CRAM Article June 2006: Earth Matters Celebrates a 10th Birthday
Earth Matters was founded to give local grassroots perspectives on environmental concerns from around Australia and the world. The show first went to air on July 26th 1996. It went to air nationally to fill the gap created by the downfall of Watching Brief – a national, environment program for community radio produced by Public Radio News. 

With its opening theme of croaking frogs, the show quickly became popular within the community radio sector. Earth Matters presents a wide variety of stories from nature conservation and environmental justice perspectives, and campaigns for a more sustainable future. A key aim of the program over the last decade has been to highlight the connections between Indigenous people’s land justice struggles and environmental issues, and to prioritise airing the voices of local community activists. 

Juliet Fox, who at the time was active in the environment movement with groups such as The Wilderness Society and Friends of the Earth, established the program. Juliet had also been a regular programmer at 3CR since 1991. In 2001 environmental campaigner and broadcaster Indira Narayan joined the show, followed by Gabrielle Reade in 2003. 

Juliet, Indira and Gabrielle continue to produce the weekly show, which is broadcast on over 40 stations throughout Australia. 3WAY FM in Warnambool takes Earth Matters each week “as an adjunct to a locally produced program called Green Connections which deals with environmental and human rights issues.” 3WAY Secretary John MacInnes comments, “the material on Earth Matters highly relevant, topical and informative. It often includes material we would not have access to in a country area, and complements the local issues and interviews we are able to include”. 

Over the decade Earth Matters has covered an enormous range of local, national and international issues. Indigenous land rights struggles have featured strongly, including the fight against the Century Zinc mine in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Yorta Yorta claim for Native Title, and of course the Jabiluka anti-uranium mine campaign in the Northern Territory. Locally, struggles to highlight climate change, promote renewable energy and highlight the plight of our water systems have been extensively explored, while on-the-spot coverage of forest campaigns in the Otways and Goolengook in East Gippsland have given listeners a taste of the action on the ground. 

On the international stage the show has featured stories on anti-mining movements and human rights in West Papua and the Philippines, conservation issues in Tibet, and water quality concerns in Bangladesh. 

While campaign issues and a sustainable future dominate Earth Matters’ content, the presenters have also looked at environmental film festivals, eco-psychology, non-violent action and theories on environmental activism. Off air the presenters continue to be active on environmental campaigns and contribute to forums and conferences around the country including Ecopolitics, Students and Sustainability, and the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. 

Earth Matters continues to work with many organisations around Australia giving voice to campaigns and issues of environmental importance. Mark Wakeham from Greenpeace Australia Pacific says, “Working with Earth Matters is a real joy. The program wants to get to the heart of environmental problems and solutions and isn't afraid to call a spade a spade. It’s possible to have a conversation with Earth Matters whereas most environmental reportage is so condensed that it’s impossible to talk in anything more than sound bytes. Earth Matters is great radio but more importantly it’s a valuable space for real reflection on the future of the planet and the society we live in.” 

With the demise of Radio National’s Earthbeat program, Earth Matters is the only dedicated, national radio environment program in the country, fulfilling a vital role in prioritising conservation and sustainability issues. 

Earth Matters is looking to establish its own website in the coming months and will be hosting a range of events and special programs in celebration of a decade on air. Stay tuned! 

By Juliet Fox
3CR Programming Coordinator and founding Earth Matters Presenter