Heritage Lecture: Ross McPherson talks about the past, present and future of newspapers, the power of story telling and this episode relates that to tackling climate change

Australia's Opposition leader, Peter Dutton (pictured) and his LNP cohort want Australia to build seven nuclear-powered electricity-generating power plants - "Dutton’s nuclear gamble puts everything on the line – except the details"; "Liberals, Nationals split over support for big wind and solar"; "Why Dutton’s nuclear power plan is so Soviet"; "Nuclear engineer dismisses Peter Dutton’s claim that small modular reactors could be commercially viable soon"; "Peter Dutton’s nuclear energy policy will do nothing to ease Australians’ hip-pocket pain, now or in the future"; "Dutton’s plan to build nuclear plants on former coal sites not as easy as it seems"; "Dutton reveals locations for seven nuclear power plants under Coalition plan"; "‘What if there just is no solution?’ How we are all in denial about the climate crisis"; "No costing, no clear timelines, no easy legal path: deep scepticism over Dutton’s nuclear plan is warranted"; "Blocked by the law and the states, how can Peter Dutton's nuclear proposal go ahead?"; "Dutton didn’t put a price on nuclear power plants. The world shows they come at a cost"; "The Coalition's nuclear power plan misses one key component: the cost"; "Nuclear power keeps the corporates in charge. No wonder it's conservatives' preferred solution to climate change" - this story by Tim Hollo is nearly a decade old; "Peter Dutton’s plan to cut the 2030 climate target would be an own goal for Australia’s Pacific ambitions"; "Peter Dutton has revved up Australia’s climate war – and scientists and business are in despair"; "Why Dutton’s energy switch may help Albanese keep Labor’s lights on"; "Thank you, Mr Dutton. With Lithgow going nuclear, the Shamrocks are daring to dream"; "Dutton’s nuclear plan contains a fib, but there’s also a fact in its favour". --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-mclean/message

Alison McCormack (pictured) leads the Melbourne-based Bicycle Network and is excited and overwhelmed by what is "Australia's e-bike moment". Working with her team, Alison recently organized an e-bike event at the Brunswick Velodrome attracting some 4000 people from all parts of Victoria. The event, which allowed people to test-ride their preferred bike was so successful that Alison's team is now contemplating an "E-bike roadshow" that might visit Shepparton and, if arranged, visit the Museum Vehicle of Vehicle Evolution. This venue already has an impressive display of classic bicycles. As Alison previously worked with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, she is well aware that Shepparton has a celebrated Olympic cyclist in Steve Fairless and would love to combine the screening of that movie, "Fairless", with the e-bike roadshow. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-mclean/message

Ray Evans (pictured) founded the Australian Business Forum (ABF) and is excited and energized by the "Electric SUV Expo" that people can enjoy at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre over three days from August 9. The ABF is a premier business platform dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals in the small and medium enterprise sector seeking to start, expand or transition their business domestically or across the Asian markets. Ray sees the electric vehicle market as a wonderful opportunity for those businesses his group represents. The Melbourne expo, Ray explains, allows people to see and experience some of the latest range of SUV vehicles from many manufacturers. Visitors will be able to learn about financing an electric SUV, charging and, in what's a first for the Exhibition and Convention Centre, test drive the electric vehicle of their choice. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-mclean/message

The June 15 Swanpool Environmental Film Festival was in equal portions depressing and uplifting - the latter arising from the fact that the Swanpool theatre was full of people eager to understand what is ahead for humanity and how best they could contribute to decisions ensuring the correct path was chosen. The eight-hour festival included the screening of three movies - "The New Corporation", "Finding the Money", and "Undercurrents" by Margot Nash. An intriguing, and almost laughable aspect of the Finding the Money movie was the interview with Jared Bernstein, the Chair of America's Council of Economic Advisers. Dr Steven Hail from the Torrens University Modern Money Lab in Adelaide introduced "Finding the Money" and mentioned Professor Stephanie Kelton, who was, by default, the movie's star. Musical entertainment was provided by the "Hot House Quartet" and in entertaining the crowd with the song "The Carnival is Over", I was reminded of Richard Heinberg's 2003 book, "The Party's Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies". Dr Mark Diesendorf, co-authored "The Path to a Sustainable Civilisation: Technological, Socioeconomic and Political Change" with Rod Taylor. Sponsors for the festival were the "Swanpool and District Land Protection Group"; the Benalla Sustainable Future Group"; the "Gecko Clan"; "Winton Wetlands"; "Benalla Rural City Council"; and the "Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority". A separate episode of "Climate Conversations" has a presentation by Dr Mark Diesendorf. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-mclean/message

Dr Mark Diesendorf (pictured) delivered a powerful and relevant address at the Saturday, June 15, Swanpool Environmental Film Festival. Dr Diesendorf is an associate professor from the University of New South Wales and is the co-author of "The Path to a Sustainable Civilisation". During his presentation, Dr Diesendorf pointed to the "Australian Conversation Foundation" and the "Australian Democracy Network" as groups that could help to bring some balance into society and so slow the advance of the climate crisis. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-mclean/message

Matthew B.Eisenson (pictured) from the Columbia Climate School Sabin Centre for Climate Change Law was the guest on a recent webinar where he talked about the "Myths and Misinformation about Renewable Energy". A recording from the session will be posted soon on the Columbia Climate School YouTube site, please check back there. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-mclean/message

Professor Alex Halliday founded the Columbia Climate School and has long championed the need for climate action. "US Elections: Could Trump Surprise Us On Climate?"; "Get on with orderly energy transition, says Origin boss"; "‘It makes our life easier’: Climate campaigns seize on Dutton’s refusal to set target"; "Talking the Talk: Dutton dumps climate commitment, Labor speaks with forked tongue"; "Maine college builds climate-friendly dorm out of wood"; "Why scientists fear a second Trump term, and what they are doing about it"; "Peter Dutton has reignited Australia’s climate wars. We fact-check the major claims"; "Farmers who graze sheep under solar panels say it improves productivity. So why don’t we do it more?"; "Will Mexico’s New Climate Scientist President Change the Country’s Energy Policy?"; "At risk from rising sea levels, these First Nations peoples are finding solidarity in their shared struggle"; "Serious heat wave to scorch the East next week. Maps show areas at risk."; "‘It makes our life easier’: Climate campaigns seize on Dutton’s refusal to set target"; "I'm a conservative. We need to make the environment non-partisan"; "Minnesota takes rare step to allow power lines alongside highways"; "Shocking: man who joked about Pacific Island nations sinking doesn’t actually care about the environment"; "EnergyHub receives CEC grant to support expansion of virtual power plants in California"; "Congestion Has Never Been Worse; The Need for Congestion Pricing, Never Greater."; "Cemeteries Can Be Damaged by Climate Change—and Provide Climate Refuge"; "As the Country Heats Up, ERs May See an Influx of Young Patients Struggling With Mental Health"; "Looking at the Planetary Past to Prepare for Our Climate Changed Future—An Interview with Steven Earle"; "A year of record global heat has pushed Earth closer to dangerous threshold"; "Heavy flooding hits parts of South Florida after severe rains"; "Anatomy of a flood"; "European Union Hits E.V.s From China With Extra Tariffs Up to 38%"; "If regional communities don’t want a windfarm, why would they accept a nuclear power station?"; "Peter Dutton accused of trying to ‘rip up’ Australia’s commitment to Paris climate agreement"; "Best-case scenario: 5% survive Milford Sound tsunami"; "End of the windmill era: NSW switches to safer, more efficient solar water pumps"; "Low-Traffic Neighborhoods Are Reclaiming London’s Streets From Cars"; "Acropolis in Athens closed as Greece bakes in heatwave: What travellers need to know"; "EU to slap extra tariffs on Chinese electric cars in a bid to close competition gap"; "Where will climate change hit hardest? These interactive maps offer a telltale glimpse."; "The city that is trying to sleep: Paris seeks to cut noise pollution by four decibels"; "Up to 5m of beach are disappearing from this Spanish coast every year: Is climate change to blame?"; "My Climate View: online tool allows Australian farmers to project changes out to 2070"; "Scientists have built a ‘digital twin’ of Earth to predict the future of climate change"; "How Congestion Pricing Makes Cities More Livable"; "Super election year: What are candidates in the UK, US and Australia planning on the climate?". --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-mclean/message

Peter Dutton (pictured) has damned Australia's climate efforts, proposes nuclear energy and so will see Australia burst past its Paris agreement. Subsequently, the leader of Australia's Liberal Party seems to have cornered the news services, here are a few: "Dutton and Albanese both think they’re on a winner with nuclear power. Only one man can be right"; "‘Worse than Scott Morrison’: PM attacks Dutton over revival of climate wars"; "Gas made from cow manure could be new front in energy fight"; "Four Corners - Wind Wars"; "Dutton to pull Australia out of Paris Agreement if elected"; "Is nuclear energy feasible in Australia (and how much would it cost)?"; "Regional Queenslanders say electric vehicles worth it for fuel savings but challenges remain"; "The anti-windfarm 'odd couple' joining forces to fight the renewable energy projects Australia's already failing to build"; "The CAT guide to a good 2035 climate target"; "Who thinks people can affect what the government does about global warming?"; "Europe veers right but centre-ground resists: What the EU election results mean and what's next"; "Analysis: UK climate aid reaches record £1.8bn in 2023 after loosening rules"; "This word was rejected by geologists. But it’s already taken over the world."; "Peter Dutton’s plans will breach the Paris agreement on climate – that much is clear"; "We have a moral responsibility to help low-income nations restore coral reefs"; "Investors have bid against each other to buy Australia’s first green bond. Here’s why that’s a great sign"; "Weakening or collapse of a major Atlantic current has disrupted NZ’s climate in the past – and could do so again"; "Winds of political change blow through environmental conference"; "Living Hot: Surviving and Thriving on a Heating Planet"; "Could low-carbon cement and steel be cheaper than we think?"; "View from The Hill: Peter Dutton sets up a debate about Australia’s ambition on emission reduction targets"; "Why Do Americans Feel Entitled to a Leadership Role on Climate?"; "North Korea’s trash balloons deepen tensions with the South. Here’s what’s happening between rivals"; "The Macroeconomics of Australia’s Energy Transition"; "Living and Dying in the Shadow of Chemical Plants"; "In Brazil’s Semi-Arid Region, Small Farmers Work Exhausted Lands, Hoping a New Government Will Revive the War on Desertification"; "Could spraying sea salt into the clouds cool the planet?"; "Home insurance was once a ‘must.’ Now more homeowners are going without."; "The UN chief has called for a ban on fossil fuel advertising – is the NZ industry listening?"; "A renewable energy transition that doesn’t harm nature? It’s not just possible, it’s essential"; "View from The Hill: Peter Dutton sets up a debate about Australia’s ambition on emission reduction targets"; "3.2 million people in the U.S. may be exposed to dangerous heat today"; "Brutal heatwave cooks US south-west, an early sign of sizzling summer ahead"; "End climate silence"; "Far-right fossil fuel company allies pressure US supreme court to shield firms in unprecedented campaign"; "Water firm seizes stake in Devon sewage protester’s home over unpaid bills"; "Climate scientist Susan Solomon: ‘Let’s not give up now – we’re right on the cusp of success’"; "North Africa’s disappearing nomads: Why my community needs climate finance"; "Blackout risk lower this winter, says National Grid"; "Developing countries suggest rich nations tax arms, fashion and tech firms for climate"; "What Happens When Climate Change Threatens to Bury Your Home?"; "UN Secretary-General Calls for Ban on Fossil Fuel Advertising, Says Next 18 Months Are Critical for Climate Action"; "Most planes are powered by fossil fuels. That could change."; "How to support climate change education in your state’s schools"; "Research on Earth’s raging fever of 2023-24 is picking up"; "What’s the deal with terms like “greenhouse effect,” “global warming,” “climate change,” and “the climate emergency”?"; --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-mclean/message

Clive Hamilton and George Wilkenfeld continue to be urgently concerned about mitigation, but now see adaptation to be the primary issue of concern for all levels of government - listen to Hamilton as he talks with Michelle Grattan on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: "Politics with Michelle Grattan: Clive Hamilton on how Australians must adapt to ‘Living Hot’" "The Arctic is heating up nearly four times faster than the whole planet, study finds"; "The impact of climate change on language loss"; "Why do so few people cycle for transport in Australia? 6 ideas on how to reap all the benefits of bikes"; "Oil and Gas Companies Are Trying to Rig the Marketplace"; "A Matter of Survival as South Asia’s Heat Wave Reaches 127 Degrees"; "Burning book festivals is not a climate solution"; "Salt in the Womb: How Rising Seas Erode Reproductive Health"; "My Climate View: online tool allows Australian farmers to project changes out to 2070"; "Is it possible to fry an egg on the sidewalk if it's hot enough?"; "Vermont just became the first state to try to make big oil pay for climate damages"; "Tuvalu turns to the metaverse as rising seas threaten existence"; "The Delhi heatwave is testing the limits of human endurance. Other hot countries should beware and prepare"; "Are the climate wars really over, or has a new era of greenwashing just begun?"; "As global temperatures rise, are liberal democracies on trial?"; "The $50 billion gas deal Australia hopes will keep China quiet"; "‘People prefer that we’d never close’: Eraring lifeline a mixed blessing for a coal community in limbo"; "Climate activist defaces Monet painting in Paris"; "Scientists develop method of making healthier, more sustainable chocolate"; "Simon Armitage: Poets can fight climate crisis by making us spellbound by nature"; "What to Know About Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s Newly Elected President"; "If regional communities don’t want a windfarm, why would they accept a nuclear power station?"; "Heat can kill - here's how to help!"; "India’s deadly heat kills over 200 people, including dozens of poll workers as elections wrap up"; "Which of Australia’s favourite ski fields will survive by 2080?"; "The National Centre for Climate Restoration (Breakthrough)"; "Oceans face ‘triple threat’ of extreme heat, oxygen loss and acidification"; "Reality check: the Reform UK party’s claims on the climate crisis examined"; "ACCESS: Australia’s climate and earth systems model"; "U.S. Electric Bills Could Increase 8% This Summer Amid Rising Temperatures"; "‘Perfect storm’ hurricane season could be break records"; "Massachusetts kicks off first pilot to shift gas utilities to clean heat"; "'Sounding the alarm': World likely to temporarily pass 1.5C limit by 2028, UN weather agency warns"; "May breaks global temperature record for 12th month in a row. Will La Nina bring cooler weather?"; "Scientists say Earth is heating at a record rate, but there’s still time to stop crisis accelerating"; "‘Depressing and dystopian’: UAE used COP28 to boost fossil fuel deals, investigation says"; "EU Policy: Ambitions for global renewable energy capacity unrealised, says report"; "A year of record global heat has pushed Earth closer to dangerous threshold"; "How is climate change affecting heat waves in California and the West?"; "Half the world will vote in 2024, but how many elections will be fair?"; "‘An intergenerational crime against humanity’: what will it take for political leaders to start taking climate change seriously?"; "How animals are changing to cope with stronger heatwaves"; "Why the US oil majors may end up doing more for the green transition than their (slightly) more progressive European rivals"; "To tackle the climate crisis we need more democracy, not less"; "Rising authoritarianism and worsening climate change share a fossil-fueled secret"; "Trump, Covid, the climate crisis – we’ve had a hard few years. The wounds linger"; --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-mclean/message

Ross McPherson (pictured), the Chairman and editor-in-chief of the Shepparton-based McPherson Group of Newspapers, was the guest speaker at The Greater Shepparton Biennial Bruce Willson Memorial Heritage Lecture for 2024. The Wednesday, June 5, session was recorded, in both an audio and visual sense but the recording has not been posted as yet on the City Council YouTube website. I urge you to check back regularly for once the event is posted, you will be able to see and hear Ross's lecture. The need for story-telling to combat the climate crisis and prepare people for the inevitable challenges is regularly discussed in many books, including that which is presently on my desk, "All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis". --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-mclean/message