Environmentality 17 December 2014, Jodi Jackson, My Everyday Garden - Organic pest control

This week was a little blast from the recent past with Leanne joining the show for the first time since August. Leanne couldn’t resist coming in and speaking with Jodi one last time this year. It was a great show, as usual, with the theme of the show being garden pests and control solutions for the everyday gardener. Click here for a listen.

This blog is probably going to look more like a Christmas catalogue promotion of potential Christmas gifts for all you green thumbs out there but hey, I’ve seen them first hand and I wouldn’t mind receiving them myself!

gadgetcage.com

During the first music break today, Jodi showed us some amazing macro photographs she has taken on her iPhone, yes that’s right, iPhone. Jodi showed us a little device you attach to the top right corner of the phone that sits over the camera lens which give you a 10x zoom instantly. Along with the zoom, the little device also comes with a fish-eye and wide angle lens all in one. So for all your little bug shots take a look at this olloclip. And, if you want to check out some of Jodi’s photos using the said device, check out Jodi Instagram feed @everydayinthegarden (some photos below). FYI - Environmentality will be looking at getting an Instagram account in the New Year so look out for that.

Jodi's photo

Another one of Jodi's photos

 

Jodi brought in some books for us to flick through today and also recommend to our listeners. Both books are well worth getting your hands on so I’ve provided the details below.

Natural Control of Garden Pests by Jackie French

What Garden Pest or Disease Is That? by Judy McMaugh

Some other links that we promised to include are to some information about whitefly’s main predator Encarsia formosa as well as a link to Jodi’s insect hotels which you can use to attract Encarsia formasa to your garden. Mind you, if you have the materials and the enthusiasm you can build them yourself and they don’t have to be as extravagant as the ones Jodi makes J

We also said we would add a photo of the curl grub aka cockchafer  and some additional info on them.

Curl Grubs. image from organicgarden.com.au

Ok now that all the promotions are out of the way (PLEASE NOTE: Environmentality does not receive any kick-backs…but we wish we did!) all of us at Environmentality would like to say thanks for listening and we wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

We will be back better than ever in the New Year so keep on tuning in beginning from the 7^th January when we speak to Executive Director of Zero Emissions Matthew Wright, something to look forward to while you’re having a relaxing holiday.

Music tracks:

Gone Gone Gone by Phillip Phillips

Distance by Beaches

Follow The Sun by Xavier Rudd

Environmentality 10 December 2014, Emily Braham, Editor at Sanctuary Magazine

Issue 29 - Summer Issue

It’s mid-December and summer hasn’t quite hit us here in Melbourne yet which is becoming a bit of trend in recent years. Over the last few years, the summer season has been making up for lost time by extending into the months of March, April and even May as well as producing more heatwave events during this period. This is a somewhat worrying trend that, according to the CSIRO and BoM, will continue on its path of increased frequency and intensity heatwaves. Never fear, despite some of us being ignorant and/or arrogant towards our own impact on the environment (no names mentioned here), us humans are an adaptive bunch and we come up with clever solutions to complex problems. The current summer issue of Sanctuary Magazine presents some of these clever solutions that aim to tackle some of the current and future issues associated with how we live in a changing climate including how to use your roof to keep cool.

Cool Roof - sanctuarymagazine.org.au

This week on the show we had a good chat with Emily Braham, the editor of Sanctuary Magazine about some of the latest innovations, ideas and examples of green living, architecture and design. It is always difficult to cover a magazine on our show as it is impossible to go through all the content, however we do our best with the time and this week was no different. During our conversation we covered articles on designing your home for a future of climate change and heatwaves, growing a native garden, two house’s that demonstrate sustainable design and the benefits they bring as well as touching on Indigenous Architecture, an approach to design that incorporates 60,000 years of knowledge and learning.  If you missed the show, please check out the podcast to catch up. To see exactly what we are talking about, you should head to the Sanctuary Magazine's website where you can have a read of the articles or subscribe to receive the quarterly issues right to your front door.

Colour me house - sanctuarymagazine.org.au

Next week on the show we have our monthly My Everyday Garden show with resident gardening expert Jodi Jackson.

Music tracks this week were all guest selections (thanks Emily):

We Float by PJ Harvey
Skeletons by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Skin of the Night by M83
Pass in Time by Beth Orton

Environmentality 3 December 2014, Sarah Day, Founder of Eco-shout

As listeners of Environmentality I’m sure you are aware of at least some of the environmental issues we face as inhabitants on this planet. Now, knowing what you know, I put this ultimatum to you (Disclaimer: Part of this comes from the Eco-Shout website)… You can either:

1. Find out how to change the world, how to get the skills, how to get work and how to get active AND THEN DO IT!

or

2. Give up, embrace escapism and cultivate denial.

That’s it, they are your options. What do you choose?

http://www.inloughborough.com/

It just so happens that this week, we spoke to Sarah Day, the founder of Eco-shout, an organisation helping people to get active in the environmental and social justice movement. Eco-shout proclaims to be a catalyst to action for environmental and social justice and after speaking to Sarah and seeing the resource that is the Eco-shout website, I would have to agree.

Eco-shout has a number of initiatives currently operating out of their website which includes a Sharehousing network for those looking to live with other people who are environmentally/sustainability minded, an events calendar showing upcoming events to get involved with, a jobs network you can use to find environmental/ethical jobs and an active groups directory where you can search the database by category to find groups that might suit your interests or passion.

I recently read one of those ‘how to be happy’ articles one of the (many) steps to happiness was to identify one cause, the one you feel most passionate about and dedicate yourself to helping that cause. So go on, what are you waiting for? Happiness awaits!

To find out more about Sarah Day and Eco-shout, you’ll have to listen to the podcast.

Some links you may find useful:

The TV series Years of Living Dangerously now showing on SBS got a brief mention this week and you can watch via ‘SBS on demand’ or Tuesday nights 9:30pm.

Victorian Election Results – This week on the show we had a brief impromptu discussion around the election results. Check out the link to catch up on all the latest results which include the Australian Greens winning their first ever seat in the lower house of state parliament.

On next week’s show we will be chatting to Emily Braham, Editor of Sanctuary Magazine about the Spring Issue.

The music tracks for this week were all guest selections, thanks Sarah!

Follow the Sun by Xavier Rudd

Monsters by Something for Kate

This World by Katchafire

Qwest by Combat Wombat

Environmentality 26 November 2014, Liam Farrelly, Greens candidate for Pascoe Vale

The 3 R’s - Right to an education, right to access health services, right to a safe place to live. These are the three highest priorities for Liam Farrelly who is running in the electorate of Pascoe Vale for the Greens party. This week we were fortunate enough to have a candidate for the Victorian election come in to the studio to have a chat just a few days before the election. If you missed the show, you can listen here and you’ll hear Liam talking from the heart on issues such as education, health (including mental health), transport and energy as well as the traditional content of this show, environment!

One thing that gets brought up on this show through our conversations over and over again is Australia’s mind boggling fixation on protecting the fossil fuel industry at the expense of renewable energy and investment in new, green, innovative technology. There seems to be no logical and reasonable explanation as to why this is happening which has been demonstrated by the many guests on this show who have shared their knowledge in the area of their individual expertise. From all reports, it makes sense for Australia to be moving away from our dirty, ageing and redundant coal fired power stations and to stop thinking of gas as the next coal but rather invest in clean, green technology. The social, economic and environmental benefits of moving towards environmentally sustainable energy have been put forward time and time again and more importantly have actually been proven elsewhere in the world, especially in parts of Europe. Australia should be a world leader in renewable energy generation and clean technology innovation but instead we are lagging severely and if you think we are paying for it already, just wait until we decide to play catch up and have to purchase all the innovative products, technology and services from overseas because Australia chose not to invest in their development here and now.

theconversation.com

Auroralights.org

 

Some articles that are relevant for the election this week (warning: these will probably leave you feeling depressed):

Victoria at a fork in the road on energy Climate Spectator - This weekend’s Victorian state election provides voters with a fairly stark choice about the future of energy policy in the state. Yet the campaigns of the major parties have barely touched the issues of energy and the environment.

Shameful absence of environmental policies The Age - Neither of the major political parties have offered Victorian voters a coherent set of policies about the environment. Indeed, there is a deafening silence about environmental issues and much backtracking.

Vic Labor’s lame plan to move the climate deal Climate Spectator - The Victorian Labor Party has released its climate change policy – it’s below in all its four paragraphs of detailed glory.

Victorian election: built environment takes a back seat The Fifth Estate - In a state that has seen environmental and energy efficiency measures trashed by the Coalition government and created fury within the property industry and beyond, there has been a confounding failure by the Labor Opposition to seize the initiative and deliver meaningful policies as an alternative.

So with all this information, make your vote count on Saturday 29^th November.

Next week on the show we will be speaking to Eco-shout. Check out their website and tune in next week to find out more about the organisation.

Music tracks this week:

Cold Nights by How to Dress Well

Two Weeks by FKA Twigs
Come As You Are by Nirvana (Liam's selection)
Nakamarra by Hiatus Kaiyote

Environmentality 19 November 2014, Jodi Jackson, My Everyday Garden - Sensory Gardens

www.zoochat.com

A Sensory Garden is one that entices you (and other creatures) to enter and enjoy the garden through the use of colours, smells, sounds, textures and tastes. Imagine bright colours, sharp and subtle contrasts, sweet smells, plants you can’t help but want to touch and feel, buzzing bees and chirping birds and mouth-watering fruits and berries hanging around you, sounds like a kind of paradise and that is the idea of a sensory garden, a paradise for the senses.

This week we spoke with Jodi and she didn’t disappoint with her expertise and advice on sensory gardens. In the studio we also got treated to some show and tell from Jodi’s garden which really highlighted the way these plants can capture your senses in a variety of ways. If you missed the show, listen to the podcast here. Some of Jodi’s advice from the show on the plants for the various senses included:

Our studio turning green...

Sight:

(Grey Foliage) Salvia ‘Berggarten’, Senecio cineraria

 

Sound:

She-oak (beware that you will need a bit of room for these. They are often used as wind breaks

 

Smell:

Lime Geranium – Pelagonium nervosum

Kaffir Lime – Citrus hystrix

Lemon or Lime Verbena – Aloysia citrodora

 

Touch:

Balotta pseudodictamnus

Adananthos cunninghamii

Isopogon formosus

 

Taste:

Fruits, vegetable, herbs and edible flowers

 

 

Jaime with some Kaffar Lime

Balotta pseudodictamnus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to see more on sensory gardens then I would recommend heading to Jodi’s "Sensory Garden" Pinterest board where there are heaps of photos and examples of sensory gardens and interesting plants that would make a good addition to your sensory garden.

Don’t miss next week’s show with Liam Farrelly, Greens candidate for Pascoe Vale just 3 days out from the election. Send us any questions you would like answered.

Music tracks this week:
Daydream by Thriftworks
Starkville City Jail by Johnny Cash (guest selection)
These Days by St Vincent
All Your Gold by Bat for Lashes

Environmentality 12 November 2104, Robyn Deed, Editor of ATA's ReNew Magazine

It has become quite obvious now that sitting around and waiting for our governments to take action on the issue of addressing climate change is not an option. The good news is that there is a lot of movement from communities and organisations across Australia who are taking things into their own hands.

Issue 129

This week on the show we spoke with Robyn Deed, editor of Renew Magazine about the current issue (Issue 129) which has a strong focus on Community Energy including articles ATA and community energy, Community -owned microgrids, Community solar, Energising rural communities and piece on virtual net metering. If you missed the show, you can catch up on the discussion here.

Some of the things we touched on during the show include Fossil fuel divestment, transition towns, collaborative consumption and the future of global energy!
Here are some links to keep you following these topics:

Fossil fuel divestment (Superswitch)
Collaborative consumption (Open Shed, GoGet, Car Next Door)
Transition towns - Transition Sunshine Coast Australia's first transition town and is now a great resource and provide support services to communities looking to establish their own transition town.
Alan Pears Report - Future global energy giants



climateaction.org

If you'd like to find out more about the magazine or subscribe, please head to renew.org.au or ata.org.au

Next week on the show, we'll be speaking with Liam Farrelly, Greens candidate for Pascoe Vale just 4 days out from the 2014 Victorian election. If you'd like a question answered then let us know via twitter or text in during the show on 0447 777 989.

Music tracks from this week:
What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
Home by Phillip Phillips
Rise and Fall by Craig David feat. Sting
Where I Stood by Missy Higgins (guest selection)

Environmentality 5 November 2014, Jaime De Loma-Osorio Ricon, The Australian Greens candidate for Broadmeadows

As the election draws closer, we are starting to see and hear more about the various political party policies, ideas and promises. This week we got in on more of the political action and had a great chat with Jaime De Loma-Osorio Ricon. Jaime is the Greens candidate for Broadmeadows in the upcoming Victorian state election. Regular listeners will probably know that Jaime is one of regular hosts of the show, however this week the tables were turned and Jaime was a guest on the show and subject to the tough interrogating interview style of Environmentality. Again, regular listeners will know that this is far from the truth as our interviews are casual and relaxed and this week was no different.

 

Jaime, like many politicians is very passionate about his work and this came across strongly during our chat this week. We discussed the important issues facing the Broadmeadows electorate including unemployment, public transport, education and health as well as some broader Victorian and Federal issues such as climate change, east-west link, renewable energy and we even touched on foreign policy.

 

Although it may seem that we diverted away from the usual environmental theme of the show on some of the topics during the show, I would like to point out that many of these issues are actually linked to the environment and it was great to hear many of these links being expressed and explored. If you missed the show, you can listen here.

 

Jaime has just released a YouTube video to launch his campaign, take a look here and let us know what you think in the comments below. You can also follow Jaime on twitter using @jaimeloma.

 

Jaime will also be taking part in a debate for the seat of Broadmeadows with other candidates including current Labor member and candidate Frank McGuire at John Fawkner College on the 11th November. See here for more details.

 

Earlier this week, the ABC launched its online Vote Compass tool which allows users to determine where they stand in the Victorian political landscape. The tool uses your answers to a set of simple multiple choice questions and provides a full analysis for you to review. Have and go and suggest it to all your friends and you never know, you may find that your usual preferred political party does not stack up with your personal views.

Some other useful links:

Latest unemployment figures from the Broadmeadows electorate - Herald Sun article

Victorian Election Environmental Expert Policy Review - The Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) and RMIT University are hosting a panel of renowned environmental practitioners to review the environment policies offered by the major political parties.

 

Don't miss next week, we will be talking with ReNew magazine editor Robyn Deed about the current Issue 129.

 

Music Tracks from this week:

Painted Black by The Rolling Stones

I See Fire by Ed Sheeran

Environmentality 29 October 2014, Dr Stephen Bygrave, CEO, Beyond Zero Emissions

Well what can be said about this week’s show… Brilliant, informative, intelligent, inspiring and at the same time, devastating. Here’s why:

This week we were fortunate enough to be speaking with Beyond Zero Emissions CEO, Dr Stephen Bygrave. For those unaware of or unfamiliar with Beyond Zero Emission (BZE), they are a not-for-profit research and education organisation doing fantastic work designing and implementing a zero emissions economy for Australia. The organisation oozes ambition but it is more than just their vision that makes this organisation stand out. Their ongoing partnership with the University of Melbourne Energy Research Institute has produced a number of high quality plans, reports and publications provided free of charge through their website bze.org.au.

On the show this week we had a good discussion with Stephen about BZE’s most recent release Land Use: Agriculture and Forestry which details how emissions from agriculture and forestry can be reduced to zero net emissions. Following this discussion, we moved onto the Stationary Energy Plan detailing how 100% renewable energy is both achievable and affordable and can be done within 10 years. We finished the show discussing the High Speed Rail report which is a fully detailed feasibility study into a high speed rail service between Melbourne-Canberra-Sydney-Brisbane.

All this discussion was “brilliant, informative, intelligent, inspiring” and those who were listening live I’m sure would agree. Now the “devastating” part of this week’s show is that the recoding has been lost, and by lost I mean it was never recorded due to a problem with the radio stations data logger which we discovered during our post show high fives and back patting. After some tears, we managed to pull ourselves together and be grateful for the opportunity to speak with Dr Stephen Bygrave and the benefits that brought to the live audience. Unfortunately our blog subscribers and podcast downloaders will miss this gem UNLESS someone out there in the wide world who reads this blog managed to record the show? Please let us know.

All I can suggest is that you get onto the BZE website, have a look through the work they have already produced, follow BZE on twitter and Facebook and spread the word about this organisation as they will be in the headlines more and more over the coming months and years.

Some links worth having a look through:

Agriculture and Forestry: hidden emissions, solutions in plain sight. An article by our guest Stephen published in RenewEconomy last week.

High-speed rail: Australia could build network for more than $30 billion less, according to Beyond Zero Emissions. A great article appearing on news.com.au summarising the report and all the latest developments when it comes to potential implementation.

The freedom revolution to kill power bill confusion. Another piece by our guest Stephen published in Climate Spectator in July. This article provides the background to an initiative of BZE called Energy Freedom, check it out!

Next week on the show we will be having a chat with Greens candidate for Broadmeadows, Jaime De Loma.

Music Tracks from this week:

Heart Out by The 1975

You Give Me Something by Jamiroquai

Environmentality 22 October 2014, Jane Garrett, Labor member for Brunswick & Colleen Hartland, Greens member for Western Metropolitan

As we ramp up to the State election on the 29^th November, we are going to start hearing and reading a whole heap in the media,  a lot of promises, argumentative debate back and forth, he said she said, policy releases…you know, all the normal stuff. That’s why it is great to have a chat one on one with some of the local members and candidates to find out a little bit about who they are and what they stand for without too much of the official politics involved.

This week on Environmentality we were fortunate enough to have Jane Garrett and Colleen Hartland generously donate some of their time to us and all our listeners. We spoke separately with each for around 20 minutes and covered some interesting and topical issues such as Victorian (anti)wind-farm laws and the east-west link. If you missed the show, you can listen here to find out what our guests had to say.

Jane Garrett is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), the current member for Brunswick (lower house) and is running as a candidate for the 2014 state election. Colleen Hartland is a member of the Australian Greens, current member for Western Metropolitan (upper house) and is running as a candidate for the 2014 election. We wish them both all the best.

If you are feeling a bit left out of the political loop or just want to get a better grip of the environmental issues of importance facing Victoria at present you'll find some useful links below. Please feel free to add your own links or provide any comment!

The ABC website has a full list of electorates and candidates as well as some interesting tools like a calculator to predict who will win and a breakdown of the key seats.

Check out the Environment Victoria website for a thorough look through the environmental problems, the solutions, the actions as well as the providing a top 10 priority list for environmental policies for Victoria.

Vic Labor flags state-based renewable target if Fed folds – With clear environmental and financial benefits of renewable energy investment including more jobs, it looks like parties with pro-renewables position are going to have an electoral advantage. Victoria’s current lack of government led support for renewables is at odds with the 71% of Victorians who support state government policies that encourage renewables.

The East West Link…what can we say here…Just do a search on this topic and you will find many aspects of this issue hotly under debate. Just to name a few, there is the secrecy surrounding the business case and it’s non-disclosure, huge spending on a road rather than public transport, environmental impacts of construction as well as encouraging more cars, trucks and air pollution and emissions that come with it, compulsory acquisition of housing to construct, waiting 3 years then cannot wait another 8 weeks until after election to sign the deal, a undisclosed cancellation amount ($$) written into the contracts in case the opposition form government and can the project. From an environmental point of view, this project will be a disaster and another clear example of government being blind to the social, environmental and economic benefits of steering away from road infrastructure in favour of public transport.

Next week on the show Dr Stephen Bygrave, CEO of Beyond Zero Emissions will be coming in to the studio to have a chat with us about the work of the organisation, we are super excited for this one. Check out their website before the show to get an idea of the kind of innovative, inspirational, ground-breaking work and reports they are delivering to the public and Government.

bze.org.au

 

Music tracks from this week:

Rip Rip Woodchip by John Williamson

Geronimo by Sheppard

From Little Things Big Things Grow by Paul Kelly

Environmentality 15 October 2014, Jodi Jackson, My Everyday Garden

groedibles.com

This week on My Everyday Garden, Jodi shared her wisdom on seed saving your winter crops, how to best use your worm juice or weed tea for growing seedlings and what to plant in your garden to bring bees and biodiversity. AND as always, we covered and discovered many more interesting topics along the way thanks to our regular tangents and digression, oops. Listen to the podcast to catch up with what Jodi had to share.

mallorcaphotoblog.com

One of the things from the show I wanted to pick up here was the discussion around the Spanish Ramallet tomatoes. Tomàtiga de Ramellet are from the Mallorca region and have a thicker skin and a pasty flesh and in Spain are commonly strung by hand and hung to dry. The tomatoes can then last for long periods and are actually used all year round, usually after the more common tomatoes have finished their season and have been used up. I want to put a call out to our listeners and readers to ask whether someone is growing Ramallet tomatoes here in Australia? If you are or know someone who is, please post the details or let us know on the next show with Jodi on Wednesday 19^th November. It would be interesting to know and maybe we could do some seed sharing!!

On the topic of bringing diversity to your garden, we spoke last month about insect hotels and I shared on the blog a few images for those, like me, who had not seen them before. After chatting with Jodi off air this week I discovered that Jodi actually makes these creative insect habitats herself so feel free to contact us during next week’s show for any advice otherwise head to Jodi’s etsy page to see what they’re all about.

If you would like something in particular covered by Jodi, please let us know by posting a comment below. Alternatively, contact us when Jodi is on next (Wednesday 19^th November) via text on 0 44 77 77 989 or via twitter using @enviro_pod or #environmentality.

Next week on the show we will be talking environmental policies with candidates for the upcoming State election. Jane Garrett, ALP, current member for Brunswick electorate(lower house) and Collen Hartland, Greens, current member for western metropolitan electorate (upper house).

Music Tracks:

Steal The Light by The Cat Empire

Tombs by Hiatus

I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate by Cecile McLorin

All Of Me by John Legend

Environmentality 8 October 2014, Simon O'Connor, CEO, Responsible Investments Association Australasia

Question: Why don’t you invest in a responsible and ethical superannuation fund?

Answer: Well, I’ve worked all my life to get some money into my super and I don’t want to be left behind, I don’t want to lose out on my grand plans for retirement… I want the larger and more reliable returns from sticking with the proven performers.

Hmmm… you may want to read on!! “For 13 years the Responsible Investments Association Australasia has been producing a report that assesses the industry including its size, growth and performance of both responsible/ethical funds and the mainstream funds. What has been shown over the last 13 years is that responsible and ethical funds have been outperforming the market (ASX300 index & the average conventional funds) in nearly all time horizons and nearly all investment classes.” Simon O’Connor, CEO of Responsible Investments Association Australasia on the show this week.

This week is a must listen (listen here) and although I think we might be preaching to the converted here, I recommend heading to the Responsible Investments Association Australasia (RIAA) website to get your head around what it means to invest responsibly and ethically. It is a great resource for those looking to find out some more info on this topic, and there is probably more to it than what you first think.

If anything, when looking into moving your investments, whether that be you bank savings, your super, your investment portfolio, make sure you look for the Certified Responsible Investment logo. The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) is the peak body for professionals working in responsible investment so you can be sure that if it’s certified by RIAA it’s has been thoroughly checked out and ticks all the right box’s, and that applies to financial advisers too.

Links from this week’s show:

On the show this week we discussed a recent piece written by our guest Simon which appeared in The Guardian, Beyond Politics: how finance can influence climate change in Australia.

China coal consumption down 23% as more funds dump fossil fuels. Some key points from this article include a long list of public and private institutions, organisations and groups moving away from fossil fuel investments, a common myth used by fossil fuel linked industries around losses to retirement savings and also the issue of moving out of fossil fuel in favour of nuclear…is this still responsible and ethical? A question I would have liked to ask Simon. What do you think?

RenewEconomy



Vested interests cutting down clean energy, resisting change. As the title suggests this piece shines a light on the great progress that the clean energy sector has been making in recent years and the current moves to halt progress, including the overtly biased Warburton review of the RET. If the RET is weakened, it will effectively transfer $10 billion from renewable energy generators back to fossil fuel generators.

Hopefully you are still reading and not bored completely by this stuff but I for one find the topic of responsible/ethical/renewable investment not only interesting but I think it is the crucial link we need to promote in order to achieve the rapid positive environmental change required to keep climate change in check.

On next week’s show we have our resident gardening expert Jodi Jackson in the studio. Tune in live to 98.9 North West FM or download the Tunein or North West FM app and search for us on there!

Unfortunately, the music tracks were omitted this week due to time constraints, however Simon did provide some suggestions before the show which we will play over the coming weeks! Stay tuned.

Environmentality 1 October 2014, Megan Williams & Emily Gayfer, Friends of the Earth volunteers and Yes2Renewables campaigners

Do you support good air quality, a strong manufacturing and technology industry, phasing out fossil fuel energy generation, jobs and investment in Victoria, reducing peak energy demand and associated costs, climate change solutions, energy security? Then say Yes2Renewables!

Megan Williams and Emily Gayfer, volunteers with Friends of the Earth and the Yes2Renewables campaign spoke with us today about the campaign, national and state renewable energy policy and a study they are currently undertaking looking into the impacts on employment opportunities if the suggested changes to the RET come into effect.

The Yes2Renewables campaign is run by the volunteers at Friends of the Earth (Melbourne) and is pushing for more favourable renewable energy policy to come out of the coming state election. Two of the primary objectives of the campaign are to reinstate the Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) and removal of the current anti-wind farm laws. The current state Government (and federal Government for that matter) seems intent on stunting growth in the renewables sector and instead are fostering their out-dated interests in fossil fuels. Let's not forget that the burning, mining and export of coal has been a major factor in Australia's prosperity in the last 50 years or so, however it's time to move on. The technology is here, the community demand is loud and clear and hey, even the economic benefit is now waving it's hand and perhaps the biggest motivator which often gets lost is the environmental benefit. We can no longer claim ignorance on the environmental damage that burning fossil fuel brings with all the evidence now presented so let's all spread the word and get some action from our governments. Listen to the show here to hear some great discussion on all this and more.

We also got the goss on a rockin’ fundraiser for Yes2Renewables “ROCK 4 RENEWABLES” this Sunday 5^th October at The Gasometer Hotel. Plenty of bands lined up already so get on board if you want to get renewable energy on the election agenda or even if you’re just in the mood for some live music!

On the note of fundraising, I would like to say that we have had the privilege of speaking with many employees and volunteers alike who do great work for not-for-profit organisations. These organisations rely on generous donations from people like you and I so why not pick and cause go for it.

A few useful links from this week’s show:
Candidates Forum: ‘we’re in the business of growingrenewable energy’ say Vic Labor – Yes2Renewables
China shows there’s more to renewable energy than fightingclimate change – The Conversation
Victorian Greens will today unveil a policy to reinstate theRET – Weekly Times Now
How does the Renewable Energy Target affect your powerbills? – The Conversation

On next weeks’ show we have Simon O’Connor, CEO of Responsible Investment Association Australia. Tune in live to 98.9 North West FM or download the Tunein or North West FM app and search for us on there!

This week’s music selection:
Gorecki by Lamb
Joga by Bjork
Padlock and Chain (Peabody Coal) by The Lurkers
James by Pat Metheny
Me At The Museum, You At The Wintergardens by Tiny Ruins
 

Environmentality 24 September 2014, Emily Braham, Editor at Sanctuary Magazine

August Edition of Sanctuary Magazine

If you’ve got even an inkling towards living a more sustainable existence, I bet you’ve thought about building your own sustainable house or at least tried to think of ways to modify your existing  house to incorporate passive solar design, use of low embodied energy materials, energy efficient EVERYTHING, renewable energy, the list goes on. Fortunately for you, the AlternativeTechnology Association (ATA) who among other things publish Sanctuary Magazine which is packed full of articles on sustainable building design and green homes.

This week on the show we had a chat to Emily Braham, the editor of Sanctuary about the current (August) edition of the magazine. We discussed the use of bamboo as a building material, green walls on a high rise in Sydney and how you can create your own at home, sustainable paving ideas, a typical mid 20^th century Brunswick brick suburban home transformed into a sustainable living oasis through clever design to name a few of our topics. Sound like your cup of tea? The magazine is published quarterly and links to purchase can be found on the Sanctuary and ATA websites AND if you listen to the podcast you’ll hear about the special subscription deal offered by Emily and get the special redemption code needed.

In other related news Australia leads global green star revolution. Australia’s Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is certifying more and more buildings (commercial) every year and say’s return on investment (ROI) and rental premiums as well as low rental vacancies are delivering good value to those going green. The benefits don’t stop at financials either, people feel better when occupying these spaces which leads to higher productivity, better staff retention and more creativity. And we haven’t even mentioned the benefits to the environment!

Until next week, get inspired, go and make your home (or business) a little more sustainable this week, you never know, maybe one day your efforts will end up on the cover of Sanctuary Magazine.

maxadesign.com.au

On next week's show we have Friends of the Earth, Megan Williams discussing renewable energy technologies. Tune in live to 98.9 North West FM or download the Tunein or North West FM app and search for us on there!

This week’s music selection:

Hundreds of Ways by Conor Oberst 

Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush

The Best Person I know by Cat's Eyes

Imagine by John Lennon

Say Something by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera