Can we turn the 2020s into ‘The Regenerative Decade’? In this series of interviews about what that would imply, we talk ecology, deep adaptation, grief, compassion and passion, connecting with nature, resilience, revitalisation, restoration, revolution… – the bigger picture, in other words. Guest in The Regenerative Hour no 18 is Dr John Merory.

John Merory learned about the threat of global warming and climate change in 1962 – close to 60 years ago, from his uncle, Joseph Peter Funk, PhD in physics, who sent instruments on balloons into the atmosphere from the CSIRO lab in Aspendale, Melbourne. He and his co-workers predicted drought, fires, floods and sea level rise.  They already knew that fossil fuel burning was the major cause through increasing amounts of CO2 released into the atmosphere.

As we’re sitting in May 2020, comfortably leaning back towards the Tunnel wall during a late hour of the night, John tells about the various experiences that formed his world-view and lead him from a solid background based on science and medicine into becoming a whole-hearted climate activist, a solar energy advocate and user, and a supporter of local government declarations of the climate emergency and actions to stop poisoning our air, water, soil and children with the burning of coal, oil, gas, and wood.

“I am calling for help from all of you in the community to respect nature and correct the huge destructive practices so that we all have a future in tune and harmony with this beautiful planet,” John says. “I love our indigenous fauna and flora, and have a particular great love of our beautiful forests. I wish I could learn more from the people that lived for thousands of years in harmony with this continent’s nature.”

“For years, we have failed our young by damaging the planet and failing to protect the people most vulnerable to crises. We have a rare and short window of opportunity to rectify that — by rebuilding a better world, not reverting to one that is good for only a minority of its citizens. We must act now to tackle the coronavirus globally for all of our sakes — and, at the same time, pursue immediate ambitious climate action for a cleaner, greener, more prosperous and equitable world.”~ Antonio Guterres, the ninth secretary general of the United Nations. He took office in 2017. Before that, he was the United Nations high commissioner for refugees

Before John begins telling his story, he reminds me of these words from the United Nations’ chief.

Now lean back, click play, and join us for an hour in ‘The Tunnel’ together with a doctor who recognises his love for his family, good friends, Melbourne, the global human community, and the beautiful fauna, land, seas and waterways of Australia.

Medical career Dr John Merory MB BS, FRACP, ANZAN, MEnvSci is a highly experienced clinician and researcher who recently retired from his neurological practice in Heidelberg. He was trained in neurology at the Austin Hospital, the Bowman Gray School of Medicine in USA and at the Institute of Neurology at Queen Square in London. He was an honorary neurological consultant at Austin Health and a visiting consultant at Warringal and Northpark hospitals, and also worked as consultant neurologist at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, Austin Hospital and the Royal Darwin Hospital where he researched in stroke and dementia, and operated clinics in general neurology, dementia, stroke and movement disorders.

John is an active member of the Victorian Climate Action Network