Dirt Radio

In the state of Victoria, community groups, local councils, businesses, and non-government organisations are more than ready to implement innovative climate solutions. But there's a problem... demand for the government's climate grant scheme dramatically outstrips what is currently available. This week Phil Jackson from Act on Climate backgrounds the situation and explains the solution, a Victorian Climate Change Action Fund.

As part of the the run up to the state election in November, this week, Dirt Radio talks energy – how to make it, how to save it, and how our everyday use of it connects to climate change. Community co-ordinator for FoE's Yes2Renewables campaign, Pat Simons explains the importance of the state of Victoria's very first renewable energy auctions. And Dean Rizzetti from Environment Victoria unpacks the thinking behind the One Million Homes Alliance.

As we continue our look at the Sustainable Cities campaign, we take turn to look at the health aspects of what transport means. We are joined by Action for Health co-founder, Matt Nguyen and zero in on their Park Off! campaign to rid Sydney Rd of on street parking.We then turn our attention to the west coast and talk to Claire Anderson about the formation of the new Friends of the Earth Perth - including the month long Walkatjurra Walkabout happening soon!

This week we continued to unpack the sustainable cities oxymoron and get down to where the rubber hits the road with Don Stokes from the Warringal Conservation Society and their work to resist the North East Link Road proposal. We also hear from Tony Morton, President of the Public Transport Users Association.To find out more about the campaign and get involved visit www.getonboard.org.au

If you’ve been paying attention to the media, you’ll know that in the race to the Victorian state election in November, Labor and the Coalition are  neck in neck in the polls. And it seems both major political parties are also breaking their necks to build mega road projects.This week Dirt Radio continues its special pre-election series on sustainable cities and issues connected to transport and urban planning. Alex Breskin from Residents Against Mordialloc Freeway (RAMF) takes a community perspective, and Crystal Legacy from the University of Melbourne offers a big picture overview.

As we continue the march towards the November State Election we focus in on Friends of the Earth's Sustainable Cities campaign. We speak to Friends of the Earth's Rachel Lynskey about the #GetOnBoard plan and then to Chris Dunlevy from Don't Destroy Millers Rd about the Westgate Tunnel Project.Find out more about Friends of the Earth on our website.

This week Dirt Radio addresses the topic of waste and in particular plastics! June 5th was the focus of the World Environment Day campaign to beat plastic pollution world wide. Plastic pollution is emerging as an environmental problem only second to climate change. This show leads into the month of Plastic Free July.Annett Finger from the Boomerang Alliance spoke about the campaign for a container deposit legislation and Berish Bilander from Green Music Australia talked about how music festivals are beating single use plastics, and which ones are leading by example including artist advocates.

Dirt Radio continues its special series highlighting FoE’s “6 months to make a difference” campaign which will lead up to the Victoria state election on Nov 24 this yearThis week we follow up Act on Climate's earlier discussion of state based emission reduction targets and the implications of a climate budget. To do this, we head out to hear about the real and practical ways that two regioanl communities are dealing with the unfolding crisis of climare change.  Colin Lamby from the Bendigo Sustainability Group (BSG) provides an overview of some recent initiatives, and Linda Kennedy from the Tarnagulla Alternative Energy Group explains the launch of her community's research on the impacts of climate change.

All the family were in the studio as we celebrate Radiothon 2018. It is not too late to donate!! Jump on line pledge to support keeping Dirt Radio on the air!!

An auspicious day. June 5, 2018 - World Environment Day. Also the day Dirt Radio kicks off its special series, featuring all the tributaries of the big FoE campaign “6 months to make a difference” leading up to Victoria’s state election happening in November this year.This week, Leigh Ewbank, campaign co-ordinator for Act on Climate explains the significance of a state based climate budget, setting ambitious emission reduction targets, and the importance and centrality of community engagement for making politicans and policy makers really sit up and listen.