GreenplanetFM Podcast

Is it possible for a conscious shift to a new localised monetary way of life?Complimentary currencies, LETS. ‘local exchange trade systems’, mutual credit systems, barter exchange, including time banks and green dollars.Entailing the decentralisation of money, as well as creating a monetary unit that is democratic, accessible and retains its value?With a cast that includes Vandana Shiva, Thomas Greco, David Korten, Charles Eisenstein, Jean Huston, Elisabet Sahtouris, Bernard Lietaer, John Perkins, Hazel Henderson and Riane Eisler, this brilliant video needs to be seen by as many people possible - in all countries.Katie Teague with no experience in the profession of digital media became successful in her art form when she committed, by saying a full YES!As a therapist Katie noticed people carrying worries and concerns about money, as well as our disconnection from both our selves and the natural world. This as a result of the subtle and not so subtle abuses of how much money controls us, whilst at the same time we exploit the earth and the sacred to gain our riches.This gave her the impulse to document her findings in relationship to money, its uses, the lack of it, and ways to earn money by means that are outside of mainstream consciousness.

Working four years to put it together with assistance from a Navajo medicine man that inspired the name of her production company ‘storm cloud media’ and who implored her to not start anything that does not end in beauty and for her to commit to giving beauty back to beauty.In the unfoldment of this interview we hear that John Perkins the author of ‘the confessions of an economic hit man’ described business today as ‘predatory economics that goes with the speed of wild fire around the world’ whilst Hazel Henderson calls it ‘the hoax of the global casino – a giant Ponzi scheme’ and of the anger when people make the effort to find out, or are stung by being on the receiving end of it - a shift in consciousness starts to awaken us.Basically we know our human nature even in a global context is not malicious, but we have become entwined in a monetary system that is set up to exploit, that is extractive and the collateral damage to families, neighbourhoods, cities and countries under present esculating vulture capitalism, is actually with out end. As exemplified by Wall St and the centralised banking system they are eroding our values plus physical and emotional wellbeing. With unrelenting pressure being put on the biosphere like never before too.For when we research the system, it is designed ultimately to collapse because it has to feed off continuous growth, which is not achievable on a finite planet. Yet the mainstream of society is yet to grok this.With over 7 billion people on our planet today the urgency of finding a better more equitable economic system has never been more critical. This is the question that the grass roots organizations are taking forward at this moment. From the lessons of the Occupy Movement to localized solutions, many people are still looking to evolve and involve themselves to find an answer to this vexing challenge.This interview talks of the mysterious, of synergy, of an emergent quality that is organic and inclusive of wholeness and of the very possibility of an energy that comes about to self-organise and take us deeper into conscious connection, especially as mother earth groans as her ecosystems take the hit from the extractive corporations who straddle her girth.Katies excellent inspiring FREE DVD is available to download on www.moneyandlifemovie.com I donated $10.00 as I believe in the exchange of energy, but it is FREE.

With Lisa Er.Trees have a unique place in our environment. Without them, human life as we know it would not exist. Trees conserve water, make our air breathable, absorb air pollution, support our slopes, provide habitats for birds and animals and form the hub of enormous underground micro-environments that strengthen soil and foster insect life. Mature trees can even treat 16 cubic metres of storm water per tree per year.So why does the government want to delete tree protection from the RMA (Resource Management Act) and prevent local councils from deciding with their communities whether or not to protect their own trees, and create “Nanny State” control from Wellington?Trees that do not have formal heritage status and scheduled in a District Plan will now be vulnerable to changes to the RMA which will allow the fellow next door to cut down all the trees on his property without consent.It seems the new changes to the RMA will smooth the path of economic growth at the expense of our environment. Where is local democracy when lobbying from the Property Council wins out over democratic processes?Beginning with the trees Dr Mels Barton moves on to speak on urban planning, Auckland’s sprawl and the Unitary (30 year) Plan. She expresses her concerns about the mixed housing zones that could become a sea of concrete with no soil, grass or trees to absorb storm water, and how Auckland’s aging storm water system will not cope with the additional housing required for the one million extra people anticipated in Auckland.

She speaks very clearly on housing, and the social cost of poverty on society.Dr Mels Barton emigrated to NZ in 1999 and ran her own environmental consultancy for a number of years with her late partner. Mels was a member of the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society executive for ten years until 2011. Since 2010, she has been the Auckland and National Coordinator for the week-long annual event ‘Seaweek’. She is also a trustee for the Weedfree and EcoMatters Environmental Trusts and was elected to the Tree Council Board in 2011. She is the Secretary of the Friends of Regional Parks and Chair of the Titirangi Ratepayers and Residents Association. She works for the Te Atatu MP Phil Twyford as his Issues Assistant and runs her own community newspaper for Glen Eden called The Guardian.This interview is sponsored by The Awareness Party:www.theawarenessparty.com

From Taos in New Mexico USA. A 'wayshower' to energy, food and housing independence.Designing and building a bio harmonic home out of indigenous materials of rock and soil, but inclusive of old car tires, glass bottles cans etc, can manifest an exceptionally stable and sustainable 'earthship' home. That with the addition of solar heating and water treatment and storage systems, plus garden area can make your home capable of sustaining you and your family in a well lighted spacious setting for months, without you leaving the dwelling.Earthships are becoming a growing global phenomena due to their use of waste and left overs from current western technologies and economic systems. With knowledge and skills ordinary people can do extra ordinarily creative things to build an off grid dwelling, that positioned facing the arc of the sun, uses both passive / solar and or windmill energy to power your future with out paying out huge sums to electricity and water utilities. Whilst at the same time keeping the building at a near on constant inner temperature of around 21 degrees all year long.Originally in the early 1970s in America, Mike responded to the media presenting the future shortage of oil, for heating and cooling, plus electricity for running the home, including future waste and garbage problems with excessive cans and bottles, plus water shortages, sewage disposal and the obtaining of fresh food. So he found an innovative way to incorporate them into building these components into a house, an 'earthship' which he now calls the 6 issues of sustenance on this planet for the people of today.

Using sun and catching rainwater, he includes the physics and biology of our planet's ecology for sewage treatment and food production.Having stand alone housing systems, allows us not to depend on power utilities, with their higher costs and power outages etc and in the US context, that the power is obtained through detrimental methods, mainly coal and nuclear generation. Wanting softer options he found more bio harmonically benign and self empowering ways to build on the land.Topics Covered:His building technique is based around old tires filled with rammed earth that keep the heat thermal mass in and are also very earthquake resilient. Tires do not out gas.Regulation - an inhibiting force for independence.Talks about pockets of freedom where there is less regulation - where are these areas?Keeping the middle man out of the cost structure.In the field of alternative housing and settlement we are evolving too slow on a planetary system that is changing and evolving very fast. We need to engage in regulatory change.The need now is to take charge of our lives and being responsible for all our actions. This is inclusive of incorporating holistic systems showing everything overlapping and working together.Listen to Mike as he succinctly relates to our house as if it is our body, with energy and water in and waste and water out, totally integrated inside and yet nestled and functioning with natural forces of the outside world.http://earthship.comhttp://www.garbagewarrior.comSpeaking in Auckland:Evening seminars on Friday 5th and Sat 6th July300 Sir Neil Waters Building @ Massey University, Albany, North Shore.Also a screening of his new flick "New Solutions" on Waiheke along with a meet and greet Q & A session.Booking information - http://earthship.co.nz/events Mob: (027) 281 5022

Who owns and who controls the media in New Zealand?Covering: The historical perspective, from private and governmental control to privatization?History of media, early Maori newspapers, wealthy family owned papers in main cities and eventually union owned newspapers. To print media today and by extension web sites.Then radio and TV their evolution that along with print media is now basically in the hands of about 5 owners and an increasing concentration into fewer hands. Other than TV NZ and Radio NZ, virtually all large media is overseas owned.

• Alternative media what’s happening?
• The internet where is it going?
• Censorship in the past and today?
• Programming and are we being desensitised and programed?

Overlapping into telecommunications, via telephones, computers and morphing into electronic espionage and security issues.How can we encourage NZers to look for optimistic and solution oriented community news?What is the outlook on the future regarding mass communications and media, including electronic control, such as turning off transmitting capabilities of mobile phones in areas of public demonstrations?Transparency in a free and open democracy?

Quick Synopsis:Newspapers used to be only owned by the rich but along came the unions, like the Transport Worker and the Maori Land Worker resulting in a completely different news perspective for the under classes. What happened?Michael Savage in the 1st Labour Government in the 1930s introduced radio broadcasts of Parliament that opened it all up for the commoner to become more aware and engaged.Censorship was prevalent from the first NZ Conservative Govt and also by Labour when it got into power.Introduction of Radio and then TV was all Govt controlled. Then pirate/private radio.The 1984 change of government to Labour and the neo liberal policies of Roger Douglas were basically underwritten by the NZ Govts 'Department of the Treasury' and that changed everything.Resulting in deregulation of broadcasting after 1989 that led to many changes, National Govt abolishing in 1991 all foreign media ownership restrictions in NZ, opening up to all main media other than TVNZ and Radio NZ being either off shore owned or controlled.We learn that: The Fourth Estate, is based on journalists and news media to raise issues of public importance and to advance levels of public debate - and to create the resources necessary for social citizenship. This today in NZ is clearly failing us miserably.That global information today is readily accessed here in NZ and due to the web can now be sourced from non Western perspectives, such as RT, Russia Today which has become the first TV news channel in history to reach 1 billion views on YouTube, and Aljazeera and its well heeled Arab perspective, are more open than say Fox, CNN and BBC World. But RT and Aljazeera also have their undisclosed 'other side' too.The world wide web has still huge possibilities to expand including tweets etcSocial media and web access etc can expand our communication over broad networks and areas, however it cuts both ways with the ability for surveillance coming back the other direction in real time = being a double edged sword.Finally, 'we the people own the airwaves across NZ' shouldn't there be a social contract that anyone who broadcasts on these invisible airwaves, also put community oriented programs and documentaries on to assist and educate the public on daily life and not at 1 or 3 am in the morning? For example, TV2 and TV4 at present to many 'conscious' people are trash and rubbish dispensers that can be perceived as fragmenting and making more young viewers lives more disconnected and dysfunctional. Are these stations in their present format serving the public good?www.thedailyblog.co.nz

With Lisa Er.Sponsored by www.TheAwarenessParty.comIt is no secret that we are living in interesting and challenging times, and that we are in great need of not just innovative, but collaborative strategies for sustainability to address our planetary emergency head-on.Nicole M. Foss is Senior Editor of the well-read website The Automatic Earth. Since January 2008, she and co-author Raúl Ilargi Meijer have been chronicling and interpreting the on-going credit crunch as the most pressing aspect of our current multi-faceted predicament. The site integrates finance, energy, environment, psychology, geopolitics and real politik in order to explain why we find ourselves in a state of crisis and what we can do about it.Nicole is also an international speaker on global finance, energy and environment. She has lectured in hundreds of locations across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and has made numerous media appearances in a variety of countries.Nicole describes our financial predicament, vulnerabilities, and the end of economic growth.

She speaks of strategies for coping with the financial collapse suggesting that the way to survive will come from the ground up, in community initiatives rather than from the top down.She describes the functions of money, why it matters that the financial system is about to have an accident, and the cycles of economic expansion and contraction and how at the peak of an expansion phase, it involves credit (giving value to human promises to repay).Promises only have value if people believe the promises. During an economic contraction phase promises are broken and cease to have value which results in a money supply crash and economic seizure, like in the 1930s, increasing probability of a systemic banking crisis as we see now in Cyprus.Solutions include a financial strategy of no debt, of holding cash and gaining control over our essentials of existence. Building up businesses with local supply chains and distribution networks is required.Other basics of robust systems include community building, time banking, local currencies, building social capital and relationships of trust that all build resilience. Nicole says you can’t change the waves but you can learn to surf!Prior to the establishment of The Automatic Earth, Nicole was editor of The Oil Drum Canada, where she wrote on peak oil and finance. She also ran the Agri-Energy Producers' Association of Ontario, where she focused on farm-based biogas projects, grid connections for renewable energy and Feed-In Tariff policy development.While living in the UK she was a Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, where she specialized in nuclear safety in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, and conducted research into electricity policy at the EU level. She also has significant previous experience practicing as an environmental consultant.Her academic qualifications include a BSc in Biology from Carleton University in Canada (where she focused primarily on neuroscience and psychology), a post-graduate diploma in air and water pollution control, and the common professional examination in law and an LLM in international law in development from the University of Warwick in the UK.Nicole is in New Zealand to speak on “Limits to Growth and where to go from here”.Her web site is www.theautomaticearth.com

The Good News:There is a big increase organics in NZ.In past 3 years organic produce sales have increased by 25%, organic beverages increased by 80% and organic wine has quadrupled production.Franklin organic farmers grass roots organization of 300 people are organizing themselves by taking back control of their food supply, establishing community networks.Humans no need to be competitive, but cooperative relationships brings connection and happiness in communityOrganics NZ are still committed to be the worlds first organic country but Bhutan, Bali and Costa Rica are far closer. NZ organic growers definitely want NZ to lead.

What we are dealing with:Though our Government is not talking organics to the world, ironically the world is talking organics to NZ. Especially China and Taiwan and milk supply for example, and if our food is contaminated the Chinese will instantly halt buying, because they are wanting 'NZs 100 percent pure products.'This superb, newsy, laughter ridden interview covers:Nestles - its problematic partnership with Fonterra.Fluoride - which is a toxic waste product in our drinking water.Cadmium - across NZ farms, in superphosphate - impacting both our health and animals. Damages the liver and kidneys in cattle and sheep that these organs in lambs and cattle over 18 months old are not allowed to be used for human consumption … and are being used for pet food? - is there a connection with NZ cats and renal failure?Plus, NZ cadmium rates are already higher that the maximum standards that they have in the European Union. This heavy metal is a time bomb in our farming sector and needs addressing. In Waikato where more than 160,000 hectares are contaminated to the point that would have been officially labelled as a contaminated site. It can no longer be classed as contaminated because changes to legislation in 2012 removed agricultural land from any contamination classification. A contemptible way to get rid of the problem, by our NZ Govt moving the goal posts.Milk - there is a growing consumer demand for raw milk in rural communities, that's not stripped of its nutrient value of probiotics, when milks is pasteurized, homogenized, UV'd etc. Raw milk is especially good for children and our Government actually knows this, but is reluctant to champion it.Food Labeling - If you cannot pronounce a food - don't eat it, and keep away from processed foods and eat only whole foods.Remember - food is medicine, drugs are not medicine.Diets - why low fat diets fail.Biotechnology - the constant allure of untold riches for big tech corporations, that our Government supports.Christchurch rebuild - organic gardens booming and better networks and health outcomes ensuring the security of their food is growing communities here.GE & GMOs - the continuing problems, the imperative of food labeling of contents and country of origin. GMOs pose a 59 billion dollar threat to the NZ economy and our Clean and Green image.Irradiated food - especially from Caboolture in Qld Australia, that radiates, tomatoes, capsicums and mangos with Cobalt-60. (don't touch)Buy local - grow local, eat local = fresh.Hospital food - the need of fresh vital food so as to heal ones body of both sickness and wounds, but under successive Governments has been ignored, but more so under the present Govt.Chicken cages - abolishing in 2023, but pigs in sow crates are doing better 2015.Bees - decline as are the butterflies = GE and pesticides.Keeping Auckland GE free - Pass local laws so that Ratepayers do not bear the costs if a GE outbreak takes place. Compel the biotech corporation to being responsible for their mistakes.GE Agriculture - is a dead end culture in the final analysis.Go organic, become healthy, get wise.www.organicnz.org.nz

What is it that compels a very fit and energetic octogenarian, to come back to NZ for a visit to give talks and share his insights across the Auckland region?From the NZ navy, to the police to a farmer who went into local politics for 6 terms and realized that we should NEVER allow more than 4 terms maximum as any more than this and you lose your enthusiasm, energy and panache.Saw town planning become so restrictive and that produced the growth of bureaucracy.Realised in the 1960s that it was not National or Labour but 'the system' that was wrong, where Social Credit offered another viewpoint around finance and economy, he stood at different times against Bill Birch and also Winston Peters and Colin Moyle.Always pushing the envelope he owned a health store in Australia and then 'moved on'. What motivated him was he did everything because he wanted to see how he could help people.

As a farmer he used to kill his own animals for meat and states that fat on meat is so important as it helps digest the protein, and that it is imperative that we have fat on our chops or whatever. Same for raw milk, it is essential that it is raw as pasteurized milk destroys beneficial bacteria along with the bad ones and destroys enzymes essential for nutrient absorption.But there is an organization called the 'Organisation of Food Protection.' He says it is a mighty force, and he attended the last conference of 2,500 people, comprising of the manufacturers of instruments needed for testing things, the bureaucrats, the microbiologists and the lawyers who want to sue the farmers for various infringements etc. Evidently, Governments worldwide are looking to this organization for advice.They want to sterilize every food, which entails the destruction of all enzymes etc too. What Geoffrey noted as a visitor, that they are opposed to raw milk being available to people as a choice. Fortunately, California and some other states in the USA allow raw milk as well as in Europe where it is sold via vending machines. Also now in NZ's South Island.Some of the Subjects Covered:We must be able to have choice to eat and consume genuine foods that give us energy dense nutrition and that greens are so necessary for iron for our body.Too many people today are anaemic due to a lack of minerals in the soil, due to incorrect farming methods. Biological farming being the new innovative answer.Also, that magnets and magnetism has an untapped future in the growth and yield of plants and its affects on the soil in general.That cadmium in market gardens in Pukekohe is frightening … (and throughout NZ). That Clean Green NZ is being compromised?Soy comes in for criticism because it it is being linked to a thyroid issue and that iodine needs to be absorbed through the skin to offset this, best get good advice from a doctor, health practitioner, or naturopath first.With changes to the chemistry of the environment men are growing larger breasts in the USA and are having to engage in breast reduction surgery because of the estrogen in soy.Imperative to keep family farms in NZ. Corporate farms are always driving the bottom line, and thinking chemicals always to increase output.Use of pendulum or divining rod, especially for children to learn how to use a pendulum so that they can quickly test to see if the food they are about to eat is good for them.An exceptionally interesting interview that covers a wide range of health matters and life experiences by an exceptionally strong and vibrant 87 year old with much wisdom to share.http://www.westonaprice.org http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weston_A._Price_Foundationhttp://www.vegsource.com/news/2010/07/the-truth-about-the-weston-price-foundation.html

Leanora ~ Out of Africa, Ex IT Silicon Valley, to bee keeping, lavender grower, organic gardener of the inner self ~ a woman's journey.When we close our eyes to the outside world and become self reflective, we realize that we are all we have got. That if we want change in the outer world, we need to recognize that we need to change within as well.From our first breath as a baby we soak up the imprints of our first contact, to our mother, family and extended family to community.Surrounded in love we are secure in our localized environment and this allows us to be nourished and acknowledged and find our place in life.Leanora traveled extensively to finally find NZ and a tiny island microcosm nestled on Waiheke Island in a community who practiced organic principles.

Here in the secureness of warm relationships she engaged in both inner and outer growth giving her an understanding of the psychological patterns that we as an emergent humanity need to become aware of as we clear our being of the need to drop anything that does not serve us. In this process of healing she encountered that there are many methods of clearing trauma and energetic imprints in our body, that hold us back from living our fullest expression.The more we show up to connect with our sovereign self and owning who we are, the more we can shift to a deeper and clearer countenance of being.That there are now many modalities of 'whole' practices, we don't have to go to the outside world for answers, shaman, priests, gurus etcBeing present and connecting to the wholeness of our selves, is a direct method of looking within to release all the old patterning in our make up which, can be accessed, cleared and sped up.Conscious awareness, and not seeing things through the filter of what we have been programmed with - by our parents and society is in many ways the first step of many.When we show up with an open curiosity, 'something else' can be revealed.The key being to drop into our heart and ask what would love do, and where would love take us when requiring healing at soul level?This is a soft and sweet approach to healing of the self, the divine self and the sacred feminine.And for men, to drop down into ones heart and feel from this place of reverence, where our inner light connects us to our sacred male.A time for us as a person, to the greater community to recognize that the journey to awakening opens up through our heart.Remember ~ 8 hugs a day to keep your oxytocin levels up, and Leanora's stall on Market day on Waiheke is known as the hug corner as the bonding connections, enlivens the community.www.Embodytruth.comhttp://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~waiblue

Gavin, originally from the emerald isle of Ireland now lives in NZ, brings an insightful and holistic vision of how NZ can lead sustainability both locally and globally. And due to the unique and potent comments and articles in Element Magazine it's now becoming an important educator in both the business world as well as schools and community to looking after our children's future.

The whole idea of the Element publication is to use media to create (drive) positive change in society in a world that is all about consumerism and how we can make more money.

Using the triple bottom line and finding the balance between economic prosperity, health of the biosphere and the health of the people that live within the biosphere.

Would you imagine that any government would be stupid enough to sign an international agreement that would allow overseas corporations to sue it, in secretive offshore tribunals claiming that new laws and regulations (for example a ban on fracking, GE, smoking control laws or a cap on electricity prices) have seriously undermined the value of their investments?Well, that is what the New Zealand Government and ten other countries around the Pacific Rim are negotiating right now under the TPPA, the secret Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, and President Obama wants it signed by October of this year. Of course the country that has the most to gain will be the US and their corporations!And do you really think the US needs our dairy products – the sale of which is the supposed benefit for NZ by joining the TPPA?From what has been gleaned so far, if the negotiations are completed it will make it much harder for governments to pass new laws, to look after the environment, promote health, protect workers (from longer hours, less pay and possibly shorter holidays) and consumers, less stringent quality control, and very importantly not promote the public interest as it defers to lobbyists and private privileged interests.

Labeling of GE foods, for example, would be banned in the interest of the harmonization of laws between countries. The same for labeling country of origin of food. Present tobacco and cigarette rulings could be overridden and the same for alcohol.We may have to compromise PHARMAC if restrictions are placed on generic medicines, thus making medicine more expensive.Copyright laws will be toughened and more harshly enforced, restricting internet freedom and access to information.Foreign banks, insurance companies and money traders will gain more powers to challenge laws designed to prevent another financial crisis.If and when this secret Agreement is signed, it will not be debated in Parliament here in New Zealand, but will only need to be OK'd by the Cabinet thus short circuiting democracy in this country.The list goes on.“The TPPA could also be looked as a way of containing China in the Pacific”, Dr Kelsey says.Professor of Law, Dr Jane Kelsey has been at the forefront of the opposition to the TPPA and she speaks candidly about the information that has been obtained through leaked documents, and the possible scenarios if it is signed.Jane Kelsey has an MPhil from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from the University of Auckland. She has worked at the University of Auckland since 1979 and was appointed to a personal Chair in Law in 1997.She a key member of the Action Resource Education Network of Aotearoa (Arena), and is actively involved in researching and speaking out against the World Trade Organisation, the International Monetary Fund, free trade and corporate-led globalisation.She is also actively involved in campaigning for the New Zealand Government's full recognition of the Treaty of Waitangi and opposed the controversial seabed and foreshore legislation.She has been an activist academic and public intellectual for more than 30 years.http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz