September 26, 2023

Federal Politics With Chris Wallace; German Forester Peter Wohlleben On The Power Of Trees; Sonya Takau & Alix Livingstone On Why The Dingo Must Be Protected

2 hours 2 minutes

Professor Chris Wallace from the University of Canberra talks federal politics, including the latest developments in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum campaign, the widely criticised and newly announced COVID-19 inquiry, and reporting on the Home Affairs Secretary who has stepped aside while an investigation is conducted by the APS Commissioner.

Amy's first ever interview for Uncommon Sense was with Peter Wohlleben about his debut book, The Hidden Life of Trees. Now, the German forester, conservationist, and best-selling author returns to discuss his latest book, The Power of Trees: How Ancient Forests Can Save Us If We Let Them. Amy and Peter delve into a wide-range of themes from the book.

He reveals how together trees can create their own climate and weather systems, how trees communicate with birds and insects to protect themselves, the fascinating ways trees respond in situations of unexpected drought, the intricate and unexpected relationship dynamics between fungi, bacteria, and trees, and why ancient or old growth trees will play a key role in combatting climate change. Peter Wohlleben discusses these topics and much more.

Sonya Takau, a proud Jirrbal Rainforest Aboriginal woman from Tully, QLD and Communications Officer of the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, and Alix Livingstone, Founding Director of Defend the Wild discuss the historic National First Nations’ Dingo Declaration, which has been signed by representatives from more than 20 First Nations groups saying that, “lethal control should never be an option”. They talk about the significance of the dingo to First Nations peoples and Country, why dingo culling has to stop, and the non-lethal options for protecting livestock from predators. They also talk about the upcoming Order in Council renewal deadline on October 1st in Victoria, which "unprotects dingoes" in certain circumstances – allowing for the killing of dingoes to protect livestock on private land and along the boundaries of public land in some areas of the state.

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