Dirt Radio

Today we talked about the fossil fuel future of Victoria. It looks like the beast is stepping down, finally almost on its knees. Hazelwood is shutting down, no coal seam gas, no new coal and gas expension and Mantle, the mining company decided not to explore futher the Mirboo North region for coal. Victoria has been mining brown coal for a century. Unfortunately for them, brown coal is expensive, hard to ship from Vic, does not burn well…. Is it finally time to change our vision for our energy in our future? Cat Nadel for Environment victoria and Marg Thomas for Mirboo North @facebook.peace!

This week Dirt Radio heads off to Australia’s inland waterways to find out what’s lurking there, in the water we might be drinking. Friends of the Earth has just published a national survey that examines the health of our rivers and water catchments. And it’s not a pretty picture. https://www.facebook.com/16744315982/photos/a.355417745982.163108.16744315982/10154013389775983/?type=3&theaterThe Adani coal mine in Queensland is back on the table, with a thump. This is despite court challenges, financing problems, and a raft of potential environmental impacts. Kristen Lyons, an Associate Professor in Environment and Development Sociology at the University of Queensland, has been tracking the history of this highly contentious mine.

Rehab is required for America! Sam spent 2weeks in the US and she comes back with a bag full of inside info. Activism, election, tension, segregation, racism, black life matter, madness.... Is Australia an American Idiot? It's time to break our chains and be a fair and independent country. support the Standing Rock Dakota pipeline fighters on facebook here! listen American Idiot by Green day at the end of the show here. Peace!

The Andrews state government in Victoria is coming up to the two year mark. That means they're halfway through this term of Parliament, with two years left before the next election. Friends of the Earth along with Environment Victoria, the Victorian National Parks Association, and the Wilderness Society are holding a series of community briefings to recap on what the government’s done so far with policies on the environment and climate, and to outline what needs to happen over the next two years. First up this week on Dirt Radio, we speak with Cam Walker, FoE Melbourne’s campaigns co-ordinator, about the briefings, why they're happening and how you can participate.Mitch Jones goes by the name of Captain Ruin. He's a punk rock daredevil who specialises in death defying escapes, pain proof sideshow stunts, knife-throwing, and circus acrobatics. And he's on part 2 of the show where he explains the political and activist aspects of his theatrical and stunt work. He's a special presenter at a workshop happening this coming weekend, entitled Art and Heart – campaigning and creative activism.

This week we talk burnout- what it feels like, how it is undermining our movement, and then go through five steps to help us all avoid it. Taking cues from an article on self care for camapigners on the Everyday Feminism website, Dirt Radio is joined by activist and artist Helen War to go through these important tips.

GECO, the Goongerah Environment Office in far East Gippsland has just been awarded the Bob Brown community environment prize for 2016. Ed Hill heads up GECO and he talks to Dirt Radio about the award, and explains some recent citizen science rainforest habitat surveys.The oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface and contain 97 percent of the Earth's water. Less than 1 percent of the Earth's water is fresh water, and 2-3 percent is contained in glaciers and ice caps. The oceans contain 99 percent of the living space on the planet. Tullio Rossi, a marine biologist at the University of Adelaide explains the importance of sound for life in the ocean and what happens when oceans go quiet.

Dirt Radio is joined in the studio by 26 year old activist, Kat Woskett, to talk to her about her iconic banner drops in the #LetThemStay campaign, how she got into activism and climbing, and what her experiences have been like as a feminist living and working at blockade camps.

Alison marchant is a member of the Mt Moriac community (12 mins from geelong). She Joined Frack free moriac 3 and half years ago. She helped declare her towns gasfield free in 2014. Ali has Been part of the campaign to get onshore gas banned, working across western Vic with Chloe. Today Ali is over the moon cause her community won that war, not just a battle. While Victoria is pushing the darkside away SA is struggling to keep their Renewables strong. Foe Melbourne sent one of their Jedi, Leigh Ewbank to protect the SA RET, build strong resistance and keep the dark force away!

WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR...?A just released Climate Institute report says limiting global warming to 1.5 C rather than letting it reach 2 degrees C could make a significant difference to the severity of extreme weather events and other environmental destruction. This week on Dirt Radio, we discuss the implications with Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, specialist in regional impacts of climate change at the Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW and Dr. Harry Jennens spokesperson and co-ordinator of Healthy Futures, an organization of health professionals taking action to address climate change.

At the moment the big question is around jobs, health and environment. It’s why most of us turns in the direction of the valley who is powering Victoria. The Latrobe Valley and the community there. Kate Wattchow is the local and the new community campaigner for Foe to link with this community, with local groups like Voice of the Valley and others to work towards a fair transition from Coal. www.votv.org.auEarthworker is a community-led initiative to provide sustainable, wealth-creating jobs that empower local communities and provide clean energy solutions. Dan is the EarthWorker secretary, he is organising a fundraising walk to Morwell to raise awarness around the transition and worker coops' and help to settle the new Earthworker factory in Morwell. www.walkwiththevalley.org