Friends of the Earth podcast history series made in collaboration with 3CR 855 AM community radio show Acting Up!    Monday 2.00pm.  Ratbags, peaceniks and agents of change, resistance radio that explores the movements that made us. 

45 years of Acting Up!  Friends of the Earth & 3CR audio episode

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Presenters: Megan Williams and Em Gayfer
Guests: Mick Harris (FOE volunteer & Community Radio Federation 3CR rep), Larissa MacFarlane (FOE presenter, Green Beat), Juliet Fox (Green Beat presenter & 3CR Projects Coordinator), Michaela Stubbs (FOE ACE collective & 3CR Program Coordinator), and Cam Walker (FOE Campaigns Coordinator)

This final 45 years of Acting Up episode celebrates Friends of the Earth’s bonds with 3CR.  Friends of the Earth is an on-air affiliate presenting 3CR shows Dirt Radio, Earth Matters, and with guests on the Radioactive Show, in solidarity we give voice to campaigns for environmental and social change.  Read about key moments in 3CR-FOE programming, listen to audio episodes, and find out how you can get involved with Friends of the Earth and support 3CR Community Radio.

Friends of the Earth podcast history series made in collaboration with 3CR 855 AM community radio show Acting Up!    Monday 2.00pm.  Ratbags, peaceniks and agents of change, resistance radio that explores the movements that made us. 

45 years of Acting Up!  Friends of the Earth Bands & Gigs audio episode

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Presenters: Megan Williams and Em Gayfer
Guests: Leanne McLean, Beth Cameron, Anthony Amis

Red Gum hand bill 1979

Dance with us down a musical memory lane as we recall 45 years of Friends of the Earth bands and gigs.  Jazz launching an anti-nuclear protest, music at a wilderness Protestival, local pub gigs, or drag on the Darling, Friends of the Earth brings together musicians, artists and activists to form grass roots communities in creative resistance.  Here’s some key musical moments and discover how to connect with Friends of the Earth to party with purpose for our planet.

Friends of the Earth podcast history series made in collaboration with 3CR 855 AM community radio show Acting Up!  
Monday 2.00pm.  Ratbags, peaceniks and agents of change, resistance radio that explores the movements that made us. 

45 years of Acting Up!  Friends of the Earth International Focus audio episode

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Presenter: Em Gayfer
Guests: Lee Tan (FOE local & international groups), Peter Hayes (FOE Australia & FOE International groups), Hye Lin (FOE South Korea), Sam Cossar Gilbert (FOE International, Economic Justice collective).

Since 1971, Friends of the Earth International has evolved into a diverse, vibrant and decentralised network of 73 member groups from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.  Friends of the Earth International works to unite grassroots activism supporting effective national and international campaigns to protect the environment and create sustainable societies.  Read a brief history and join Friends of the Earth, to act local, think global to mobilise, resist and transform.

Friends of the Earth podcast history series made in collaboration with 3CR 855 AM community radio show Acting Up!    Monday 2.00pm.  Ratbags, peaceniks and agents of change, resistance radio that explores the movements that made us. 

45 years of Acting Up!  Friends of the Earth Radioactive Tours audio episode

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Presenter: Em Gayfer.
Guests: Ila Marks, Linda Marks, Jemila Rushton, and Meryl Yusef interviewed by Phil Evans.

RAD Tour Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, South Australia

Travel with Friends of the Earth’s Radioactive Exposure Tours (RAD Tours*) to discover how nuclear testing, uranium mining and radioactive waste affects Aboriginal Traditional Owners and communities across Australia, and how solidarity wins.  The first Nuclear Exposure tour hit the road in 1990, with RAD tours continuing into 2018.  RAD Tour participants hear Traditional Owners share stories and knowledge, witness the social and environmental impacts the nuclear industry has on communities and country, building alliances and educating people along the way.  Read a brief history, listen to more podcasts and learn how we can end radioactive racism and live nuclear-free.  
*RAD Tours are not available in 2020 due to coronavirus travel restrictions.

Friends of the Earth podcast history series made in collaboration with 3CR 855 AM community radio show Acting Up!    Monday 2.00pm.  Ratbags, peaceniks and agents of change, resistance radio that explores the movements that made us.

45 years of Acting Up!  Friends of the Earth Queer & Feminist History audio episode

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Presenters: Em Gayfer and Megan Williams
Guests: Trish Luker (Chain Reaction magazine), Lyn Harriott and Beth Mellick, (former FOE bookshop coordinators), and Sam Castro (FOE Gender Justice working group)

International Women’s Day March, Melbourne

This episode looks back to the feminist and LGBTQ history of Friends of the Earth and the intersections informing our actions today. From the 1970s onwards, Friends of the Earth stood in solidarity for Indigenous land rights, women and gay rights, peace and conservation movements, shaping our policies and practices.  Keep reading to find out how to join Friends of the Earth and support our social, economic and environmental justice campaigns.

Friends of the Earth podcast history series made in collaboration with 3CR 855 AM community radio show Acting Up!    Monday 2.00pm.  Ratbags, peaceniks and agents of change, resistance radio that explores the movements that made us.

45 years of Acting Up!  Friends of the Earth Barmah-Millewa Collective audio episode

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Presenter: Megan Williams.
Guests: Aunty Monica Morgan (Yorta Yorta), Jono La Nauze, Indira Narayan.

River Red Gum forest and wetlands (photo: Environment Victoria)

Follow the mighty Murray River 200km north of Melbourne to where the Barmah-Millewa forest grows.  This ancient expanse of woodlands and vital wetlands is the largest River Red Gum forest in the world.  In 1998 Yorta Yorta leaders, the Indigenous custodians, asked Friends of the Earth to join them in a campaign to protect Barmah-Millewa and re-establish their right to manage their river country, forming the Barmah-Millewa Collective in 2000.  Listen and learn how 12 years of resistance, resilience and activist alliances led to the creation of Barmah-Millewa National Parks and Protected Areas in Victoria and NSW, to be returned and co-managed by Traditional Owners.  Read on to find out how you can help Friends of the Earth to protect rivers and forests in 2020 into the future.

Friends of the Earth podcast history series made in collaboration with 3CR 855 AM community radio show Acting Up!    Monday 2.00pm.  Ratbags, peaceniks and agents of change, resistance radio that explores the movements that made us. 

45 years of Acting Up!  Friends of the Earth the early years audio episode

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Presenters: Megan Williams and Em Gayfer.
Guests: Richard Nankin, Neil Barrett, Pat Jessen, and Bro Sheffield-Brotherton.

It’s back to the 1970s we go to where it all began to revisit the early years of Friends of the Earth in Australia.  Founded by radical activists concerned with ecological and social justice, Friends of the Earth and allied groups mobilised around the issues of Aboriginal land rights, anti-nuclear and uranium mining, whaling, protecting the Antarctic and leaded petrol.  In this episode we’re joined by guests involved in the first national Friends of the Earth meeting held on French Island, the Ride Against Uranium, our first petition and database, and lobbying and protesting.  Keep reading to discover the wild history of our coordinated campaign wins, and find out how to join Friends of the Earth today.

Friends of the Earth podcast history series made in collaboration with 3CR 855 AM community radio show Acting Up!  Monday 2.00pm.  Ratbags, peaceniks and agents of change, resistance radio that explores the movements that made us. 

45 Years of Acting Up! Friends of the Earth Trade Union Solidarity audio episode

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Presenters: Megan Williams and Em Gayfer.
Guests: Dave Kerin (BLF & Earthworker Coop), Cam Walker (FOE), Dimity Hawkins (FOE)

Image: Chips Mackinolty, Jack Mundey, 2020. Commemorative digital poster

This episode looks at how Friends of the Earth built up alliances and solidarity with the trade union movement.  Guests discuss the Green Ban actions in the 1970s, forest and dock blockades, land rights and anti-nuclear campaigns.  Over the years Friends of the Earth formed solid alliances with workers, including the creation of the Earthworker Cooperative supporting sustainable jobs, community and the environment, always campaigning towards social and economic justice for all.  Core to trade union ethos, peace actions aligned with Friends of the Earth’s anti-militarism campaigns joining in protests against the Gulf War, and shutting down the AIDEX Arms Fare.  Workers and activists continue to resist exploitative corporate power campaigning to empower workers worldwide. Keep reading to find out how to get involved.

Join Friends of the Earth & Earthworker Cooperative
Disaster Cooperativism webinar
6.30pm Friday 5 June 2020

Friends of the Earth podcast history series made in collaboration with 3CR 855 AM community radio show Acting Up!    Monday 2.00pm.  Ratbags, peaceniks and agents of change, resistance radio that explores the movements that made us. 

45 Years of Acting Up! Transform Waste audio episode

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Presenter: Megan Williams.
Guests: Fran McDonald (WAGA), Genevieve Fry (FoE Food Coop), Anine Cummins (FoE Transform Waste), Edgie Gifford (FoE Zero Waste), and Jim Green (FoE ACE Nuclear Free).

Great Pacific garbage patch (photo: Scott Snowden)

Back in the day, Friends of the Earth’s Transform Waste campaigns lobbied for container deposit legislation achieving active schemes in operation across Australia today.  Over the years campaigning shifted to electronic waste, packaging and food waste.  In the past four decades, single-use plastics became a focus, and campaigners called for bans to offshore dumping of hazardous industrial tailings in cahoots with trade unions.  Into the 21st century, FOE continues to advocate for resource recovery, to repair, reuse and recycle, calling for transformation of the waste management cycle, and resistance to nuclear waste dumps.  Keep reading to find out how to be part of the solution to eliminate waste and pollution, to stop valuable materials ending up in land fill, and to help heal our environment.  

Friends of the Earth podcast history series made in collaboration with 3CR 855 AM community radio show Acting Up! Monday 2.00pm.  Ratbags, peaceniks and agents of change, resistance radio that explores the movements that made us. 

45 Years of Acting Up! Wrong way go back audio episode

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Presenter: Em Gayfer
Guests: Tony Murphy, Domenica Settle (CAFE campaign), Claudia Gallois (FoE Sustainable Cities campaign) and local resident Keith Fitzgerald.

Friends of the Earth has a long history supporting communities and lobbying governments to create sustainable cities, from the 1970s anti-F19-Eastern freeway protests to the recent win to stop the East West link.  Friends of the Earth and allies actively campaign against costly, polluting mega road projects and expensive toll roads, calling for affordable, equal access to better public transport systems.  Listen and learn how to stop freeways and reclaim space for bikes and people to travel around more liveable urban environments.  Keep reading to get involved to make our cities greener and create a sustainable transport future.