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.
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Sooty on the High Court win that affirms right for third parties with a "special interest" to take Forestry Corporation to court while 15 year old Jesinta calls for more relevant environmental education in schools. [with transcript]
1w agoTap to summarizeSooty from South East Forest Rescue shares a significant legal win in the High Court, which affirmed the right for third parties with a "special interest" to take Forestry Corporation to court in New South Wales. This overturned Forestry's argument that such actions would "open the floodgates” to legal action from environmentalists.Sooty describes the subsequent ongoing case in the Land Environment Court against Forest Corp, hinging on the precise definition of a "glider den tree."Fifteen year-old Jesinta Newland, describes how her passion for nature, ignited at age eight after witnessing logging. She speaks out against deforestation that destroys habitats for endangered species like koalas and gliders, mostly for woodchips and paper.Jesinta and her mother Jaclyn attended the SCAN South Coast Action Network Forest Festival, a family-friendly, dry, vegan-food event focused on community and environmental education. Jacinta describes forest festival activities: Spotlighting, Eco-dying: and NVDA Training and campaigning for protection for 500-year-old "Mother Tree" Big Spotty in Booman State Forest.Jesinta notes that there is a lack of awareness and education as many of her peers are unaware of the logging occurring locally. She wishes for more comprehensive environmental education in schools, as she has learned most of her knowledge through SCAN and older mentors. Guests: Sooty: South East Forest Rescue Jesinta Newland: SCAN South Coast Action Network Jaclyn NewlandLinks:SCAN South Coast Action NetworkSouth East Forest RescueNorth East Forest AllianceNational Parks Association of NSW - Protecting Nature Through Community Action
Transcribe →A regenerative approach to international development
2w agoTap to summarizeThis week on Earth Matters, we zoom out, and across the world, to speak with an author and human development practitioner based in Antigua, about the big picture of sustainable development. You’ll hear about what has changed in the development sector over recent decades; Cherise’s intersectional understanding of poverty and wealth; the concept of the metacrisis; and more.Cherise Adjodha is an author and human development practitioner who spent over two decades as a United Nations Programme Specialist working in human rights, environmental rights, and governance across the Caribbean. She worked in countries including Saint Lucia, Grenada, Suriname, Belize, and Canada, focusing on poverty reduction, gender equity, and resilience. Her book, Things I Would Have Told My Children If I Had Them, explores emotional connection, regenerative living, and what it means to build a life rooted in purpose. Earth Matters #1554 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.
Transcribe →Felling of Mt Macedon snow gums leaves conservationists aghast
3w agoTap to summarizeFelling of Mt Macedon snow gums leaves conservationists aghast This week Earth Matters travels to a mountain peak in Central Victoria where the State government has destroyed almost a hectare of fragile snow gums. Nature lovers and conservation advocates are devastated and confused. The snow gums were part of a montane woodland that had regenerated over the course of forty-years since the catastrophic Ash Wednesday fires razed the area in 1983. They are located on Wurundjeri Country in the autumnal wonderland of Mount Macedon, an hour outside Melbourne. The snow gums are treasured not only for their high ecological value but because they are one of only three remaining snow gum communities in Western and Central Victoria. They were removed to make way for a controversial view from the Mt Macedon Memorial Cross despite the local Council having rejected the proposal three years earlier. We talk to the campaigners who were at the mountain in the leadup to the felling to understand more. Speakers: Ben Gill, Victorian National Parks Association Anna Langford, Friends of the Earth Melbourne Kate Lawrence, Macedon and Mt Macedon Landcare Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth Melbourne Additional audio production: Tessa Campisi Vigil audio: Kate Lawrence Photo: Friends of the Earth Campaigns and references https://themountainjournal.com/2025/08/21/protect-macedons-rare-snow-gum https://vnpa.org.au/save-the-snow-gums/ https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/save_mt_macedon_snow_gums https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/snow_gum_summit_declaration_2026 https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u=5e12186049bebef650f31b237&id=dc9eff2531 https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/-/media/project/pv/main/parks/documents/management-plans/macedon-regional-park-strategic-management-statement-2009.pdf?rev=1c84346e8d87416ea889b94c445ce07f https://www.trustadvocate.org.au/heritage-misused-to-justify-tree-removal-at-mount-macedon-cross/
Transcribe →Women coming together to activate the UNFCCC Belém Gender Action Plan
4w agoTap to summarizeThe Belém Gender Action Plan is a nine-year framework, representing a historic step forward in embedding gender equality into climate action. ensuring inclusive, intersectional, and gender-responsive policies and practices. It emphasizes that climate change impacts are not gender-neutral, recognizing that women and girls—particularly those from rural, Indigenous, migrant, or marginalized communities face disproportionate risks from extreme events, food insecurity, and increased care work. There is whole lot more too it than that. Find out about the Belem Gender Action Plan here.Featuring:)- Fleur Newman; UNFCCC Unit Lead for Gender, Children and Youth and ACE(Action for Climate Empowerment- Dr Sally Box; Head of International Negotiations at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water- Joanne Crawford AM – an Australian leader in gender equality, sustainable development, gender-sensitive measurement of poverty and inequality. This week’s show episode #1550 was produced by Bec Horridge in collaboration with the Women's Climate Congress
Transcribe →Women coming together to activate the UNFCCC Belém Gender Action Plan
4w agoTap to summarizeThe Belém Gender Action Plan is a nine-year framework, representing a historic step forward in embedding gender equality into climate action. ensuring inclusive, intersectional, and gender-responsive policies and practices. It emphasizes that climate change impacts are not gender-neutral, recognizing that women and girls—particularly those from rural, Indigenous, migrant, or marginalized communities face disproportionate risks from extreme events, food insecurity, and increased care work. There is whole lot more too it than that. Find out about the Belem Gender Action Plan here.Featuring:)- Fleur Newman; UNFCCC Unit Lead for Gender, Children and Youth and ACE(Action for Climate Empowerment- Dr Sally Box; Head of International Negotiations at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water- Joanne Crawford AM – an Australian leader in gender equality, sustainable development, gender-sensitive measurement of poverty and inequality. This week’s show episode #1550 was produced by Bec Horridge in collaboration with the Women's Climate Congress
Transcribe →Return Lee Point to Larrakia People
Apr 5Tap to summarizeMia interviews Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira and Laniyuk, two staunch and inspiring warriors in the defence of Larrakia country. Larrakia country is Laniyuk’s country, and together with Te Raukura and an ever-expanding network of fellow protectors she has been fighting a military housing development on her land. Laniyuk is a Larrakia, Kungarakan, Gurindji and French creative and organiser. In January 2024 she launched a campaign for the Return of Lee Point to Larrakia people to stop the destruction of sacred ceremonial and Dreaming sites in Darwin by Defence Housing Australia. She also writes and performs poetry, speculative fiction and is a visual artist.Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira is a Māori and Irish campaigner, researcher and writer. Prior to their appointment as CEO of 350 Australia, Te Raukura was the Executive Director of Movement Building at the Foundation for Young Australians, the Director of ActionStation Aotearoa, and helped co-found the Youth Movement Fund Aotearoa, Te Kuaka and Tauiwi Tautoko.Connect with the campaign, buy a t-shirt or donateFollow the campaign on InstagramSign the petitionEarth Matters #1550 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.
Transcribe →Earth Matters: Compassion and kindness in government - a gateway to wise action on climate change and other challenges?
Mar 28Tap to summarizeContinuing our popular online Women's Climate Congress conversation series, this event featured Jennifer Nadel FRSA, Co-Founder and CEO, Compassion in Politics (UK).In the last federal election campaign, Anthony Albanese referred to kindness in government, saying that kindness is not a weakness but a strength. This mirrors Action 6 of the WCC Charter for Change: 'Elevate compassion and kindness in government', which says 'qualities of heart (such as compassion, love, kindness, empathy, forgiveness) are the basis of true strength and decision making.' So it is very timely that Jennifer is planning to launch Compassion in Politics in Australia in the near future.In this online event, Jennifer was joined by Kate Chaney MP (Independent Member for Curtin, WA) and Chloë Spackman (CEO, Next25, an independent think-and-do tank devoted to improving public discourse around major challenges), in conversation with WCC Founder Dr Janet Salisbury. Together we explored what 'Compassion in Politics' could look like in the 48th Australian Parliament - at a time when the clock is ticking on climate change, wars continue to cause unimaginable devastation and inhumanity and the status quo of political discourse continues to relentlessly support the notion that strength can be found in adversarial opposition, stand-over tactics and bullying. Meet our conversationalistsJennifer Nadel FRSA is the Co-director of the cross-party think tank Compassion in Politics and the Director of Compassionate Politics at Stanford University’s Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. She has worked in and around Westminster for three decades and advised politicians and campaigns locally, nationally, and internationally. A barrister, author, strategist, keynote speaker and award-winning television journalist (ex BBC, Channel Four News and ITN), her books include: Sunday Times bestseller, WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere (written with Gillian Anderson); How Compassion can Transform our Politics, Economy and Society. Her BBC Radio documentary, Broken Politics. Broken Politicians explores the mental health crisis in UK politics and the implications for democracy. Similar research is now being done with Australian politicians on their mental wellbeing and Compassion in Politics will shortly be launching in Australia. She provides training in Resilience and Compassionate Leadership globally and recently participated in the 8th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference in Sydney, Nov 2024. Chloë Spackman is the CEO of Next25, an independent think-and-do tank using rigorous research, trusted engagement, and ground-breaking training initiatives to promote constructive public discourse around Australia’s most challenging issues. Prior to taking on this role, Chloë was Director of Programs and Engagement for Next25 for six years, managing the programs team and overseeing “think” (research) and “do” (initiatives) work. During this period, she led the development of Next25 Leadership, Improving Democracy: Transforming Parliament for Women and 21st Century Service (a suite of training courses specialising in building culture and capability within the public service).Chloë brings over a decade of experience in program design, delivery, communications, and evaluation in the international and higher education and not-for-profit sectors, focusing on leadership and global citizenship, innovation, and social impact. Chloë is the Board President of an Australia-based international charity and an accredited facilitator of Corporate Evolution’s Illuminate: Facilitating Deep Transformation program. She previously managed a tertiary leadership program that was awarded a prestigious international award for Innovation and Best Practice in Internationalising the Campus.Kate Chaney MP is the Federal Independent MP for Curtin. She has experience in law, business, professional services, and the community sector. She collaborates with her community and focuses on evidence-based solutions. She ran for Parliament because she was deeply frustrated by the lack of long-term, evidence-based decision-making in Australian politics and that too often, short-term political gains get in the way of real solutions for our future. She felt optimistic that with a balanced, long-term approach, Australian democracy can evolve to tackle these challenges and secure a stronger future for all. Her focus remains on housing affordability, climate action, the cost of living, support for small businesses and a stronger community for her constituents. ‘My career has taught me that there is rarely a black and white answer, there is always room to improve a solution after consultation and there is no one right way of thinking.’Janet Salisbury Cofounder Womens Climate CongressEarth Matters #1549 was produced by Bec Horridge--------------------
Transcribe →Exploring Extreme Heat Part One | Hot histories: can past heatwaves teach us how to adapt to extreme heat?
Mar 22Tap to summarizeExploring Extreme Heat: Part One Hot histories - can heatwaves of the past teach us how to adapt to extreme heat? Earth Matters is embarking on a multi-episode series exploring what intense heat events mean for Australians. We’ll be hearing from settler Australians, migrant communities and First Nations people living in different parts of so-called Australia to understand how heat affects us, and whether current adaptation practices are sufficient to equip us for a hotter future. In Part One we delve into the near past to discover how Australians of European background lived through heatwaves in the 19th and 20thcenturies, and what their experiences mean for Australians today. We hear from settler Australian environmental historians Rochelle Schoff and Mandy Paul who spoke at a History Council of Victoria Making Publc Histories event last year. The event was convened by Margaret Anderson, manager of the Old Treasury Building in Naarm/Melbourne. Rochelle Schoff is a La Trobe University PhD Candidate and member of the Parched research project team. Mandy Paul is a public historian researching the history of heatwaves in Tarntanya/Adelaide and Head of Collections at the History Trust of South Australia. Historian Rebecca Jones was the third speaker at this event. Her research will be shared in a later episode. Thanks to the History Council of Victoria for providing access to the recording of Making Public Histories—Thinking about the weather: Heatwaves and history in twentieth century Australia event held on 27 November 2025. You can watch the full event here. Note: Statements made by Anangu community members shared by Rochelle Schoff were sourced from the following research paper, Bardsley, D. K., & Wiseman, N. D. (2016). Socio-ecological lessons for the Anthropocene: Learning from the remote Indigenous communities of Central Australia. Anthropocene, 14, 58–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ancene.2016.04.001 Image Credit: State Library of South Australia, B 7798/298.
Transcribe →Interview with Basalt Buddies Pirate Nursery
Mar 15Tap to summarizeIn this edition of Earth Matters, host Keiran Stewart-Assheton interviews Matt from the pirate nursery Basalt Buddies, discussing the Victorian Grassland Plains, local conservation efforts, the limitations and unseen issues within government conservation policies, and how people can get involved in conservation efforts in their local area.
Transcribe →Lutruwita Forest Resistance Tour
Mar 8Tap to summarizeAs with all other areas of Direct Activism for social and environmental justice, some of the most staunch, courageous and passionate forest defenders are women. At the Lutruwita Forest Resistance Tour last month Hannah and Rosie were fortunate to meet and work alongside many of them, who ranged from teenagers to 80 year-olds. They spoke to two of these incredible women - Jenny Weber (Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager), and Colette Harmsen (scientist and veterinarian), and look forward to introducing them to listeners on Earth Matters' International Women's day program.Join the March for Forests on Sunday 22 March.
Transcribe →