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WOMADelaide Announces Full 2019 Planet Talks Program

Can the humble shroom help us save the planet right now? How can you survive the Armageddon and stay nice doing it? Can we tackle climate change without addressing our relationship with meat consumption and the livestock industry? WOMADelaide 2019’s Planet Talks program asks the real questions.

WOMADelaide today announced the full program for its 2019 Planet Talks Program, hosting some of the world’s foremost thinkers, activists, scientists, and leaders in engaging and inspiring thought provoking conversations.

Marking International Women’s Day on the Friday evening of WOMADelaide, Natasha Stott Despoja AM will deliver the International Woman’s Day address, followed by an in conversation between Natasha and journalist, politics commentator, and media identity, Annabel Crabb.

Annabel Crabb

Natasha Stott Despoja AM is the youngest woman ever to enter the Australian Federal Parliament. Since leaving politics, Natasha’s unwavering work towards gender equality has seen her take on roles including Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls and Chair of Our Watch—an organisation established to drive nationwide change in the culture, behaviours, and power imbalances that lead to violence against women and their children

On the Saturday of the festival, the WOMADelaide Planet Talks open with two key Radio National identities in Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas, bringing to life one of Australia’s favourite Political Podcasts, The Party Room. Join two of Australia’s most renowned broadcasters and some special guests as they analyse the latestpolitical issues from Canberra affecting our world.

Saturday also includes pioneering scientists Brian Pickles and Monica Gagliano and Nature Connection guide Alex Gaut, who will explore the fascinating hidden world of tree communication, plant cognition, and the healing powers of forest bathing (sounds like something we can definitely get behind).

Sunday includes a discussion on the magic of mushrooms with Gavin McIntyre from groundbreaking biofabrication New York company Ecovative Design, mycologists Brian Pickles and Alison Pouliot and mycotecture (mushroom architechture!) designer Mike Hornblow. Fungi have preceded trees and animals on the Earth by hundreds of millions of years and they’ll be cleaning humanity’s mess long after we’re gone. But can the humble shroom help us save the planet right now?

Walkley award-winning editorial cartoonist for The Guardian, National Treasure, and bestselling author First Dog on the Moon has thought-provoking/or illustrated numerous books including the recent First Dog’s Guide to Surviving the Impending Apocalypse. First Dog On The Moon has come to the rescue with a crash course in surviving the Armageddon and just as importantly, how to stay nice doing it.

“The growing appeal and appetite of festival audiences for the discussion forum provided by the Planet Talks, has led us to move the program from Speakers’ Corner into a new purpose built venue—the “Frome Park Pavilion”, which will comfortably seat up to 500 patrons for each of these fascinating discussions and conversations” said WOMADelaide Director, Ian Scobie.

Monday sees the WOMADelaide Planet Talks exploring whether we can really tackle climate change without addressing our relationship with meat consumption and the livestock industry? Join Less Meat Less Heat CEO, Angie Plummer, CSIRO Food Systems scientist, Cecile Godde, and farmer / SBS TV food documentary maker, Matthew Evans, for a discussion on what needs to be done and where to start.

Matthew Evans

Our Prime Minister recently declared the need for “fair dinkum power” when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. Join Prof Quentin Beresford, author of “Adani and the War on Coal”, and Greenpeace CEO and author of “The Coal Truth”, David Ritter, as they discuss the Adani saga and the power behind the Commonwealth Government’s passion for coal over a 100% renewable energy future.

In the final 2019 WOMADelaide Planet Talks session, The Wilderness Society’s Peter Owen, Mirning Elder and Coloured Stone frontman Bunna Lawrie, and marine scientist, Jodie Rummer, represent a large and growing movement of concerned people, councils, businesses, industries, environmental and scientific organisations opposing the proposed oil drilling by Norwegian oil company Equinor. On one side supporters of the drilling point to jobs and economic benefits for the state, while the others highlight oil spill modelling presenting catastrophic consequences for fisheries and tourism industries worth over $1.5 billion collectively per annum in one of the most pristine ocean environments left on Earth—The Great Australian Bight.

Jodie Rummer

Whatever you’re passionate about, whether it be politics or the environment or mushroom architechture, the 2019 WOMADelaide Planet Talks program sparks a conversation for everyone.

Read more here.

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