Earth Matters

The 3rd year of La Lina compounding with the Indian Ocean Dipole has been unrelenting on communities across eastern Australia. In the southern Murray Darling Basin, thousands of homes have been damaged along the Murray and in the Northern Basin there's big flows on the way.  On Earth Matters we hear from 2 women in different communities living with or preparing for flood.  Tuesday Browell from Tor...

Building Power While the Lights Are Out: Disasters, Mutual Aid, and Dual Power Part 2While climate catastrophe escalates globally, mutual aid movements are interconnecting and building their power from below. Engaged in decentralised disaster relief, rooted in solidarity, and offering real-world systemic alternatives through dual power strategies, while meeting the survival needs of their communit...

One of Victoria's most iconic rivers, the Birrarung (also known as the Yarra River), is a site of beauty and contradiction. The river is a vital water source for surrounding ecosystems, a reminder of what some of Melbourne looked like pre-colonisation, and a place of respite for many people living in the city. Pollution and neglect has left its environmental health under threat, with 18 out of 25...

Al Oshlack talking about the work  of the Indigenous Justice Advocacy Network. Insider stories from the epic conservation battles at Timbarra, Iron Gates, the North Lismore Plateau and more. He also discusses developer company attempts to bankrupt indigenous land custodians and protesters, in order to disempower them in the courts. Links:Contact the Indigenous Justice Advocacy Network on ijanoffic...

Earth Matters speaks with Raelene Cooper from the Save Our Songlines campaign against over-development of the Murujuga in Burrup Peninsula, Western Australia. The campaign has been vocal against the Woodside Scarborough Gas plant and more recently a proposed Urea fertilizer plant. Raelene details the campaign, discusses solutions for the region and talks about the need for proper consent and consu...

Building Power While the Lights Are Out: Disasters, Mutual Aid, and Dual Power Part 1While climate catastrophe escalates globally, mutual aid movements are interconnecting and building their power from below. Engaged in decentralised disaster relief, rooted in solidarity, and offering real-world systemic alternatives through dual power strategies, while meeting the survival needs of their communit...

 Calls to stop seismic surveys in the Otway Basin First Nations peoples, environmental groups and fishers were alarmed at the news that international oilfield services company Schlumberger and energy data provider TGS are seeking approval to conduct 3D seismic surveys in a huge area of the Otway Basin off the coasts of Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia here. The proposed area is approximately...

Breaking this week, Origin announced it is divesting 100% of its interests in the Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory and we dip into the history books to remember the story of Land Rights in the Mutawintji National Park.  Guests:Naish Gawen from Environment Centre Northern TerritoryLeroy Johnson, Malyangaapa Barkindji Wimpitja Episode 1361 produced by Megan Williams

Cultural Burning on Kangaroo IslandGuest presenter Nicky Page speaks with Tagalaka man Victor Steffenson from Firesticks Alliance, and Kangaroo Island resident Lara Tilbrook about the cultural burn project taking place in the north-west of Kangaroo Island earlier this year in response to the devastation of the 2019 bushfires. Earth Matters #1366 was produced by Nicky Page

Benny Zable is a radical performance and visual artist. Benny wears  a gas mask and white gloves. Have you seen him?  He has been present at many camps to defend nature: Save The Franklin, Stop Roxby Uranium mine, to stop the Whitehaven Coal Mine, Stop Adani, Occupy Wall Street and numerous campaigns to keep Uranium  in the ground and for peace. Today Benny gives us the secret of staying so produc...

Since colonisation the Great Barrier Reef has been the subject of national interest and identity. It’s also been subject to misinformation and politicisation. In 2019 The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority reported the health of the Reef was very poor.  Threats remain increasingly severe coral bleaching events, cyclones, and outbreaks of pest species. There is a mix of voices speaking up and...

Elizabeth Russell-Arnot on the environmental focus of her arts practiceGuided soundscape with Tasmanian artist and academic Elizabeth Russell-Arnot about the environmental focus of her arts practice making gardens out of recycled rubbish including "sculpture from the skip". This soundscape was originally published on the Prima Donna Podcast. Earth Matters #1363 was produced by Nat Grant  

Vic Youth Parliament e-waste bill & eco-anarchist Greek updateGuest Producer Jacob Gamble in conversation with high school students who developed a bill on effective e-waste management as part of the YMCA Youth Parliament program this year. As well as Rachel Ridley from Planet Ark and Professor Usha Iyer-Raniga from RMIT university also on the topic of e-waste. Also, Bursts at Final Straw Radio wi...

“Disallowance denied”Floodplain Harvesting Regulations Stand in NSW Parliament After years of contentious debate, regulations to licence floodplain harvesting in NSW were released on July 1 and faced a fourth disallowance motion, this time in the NSW Lower House. This week on Earth Matters we hear from the Member for Murray Helen Dalton, who moved the disallowance, speeches from Parliament and Pre...

Micky Ryan has been fighting in court for eleven years to stop residential development on his traditional land: Sleeping Lizard Mountain also known as  North Lismore Plateau.  Micky descries the strong significance of the Sleeping Lizard Mountain to the Bunjalung Nation. On NAIDOC day  2022 the village of Crabbe’s Crk in Northern NSW sends love and music to all from the community hall.  Guests:Unc...

Dee Mould tells how she clambered  into a boat and rescued people through windows and from rooftops during the dark night the Lismore floodwater kept rising . She lost almost all her things to the filthy flood water. To protest against government inaction to reduce CO2 and climate chaos, Dee travelled to Sydney and  dumped flood damaged possessions outside Scott Morrisons house .Dee has found her...

Wild deer pose a growing threat to Victoria's biodiversity, cultural heritage, and state infrastructure. With an estimated population of one million deer, the Victorian government has published a new Deer Strategy  outlining a regional partnership approach to the state's deer problem. Earth Matters speaks with conservationists Alex Maisey (Sherbrooke Lyrebird Survey Group) and Peter Jacobs (INVASI...

Draft Water Sharing Plans in NSW are on public exhibition until early July, but the NSW Minister for Water Kevin Anderson has asked the Minister for Environment to sign off on the plans before public consultations are set to close.   This week on Earth Matters we hear from Lower Darling Resident and former citrus farmer Alan Whyte, and NSW Independent MP Justin Field. Guests:Alan Whyte – Lower Dar...

Tiwi Islands v Santos, Vic anti forest protest bill & Blockade Australia updateJacob Gamble touches base with Jason Fowler from the Northern Territory Environment Centre about Santos drilling for oil off the tiwi islands. Priya Kunjan gets an update from Tuffy at Goongerah Environment Centre about the Victorian government’s new anti-forest protest bill. Carly Dober speaks with Jarrah at Blockade A...

"The urgent plan  to restore our catchment  is the only way to reduce flood heights in Lismore."                                                                                                                              John Corkill           John Corkill  was  dismayed when he heard that the Nationals response to the devastating and expensive Lismore floods is to increase height of the existing...

Unsettling Climate Colonialism Pt 3: Indigenous ActionPart 3 of a three part show with Indigenous Action hosts Bearcat and Klee in conversation with anarchaqueer Onkwehon:we organizer Amanda Lickers about land trauma and the extractive ways the climate justice movement perpetuates white supremacy, capitalism, and colonialism. You can support Amanda’s work hereListen to part 1 of this show hereList...

Unsettling Climate Colonialism Pt 2: Indigenous ActionPart 2 of a three part show with Indigenous Action hosts Bearcat and Klee in conversation with anarchaqueer Onkwehon:we organizer Amanda Lickers about land trauma and the extractive ways the climate justice movement perpetuates white supremacy, capitalism, and colonialism. You can support Amanda’s work hereListen to part 1 of this show hereList...

Unsettling Climate Colonialism Pt 1: Indigenous ActionPart 1 of a three part show with Indigenous Action hosts Bearcat and Klee in conversation with anarchaqueer Onkwehon:we organizer Amanda Lickers about land trauma and the extractive ways the climate justice movement perpetuates white supremacy, capitalism, and colonialism. You can support Amanda’s work hereListen to part 2 of this show hereList...

 On this week’s Earth Matters we get an update on the lower Darling/Baaka and thier floodplain that haven't got the water we'd expect despite the exceedingly wet conditions, but thats about to change.  Guests:Sarah Moles – water advocate for over 25 years and member of the Lifeblood Alliance Graeme McCrabb – Menindee Resident Music sample from Bush Witch Productions Earth Matters Episode #1349 pro...

The Leadbeater Possum was named Victoria’s state fauna in 1971.  Yet despite this status the Leadbeater possum exists in a state of extinction. This episode Earth Matters investigates the combination of Fires, Logging and State inaction that threaten Victoria’s “Forest Fairy” possum. Guests include Professor David Lindenmayer and President of Friends of the Leadbeater Possum, Steve Meacher. Resour...