EarthChat

BEAM Mitchell Environment Group Inc
EarthChat

EarthChat presents in-depth conversations and views on the many environment issues affecting our community. EarthChat is brought to you by BEAM Mitchell Environment Group. You can listen live each Tuesday on Seymour FM at 12noon AEST, with hosts Ruth, Peter, Marie and Tim. Time to tune in, listen up and get active. Don’t forget to like and follow.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    NAIDOC 2025, the Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy S25 Ep26

    NAIDOC Week this year marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. The 2025 theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," celebrates not only the achievements of the past but a future, empowered by the strength of young Indigenous leaders, the vision of communities, and the legacy of ancestors. The NAIDOC journey began as a movement for recognition and rights, sparked by Indigenous communities who saw a future built on justice and equality. Over the decades, it has grown into a powerful national celebration, a testament to the endurance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As we all commemorate this 50-year legacy, Tim and Jill chat to Darrell Lego, a member of the local organising committee for NAIDOC week in Seymour and Mitchell Shire. Darrell will talk about the great events planned for the local area in the week, including the annual celebration on Wednesday 9th July. Darrell will also gives us some background on himself as a Gunditjmara man, some background of NAIDOC and some more information about the great activities planned for the celebration on 9th July. Music this week is from Youngblud and also Rhyan Clapham (aka Dobby) - a drummer and rapper of indigenous and Filipino heritage who uses his music to express his thoughts on environmental issues like how the Murray-Darling River system has been over irrigated with subsequent fish losses etc. Through his songs he seeks to connect with people and call for action. He also collaborates with the Busking for Change initiative run by musician Josh Pike where funds generated from the sale of the music are used to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. His latest project is called "Country Tells Us When". We played the song "I Can't Breathe"

    42 min
  2. 18 JUNE

    News from the Euroa Arboretum, S25 Ep23

    There are always interesting goings on at "the Arb", and, it’s always a joy to catch up with the passionate and innovative folk who work there. Ruth is delighted to welcome development manager, Cathy Olive, and grassy ground cover restoration coordinator, Bronte Haines to this week's EarthChat. Two remarkable people among many caring for the Arboretum, including a group of committed volunteers, who lovingly contribute to the Arb’s great work and its beautiful environment. In consultation with local Traditional Custodians, (The Taungurung), the Arb offers an excellent example of thoughtful land regeneration and conservation including protecting threatened species, running one of only three Victorian Seed Banks, and developing an educational role in local schools and community to encourage a greater connection to the natural environment. If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the Arb, it is a must! Only 160 kms from Melbourne along the Hume Highway, it’ll take you under two hours to get there. And it offers 24 hour access 365 days a year. The retail plant Nursery is open Monday & Thursday from 12 - 4 pm from late March - check the website for the date the Nursery opens each year. For the Arb’s full history, achievements, and events, It’s well worth a ‘surf’. To help the Arb care for the bush and learn new skills you might like to join their team of fabulous volunteers on a Monday and/or Thursday, working in the Nursery, or in the Grounds, or in the Seedbank. Just fill out the form on their website. Donations are also tax deductible since the Arb is a not-for-profit, charitable incorporation.

    44 min
  3. 30 MAY

    Celebrating ‘Friends of the Earth’ S25 Ep20

    Friends of the Earth (FoE) is the largest grassroots federation of environmental activists in the world and currently active in more than 70 countries, with over 2 million supporters and members world wide. FoE began 56 years ago in the USA (San Francisco in 1969), and 53 years ago FoE set up its first Australian office in Adelaide (1972), and a year later (1973) the Melbourne office was set up. The national Australian office was established in 1974. Since 1973, Friends of the Earth Australia (FoE) has defended and protected forests and waterways, stood as allies in the struggles for First Nations’ self determination and land rights, opposed uranium mining, protested the destruction of war, and kept fossil fuels in the ground. FoE takes a community empowerment approach to its campaigns. FoE has built thriving social enterprises that challenge the status quo, promotes sustainable consumption, puts workers first and helps fund environmental and social action. FoE doesn’t have a CEO or bosses, they strive for anti-hierarchy and practice consensus decision-making. Each group has the autonomy to do whatever they need to protect the natural environment as long as they act in accordance with these principles. In this week’s EarthChat Ruth Yeatman celebrates ‘Friends of the Earth’ (FoE) with long time member and campaigns’ coordinator, Cam Walker, who has tirelessly worked with the organization since 1989. Cam Walker is responsible for co-ordinating FoE's various campaigns and projects. He has worked for decades on grassroots environmental campaigns, starting with the Franklin River in 1982, and with indigenous communities and organisations. Over the past 8 years Cam’s key priority has been to gain a permanent ban on the process of fracking in Victoria, a rebuild of the Climate Change Act, adoption of strong emission reduction targets, and a strong renewable energy target (VRET) in the state of Victoria. These successful campaigns were effective because they built strong alliances with rural and regional communities. In the last three years Cam has focused on identifying forests of high conservation value in the Victorian high country and campaigning for their protection, and working towards an early end to native forest logging across the state. A long community campaign led to the Victorian government announcing it will end all native forest logging in the east of the state by January 2024. Cam spent a decade working with FoE International, with experience in environmental campaigning in Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America.Cam is clearly is one of Australia’s treasures (and the world’s). Deep gratitude for his sustained commitment, courage, and incredibly hard work supporting our Environment for near half a century! Listen in! You can follow Cam’s Twitter feed at @Cam_Walker. For more information about Friends of the Earth Melbourne : melbournefoe.org.au

    46 min

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About

EarthChat presents in-depth conversations and views on the many environment issues affecting our community. EarthChat is brought to you by BEAM Mitchell Environment Group. You can listen live each Tuesday on Seymour FM at 12noon AEST, with hosts Ruth, Peter, Marie and Tim. Time to tune in, listen up and get active. Don’t forget to like and follow.

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