Environmentality, 24th April 2013

Today we have Geoff Porter, Mayor of the Hume City Council dropping by to chat about the Hume Horizons 2040 strategy. Hume Horizons 2040 enables local people to have their say about how Hume will grow. From improving transport links, more bicycle paths, plantings, open spaces, One Direction to a beach; you can have your say by post cards located at council office or the library, council website and online discussion forum.

Courtesy of Hume City Council 

ABC News released that Australia’s population has grown to 23 million and world population of 7 billion. With the way we currently use our resources and consumption per head of the population, do we keep growing our population or is transiting to aging population inevitable? Is the answer growth? With limited policies that are possible, do you agree with Jaime’s suggestion to try to discourage growth by removing some of the incentives such as the baby bonus? To read the article click here

In light of the news of the collapse of the Europe Union carbon price, the potential impacts to Australia’s carbon trading scheme was discussed, leading to more discussions of politics, the fall of Labor, increasing popularity of Liberals and decline in the Greens influence.     

Furthermore, this week we heard about the announcement of a new coal mine located in Galilee Basin, central QLD by GVK Hancock. To listen to the audio click here

Tracks played:

Ask- The Smiths

Hands will cradle- Oh Mercy & Nadia Omar

You’ll never walk alone- Gerry and the pacemakers

Ghost- The Presets

Listen to the Podcast here!

Environmentality, 17th April 2013

Today Jodie was unable to come into the studio, but we do look forward to having Jodie back soon. While we waited for our guest, John Merory, we learnt a little bit more about our blogger and presenter, May, and chatted briefly about the passing of Margaret Thatcher.

John was able to chat to us about the link between health, transport and climate change. John highlights that pollutants from our cars are killing about 2000 people per year and causes diseases such as heart and lung disease. By using more public transport and biking, we not only help decrease the green house gases, but improve our health!

Sadly we ran out of time, but look forward to having John back soon.

Tracks Played:

Cold Play- Don’t Panic

Elton John- Tiny Dancer

Frou Frou- Let go

Oasis- Turn up the sun

The Gorillaz- Re-hashed

The Pardoner's- Perfect life

Eskimo Joe- New York

Gurrumul Yunupingu

Listen to the Podcast here!

Environmentality, 10th April 2013

Unfortunately our guest, John Merory, was unable to come in today as he was ill. Instead Smokey and Ahmed chatted about the politics, carbon emissions trading and the role of the media.  

With the need to understand disciplines such as economics, international politics and climatology, it’s easy to see the complexities involved in carbon emissions trading and difficulties for the people in making political judgments based on competition systems of thought.  The need for a ‘balanced’ debate in the media has contributed to difficulties in the climate science discussions, blurring the sense of ‘experts’.    

We also managed to call Jaime and got a glimpse into how the radio show works.

Tracked played:

Love- You set the scene

Lust- Mad love

Joy Division- So many (live)

Amnesia- Dead can dance

Ainslie Wills- Stop pulling the string

Listen to the podcast here!

Environmentality, 3rd April 2013

We had a jammed packed show today with 3 guest, Emma de Campo and Chandra Sundareswara from the Moreland Energy Foundation (MEFL), and Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith, Senior Advisor for the InternationalPOPs Elimination Network (IPEN) and Senior Advisor for National Toxics NetworkInc. The Moreland Energy Foundation (MEFL) is non-for-profit organisation working with community that provides advice to residents and businesses about easy energy saving tips. The National Toxicity Network is a non- profit, non-government organisation that works with communities across Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific towards a toxic free world. IPEN is comprised of over 700 non-government organisations over 100 countries, all working towards a world which chemicals that are produced and used in way that are safe on humans, animals and the environment

First up were Emma and Chandra to chat about MEFL’s segments about business energy efficiency. A series of interviews with business owners, the segments highlights some of the great work by Chandra and the Positive Charge team. Federally funded by the Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program, working across 9 municipalities in the north and numerous multicultural communities, the program works with businesses to make saving energy easy, simple and affordable!

Unfortunately we were unable to play the segments, hopefully when Emma and Chandra are back in a few weeks the segments will be working. To find out more go to the website or call 9385 8555

Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith provided us with an engrossing discussion about endocrine disruptors. It was alarming to discover that out of the 80,000 chemicals in the world; only a handful has been assessed, and that Australia has only tested 2-3 thousand of its 3800 chemicals.  Found in a range of products such as plastics, preservatives and pesticides, endocrine disruptors interfere with our ability to regulate growth, metabolism and development by mimicking natural hormones. The effects of endocrine disruptors can be seen to effects at very low levels. Exposure at early development can lead to reproductive issues later in life, behavioural and learning disorders, endocrine cancers, diabetes, fat development and weight gain.  For the latest effects see World healthOrganisation: state of science of endocrine disruptors

   

With trade secrets protecting industries from labelling and listing harmful chemicals, we can all do our part by choosing to purchase organic and things made from natural products, eating less meat and dairy, avoiding exposure, minimising cosmetic products, and put pressure on companies, industry and governments to regulate these chemicals.    

To learn more about the Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP), click here

For further reading: Slow death by rubber duck

Don't forget to tune into the podcast!

Tracked played:

Yothu Yindi- Healing Stone

Charlie McGee- Get together

Tarmac Adam

Grace Knight- Your Cheatin Heart