The role of arts and icons in times of crisis

On 19 February 2013, The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse looked into what the role of arts and icons could in times of crisis – the climate change crisis as well as the employment crisis which Geelong’s residents are experiencing at the moment, with one major workplace after the other announcing that it will be closing down, throwing thousands of citizens into unemployment.

Today we talked with two musicians, a film director, a leader of the Earthworker initiative, and the lawyer who wishes to see Geelong power itself up with a crowdfunded Sea Dragon.

Guests in the studio:
Andrew Senia, lawyer, The Sea Dragon
Gary Banks, musician

Prerecorded interviews:
Matt Wicking, musician, member of Green Music Australia
Dave Kerin, Earthworker Cooperative
Theo Badashi, film director, ‘The Future of Energy – a love story about the renewable energy revolution’
Chris Jordan, photographer

Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 13:

» To open or download this programme in mp3-format, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)

» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast — via iTunes or via your own podcast/RSS software

“I had a friend say, ‘Well, if you’re really this passionate about environmentalism, quit acting.’ But you soon realize that one hand shakes the other, and being an artist gives you a platform.”
Leonardo DiCaprio, American film actor

The Sea Dragon – an icon for Geelong

» Website: www.geelongseadragon.com

» Article about the Sea Dragon: www.archdaily.com


“The next step is to get people excited about the prospect because it would be a boost for the city and help mark the revitalisation.
 It would be a benchmark project for the new Geelong, demonstrating we’re modern, renewable and smart.”
Ross George, managing director, Austeng

» Geelong Independent – 6 March 2014:
Build ‘icon’ for jobs, says boss
A leading Geelong engineering firm wants to adapt its commercial wind turbine technology to an iconic structure proposed for Geelong’s waterfront
. Article by John van Klaveren

» Geelong Independent – 6 February 2014:
Sea Dragon comes to life in city amid funding call
Architects have put on display a scale model of a proposed “icon” tourist attraction for Geelong’s waterfront.


» Andrew Senia’s home page: www.senialawyer.com

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Audio excerpts from the programme

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Audio excerpt 1:
Matt Wicking talks about Green Music Australia:

» To open or download the mp3-file, right-click here and use dropdown menu to download.

» Home page of Green Music Australia: www.greenmusic.org.au


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Audio excerpt 2:
Matt Wicking talks about the risk musicians take by not responding to the issue of climate change:

» To open or download the mp3-file, right-click here and use dropdown menu to download.

» Matt Wicking’s home page: www.mattwicking.com


» Home page of Matt Wicking’s band The General Assembly: www.generalassembly.com.au



 More about the topic here: What artists and arts institutions can do

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Audio excerpt 3:
Dave Kerin from Earthworker Cooperative talks about how the organisation is setting up a Australia-wide network of community-owned cooperatives, beginning with worker-owned factories, one of them located in Geelong, that will manufacture high-quality solar hot water systems.

» Home page: www.earthworker.org

» To open or download the mp3-file, right-click here and use dropdown menu to download.

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Mentioned in the programme

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Here’s the links to some of the various topics we talked about:

World premiere: The Future of Energy
The film ‘The Future of Energy – Lateral Power to the People’, a love story about the renewable energy revolution, premiers at the Transitions Film Festival in Melbourne in Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon St, on Friday 21 February 2014 at 8:30pm.

» Home page: thefutureofenergyfilm.org

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Geelong receives ‘Greenie Award’
The Sustainable Living Festival has been going for 15 years now. It started as a regional event in Hepburn Springs in 1998 and as it gathered momentum, it moved to Melbourne in 2000 and to Federation Square in Melbourne in 2001.

In 2013, the Sustainable Living Festival launched ‘My State of Sustainability’, inviting regional centres to participate by hosting events in their own towns. Geelong community groups and businesses put up their hands collectively for around 40 activities and had approximately 1,200 visits.

Future Proofing Geelong took a lead role in co-ordinating the local calendar of events program and being a point of contact between Sustainable Living Festival.

Last year Geelong hosted the most activities outside Melbourne. The festival organisers even gave Geelong it own filter button.

Every year the Sustainable Living Festival awards event partners for different catergories. This year they made up a new category to acknowledge the huge enthusiasm coming out of the regional centres in particular Geelong.

This year Geelong community groups and businesses hosted 67 events and hope to more than double the number of visits to activities.

On Friday 14 Febraury 2014 at a festival partners event, Sam Smith from Future Proofing Geelong went up to Melbourne to – on behalf of Geelong – collect the inaugural ‘Silver Honker Award’ for outstanding regional contribution to the Sustainable Living Festival for “the region making the most noise about sustainability”. All trophies proudly sponsored by the Salvation Army!

The festival organisers are also considering whether it is time to bring the festival back to the regions and they are thinking that Geelong would be the best place to start! Discussions to be continued.

» More info: futureproofinggeelong.com

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Community In Action Day at GPAC in Geelong

Local businesses and community groups are coming together to share knowledge and inspire.

· 12-1pm Don’t get Star Struck presented by Andrea Mason, Finding North

· 1-2pm Better Building Envelopes presented by Andrew Conte, Mekari Constructions

· 2-3pm Why we must find new ways to heat our homes presented by Phil Baulch, New Earth Systems

· 3-4pm Home Energy kits presented by Vicki Perret, Geelong Sustainability Group

· 4-5pm Gardening for Good Health presented by Lorna Martin, Grinter Reserve Community Garden

· 5-6pm Sustainaing Self presented by psychologist Helen Handsjuk

· 7.30-9.30 Art and Climate Change facilitated by Mik Aidt, the Sustainable Hour

» Read more and RVSP on Facebook

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CLIMARTE event in Melbourne: ‘Arts Climate Ethics: What role of the Arts’

» Philosopher and author Damon Young’s key note speech at the event: www.theguardian.com

» Facebook-events page: www.facebook.com/events/728287757184345

» Climarte’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/climarte

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Alcoa to close in Geelong, future of Anglesea power station?
Media Release from Surf Coast Air Action about the future of Alcoa Anglesea Power Station
» www.surfcoast.airaction.org

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Climate Action Petition
Petitioning Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Opposition leader Bill Shorten
 with carboncopy to Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Shadow Minister Mark Butler:

“We demand that our government respects the science and aims higher on climate. We’re asking for stronger, meaningful climate action, which is in the national and global interest.”

» Read more: www.getup.org.au

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Call for a total permanent on fracking
Petitioning the City of Greater Geelong council. During the first two days, over 100 people signed.

» Read more: www.change.org

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Melbourne Electric Vehicle Expo
The Alternative Technology Association warmly invites you to be part of our 2014 Melbourne Electric Vehicle Expo

When: Sunday 23 February 2014
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Where: Swinburne University, Hawthorn Campus.

The Expo will include up to 30 stalls, demonstrations, speakers and panel discussions relating to electric transport with a particular focus on electric bikes.

There will also be a “Show & Shine” display where you can show off your electric bike, car, motorbike or scooter. There will be prizes for the Most Attractive Vehicle, Best Workmanship and Best Concept.

The Expo will be a one-day event presented jointly by the Alternative Technology Association, Swinburne University and Boroondara Council. The expo will be a family friendly, relaxed and informative day exploring and showcasing Melbourne’s electric transport options, with a particular emphasis on electric bicycles.

» More info on: melbevexpo.com.au

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Music

Music played in the Sustainable Hour on 19 February 2014:

► Gary Banks performed his two songs ‘Rising Waters’ and ‘Not In My Name’ live in the studio.

Here is an older recording of the song ‘Not In My Name’:

» More music and info on Gary Banks’ home page: www.garybanks.com.au


► We also played the song ‘Get Together’ by Formidable Vegetable Sound System.

» Formidable Vegetable Sound System music files can be downloaded from http://music.formidablevegetable.com.au

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You can listen to all of the radio shows in full length as well as in excerpts. Use the links below. You will also find links to more information about the topics and sites that have been mentioned during the hour.

| Social stream | Hour no 13 | No 12 | No 11 | No 10 | No 9 | No 8 | No 7 | No 6 | No 5 | No 4 | No 3 | No 2 | No 1 |

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