Environmentality 30 March 2011

Dear Environmentality listeners,

Today we had no guests on the show however we reported various environmental initiatives covered by the local Leader Newspaper and from the Hume City Council.
The Leader reported two environmental initiatives. The first article "On your bike for health" mentions the Fix and Ride program at Banksia Gardens Community Centre. Bring along your bike or a used bike may be provided and learn how to repair and maintain it. Wednesdays 3-6pm at the Community Centre, Pearcedale Pde, Broadmeadows. Contact Stephen: shiley@lct.org.au or Banksia Gardens.
The second article describes an Origin Energy initiative called Sustainability Drive. Origin is offering 20 houses in one Victorian street solar electricity or hot water systems and 12 months' green power supply for up to $3000. Nominate your street at Sustainability Drive.
Origin also have some useful energy efficiency tips at Energy Efficiency.
Peter and Jaime reminded us about the environmental workshops conducted by Hume City Council. The Environment section of Hume Councils website has information about the upcoming workshops including Smart Meters and a Community Bulk Buy Program offering energy and cost efficient clean energy solutions for your home.
Jaime brought us up date on the Fukushima Nuclear Accident in Japan which seems to be deteriorating. He also told us about a Hume Council publication called Sustainable Gardening and gave us some gardening tips from the booklet.
Smokey spoke about his recent visit to Mt Buffalo and provided another great selection of music played during the show. We got to hear:

1. The Courage of Others by Midlake
2. To you I bestow by Mundy
3. The Sweetness Lies Within by Hefner
4. Maralinga (rainy land) by Paul Kelly
5. Pigeons are the best Headbangers by the Gallant Trees
6. Is This On? by Death Ray Davies
7. Harmony in my head by Buzzcocks

Next week we will be speaking to Lisa Neville the Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change. We will also be speaking to someone about his recent trip to Antarctica.

Listen to the show!

Environmentality 23 March 2011

Dear Environmentality listeners,

On this show we celebrated 12 months of Environmentality, which went on air for the first time on the 24th of March 2010. During the year we managed to present 47 shows with different levels of success :).

As it tends to happen with such celebrations, it was an opportunity for a bit of self complacency and we had the opportunity to reflect on our achievements for the last twelve months. We all agreed that the show really started to get interesting as soon as we invited guests to be interviewed on the show.

Looking back through our blog you can see we have interviewed a wide range of guests operating in the community, political and commercial sectors including the Alternative Technology Association, Moreland Energy Foundation or CERES. On this show we thanked these guests for contributing to our ongoing discussion of environmental issues.


After this we proceeded to thank the people who have helped put the show on air during the year: Graham (Smokey) Dawson, Josh, Mathew and Alicia who has done a brilliant job at arranging our guest speakers and researching the different organisations and topics. Peter has been a fantastic addition to our team and we hope he stays with us for a long time.

One of the highlights of our anniversary show was an unexpected visit from one of our original presenters, Steven Hiley, who filled us in on his continuing work on community and environmental issues including his work with the Urban Bush Carpenters, who have been nominated for a Earth Hour Peoples Choice award. You can vote for them at Earth Hour.

After we acknowledged the support of North West 98.9 FM, Sustainability Victoria and Banksia Gardens Community Centre, Peter informed us of a workshop organised by Hume City Council on Smart Meters that will take place on Monday April 11, 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Hume Global Learning Centre. To register for this workshop and to find out about other workshops in the series go to the Hume Council website.

Smokey's efforts in selecting the music for our listeners and his commitment to Australian music were also acknowledged, and we got to hear:

1. Happy Birthday by Stevie Wonder.
2. Pure by Lightening Seeds.
3. Beneath the Satellites by British India.
4. Tram Inspector by The Bedroom Philosopher.
5. The World Behind The World by Dirt Band.
6. Your Mind and We Belong Together by Love.

On this our first birthday thank you to everyone who has assisted us in having a successful first 12 months on Environmentality 98.9 FM.

Jaime de Loma-Osorio
Banksia Gardens Community Centre.

Listen to the show!

Environmentality 16 March 2011

Dear Environmentality listeners,
This week we diverged from our conversations with state politicians to consider the effects of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami on nuclear reactors in Japan. We spoke to Craig Memery, Energy Policy Advocate at the Alternative Technology Association and Jim Green, Anti-Nuclear campaigner at Friends of The Earth.

Craig and Jim spoke generally about the problems of Nuclear power with regard to risks, costs, decommissioning and nuclear weapons.
Craig also provided some information about additional Smart Meter monitoring functions which should be available next year.

And you got to hear:

Noise of carpet by Stereolab
Last nite by The Strokes
Olympia by Lush
Seemed like a good idea by Oh Mercy

Listen to the show!

Environmentality 9 March

Dear Environmentality listeners,

This week we commenced a series of conversations with our state politicians in which we would like to cover a few environmental topics that are currently on the political agenda. We started with Greg Barber MLC (photo below), who is one of the elected Greens in the Upper House of the Victorian Parliament and who holds the Environment Portfolio.

In our usual conversational, non-confrontational style when it comes to politicians, we discussed a whole range of topics ranging from the need for a price on carbon to Alpine Grazing or smart meters. We found Greg to be a good sport and very knowledgeable on all these topics.

Hopefully we will be able to continue this round of interviews with representatives from both the Liberal and Labor Parties.

On the music front, you may notice a bit of a theme relating to trucks, as Smokey wanted to celebrate his recent success with the Heavy Vehicle License.

And you got to hear:

Container Drivers by The Fall
The hours and the times by 18 Wheeler
The Pretty Place by Paul Kelly
Thursday Morning by Hannah & the public display of rhythm
Wake up, Boo! by Boo Radleys

Listen to the show!

Environmentality 2 March 2011

Dear Environmentality listeners,

Today we had the privilege of speaking to Prue Simmons, who works for the environmental organisation Conservation Volunteers.

(Image courtesy of http://www.projects-abroad.com.au)

Prue told us about the fantastic programs this organisation has both all over Australia and abroad. With more than 20 offices in Australia and over 10,000 new volunteers every year, the organisation's good work has been recognised by numerous national and international awards such as the United Nations Global 500 Award.

Prue also recommended a good song following our tradition and told us a bit about her many talents, that have allowed her to work in a wide range of occupations that go from park ranger to TV and radio presenter! So those of you who can't get enough of Environmentality may want to check out her show on 94.1FM (the second Sunday of every month from 3 to 5pm)

And you got to hear:

Rattlin' bones by Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
Let me see by Morcheeba
Central Reservation by Beth Orton (our guest's choice)
Captain Easychord by Stereolab
Cheerleader by Grizzly Bear

Listen to the show!

Environmentality - late December, January and February

Dear Environmentality listeners,

As you may have noticed, we have been extremely slack about uploading our shows and writing our weekly articles, you can blame it on the little beast shown below (Marisa).


We have now uploaded all our shows since late December, and here are the direct links to the podcasts with a little description:

- Environmentality 22 December: we spoke to Daan Van Dorenmalen about the Tower Hill Demonstration Centre in Swan Hill.

- Environmentality 12 January: we had a chat with Sasha Stargot, Media Manager at the Alternative Technology Association.

- Environmentality 19 January: we interviewed Robin Landvogt, Education Officer at the Violet Town Eco Living Centre

- Environmentality 2 February: Neil Blake, director of the Port Phillip EcoCentre, came to the studio to have a chat to us.

- Environmentality 16 February: we interviewed Alison, Sasha, Nica and Trevor, students from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the US who are doing an internship at Banksia Gardens Community Centre.

- Environmentality 23 February: No podcast, as we had no guest on that day. We spoke mainly about Nuclear Energy and Companion Planting.

See you next week!