The GreenplanetFM Podcast with Tim Lynch

A conversation between two lively caring Kiwi women about the state of our nation. Liz Gunn and Lisa Er took time this week to Korero about the state of the nation and the ways in which New Zealanders can educate ourselves about our country and our world. (A korero is a conversation or a discussion.) Sadly, the wider research on our country’s current poverty and homelessness, on our record suicide numbers, on the widening gap between the haves and the have nots, can have the sense of a litany of failures . There are many reasons to feel discouraged. BYPASS MAINSTREAM MEDIA Yet the freedoms offered by the internet, and online (and radio) discussion, can offer a way through this sense of overwhelm. Lisa and Liz discuss the ways in which to become more informed and to find the courage to question the norms and the prevailing viewpoints often sold to us through media acolytes of the government viewpoint.  From there, it’s rewarding to become actively involved - by each of us making our own contributions, in our o

Caroline Robinson is the founder of Cabal, a creative studio exploring and advancing new pathways for regenerative development. Results of Cabal’s public art collaborations can be seen across Auckland City and beyond. The whole living systems practice behind these artworks, informs Cabal’s wider role as an integration facilitator, contributing to complex city-making projects by supporting project teams to grow the capability to work in full reciprocity within their unique community and place. I first met Caroline at Dave Breuer’s - Anew NZ ‘group mind gathering’ - at AUT - Auckland University of Technology.  There she had a huge blank art board at this visionary function that let her visually translate the stories that speakers covered, to that very engaged audience.  This enabled people to see how intellectual concepts and mental information can be elegantly transcribed into a visual form that was holistic in intent and that lead us to explore as participants, how we the people can become involved and renew

I have just had Professor Mark Orams' in the station for a very uplifting exchange on the state of NZ’s inshore waters that connect out and around to embrace our whole planet. His own interests focussed on marine recreation and sport - high performance sport, leadership, coaching and outdoor education. A professional sailor who as a youngster was a keen ‘yachtie’ winning both NZ and World titles as well as a crewman on Sir Peter Blake’s round the world winning team - plus been involved in two America’s Cups as well. He calls for collaborative work and for ordinary people at grassroots level to lead from the front. For having a healthy understanding of the vastness of our ocean systems - and having spent a lot of time racing and visiting other countries, recognises that from a planetary perspective - the global marine systems are in increasing trouble and that these challenges must be urgently addressed. Acknowledging that NZ has still got an opportunity to initiate the much needed corrective measures if we ar

It’s all about an unfolding journey of working with the land experimenting with new and unconventional methods to bring balance to the ecology and yet be able to have the soil sustain them with high quality, nutrient dense - organic food. A life that he and his wife Rachel and children absolutely love. Greg has also been involved in a significant tree planting program that coincided with the Air New Zealand Environment Trust wanting to plant trees to offset some of their aircraft emissions. This enabled them to bring their environmental footprint back down to earth - by planting 85,000 trees, the vast majority being natives. The Family Farm Greg Hart, his wife Rachel and family live beside a 30 hectare lake - (80 acres) on 1500 acres or 650 - hectares - which Greg says is an average size farm in the Hawkes Bay region for 1 and a bit person to run … Their lake was where tuna or eeling took place by early Maori - plus waka or canoes have been found sunken in the lake too. These link back to Maori families, that

When the Christchurch Earthquakes struck 6 years ago - Project Lyttelton was already in operation and they were in many ways pivotal in assisting in and around Lyttelton during and after this disaster. Project Lyttelton in the South Island could be deemed one of the more unique communities in NZ - as enterprising people are doing effectual things as they build warm community relationships that support each other in their daily life. Situated on the other side of the Port Hills only a few kilometres from Christchurch  http://www.lyttelton.net.nz - Why does a community come together? Because these people enjoy warm hearted company that belongs to a creative and caring organisation. One that has the component of Time Banking being integral and is within the umbrella of Project Lyttelton - it is in many ways the glue that along with mindfulness and love - hold this little community together. When the Christchurch Earthquakes struck 6 years ago - Project Lyttelton was already in operation and they were in many way

“We need to base our farming on biology, not on chemicals,” says Dr Meriel Watts. “New Zealand needs to WAKE UP to what is going on in conventional farming in this country.” “Our food is denatured through chemical use, and New Zealand, compared to the rest of the world, lacks the political will to address this.” Educating the New Zealand Public New Zealand needs to face up to the widespread use of chemicals that are applied in agriculture, either topically or coated on seeds, and how the chemicals affect our food and therefore our health. There is a toxic plethora of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, along with artificial fertilisers that make chemical companies masses of money, but are not to the benefit of us, the consumers. One might think that a so called clean green country, like New Zealand, would be keen to show itself as just that, but instead we apply toxic chemical after toxic chemical all over the country. In one evening meal, that is not organic, you could be consuming as many as 17 different

Liz, is asking for some leader in NZ to stand up and have the courage to say that we as an island nation, want a GE Free country and be the organic food bowl for the world. With no more Monsanto influence and definitely no more glyphosate.   She wants us to become a ‘planetary ark' and be that 'organic food bowl’ for the world. Plus, she WANTS a really clear - NZ Government funded - free from influence - media platform TV - Radio and newsprint / digital where we have quality policy journalists back again, investigating anything within the public domain as well as envisioning healthy possibilities for all of our children’s - collective future. After leaving broadcasting, Liz spent a decade in Australia as a full time Mum and having to learn child rearing with no backup of grandparents or nanny help which she had had when she had worked full time for TVNZ. So she really learnt to be a hands on Mum and how to connect emotionally with her little ones and so it was a wonderful learning curve as a human being, noti

NZ’s fisheries and marine environment are currently being mismanaged for the benefit of a few heavyweight fishing industrialists. Sound familiar? After 30 years and repeated examples of dysfunction including reports of widespread labour abuse, fish dumping, misreporting, and monopoly institutional stagnation, the time is right to return to the basic principles of managing New Zealand’s natural resources for the benefit of the nation. With an nationwide election on the horizon we the people are having to decide how our precious marine resources are going to be managed, now that we know that the Ministry of  Primary Industries refuses to listen to the People.   Scott as a spokesman for LegaSea - a public outreach that wants to go beyond the 35,000 fishing club members in 58 clubs and talk to the vast number of people who either love fishing - do a bit of fishing or get a few fish that they share with their neighbours or just like the idea of having abundant in shore coastal fisheries. This is what they have bee

We must demand rigorous ongoing and independent testing as to the effect of aerial 1080 drops on New Zealand’s wilderness, fauna and ecosystems. Clyde and brother Steve have won International Awards for their 1080 NZ documentary, Poisoning Paradise The movie Poisoning Paradise is about the aerial dispersal of 1080 throughout New Zealand in order to kill rodents, mustelids and possums. This poisoning now has become a highly controversial topic with conservationists, environmentalists, and members of the public. Clyde Graf and Steve were sons of Egon, a professional deer hunter, based in NZ’s Te Urewera National Park. In 1996, youngest son Steve went to Canada and videoed amazing wildlife footage. Returning to NZ he teamed up with his brother Clyde, and together they began to make The Graf Boys' videos. Since then, The Graf Boys have produced six hunting and outdoors DVD titles, and two documentaries. Their documentary, Poisoning Paradise, has won four international awards (England, Ireland, Japan, and Culture

I start this telephone interview mentioning Waihopai the Secret US controlled Five Eyes - Echelon spy station as it only a few kilometres from Blenheim where Steffan lives in the South Island. Steffan held the Security and Intelligence portfolio for the Green Party for many years. Thus we both concur that there is a very good chance that our telephone interview was being recorded - as that is the nature of the beast. Stephen Browning - Retiring NZ Green Party - Member of Parliament. This is one of the more important interviews of the last year. I urge you to listen and or download and listen at will. (Tim) This interview exemplifies Steffan’s courage at talking truth to power as he exposes the sham of what neoliberal agricultural policies are doing to NZ, but he also speaks of some very good grass roots initiatives happening right across our country. Steffan’s days as an MP are engaged and occupied. Meeting with meat inspectors - beekeepers as well as the incursions of disease through our biosecurity such as

Do you want to elegantly express yourself and feel empowered by having more freedom and really connect with people?  Plus, “Making Life Far More Easier, Fulfilling and dare we say it - Wonderful?” Never before have we needed a greater range of communication skills to allow us to reconnect as family, community and a global society. To speak authentically and from our heart. With the media polarisation of society, be it local or global - along with an education system that is constantly needing to encourage our skills in conflict resolution as well as reconciling opposing points of view, how are we going to become a more caring, unified and trustworthy society?   New Zealand is often rated as one of the most peaceful countries in the world and yet has a very high rate of domestic violence and teen suicide -- both indicators that more can be done to give alternatives to beating up on ourselves and each other.  Nonviolent Communication (Also known as “Compassionate Communication”) is one option. It has been share

Klaus has just returned from addressing the highest body of the United Nations. The General Assembly - on Earth Trusteeship in April of this year. He is a Professor of Law and Director, New Zealand Centre for Environmental Law, University of Auckland; Chair, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law Ethics Specialist Group. With all the mounting ecological challenges, climate change, melting tundra, ocean acidification etc - that face us today these are finally being acknowledged as the logical symptoms of a disease and Klaus reiterates this - a disease that is permeating our society as a result of economics gone mad. As an extension of the Chicago school in the 1970’s and then policies by Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher we are left with posing the question - who will look after the planetary environment? That economics having been the main and in many ways the only fundamental agenda over the last 35 - 40 years that we (even ordinary NZers) are realising we are now in deeper trouble. That without factor

Why were three courageous Australian Quaker grannies for Peace arrested by military police for blocking the road to Shoalwater Bay Military Base Queensland, in 2015? BUT - That did not deter them. They protested again, at the super secret spy station - Pine Gap on September 2016. Having enticed Helen Bayes into the studio, this interview covers not only the story of these staunch seniors, but also explains something of Quakers, and their peace testimony. As part of Peace Convergence 2015 'Quaker Grannies for Peace' set up a tea table blockading the access road to Samuel Hill / Shoalwater Bay military base, which is used for the Talisman Sabre military exercises. (Talisman Sabre is a biennial joint Australia-United States military exercise. It involves joint exercises performed by the Australian Defence Force and the United States Military across six locations in northern and central Australia, the Coral Sea, and in Honolulu, Denver, and Suffolk, Va., though the bulk of the exercises are concentrated at the Sh

This is an inspiring story of dedication to clean up the NZ environment and create new jobs. The proverbial Kiwi win/win situation. Yet, Zero Waste has to be a NZ wide Government sanctioned mantra if we are to get on top of our pollution challenges. Being a staunch advocate of recycling for most of my life that when talking to Warren, I concur that to get the Powers that Be to make recycling mandatory - nationwide - has to become an election issue - so as to show the younger generation that adults do care for our children’s future.  Warren and friends have just launched the Great Kiwi Bottle Drive www.kiwibottledrive.nz Where the small town and community of Kaitaia in the Far North recycled 20,000 bottles and cans in 4 hours.  Exceeding expectations - Where at the Kaitaia market - many people supported this ideal - with a very community spirited input. Children were involved - many very young and it was heartwarming to receive their bottles and give the kiddies some money in return. They filled a large curtai

We as a human race are just now becoming aware of the extraordinary healings that occurred through Bruno Gröning (1906-1959) which ushered in a new era of spiritual healing.  Bruno's teaching is a path to healing. Bruno Gröning left behind the knowledge of how to absorb a natural healing power that can bring long-lasting health to 
every human being. Back then and still today, healings of
 chronic illnesses that have lasted for decades, as well as of 
drug and other addictions, have occurred worldwide.
 This is confirmed by numerous healing reports that have
 been carefully examined by doctors of the Medical 
Scientific Group and documented using medical evidence
 by independent physicians. 
Doctors, psychologists and healing practitioners of the
 Medical Scientific Group regularly share their experiences
 through lectures, both domestically and internationally, in
 order to make Bruno Gröning's knowledge accessible to 
people worldwide. Bruno Gröning, born in 1906 in Gdansk, was an unassuming worker who relo

I have known Robina for over 30 years, she is one of New Zealand’s most experienced Permaculture teachers. She is now an elder and is passing on the torch, sharing the taking on of roles, responsibilities, plus the methodology of a Permaculture educator and designer. She has been extending the Permaculture philosophy of our social needs, the inner being and the ‘invisibles’ that link the web of life - on numerous levels. Having a similar world view to Robina, Courtney too relates closely to indigenous ways of becoming more aligned within the localised environment. Going beyond but inclusive of the the importance of the physical environment, they are looking at the social needs of both family and community, the inner being - our inner landscape and the ‘invisibles’ the agreements and codes of conduct - that we all embrace as we embed our being into  the web of life - on numerous levels. Robina relates her story of taking Permaculture out into the world. Robina tells of her South African Permaculture venture wh

For over 45 years being on the leading edge of conscious change, Robert says “we now are leaving the Empire Era, that took over from the Tribal era, and we are now entering the Planetary Era”. I (Tim) went to a weekend ‘Change Agent’ workshop back in 1999 in Auckland that Robert presented and learnt much - hence I am still enthused as of today. However Robert is now taking the deeper context of change to another more focused ‘local to global level.’  They are called ‘The 3 Harmonies.’ This below is an introduction to Change Agents, that leads into the Three Harmonies    A change agent is someone who can bring a vision into a manifestation here in our physical life. Usually it is someone in a catalytic role. Often, they bring people together and help them focus on something as a shared goal and enable something new to be born. It takes a certain amount of courage, because a change agent is doing things before everybody else says – ‘oh yes that’s a brilliant idea.’ Change agents need to recognise the value of

Can New Zealand become non Aligned? Can we as a small educated nation control our own destiny and become more independent and not be dragged into the military industrial complexes, war games - based on planetary control by the corporate elite? CAFCA, (Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa) announces the launch of AIM (Aotearoa Independence Movement) and invites you to join them. CAFCA is preparing to initiate and drive a nationwide dialogue to advance the case for a non-aligned Aotearoa based on policies of economic, military and political independence. This is not a new thing from CAFCA - it has been part of their core issues since they were founded more than 40 years ago. Murray Horton talks most knowingly about political history and current day issues that contribute to the founding of the AIM campaign. Murray has been a Christchurch-based political activist since 1969 and is the Organiser for both the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA) and the Anti-Bases Campaign (ABC) He is a Uni

Jonathan Cole is a Solar Engineer bringing innovative and new solar techniques and technology to New Zealand. Right from his landing in NZ Jonathan noticed that the sky was so much more brighter here than he had seen in the Northern hemisphere – even from Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific the horizons were now unclear. Noticeable for him on most occasions here were the clearly defined razor sharp horizon lines when looking out to sea. He has not seen anything like this for 15 years due to the massive recent industrial outpourings north of the equator. That for New Zealanders, the lack of atmospheric pollution is taken for granted whereas Jonathan is becoming used to witnessing a yellowish haze that blurs the horizon line when looking out anywhere in the Northern hemisphere. Even when he in an airplane at 30,000 ft it’s basically the same. Whereas in the Southern hemisphere Jonathan states that there is a better chance for us in this hemisphere to have a healthy and comfortable life style, without atmospheri

This soul brother is ‘out there’ he is prepared to give it a go for all that he is worth. Upfront and into it, and a courageous willingness to ‘have a go’! Back in the 1990’s Rev Billy noticed a more overt method of marketing products that was being pushed into people’s lives and as a vulnerable consumer it engaged him by appealing to his status and power, good looks and youth – and he was tricked into it. And it kept turning his head. Then somehow with the help of friends and teachers and the fortune of the luck of the draw - he decided to resist!  He was just tired of getting rolled over by the glam and whizz bang of seduction and the dazzle of neon super models when he walked through New York’s Time Square. So out of these circumstances he emerged out of the pavement - as a preacher on the Broadway sidewalks of Time Square. And with help of some cohorts created a theology in which Mickey Mouse was the antiChrist. Then he placed himself in front of the Disney store and began to encourage and exhort people,