Dirt Radio

A united anti-mining rally planned for the International Mining and Resources Conference plenary, “Global mining, principles that contribute to sustainable development" aims to draw attention to the massive negative impacts of mining and expose the "sustainable development" myth used by the mining industry. Recently returned from Ecuador, Liz Downs, campaign correspondent for the Rainforest Info Centre, the umbrella organization for the Melbourne Rainforest Action Group explains.Trains on the Upfield line are infrequent - only a single track exists north of Gowrie Station. That means trains can’t pass each other. The logical way to improve services is to duplicate the Upfield line. Moreland Councillor Sue Bolton surveys the issues and talks about the community action "More Trains on the Upfield Line".

Climate and Energy Researcher, Dylan McConnell joins us in the studio to let us know about what Australia's energy system might look like, if only we had the leadership. With just over 1 month to go to the Victorian State Election you can still get involved with Yes2Renewables' push to see Melbourne's trains powered by renewable energy. Find out more here.Keep up with all the latest events around FoE on Facebook.

Rachael Lynsky co-ordinator of FoE's Sustainable Cities campaign talks us through some of the climate focused highlights of the Walk This Way FoE fundraiser that happened over the weekend. And environmental engineer Petra Stock from the Climate Council explains some of the findings and recommendations contained in her recently published renewable powered public transport report.

Can you believe it is just under 2 months to the Victorian State Election? This month it is Yes 2 Renewables in the guest chair as we look at their fantastic work to build cross party consensus on the Victorian Renewable Energy Target and to see Melbourne's trains powered by renewable wind and solar energy.Sign on to protect the Victorian Renewable Energy Target here.Sign the open letter to call for renewable powered trains here.Sign up to be part of Walk This Way- Friends of the Earth's 15km sponsored walk here.

Walk This Way is fast approaching with just 3 weeks to go! We talk to Anine Cummins from Friends of the Earth's new Waste and Consumption collective about this year's theme for the 15km sponsored walk: No Time to Waste of Climate Change. You can find out more about joining the Waste and Consumption collective on their Facebook Group.Sign up and start getting sponsored for Walk This Way here. Then invite your friends on Facebook!!

Ed Hill from FoE's Forest Collective talks about legal challenges to logging in Victorian forests, campaigning to protect native flora and fauna and how these issues connect to the up-coming Victorian state election in November.

We were joined by FoE's Forest Collective who continue to grow and expand across the state. They tell us about the recent Threatened Species Day action and also about ways people can get involved. Check out Friends of the Earth Melbourne's Facebook page to find out more about how you can get in on the forest action and all the other campaigns.Also, Walk this Way is back for 2018 - find out more and sign up here.

On September 7th, 1936 the last known thylacine died at the Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart. Eighty-two years on, this date is a national day of reflection on the plight of Australian threatened species, but also a day to celebrate work being done on threatened species recovery.Dr Terry Mulhern, Director of Teaching and Learning in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Melbourne University talks about attempts to prevent the extinction of the largest freshwater invertebrate in the world - Tasmania’s giant lobster.Tessa Campsi from Friends of the Earth's Forest Collective explains why some of Victoria’s most threatened species are in crisis due to logging in critically important habitat.

Today we were joined by Friends of the Earth River Country Coordinator, Megan Williams as we explore drought, the Murraay Darling Basin and the upcoming Drag Festival - Broken Heel.Contact [email protected] to get involved with River Country and check them out on Facebook.

With just over 100 days to the Victorian State Election we take a look at Friends of the Earth's Energy Justice Victoria campaign. Zianna Fuad speaks to us on the phone about what energy justice means, why she may get a mullet, and picnics in the 1950s.Get involved with the Maybe Mullet fundraiser here. Find out more about the Anti Nuclear Art auction here and Stories from the Frontline to the Heartland here.