Dirt Radio

This morning we spoke to Jemila Rushton, Melbourne FoE's Fundraising Coordinator about the "6 months to make a difference" campaign launch event and the upcoming winter speaker series. We also spoke to Sam Cossar-Gilbert about the upcoming court case where FoE Netherlands are taking legal action against Shell to take action on climate change. You can become an honourary co claimant here. Radiothon is fast approaching! You can donate to keep Dirt Radio on the air here

In November this year, voters in Victoria head to the polls for the state election. With massive changes occurring right across all Victorian communites, Friends of the Earth regards this election in particular as a prime opportunity for all political parties to demonstrate leadership on the interconnected issues of climate, energy, social justice, and the economy.This week on Dirt Radio, FoE's campaigns co-ordinator Cam Walker sets out the key issues to be addressed in the roll out of "6 months to make a difference" campaign.

We talk to Sumarlinah Winoto about a new podcast, Condemned to the Labrynth, exploring the human rights issues surrounding Australia's refugee policies. How did we get here?Also we chat about how AWESOME the Students of Sustainability conference is, and why you should get your tickets NOW!Radiothon is fast approaching! You can donate to keep Dirt Radio on the air here.

"Health is everyone's business". That’s an organization called Healthy Futures doing some straight talking. They’re a group of health professionals taking action to address climate change and the related threats to health and well-being. This week on Dirt Radio we hear from Healthy Futures campaigners Sasha King, Tatiana Hitchen and Harry Jennens.

Dave Kerrin - long tim unionist and Earthworker Cooperative member joins us to talk about how environmental justice and worker rights are not always mutually exclusive. We also take a quick look at the wonderful work that Friends of the Earth affiliate member Earthworker Cooperative are doing with their Energy Manufacturing Cooperative in coal affected Morwell and the new Redgum Cleaning Cooperative.Check out the upcoming Green Ban Tours with Dave here.

Increasing numbers of people in Melbourne are thinking about and experiencing the Yarra River as an invaluable environmental asset and a centerpiece for Melbourne as an urban ecosystem. In no small part, this is could be the result of Andrew Kelly's work as the Yarra/Birrarung Riverkeeper.This week on Dirt Radio, Andrew talks about some of the issues currently facing the maintenance and remediation of this pivotal waterway, including the development of the Yellingbo Conservation Area, and a weekend cleaning exercise that netted a whopping seventy dumped o-bikes and five tonnes of rubbish in only one very small portion of the river.

We talk about all thinks takayna/Tarkine focussing in on the intersection between art and activism. We interview Glenn Todd about the Bob Brown Foundation's Tarkine in Motion artisit convergence that recently took place in the forest. Get more involved at bobbrown.org.au/april_action_group_meeting.Image supplied by Glenn Todd. Check out more of Glenn's artwork at flamewriter.art

This week, Kate Wattchow from FoE's Act On Climate campaign runs through some of the ins and outs of emission reduction targets as they relate to the state of Victoria and the pending state election in November. Kate also explains the philosophy behind, and the policy implications of, what could become a state based climate budget.

We talk all things nuclear with the SA Conservation Council's Mara Bonacci and cross LIVE to the Friends of the Earth Radioactive Exposure Tour of 2018.

This week, first up, Dirt Radio heads into the dwindling forest ecosystems in the state of Victoria to discuss the environmental viablility of current Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs).Then, we move on up to Canberra, to take a look at proposed government legislation that could mean dwindling resources and funding for environment groups like Friends of the Earth, and potentially, the shutting down of citizen based advocacy for the entire charity and non-profit sector.