Hello Environmentality listeners,
We spoke to Ruchira Talukdar, Healthy Ecosystems Campaigner from
the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and our resident gardening expert,
Jodie.
The ACF is a well respected environmental NGO, acknowledged for their
work on national environmental matters. The ACF and other similar organisations
have been critical in helping establishing national environmental actions and
policies such as the sustainable plan for the Murray Darling Basin and the
marine parks networks.
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| Courtesy of cpd.org.au |
Australia has the world’s largest network of marine parks.
Marine parks are vital as they offer protection of ocean treasures such as
beaches, reefs, diving sites and ocean floors. Marine parks gives the marine
ecosystem rest and respite, they allow for the ecosystems to recover from
stressors and pollutions such as oil and gas exploration, over fishing, climate
change and pollution from land. It is important that we protect the marine
ecosystem as it not only provides a place of recreation (clean healthy beaches),
but also a food source for us and other marine life. Supported by the major
parties, the marine parks was finally passed in the federal parliament in June
2013, now becoming law.
Sustainable seafood is another way we can protect our
oceans. Our current love of seafood has meant that many of the world’s fish stocks
are increasingly diminishing. Using sustainable seafood program such as that of
the ACF has created in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney, we
can now be more aware of the seafood we consume and where it comes from. The
sustainable seafood program works with local small scale commercial fishery to
identify what part of their practices are sustainable, thus letting people know what
fishes are sustainable and what to buy. General rule of thumb to buying
seafood: ask where the seafood comes from, buy local and smaller is generally
better.
Is there a need to reduce green tape (environmental
regulation)? Ruchira explains that the move to reduce green tape has been
directed by business in hopes to weaken national environmental law that protect
places that we love. Weakening environmental laws, more specifically allowing
states for final approval of developmental projects, may possibility lead to
further environmental degradation; governments have proven incapable making
decisions based on the protection environment and in the national interest.
Rather Ruchira highlights that there is a need to strengthen environmental laws
and that final approval of projects needs to remain with the federal
government.
Jodie delighted us with preserves, as promised, Jodie
treated with some things she has made at home. Although you can make preserves
with any fruit or vegetable you like, Jodie recommends rhubarb as it contains
its tartness when preserved.
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| Smokey sampling some of Jodie's produce at the studio |
For Jodie’s rhubarb recipe, cut 1 kg of rhubarb into 2 cm
pieces, place in a food grade bucket with 1 kg of sugar and leave overnight.
This will allow the sugar to draw out the juice. Slice 1 lemon, add 1 cut of
apple cider vinegar and 2 litres of water, cover and leave it for 2-4 days.
Using an old soft drink bottle, store for 2 weeks after which you can start
drinking. The screw top will allow you to release any excess carbon dioxide.
Jodie’s recipes for mother of vinegar: add cider vintager to
wine, bacteria will then form a chain that will look like an opaque white
jelly. Bacteria will consume the sugar in the wine. Jaime’s recipe: add the vinegar to red wine, keep in the
dark but allow air for a few weeks. Put
the red wine vinegar into second container so you can start all over again.
But on an important note when preserving, we need to be
mindful of food contamination thus always clean bottles and jars before storing your preserves. A good way to
sterile jars and bottles is to heat them in the oven.
What about Jams? Use equal parts of fruit to sugar. Jodie
usually makes 3 kg batches, adding 1 lemon or 2 limes. Jam Vs. marmalade, there
is no real difference except that marmalade is made with citrus and the rind,
making it a little bitter.
Tracks played:
Michelle Shocked– Anchorage
Boy and Bear- Southern Sun
Josh Pike- You don’t scare me
