Earth Matters

Bec Horridge, Claudia Craig, Mia Audrey & Keiran Stewart-Assheton.

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Local and global environmental issues from grassroots, activist perspectives with a strong social justice focus. Distributed nationally on the Community Radio Network.

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Earth Matters: Compassion and kindness in government - a gateway to wise action on climate change and other challenges?

Continuing 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--------------------
MAR 22

Exploring Extreme Heat Part One | Hot histories: can past heatwaves teach us how to adapt to extreme heat?

Exploring 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.
MAR 15

Interview with Basalt Buddies Pirate Nursery

In 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.
MAR 8

Lutruwita Forest Resistance Tour

As 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.
MAR 1

Connecting With Our Living World Through Poetry

Mia speaks with two poets about their recent books, both of which chronicle relationship-building with the more-than-human world. Eungedup is a work of poetry and narrative non-fiction recounting Giles Watson's relationship with a freshwater wetland during a long, dry summer. Vampire Squid is a close and personal account of the deep sea and the people who study it, written throughout Dr Prema Arasu's time working at the UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre.Giles Watson is a writer and teacher of English and Drama who lives in Albany/Kinjarling, WA. Eungedup: A Wetland Summer Diary chronicles his quest to gain a sense of belonging in his new home. Prema Arasu is a writer and academic at the Deep-Sea Research Centre at the University of Western Australia. Their research utilises transdisciplinary and creative methods to investigate the aesthetics of the deep sea. Vampire Squid examines the relationship between humans and the deep sea as the poet places their colleagues under the microscope, drawing attention not only to the teeming suboceanic life, but the distinctive ways that oceanographer, geoscientist, taxonomist, marine biologist and geneticist each interpret the same world through different eyes. https://fremantlepress.com.au/books/eungedup/https://fremantlepress.com.au/books/vampire-squid/ https://www.armatusoceanic.com/podcast Earth Matters #1545 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.
FEB 22

Adrian Burragubba & Guridyula jubilant on their right to protect Doongmabulla Springs. /SCAN

A jubilant senior cultural custodian, Adrian Burragubba makes the first announcement of a landmark decision handed down in the Queensland Court of Appeal, restoring the case to protect the sacred Doongmabulla springs from Adani’s Carmichael coal mine.Adrian's son Guridyula describes the reoccupation of his traditional land on the mine site at Waddananggu.Then an introduction to The South Coast Action Network: a new grassroots community collective whose purpose is to empower individuals and communities to take direct, creative action against oppressive systems that fail people and the environment. Music:Now! Not tomorrow! You're Needed Now is Dallas de Brabander’s call to come and join us in the streets and swell the numbers demanding action against coal-fired climate change. With EcopellaCD: Your Needed Now PROTECT SACRED WATER | Chuffed | Non-profit charity and social enterprise fundraisingDonations will be used for legal fees and related expenses incurred by Wangan and Jagalingou Nagana Yarrbayn Cultural Custodians. (19) Facebook Wangan and Jagalingou - Standing Our GroundNational Forest rallies: https://marchforforests.org/Native Forest Declaration South Coast Action NetworkLandmark victory restores Doongmabulla Springs case... | National Indigenous Times
FEB 15

"Ancient Futures" with Helena Norberg-Hodge. (with transcript).

Helena Norberg-Hodge is a pioneer of the new economy movement, a filmmaker, author and founding director of Local Futures, which is committed to the revitalisation of cultural and biological diversity and the strengthening of local communities and economies worldwide. Helena has just turned 80 years old. Helena argues for a radical shift from destructive global capitalism and unchecked technological advancement, including AI and urbanisation, towards a model of 'localisation' that emphasises reconnecting humans with nature and community, fostering happiness, self-reliance, and ecological healing.Website Building Economics of Happiness | Helena Norberg-Hodge Event link Panel Talk: Ancient Futures & The Religion of Economics — Marrickville Golf, Sporting & Community Club.Thankyou to Regen Sydney, Cooks River Alliance and Local Futures. Earth Matters # 1543 was produced by Bec Horridge
FEB 8

Arts and the Climate Part 2

Mia chats with the folks behind A Climate for Art and Creative Climate, initiatives driving climate conversations and action in the arts and cultural sector. Eliki Reade is an Interdependent Producer and artist of kailoma-Fijian (Fijian/European) heritage. They are a co-instigator of A Climate for Art (ACFA), a collective of artists, arts workers and organisations intent on mobilising their sector for climate action. Lana Nguyen is an independent curator, cultural organiser and producer on projects that stem from the politics of place. She is a co-instigator of A Climate for Art (ACFA). Angharad Wynne-Jones is Cymry (Welsh) Australian and lives on the unceded lands of the Kulin Nation in Narrm (Melbourne). She is currently leading Creative Climate - funded by Creative Australia, is the new national peak body for arts and climate providing leadership, connections, advocacy and access to high-quality resources that support artists, arts workers and arts and cultural organisations and their funders to transition from a carbon economy and adapt to the impacts of climate change. https://www.aclimateforart.com.au/https://www.creativeclimate.org.au/ Earth Matters #1542 was produced by Mia Audrey on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Country.

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Local and global environmental issues from grassroots, activist perspectives with a strong social justice focus. Distributed nationally on the Community Radio Network.