Behind the Lines / Align in the Sound - New Economy Network

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

In late march 2025 the Co-operatives Federation of Australia held their assembly, or conference. Align in the Sound was there to have a short yarn with many of the very diverse Co-ops who were present. Here is one now!

School Without Walls (SWOW) was a fully democratic school that ran from 1974 to 1997, when it was forced to shut down by Kate Carnell's Liberal Party local government. Many of those (including myself) who had the opportunity to learn at SWOW remain embittered that something quite that good - many would say life-changing – no longer exists. There are scant records available from SWOW, and this series of oral histories aims to fill that gap as fully as possible. In this interview, we talk with Clive Mackillop, long time teacher from the latter half of SWOW.

On 15 October 2023 we will mark the 70th anniversary of the first mainland British nuclear test in Australia, at Emu Field in South Australia, on the country of the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara peoples. This week, parliamentarians have the opportunity to hear from Yankunytjatjara, Antikarinya, and Pitjantjatjara woman and nuclear test survivor, June Lennon, who was four months old, in October 1953, when the Totem 1 nuclear bomb was detonated at Emu Field. We should never forget that Ms Lennon's family and First Nations people were treated abysmally in this matter – given no proper warning or protection, let alone consultation and prior informed consent in relation to the profoundly harmful and toxic use of their country. There is no disputing the fact that the British and Australian governments were utterly carless in their consideration of Aboriginal people. Through these secret nuclear weapons test, which were not sanctioned by an Australian cabinet or parliamentary process, Aboriginal people experienced dispossession and displacement, and their sacred lands were irrevocably poisoned. The truth about the tests and their impact was covered up, and the severe injustice went unrecognised and unaddressed for decades. Indeed, it is not well understood or acknowledged in Australia today. From: ICAN Australia media release Jun 15 2023

At thie Feb 2021 CoCanberra / NENA Canberra Regional Hub we welcomed Katherine Cunningham, who explains the Earthworker Co-operative system, a residual outgrowth of the Builders Laborers Federation, (famous for its Green Bans - so effective that the union was made illegal) and a coalition of unionists and greenies based in Melbourne.

At the August 2022 CoCanberra / NENA Canberra Regional Hub meetup we welcomed our very own Scotty Foster and Keith Colls, to explain our project the Soil City Co-operative Farms. CoCanberra is building the new economy on the ground, using the concept of “[Climate Co-operatives]” to provide for our needs in ways which are compatible with a thriving community and natural world. As a key part of the design, communities obtain ownership and control of the organisations which meet their needs. This Co-operative is CoCanberra's project to set up a regenerative food system for Canberra and its surrounding area.

Independents for Canberra is the Community Independendent's Movement's focus in Canberra. We welcome candidates Vanessa Picker and Riley Fernandez from the electorate of Brindabella to the show to have a yarn about the upcoming Local elections.

Independents for Canberra is the Community Independendent's Movement's focus in Canberra. We welcome candidates Thomas Emerson, Ben Johnston and Tenzin Mayne from the electorate of Kurrajong to the show to have a yarn about the upcoming Local elections.

The ACT Greens have been in a power sharing coalition with ACT Labor, with 6 current Members of the Legislative Assembly holding several ministries. We chat with Rebecca Vassarotti, the encumbent Minister for the Environment, Heritage, Homelessness and Housing Services; and Sustainable Building and Construction.

The Animal Justice Party is running candidates in Brindabella, Murrumbidgee, Ginninderra and Kurrajong. We have a chat with Robyn Soxsmith and Gwenda Griffiths to find out what they are all about.

In our local 2024 ACT elections series, this week we welcome back Dr. Peter Tait from the Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy to get us on track for the upcoming Election. Peter will give us a detailed rundown, with an introduction to ACT style democracy and how to make your vote count at the polls.

In our local 2024 ACT elections series, this week we welcome back Dr. Peter Tait and Gilles Rohan from the Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy to get us on track for the upcoming Election. They will give us a detailed rundown, with an introduction to ACT style democracy and how to make your vote count at the polls.

In our local 2024 ACT elections series, this week we welcome back Dr. Peter Tait and Barbara Odwyer from the Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy to get us on track for the upcoming Election. They will give us a detailed rundown, with an introduction to ACT style democracy and how to make your vote count at the polls.

In our local 2024 ACT elections series, this week we welcome back Dr. Peter Tait from the Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy to get us on track for the upcoming Election. Peter will give us a detailed rundown, with an introduction to ACT style democracy and how to make your vote count at the polls.

In our 2024 local ACT elections candidate series, today we will be speaking with Craig Blakely from Vote Easy, a non-biased, independent online platform, making elections easy by connecting voters and candidates. We chat about how it could help to get the approx. 40% of undecided voters to connect with the candidates that align with their values, leading to more informed decision making at the polls.

Simon Copland - the incoming CEO of the Conservation Council of the ACT has a chat with us about their activities n the lead up to the 2024 ACT elections

School Without Walls (SWOW) was a fully democratic school that ran from 1974 to 1997, when it was forced to shut down by Kate Carnell's Liberal Party local government. Many of those (including myself) who had the opportunity to learn at SWOW remain embittered that something quite that good - many would say life-changing – no longer exists. There are scant records available from SWOW, and this series of oral histories aims to fill that gap as fully as possible. In the third interview we talk with Harry Oldmeadow, a founder, early teacher and co-ordinator of the school.

Independents for Canberra is the Community Independendents Movement's focus in Canberra. We welcome candidates Leanne Foresti and Mark Richardson from the electorate of Ginninderra to the show to have a yarn about the upcoming Local elections.

Independents for Canberra is the Community Independendents Movement's focus in Canberra. We welcome candidates Paula McGrady and Anne-Louise Dawes to the show to have a yarn about the upcoming Local elections.

Independents for Canberra is the Community Independendents Movement's focus in Canberra. We welcome candidates Sneha KC and David Pollard from the electorate of Yerrabi to the show to have a yarn about the upcoming Local elections.

Align in the Sound 106 followers106 322 tracks322 Independents for Canberra is the Community Independendents Movement's focus in Canberra. We welcome candidates Thomas Emerson and Sara Pouget from the electorate of Kurrajong to the show to have a yarn about the upcoming Local elections.

Rising Tide successfully blockaded the worlds largest coal port for 32 hours in Newcastle, Australia in November 2023, with 102 arrests at the finale. The Australien Government continues to approve new coal and gas projects across the continent, providing over 14 Billion dollars in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry this year, actively sponsoring the climate crisis. In November 2024 Rising Tides ambitions are to have 10,000 blockaders stop coal exports for 50 hours, then bring the Wave to Canberra where the parliament will be the focus. The speaking tour went to every capital in eastern Australia over the last few weeks. Align In The Sound was there to capture the Canberra gig.

Independents for Canberra is the Community Independendents Movement's focus in Canberra. We welcome candidates Anne-Louise Dawes, Sneha KC and Vanessa Picker to the show to have a yarn about the upcoming Local elections.

This week, to help us process the election results and how they may impact the ACT, we welcome Glenn Cummings, co-founder of Proact, an independent ‘Voices For' community group. proACT is committed to having the voices of people in the ACT heard by holding community discussions and identifying and supporting community-backed Independent candidates. proACT endorsed David Pocock for the 2022 Senate. Glenn became Secretary of the David Pocock party when it was formed and volunteered for the campaign. Glenn works as an International Development Consultant. He has previously held senior executive roles with social enterprises and not for profit organisations in Australia, Africa and Asia, and worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (AusAID).

When Robert Pekin lost his family's fourth generation farm twenty years ago, he went into exile. The grief and shame led him on a journey to explore positive ways forward for farming in Australia. That feeling triggered a passion for creating a fairer food system for all farmers and for exploring ways to help people connect to those who grew and processed their food. He believed that this disconnection and the increasing impact of climate change meant a solution was urgently needed. Enter Food Connect, a social enterprise that Robert, with his partner Emma-Kate, a few local farmers and a small group of motivated mums kick-started in 2005, using the principles of Community Supported Agriculture. Food Connect's vision is to create a world where everyone has access to healthy, fresh, ecologically-grown food that is fair to growers, eaters, and the planet. We want to transform the food system, and we believe the next step towards this vision is to create a working local food hub for the regional food economy, that is owned by the community.

Andre Le Riviere visited Australia for the Footprints for Peace walk in Western Australia in 2011. BTL caught up with Andre at a friends kitchen table and we had a good chat about the nuclear industry in France.

Rising Tide held a speaking tour at the Polish Club on Sunday 3rd September to promote their planned November action to shut down the Newcastle coal export terminal - the world's largest - for 2 days! Speakers at the Polo included: Amy Blain (Peoples Climate Assembly); Anjali Sharma (19 yo, Duty of Care campaigner); David Pocock (Independent Senator) Alexa Stuart (19 yo, Rising Tide Newcastle); Shaun Murray from Rising Tide Newcastle; John Wurcker from Rising Tide Canberra

this week, we have Michael Pilbrow, a co-founder of Canberra's late National Health Co-operative - amongst many other things. Throughout his business career, Michael has used his strategy and community engagement skills to work on complex challenges like affordable housing, sustainable health and education services, and employment in regional areas. Internationally, Michael has contributed to Australia's responses to the Asian Financial Crisis, HIV/AIDS and disaster recovery in Asia and the Pacific. Michael has been awarded Outstanding Business Leader for the Yass Valley and was a Local Hero state finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards. Michael will be chatting with us about all things cooperative, the cooperative model and why it could be the answer to so many of the social challenges we face today.

Canberra Environment Centre Director Fiona Veikannen and sustainability professional Julie Boulton have bought some microphones and are on a mission to interview their local environmental heroes. This is the official launch of season 2 of the podcast at the canberra food cooperative.

In 2018 Behind the Lines made a road trip to Victoria, Australia to attend the New Economy Network of Australia's national conference in Melbourne. You can find recordings of that conference through our Align in the Sound playlists on Soundcloud. Along the way we stopped off at a few interesting places, including CERES, a remarkable urban farm in the centre of Melbourne with more tentacles than an octopus, 160 full time (equivalent) staff, and thousands of volunteers! Recently, these 5 year old recordings were found in the Behind the Lines vaults, and this is the result. CERES is still a world leading example of a community of social enterprises committed to the common good – it must have been improving even more since these interviews were made. We spoke mostly with Sieta Beckwith, who holds the role of “Narrative”, and Lucy Snedden showed us through the Grocery store. We apologise to the other speakers, whose names are lost in the BTL vaults… Let us know if you recognise someone and we will credit them. For the past decade, Sieta has worked in strategic communications roles in Social Enterprise, for profit and non–profit organisations, assisting to discover values, vision and mission through collaborative processes. With a background and studies in literature, philosophy, psychology and communications, Sieta helps to weave the different stories of CERES into a strategically aligned narrative. Apologies for the wind noise throughout the recording, we have done our best to keep things easy to understand.

From 2020. It seems only natural that with our recent shows focusing on the nurturing of food producing gardens and green spaces, that we do a show about how to prepare and cook that delicious fare in a manner which supports our food sovereignty, all the way from the organic green earth to our kitchens and plates. Joining us this morning to chat about an exciting new project, The Container Kitchen Coop, is ex-farmer come foodie advocate, and owner of The Scrumpers Garden catering, Ruth Gaha-Morris. Learn about the benefits of kitchen co-ops, community kitchens and retaining food sovereignty within our communities.

This week we are excited to welcome, live in studio, multi award-winning social justice radio and print journalist, mentor and best selling author of Troll Hunting, Ginger Gorman. Ginger is also the host of the Seriously Social Podcast and has interviewed everyone from eminent scientists and artists, to hardened criminals and vicious Internet trolls. Join us as we delve into the world of online bullying, cyberhate, women in media, including the recent focus on sexual harassment in the political arena. and the precarious line women often walk when they dare to be visible and outspoken in a culture that would prefer their compliance and silence.

School Without Walls (SWOW) was a fully democratic school that ran from 1974 to 1997, when it was forced to shut down by Kate Carnell's Liberal Party local government. Many of those (including myself) who had the opportunity to learn at SWOW remain embittered that something quite that good - many would say life-changing – no longer exists. There are scant records available from SWOW, and this series of oral histories aims to fill that gap as fully as possible. In the second interview we talk with Biff Ward, a founder, early teacher and co-ordinator of the school.

School Without Walls (SWOW) was a fully democratic school that ran from 1974 to 1997, when it was forced to shut down by Kate Carnell's Liberal Party local government. Many of those (including myself) who had the opportunity to learn at SWOW remain embittered that something quite that good - many would say life-changing – no longer exists. There are scant records available from SWOW, and this series of oral histories aims to fill that gap as fully as possible. In the first interview, we talk with Lizanne Emery, a founder and early student at the school.

This week, we are excited to welcome back Mycologist, Natural Historian and Photographer, Alison Pouliot, to chat about her new book Underground Lovers, a gorgeous journey that reaches down to earth, and deeper, to dwell with fungal allies and aliens, discover how fungi hold forests together, and why humans are deeply entwined with these unruly renegades of the subterrain. Told through first-hand stories from the Australian desert to Iceland's glaciers to America's Cascade Mountains Alison shares encounters with glowing ghost fungi and unearths the enigma of the lobster mushroom. Melding science and personal reflection, she explores the fungi that appear after fire, how fungi and climate change interact, the role of fungi in our ecosystems. Joining Alison via phone, we also welcome back Peter Wenzel, Mushroom Designer and Grower, and co-Founder of Fungi Co, who has been fascinated by the form and function of funky fungi since the last millennium, exploring science, art, food, myco-design, education and novel growing techniques.

This week in a continuation of our coverage of the logging of vulnerable NSW south coast forests post the 2019-2020 bushfire devastation, we welcome forest activists, Harriet swift, Deputy Convener of the South East Region Conservation Alliance Inc who will be joining us via phone from the South Coast and in studio, Sean Burke, Committee Member South East Region Conservation Alliance Inc, to discuss the ongoing logging of state forests despite the majority of South Coast residents opposing the activities and Forestry NSW and Victoria admitting to losing millions of dollars supplying pulplogs to the woodchip mills.

This morning we are fortunate to have Mark Chenery, Co-Founder & Director of Common Cause Australia, joining us live in studio. Common Cause Australia is a growing network of people working to engage cultural values to create a more equitable, sustainable and democratic society.