S5E29 - Protesting AI and its data centres

Today we are talking Artificial Intelligence and its discontents. I speak to Huxley from PauseAI, who is organising a rally against AI next week in Brisbane; and also Jacqui from Citizens of Tottenham who have been on the frontline of data centre expansion in Melbourne's western suburbs. Originally broadcast 06/11/26

Today we hear about a couple of anthology books that have just been published about Gaza. We hear from Sairah Hussain who went to Gaza as a doctor and has joined other healthcare workers writing her experiences in the book "The Weight Of Witness". Then we talk to Pascalle Burton and Nadine Chemali about the book they are part of called "For Gaza: Art Against Genocide". Originally broadcast 30/10/26

Today we are talking about long walks. We hear from Roby Curtis, who as well as co-ordinating drop-in service Emmanuel City Mission is a practitioner of long pilgrimage walks. Then great-grandmother June Norman, who has walked over 10,000km for peace and environmental justice. And finally Sam Wheeldon, who walked from Bowen to Toowoomba and is now setting off on another cross-country journey on foot. Originally broadcast 16/10/26

Today we check in on the protests against the Land Forces weapons expo in Perth. We hear from Sam Wainwright who has been organising protests against the expo, and Matilda Lane-Rose who was one of the activists pre-emptively excluded from the event, but managed to get police to backtrack after taking them to court. We'll also hear a bit about climate protests at ANZ bank branches. Originally broadcast 09/10/26

Today we speak about local environment issues - we hear about the campaign to save Woogaroo Forest near Springfield, to save koala habitat from being bulldozed at Ormiston College in Redlands, and about some of the worst environmental legislation being currently written by the Qld state government. Originally broadcast 02/10/26

Today we speak to Ma Thida - Burmese medical doctor, writer and political activist. She spent over five years in solitary confinement in the 90s (survived by meditating), and is now exiled and stateless. But she is still struggling for a free Myanmar. Originally broadcast 18/09/26

Today we hear from people working for change overseas. Sabrina Fernandes from Brazil and Khyl Ramos from the Philippines are both in town for the "Ecosocialism" conference and will be stopping in to chat about the situation in their respective parts of the world. Originally broadcast 09/11/26

Today we reflect on the life and writing of Wendell Berry - American farmer, poet, novelist, essayist and environmentalist. We hear from George Woods, Emma Brindal, Ben Pennings and Jason McLeod about how his words influenced their attempts to make a better world. Originally broadcast 04/09/26

Today we are celebrating independent media - speaking to three people who are in their own ways trying to share the news that matters outside of the corporate media giants. We hear from Angus Hervey about Fix The News; Michael West from the eponymous Michael West Media; and Antoun Issa of Deepcut Media. Originally broadcast 28/08/26

Today we speak to climate analyst Ketan Joshi about two things hindering our climate efforts – greenwashing and the growth of AI data centres. We do also find time to fit in a chat about what good news there is for our climate! Originally broadcast 14/08/26