Earth Matters

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....

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 progr...

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...

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 p...

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-buildi...

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 collaborat...

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 c...

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 a...

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 Cen...

Today we see inside one of Australia's longest-running environment organizations, the Gecko Environment Council on the Gold CoastTackling Council and State Government, this volunteer-based group has shaped the look of their skyscraper city and 50 kilometers of beachside suburbs. It is also trying to protect the Gondwana land magic of Springbok National Park from human impacts like illegal biking t...

Native Title and Nuclear Colonialism "The sacred sites we're protecting have been handed down to use from generation to generation... We're fighting to protect that country because that's where it all is... Our spirituality is out there, that's our church, our grocery shop, our butcher's, our pharmacy. Everything that we have been taught over all our lives is on country." - Aunty Sue Coleman-Hasel...

 As fires rage and temperatures exceed the 1.5-degree threshold, learning about environmental changes in Antarctica helps us understand what's happening. This week we speak to two women raising awareness about Antarctica’s crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate systems. In the first half of the programme acclaimed filmmaker and climate activist  Liz Courtney speaks about her documentary fi...

Indigenous rangers in the Kimberley have put metal turkey feeders filled with kangaroo pellets to help one of Australia’s rarest animals survive, after a devastating wildfire swept through its habitat. Thankyou to the World Wide Fund for Nature for audio. In the second half, Gurridyula is convincing telling why water is sovereign. Music: Gurridyula "Onamission" [edited for profanity] with permissi...

Time to meet Anjali Beames an 18 year old climate activist, co -coordinator of the Rising Tide caucus for People of Color, interviewed by Nicky Page from Radio Adelaide. “When People of colour shape what the movement looks like,it's not also just for the benefit of people of colour, but for the benefit of all marginalised identities and everyone in general"  Anjali Beames Hear about her involvemen...

Join the community at the Rising Tide Peoples Blockade of the ships that export coal and the climate crisis. Put on this life jacket, and you can paddle out with Bec and Tatt. It's safe to leave your luggage at the Knitting Nanas bag check.   Then meet a couple of mums who took their children to the Rising Tide protestival.  Hear why Jill got up at 4am. The stirring Yarrabar Performers bring this...

John Seed and his colleagues are helping people all over this country and overseas  find their ecological self. Plus:  John gives practical suggestions on how to find direction in life. Music: A new recording of Johns Seed singing his song Expanding Universe. Links:John Seeds Deep Ecology workshop schedule on The Rainforest Information Centre(link is external) website. Falling in Love with the Wor...

The Lake Bolac Eel Festival is held at Lake Bolac in southwest Victoria in autumn to celebrate the Eel harvest. It continues a tradition that goes back tens of thousands of years when Indigenous peoples from the area gathered for important business; to trade goods, conduct ceremonies and share stories. Begun in 2005 by Neil Murray, singer/songwriter from the area and founding member of the Warumpi...

Buddy up with Bec and  experience this multifaceted Protestival.  We will be chatting to the people involved, hearing fab and funny speakers and  kicking  off  shoes to groove with Gurridyula. Aunty Sue s summary of the Australian Parliament is hilarious. Guests:  Frankie Kellie: School Strike for Climate, Aunty Sue Ellen: Gomeroi Elder, Bev Smiles: Hunter Community Activist, Rohan 7yo, George- Ne...

Join the the circle of thousands and be challenged by a deep and unique Welcome to Country at the Peoples Blockade of the worlds largest coal port. Uncle Judulu, didge and singing  melds to a deep plea to care for the land, before hundreds of people and canoes entered the coal port shipping channel to disrupt movements of coal ships. Over 170 people were arrested for blocking the coal shipping cha...

Would you prefer gas, secrets or radioactivity with your cancer? The proposed Middle Arm Gas Hub in Darwin threatens residents with cancerous fumes and us all with global heating.  The ask is simple; redirect the 1.9 billion dollar subsidy and Stop Middle Arm. Nuclear power is at the heart of the Dutton opposition’s energy policy. His leadership style was exposed when he  tried to slip out a back...

We all have to respond to climate extremes yet many groups are still cant  find seats at climate negotiation tables.  This Earth Matters gets into the nitty gritty of inclusion issues at the  global heating international negotiations known as COP. Guests: Dr Sally Box,  Australia's Chief negotiator at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) conferences. Kesaya Baba a Senior Manager for COP31 St...

Sonia Randhawa (Wednesday Breakfast) interviews geospatial analyst with the World Resources Institute Radost Stanimirova about the loss of forest cover related to mining.  Read more here:  https://www.wri.org/insights/how-mining-impacts-forestsSamoan climate justice activist Suluafi Brianna Fruean interviewed by Priya Kunjan (Thursday Breakfast) speaks with us about centring Pacific climate priori...

A small community are putting their bodies on the line to save Greater Gliders before they are gone forever their homes felled by Forestry Corp.  Even the local retired school principal has been arrested. Susie Russel almost flys with the Greater Gliders as she describes how they live in the forest, their plight and the deaf ears of the government. Then long time campainer Dailan Pugh from the Nor...

 Warmly, three skilled and powerful women share what they actually do in their jobs as international climate negotiators and advocates. Dr Sally Box, explains her role as Australia's Chief negotiator at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) conferences. Kesaya Baba a Senior Manager for COP31 Strategy and Partnerships with  WWF-Australia and  Tamara Inkster-Draper; Programme Manager of the Int...

Today on Earth Matters, in the lead up to an upcoming Federal Election, we are looking at how so called fake news is slowing down the environmental action in Australia. We explore how traditional media, and its newer social media cousin, is driving a twin crises that threatens not only the environment, but our minds aswell. Thanks to ABC Friends for their assistance. Check out the Climate of Misin...