Podcast 29: We need to talk about the floods | with Sue Higginson
Dear Patrons
Here's the podcast companion to our latest Honest Government Ad. And I'm stoked to have as my guest Sue Higginson - a resident, farmer, mother and grandmother from Lismore, the epicentre of these catastrophic climate floods.
We talk about the incredible community response to this climate disaster, and the acts of heroism that have ensured hundreds of lives were saved; and of course, we discuss the woeful government response.
We also look into the recent outcome of the Sharma vs the Environment Minister case in the Federal Court - which Sue is well placed to talk about in her professional capacity as an environmental lawyer, and former principal solicitor at the Environment Defenders Office, Australia's leading environmental law institution, which has taken on mining giants like Adani, BHP and Rio Tinto in the courts - and won.
I hope you enjoy this podcast and find it useful. And if so, please share it with others so we can spread the word.
Thank you for making all this work possible - it's really all thanks to your monthly support.
I'll catch you very soon for our next Honest Government Ad.
Until then, take care
Giordano
ps. here's the bleeped "PG" version of the Honest Government Ad - for those who need it.
Comments (12)
What a scoop and idea Giordano 👏 Sue is a hero and the perfect guest as Lismore and surrounds face round two of flooding. And to comment on the government’s betrayal of our youth and of a liveable planet. What a thorn Sue will be in the side of the NSW Government. The video is in perfect time to share widely with barely a mention of climate change action in the Budget and as Morrison sinks deeper and deeper in the estimation of the Australian people. Surely to goodness the LNP must be kicked out in May. Your tireless and brilliant satire will have a world changing legacy. (Yesterday Renew Economy published an article stating $220,000 worth of subsidies per MINUTE are allocated to the fossil fuel industry this year!!!!)
Thank you Sandra. I re-shared the podcast with Sue yesterday given how Lismore and surrounds were hit by yet another flooding :(
I've known Sue Higginson since she came to Tasmania in the bad old days (Guns these days is called "Sustainable Forestry Tasmania" ) Came to visit ...dangerous stuff for a "Mainlander"
Yikes. I remember Gunns :-/
Spot on. Such a wonderful description of the situation in Lismore from Sue's heart. Sadly, repeated across the areas affected by these 'rivers in the sky' deluging the land below. We need our parliaments filled with people, not subject to 'state capture' by the coal, oil, gas interests. I have found two books seminal to my outlook on society: "Tools for Conviviality" Ivan Illich "Voltair's Bastards: the dictatorship of reason in the west" John Raulston Saul [ Unfortunately for others, the insights & value system of my (late) parents are not directly available to you. ]
Thanks Andrea - those sound like solid reads. I totally forgot about Ivan Illich. it was a name I heard a lot about years ago! Thanks :)
Fantastic interview Giordano. Great to hear Sue's survivor testimony first hand, and great to learn that she will be taking that experience, and all her years as an environmental lawyer, to help fight against the corruption and regulatory capture of your institutions in Australia :)
Thanks Edward!
A very informative, eye-opening conversation with Sue on a wide range of related topics. Thank you for interviewing her and posting this. I have to confess: hearing it all I feel such burning anger. Anger at the gawddamn laissez-faire capitalists and their bought-and-paid-for government puppets who for over three decades have ignored, distracted, downplayed, denied what scientists were warning simply to continue piling up mammon —and to hell with the masses of people on this planet who will suffer the most from the climate crisis. And they're still doing whatever they can to keep filling their pockets, now telling those people "get fucken' used to it"! It makes me so heartbroken and sick that I feel nauseous.
Thanks Mark. I hear ya :-/
An absolute gift to listen to Sue and her thoughts and experiences. She brought a much needed fuller understanding of the situation to light. I just wish that we heard more conversations of this quality in the main-stream. Thanks for bringing this to us Giordano, very grateful. Pete
So do i! Thanks Pete :)