Environmentality, 26 February 2014, Robyn Deed, Editor, ReNew Magazine

We say it every time Robyn is on the show, but how good are the adds in ReNew magazine?!  It is the only magazine where you don't skip over them.

This issue of Renew (Jan - March) is as always full of great articles and information.  The feature articles this quarter are focused on sustainable travel.  Quoting my co presenter John, 'the most sustainable travel is to stay at home' but really when you can pack up the car or bike and tent why would you? Listen to the show to find out how easy it is.

The beauty of a subscription to ReNew or its sister mag Sanctuary is that it's value for money (and not much money) and you can choose to get it in magazine form,or on line. Vavoom, saving the environment in one easy click. Check out their website ReNew.

John and Jaime talked briefly today about the East-West tunnel works and the huge impact it is going to have on our fellow Melbournians' especially those living in suburbs like Clifton Hill, Collingwood, Parkville and Kensington.  The current government seems determined to turn our beautiful city into a carpark with no thought for the health impacts of those living under flyovers and next to exit tunnels and ramps.

All is not lost yet, head out to the Royal Park Festival, March 1, to celebrate all the great things about Royal Park.  If you feel inspired to do more, the Yarra Campaign for Action of Transport is a great site with lots of information on how you can get involved.

Music played today
The Dead Salesmen, No One Fell in Love with Nothing
Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach, Painted by Memory
The Mavis', Puberty Song
Snout, Get in the Car

Next week on the show, Greg Barber MLC will be giving us the lowdown on what's really happening at the Hazlewood power station fire.

Environmentality 19 February 2014, Jodi Jackson, Everyday in the Garden

It was great to have Jodi back in the studio after a long absence.  Summer has almost left us and it is now time to start thinking about what to plant in our autumn gardens.

Jodie was telling us how important it is to keep adding organic matter and compost to your patches, and talked through a great diagram The Soil Food Web which shows the relationships between soil, organic matter, birds and mammals.

It is a great time to sow seeds for brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, rocket, beetroot, carrots, onions to name just a few.  The Shed Online has a good range of information and videos for getting your autumn planting started.  There are plenty of good websites offering simple, practical advice on vegie gardening, maybe have a look at Yummy Gardens too.

Jodi has also been busy helping with all the displaced wildlife from the recent fires in Wallan, Kilmore and surrounds.  Our native animals suffer so badly in these fires, along of course with farmed animals.  The wildlife shelters are calling out for donations of sleeping bags, blankets, surgical dressings and much more. Listen to to the show to hear a more details of exactly what they need.

Environmentality wouldn't quite be the same without John, our fiery environmentalist, who this week bought to our attention Dick Warburton, climate change sceptic, who has been appointed to review Australia's renewables, read the article for yourself http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/australia-chooses-climate-change-denier-to-head-renewables-review-65883.

John mentioned a short film called Midway about the plight of the magnificent Albatross, it is only 3 minutes long but you will definitely need your tissues Midway Island

Find out what else was on John's mind by listening to the show!

Music played today

Santana,Taleo

Alice Cooper, Schools Out

Bernard Fanning, Ground Around You

Hope you can join us again on 26 February, with Robyn Deed from Renew Magazine

Environmentality 12 February 2014, Dr Tim Read, Moreland Greens

Is there a Dr in the house? Yes there was, two in fact.  Lucky us.

On Environmentality this week it was all about politics and to make sure we got the facts right we invited Dr Tim Read, Moreland Greens member, former Greens candidate for Wills who is now running for preselection in the seat of Brunswick!  He is a very busy man, and Tim, we do appreciate you taking the time to cycle out to our studios in Hadfield.

The topics covered today were everything from getting involved in a political party, exercise or lack there of it within our community, manufacturing and the EastWest link just to mention a few.  Make sure you Listen to the Show!

It is endlessly fascinating to me that neither major parties in Australia have embraced the science and technology capabilities we have.  When you chance across stories like the one in Sustainable Business about a carpet manufacturer that is heading towards zero emissions and impact on the environment by 2020, it really makes you wonder when our government is going to get behind and start supporting clean, green alternatives. We don't need to be brain surgeons to guess that the company I am referring to are are European.  Of course they are!  Tony Abbott and the party he leads seem to be steering us down the path of no return with a reliance on big polluters to keep our economy moving.  But I digress to something more palatable.

It is great to see that the Drs' in the house practice what they preach with regards to moving away from a reliance on cars to get around.  Melbourne has quite a good network of bike lanes and paths that connect our city and suburbs.  Have a look at the Bicycle Network website it has lots of great information about organised bike rides and all the bike networks that connect around town.  There is also Map My Ride which has detailed downloadable routes which also detail the terrain and all those hills you may need to have extra fuel for.  You can also add your own rides to this site too.

Music played today was

Weddings Parties Anything, Fathers Day
Josh Pyke, Middle of the Hill
Katy Steele/Paul Kelly, This Mess We're in

Next week on the show we will be talking gardening with Jodi Jackson

Environmentality 5 February, 2014 Hume Environmental Champions

It was such a relaxed and casual show today.  We had two lovely guests returning to the studio; Caroline Overbeek, Environment Community Development Officer, Hume City Council and Lee Scott, Environmental Champion with a passion for our native bees and making sure they have somewhere to safe to live. You can listen to the show here..

The Hume Environmental Champions has been running for three years and Lee has been involved for the last two.  Lee has amassed has over 250 like minded native bee enthusiasts to promote the plight of our native bees by building hotels for them to ensure their survival.  Mercedes Ramirez has written a beautiful story, A Hotel for Polly,  which is a great way to explain to kids all about our bees and how much we need them.

The Champions project has had great success in building and strengthening the community of Hume.  Apart from all the bee enthusiasts, the Lemon Tree Project and the Sunbury Organic Food Coo-op are another couple of great examples of community coming together.  

If you live in the Hume area and have an interest in the environment why not get involved and become an Environmental Champion.  You don't need any experience or even a project in mind, just give Caroline a call - 9205 2310

There are so many living green festivals happening now and over the coming weeks.  Some you may like to check out if you are in the Melbourne area are:

Woodend Sustainable Living Festival, this Saturday 8 February
The Seymour Alternative Farming Expo, weekend of 14 Feb, running since 1991 it might appeal to the urban farmer in you.
The Sustainable Living Festival - 8 to 23 February with so many things happening you will be in a spin.
Sunfest now in its 38th year, held on the weekend of 15 March

If you like so many others are perplexed and completely outraged by the Western Australian governments' decision to cull sharks that happen to be cruising too close to the beach you can join an on-line petition and add your own personal message to Colin Barnett, go to the Conservation Council of WA and lodge your objection.

Music played on the show today

Joan As Police Woman, The Classic from The Classic Album
Kevin Walton, Like the Sun from the album Momentum
Joe Geia, The Mosquito Dance from the Injidda Bygun Nunga Koori and Murri Love Album
Coloured Stones, Dark Seed

Don't miss next weeks show - Tim Read,  The Greens

Make Sure You Listen to the Show!