Earth Matters

A jubilant senior cultural custodian, Adrian Burragubba makes the first announcement of a landmark decision handed down in the Queensland Court of Appeal, restoring the case to protect the sacred Doongmabulla springs from Adani's Carmichael coal mine.Adrian's son Guridyula describes the reoccupation of his traditional land on the mine site at Waddananggu.Then an introduction to The South Coast Action Network: a new grassroots community collective whose purpose is to empower individuals and communities to take direct, creative action against oppressive systems that fail people and the environment.  Music:Now! Not tomorrow! You're Needed Now is Dallas de Brabander's call to come and join us in the streets and swell the numbers demanding action against coal-fired climate change. With EcopellaCD: Your Needed Now PROTECT SACRED WATER | Chuffed | Non-profit charity and social enterprise fundraisingDonations will be used for legal fees and related expenses incurred by Wangan and Jagalingou Nagana Yarrbayn Cultural Custodians. (19) Facebook  Wangan and Jagalingou - Standing Our GroundNational Forest rallies: https://marchforforests.org/Native Forest Declaration South Coast Action NetworkLandmark victory restores Doongmabulla Springs case... | National Indigenous Times 

Helena Norberg-Hodge is a pioneer of the new economy movement, a filmmaker, author and founding director of Local Futures, which is committed to the revitalisation of cultural and biological diversity and the strengthening of local communities and economies worldwide. Helena has just turned 80 years old. Helena argues for a radical shift from destructive global capitalism and unchecked technological advancement, including AI and urbanisation, towards a model of 'localisation' that emphasises reconnecting humans with nature and community, fostering happiness, self-reliance, and ecological healing.Website Building Economics of Happiness | Helena Norberg-Hodge Event link Panel Talk: Ancient Futures & The Religion of Economics — Marrickville Golf, Sporting & Community Club.Thankyou to Regen Sydney, Cooks River Alliance and Local Futures.                      Earth Matters #  1543  was produced by Bec Horridge 

Mia chats with the folks behind A Climate for Art and Creative Climate, initiatives driving climate conversations and action in the arts and cultural sector. Eliki Reade is an Interdependent Producer and artist of kailoma-Fijian (Fijian/European) heritage. They are a co-instigator of A Climate for Art (ACFA), a collective of artists, arts workers and organisations intent on mobilising their sector for climate action. Lana Nguyen is an independent curator, cultural organiser and producer on projects that stem from the politics of place. She is a co-instigator of A Climate for Art (ACFA). Angharad Wynne-Jones is Cymry (Welsh) Australian and lives on the unceded lands of the Kulin Nation in Narrm (Melbourne). She is currently leading Creative Climate  - funded by Creative Australia, is the new national peak body for arts and climate providing leadership, connections, advocacy and access to high-quality resources that support artists, arts workers and arts and cultural organisations and their funders to transition from a carbon economy and adapt to the impacts of climate change. https://www.aclimateforart.com.au/https://www.creativeclimate.org.au/ Earth Matters #1542 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Country.   

Earth Matters brings you Voices from "Rising Tide" protest blocking coal ships in Moolobinba/Newcastle, highlighting youth climate anxiety, calls for government accountability, and the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and Indigenous justice issues in Australia.We will hear from:Grace Goldman from Youth Rising expressed deep fear for her future and her hometown, Newcastle, due to government inaction on climate change. -Interviewed by Vivian LangfordDaisy Nutty emphasises the interconnected systems; the fossil fuel industry is intertwined with the military-industrial complex, capitalism, the housing crisis, and weapons trafficking, all driven by a "bunch of billionaires." Member; “Older, Bolder and Stopping CoalEarth Matters  #1541was made in Muloobinba  on Awabakal country by Bec Horridge and Vivian Langford 

This Invasion Day, Earth Matters confronts the truth behind January 26 — not as a celebration, but as the beginning of invasion and ecological destruction.From colonisation as an environmental catastrophe to the climate crisis as a colonial crisis, this special episode centres First Nations sovereignty, Land Back, and the reality that there is no environmental justice without decolonisation. Because the future is either decolonial — or unliveable.

‘Aboriginal people in Western Australia experience the highest rates of death from mesothelioma globally. That's because of Wittenoom. And there isn't a Banjima family who isn't touched by this. This is really a huge human rights issue.'‘We went pretty deep into where the main tailings dumps are. We have this drone shot that goes for five minutes…It shows the tailings dumps going for like hundreds of metres and that is not a perspective many people will ever see, unless they're flying over that site in a chopper.'Yurlu | Country director, Yaara Bou Melhem Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Warning: This episode of Earth Matters contains the name of a person who has died.The recently released documentary Yurlu | Country shines new light on the Wittenoom asbestos mine catastrophe. Centring the experience of former Karijini Park ranger Banjima elder Maitland Parker, it shows the impacts of asbestos include not only lost lives and environmental damage but the cultural loss traditional owners have suffered as a result of diminished access to their Country.Guest: Yurlu | Country writer/director/producer Yaara Bou MelhemDocumentary website: https://yurlucountry.comDetails on how to watch and share Yurlu |Country PLUS the Clean Up Wittenoom campaign: https://yurlucountry.com/take-action/For information on asbestos-related disease: https://asbestosdiseases.org.au/information/wittenoom-overview/https://www.asbestos.com/blog/2019/03/19/asbestos-problem-australian-aboriginals/Episode #1539: Producer/presenter: Claudia Craig | Interviewer: Annie McLoughlin This interview was first aired on 3CR's Showreel on November 6th 2025. Listen to the full interview here. A huge thanks to Annie McLoughlin for sharing this interview with us.Photo credit: Illuminate Films

The climate crisis is a crisis of imagination; we are stuck in a web of stories about what's possible. But voices outside the web are picking at the knots, opening other ways of being through different, older stories. This is the work of artists. And while you may not know it from how your tax dollars are spent, artists are a lifeline for our world in crisis.  Enter A Climate for Art (ACFA): a collective of artists, arts workers and organisations intent on mobilising their sector for climate action. This show features two recordings from a Symposium hosted by ACFA—in partnership with Next Wave, City of Melbourne, George Paton Gallery and Climate Action Network Australia—which together give a glimpse of how our biggest imaginations are responding to the climate crisis.Zena Cumpston is a Barkandji woman with Afghan, Irish and English heritage. Zena works as an artist, writer, researcher, curator and consultant and currently resides in Narrm/melbourne. Dr. Jacina Leong 梁玉明 is an artist-curator, educator and researcher whose practice engages with the intersections of community engagement, care ethics and curatorial inquiry. Currently living in Narrm/Melbourne, and working across cultural and educational spaces since 2008, her work considers how creative practices and organisations can respond to the converging crises of our time. https://www.aclimateforart.com.au/https://leifjustham.com/ Earth Matters #1538 was produced by Mia Audrey on Yuin Nation country.

Benny Zable and Tarneen Onus Browne have filed a legal challenge in the Federal Court against Victoria Police's decision to declare Melbourne's CBD and surrounding suburbs a "designated area" for six months, enabling officers to conduct warrantless pat-down searches across the entire CBD, and making it an offence to refuse a search.Links:Benny Zable webpageProtester statue proposed for Byron Bay. The statue is of Benny Zable in costume, and you can contribute by buying a mini statue.The Benny Zable ProfileLegal challenge to CBD-wide warrantless searchesMatthew Jeffrey: First Nations Organiser and Climate Justice AdvocateAs a Wadi Wadi man and the First Nations Organiser Coordinator for Rising Tide, Matthew Jeffrey's role is to create a welcoming and empowering space for First Nations people at climate protests like the Newcastle event. This includes facilitating advocacy and increasing their participation in climate justice discussions.LinksRising Tide

In this episode, host Keiran Stewart-Assheton looks at the propaganda we are sold around ethical consumption, particularly in the form of "green" energy, electric cars and carbon offsets.He asks Who really pays for this? Are we sacrificing lives for lifestyle? Can individual lifestyle choices truly make an impact?

John Seed explains how modern economics functions as a powerful, unrecognised religion, driving environmental destruction and social inequality, and that unmasking it is crucial for planetary survival.John is the co-founder of the Rainforest Information Centre and, for over forty years, has facilitated hundreds of transformative experiential Deep Ecology, also known as the work that reconnects. Find his upcoming workshop schedule at the Rainforest Information website.Also, a  poem  by John,  celebrating the universe, Earth's creation, and the interconnectedness of all life, reinforcing the call to: "Celebrate life, celebrate Earth, celebrate the cosmos." In 2026 John Seed and friends are holding a series of Deep Ecology workshops at Narara Ecovillage in NSW. FEBRUARY 6-8 DEEP ECOLOGY with John Seed, Erika Aligno & friends, Narara Ecovillage, Central CoastMARCH 7“BUDDHA TOUCHED THE EARTH”, Susie Brown and John Seed, Narara EcovillageAPRIL 10-12 DEEP ECOLOGY with John Seed, Magpie Sally & friends, Narara Ecovillage, Central CoastThere will be workshops at NARARA in June, Aug, Oct & Dec - stay tuned for detailsThankyou to Regen Sydney and the Cooks River Alliance for recording John Seeds' talkThere is a video of John Seeds' talk here. He speaks alongside Helen Norberg Hodge.https://youtu.be/1NeVUUkgrbY?si=3LSjg0ZHM08SgcdQEarth Matter #1524 was made in Gadigal/ Sydney on Wangal Country, the lands of the People of the Eora Nations by Bec Horridge.

Six weeks ago, billionaire businessman Clive Palmer lost a $300 billion case against the Australian government when the High Court determined that he is not, in fact, a Singaporean investor.It may sound absurd, but Palmer's case had potential – and he has three more similar cases in the works. Across the globe, fossil fuel companies are taking up a secret weapon against climate action: it's baked into many trade agreements, and allows corporations to bypass court systems and sabotage climate policies.‘Investor-state dispute settlement', or ISDS, has the potential to crush what little progress states are making on climate action.  To fill us in on this toxic global loophole, I called on the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network, AFTINET. Audio for this episode comes from their recent webinar on ISDS, and features expert voices on the problem and its solutions. Dr Pat Ranald is an honorary research assistant at the University of Sydney and convenor of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network.  Kyla Tienhaara is Canada Research Chair in Economy and Environment and Associate Professor in the School of Environmental Studies and Department of Global Development Studies at Queen's University, Kingston. Maria Poulos Conklin is a diplomat, policy maker, founder of the Save the Bay Coalition and the former Parliamentary and Political Relations Manager at the Australian Conservation Foundation. Earth Matters #1533 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.Image courtesy of AFTINET.

What would you guess is the largest environmental threat to our iconic deserts? Feral animals? Contaminated or depleted water tables? Desertification? Actually, it's a grass. Since its introduction in the 1960s and 70s, and particularly in the last couple of decades, buffel grass has spread like wildfire through central so-called Australia. It's wreaking havoc on fragile arid ecosystems, and ranks higher than any other environmental threat in terms of its social and cultural impacts for Aboriginal people. How is one little grass doing so much damage? To find out, I spoke to Alex Vaughan and Kat Herbert from ALEC, the Arid Lands Environment Centre, in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). ALEC's ‘Beat Back Buffel' campaign is a world-leading effort to manage the spread of Buffel Grass through the continent's arid ecosystems.  Sign the petition to declare buffel a Weed of National Significance: https://www.alec.org.au/wons_25 Earth Matters #1532 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung country.

Angelica Manticas from Market Forces details the environmental, social, and financial risks associated with APA Group's proposed pipelines in Australia's Northern Territory, which would enable extensive gas fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.Angelica explains Market Forces' strategies to oppose APAs' plans.Angelica is a first-generation Greek-Australian hailing from the island of Chios, Greece. She is a dedicated youth nature and climate justice advocate with a deep-rooted understanding of nature, cultivated through her heritage and a string of impressive achievements at a young age. 

In this episode of Earth Matters, host Keiran talks about the rocket testing being undertaken by Southern Launch, discussing its impacts on the local environment, Aboriginal community and Aboriginal culture; the dangers it is posing to people undertaking cultural duties within the testing range; as well as the campaigns against this testing being undertaken by senior Kokatha Elder and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aunty Sue Haseldine and her supporters.Link to fundraiser mentioned in show: West Mallee Protection Fund | Chuffed | Non-profit charity and social enterprise fundraising

This show is the second of two parts on the tricky and crucial work of speaking with young people about the climate: conversations with two educators on opposite sides of the world.  Jonathan Noble is the Director of the School of Nature and Climate at CERES Community Environment Park, Narrm (melbourne), which every year delivers climate education programs to thousands of learners. His previous work includes engagement and learning program design for Conservation Volunteers Australia, Zoos South Australia, and the SA Department of Education.   Sandra Goldstein Lehnert is the Cultural Director at Camp Kinderland in Massachusetts, USA, which has operated since 1923 delivering a leftist political education program in a summer camp context. They are a community organiser, PhD candidate, and adjunct lecturer and graduate teaching fellow in the Department of English at Queens College, New York. You'll hear about the importance of spaces outside the traditional classroom, for giving kids the space and tools to love our living world; as well as insights for your own engagement with young people, at home, work or in your community. Earth Matters #1529 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung country.

Talking about climate change is hard. And for those of us who work, live or spend time with young people, it can be especially difficult to work out how to balance the harsh realities of present and future impacts; communicate accurately about what can be done; and respond to the feelings that come up for us and for the kids we care about. On this show, Mia brings you interviews with two climate advocates who are using their talents to help kids and their carers grapple with the climate crisis:Tim Winton is a West Australian author, four-time Miles Franklin award winner, and named a Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia. His new picture book, ‘Ningaloo: Australia's Wild Wonder', captures his love for the Ningaloo reef region; he has campaigned for its protection for over 20 years. Dr Linden Ashcroft is a senior lecture in climate science and science communication at the University of Melbourne. She co-created ‘Climate Kids', a series of Youtube videos answering kids' questions about climate change. Climate Superpowers quiz - https://climatesuperpowers.org/  Earth Matters #1528 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung country.

In September, the federal Government made an announcement that sent shockwaves through the community of climate activists and advocates: a 2035 climate target range of 62 to 70 % below 2005 levels. The lead-up to the announcement saw hundreds of groups calling for an ambitious target, many advocating for net-zero. Now they're left reeling.  Today, I bring you interviews with two leaders in the climate advocacy space: David Morris, CEO of Frontrunners and former CEO of the Environmental Defenders Office; and Karin Stark, Director at Farm Renewables Consulting and Founder of the National Renewables in Agriculture conference. Their unique perspectives  - drawing on work with sportspeople and farmers respectively – highlight the disappointment and frustration many are feeling in the wake of these new targets – and how they're forging onwards with the work for a safer future.David Morris joined Frontrunners as CEO after over a decade with the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO). Frontrunners has helped support the formation of player-led climate movements like Footy for Climate, Cricket for Climate and the Sport for 75 open letter to the Federal Government.  Karin Stark is the director of Farm Renewables Consulting and founder of the National Renewables in Agriculture conference – an event bringing together farmers, agriculture and energy consultants, peak bodies and Government representatives to share stories of on-farm renewables, their business case and discuss what's driving the transformation of energy use in agriculture. She co-authored ‘Farm-Powered', a report on renewable energy and agriculture commissioned by Farmers for Climate Action. Earth Matters #1527 was produced by Mia Audrey in narrm (Melbourne).   

Western hubris about water leads to really bad water policy - kate harridenAustralia's First Peoples looked after the country's waterscapes for millennia before colonisation brought Western ways that exclude their contribution. This week on Earth Matters Wiradyuri woman and indigenous water expert kate harriden (link is external) from the Monash Sustainable Development Institute (link is external) explains how educating settler societies about indigenous ways of knowing is crucial to decolonising water management in Australia.Produced by Claudia Craig at the studios of 3CR on unceded Wurundjeri land.Sound recordings of Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, created and supplied by kate harriden.This epsiode of Earth Matters first aired on 3CR on 11 May 2025. ReferencesOverturning Aqua nullius, Virginia Marshall (link is external)Indigenous design: Water Country by kate harriden (link is external)‘Hear Their Voices: Australia's First Nations Women and the Legal Recognition of Their Rights to Water' Katie O'Bryan & kate harriden (link is external)Victorian Government Water is Life Policy document (link is external) 

Follow the Money. Use “Market Forces” to go Fossil FreeMarket Forces provides free independent research and analysis online, assisting people who want to learn more about making their superannuation and banking fossil-free. It is a small group with a big impact, driving the shift away from fossil fuels towards ethical, climate-responsible investment in clean energy. Brett Morgan, the Australian Campaigns manager, raises concerns regarding the Australian superannuation fund HESTA, which is accused of “greenwashing” by making claims to be a climate leader while investing in the expansion of fossil fuels. Luckily, Market Forces has done the research and raised the alert and can support HESTA members who want their super fund to stop investing in fossil fuels.Find out about this global trend of people withdrawing financial support for fossil fuels.Find out more and take action by telling HESTA to end support for new fossil fuels or tell your fund to lift its game on climate action.  Guests: Brett Morgan, Australian Campaigns Manager from Market Forces  Earth Matter #1525 was made in Gadigal/ Sydney on Wangal Country, the lands of the People of the Eora Nations by Bec Horridge. 

Israel's miltary annihilation of Gaza and the Palestinian population has been described as the world's first live-streamed genocide. While the horrific loss of human life and catastrophic humanitarian conditions imposed on Palestinian people have dominated mainstream media output, other crises are also unfolding.  This week's episode of Earth Matters explores the ongoing destruction of Palestinian land and waters through war, colonisation and climate change, and the role of the Palestinian environmental movement in the worldwide struggle for justice for colonised peoples.Guest: Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh is the Founder, and (volunteer) Director of the Palestine Museum of Natural History and Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University in Occupied Palestine. He is a 2025 Nobel Peace Prize nominee. You can connect with Professor Qumsiyeh and the Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability by: emailing info@palestinenature.org.auFacebook @mazin.qumsiyeh.9 or @PIBS.PMNHInformation on how to volunteer at the Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability can be found here. This week's show was produced and presented by Claudia Craig. Image credit: Judith Peppard  

How do we tell stories about a world in climate crisis?  What is the role of writers and storytellers at this critical ecological time? And do the narratives we tell drive climate action or exacerbate the doom and gloom? This week on Earth Matters we hear from two Australian climate advocates grappling with these very questions.   Gen Z millennial Connie Gamble is a Masters student of Public Policy and Management and Wattle Sustainability Fellow at the University of Melbourne. Her current project uses memory as a storytelling tool to build connection to place.  Lauren Fuge is a passionate climate activist whose journey from science writer to author speaks to the role of writing as an agent of change. We chat to her about this journey, her book  Voyagers: Our Journey into the Anthropocene as well as her PhD exploring creative forms of climate communication.  Acknowledgements Audio featuring Connie Gamble and Kumi Naidoo is kindly broadcast courtesy of the Wattle Fellowship, University of Melbourne.  Kumi Naidoo was the keynote speaker at the 2025 Wattle Fellowship Spotlight Series event at University of Melbourne, June 2025.  For more details about the Wattle Fellowship Program see: https://www.unimelb.edu.au/wattlefellowship You can follow Connie Gamble's memory project on instagram @sedimentary.lives Voyagers: Our Journey into the Anthropocene by Lauren Fuge is published by Text Publishing. This week's show is #1523 and was produced by Claudia Craig. 

On today's show, we hear from two first nations advocates from the frontlines of the climate battle. They touch on climate change impacts in their communities; their fight to protect Country, and why First Nations voices must be front and centre.  Rosaline Parker is a Pasifika advocate and cultural consultant based in Western Sydney. Her work includes empowering young pacific leaders to engage in meaningful advocacy, as well as climate justice initiatives in Tuvalu and Kiribati, in partnership with the Tuvalu Climate Action Network. Kabay Tamu was one of eight Torres Strait Islanders who took a world-first human rights case against the Australian government for its inaction on climate change. He is a Councillor for the Torres Strait Island Regional Council and advocates for the rights of islanders through the Our Islands Our Home campaign.This webinar was organised by seed national Indigenous climate network.  Earth Matters #1522 was produced by Mia Audrey.   

This episode of Earth Matters investigates the toxic legacy of waste on stolen Aboriginal land, from the radioactive scars of nuclear testing and uranium mining to the invisible spread of PFAS “forever chemicals” in our waterways. Drawing on stories from Maralinga, Kakadu, and the Blue Mountains, and with a personal reflection on Wreck Bay, the program explores how contamination doesn't just harm health—it severs cultural ties, disrupts food systems, and undermines sovereignty.Through a First Nations lens, we uncover the common thread running through these crises: governments and corporations treating Country as expendable, while communities are left to live with intergenerational impacts. Yet resistance remains strong, from Mirarr opposition to uranium mines, to Barngarla victories against nuclear dumps, to communities fighting for accountability on PFAS.Toxic Waste on Stolen Land is a call to recognise the colonial roots of environmental contamination and to stand with First Nations peoples demanding justice, protection of Country, and an end to sacrifice zones.

Georgia and Angel from Seed introduce Australia's indigenous youth climate action movement, their activities, and strategic plan for the next three years and goals to:to ban fracking in the Kimberley,a ban on fossil fuels across the continent,a significant presence at COP31 train 500 young peopleand more !Donate here  to help Seed achieve its goals

This week on Earth Matters we put the spotlight on the devastating South Australian algal phenomena that is rocking communities and scientists. While the causes of the bloom are becoming clearer, there are many unknowns, making the future difficult to predict. Ngarrindjeri elder Derek Walker is among the many facing uncertainty arising from the bloom. He is a sustainable fisherman harvesting kutis - or pipis - as they are more widely known - on the Coorong.  Shellfishing has been a part of Ngarrindjeri life for millenia. But with toxins infiltrating the seafloor where the kuti grow, operations are in shutdown and the local Ngarrindjeri who work there are off the water. Derek Walker speaks about the impact of the algal bloom on kuti harvesting, cultural tourism and community. In this episode of Earth Matters we speak to:- Ngarrindjeri elder and Kuti and Co director, Derek Walker - Dr Scott Bennett, marine ecology expert from the University of Tasmania (interview conducted by 3CR Breakfast presenter Sonia Randhawa) SA Government Fact Sheet SA Government Advice (including health and food safety advice) 

Dr. Radha Wagle started in life herding goats in a Nepalese village. She tells her story, how she came from there to lead Nepal's delegation in international climate negotiations. Radha somehow manages to find humour in  the  challenges women face in leadership roles within environmental sectors.Sophia Harderfeldt talks about the need for feminist system change to ensure women's voices are heard and outlines some practical ways to achieve that.Guests:Dr Radha Wagle – Biodiversity and Climate Adaptation Specialist, Glen Eira City Council, Victoria; formerly Director General, Department of Plant Resources, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal.·        Sophia Harderfeldt   – Policy and Research Manager, ActionAid Australia.Earth Matters #1518  was produced by Bec Horridge in collaboration with the Womens Climate Congress

Earth Matters presents local, national and international grassroots perspectives on environmental concerns and broadcasts weekly to a national audience since 1996. In this episode, host Keiran interviews Manju from the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance and discusses the importance of the upcoming annual ANFA conference.Links mentioned in show:https://australianmap.netwww.foe.org,au/anfa_donatehttps://cms.apln.network/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Green-Hawkins-January-2024.pdf

 "So we refuse that idea that we can accept any forms of gender-based violence and any forms that kill ourselves, other species and the living planet." Noelene Nabulivou, Pacific Islands Feminist Alliance for Climate Justice Fiji Every day around the globe women are protecting and defending human rights and nature. At the recent Global Women's Assembly for Climate Justice (link is external) grassroots and frontline women leaders from fifty countries gathered virtually to speak about solutions for climate and humanity. They demonstrate the collective strength of women as diverse intersectional climate leaders resisting, disrupting and transforming systems of power.In this episode of Earth Matters we share excerpts from three of the one hundred and twenty-five voices from the Climate Assembly forum: Turtle Island USA native rights activist Yolanda Fulmer (Tlingit) speaks about indigenous experiences of climate change in the Tongass rainforest, Alaska. Nigerian researcher and ecofeminist Adenike Titilope Oladosu speaks about climate injustice for women in sub-Saharan Africa. Adenike is the Founder/Director of the I-Lead Climate Action Initiative and Fellow of The New Institute in Hamburg Germany on Black Feminism and the Polycrisis. Pacific human rights activist and leader of the Pacific Islands Feminist Alliance for Climate Justice Fiji , Noelene Nabulivou explains how applying a feminist lens increases women's participation in transformative change when it comes to climate justice.  The event was organised by the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (link is external)(WECAN) in the lead-up to COP30 in Brazil this November. Image credit: Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) Full recordings from the Climate Assembly available here. The event schedule is a useful guide. Further reading: Why Women? The Crucial Role of Women at the Center of Climate Solutions How gender inequality and climate change are interconnected     

It's been three months since we sent a clear message at the ballot box: climate action matters. In the lead-up, communities fought hard, running creative actions, countering fossil fuels propaganda and mobilising people to have impactful conversations.  In this episode, we hear stories from the frontlines of the energy election, about what unified communities in the fight for renewables. We need to keep mobilising; keep holding decision-makers to account; and sustaining these efforts means pausing at key moments to reflect, celebrate wins, and learn from what worked. Adrian Cosgriff is a former oil and gas industry worker, and member of Nuclear Free Gippsland. Ali Gerritsen is a community organiser with Good for the Gong. The Beyond the Ballet webinar was organised by Friends of the Earth's Yes2Renewables campaign and hosted by NSW Y2R organiser Anna Mackiewicz. Earth Matters #1513 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurunjderi Woi Wurrung country.

"So many different voices” is about the ways that we bring diverse voices into all the roomsFive speakers representing student women, rural women, First Nations women, women with disabilities, and older women share their experiences of how to bring these marginalized voices into climate discussions, negotiations, and decisions to achieve better outcomes.Conference participants from the Victorian Womens Climate Congress provide feedback on what they learned from the speakers in breakout groups.A wealth of wisdom about inclusion is shared.Guests:• Ellie Venning—National Union of Students' Women's Officer• Keli McDonald—CEO, National Rural Women's Coalition.• Chloe Wegener—Project Officer, Wiyi Yani U Thangani First Nations Gender Justice Institute, Australian National University• Beverly Baker, CEO—Older Women's Network• Clare Gibellini—Policy Officer, Women With Disabilities Australia (online) This week's show is #1513 and was produced by Bec Horridge on Dja Dja Wurung country in Castlemaine.

Australia's most prolific killer isn't a mining company or a bulldozer — it's the common cat. Feral and domestic cats are responsible for over 2 billion native animal deaths every year, pushing species to extinction and decimating ecosystems across the continent. In this hard-hitting episode, Keiran Stewart-Assheton exposes the scale of the cat crisis, busts myths about pet cats, and lays down a no-compromise call to action. If we don't act now, we lose more than species — we lose Country.

Climate change is upon us. We are the first responders. How will we keep each other safe? How will we meet our needs? Who gets to have a say? These questions, and many others, are being tackled by everyday people in the movement for climate adaptation. In their stories is a wealth of inspiration, as well as crucial knowledge for an increasingly pressing project.  If you, along with me, and three quarters of the population, live in an urban area, stories of bushfires and flooding may feel far away. This show will hit closer to home: we'll hear from urban champions of the movement about why and how we need to prepare ourselves.  Carmen Lahiff-Jenkins is the Climate Justice Coordinator at Darebin Neighbourhood House Network, which consists of seven neighbourhood houses in Narrm's (melbourne's) inner north. In 2022, the Network developed a Climate Action & Resilience Plan. Shweta Kawatra Dakin is the Manager of Resilient Communities at GenWest, a family violence support service in Narrm's (melbourne's) west. Since 2022, her team has been running Our Community, Our Voice, a flood resilience and recovery program that supports refugee and migrant women and their families affected by the 2022 floods in Maribyrnong. Rebecca Abernethy is the coordinator of enliven's Multicultural Heat Heroes project, collaborating with multicultural community ambassadors to build climate resilience among priority language groups in Narrm's (melbourne's) southeast.  Elena Pereyra is a councillor for Maribyrnong City Council and co-chair of Cohousing Australia, a grassroots group that works with communities, government agencies, and industry to promote collective models of housing, housing diversity, and housing choice.  The Climate Adaptation Fair took place at Borderlands Cooperative in Narrm (melbourne), as part of the National Sustainability Festival. It was organised by Friends of the Earth's Act on Climate collective. Earth Matters #1510 was produced by Mia Audrey on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people.

We are living on a compromised planet. Alongside acting to slow the pace of change, we have to adapt; and prepare for increasingly challenging conditions. Communities everywhere are already doing this, often independent of - and in spite of - the actions of their governments. On this show, and next month, I share some examples of community-led climate adaptation on this continent. You'll hear how individuals and organisations are working to build resilience, respond collectively to climate impacts, and prepare for escalating disaster. Amanda Kelly is the CEO of Women's Health Goulburn North East, a feminist organisation based in North-east Victoria which co-produced a research report on disaster resilience called ‘Care Through Disaster'.  Sasha Mainbridge is a resident of Mullumbimby, in the flood-prone Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. She is the founder and president of Mullum Cares, a non-profit organisation that focuses on resource conservation. Catherine Strong is an associate professor in the RMIT University's Music Industry program. She researches extensively on industry work conditions, gender in music and the impacts of the climate emergency. The Climate Adaptation Fair took place at Borderlands Cooperative in Footscray, Narrm (melbourne), as part of the National Sustainability Festival. It was organised by Friends of the Earth's Act on Climate collective.Earth Matters #1509 was produced by Mia Audrey.

Food sovereignty is the ability to make informed choices about our food, to define our own food systems, and to access healthy, culturally appropriate food that is produced sustainably. Food sovereignty puts the needs of the people who produce and consume food at the heart of food systems, and is key to addressing the overlapping crises of climate, hunger and inequality.  On this show, you'll hear some ways this is put into practice, through the work of four different food initiatives and advocacy groups operating in ‘Australia'.The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) is a farmer-led civil society organisation of people working together towards socially-just and ecologically-sound food and agriculture systems that foster the democratic participation of Indigenous Peoples, smallholders, and local communities in decision making processes.Supporticulture Cooperative is a specialised disability cooperative based in Greensborough that provides agricultural work opportunities for people living with intellectual or physical disabilities. Its public face, Caring Farms Cooperative, is an agroecological food enterprise in Greensborough, featuring a market garden tended by a collective of people living with disabilities and their supporters. The Just Food Collective is a not-for-profit advocacy organisation founded in 2021 by emerging food systems leaders. Comprised of graduates in Food Studies, ex-hospitality workers, young researchers and people working in advocacy and grassroots organisations, Just Food mobilises youth and future leaders in the battle for a more equitable, just, and sustainable food system. Guerilla Gardening Narrm is a collective creating community gardens on public land in Narrm, Melbourne. Their first garden, the Radicle Roots garden, was established in 2023 in De Chene Reserve, Coburg. The project aims to respond to the escalating cost-of-living and climate crises by creating localised food systems grounded in 'the commons'. Organisers of the Food Sovereignty Day put together a thorough list of reading materials, podcasts, videos and food sovereignty groups.Earth Matters #1508 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurunjderi Woi Wurrung Country.

Genocide and ecocide are not separate crimes — they are two sides of the same colonial system that has brought the planet to the brink of collapse. From the invasion of these lands to the global climate crisis, colonialism is an engine of ecocide. But Indigenous peoples, here and around the world, continue to resist — defending lands, waters, and all life. Because if the destruction of Country continues, it will be suicide for the planet. But through decolonisation, land back, and Indigenous leadership, a path to survival is still possible. Tune in for this powerful episode. 

Vicky Ellmore is an organiser from the Act on Climate initiative within Friends of the Earth Melbourne. Vicky joined us to chat about the need for climate adaptations,  and findings from recent research undertaken by Friends of the Earth. Find their  report about climate adaptation here.Aawa is from Kinglake Friends of the Forest (KFF), a volunteer community group committed to protecting native forests and relishing the joy of their unique biodiversity. Since the end of VicForests, KFF have turned their attention to the industrial burning of forests the occurs under the guise of bushfire management.Find their petition here. Earth Matters #1507 was produced by Bec Horridge  

Tackling Plastic Waste: Producer Responisibility + Plastic-Free July ‘…85% of Australians are hugely concerned about plastic pollution…We need our leaders to lead by example and show that the circular economy is possible…' Birte Moliere, Packaging Campaign Lead, Boomerang Alliance This week Earth Matters speaks to Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, founder of the Plastic Free Foundation and Plastic Free July and Birte Moliere, Packaging and Product Stewardship Lead at the Boomerang Alliance about the solutions being actioned at community, national and international levels to reduce plastic waste.We hear how the Plastic-Free July challenge is reaching MPs in Parliament and what you can do to join the fight.More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year worldwide, with an estimated 11 million tonnes ending up in water ways, damaging local ecologies and wildlife.Globally it is estimated that plastic kills one million seabirds and one hundred thousand sea mammals each year. Microplastics have been found in a whopping 94 per cent of oysters, and in Australia 62 per cent of fish have been found contaminated with these tiny particles. PFAS toxins are present in human breast milk, semen and blood.Plastics are also manufactured from fossil fuels, contributing to emissions and exacerbating climate change.The plastic problem is so great that the United Nations Environment Programme has dedicated this year's World Environment Day to beating plastic pollution. 

In this episode of Earth Matters, host Keiran Stewart-Assheton discusses the ongoing impacts that PFAS contamination has had on the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community, as well as a look at the broader impacts of PFAS globally.

In his introductory show, host Keiran Stewart-Assheton talks about his people's historic connecion to Beowa (Orcas) of the South Coast, and the impacts of the extractive whaling industry post-colonisation.

The food system accounts for about 25% of total greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is commonly left out of discussions about the climate emergency. Over half of the land on this continent is used for agriculture, but rarely do we bring food and farming into landback discussions. As a climate solution, as a nexus of decolonisation, as a battleground for workers' rights and more, food is so close, so ever-present, we can forget to pay attention. There are, of course, exceptions; individual and communities who are working to fix what's fixable, halt what's causing harm, and build better food systems. In this episode, and my next one in a month's time, you will hear from some of these unsung heroes, the farmers and organisers of the food sovereignty movement. This episode is an in-depth feature on Brazil's Landless Workers Movement (MST), a champion of food sovereignty for over 40 years which has been instrumental in its development into a global movement. Ana Chã tells its story, where struggles for land, social transformation and human emancipation converge.  Earth Matters #1502 was produced by Mia Audrey on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people.

Western hubris about water leads to really bad water policy - kate harriden  Australia's First Peoples looked after the country's waterscapes for millennia before colonisation brought Western ways that exclude their contribution. This week on Earth Matters Wiradyuri woman and indigenous water expert kate harriden from the Monash Sustainable Development Institute explains how educating settler societies about indigenous ways of knowing is crucial to decolonising water management in Australia. Produced by Claudia Craig at the studios of 3CR on unceded Wurundjeri land. Sound recordings of Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, created and supplied by kate harriden.  MSDI Water camp, May 20-22  MSDI Water camp, May 20-22, Australian National University, Ngunnawal Country - registrations open! First Nations Bookings, Non-indigenous EOI References Overturning Aqua nullius, Virginia Marshall Indigenous design: Water Country by kate harriden ‘Hear Their Voices: Australia's First Nations Women and the Legal Recognition of Their Rights to Water' Katie O'Bryan & kate harriden  Victorian Government Water is Life Policy document 

Join the throng of Seed Savers with their small table stalls of free seeds and activities at the Canberra City Farm. Why save seeds?How to save seeds.Make a Seed bomb.  Guests:Arien MacVeigh; Founder; Canberra Seed Savers NetworkVarious Folk. Dave on Guitar.  Episode #1500 was produced by Bec Horridge on Ngnunawal and Ngambrii Country in Canberra.

Calls for national Moratorium on Seismic BlastingCommunities gathered in Warrnambool to call for an end to gas exploration in the Otway Basin and a national moratorium on seismic blasting to stop the damage being done to marine life and the marine environment. They want the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry into the Impact of seismic testing on fisheries and the marine environment implemented.We hear from:Lisa Deppeler, founder of OCEAN, the Otway Coastal Environment Action Networkhttps://www.ocean.org.au/Ben Druitt, Fight for the Bight, Port FairyYaraan Couzens-Bundle, Gunditjmara Whale Dreaming Custodian and Coordinator of SOPEC, the Southern Ocean Protection Embassy Collective.Prof. James Dunbar, Southwest Coast Scientific Group of the Clean Ocean Foundation. https://www.cleanocean.org/science-and-researchLouise Morris, Campaign Manager for offshore fossil fuels, Australian Marine Conservation Societyhttps://www.marineconservation.org.au/ Report of Senate Inquiry into the Impact of seismic testing on fisheries and the marine environmenthttps://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/SeismicTesting  Produced by Judith PeppardPhoto: Judith PeppardEpisode #1499 

Restoring Democracy in the Disinformation Age Access to reliable, accurate information is essential for democracy. From misleading health advice to conspiracy theories, unchecked disinformation risks swaying elections, jeopardising ecosystems, and even inciting violence. In fact, the World Economic Forum ranks misinformation and disinformation the number one short-term threat to humanity and progress.This week on the show, we hear from experts at the Disinformation and Democracy Forum hosted by Australian Democracy Network last month in Narrm (melbourne). It's a timely opportunity to hear from those dealing with the impacts of disinformation, about how we can address the threat while safeguarding free speech, empowering citizens, and holding big tech companies accountable for their role in shaping our democracy.Jane Gardner is the Director of Engagement at the Australian Conservation Foundation. She previously led communications and media at the Climate Council, Save the Children and at the University of Melbourne. Before this, she worked as a daily newspaper reporter. Jane has a strong track record in communications for advocacy and social change. From tackling climate disinformation, to reporting from the epicentre of the world's largest refugee camp, to coaching the next generation of young climate activists, Jane has enjoyed an interesting career and has many tales to tell. Mark Andrejevic is a Professor at the School of Media, Film, and Journalism at Monash University and is on the board of Digital Rights Watch. He writes about digital media and popular culture, with a focus on the ways in which automated data collection is transforming social, political, and cultural life. He is the author of four books and over 80 journal articles and book chapters. acf.org.au/disinformation-resourcesaustraliandemocracy.org.auEarth Matters #1499 was produced by Mia Audrey on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung in Narrm (melbourne).

Trump politics, anti-woke rhetoric and Australian climate policy. Wilderness Society takes on Federal Minister for Environment ahead of election. As Trump shockwaves ricochet around the world, we ask how significant is the President's election for future global climate change action? And how is the changing world order affecting the political appetite for climate action at home? In this episode of Earth Matters we hear from Professor Robyn Eckersley, an academic working at the intersection of democratic theory and climate justice. Professor Eckersley shares her reflections on the dangerous trajectory of global democracy and its impact on Australian climate policy. We also hear from former NSW Fire & Rescue Commissioner and international firefighting expert Greg Mullins about the effect of anti-woke politics on climate emergency workers ability to speak out about climate change.And if you're curious as to why the Federal Environment Minister Tania Plibersek has been absent in the Australian election lead-up, our segment on wildlife protection may provide one clue. We speak to Wilderness Society Campaign Director Amelia Young about the Society's legal challenge to force the Minister to act in relation to the recovery of eleven endangered species.Acknowledgements and notes Thanks to LaTrobe University for sharing the recording of their recent panel discussion Climate Change – where are we now?  The discussion was part of a LaTrobe Ideas and Society event that took place on March 17th.  Professor Eckersley and Greg Mullins' comments were based on policies current at that time. Some new policy announcements and changes of policy have been announced since then.  Thanks to the Climate Council for permission to air their election advertisement. You can check out the Climate Council's election report and election scorecard via these links.  Thanks also to Phuong Tran of 3CR for bringing us the story about the Wilderness Society's legal action. For commentary about Australia's endangered wildlife see The Guardian's special series The Last Chance. This week's show is Episode #1497 and was produced by Claudia Craig on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung in Narrm (Melbourne).

In the Northern Territory, communities are in the fight of their lives. The fracking industry is determined to expand operations, which have so far been exploratory, and begin to produce gas for commercial sale - as soon as this year. This poses serious threats to water security, cultural sites and climate, and has community advocates turning out to protect country and our future.  In the second part of this two-part feature on fracking, we hear young advocate Ivy Sheng in conversation with Hannah Ecken (Frack Free NT) and Dr Thomas Hooley (Climate Analytics) about the risks fracking poses to country and our climate.  This episode was produced in collaboration with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition's From Us, For Us project, and the interviews were conducted by participant Ivy Sheng. As a high school student, Ivy speaks from a challenging and underrepresented position: that of a young person inheriting a world in crisis.Image credit: Ivy, Miles and Jazmin (From Us, For Us).Earth Matters #1497 was produced by Mia Audrey on the lands of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung in Narrm (Melbourne).

In what has been called a ‘transformational decade' towards 2035 emissions reduction targets, this conversation explores how two underrepresented groups in climate change decision making, First Nations and settler women, can form innovative partnerships to amplify, while not conflating, First Nations and all women's voices to support gender justice and self-determination to transform nation-building towards climate security and long-term human and planetary wellbeing.For this important conversation, WCC Founder, Dr Janet Salisbury, was in conversation with:Bec Blurton (Managing Director, First Nations Affairs and WCC Steering Circle member),Robyn James (Global Leader for Gender Equity at The Nature Conservancy)Terri Reid (Project Coordinator, Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice, ANU).Earth Matters is grateful for this collaboration with the Women's Climate Congress..Earth Matters #1496 was produced by Bec Horridge on the lands of the Walbunja, Batemans Bay, NSW.

Today's show is the first of two exploring fracking, one of the more controversial elements of the government's ‘gas-led' future roadmap. We hear from climate scientist and policy expert Dr Bill Hare, on why fracking poses a serious risk to our climate, and from Dr Monique Ryan, independent Member of Parliament for Kooyong and outspoken opponent of fracking. This episode was produced in collaboration with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition's From Us, For Us project, and the interviews were conducted by participant Ivy Sheng. As a high school student, Ivy speaks speaks from a challenging and underrepresented position: that of a young person inheriting a world in crisis.Image credit: Ivy, Miles and Jazmin (From Us, For Us). Earth Matters #1494 was produced by Mia Audrey on the lands of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung in Narrm (Melbourne).

Climate Fear in an Election Year As we prepare to hit the polls again this year, the major parties are scrambling to demonstrate their environmental credentials. Grassroots organisers are looking at what it will take to cut through the noise and mobilise voters for climate action.In this episode, we hear from grassroots campaigners who are mobilising for climate action. Speaking at a recent 350 campaign launch, CEO Te Raukira O'Connell Rapira shares learnings from the Rock Enrol campaign in Aoteroa New Zealand, and Olympic medallist Rhydian Cowley poses sport as a point of connection and concern for voters. We also hear from Genevieve Cowie of Doctors for the Environment about the health impacts of climate change and how to speak to elected representatives about your concerns.Together, they convey the gravity of this political moment, and pose ways forward for those of us concerned about the election and our future. Recordings taken from the 350 Wills Campaign Launch and Nuclear Weapons X Climate Collapse at the National Sustainability Festival. Earth Matters #1494 was produced by Mia Audrey on the lands of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung in Narrm (Melbourne).

Have you been to a farmers' market recently?  If so, you'll know the great feeling that buying locally grown food and connecting with your community brings. You'll also be contributing to something bigger. Localisation is a rapidly growing movement resisting globalisation through the rebuilding of place-based cultures, strengthening local communities, and reconnecting people with nature. It's an alternative economic model offering a healthier way of living in the face of increasing threats to human and ecological wellbeing. This week on Earth Matters we speak to Helena Norberg-Hodge, founder of the worldwide localisation movement and the international non-profit organization Local Futures.  We also speak environmental leader Arabella Douglas, a Minyunbul woman of the Bunjalung nation who is addressing environmental challenges in Northern NSW and South East Queensland. Arabella shares the philosophy behind social change think tank Currie Country Social Change and also, her vision for women's environmental leadership in the Pacific and at home. For further information on Arabella and Helena's work including a full list of resources and link to Helena's book ‘Ancient Futures', head to the website links above. You can view Helena's documentary on her experience in Ladakh here. Helena Norberg-Hodge and Arabella Douglas are speaking at WOMAD - The Planet Talks Adelaide, March 8-10 This week's show is episode #1492 and was produced by Claudia Craig on the unceded lands of the Kulin Nation in Narrm. Image featuring Renzo and Rosie of Renzo's Fresh, Echuca Farmers' Market, kindly supplied by the Victorian Farmers' Market Association. 

The founder of The Women's Climate Congress (WCC) Janet Salisbury invites women of Australia, in all diversity, to come together in Castlemaine at the end of March, with other women to explore how women are leading a national and international paradigm shift to promote more rapid action on climate change based on compassion, kindness, and care for all life on Earth. The  Arid Lands Environment Center in Alice Springs punches above its weight. Perhaps that's why the Country Liberal Party has defunded it by $100,000. Alex Vaughan presents their campaigns opposing the extractivist profiteers bent on turning the wild and beautiful  NT into a fracking sacrifice zone. Guests:           Janet Salisbury: Founder, Women's Climate Congress              Alex Vaughan: Policy, Arid Lands Environment Center Music              'Forest Party' with Matt Hsu and the  Obscure Orchestra Collective           "Harmonic Convergence" with  Gaslight Puppet Show  (Spotify) Earth Matters #1492 was produced by Bec Horridge on the lands of the Arrernte People in Mbantua /Alice Springs and the Ngunnawal and Ngambri People in Canberra