Radio Wammo

David Jacobs from Connected Media discusses the The Sustainability Film Challenge for Young People. Calling for entries now.

The co-leader of the Green Party gives his take on the Emissions Trading Scheme coming into force this week. How does New Zealand now rate as a nation trying to reverse the effects of climate change?

Director Guye Henderson gives an insight into the fishing industry that will shock, horrify and outrage most New Zealanders.

His new documentary looks at foreign trawlers with foreign crews, that operate in New Zealand waters, chartered by New Zealand companies to catch their Deep-sea Quota, depriving New Zealand crews and processing workers of much needed jobs, and our economy of revenue. He also explains how foreign boats can deliberately overfish certain species, knowing that the fine can often be less than the market price for that fish. Those most often hit by this practice are the local fishermen. The Great NZ Fishing Scandal Screens on the Documentary Channel, Tues 4th August 7:30pm.

Listen/Download Guye Henderson on The Great NZ Fishing Scandal

Currently 80 per cent of the islands of the Maldives are less than 1 metre above sea level and are said to continue to increase with the increasing effects of climate change. Indulging in a fatty meal after studying for an exam could boost your results. A study in rats at the University of California shows that eating a certain type of fat produces a hormone that helps the brain cement short-term memories in to long term ones. Janine Young is a freelance science writer, Immunologist and also a broadcaster for New Scientist magazine.

Listen/Download Jsnine Young on Sinking Feelings

Watch on Kiwi TV

There is a lot of excessive everyday noise that can affect not only your hearing but your physical and mental health.

Persistent noise has been linked with increased stress levels, headaches, aggressive behaviour, loss of sleep and in some cases even heart disease and high blood pressure. April 29 is the Inaugural Noise Awareness Day in New Zealand and Nigel Murphy from the National Foundation for the Deaf says we need to start turning the volume knob a little to the left.

Listen/Download Nigel Murphy on Noise Awareness

The New Zealand delegation at UN climate talks in Bonn is embarrassing the country by outing us as laggards according to Greenpeace New Zealand’s Political Adviser in Bonn, Geoff Keey.

Unlike all other countries at the talks, apart from Russia and the Ukraine, New Zealand is refusing to put forward a proposed national emission reduction target. Geoff says New Zealand’s proposed stabilisation goal was no more than 450ppm.  A couple of years ago, that might have seemed reasonable, but the most recent science indicates that 450ppm is way too high, is likely to push the world above two degrees warming, and could trigger catastrophic climate change.

Listen/Download Geoff Keey on NZ at the Bonn Climate talks

Last week The Business Roundtable said any climate change measures should wait until economic recovery is firmly established. However Labour leader Phil Goff says there is no time to delay in implementing a “New Green Deal” and to tackle climate change with bold initiatives that also create jobs.

Listen/Download Phil Goff on The New Green Deal

Barack Obama made it clear in his inaugural address today that the US needs to tackle global warming and switch to renewable sources of energy.

Co-leader of the Green Party, Russel Norman was watching and listening, and gives his thoughts on the new American president who appears to be pro-science. Does this mean all science or just the good science?

Listen/Download Russel Norman on Obama’s speech

CAN I RECYCLE WINDOW ENVELOPES? And other dumb eco-questions

Trying to do the right thing by the planet raises some pretty silly questions. New Scientist has compiled the definitive guide to everything you wanted to know about being green, but were too embarrassed to ask.

Can I save the planet by staying slim?

Can the machines in my gym be used to generate electricity?

How environmentally damaging is barbecuing?

Will washing my clothes at 30 ºC really get them clean?

SPEED DATERS GO FOR CROWD-PLEASING LOOKS

If you’re looking for love at a big speed-dating event, be prepared to be judged solely on your looks. In primates and birds, the larger the group, the better the chance a non-dominant individual has of being chosen as a mate. However, scientists were surprised to find that humans seemed to differ from other animals. When looking at 118 speed dating sessions, a team in the UK found that as the size of the group grew offers were skewed towards just a few individuals while the least popular ended up with fewer of no offers.

WHY WE LOVE TO HATE THE HUMBLE SPIDER

People seem to have a disproportionate fear of spiders than of any other creepy-crawly. In a German study where students were asked to rate photos of spiders, bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles and moths, they found that spiders triggered far greater fear and disgust than any of the other creatures, and were also believed to be more dangerous.

Bianca Nogrady is a freelance science and medical writer and also a broadcaster for New Scientist magazine.

Listen/Download Bianca Nogrady on Silly Questions

Russell ponders where the Green vote went on Saturday given that the polls had them a few percent higher than the final result, however Russell is not too disappointed given that they managed to pull an extra to MP’s into parliament. So what now for the Greens?

Listen/Download Russel Norman on Opposition