WOMADelaide - The Planet Talks

What's god got to do with it? - WOMADelaide 2017

Speakers: Prof Mohamad Abdalla | Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black | Philippa Rowland

Host: Father Bob Maguire

The Pope’s game changing encyclical—Laudato Si – stressed environmental stewardship and climate change action is consistent with Christian spiritual life. But the Green Faith movement is not just a Christian thing. It’s a central pillar of all major religions.

This interfaith panel led by Australia’s favourite Catholic, Father Bob Maguire, will discuss how and why Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish faiths have made climate change and environmental responsibility a major part of contemporary religious life and practice.

Valuing Indigenous Knowledge and Language - WOMADelaide 2017

Speakers: Lewis Yerloburka O'Brien | Veronica Perrurle Dobson | Fiona Walsh | Zaachariaha Fielding

Host: Miriam Corowa

40,000 years of Indigenous Australians have maintained a sustainable relationship with every corner of Australia’s diverse environment via a deep listening tradition that preserves language, heritage and culture. In this panel respected Indigenous Elders, an Ethno-Ecologist and a young Indigenous rising star who sings in his country’s language will talk about this knowledge and how the future of Australian environmental conservation is linked to preserving and sustaining our indigenous cultures, heritage and languages.

"Do Something" - WOMADelaide 2017

Speakers: Karen O'Brien | Jon Dee | Erin Rhoads | Vanessa Morrish

Host: Sonya Feldhoff

Just because you can't do everything it doesn't mean you shouldn't do something. Do we view climate change as a problem for Governments, scientists, environmentalists and economists to sort out or is our role as individuals more important? Join Karen, Jon, Erin and Vanessa as they chat about their work focusing on the “I” in climate change, how people see themselves making changes and how we can empower everyone to “do something”.

Redefining Resources and the Right To Repair - WOMADelaide 2017

Speakers: Kyle Wiens | Veena Sahajwalla | Nicholas Chileshe

Host: Robyn Williams

We’re running out of resources but according to this panel, we’re going to be ok. Can we compete with the convenience of the garbage dump and the latest iPhone? Are tech companies taking away our right to extend the life of products? Is a waste-free economy possible? iFixit founder Kyle Wiens, UNSW’s Scientia Professor of Materials Science, Veena Sahajwalla and UniSA’s reverse logistics expert Nicholas Chileshe know a thing or two about delaying entropy, so let’s ask them.

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?