WOMADelaide - The Planet Talks

Human Life on Mars - WOMADelaide 2017

Speakers: Carmel Johnston | Josh Richards

Host: Robyn Williams

Is colonising Mars the next giant leap for humanity or is it a waste of time and money? Do humans need to be a multi planet species to avoid extinction as argued by Elon Musk? What have humans and the blue planet got to gain in the short term by practising and preparing to inhabit the Red Planet? Who better to ask than two of our favourite Martians, Australian Mars One candidate, Josh Richards and Carmel Johnston – Crew Commander of a year-long Mars Simulation mission.

Richard Fidler in conversation w/ Sir Tim Smit - WOMADelaide 2017

Guest: Sir Tim Smit (UK)

Host: Richard Fidler

Former Archaeologist, music composer and producer, Sir Tim Smit is best known for his achievements in Cornwall in restoring the Lost Gardens of Heligan and co-creating the multi Award-winning Eden Project - a cradle of life containing world-class horticulture and startling architecture. Eden has become one of the world’s most popular man-made eco-tourism destinations with more than 16 million people visiting it since 2000. And that’s only part of the Tim Smit story…

Words, Pictures and Climate Change Pitches - WOMADelaide 2016

Speakers: Dee Madigan | Jane Caro | First Dog on the Moon

Host: Tory Shepherd

Can effectively communicating facts about climate change make any difference to how people vote in the next election? What is the PR pollution clouding carbon politics? Is it possible to make an issue this complex simple enough to get good decisions within our short-term electoral cycle? This panel of communications gurus and a canine political cartoon commentariat are masters of words and pictures, so what’s their world-saving climate change action pitch?

Should We Trust Scientists? - WOMADelaide 2016

Speakers: Naomi Oreskes | Tanya Monro | Karl Kruszelnicki

Host: Paul Willis

Is economic growth possible if we truly address climate change or will a transition require serious economic pain before any gain? Is coal about to disappear as fast as Kodak did and, if so, can new energy technologies deliver a ‘win-win’ for the environment and the economy? This panel features some of our foremost economic and political minds discussing the possibility of a new economy and clean growth.

A Green Growth Economy - WOMADelaide 2016

Speakers: Ross Garnaut | John Hewson

Host: Lenore Taylor

Is economic growth possible if we truly address climate change or will a transition require serious economic pain before any gain? Is coal about to disappear as fast as Kodak did and, if so, can new energy technologies deliver a ‘win-win’ for the environment and the economy? This panel features some of our foremost economic and political minds discussing the possibility of a new economy and clean growth.

Off the grid game changers - WOMADelaide 2016

Speakers: Simon Hackett | Dan Spencer | Felicia Whiting

Host: Robyn Williams

Three South Australian leaders of 'off the grid innovation and activism' look at what the near future could hold in powering homes, business, streets and cities. Will there be any place for coal fired power stations in that future?

What's Love Got To Do With It - WOMADelaide 2016

Speakers: David Suzuki | Indira Naidoo | Amelia Telford

Host: Robyn Williams

Is winning the battle for our hearts more important than the economy, politics and carbon numbers? As we increasingly live in cities is our society losing its connection with nature? If so, how might we change this? Our panel looks at cultivating love for the environment and how this helps bring about positive change at the human rather than political level.

David Suzuki - Keynote - WOMADelaide 2016

Speaker: David Suzuki

MC: Robyn Williams

For four decades Canadian David Suzuki has been one of the most prominent, articulate, passionate and effective advocates for our planet and its environment. At 79 he shows no sign of slowing down. Spend an hour with one of the greatest eco-warriors of our time.

Creating Hope - WOMADelaide 2015

Simran Sethi in conversation with Sylvia Earle

Host: Bernie Hobbs

Simran Sethi and Sylvia Earle are two of the world’s most inspiring environmental messengers. Their mission is both clear and hopeful - to inspire us all to take responsibility for, and play a role in creating a better future for the earth for all generations to come. Listen to two of the world’s foremost eco-heroes discuss their hopes and dreams for the planet.

Repairing the Blue Heart of our Planet - WOMADelaide 2015

Speakers: Sylvia Earle, Charlie Veron, Bronwyn Gillanders

Host: Bernie Hobbs

Marine experts have warned that we are in the middle of an unprecedented high-risk period of marine species extinction. On our watch the world’s oceans and natural wonders like The Great Barrier Reef have borne the brunt of a potent combination of over-fishing, pollution, unparalleled mining and farming run-offs, the acidification of the seas caused by increasing carbon dioxide emissions and the disruptive results of rising water temperatures. Our panel, three highly regarded marine scientists, discuss the vast challenge ahead to reverse these dire predictions for our blue heart. As Sylvia Earle herself said - “life depends on the ocean, and to save it we must love it.”