Dirt Radio

In the first part of the show, we examine a campaign that thinks local and acts global for the survival of the Great Barrier Reef. Environmental socal science researcher Georgina Gurney from James Cook University talks about the reach and impact of the on-line Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef initiative.Then, Maddie Egan from Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific (FoE APac) explains the on-going brutality and repression faced by environmental campaigners in our region, most recently in the Philippines.

First up, a report from the Bowen Magistrates Court on Front Line Action on Coal's on-going campaign work to stop the Adani mega-mine, then an up-date from Yes2Renewables and their vision for an energy system powered by renewables.

More elections than you can shake a stick at.Tasmania goes to the polls March 3, 2018. Burnie based campaigner with the Bob Brown Foundation, and now candidate for the Greens in the seat of Bradon in Tasmania's northwest talks about the the community based campaign to save the Tarkine and how this will play out in the coming poll.Then it's South Australia on March 17. Mara Bonacci, a member of FoE Melbourne's Nuclear Free Collective based in Adelaide, delves into the background of the anti-nuclear waste campaign being run out of Conservation SA, and explains the connections with the state's political crosscurrents facing voters on the day.

The Radioactive Exposure Tour is a journey through Australia's nuclear landscape. The Tour has exposed thousands of people to the realities of 'radioactive racism' and the environmental and social impacts of uranium mining, radioactive waste and nuclear bomb testing. We spoke to ACE Nuclear Free Collective's Jemila Rushton about the tour.Also check out the recently launched Community Powered Transport Plan and #GetOnBoard.

In this the second part of our state election, start-of-the-year special, Dirt Radio talks first with Zianna Fuad, co-ordinator of FoE’s Quit Coal campaign, about dubious plans for carbon capture and storage in the La Trobe Valley, and the myth of 'clean coal'. Then, Callum Simpson from FoE’s forest collective explains the importance of the Emerald Link proposal for East Gippsland and the need to dump Victoria's Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs).The election happens in November this year, and there’s much at stake in terms of environment policy, sustainability, and with the perspective of a wider optic – the question of social justice and the role of the communities in the working of democracy.

With the 2018 Victorian State Election less than 10 months away, Dirt Radio embarks on a 2 part series to explore Friends of the Earth's vision for Victoria. This week focusses on climate and energy justice, and transport. You can check out the full election vision statement here and read the transport vision document here.

Adani have already began construction on their rail line to link up the proposed Carmichael Coal Mine to the existing export facilities at Abbot Point. But there are a determined group of people ready to stop them. We are joined by Ike Schwartz from Front Line Action on Coal who are facilitating a frontline protest camp to #StopAdani in Queensland.(Photo: Twitter - Front Line Action on Coal)

Louise Sales from Friends of the Earth's Emerging Tech project speaks to us about a new unregulated genetic modification technique known as CRISPR. Dr Jim Green then joins us to talk about how to deal with that obstinate uncle who thinks that nuclear energy has a place in Australia. Check out foe.org.au for more on all of Friends of the Earth's campaigns.

Yarra Riverkeeper, Andrew Kelly, talks about the Yarra River Protection Act and a forum coming up where future planning for the river will be discussed. And, Leila Farahani from the Centre for Urban Research at RMIT University explains how even Melbourne’s least appealing spaces have green potential.

With the #Disrupt2017 (23/11 - 10 days of decentralised community vs capitalism actions just around the corner, we caught up with Tori Ball from Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance (WACA) to talk about the situation on Manus Island and how we can all act to make a difference. Find out more about Disrupt here.