Environmental as Anything Interviews

Scott "Sooty" Daines on the legal battle to save our gliders in Styxx River State Forest and across NSW Al Oshlack discusses the result of the case to protect Cherry Tree State Forest and a recent case in NSW Land & Environment Court which looks likely to remove barriers to community groups taking legaql action for our forests. He also discusses the latest news for the North Lismore Plateau mega development threatening ecological and cultural values left on Wijabul Wiabl country

Everyone in Bundjalung country has a story to tell of the devastating effects of the climate emergency and the incompetence and corruption of the official responses to the disatsers they have created. Very few are as poignant and powerful as the tale told by Susan Anderson of how her community has been excluded from their homes to make way for developers. Bec Horridge and Sean O'Shannessy went to visit the site and hear and see the story for themselves.

At the end of the hottest year in human history, a Rising Tide of everyday people shut down the world’s largest coal port for 32 hours. This is a report from the Lismore launch of the  film about how we did it. Revisit the epic People’s Blockade with footage from the beach, the water, and the sky - and hear from Rising Tide organisers and blockaders about how this historic event came together. https://www.risingtide.org.au/

Northern Rivers man, Surya McEwen, is setting sail with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to bring desperately needed food and medicine to Palestinians in Gaza. Spokesperson for the Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine, Subhi Awad, spoke to us on this dangerous humanitarian mission of hope.  https://www.suryasailsforgaza.org.au/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media, subscribe to this podcast, Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

Professor david Lindenmayer is one of the worlds leading experts on forest ecology. He has spent the past 40 years researching and writing about the intricacies of how our forests function as sanctuaries for wildlife and plants as well as water, fire and cllimate. He has just written a myth busting tour de force of a book called "The Forest Wars - The ugly truth about what's happening in our tall forests" He talked Sean O'Shannessy through a few of those myths for Environemntal as Anything. Please share this informative interview as widely as possible -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media, subscribe to this podcast, Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

Over half a million Victorians went without power and at least 60 homes were reported destroyed in extreme storms, heat and fires but somehow the capitalist media managed to report all this without mentioning the "C" word once. Bravo! Courageous effort (NOT!) For those first responders and aghast observers in the midst of the #climateEmergency what they want is a government response that addresses the best science and gives timely and forceful warnings of the scale of the climate emergency we are in the midst of. Sam Galvin is a volunteer firefighter who has spent much of the past week battling to protect the people of his home district around the Dandenong Ranges. He shares his first hand experience of the climate disaster wracking his communty. Freja Leonard is a campaigner for the Friends of the Earth, she brings a broader perspective to bear on the political and economic issues that are driving the disasterous events in her home state. -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media, subscribe to this podcast, Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

The NSW community is increasingly impatient to #endNativeForestLogging and Australians are becoming increasingly frustrated with the failure of the Albanese government to answer the tough questions on #climate action This week in Ballina Court forest defendants Kashmir Miller and Valerie Thompson had justice delayed until at least 31st July when they will appear again and hope to have the charges against them for protecting our life support system dismissed. Meanwhile the NSW EPA keeps fiddling while our endangered greater gliders are being exterminated by loggers. Naomi Hodgson (with her ex coal worker dad) managed to ask Aussie Prime Minister Anthony Albanese a few real questions on an end to fossil fool exploitation last week. Tune in to this podcast episode for the full story from Eddie Lloyd, Kashmir Miller, Valerie Thompson and Susie Russell all calling for justice and reason to prevail in our forests and Naomi telling the story of her action to keep the big questions of a just transition to renewable prosperity on the national agenda. -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media, subscribe to this podcast, Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

The gorgeous coastal village of Brunswick Heads in Arawkwal Country in the Shire of Byron Bay is home not only to the archetypal "Sea Change" community but also to some extraordanarilay rare and endangered ecologies. Right now it is also home to a David and Goliath struggle between megabucks corporate developers and a local community campaign determined to protect their precious wallum heathland from rapacious profiteers. In this episode of Environmental as Anything local environmental scientist, Svea Pittman speaks to Sean O'Shannessy about the values her community is defending. We also hear from "Zoe" who has just completed a tree climbing training to help prepare her for the non violent direct action campaign that has now started on the site. https://www.savewallum.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media, subscribe to this podcast, Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

Peter Dutton has threatened to reduce access to independent legal representation for community groups attempting to enforce the law against the climate crimes of  the fossil fuel industry. Dutton was speaking to an event organised by the Council for Minerals Energy in Perth to an audience including some of the Liberal Party's biggest donors. Independent Federal MP Zali Steggall (OAM) spoke to Environmental as Anything on the politics of Duddo's threats and Dr Chris McGrath (Barrister specialising in environmental law and researcher and University of Queensland) spoke to Sean O'Shannessy regarding some of the legal implications of these threats. -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media, subscribe to this podcast, Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

On Environmantal as Anything this week Action for Climate in our Courts, Forests, Streets and Boardrooms: COP28 & Geo Engineering - George Pick Knitting Nannas Constitutional Challenge to Anti Protest Laws - Helen Kevelde & Sue Higginson Climate Energy Finance Year's Round up - Tim Buckley Tarkine Forest Action - Scott Jordan from Bob Brown Foundation Disrupt Burrup Hub NOPSEMA Blockade in Perth - Veterinarian "Maz" -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media, subscribe to this podcast, Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

On this weeks show: Action in Myrtle State Forest & Styxx River State Forest for koalas and gliders this week - Luca Lamont, Dailan Pugh, Sue Higginson and Fridays4Forests Faith based communities rising up for the creation - Thea Ormerod and Anne Lanyon COP28 speed bumps and the real transition to renewable prosperity - George Pick Aussies call for a ceasefire in Palestine -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media, subscribe to this podcast, Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

A special report from The Rising Tide People's Blockade of the World's Biggest Coalport, including: Bob Brown Adam Bandt MP Sue Higginson (MLC) Grant Howard - Coal miner for #NoNewCoal Riff Raff Radical Marchinig Band -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media, subscribe to this podcast, Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

On this week's show: Forest Pledge Launch - Sophie Scamps MP https://www.sophiescamps.com.au/pledge_to_end_native_forest_logging Forest Protest Charges Dismissed - Susie Russell  School Strike 4 Climate - Voices from across Australia at the frontlines for climate justice https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/ Australian Climate Case - Isabelle Reinecke https://www.gratafund.org.au/australian_climate_case_melbourne_hearings Tuvalu/Australia Climate Migration Treaty - Dr Tamara Wood (Kaldor Centre) https://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/news/introducing-kaldor-centre-principles-climate-mobility The CoCo Report - Violet CoCo  -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media, subscribe to this podcast, Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

On this weeks show: Sail4Sanity - Two Illawarra grandfathers are sailing and paddling a kayak between two of Australia’s key coal ports, Port Kembla and Newcastle, to draw attention to the need to halt the burning of fossil fuels, while hopefully demonstrating that a great deal of fun can be had in water craft that don’t burn up the planet. Calling for more immediate and effective action by our government to reduce fossil fuel mining and effectively address climate change. They hope to connect with politicians and climate action groups at events along the way and to encourage people to get involved in the Rising Tide Protest. Tom Hunt spoke to Environmental as Anything on his epic voyage. - https://sail4sanity.au/ Prof Bill Mitchell is one of Australia's most emminent economists. Last week the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised interest rates for the 13th time. He spoke to Sean O'Shannessy and said the RBA's broken policies are transferring income and wealth from poor to rich at rates not seen before in this country. The inflationary episode is  a supply-side phenomenon and the major drivers will not fall as a result of interest rate increases, in fact they are actually causing inflation.The RBA is systematically wiping out wealth at the bottom end and transferring to the top end.  - RBA monetary policy decision represents a terminally broken policy model in Australia Violet Coco - The Coco Report - Across Australia people are rising up against the madness of ecological destruction and for a safer more just society. The front lines of that struggle are held by courageous humans like Violet Coco. She joins us again to keep us all up to date on the events we can all become part of to strengthen our case for a viable future for us all. -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media, subscribe to this podcast, Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

Our fire seasons keep getting hotter and longer. The world has been burning all year, North America is ablaze, and Queensland has suffered tragic losses to the out of control fires burning there. Here in NSW we are yet to see the worst of it but our courageous fireies are breathing a sigh of relief as rains fall to dampen the dozens of fires threatening a Black Spring. Daniel Ainsworth from the Northern Rivers Regional Fire Service (RFS) joins Environmental as Anything to report on the progress of their ceaseless vigil over our fire safety. Meanwhile across Australia the legitimacy of democracy is under threat as citizens are charged with speaking the truth while the climate criminals walk away scott free. We have reports from canberra and Grafton where The APPEA5 and Ellis Forest Protectors faced court for peacefully resisting extinction. Denialists continue to badger the adults in the room with their ignorance. Every now and then they actually get a chance to have their delusions comprehensively put to bed by a truly emmminent scientist. This week in the NSW Parlliamentary Inquiry into the ALP's Zero Futures Bill which proposes to weaken our climate targets, MP for the LDP John Ruddick, dusted off his Phd in Non Seqiturs from Dunning Kurger University and challenged former cheif scientist of Australia Prof Penny Sackett to explain why he didn't understand the climate emergency. She knocked his mischevious questions out of the park with grace and dignity. We have an illuminating extract from that exchange and more from the bipartisan committee looking into that legislation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media, subscribe to this podcast, Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Help us keep producing high quality environmental current affairs by supporting the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

In this weeks show: A report on the Brisbane Magistrates Court appearance by the "Parliament 14" climate activists charged under the criminal code with “disturbing the legislature”, which carries a maximum sentence of 3 years in jail. Activist, educator, academic & writer, Aidan Ricketts shares his analysis of the current state of anti-protest laws in Australia. Sue Higginson explains how the NSW ALP government's climate targets are actually weaker than the former LNP government's regulations Violet Coco joins us with an update from the fornt lines of the climate rebellion  -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media and subscribe to this podcast Please make it possible to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs by supporting the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.    

Aussie's freedom of speech, assembly and association are under a nationwide concerted attack. Dr. Colette Harmsen, released on Friday 13/10/23 from her three months sentence in Tasmania and prison for having stood up for the protection of our precious native forests spoke to Sean O'Shannessy on the day of her release about her reasons for taking the actions that got her locked up, her experience of prison and her intentions for future actions for our environment.  In this episode of Environmental as Anything we also speak to a couple of other people who are facing down the threat of some fairly stiff penalties for their courageous and peaceful actions to try to highlight the climate emergency and to persuade governments, in both in Brisbane and in the ACT to do something effective about it. John Wurker from Extinction Rebellion ACT brings us his story as one of the 'APPEA 5', who stood up against the fossil fuel industry headquarters there in Canberra, blocking several of their entrances for a couple of hours and are now charged with "unreasonable obstruction" Sasha Seindl from XR Brisbane, who was part of the 'Parliament 14', the group of citizens who spent three minutes in the gallery of the Queensland Parliament calling for an end to new coal gas and oil exploration and and development and are now facing the possibility of three years in prison for being charged with "Disturbing the Legislature". We also have Lismore as leading legal expert on the defense of the protectors of our climate and forests. Eddie Lloyd criminal lawyer who has been defending environment protectors through the courts and has got a unique perspective on the legal issues not only here but around the country and she joins us to wrap up the show with an analysis of the bigger picture. -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media and subscribe to this podcast Please make it possible to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs by supporting the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

The fundamental freedoms of all Aussies are under attack from dark forces that would silence us and shackle and oppress us. On this week's show we shine a light on three courageous campaigns to stand up and be heard against the will of the corporate capitalist state John Shipton - Free Assange https://www.assangecampaign.org.au/ Tahlia Stolarski - Disrupt Burup Hub  https://www.disruptburruphub.com/ Rachel Perkins on the Indigenous Voice https://www.yes23.com.au/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media and subscribe to this podcast Please make it possible to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs by supporting the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

Dr Steve Sutton has nearly two decades of experience working in and researching bushfires . As Chief Fire Control Officer in the Northern Territory, Steve was responsible for Territory-wide bushfire control, hazard reduction and bushfire mitigation, and oversaw the operations of the Territory’s volunteer bushfire brigades. He is an advocate for grass-roots initiatives to weave networks of belonging that foster resilience to climate change and disasters. He spoke to Sean O'Shannessy on Environmental as Anything in his capacity as a member of the Emergency Leaders for Climate Action, about the state of preparedness of our governments and agencies for the oncoming fire season Kerry O'Brien is a living legend of Australian journalism. He has been tirelessly touring the the nation trying to cut through the clouds of disinformation around the Indigenous Voice to Parliament Referendum with his typically sharp factual analysis. Param Berg caught his speech at the Rally for a Voice in Lismore on Sat 30 Sept '23 -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media and subscribe to this podcast Please make it possible to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs by supporting the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

David McBride blew the whistle on the culture of covering up murder in the Australian Defense Forces, now he is facing 50years in prison for his courageous defense of the ANZAC tradition. Sean O'Shannessy spoke to him on how and why he did what he did and what is next for this story. https://www.davidmcbride.com.au/ --- Jo Dodds is the President of the Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action. She is living on the NSW South Coast where this week dozens of schools had to be shut in the face of "catastrophic" fire conditions (in mid spring) . She spoke to Environmental as Anything about the feelings of her community in this stressful time and their calls for an pause on all fossil fool development until the federal environment laws have been made fit for purpose. https://www.bushfiresurvivors.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------> Please support community based independent media and make it possible for us to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs: Share this episode on social media and subscribe to this podcast Please make it possible to keep producing high quality environmental current affairs by supporting the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email story suggestions to us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation) ©COPYLEFT: Environmental as Anything may be reshared and or rebroadcast by any not for profit community media for the purpose of informing and inspiring effective action for peace, justice and ecological sustainability.

This week in Lismore Local Court forest protector MJ Johnston had her day in court and had ALL charges dismissed by the magistrate. This momentous result was due in large part to the tenacious persistence and powerful advocacy of solicitor Eddie Lloyd. arguing that a person of such good character standing up for community values does not deserve to face punishment. Sean O'Shannessy interviewed these two extraordinary women to get their story on how and why this legal outcome was necessary and possible. Trevor Acfield is a social scientist with a background in dealing with issues of housing and community development. He is also a Sth Lismore resident and survivor of the climate emergency floods that devastated Lismore in Feb 2022. He spoke to Environmental as Anything about the process of developing a rational policy response to flood emergencies and the political obstacles that stand in the way of implementing it. -------------------------------------- Please Share this episode and subscribe to this podcast Please support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation)  

There is a widespread view in the community that Lismore City is still reeling from the catastrophic climate emergency floods of 2022, largely because the Lismore City Council is a chamber of horrors run by a pack of clowns. Adam Guise is one of the minority of councilors committed to dealing with the real issues that confront his city of housing and habitat. He joins Environmental as anything fresh from this months shambolic council meeting to share his perspective on what went on there. Brunswick Heads is an idyllic coastal village in the Byron Shire whose character and charm rests on its natural beaty. Unfortunately the qualities that make the district an international tourist mecca are under threat from rampant developers. Meg Neilsen from Celebrating Earth and Art interviewed local Ecologist James Barrie on the threats to Brunswick Heads' Scribbly Gums. -------------------------------------- Please Share this episode and subscribe to this podcast Please support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation)

Gumbaynggirr custodian Sandy Greenwood, NEFA's Dailan Pugh and Fiona York fromthe Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO) in Victoria discuss the state of play in our forests from the mid North Coast NSW to Victoria. -------------------------------------- Please Share this episode and subscribe to this podcast Please support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation)

Our Native Forests are under assault from powerful forces under the control of the NSW government. Self described "bush lawyer", Al Oshlack has been working with the Gumabngyirr people of the Mid North Coast to launch legal action to protect their lands. He speaks to us about the success of this strategy this week. Sue Higginson (MLC) works in the NSW Parliament's Upper House (and across the community) to defend nature. She has some good news from there of progress toward a Nature Positive future for NSW. Both spoke to Environmental as Anything's Sean O'Shannessy on Saturday 26/8/23 -------------------------------------- Please Share this episode and subscribe to this podcast Please support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation)

On 19/8/23 the Australian Labor Party (ALP) held its once a term National Conference in Meanjin Brisbane. Bob Brown and Felicity Wade have been fighting for our native forests for many decades and each of them turned up to make their voices heard in their own ways. Bob outside with a large vociferous crowd of people energised for an end to Native forest logging and Fellicity inside with the Labor Environment Action Network (LEAN) team pushing for the Labor powerbrokers to listen to the urgent need for nature positive policies to be adopted by Australia's self declared natural party of government. Sean O'Shannessy recorded them both speaking on the issues for Environmental as Anything. -------------------------------------- Please Share this episode and subscribe to this podcast Please support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation)

Native forest logging has lost its last vestiges of social license in Australia as thousands of Australians have rallied nationwide to finally protect our carbon sinks, biodiversity refuges, water catchments and tourist attractions from industrial logging. On Saturday 12/8/23 hundreds of Northern Rivers locals joined the rally in Lismore to express their impatience with the NSW and Australian Government's delays in protecting our forests. Environmental as Anything's Sean O'Shannessy was there reporting live on the day At the same time 340 ALP branches have voted for a resolution to be put to their National Conference to end the outdated and destructive practice. Surely the Australian governments will finally heed the science and the voices of the vast majority to end the malicious damage being done to our koalas homes? -------------------------------------- Please Share this episode and subscribe to this podcast Please support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation)  

Sean O'Shannessy and Violet Cocoa interview Gurridyula: Gurridyula's Bandcamp Profile (https://gurridyula.bandcamp.com/) "I am Wangan and Jagalingou from Central Queensland Australia. I have been living in a tent performing ceremony at Waddananggu across the road from the Adani Carmichael mine for over 400 days. Recording my music in a small trailer to get the message of our fight to the world." www.standing-our-ground.org "The Wangan and Jagalingou people are the proud Traditional Owners of a vast area of land in central-western Queensland’. For thousands of years, we have been custodians of this land and it is our responsibility to protect our land, water, people, history and totems. Our totem is the bee, or Kub-bah in our traditional language." " It is the responsibility of the W&J Nagana Yarrbayn Cultural Custodians to sustain our group’s connection to, and presence on Country to maintain ongoing cultural custodianship of the land and waters, especially our sacred Doongmabulla Springs. We are a self-determined group of Traditional Owners who maintain permanent presence on country to care for our lands and waters. Our role includes monitoring damage and destruction on our Country and holding those who harm our lands and waters to account. " -------------------------------------- Please Share this episode and subscribe to this podcast Please support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation)

For over a decade Felicity Wade led the Wilderness Society in NSW, working to protect forests and end land clearing. Now she is National Co-convenor of the Labor Environment Action Network (LEAN) . Felicity spoke to Environmental as Anything's Sean O'Shannessy about the upcoming Labor National Conference and the high hopes of Labor membership for an end to native forest logging across Australia. Dailan Pugh (OAM) is the president of the North East Forest Alliance and is widely acknowledge as one of Australia's leading experts on the forest ecologies of NE NSW. He spoke to Sean on NEFA's ongoing court actions and their potential to tip the balance in favour of protecting our public native forests from logging. -------------------------------------- Please Share this episode and subscribe to this podcast Please support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation)

Tim Buckley founder and director of Climate Energy Finance public interest think tank, has 30 years of financial market experience covering the Australian, Asian and global equity markets and is a highly influential energy finance commentator. He talks Environmental as Anything's Sean O'Shannessy through this months headlines for the transition to renewable prosperity. PRODUCTIVITY OMISSION: PC’S EPIC FAIL ON CLEANTECH: Productivity Commission's myopic Trade and Assistance 2022 Review decries state capital support for cleantech, and pretends the energy transition can be left to non-existent global free markets. AEMO ENERGY UPDATE: DOWN, DOWN (PRICES ARE DOWN): The Australian Energy Market Operator's (AEMO) says wholesale electricity prices down 59% year-on-year GAS ON THE NOSE AND OUT OF THE HOUSE: Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio has announced a bold and much needed policy reform – a ban on gas in new homes from 2024. NSW COAL ROYALTY BOOST ON THE AGENDA – JUST DO IT!: At long last, NSW is considering upping its grossly inadequate coal royalty regime. -------------------------------------- Please Share this episode and subscribe to this podcast Please support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation)

The NSW Government is so determined to carry out its plans to exterminate our koalas that it has established a regime of logging under marshal law. When 80 NSW citizens gather in their forest to confront the criminal damage being done there they are greeted by a 5 police cars and a police rescue truck. when asked why the police on site can't answer. This report from Sean O'Shannessy who was on site  -------------------------------------- Please Share this episode and subscribe to this podcast Please support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation)

This year is the 20th anniversary of the US/Australian invasion of Iraq. It is also the 10th anniversary of the confinement of Julian Assange. To commemorate these two important related events Lismore people gathered at the War Memorial to speak out against the suppression of free speech that is flourishing in the world today and to call for Assange to be released and anti public protest laws to be repealed. Eddie Lloyd and Graeme Dunstan spoke eloquently and Environmental as Anything's roving reporter Param Berg was there to record their words and share them with the world. -------------------------------------- Please Share this episode and subscribe to this podcast Please support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Email us on: [email protected] (Environmental As Anything is produced on the stolen lands of the Bundjalung Nation)

Tessa Campesi has been seeking answers on what is going on in our forests so she went to Bulga Plateau where one of the most effective community campaigns to end native forest logging in Australia is located. She interviewed a wide range of community members and seasoned campaigners about why they are standing up to the might of the NSW government and the corporate logging industry.

Our Federal government has finally decided to take some moderately effective action to reign in fossil fool price gouging. Tim Buckley, Director of the Climate Energy Finance think tank ( https://climateenergyfinance.org/ ) tells us how this will really affect the coal and gas cartels and Aussie energy consumers.

President of Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action, Jo Dodds, has a unique perspective to offer on the experience of having her home engulfed in the climate emergency. Her response to that crisis has been outstanding. Far from being shattered by the experience she has been forged into an extraordinarily effective activist for climate justice. She explores her heroic journey in this conversation with Sean O'Shannessy on Environmental as Anything

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean says he is proud to have made the EPA into a "tough cop on the beat" with "teeth" but when they are called out to investigate dozens well documented breeches of the logging rules they behave like a paper tiger. Ecologist Mark Graham says this is "existential stuff" and that the NSW LNP Government are "an outfit of koala killers" Listen in to him speaking to Peter Nielsen and Sean O'Shannessy in this episode of Environmental as Anything Interviews

A peaceful and lawful walk-on by about 40 local community members into illegal Forestry Corporation (FCNSW) old growth forest industrial logging operations was held on Wednesday 10th August 2022 to measure recently destroyed giant trees and to bear witness to the crimes currently being committed in Ellis State Forest by FCNSW and its contractors. Local ecologist and private conservation reserve operator Mark Graham spoke to Sean O'Shannessy for Environmental as Anything on Sat 13/8/22 to describe what they found and what must happen next for our State Forests

Sue Higginson is our representative in the NSW Parliament Upper House. She spoke to Sean O'Shannessy about the recently released report from the Parliamentary Inquiry into NSW floods and the upcoming parliamentary debate on ending public native forest logging on Environmental as Anything on Saturday 13/8/22

Lismore City Councilor Adam Guise was rescued from his North Lismore home in February during the cataclysmic floods that engulfed the region surrounding it. He has been calling on the Local, State and Governments to act effectively to secure the homes of every flood affected resident. There is an alarming prospect that the homes of many of those people will just be left in harms way or worse bulldozed. Adam spoke to Sean O'Shannessy on Environmental as Anything on Saturday 13/8/22 about the issues involved in building back better in the face of the climate emergency.

End Native Forest Logging Petitioner Takesa Frank has started something important with her parliamentary e-Petition. NSW Parliament will now debate the protection of our State Forests. Hear her tell Environmental as Anything what got her started and where to next. She says "We saw the bushfires destroy 80 per cent of South Coast forests and less than a month later Forestry NSW came into these and started logging," "It was really devastating to see that firsthand and watch them destroy the forests we helped protect." Ms Frank's petition on the parliamentary website asked the Legislative Assembly to: Develop a plan to transition the native forestry industry to 100 per cent sustainable plantations by 2024 In the interim, place a moratorium on public native forest logging until the regulatory framework reflects the recommendations of the leaked Natural Resources Commission report Immediately protect high-conservation value forests through gazettal in the National Parks estate Ban the use of native forest materials Both major parties are yet to support the transition out of native forest logging. "This is what the people want, and if you don't start acting on it that's when the voters are going to change [their vote]," Ms Frank said. "We're so close to a state election that they're going to have to start listening to the people." Takesa reckons

With a federal election in progress our airwaves are being swamped with voodoonomics. Fortunately a growing group of economists is exposing the absurdity of the neoliberalist ideology that dominates the what passes for economics discussion among the capitalist commentariat and offering a cool analysis of how modern economies actually work. Our guest on today's show is Professor Steven Hail of Torrens University and the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity and he is eminently qualified to help blow away the cobwebs from our our understanding of modern monetary systems. Professor Hail lived and worked in London in the 90's, published a number of economics text books, and was involved in the provision of financial training to staff from all the major UK banks including the Bank of England. He has developed an analysis of the flaws in neoclassical economics, which led to his study of Post Keynesian economics, and modern monetary theory. His book, Economics for Sustainable Prosperity, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2018.

When flood ravaged Lismore got wind of Scott Morrison's plans to visit 9 days after the climate emergency had devastated their city they felt obliged to welcome him and share some of their experiences and hopes for the future with him. Unfortunately he wasn't in a listening mood and so the concerned citizens were locked out of the event.  Unperturbed the notoriously resilient and creative community had a good humored and energetic gathering outside the bunker where the PM was hosting a select band of politicians and media.  This report is compiled from the edited highlights of those parallel events. Please support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything  

The people of LIsmore rallied again today against the half baked ideas of a new councilor who has put forward a motion to resurrect the unfeasible Dunoon Dam on Wednesday 16th February at the first Rous meeting since he was voted in. Speakers at the rally detailed the importance of protecting cultural heritage & burial sites, the big scrub rainforest remnant (6.7% of the 1% that is left), and koala habitat (72ha), let alone resilient water security. The mindless push to promote the damming of Dunoon was condemned by all present as reckless and irresponsible on four key levels: Cultural Heritage, Ecology, Finances and Water Security. The community gathered in their hundreds outside the Rous building in  Lismore, to support the current IWCM, and their rejection of the motion to waste ratepayers money re examining the well resolved issues around this white elephant dam proposal. The fight to save our region from this wasteful boondoggle is clearly far from over.

Tim Buckley is a financial analyst covering the global electricity markets. His analysis highlights the technology and finance driven inevitability of a global transition towards a lower emissions system. Meg Nielsen asks him to tell us why he is so upbeat about the transition to renewable prosperity in the face of the climate emergency. Support the Environmental as Anything show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything

Our first Aussies have had over 200 years of theft of their land to contend with. Last year the Lismore City Council made a nationally significant gesture of returning some of the Bundjalung Nation back to its owners. This year an ideologically driven rookie councilor tried to break that promise by proposing to stop the hand back but he didn't reckon with the strength of the Wijabul Wiabul mob. Here is the story. (Please subscribe to this podcast and share this episode)

Byron Shire Councillor Cate Coorey speaks to Sean O'Shannessy on the motion she just had passed demanding reforms of the recent NSW Koala SEPP Margie Pestorius & Miriam Torzillo from Wage Peace talk Sean through the Disrupt Land Forces actions planned for Lismore and Brisbane Julie Beesley interviewing Jo Immig from National Toxics Network re. Aus regulations on glyphosate Dione Green interviewing Greenpeace Asia Pacific CEO David Ritter re coal industry in Europe v Aus

Zianna Fuad speaks to Sean O'Shannessy on the frontlines against Adani and for our koalas  Damien Cole from the Surf Rider Foundation talks to Catherine Coxal and Michelle Michels from Eco Futures  The Shine Report with Naomi from the Lismore Environment Centre illuminating the week ahead.

Jeff Johnson - Ballina Shire Council Divestment Jo Evans - SANTOS PIlliga plans & obstacles  The Shine Report - Naomi Shine from LIsmore Environment Centre illuminates the week ahead.

Thanks for tuning in to Environmental as Anything. This week on the show we have: Eco News Cate Faehrmann -  Koala SEPP 21  Dailan Pugh - Koala action Michelle Michels - Circular Economy interview Naomi Shine - Events and actions for this week

Rob Garbutt transports us through the beautiful and surprising sounds of the rivers of NE NSW with his contribution to the Speaking With the River – NRCG Exhibition David Shoebridge is the chair of the NSW Parliamentary Committee on Public Accountability. He has been working hard to expose the Berejiklian Government's shameless pork barrelling and he uncovered the recent scandalous corruption of the Bushfire Recovery Fund. He spoke to Sean O'Shannessy to explain the depths of the scam. Eve Sinton from Fossil Fool Bulletin speaks to Sean about: AGL's proposed gas import terminal at Crib Point has drawn a lot of flack at an environmental assessment hearing, and is strongly opposed by the local community. The gas industry, while being showered with big dollars by the government aiming for a 'gas-fired'economic recovery, has actually cut its workforce by 10%. Tiny underground critters might get in the way of fracking the Northern Territory. Dailan Pugh reports in from Doubleduke State Forest on the threat to this precious native forest and the endangered wallabies there Naomi from Lismore Environment Centre Shine's a light on the NE NSW Environmental actions and news Please subscribe and share this podcast with your friends :-) Feel free to rebroadcast on not for profit radio with proper attribution & let us know when you do via [email protected] Like us on Facebook  at https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalAsAnything Follow us on Twitter @soshann