Climate Action Show

In this episode we looked at how climate movement embraced direct action. In the previous week  scenes spread over television screens across Australia of the IMARC Blockade was a manifestation of a movement that has collectively realised that the traditional avenues of power and influence have failed within this country at generating anything like meaningful action on climate change.  We talked to representatives of concentrations of direct action namely APSARA SABARATNAM from Blockade IMARC and Rilka Laycock-Walsh from the ADANI Blockade. We gained an understanding about what these activists hope to achieve, why they consider direct action so important and what life is like on the ground of these historically vital actions. As a change in tone we also spoke with Calum McFarlane: Calum is a father of two boys who has thought and written very deeply on the subject of climate change and being a parent. In particular his piece "IF YOU’RE FREAKING OUT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE (ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE A PARENT)…"

SACRIFICE ZONE: The story of gas  from  NORTHERN TERRITORY to NARRABRIProduced by Vivien Langford in Sydney. Thanks to Michaela and Andy,3CR in Melbourne and Raul at Radio Skid Row in SydneyThe Beetaloo Gas Basin and The Great Artesian Water Basin are remote from us but tonight we hear the authentic voices of Traditional Owners and farmers. They want our help to stop new gas projects which will have local health impacts such as low birth weight babies and contamination  of water. They came from so far away to tell us city people their story. Please take up the campaign to stop Origin Gas Projects in the NT and Santos Gas in Narrabri." Water is life"...... The Great Artesian Basin is a priceless national Treasure" ......"The fire risk from flaring doesn't make sense!".... "This is a national call to action".Speakers: At Angel Place outside ORIGIN AGMRay Dixon, Bradley Farrar and Naomi Wilfred from the Northern TerritoryThe MUA, CFMEU(Construction Division) Doctors for the Environment Dr Kim LooSeed Mob, Lock the Gate Alliance https://www.seedmob.org.au/ban_fracking   Sign the petitionSpeakers :At NSW ParliamentDavid Chadwick- Great Artesian Basin Protector https://www.gabpg.org.au/ Watch the film "Sacrifice Zone"Margaret Fleck - North West Alliance https://www.csgfreenorthwest.org.au/narrabri_gas?utm_campaign=narrabri_ipc&utm_medium=email&utm_source=lockthegateAnne Kennedy - Artesian Bore Users Association https://www.csgfreenorthwest.org.au/ See the filmRoy Butler MP for Barwon Electorate.  Dr Alistair davey - Pegasus Economics https://www.lockthegate.org.au/pegasus_economics_report_on_the_narrabri_gas_projectBruce Robertson- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.  http://ieefa.org/author/bruce-robertson/Music by Stuart Nuggett from the Beetaloo basin "Nyurni" sung in Jingali language. Only 5 native speakers. https://www.caamamusic.com.au/stuart-nuggett/ Message from Narrabri: "The Namoi region is in the grip of crippling drought like nothing we’ve ever seen. The land is suffering and so are the communities that depend upon it. The idea of letting a water-sucking, flame-flaring, aquifer-fouling, risk-taking coal seam gasfield drill under our precious groundwater is unthinkable. It is our only source of water.But they’re pressing ahead with it, and we need your help. Watch this video to find out why." https://vimeo.com/363466993 Methane made visible through a FLIR camera operated by Tim Forcey  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx-jWcRzndw

Presenter/Producer: Erin JonesGuests:Greg Mullins  - Climate Council - Councillor, Former Commissioner of Fire & Rescue NSWTimestamp- 00.07Greg Mullins is an internationally recognised expert in responding to major bushfires and natural disasters and developed a keen interest in the linkages between climate change and extreme weather events. He coordinated responses to many major natural disasters over more than 2 decades and retired as Commissioner of Fire & Rescue NSW in January 2017.During his 39 year career he served as President, Vice President and Board Chair of the Australasian Fire & Emergency Service Authorities’ Council, Deputy Chair of the NSW State Emergency Management Committee, Australian Director of the International Fire Chiefs Association of Asia, NSW representative on the Australian Emergency Management Committee, Australian representative on the UN’s International Search & Rescue Advisory Committee, and as a member of the NSW Bushfire Coordinating Committee. He is currently Chair of the NSW Ambulance Service Advisory Board.In 2004 he was invited to address the International Fire Science Conference in Ireland on the impacts of climate change on emergency services. As acting Chair of the NSW State Emergency Management Committee in 2005-6 he re-established a Climate Change Working Group focussed on adaptation and was a member of the NSW Government’s Climate Change Council from 2007-16.He worked with bushfire fighting authorities in the USA, Canada, France and Spain during a Churchill Fellowship in 1995, studied at the US National Fire Academy in 2001-02, and represented Australian emergency services at many international forums. Upon retirement he rejoined the volunteer bushfire brigade where he started in 1972, and also volunteers as a bush regenerator.We talk with Greg about the recent extreme fire conditions in Queensland and NSW - in the first week of Spring, and what the future of fire means in the context of climate changehttps://www.climatecouncil.org.au/author/greg-mullins/ Tim Chittenden - Queensland Rural Fire Service - South Western Regional ManagerTimestamp - 32:51Tim heads up a region that is larger than the state of Victoria and has 6000 volunteer fire fighters. We talk to Tim to get an on the ground perspective of what fire fighting in the age of a changing climate looks like, and when towns are running out of water. Greg McGarvie - ACE-EVhttps://www.ace-ev.com.au/ Timestamp - 52:47ACE -EV who will later this month start taking reservations on their Australian built electric vehicles, have just signed MOUs with Flinders University in South Australia to work on EV autonomy; and with The University of Queensland on the development of 'green plastics'https://www.ace-ev.com.au/latest-news/

Presenter/Producer: Erin JonesGuests:Behyad Jafari - CEO Electric Vehicle CouncilTimestamp- 03:44https://electricvehiclecouncil.com.au/https://fleets.chargetogether.org/We speak with Electric Vehicle Council CEO Behyad Jafari about the new tool - Charge together. Charge Together Fleets is a program to assist fleet and sustainability managers transition to electric vehicles and future mobility models.  Tony Fairweather - SEA Electric - Group Managing DirectorTimestamp - 29:53https://www.sea-electric.com/SEA Electric is a local success story - in the electrification of vans and light to medium commercial trucks. Having developed their SEA Drive in Victoria, they are rapidly expanding into international markets including North American, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand and Europe.They are expanding from they Dandenong HQ to also establish an assembly plant in the La Trobe Valley.  A great initiative for a community affected by the closure of old coal infrastructure.Also listen to our previous discussion in 2018 with Tony Fairweather from SEA Electric below:https://www.3cr.org.au/beyondzero/episode-201808061700/sea-electric-ace-ev

When we look back at 2019 I think it will be the moment the tide began to turn. From this year on we will no longer be tackling widespread apathy within the population but we will be directly taking on the system, the politicians and the corporations that are pushing us towards oblivion. Greta Thunberg - the woman of the moment has called out platitudes and empty gestures. Her uncompromising demand for action has rung out around the world and her demand for action has been heard by ordinary people with everything to loose.Following on from last week's show where Viv took us to the climate strike in Sydney - I chatted with Jane Morton a very eloquent spokesperson from Extinction Rebellion, I also had in the Studio Cindy Makabory from Pacific Climate Warriors who spoke at the strike about Australia's role in the potential cultural extinction of Pacific island nations - something we take very seriously on our show. Between each of the interviews I played some sound bites I got from the climate strike - ordinary people operating with great passion and conviction.But first on was journalist and academic Dr Marc Hudson who has monitored the climate movement for years. He has been documenting widespread despair amongst the academic and scientific community who have had to bear the weight of knowledge and look on as we accelerated toward the abyss.

September 30thSYDNEY CLIMATE STRIKE Produced by Vivien Langford in Sydney. Thanks to Michaela and Andy in MelbourneSpeakers:Gadrian Hoosen – Garawa and Yanyuwa man from Boroloola, Pacific Warriors, Jean Hinchcliff, Tommy John Herbert MUA, President of Teachers’ Federation, ASU,PSA, ETU, CFMMEU, APHEDA, Parents and Grandparents and a Concerned Scientist .Music: Ready by Montaigne and New Orleans by David RovicsIt felt like an historic turning point. Not just the 100,000+ in the Domain but the new energy in the climate movement. One of the marshalls was Jenny, a climate activist I knew from 12 years ago. She reminded me of the street theatre we used to do down at Circular Quay, dramatising the climate emergency. I’d borrow a polar bear suit from a Greenpeace Giant and was glad of the disguise as I didn’t want to be recognised from my workplace. I had piles of fur around my ankles but Japanese Tourists would put their arms around me and want a cute photo. Most people didn’t understand at all that we were doing a “Die In” Climate Change was not mainstream. Now, Jenny said, she went to organising meetings and”it’s all new people”.The kaleidoscope has turned and a new coalition of students and workers, parents and professionals, has unified around the disbelief that we are still making profits out of an economy that is creating catastrophe.The media reported this as a children’s event and missed the fact that unions and churches were there in great numbers. The students have been making allies with unionists and have been on a steep learning curve about the  dire realities of striking for most workers in Australia. As I wove through the crowd I learned that many workers are affected by climate change already. You will hear from a ship builder working inside the metal hulk on a heatwave day, of the firemen and forest workers confronted by uncontrollable fires in areas where they are running out of water. Factory workers processing milk are losing jobs because of the drought. Electricians working on solar farm installations are horrified at unskilled casuals working for $10 an hour and no regulation of the work.  There were hundreds of stories there to be told As we walked past the parliament I imagined a cynical sign in the sky “....Tell someone who cares!” because this new climate awareness of workers and young people does not seem to be registering among our leaders. You can send this podcast to any of them in case they are trying NOT to hear the message from the streets. https://www.3cr.org.au/beyondzero POWER OF COUNTRY TOUR  at Sydney Town HallMusic by Stuart Nuggett in Jingili Language –Bundurru (food)Speakers:Millie Telford – Seed Mob, Indigenous youth climate movementStuart Nuggett – Jingili Musician from Beetaloo BasinNicole Hutton – Garrawa woman from BoroloolaNaomi Hogan – Lock The Gate Alliance/Stop Origin Fracking the NTJulie Lyford – Groundswell Gloucester. The town that said NO to AGL gas.“Now is NOT the time in history for Origin Energy to be rolling out polluting and damaging fracking gas fields across the NT” Lock the gate.Naomi Hogan held up the latest Beyond Zero Emissions report “The 10 gigawatt vision for the NT” and Sydney Town Hall roared. We were there to hear traditional owners and NT Community members help us understand the risks to precious waterways, to local health and to all of us if that gas is ever allowed to hasten climate catastrophe.Millie Telford, a vivacious young leader, animated the conversation on stage with musician Stuart Nuggett and Nicole Hutton. She said “We can’t do it alone. It’s time to take this fight all around the country”City people were urged to stand with our fellow citizens in remote parts of the NT. They cannot rally 100,000 climate activists, as we can in the cities, but we can support them by sending a message to Origin Energy and the NT government who lifted their moratorium on fracking for gas.It's not too late to bring it down again.Julie Lyford encouraged the NT people from her experience in Gloucester, they fought off AGL gas and the Rocky Hill Coal Mine and call themselves  the mouse that roared.She said “Do not be scared at AGMs Tell them how it is. Stick to the facts, Truth is everything. Media is your power. Documents are your tools. Look after each other, stay focused and united.”Message from SeedMob: Melbourne 3rd October 6pm Collingwood Town Hall . 144 Hoddle St. Power of Country Tour. Get your tix online at EVENTBRITE.Message from Lock the gate: Sydney  16th October, 8am, Martin Place near Macquarie StOrigin Energy AGM. Stand with Traditional Owners for land water culture and Climate.Breaking News“NSW Independent Planning Commission refuses consent for Bylong valley Coal Mine” They cited agricultural and heritage impacts and said the proponent had not done enough to “minimise GHG emissions associated with this project”

September 23rdA GREEN NEW DEAL FOR AUSTRALIAProduced by Vivien Langford at Radio Skid Row in Sydney. Thanks to Raoul, and Andy.Speakers:Naomi Klein – Her new book is On Fire- The Burning case for a Green New Deal Professor Peter Sheldon – UNSW Industrial Relations Research Centre “The Ruhr or Appalachia?”Jaime Yallop Farrant – Climate Justice union in W.AMichelle Maloney – New economics Network AustraliaProfessor Boris Frankel -  MSSI – “Fictions of Sustainability: The Politics of Growth and Post Capitalist Futures.”Natasha Heenan – Climate Justice Collective  Building a Green New Deal for Australia The Green New Deal is an idea in gestation. We explore the work that needs to be done in Australia to inspire a groundswell of civil society to take personal and collective responsibility for averting climate catastrophe. The CFMMEU asked Peter Sheldon to find out what’s best practice in the transition away from coal fired power. He says we do not have a good record on  structural adjustments . An Economy is not a Society as Dennis Glover shows in that book. And “workers usually get it in the neck “ according to Colin Long. So do we need a Just Transition Authority? If so which model will we follow Ruhr or Appalachia?Naomi Klein launched “The burning case for a Green New Deal at Seattle Town Hall” (Youtube) She wants us to fire up new energies in a transformational new deal for workers currently crushed by capitalism. As fires ravage forests in Australia and Brazil, she urges us to be on fire against the injustices which climate catastrophe is creating.”It’s going to take transformations of how we live in cities, how we move ourselves around, how we grown our food, where we get our energy from.... we live in a time of overlapping crises” All our energies and creativity are need for a green new deal. Jaime Yallup Farrant  says “It’s Up 2 Us” we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.                            She inspires behaviour change amongst corporations, civil society and organisations and talks to us from W.A about the coal mining town of Collie. How can a vision of what they really need energise the move away from coal mining?   She quotes Paul Hawken “ If you look at the Science that describes what is happening today and aren’t pessimistic, you don’t have the correct data. If you meet people in this unnamed movement and aren’t optimistic, you haven’t got a heart” Michelle Maloney – Director of NENA doubts the Green New Deal if we do not have a complete change of management. Her local hubs to diversify regional economies are part of the solution. The focus of their Conference in Perth will be Collaboration to navigate the increasing complexity of our times. You can see the Green New Deal webinar with Tim Hollo and Prof Bronwen MorganTheir next NENA webinar is Futures thinking for a sustainable Economic Future from UTS. Natasha Heenan is  doing her Phd at Sydney university and with Anna Sturmer produced a working document called A GREEN NEW DEAL FOR AUSTRALIA. They want to decolonise, democratise, decommodify AND decarbonise Australia. They are part of the Climate Justice Collective organising a response to climate change. –“Australia needs A Green New Deal, no more centrism" (junkee.com/green-new-deal-australia/210460)

September 20th Strike for Climate. Episode 4 Interviews: Vivien Langford,Production :Andy Britt and Michaela Stubbs JAGVEER SINGH from the Students Strike4Climate group tells Vivien the logistics of getting as many people as we can to show up on Friday 20th September.  Research by Chernowith says that significant shifts can be achieved if 3.5% of the population are visible. The students have calculated that is about 850,000 Australians. Will you be one of them? Behind that there is a large group who know the urgency of climate action but cannot be there on the day. Can you use this week to invite as many people as you can to Treasury Gardens in Melbourne 2pm. 2-18 Spring St or the gathering that is nearest to you in one over 50 cities.  At 9.30 am if you can get to Brighton Beach there is a DEEP TIME WALK to give you an insight into the interconnectedness of all life. "We are in the thick of a climate crisis. Yet we just elected a Government that wants to open up the floodgates to new coal, oil and gas projects that put all of us at risk"     schoolstrike4climate.com  JASON JOHNS  used to present a radio show. He is a Uniting Earth Ministry Consultant with the Uniting Church. He admires the courage of the students. "The fact that they are taking action is great because action is the best way to avoid depression"From his background in  Ecology and Permaculture he has lots of ideas about the way forward. "As there is a correlation between wealth and emissions, on average our students (in church schools) will be among the highest polluters in Australia and the world."  They  are showing leadership. "The question is not whether the church should encourage students to "strike" They have already decided to...… ...….Surely at least we might go along to ensure their safety. Volunteer as marshalls. Take water for people. Show hospitality with some snacks."Support the student strikers/website/unitingearth.org.au  TEJOPALA RAWLS is an ordained Buddhist and keen Climate Campaigner. He discusses with Vivien the message  of The Shambhala warrior training by Akuppa and how to cultivate the great courage we require.  "Do not meet power on its own terms. Train in non violence of speech and mind. Work on your state of mind." It is a wide ranging conversation about how to endure, to sit with your fear, to know that anger is just energy but you can stop it polarizing people. So in a helpful state of mind let us https://the buddhistcentre.com/ The Shambhala warrior mind-training

In this episode we follow the question: Can we consume our way out of climate change? We talk with The Australia Institute senior Economist Richard Denniss where we discover if it's an economic question.Then we speak with Behavioural scientist Stefan Kaufman about Advertising and then with Kilian David and make an advert of our own.

2019, Sept 2 Presenter/Producer:Erin JonesGuests:Alan Crabbe - Birchal Timestamp- 00:50https://www.birchal.com/We speak with co-founder Alan Crabbe of equity crowdfunding platform Birchal about the evolution of crowdfunding. Richard Romanowski - Co-Founder & Executive Director of Planet Ark PowerTimestamp - 29:47https://planetarkpower.com/https://www.worldenergy.org/experiences-events/start-up-energy-transition-awardshttps://youtu.be/ajw1TQC8DZ8Planet Ark Power a Queensland based Energy Startup has recently won an award at the Start Up Energy Transition Awards in Berlin, GermanyStart Up Energy Transition Award 2019 winner in the category Intelligent Grids, Platforms & Cyber Security We speak with Co-founder Richard Romanowski about the ground breaking technology that ensures behind the meter voltage stabilisation, allowing upto 13x more solar to feed into the grid. Adam Bumpus - RedGrid - CEO & Co-FounderTimestamp -56:00https://www.birchal.com/company/redgridhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02ALhDnEkQwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A66npAOS8WMRedGrid is building intelligent energy grids, that start within your home. The RedGrid platform gives intelligence to devices that produce and consume energy, allowing homes to be paid for automatically adjusting their usage during peak energy periods.RedGrid is another Energy Startup that is utilising equity crowdfunding to acclerate smart energy usage  - Building the Internet of Energy