Podcast
Earth Matters
Hosted by Bec Horridge, Claudia Craig, Mia Audrey & Keiran Stewart-Assheton. · EN
Local and global environmental issues from grassroots, activist perspectives with a strong social justice focus. Distributed nationally on the Community Radio Network.
33episodes
Episodes
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US offshore mineral extraction in American Samoa waters. / Human rights abuses and deforestation for sugar in West Papua
3d agoTap to summarizeInterviewed by Priya Kunjan, Dr Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka, founder of youth-centred environmental organization Finafinau, joins us from Pago Pago to discuss recent progress in the United States government's moves to advance offshore mineral extraction in the waters off American Samoa in the face of significant resistanceSabrina spoke with us about the cultural and environmental impacts that deep sea mining for critical minerals will cause, and the ongoing fight to prevent this from happening in the waters off the islands of American Samoa. Interviewed by Priya Kunjan, Louise Byrne of the West Papua Women's Office discusses the connections between Sugar Research Australia, the Indonesian sugar industry, and alleged rights abuses and illegal deforestation in Merauke, West Papua. In December 2025, Greenpeace published the report 'Sweet Promises, Bitter Reality: Inside the Merauke Sugarcane Project' detailing serious concerns about the role of the Indonesian state and agribusiness in land theft and mass deforestation in Merauke. More recently, Royce Kurmelovs of Deepcut News has written about the connections between the Australian government-funded body Sugar Research Australia and land clearing in Merauke. Louise has been working for West Papua's freedom and self-determination since 1999, and helped found the West Papua Office in Docklands in 2014. Utube Video Pesta Babi: Kolonialisme di Zaman Kita (Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time), an investigative documentary examining contemporary colonialism, militarisation, and large‑scale development projects in West Papua YouTube . For more information, you can visit the West Papua Women's Office at 211/838 Collins Street, Docklands 3008 (VIC), and contact them at frwpwomensoffice@gmail.com(link sends e-mail) or via SMS at 0424 745 155. I would like to acknowledge the Kulin Nation – true owners, caretakers and custodians of the land from which we broadcast. 3CR pays respect to Elders, past and present of the Kulin Nation. We recognise their unceded sovereignty.Earth Matters #1570 was produced on Widjibul Weiable lands in the Budjalumg Nation by Bec Horridge
Transcribe →Great Barrier Reef: A divers tale.
1w agoTap to summarizeWe delve into the critical state of the Great Barrier Reef through the lens of Tony Fonts, President of the Whitsunday Conservation Council and a veteran diver with 45 years of immersive experience. Tony upacks the impacts of poor water quality, unsustainable fishing practices and that: "the greatest threat to the reef by far is climate change."He describes the devastating effects of coral bleaching he witnessed firsthand.He also comments on the new federal nature laws and the Queensland "fast-track development bill that threatens to dismantle critical environmental protections, eroding public consultation and transparency. "It's not too late. Every little bit of a degree that we pull back on gives the Great Barrier Reef... a better chance of a good future." Earth Matters #1569 was produced on Widjibul Weiable lands in the Budjalumg Nation by Bec Horridge
Transcribe →Data Centres Part 1: Energy Vampires
2w agoTap to summarizeBy now you would have heard the news: data centres are threatening to unravel the progress we’ve made on emissions reductions, as well as the health of communities throughout the continent. In fact, so-called Australia is a global investment hotspot, with 162 data centres in operation and at least 90 more on the way. On today’s show, we’ll hear from a global expert on the newest and most ferocious force in this race towards disaster – AI data centres. Ketan Joshi is an independent climate, environment and sustainability expert, and lead author of a recent Greenpeace report entitled ‘Energy Vampires: The AI Data Centres Draining Australia’. Tune in for a confronting look at the disaster unfolding around us, and what to do if a climate-wrecking data farm pops up in your neighbourhood. Ketan Joshi is an independent climate, environment and sustainability expert. He was the lead author on “The AI Climate Hoax”, published with several corporate accountability and environmental groups in 2026, and previously wrote “Windfall: Unlocking a Fossil Free Future” with the University of New South Wales Press. He worked for eight years in Australia’s renewable energy sector (corporate and government), and has worked with European NGOs working on climate communications and corporate accountability. ‘Energy Vampires’ report: https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2026/05/1032fdf5-data-centres-report-greenpeace.pdf 'The AI Climate Hoax’ report: https://beyondfossilfuels.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/AI-for-climate-claims-Report_FEB-2026_FINAL-2-16.pdf Rally for a data centre moratorium, August 9 in western Narrm (melbourne): https://www.facebook.com/events/1628575625533388/ Wiki community for the campaign for a data centre moratorium: https://datacentremoratorium.net/index.php/Data_Centre_Moratorium_Wiki:About Western Warrang (sydney) resistance: https://swelteringcities.org/2026/04/21/data-centres-ai-urban-heat-and-community-action-comes-together-in-western-sydney/ Petition: Stop the expansion of data centres in New South Wales: https://www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/halt-the-expansion-of-data-centres-in-nsw Earth Matters #1568 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.
Transcribe →30th anniversary special: Earth Matters founder Juliet Fox looks back on 30-years
3w agoTap to summarizeThe first episode of Earth Matters aired on the 26th of July 1996 - exactly 30 years ago this week! In this special anniversary episode* we time warp back thirty years and listen to excerpts from the first ever episode of Earth Matters broadcast on 26 July 1996. We speak to founder and inaugural presenter/producer Juliet Fox – now Projects Coordinator at 3CR – who shares her memories of the first show as well as the role the programme has played in the broader environmental movement across three decades. Guests: Captain Derek Nicholls, Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior II talks about the boat’s drift fishing campaign work and energy sources. Murrandoo Yanner, then CEO of the Carpentaria Land Council about the CRA RTZ Century zinc mine in Queensland. Juliet Fox, founder and inaugural presenter/producer of Earth Matters, now Projects Coordinator at 3CR community radio in Naarm. *This is an extended version of the broadcast. Runtime 33-minutes. Further reading: https://www.clcac.com.au/native-title/our-story/02 https://www.greenpeace.org.au/article/the-rainbow-warrior-ii-retires/https://www.greenpeace.org.au/learn/bombing-of-the-rainbow-warrior/
Transcribe →Art of Resistance Tour Protests on BHP's Olympic Dam Mine & Woomera Testing Range
Jul 19Tap to summarizeIn July 2026 activists and artists from across so-called Australia came together, forming a collective known as the Art of Resistance Tour. The group traveled across the desert with the intention to protest militarism and extractivism with art and performance.We hear from activists at these protests shedding light on the impact BHP's Olympic Dam Mine has on sacred mound springs on Arabunna country, as well as the impacts it is having on neighbouring sacred Kokatha country. Activists on the tour also visit the nearby Woomera Testing Range, located in South Australia on sacred Kokatha country, highlighting the global and local repercussions of the military weapons that are being tested on this site. The Art of Resistance Tour later joined up with the Close Pine Gap convergence in Mparntwe, Alice Springs - look back on the convergence last week, and The Art of Resistance tour at closepinegap.org.au and instagram.com/art.ofresistance/ Earth Matters #1566 was produced by Hannah York
Transcribe →Call for Richmond River Koala Parks /Spotlight on Australian Supers climate cop-out.
Jul 4Tap to summarizeEarth Matters Bec Horridge meets a persistent team: Fridays 4 Forests [ Facebook] who regularly protest outside Janelle Saffin MP's office in Lismore on Friday. They are calling for the creation of the Richmond River Koala Parks and to "Stop Native Forest Logging".Then we meet climate campaigner Brett, from Market Forces who dresses as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz to call out Australian Super's climate cop-out. Australian Super has become the largest shareholder in Whitehaven Coal, which has plans to develop up to six new or expanded coal mines in New South Wales and Queensland. This investment is seen as inconsistent with Australian Super's own net zero and Paris Agreement climate commitments. LinksRichmond River Koala Parks: NSW Nature Conservation Council
Transcribe →30th Birthday Special: Goolengook Blockade Reflections
Jun 28Tap to summarizeEarth Matters 30th Birthday Special: Goolengook Blockade Reflections This month in June, Earth Matters has turned 30 years old, and our proud partner 3cr Community Radio also celebrates their 50th Birthday. To celebrate these important milestones we have been going through our archives. In this episode we hear the first Earth Matters host, Juliet Fox at the Goolengook blockades, in East Gippsland, 1997. Many activists from across Australia went to this remote forest to fight against clear fell logging, which was Australia's longest running forest blockade. Juliet speaks about her history with Earth Matters and how it all started and how reporting on environmental activism was back then. Fiona York gives an update on how the forests in Errinundra are now after years of tireless campaigning to protect it, her relationship with Earth Matters and how it impacted the campaign at the time. Juliet Fox - a community media coordinator and researcher who has decades long experience in radio production, presentation, media project design and coordination. She is also a writer, researcher and lecturer, and is passionate about alternative media covering issues that mainstream media doesn't. Fiona York - Has been an activist and organiser with the Goongerah Environment Centre for over 30 years, she also volunteers with community organisations and currently works in housing for older people Earth Matters #1562 was produced by Hannah York on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country
Transcribe →30th Birthday Special: Close Pine Gap
Jun 21Tap to summarizeThis year, Earth Matters is thirty years old! And 3CR, our proud parent, is 50 years old! We’re celebrating by digging into the archives, tipping our hat to past presenters who paved the way with hard-hitting and crucial content on environmental current affairs. Have you heard of Pine Gap? Most likely you have. You may even have heard about the fight against the construction of the US military base in the mid-80s. In this episode we’ll take a trip to those days, before even Earth Matters was born. It’s a fight that’s continued in different forms and been covered on this show over its decades, that sits at the intersection of land rights, militarism, anti-nuclear campaigning and global imperialism. Importantly, it’s also a topical one – in just under a month, activists will once more converge for the Close Pine Gap Sacred Land Back convergence in Mparntwe Alice Springs to keep alive the flame of resistance that was lit all those years ago. More on the Close Pine Gap - Sacred Land Bank Covergence: https://closepinegap.org.au/Earth Matters #1561 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.
Transcribe →Earth Matters Live Radiothon Show
Jun 14Tap to summarizeEarth Matters presents a live show in the studios of 3CR in Fitzroy Naarm to raise funds for our broadcasting. Earth Matters presenters Kieran Stewart-Assherton, Mia Audrey and Claudia Craig together with past producer Judith Peppard are joined on phone by Bec Horridge and Hannah York for a live to air Radiothon broadcast.Also on the show we hear from campaigners Cam Walker (Friends of the Earth) and Jordan Crook (Victorian National Parks Association). They share some of the programme's unique attributes and contributions to the environmental advocacy landscape.Past EM producers Jacob Gamble and Eiddwen Jeffrey share their memories and favourite stories.In 2026 Earth Matters celebrates 30-years of broadcast and 3CR celebrates 50-years. Let's celebrate together!You can DONATE HERE to help 3CR and Earth Matters stay on air or call the station on 03 9419 8377 during business hours Monday - Friday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm.
Transcribe →30th Birthday Special: The Jabiluka Blockade
Jun 14Tap to summarizeTo celebrate 30 years of Earth Matters, Mia digs into the archives and presents a special feature on a historic milestone: the Jabiluka blockade. You'll hear former presenter Juliet Fox interviewing Jane Weepers, spokesperson for the Jabiluka Alliance, on the first day of the blockade in March 1998; and audio from the road trip to the proposed uranium mine site organised by the Australian Student Environment Network the year before, in mid-1997.More on the Jabiluka blockade: https://commonslibrary.org/the-jabiluka-blockade-22-years-on/ Earth Matters #1560 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.
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