulus-Index-1.pdf The most exhilarating voice is a Year 9 student, Daisy Millpark, who tells us how the students are informing themselves beyond the classroom. She has talked  to First Nations people and Nurses Association members on the frontlines of climate change. Hearing their experiences she is confronted by the fact climate change is taking lives. She says that activism can be draining but they are not backing down because of COVID. There is an online rally phone jamming the government at every level.Please keep FRiday 25th September join in. The school students in Australia are calling on our Government to "Fund our Future not gas" You can join their actions on Friday September 25th wherever you are https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/buildourfutureThe School Strike 4 Climate movement demands no new coal, oil and gas projects, including the Adani mine, 100 per cent renewable energy generation and exports by 2030 and funding to create new jobs for all fossil fuel workers and communities. Penny Howard tells us why the MUA is actually on the front foot even through many of their members are employed shipping coal , oil and gas or supplying off shoregas wells. They are proud of getting the ball rolling on the jobs of the future and making the transition. They want to look the students in the eye and say we support you. Also the climate movement need to know how the jobs of the future need to be good quality, well protected jobs not like Tony Abbot's Green Army paid less than the minimum wage.We talk about zero carbon ships on the horizon. Could we manufacture them here? Penny describes low carbon jobs that reduce emissions from our economy taking care of people instead of damaging them. Her message to the students is that we have to keep organising, despite the pandemic. "Working people are behind you and want investment in public renewable energy."You can get your union to support this https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ci19nkT9rZiH4HFhoqawxECMBhfSQfTfQH6-gPWakq4/editMUA Campaignhttps://www.mua.org.au/campaigns/Build-Offshore-Wind-and-A-Just-TransitionCovid reveals how our supply lines need to be more securehttps://www.mua.org.au/news/seafarers-recognised-merchant-navy-day-pandemic-highlights-importance-maritime-supply-chains Mark Ogge and Prof Andrew Blakers talk about going the wrong way with gas.Mark's research work at TAI is Gas Fired Back fire https://www.tai.org.au/content/gas-fired-backfireHe says that Recovery spending would be squandered on giving public money to more gas infrastructure.How do they get away with paying so little tax and providing so few jobs.?Mark has found we are virtually giving the resouces away free.He praises Beyond Zeroi Emissions leading with the vision of how we can make a transition. Green New Deals are taking many countries in the direction of transition. We will actually save money with lower fuel bills, more comfortable housing, less health impacts if we can get away from the carbon club."It would provide few jobs and would not bring down energy prices. There are many electrical alternatives to gas for manufacturing that are far cheaper than gas. Covid 19 recovery spending provides a once in a generation opportunity to electrify our manufacturing industry to permanently reduce energy costs. Locking in gas for manufacturing on the basis of a temporary fall in prices will undermine Australian manufacturing for decades to come."Carbon BriefComparison of national relief plans with EU leading on green recovery and laggard who stimulhttps://www.carbonbrief.org/coronavirus-tracking-how-the-worlds-green-recovery-plans-aim-to-cut-emissions

In this episode, James joins with Russian environmental journalist Angelina Davydova to host a conversation about Russia, Australia and climate change. Both countries have recently seen extreme summers, and people are increasingly awakening to the impacts of climate change. We also share large fossil fuel export industries, and governments recalcitrant to act. Featuring:Angelina Davydova - Angelina is the director of the NGO Office of Environmental Information (based in St. Petersburg, Russia), which works in the area of cooperation between Russia and other countries in the climate and environmental sectors. She is also one of the leading climate journalists in Russia, regularly contributing to Russian and international media. She also teaches at a number of universities in Russia.Dr Alexey Kokorin - Dr. Kokorin is Director of Climate and Energy Program of the WWF – Russia. He served for the World Wide Fund for Nature from 2000. From 1984 to 1999, Dr. Kokorin worked in the Institute of Global Climate and Ecology of Russian Hydrometeorology Agency and Academy of Science including as Leading Scientist (1997-1999). In 2007, he was awarded by Nobel Peace Prize in large group of authors of the IPCC reports. Professor Will Steffen - Professor Steffen is Emeritus Professor at the Fenner School of Environment & Society at ANU. He has a long history in international global change research, serving from 1998 to 2004 as Executive Director of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), based in Stockholm, Sweden, and before that as Executive Officer of IGBP's Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems project. Will was the Inaugural Director of the ANU Climate Change Institute, from 2008-2012. Prior to that, he was Director of the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society. From 2004 to 2011 he served as science adviser to the Australian Government Department of Climate Change. He is currently a Climate Councillor with the Climate Council.

In this episode we examine how the human psyche and the environment interoperate. We will be talking with:Professor Glenn Albrecht - Former professor of sustainability at University of Newcastle, Glenn became famous for coining the term solastalgia - meaning to feel the loss at the destruction of one's home place. We will be discussing the complex relationship between the mind and place.Links:Glenn's blog: https://glennaalbrecht.com/Glenn's new book: 'Earth Emotions: New Words for a New World', Cornell University Press 2019 and a review on it: https://climatepsychologyalliance.org/explorations/book-reviews/372-garret-barnwellProfessor Lesley Hughes - Lesley Hughes is the professor for biology at Macquarie University who researches the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems. We spoke with her about the impact that denialism has on the mental wellbeing of climate scientistsLinks:When planetary catastrophe is your day jobThe milk of human geniusMark Allen - is the mindful activist. We spoke with him about how he balances climate activism with mental health as well as his passion for fighting city sprawl from encroaching on natural places.Links:Holistic Activism

Bangladeshi farmer in CovidTimes (repeat)CLIMATE CRISIS FRONTLINESEpisode 1- BANGLADESH13th July 2020Guests:Runa Khan - Founder of "Friendship" floating hospitals in Bangladeshhttps://friendship.ngo/floods-in-bangladesh-and-friendships-response/(link is external)https://friendship.ngo/about-us/leadership/runa-khan-founder-and-executive-director/(link is external)Dr Saleemul Huq - Scientist and Director of International Centre for Climate Change and Developmenthttps://www.iied.org/climate-covid-19-collaboration-we-need(link is external)COP is no longer fit for purpose :https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL1iUHL94bWo7kN34oPG6V_dny1BJ4hwEW&v=g3nuz1_Ani0(link is external)Music: Stand Up tall by Miguel Heatwole and the choirSound Effects : by Maqubul from Freesound "Be prepared" is the message from Bangladesh. Runa Khan describes the thousand rivers and silt islands in her country. She says  saving lives is not enough.  Her floating hospitals have expanded into , schools in the refugee camps, paralegal help, para veterinary help and training people to maintain the solar panels that connect them to government services. The secret of a long lasting project like this  is treating everyone with dignity. It is thrilling to hear how Runa imbues her volunteers and staff  with a deep respect for human rights. She speaks to European donors in the same way, wanting their empathy and understanding in a sustained partnership rather than just a guilty cheque. She says seeing the Rohingya refugee camps nearly broke her but she is undaunted. This is one of our best podcasts and should be a tonic for anyone feeling climate angst or despair. The motto of "Friendship" is "Think big, start small, begin now!". Dr Saleemul Huq spoke to an international audience about "Climate, Covid19 and the collaboration we need." He described how the recent Cyclone Amphan was supercharged by the elevated temperatures in the Bay of Bengal. It caused damage in the Sundarban Forests and over two million people were evacuated to safety with their lifestock. But his pride is in the fact that the death toll was low. Compared to the 140,000 killed in the 1990's, Bangladesh is now a model of early warnings and adaptation.The millions of volunteers who go around with loud speakers in the villages, warning of a climate emergency , now go round wearing face masks and giving a Covidsafe health message.  "Be prepared!" Dr Huq says that Covid19 is a rehearsal for the great climate crisis which will affect all of us. He says  governments and businesses who refuse to listen to scientists are acting unconscionably. Just as the pandemic crosses all borders so does the climate disruption we cause by our emissions. Listening to these two compassionate and energetic Bangladeshis will remind you of the moral vision of Martin Luther King. When I read  that Global Fossil Fuel  Subsidies are currently $5.2 Trillion and $29 Billion in Australia according to the IMF, I understand why the climate frontline states demand justicehttps://reneweconomy.com.au/global-fossil-fuel-subsidies-reach-5-2-trillion-and-29-billion-in-australia-91592/(link is external)As well as sending a cheque in a crisis and reconnecting with the Green bank, we need to understand and empathise with the suffering caused by the emissions our government is subsidising. This podcast might awaken some so please forward it to those who need to hear.Australia was criticised by the architect of the Paris Climate accord Laurence Tubiana who said " If you want this (cary over credits from Kyoto) it is just cheating . Australia was willing in a way.... to destroy the whole Paris agreement" Any ideas for interviewees please send to : [email protected](link sends e-mail)

24th August 2020Produced by Andy Britt and Vivien LangfordUNIONS,FIRST NATIONS AND STUDENTS."IN STRUGGLE LIES STRENGTH"BUILD OUR FUTURE:CLIMATE JUSTICE AND JOBSGUESTS:Edie Shepherd - Original PowerGreg Mullins - Emergency leaders for Climate ActionElizabeth Maddox - Author "Category 5"Shoi Sengupta, Laura and Will from Students 4 Climate actionDave Kerin - Co Founder of Earth WorkerThanks also to Tim Davis Franks of TIPPING POINT and Annie Mc Laughlin and Michaela of 3CR for help The next school strike for climate will prove that  Lockdown is a perfect time to turn the tide on climate catastrophe.Keep the date Friday September 25th https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/buildourfutureSome students are preparing for final year exams, some unionists are out of work but the momentum to face the reality of the climate crisis is still building. September 25th is two weeks b efore our federal budget so this is a chance to push for COVID REcovery which turbo charges the jobs already being powered by clean energy,not new coal or gas. GREG MULLINS speaking to an audience of unionists and students,tells us of the fire seasons ahead. A couple of extra fire fighting planes wont do it. He wants proper financing of Forestry managers skilled in cultural burning and paid year round to manage the forests. He says the fire risk of 850 gaswells in the Pilliga Forest at Narrabri is disgusting. EDIE SHEPHERD talks about the National Covid Commission stacked with fossil fuel bosses and their gas agenda. The NT government wants a gas pipeline from the BEETALOO Basin to the coast despite consistent opposition from Indigenous people."We've been saying no to projects that hurt country"from the Gommeroi in NSW to the Boroloola mob in the Gulf of Carpentaria. She says "harm to our country is harm to us" and unions have a proud history of supporting indigenous struggles. For her the Right wing wont let a good crisis go to waste and  we have to meet the threat of a gas led recovery at scale. SHOI SENGUPTA took time from her year 12 studies to tell us all about September 25th. Its a day of action in Victoria and Qld and a strike in other states.https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/mp ELIZABETH MADDOX  explains how she witnessed  the build up of momentum in the school where she  teaches. First a few brave students spoke out at assembly, then they invited speakers and held letter writing sessions, then some of them led the big school strikes and now climate action is  mainstream in that school community and growing. She reads also from her novel "Category 5" which is about a French class excursion to the Pacific islands just as a  terrible storm sweeps the Pacific. DAVE KERIN is a builder of the future. It is not all about saying NO. He talks about Co Ops and the way collective ownership prevents the worst of capitalism.As the climate crisis  accelerates, He says of  unionist"We never leave our wounded behind" He is part of the  Powering Melbourne Cooperative Steering Committee - The current Covid-19 crisis provides the opportunity for the Committee to propose a  cooperatively owned utilities concept to the Victorian government. https://earthworkerenergy.coop/As the students say "While our  Government and Members of Parliament rush to protect some of our communities from COVID 19, they continue to leave many people behind, and to protect mining companies and coal, oil and gas projects that threaten our collective future rather than building a better future for us all. "Dave Kerin through his Earth worker heatpumps and solar hot water,made in MORWELL plus  REDGUM cleaning co -op and the co -op housing they are planning is showing the way forward.https://www.foe.org.au/earthworker_april_update The next steps the students are recommending are:PASS MOTION: Pass a motion at your workplace, or within the executive of your union, to endorse the Build Our Future: Climate, Justice, & Jobs day of action. Template motion can be found in the September 25th Union Outreach Guide.LET US KNOW: Send through confirmation of your endorsement of the Build Our Future Day of Action to Tim Davis Frank - [email protected] PUBLIC DECLARATION: Send an email to your members and share the action on social media - a public declaration of support from your union would be amazing! The September 25th Promotion Pack has template emails and social squares.ORGANISE AN ACTION: Organise a Covidsafe action for September 25th inside or outside the workplace. Click here to register your action on the website.FUTURE PLANNING: Where possible, set up a committee in your union and elect a climate action representative to coordinate with School Strike 4 Climate in the future and help us plan the next action to achieve a just transition for all workers! The students are standing up again and taking action on September 25th, here in Australia and around the world. A reminder that their demands are are: No public funds for gas and other damaging fossil fuel projects. Instead, recovery funds should be spent on:Resourcing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led solutions that guarantee land rights and care for country,The creation of jobs that fast-track solutions to the climate crisis and help communities recover,Projects that transition our economy and communities to 100% renewable energy by 2030, through expanded public ownership. The students are inviting all unions to stand beside them once again!

17TH AUGUST 2020Production: Vivien Langford. Podcast: Andy BrittInterviews: James Whitmore and Kurt JohnsonTOURISM'S CARBON FLIGHTPATHGUESTSDr Arunima Malik - Sydney UniversitySheldon Chanel - Senior journalist in FijiMaja Rosen - Founder of Flight Free in SwedenRoger Tyers - Southampton University We're all armchair travellers now so James, Kurt and Viv regaled each other with  favourite travel moments. James discovered antiquity in Italy. Kurt, whose terrific travel book The Red Wake took him to the ex Soviet nations, witnessed a rocket launch in Khazakhstan. Viv had an unforgettable experience when she stepped into the Zenana carriage on an Indian train.https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-red-wake-9780857987068 The Red Wake But since the Paris Climate Accord in 2015 left aviation and shipping to regulate themselves, the impact of tourism is now 8% of global emissions and rising.We look at how to travel better as James interviews Dr Arunima Malik. Her article in Nature Climate Change is called The carbon footprint of global tourism https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0141-x. Then Kurt takes us to the Pacific. Dependence on tourism means a lot of people out of work. 80% of their food is imported and with the tourist planes grounded many hotel workers have returned to their villages. However, their determination to get climate action is undiminished. Sheldon Chanel's  latest article is https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/11/pacific-states-face-instability-hunger-and-slow-road-to-covid-recovery-dame-meg-taylorAnd his original piece: https://blogs.griffith.edu.au/asiainsights/covid-19-delivers-a-body-blow-to-pacific-tourism/Viv considers how we have learned to stay at home for the common health good of others during the pandemic.   Staying on the ground for the common good of our survival is a hard conversation to have. We hear from Maja Rosen who started the FlightFree movement in Sweden and Roger Tyers who talks about offsets. His article "What the aviation industry really thinks about climate change will open your eyes. https://flightfree.co.uk/post/behind-the-veil-what-the-aviation-industry-really-thinks-about-climate-change/ The power of models like Greta Thunberg, who sailed to America and back, is to wake us up. Professor Kevin Anderson, who works in climate science between UK and Sweden is as famous for his train trips as his radical awareness. He speaks to people in the rich worlds for whom cheap flights and package cruises have become the norm. Now  that we have been slowed down by COVID 19 will the thought of the Ruby Princess and the Quarantine hotels force  us  to put our well educated minds to a new norm?The article that got us started is a long read. The story of the Komodo Dragon's unlikely saviour in COVID times is here as well as magnificent photos.https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/jun/18/end-of-tourism-coronavirus-pandemic-travel-industry

10th AUGUST 2020Production: Vivien Langford  Podcast: Andy BrittKANGAROO ISLAND FIRES  and ENERGY MINISTERS' SUMMIT1. From the Embers/Glowing Island from CBAA. Produced by Lisa Burns and Sarah Mashman. Featuring the voices of Kangaroo Island residents : Kate Welz, Sabrina and Peter Davis, Jayne bates and Dana Mitchell.https://www.cbaa.org.au/fromtheembers 2.Smart Energy Council Energy Ministers summit. Featuring John Grimes and Wayne Smith. Energy Ministers Dan Van Holst Pelekaan S.A -   Bill Johnson W.A-   and Shane Rattenbury -A.C.T Climate Scientist Dr Joelle Gergis in her article "Witnessing the Unthinkable" says "We have arrived at a point in human history that I think of as the great unravelling". She is a lead author  with the U.N. and she talks about the emotional toll on scientists who seem to be unheard. When the Great Barrier Reef scientist Terry Hughs dived down to see the coral he felt like an Art Lover.."wandering through the Louvre as it burns to the ground". Dr Gergis asks. "Is this the end of fossil fuels or the end of life as we know it?" https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2020/july/1593525600/jo-lle-gergis/witnessing-unthinkable#mtr To dramatise this fork in the road, we bring you the experience of Kangaroo Island residents including beekeepers who saw the world's oldest bee sanctuary decimated by wildfire.  By contrast the energy minister of S.A speaks franakly about having to curtail the energy generated by solar roof owners. Apparently the grid cananot cope and he wants us to hasten slowly to the great consternation of Smart Energy Council industry members who see job losses ahead in this difficult time. Meanwhile in WA they are promoting battery manufacturing rather than just exporting the lithium. They have a separate grid from the eastern states and are planning to export hydrogen in great quantities. Another fork in the road. There is demand from Japan and S.Korea for Blue Hydrogen made from gas, but with emissions in mind we need to drive down the cost of renewable hydrogen so WA can export the 30 gigawatts it intends to, which is far more than the other states.There were 1000+ industry and climate action witnesses to this frank discussion of how each state is creating policies in the absence of a National Plan for Energy Transition. The chat box went wild with reminders that there is no budget left for fossil fuels and Blue Hydrogen is just "Fossil Fuel Industry Spin". It would be hard for the ministers to miss that they cannot have an energy discussion divorced from the need to decarbonise. Shane Rattenbury, ACT Energy Minister feared that the Federal Government would embed more gas in our energy system. This is another fork in the road as COVID recovery money flows to new projects. He said if we get more gas "They will fight like hell to protect their investments and they will influence government as other vested interests have done before" BREAKING NEWS came as I completed this prerecorded show. THE PREMATURE DEATH OF COAL......IEEFA's Tim Buckley says "It's happening sooner than we expected": Examples:Adani Australia's parent company has confirmed it's moving away from thermal coal mining. It's no longer a focus for the growth oriented business. Gautam Adani said earlier in 2020 that low cost domestic clean solar is far more attractive.Glencore.  After reporting a collapse in earnings Glencore is temporarily shutting 9 Hunter Valley coal mines while the situation with its 6 Qld coal mines is unclear.Moody's analyst says    "The longer the pandemic plays out, the more early retirements (of coal firedplants) and the permanent demand destruction from coal we'll see"ACTION1. Kangaroo Island: KI Mayoral relief and Recovery Bushfire fundBSB: 105094   /AcctNo: 035680540 / Acct Name: Mayoral Bushfire Fund 2. Bushfire donations from PNG to Bega Valley CommunityFollowing last week's EDEN MONARO story we heard that the people of LAE in papua New Guinea sent a donation of $61,000 to fire affected people in Bega Valley. Children went round with wheelbarrows and people on very low incomes threw in Kina. The mayor Sharon Tapscott thanked them for their kindness to devasted communities.BSB: 633000  /  Acct No 171 166 317  / Account name: Social Justice advocates disaster relief fund.3. ABC TV - Fight for planet A with Craig ReucasselThree episodes of interactive TV if you look at their tool kit. It's not just lowering your own carbon footprint but getting your municipality to seriously become a ZERO CARBON COMMUNITY.To find out what your Community emits BZE provides you with this way to get a snapshot of your municipality   https://snapshotclimate.com.au/ Just type in your postcodeTo work with your community don't re invent the wheel. Contact Beyond Zero Emissions Zero Carbon Communities and  you will find many have gone before you. Some will be highlighted in the TV show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4MHiNnTUvs