EarthChat

Best of EarthChat - Violet Coco S25 Ep49

From our "best of EarthChat series"
You may not know the name Violet Coco, but you would have seen her on the news, arrested for protesting in different places, all to highlight the precarious state of our planet. Violet is a passionate environment and social justice activist. She has been arrested 49 times in 6 years as a non-violent, direct action, change maker. She was the first person sentenced under controversial new anti-protest laws in NSW, receiving a sentence of 18 months in prison for blocking the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a campaign which was supporting firefighters. Her sentence was dropped on appeal. Violet describes herself as a conscientious objector to the murder of our planet. Violet is an eloquent and gracious conversationalist and someone who has great wisdom to share.  
Information on Violet:- Patreon, Wilipedia and The Guardian
Some links of interest mentioned in the show:- Song: People's Uprising by James Brook ft Violet Coco (on Bandcamp)
- Some books and other resources: 
Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet and Peace is Every Step, Thich Nhat Hanh
We can’t get There from Here: Carbon, Climate and the Call to Wonder, with Báyò Akómoláfé and Paul Hawken 
Any book by Joanna Macy

TREATY IS HERE IN VICTORIA - LET THE HEALING BEGIN! S25 Ep48

In the State of Victoria, Australia’s first Treaty has been negotiated, legislated, and signed by the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, the Victorian State Government and the Governor of Victoria.Treaty aims to build a new, just relationship, acknowledging history, respecting culture, and creating pathways for prosperity and self-governance, moving beyond past injustices towards a more equitable Victoria for everyone. This is a chance to close the gaps and heal the divisions so we can move forward and mature as a nation.In 2022, The Yoorrook Justice Commission began a process of healing and created a public record of our true history which will now be part of the school curriculum so at last children in Victoria will grow up understanding the truth about white settlement in this State, (and in the whole of Australia), and its impact on the nation’s First People who had lived and cared for the land successfully for over 65,000 years.In the words of Professor Eleanor Bourke, Wergaia/Wamba Wamba Elder and Chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, “When we understand the past and how this connects to the present, we have the power to create real and lasting change”. Ngarra Murray - Co Chair FPAV: ”Treaties are a bridge, not just between us and the state, but between black and white, the past and the future.”A year ago, when Treaty negotiations were about to commence between The First Peoples Assembly of Victoria and the Victorian State Government, non indigenous Australians, Ruth, Emma, and Phil discussed the aims and the anticipated benefits of Treaty for all Victorians. Although Treaty is now legislated in Victoria, this conversation continues its investigation into what Treaty means from a non aboriginal perspective. Is it a positive step, and if so why? And how will a statewide Treaty in Victoria benefit all who live in this State?For those still undecided, cautious, or even fearful about Treaty, we aim to reveal ways Treaty has been useful and necessary, based on the history of other colonized countries who have gone down the Treaty path whilst acknowledging any pitfalls we need to learn from. Being the last commonwealth country to have a treaty we can learn from those colonized countries who have embarked down the Treaty Path before us.We also wish to gain a clearer understanding as to why some people are opposed to Treaty, to identify what’s contributing to their views along with the deep divisions in our society that were exposed by the recent Australian Voice to Parliament Referendum.We’ll investigate examples of where self determination has successfully occurred in Australia through indigenous initiatives in business and other types of autonomous indigenous owned and run organizations.We do not represent The First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, nor indigenous people generally in Victoria. Simply, we are three people who see themselves as ancestors of immigrants to this country who support Treaties with its First Peoples and their capacity for self determination, along with decolonization.  We appreciate that unknowns will inevitably emerge as the process of implementing Treaties unfolds. Like all newly trodden paths, we need to allow space, patience, and flexibility with each carefully considered step along this new terrain to collectively evolve the best possible outcomes for all concerned.You can find Victoria's Treaty-related legislation, like the Statewide Treaty Act 2025, directly on the Victorian Legislation website: legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/statewide-treaty-act-2025. For broader information and updates on the Treaty process, visit the official Treaty Victoria site at treatyvictoria.vic.gov.auor the First Peoples Relations page at firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/treaty.

Peter Lockyer is leaving EarthChat S25 Ep47

It's 10 years since the first program, and with EarthChat is in good health, Peter Lockyer is pulling up stumps. So this week, Peter shares how EarthChat started, its objectives, and some highs and lows.EarthChat is a child of BEAM Mitchell Environment Group, and Peter Lockyer has also retired from the BEAM committee too, after about 15 exemplary years. He stays a life member of the BEAM organisation and will be active in different ways now.So what is this local activist going to do with all of his spare time?  Well, there's attraction in the Kimberley and building work with a First Nations community, and a serious renovation of a Seymour house that is the focus before the Kimberley campaign.And songwriting, maybe even reading.As a special treat, Peter will sing one of his songs. It's a ripper!

Seeing rivers as living entities - Andrew Kelly's advocacy S25 Ep46

On this week's EarthChat, Jill and Tim talk with Andrew Kelly, a writer and waterways' advocate. As a writer, his focus is on children’s picture books, authoring and co-authoring many award-winning books, mainly with environmental themes. His most recent book is ‘Prayer for a River’ written with Uncle Glenn Loughrey.
 
 
 
He was the Yarra Riverkeeper for seven years, responsible for seeing the government follow through on its election commitment to treating the Yarra as a living entity. The living entity thinking has spread into our planning schemes for the Yarra Birrarung and into planning for Andrew, the waterways of the west of Melbourne, and the Barwon. Andrew has continued advocating for waterways as living entities as the convenor of The Waterways Network and as a founding member of the Concerned Waterways Alliance.
 
 
 
The focus of his work has extended beyond the Yarra to all southern Victorian waterways with an extended consideration of key policy issues involving water and waterways across Australia. He argues for a federal Water Act that encompasses all Australian waterways.Show NotesAccording to the Australian Water Association (AWA), Water use is about 340 litres/person/day although household water use did decline in 2022-23, possibly in response to increased water prices but also due to increased awareness of water efficiency measures.Household water use is comprised of:
30% showers
20% outdoors
1 % dishwasher
14% toilet
16% washing machine
19% tap, bath and other uses
Water is a precious, life changing resource, essential for health, dignity and life quality.  It has a range of uses including:
Human – household, agriculture, industry and amenity;
Ecological - habitat, river systems and floodplains; and
Earth Systems such as the water cycle and the carbon cycle which are intrinsic to survival
Given the value of water in our lives and healthy natural systems, the fact that Australia is the driest inhabited continent should encourage everyone to work together on sustainable solutions to water challenges.
Fair access to clean, fresh water is a shared responsibility and this is often more apparent in regional and remote areas  where cost, availability and quality are limiting factors. 
Saving water leads to a healthy environment but urban expansion impacts on water availability and catchment health including damage to acquifers and public safety dangers from flooding. Capturing runoff and better storm water management are areas that need better planning and management.
Water has significant cultural values so improved water security and reliability of flow is strongly linked to Indigenous water interests.
Goulburn Valley Water www.gvwater.vic.gov.au
Annual Water Outlook https://www.water.vic.gov.au
Drought Preparedness Response Framework https://www.agriculture.vic.gov.au
Australian Water Association (AWA) https://www.awa.asn.au
Water Education Toolkit
Wanda the Water Warrior
Bureau of Meteorology www.bom.gov.au
Water in Australia
CSIRO Water Book
https://www.csiro.au
Concerned Waterways Alliance
https://concernedwaterwaysalliance.org
Taungurung Land and Waters Council
https://taungurung.com.au
Protects the cultural heritage of the Taungurung people and develops projects for the economic, social and cultural well-being as well as providing services for land and water management to ensure environmental and cultural heritage preservation.
River Connect www.riverconnect.com.au
An initiative of the Shepparton-Muroopna community to acknowledge the Goulburn and Broken Rivers as the heart and soul of the community.
Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists
https://wentworthgroup.org
Prayer for a River (Uncle Glenn Loughrey and Andrew Kelly), 2025, published by Wild Dog, distributed by Simon and Schuster, www.simonandschuster.com.au
Water Cycle Adaptation Plan https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au
Waterways Network www.waterwaysnetwork.com.au
Victorian Water Accounts/Water Register  Https://waterregister.vic.gov.au
National Water Grid Fund (NWGF) www.nationalwatergrid.gov.au
Supports investment in nature positive projects on water security, water efficiency and resilience to droughts and ongoing water scarcity in regional Australia. Outcomes will address biodiversity, restoration of natural systems and sustainable construction of infrastructure to minimise negative impacts on the environment.
Is a River Alive? A Journey with water by Robert Macfarlane, Penguin, 2025.
My Garden Path - Andrew Kelly - Gardening Australia
Australian Broadcasting Corporation https://www.abc.net.au › gardening › how-to › my-gar...

What Weed is That? S25 Ep45

This week we are talking weeds starting with Serrated Tussock Grass. We will learn how to identify and control it. We will also chat about the severe damage it can cause, its economic effects caused by productivity damage. We will also explore other significant weeds that affect our local farms, the damage they do and eradication approaches.

How will the environment remember 2025 S25 Ep44

Has it been a good year for the climate and our environment? Is the glass half-empty or half-full and is the water polluted in the glass anyway? Is there any good news?Well, yes! To explore this topic Jill Grant and Tim Budge review the year, highlighting the events which cheer us up and bring us hope, while also noting those areas where things may have gone backwards. We will also be talking about our favourite books, music and films from 2025 and we'll also look ahead. As part of that we will be talking to a couple of new BEAM committee members, about their commitment to the environment and why they want to work with an organisation like BEAM to "take action locally for a healthy environment".
SHOW NOTES
Global Plastics Treaty Goal of 75% Reduction in plastic production and use by 2040.  Unfortunately the Treaty was not successful as countries were divided on how to tackle the crisis. 100 countries wanted binding caps on production and direct action on toxic chemicals arising from plastic. Action was opposed by large fossil fuel producers, including Saudi Arabia and Russia so in the absence of global action, Country based local initiatives become more urgent.Production has soared to 460 million metric tonnes annually and will continue to increase unless alternatives can be found.  Currently only 10% is recycled globally and a significant proportion of waste is incinerated leading to further release of toxic chemicals and carbon dioxide as they are made from fossil fuels and will increase planet wide air and water pollution over their lifecycle.
National Adaptation Action Plan (Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water) Developed after the Climate Risk Assessment  by the Australian Climate Service, Bureau of Meteorology and Geoscience Australia. Direct Action on Physical Risks  such as bushfires, storms, floods, coastal hazards etc and action on the associated health and social cohesion impacts across 7 key systems – urban: regional and remote; natural environment; economy, trade and finance; infrastructure and the built environment; and National security.Special consideration is given to the disproportionate impact on the way of life and threat to health and livelihoods of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.Emissions Reduction National Targets (Nationally Determined Contribution to the goals set out under the 2015 Paris Agreement). Australia has committed to a 62-70 percent reduction in emissions below 2005 levels and a transformation of the energy system with technological innovation and increased energy security is underway.This will provide a safer climate through decarbonisation and new economic opportunities in regions where renewable energy resources and an increasingly skilled workforce can deliver significant advances. Already there has been a 91% reduction in Photo Voltaic cell costs over the last 20 years.
Banksia Foundation National Sustainability Awards https://Banksiafdn.com
For 36 years the entrants in the Awards had been inspiring organisations and individuals to drive positive change and make a difference to sustainable development goals across all sectors
 

Australia’s Housing Crisis S25 Ep43

We’ve heard a lot over the past year or so about our housing crisis. The commentary has dominated governments, and yet the suburban sprawl continues over farming and grazing land, over wetlands and precious green belts are disappearing.Blocks are too small to grow big trees for shade, and the “heat island” effect is real in our new suburbs with black roofs.  The sprawl grows. Housing shortages continue.Ryan Elliot (Municipal Building Surveyor) and Brian Bowring (involved in many “fringe” building techniques over the years) join Peter Lockyer on EarthChat this week to take a hard look at challenges in our housing industry. Big house or tiny house; own your land or lease it; rental for life of a comfortable caravan park; modular houses or more builders. And consider the issues of recyclability, labour intensity of landfill, and energy efficiency for all.Just what is the crisis? Where does it come from? Addressing housing shortfall may not be by means we are used to. Is the notion of owning one’s home the issue at the core.     Do we blame Menzies?

Climate change - why worry S25 Ep42

This week we will be exploring our wonderful planet and why we need to act to protect it. We will attempt to unravel the complexities of nature and what we need to do for it to flourish.
We will be explaining concepts like biodiversity, symbiosis and ecosystems

Exploring Othering S25 Ep41

‘Othering’ is the process of viewing and treating a person or a group as "other," because they seem different, alien, or inferior to us. This "us vs. them" mentality often involves creating a dominant social group identity resulting in exclusion and stigmatizing another group due to assumed perceptions about the other’s race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. It can lead to marginalization, social exclusion, and prejudice.This week Ruth will explore ‘Othering’ and ‘Disability’ with Wendy Kelly, the Diversity and Inclusion Officer with Nexus Primary Health in Seymour, Victoria.Ever since a severe accident as a teenager Wendy has lived her life in a wheelchair. She therefore knows first hand what it is to be treated differently because of having a disability. She continues to witness and experience ignorance and disinterest by able bodied people in what’s needed to ensure people with disability may also live fully supported and fulfilled lives.Wendy has spent much of her personal and professional life raising awareness supporting others with disability, as well as creating opportunities for them to train and participate in competitive team sports in the Lower Hume Region.Focusing on ‘othering’ and ‘disability’ includes shining the light on ‘ableism’ which allows us to unpack the often unconscious prejudice, discrimination, and social bias against people with disabilities, and the subsequent assumption that non-disabled people are superior.Through self-reflection and empathy we become aware of the inherited conditioning that leads us to these inclinations and bias, and instead develop interest in challenging such assumptions. Curiosity often follows bringing with it the discovery of much joy and delight in diversity.

School aid for Madagascar S25 Ep40

This week Marie chats with Paul Lloyd about their recent trip to Madagascar on a Rotary International project. The aim was  to deliver aid to a very poor school in rural Madagascar. “We arrived in Anatarrivo, the capital, as street demonstrations broke out and we had an eventful time  getting to our hotel. We spent three days under curfew before being able to fly south to Port Dauphin to start the project.  We eventually reached the school in Ambovombe where we found quite extreme poverty. The classes were very large, around 100 students, toilets clearly a health hazard and other facilities really poor.
“We will discuss the needs and what we were able to achieve and hope to do in the future.”