Rehydrating the Earth

Climate Action Show

Climate Action Radio Show - July 26th 2021Produced by Vivien LangfordREHYDRATING THE EARTH Episode 2 on Ministry for the FutureGuests: Michal Kravcik - People and Water, Slovakia — The Flow PartnershipNicky Chirlian and Craig Carter - Upper Mooki Rehydration Project — NSW Landcare GatewayDidi Pershouse - About - REHYDRATE CALIFORNIA. / (191) Can We Rehydrate California? (Didi Pershouse & Walter Jehne at Paicines Ranch, 2018) - YouTubePeter Vandilevoo - Song Fight for the Trees.Molly - Reading from Ministry for the Future about Rehydrating California Soil carbon sponges, perennial grasses, slowing down creeks, we will find out how rehydrating the land affects the climate crisis.This is episode 2 of our series inspired by Ministry for the Future. There are many climate solutions dramatised by Kim Stanley Robinson and just this week flood waters have been wiping out towns in Northern Europe, India and Inner Mongolia.Floods - The Watchers.In the novel Molly reads about rehydrating farm lands. I thought I would go back to Water Engineer Michal Kravcik in Slovakia. He is all about permeable pavements and slowing down creeks rather than big dams.Then we talk to Craig Carter about how 13 landholders worked together to rehydrate the Upper Mooki Catchment in Northern NSW. Nicky Chirlian is the chair of the landcare group that implemented regenerative farming prionciples over a wide area.In Vermont Didi Pershouse speaks to us about how all this rehydration has a big role in sequestering carbon. She talks about the soil Carbon sponge which is demonstrated in her video above. She is dedicated to building the sorts of communities that work together and learn from indigenous land carers. Water Protection Action you can take:A vital water source for the Wangan and Jagalingou People is the Doongmabula springs. The Adani Carmichael coal mine will threaten its existence by siphoning out and polluting great volumes of water. Here is a letter from Adrian Burrugubba. Please write an email as he suggests. Friends, I need your support.Today I have written to the Honourable Meaghan Scanlon MP, Minister for Environment, to call for an immediate stop work order on construction of the Carmichael mine.I have asked her to intervene and support our human rights by ensuring that our lands and waters, and our sacred Doongmabulla Springs, are protected from Adani.You can help strengthen our demands.Please write to Minister Scanlon expressing your support for the W&J cultural custodians and our call for immediate action to protect our sacred Doongmabulla Springs. Email her at [e-mail] - and please Cc us at [e-mail] so we can see your messages too.The Queensland Government has so far failed to address our call for urgent action. We have raised the dire warning about the threat to our sacred springs - a place of profound cultural heritage to us. We fear that the very large volume of water extraction by Adani that is now evident has already locked in future environmental damage to our sacred site. The Department of Environment and Science concluded its investigation into our complaint with “no further action will be taken”, despite the evidence we provided about the harm being done to the Doongmabulla Springs.Adani continues to act with impunity and our lands and waters are in peril. We have raised many times that the Adani mine breaches our human rights - as there was no free, prior, and informed consent for the issuing of the mining leases - and that our lands and waters are in peril. The Government is now responsible for the terrible impacts occurring on our Country and to our sacred sites. You can help us change this. We have asked the Minister to meet with us and ensure four things happen. Let her know you support -A ‘Stop Work’ on the mine until our sacred Doongmabulla Springs are protectedIndependent verification of the results of the department’s investigation into our complaintA comprehensive, independent, scientific review to help protect the water and the springsThe right of our cultural custodians’ group to hold Adani to account for its destruction of our lands and watersWe must act urgently! The very large volume of water being extracted by Adani is locking in future environmental damage to our sacred site. This can only get worse. Please donate to support the work of the W&J Nagana Yarrbayn Cultural Custodians.We know from experience and history that the consequences for our people will be severe, causing ongoing loss of connection to Country and to our culture, intergenerational trauma, grief, and psychological harm.Our culture is inseparable from our lands and waters, including groundwater. Where the groundwater flows to the surface, at the Doongmabulla Springs, is our most sacred site. Mining our land and extracting our groundwater denies us our right to enjoy, maintain and protect our culture and traditional stories. We need you to help ensure that we are not subjected to forced destruction of our culture. We are building new legal arguments to defend our human rights and protect the water. Please help us in this work.We need your support to bring new legal challenges to defend our human rights. With your support we will pursue all avenues to protect our cultural rights and our lands and waters.To see more about the W&J cultural custodians and how we are standing our ground, visit our website and FaceBook page. Yours for Country. Adrian BurragubbaWangan and Jagalingou tribal leader& W&J Nagana Yarrbayn senior cultural custodian