Cloud Frightening: Techno-spin & false solutionsLouise Sales (FoE Emerging Tech Project) & Silvia Ribeiro (ETC Group) discuss environmental, safety and green washing concerns of global proportions over ongoing open air testing of a geoengineering technique known as cloud brightening on the Great Barrier Reef.These tests are part of a $326 million project funded by fossil fuels corporates including BHP, Rio Tinto, Orica, Boeing & Qantas. They contravene a number of transnational conventions and moratoriums that Australia is a signatory to—including free, prior & informed consent of more than 70 First Peoples owner groups. See also: Hands off Mother Earth campaignEarth Matters #1250 was produced by Nicky Stott

Extractive industries threaten Indigenous heritage across this continent and the Shenhua Watermark Coal Mine is no exception.Gomeroi woman Dolly Talbott has taken the Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley to court over her decision to approve the Shenhua Watermark coal mine despite the fact it will destroy sacred sites with "immeasurable value" on her Country.   Guests: Gomeroi woman Dolly Talbott and Rana Koroglu, Special Counsel for NSW Environmental Defenders Office  Links:Call Environment Minister Sussan Ley's office on 02 6277 7920Email Environment Minister Sussan Ley  More info from the Environmental Defenders OfficeSupport the work of the Environmental Defenders Office Episode #1249 was produced by Megan Williams

"Police violence is an environmental justice issue...Abolition should be a demand of environmental justice." - Nick Estes.    This week we bring you an edited extract from a wide-ranging discussion between Indigenous academics Kim TallBear and Nick Estes, who locate the current uprising in the United States within a larger context of capitalism and colonialism, and a long history of resistance.    Guests: Kim TallBear; Nick Estes.    Links:Indigenous Resistance Against Oil Pipelines During a Pandemic [video]  The Red Nation  'Native American DNA: Tribal Belonging and the False Promise of Genetic Science' by Kim TallBear.  'Our History Is the Future: Standing Rock Versus the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistance' by Nick Estes.    Earth Matters #1248 was produced by Teishan Ahearne.

Environmental Racism: BIPOC in climate movementsPatrisse Cullors—climate justice & decarceration activist— and one of the original founders of the Black Lives Matter movement— speaks with Khristen Hamilton, from Zero Hour, about the impacts of environmental racism.Also, Extinction Rebellion youth network activists Fiona Jarvis & Cynthia Leung from XR New York City and Krissy Oliver-Mays from XR Charlotte—speaking on a panel about the representation of People of Colour in the climate justice movement. (above audio was recorded, with thanks, during a virtual event organised for Earth Day this year by Climate Strike and Stop The Money Pipeline Coalitions)Also, check out this podcast of the 3CR live broadcast from the Melbourne Black Lives Matter rally to protest Aboriginal deaths and violence from police & state brutality (and to support current George Floyd/BLM protests in the US) organised by Warriors of Aboriginal Resistance, and held on Saturday 6th June 2020 at vic parliament. Earth Matters #1247 was produced by Nicky Stott

BirdLife Australia has launched a campain calling for logging to stop in the habitat of  the critically endangered Swift Parrot. Armed with Forestry Harvest Plans we take a drive into a partially burnt State Forest near Ulladulla, NSW that is due to be logged.   A forest defender describes how to use the harvest plans to find out if the loggers break rules about protecting animals and plants. Recent Research by Dr Jen Sanger and team  confirms  that logging increases the intensity of  forest fires. Guests:        Dr Jen Sanger Ecologist.:  Founder of The Tree Projects, and Research Fellow at the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Tasmania.                     Sean Dooley, BirdlifeAustralia                    Forest Lovers and Defenders Song: Feel It,   Teymori Earth Matters #1246 was produced by Bec HorridgeLinks  Bellingen Environment Centre

First People First: Pay the RentGunai & Gunditjmara activist Lidia Thorpe speaks with Teishan Ahearne about the ongoing impacts of colonisation on Country, and her vision for how non-indigenous allies in the environment movement can do better to unite with and support the struggles of First Nations peoples.Also, what the Victorian state government’s sneaky moves with extractive industries means for the so-called treaty process they are supposed to be engaged in, as well as Djap Wurrung Embassy blockade and Pay the Rent campaign updates.Earth Matters #1245 was produced by Nicky Stott & Teishan Ahearne.

This week we’re looking at the fight to save Victoria’s native forests, and what the government and their logging agency are getting away with under cover of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Then later in the show, we pay respects to the late Jack Mundey and look for hope in the history of the Green Bans movement.  Guest: Chris Schuringa (GECO); Dave Kerin (Earth Worker); Jack Mundey (archival audio).  Links:  Goongerah Environment Centre 'Green Bans, Red Union' Earth Matters 25 December 2016Green bans, red union : environmental activism and the New South Wales Builders Labourers' Federation by Meredith Burgmann and Verity Burgmann  Earth Matters #1244 was produced by Teishan Ahearne.

The Great Barrier Reef, one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet has experienced its third mass coral bleaching event in 5 years.  But what impact is this having across the whole ecosystem and what is the outlook for the future? We speak with Dr Anne Hoggett AM from the Lizard Island Research Station and Tanya Murphy from Divers for Reef Conservation. Support their workLizard Island Reef Research Foundation - https://lirrf.org/Divers for Reef Conservation - http://diversforreefconservation.com/This week's show is #1243 and was produced by Megan Williams

Australia is known to have high quality drinking water, and standards that ensure the health and safety of the population. But is this really the whole picture? Although most Australians are accustomed to turning on the tap and safe, clean drinking water flowing out, many regions are suffering from a water crisis. With droughts creating limited water supply and contamination of the water that is available, communities are facing serious impacts. Even in cities the picture is complicated, with levels of contaminants such as lead being recorded that breach Australian water standard guidelines.  Anthony Amis from Friends of the Earth has been researching the numerous breaches to drinking water standards across Australia, and tracking these through his online map. Alison Bleaney is a doctor in St Helens, Tasmania who has been studying the impacts of pesticide contamination in the drinking water supply on human and biological health. This week's show is #1242 and was produced by Em Gayfer

Pandemic in a time of Big Oil: When holding down a blockade is an Essential ActivityThe 3 day Climate Strike Action planned for April 22-24  to coincide with Earth Day 50th anniversary was cancelled due to global lockdown, but an epic 3 day livestream was organised instead by the Climate Strike Coalition and Stop The Money Pipeline Coalition.On Day 2 First Nations pipeline resistance fighters spoke in depth about how they're still standing strong on the frontline blockades during lockdown (whilst maintaining safe physical distancing practices) to defend their land and waters in ongoing direct actions against big finance and fossil fuel industries - despite the many concerns and attacks they are facing from all sides.Guests:Angeline Cheek, Fort Peck Assiniboine & Oglala/Sioux; and Joye Braun, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe community organiser (Both from the long running Trans Canada Keystone XL pipeline resistance campaign). Tara Houska, Couchiching Anishinaabe & Giniw Collective (on resistance campaign against Enbridges Line 3 tar sands pipeline) support/DONATE Lyla June Johnston, Diné/Navajo, Tsétsêhéstâhese/Cheyenne (music)Bill McKibben, 350.org (ally) This week's show is #1241 and was produced by Nicky Stott.