Saltgrass

S2 E12 Peter Yates and Deep Adaptation

In today's episode we talk with Peter Yates, who you might remember from episode seven when we spoke to him and his son Rory about their documentary When the River Runs Dry. Today we listen to an interview I did with Peter several months ago, back when the bushfires were the main topic and we had never heard of the coronavirus... remember that?
In this interview we begin our chat by talking about his life up to this point, a life that includes working with World Vision, travelling Australia with a young family in a gypsy wagon pulled by camels and working with indigenous rangers in land management. Later in the episode we unpack the ideas involved in Deep Adaptation which is a concept Peter had been thinking about and discussing with others. It is a topic made famous by Jem Bendell who published an academic paper in 2018 entitled Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy.
 
Links:
 
Deep Adaptation:
https://www.dumbofeather.com/articles/embracing-deep-adaptation/
https://www.lifeworth.com/deepadaptation.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jem_Bendell
 
Coronavirus and Climate change:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90473758/what-would-happen-if-the-world-reacted-to-climate-change-like-its-reacting-to-the-coronavirus
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/25/covid-19-is-natures-wake-up-call-to-complacent-civilisation
 

S2 E11 Author Illustrators: Trace Balla and J M Rodier... and the virus v the environment (update)

In this episode we chat with two local author/illustrators. 
Trace Balla is a Castlemaine local and much beloved author/illustrator who has produced multiple comic style books about young people learning about and thus learning to love nature. Her latest creation 'Landing with Wings' has just been released by Allen & Unwin.
J. M. Rodier is a Kyneton local and has just published her first book called 'Lanuola'.  It is a whimsical and fantastical short novel for tweens with occasional illustrations all about the real problem of crown of thorn starfish in our reefs.
 
Coronavirus and the environment updates:
I'm really sorry to say it but some good news is fake news:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/03/coronavirus-pandemic-fake-animal-viral-social-media-posts/
Also, if it ain't toilet paper then bin it or compost it but whatever you do, DON'T FLUSH IT:
https://www.coliban.com.au/coliban-water-calls-community-assistance-prevent-sewer-blockages
  
Trace Balla:
http://traceballa.yolasite.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TraceBalla/
Follow this link and scroll to the bottom of the page to get downloadable kids activities based on the book:
https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/childrens/Landing-with-Wings-Trace-Balla-9781760296957
 
Links to indigenous groups mentioned by Trace:
https://nalderun.net.au/
http://www.djadjawurrung.com.au/
http://www.eelfestival.org.au/
 
J M Rodier:
https://www.facebook.com/RodierJM/
or email her at: michellerodier61@gmail.com
Some info about the crown of thorns starfish and giant sea snails:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/09/17/how-a-huge-beautiful-snail-could-save-the-great-barrier-reef_a_23212800/
 

S2 E10 Coronavirus and Human Signs

In this episode we explore the global phenomenon of the coronavirus, or Covid-19, and what it means for the environment.  It touches on carbon emissions, pollution, waste management and personal choices about hand sanitiser and, of course, toilet paper!!
Then we move on to a collection of interviews I recorded in late February at the Hepburn Wind Farm as we all gathered to create a human sign to communicate the need for our govt to set targets that keep global warming below 1.5 degrees.
 
Links:
 
Soap and coronavirus: 
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/12/science-soap-kills-coronavirus-alcohol-based-disinfectants
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/24339/can-soap-get-dirty
 
Toilet paper alternatives:
(she is super excited to share with you - but don't be afraid, she runs through some good options)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD7iixnlhHw
 
Hygene advice from a Nona:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey08XMOisiw
 
How to use a tabo with Mikey Bustos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzb98tQp53I
Mikey kindly let me use the whole song in this episode. He has many very funny you tube parodies.  Check them out at:  youtube.com/mikeybustosvideos
 
How Corona is affecting the evnironment:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-coronavirus-pandemic-is-affecting-co2-emissions/
https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/face-masks-polluting-hong-kong-beaches-hills-since-coronavirus-began/
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-coronavirus-has-temporarily-reduced-chinas-co2-emissions-by-a-quarter
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/13/climate-advocates-hit-political-turbulence-127649
 
 
Wind Farm and Human Sign Links:
https://www.hepburnwind.com.au/
https://www.foe.org.au/
 
John Knox the King of the Human Sign
www.ridethetalk.com.au
 
Recommended Reading - Ross Garnaut "Superpower"
https://www.readings.com.au/products/28351300/superpower-australias-low-carbon-opportunity
 

S2 E9 Upwelling - Art and Climate Change

This week we spoke with Ilka White (artist), Dale Cox (artist) and Brodie Ellis (curator and artist).  They are all involved in an exhibition about the climate crisis at Lot 19 Castlemaine called Upwelling.
Our conversation explores the concept of the show and how it was brought together by Brodie and the works made by Ilka and Dale, before moving on to look at what part art has to play in communicating about the Climate Crisis.
"This exhibition brings ancient and new knowledge, ideas, and actions to the surface of the climate change struggle.  Science from a deeper understanding of the natural world will direct our survival plan for the future we are creating today."
Zoe Amor, Alvin Briggs, Dale Cox, Punctum Inc, Cameron Robbins with Maison Lapalus, Gretel Taylor & Leonie Van Eyk, Ilka White, John Wolseley 
Curated by Brodie Ellis & Mark Anstey.
 
 
The gorgeous song in this episode - suggested by Ilka - is from a project called The Lost Words Spell Songs - who kindly gave us permission to use the full song in this podcast. 
"The Lost Words: Spell Songs is a musical companion piece to The Lost Words: A Spell Book, the acclaimed work by authors Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, responding to the removal of everyday nature words from a widely used children’s dictionary which grew to become a much broader protest at the loss of the natural world around us, as well as a celebration of the creatures and plants with which we share our lives, in all their characterful glory."
www.thelostwords.org/album
If people want to download The Blessing they can purchase as an individual track or entire album here: https://folkbytheoakrecords.com/the-lost-words-spell-songs

S2 E8 Coping with Climate Change

Dr Susie Burke (psychologist) and Kerrily Jennings (Community House) join us to discuss the controversy surrounding the council funded workshops at Castlemaine Community House.  It surround a series of three workshops run by Susie which are all looking at how we humans are responding to climate change... see links below.  The conversation ranges far and wide, with discussions on how parents can talk to kids about climate change, how different people cope with the emotions raised by the prospect of climate change and the role of civic engagement and personal responsibility. 
 
Links:
 
The Courses at Community House:
https://www.cch.org.au/coping-with-climate-change/
https://www.cch.org.au/deep-adaptation-to-climate-change/
https://www.cch.org.au/talking-with-children-about-climate-change/

S2 E7 When the River Runs Dry

In this episode, we discuss the documentary film 'When the River Runs Dry' made by a father son team from Maldon.
Only just released and already honoured with multiple awards, this film explores the 2019 mass fish kill event in the Darling River.  In the first half of the episode we get a review of the film from Andrew Skeoch and Nathan Johnson, both locals deeply interested in nature.  Andrew is a nature sound collector and Nathan is a conservationist.  Then in the second half of the episode we discuss the film and the issues it raises with the filmmakers Peter Yates and Rory McLeod.
 
Trailer for the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUG1EGs0guQ
 
Rory McLeod's website:
https://rorymcleodfilm.weebly.com/
 
Andrew Skeoch (one of our reviewers) is a professional nature sound recordist:
https://www.listeningearth.com.au/LE/index.php
 

S2 E6 Protest Part 2

In this episode we catch up with Eliza Tree.  She spoke to us in Episode 4 about the People's Climate Assembly gathering in Canberra that week. In this episode we hear about what happened up there and how it all went.  She also gives us an insight into the Climate Emergency Summit she attended last weekend in Melbourne.  In among all of that we catch a glimpse of the whimsy of author and illustrator Trace Bella's morning routine, foraging for her breakfast.
Note that the song was played in full during radio broadcast, but due to licencing issues cannot be played in full for the podcast.
 
Links:
https://www.climateemergencysummit.org/
https://www.facebook.com/peoples.climate.assembly/
 
Guests:
https://www.elizatree.com/
http://traceballa.yolasite.com/

S2 E5 Terry White

This is a get to know you episode with local climate activist and community change agent Terry White.  Hear about his story from being a kid wandering the wilds and developing a love of nature to what he is doing now to help push us and our local council towards change.

S2 E4 Protest

In this episode we discuss protest.  This week a contingent of locals took a road trip to Canberra to rally outside of parliament and a Castlemaine rally took place in support of the Canberra crew.  I wanted to know what they were protesting about and whether they really thought it would change anyone's mind.
 
links:
 
The Totnes Extinction Rebellion Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUt1ELCXwgM
 
 

S2 E3 Transition Towns

In this episode, we start with what the frik is going on with recycling in this region!  Then move on to Transition Towns... what are they?  how can that be applied here? and what comes next?  I am joined by Mary Blain from MASG and Ian Lillington Premaculturalist, both of whom have been fans of the Transition Towns concept for over ten years!
 
Read more about the global movement that is Transition Towns here: https://transitioninitiative.org/
Find out the latest about Mount Alexander Shires recycling crisis here: https://www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.aspx?Page_Id=2552