Radioactive Show

Have you been thinking about AI aka Artificial intelligence, or AGI aka Artificial General Intelligence recently? It’s moving so fast and I think it’s vital that we engage critically with it. Today I’ll bring you audio thanks to Democracy Now, an interview with Karen Hao, the author of a recent book ‘Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares and Sam Altman’s Open AI.’ I found it to be a pertinent conversation, I’m sharing some excerpts of it here, but recommend checking out the full interview at democracynow.org

For this year's NAIDOC theme 'The Next Generation: Strength, Legacy & Vision' we hear two generations of Googatha (Kokatha) people discussing caring for country.  Aunty Sue Haseldine is a Googatha elder that has been leading 6 monthly Rockhole Recovery trips to care for sacred waterholes, part of the Seven Sisters songline.  She outlines the importance of the country and current threats from Southern Launch's rocket testing range.  We hear from two grandchildren Wayne and Wana about what these trips means to them and their vision for the future as young Kokatha people.Support the Googatha Mula country by donating toward the Rockhole Recovery trips.Support the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance.Learn more about Southern Launch's rocket testing range and the documentary coming soon Native Title Rockets.

This weeks episode we gratefully share Travis Lovett's speech from the Yoorrook Walk for Truth. Songs by Barkaa and Kee'ahn. Ngā mihi nui.

This week we look at the Future Funds investment in weapons companies involved in the genocide in Palestine and producing illegal nuclear weapons.  Among many unethical investments, the Australian state’s ‘sovereign’ (stolen) wealth fund invests in weaponscompanies arming Israel to murder tens of thousands of people in Gaza and the West Bank.Elbit Systems - Israel’s largest privately-owned arms company - is the fastest-growing company on the list of companies Future Fund invests in.  A research report produced by the Elbit Out of Victoria campaign reveals an increase of 449.9 % within the last 15 months. The report was launched at the Future Fund Head Office, 447 Collins St, Naarm-Melbourne at an after work rally demanding Future Fund divests from Elbit Systems on Thursday 26 June.We bring you some excerpts of speeches from the rally by Krauatatungallung elder Djuran Bunjileenee Robbie Thorpe (Crime Scene Australia),  Nat (Elbit out of Victoria), Dr Max Kaiser (Jewish Council of Australia) and Romina Beitseen (Campaign for International Cooperation and Disarmament).Then we speak with Dr.Margie Beavis from the Medical Association for the Prevention of War and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons about investment in nuclear weapons producing companies and what you can do about it.More information about divesting from nuclear weapons can be found at quitnukes.org and dontbankonthebomb.com.

In today’s show we learn about the staunch organising, support and action for Palestine that continues to take place on Dharawhal Country, in the area around Wollongong, NSW. There have also been direct actions and 6 community pickets against the nearby company Bisalloy, which organisers found out producers armoured steel for the IDF. Now in June 2025, the devastating genocide continues, but so does the resistance, and I’ve spoken to organisers wit the local group, Wollongong Friends of Palestine, about how they have built a hive of resistance in the area.

On this weeks show we reflect on the recent election result with Kirsten Blair speaking at a Don't Nuke The Climate webinar 'Is nuclear power still a threat after the election?' about the big impact that anti nuclear power sentiment in the community had in the last election that may have cost the Liberal National Coalition as many as 11 seats. We hear from Poppy about the upcoming exhibition called 'Resisting Nuclear' that runs from 12-17 June at 6 Prowse St, Brunswick.  For updates follow Old Country Calling on Facebook or Instagram.And we bring you a speech by Scheherazade Bloul from the Elbit Out of Victoria Campaign out the front of Hanwha Korean Weapons company headquarters 550 Bourke St Melbourne on Sunday 25 May.  The current focus is on defunding Israels biggest weapons manafacturer Elbit with a rally to be held on Thursday 26 June 5.30pm at the Future Fund offices 447 Collins St, Melbourne CBD.Links: 'Nuclear power may have cost the Coalition 11 seats in the federal election' by Dr Jim Green published in Renew magazine.Flyers to promote the 'No to a future soaked in blood' rally on Thursday 26 June.

This week we play a recording from a conversation between earth-waking artist and musician Anohni and climate justice journalist and activist scholar, Naomi Klein. The conversation was organised and recorded by the Chan Centre for Performing Arts on Musqueam Land.

Each year the Stockholm International Peace and Research Institute (SIPRI) releases a report on global military spending.  We spoke to Xiao Liang about the extraordinary increases and trends in military spending across 2024.  Additionally SIPRI reports on the top 100 military companies and ranked 27 is Israel's largest military company Elbit Systems who have a wholly owned subsidiary operating out of Australia.  Elbit System Australia receives around $917 million of tax payer dollars from the government.  On May 15, the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, Elbit Out of Victoria called for an end to their operation with a presence at their newly located offices 290 Salmon St, Port Melbourne.  We speak with Scheherazade Bloul about the Elbit Out of Victoria campaign.

On April 26, the 39th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, Friends of the Earth's Nuclear Free Collective held a one-day No to Nuclear Solidarity Bike Ride from Camp Sovereignty in the city via Brighton to Kooyong. We hear the voices of participants on why they are riding to raise awareness about the dangers of nuclear industry and standing in solidarity with those directly impacted.  Particulary by Dutton's nuclear power proposals as we lead into a Federal Election.The Solidarity Bike Ride was joined by Climate Choir Melbourne during the lunch break in Brighton and at Kooyong later in the afternoon for an event commemorating the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.  We hear from Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation and Dr.Tilman Ruff from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons speaking extensively about the impacts of Chernobyl catastrophe and the implications of a nuclear power industry in Australia.