The Sustainable Hour

Mik Aidt and Mike Lawrence co-founded and hosts the weekly radio show The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse in 2013, which over the years since then has become a leading news provider in the region in the area of sustainability, renewable energy and climate change. Mik Aidt is 55 years old. Journalist, communicator and director of Centre for Climate Safety. Q. If you could have any job for a day, what would it be? A. I would love to be the Australian Prime Minister for a day - It would be a very busy 24 hours. I would commend Darebin City Council for showing the way on this. I would conduct a multimedia forum on the latest peer-reviewed science which would be covered by ABC and SBS and accessible to all Australians and would act on its findings. The participants would focus on the science and the necessity for urgent action. Firstly this would be the declaration of a climate emergency. This would involve two quick politicy decisions and a meeting: • No new fossil fuel projects. Adani and others get the flick • Stop all fossil fuel subsidies. Like that. Bang. In 2015 and 2016, the seven richest countries in the world donated $100 billion of taxpayers money annually to this destructive, old-fashioned energy industry. In Australia, tax-based fossil fuel subsidies amount to almost $11 billion per year federally. Transfer these sums to projects that are powered by clean, renewable energy and help reduce carbon emissions and drawing down carbon from the atmosphere. A special emphasis here would be on regenerative agriculture. I would create a special independent transition commission to administer this. • Calling all fossil fuel executives to an emergency meeting and warn them that if they were considering litigation, the Australian Government will counter-litigate them for trading their wares knowing full well for three-four decades of the damage their products were causing. Giving them six months to outline how they are going to transition to clean energy – or they'll be charged with crimes against humanity. Yep, a big day! Q. What's your favourite food? A. A juicy red steak flown in from overseas. Nah… just kidding. We’re into local food at The Sustainable Hour, and we love what they serve and sell at places like The Farmer’s Place, Little Green Corner, and Organic Mojo. Q. What's your favourite band? A. The Formidable Vegetable Sound System. They performed at The Farmer’s Place some months ago and what a night! Q. If you could have any three people to dinner, who would they be?  A. Ian Dunlop, Lis Bastian and our mayor Bruce Harwood Q. If you could meet anyone who has passed away, who would it be and why? A. Winston Churchill - to hear how he would tackle the ‘War against Carbon’ and climate change. Q. What's your best advice for people interested in working on radio? A. Listen to your heart and trust your gut feelings. Mahatma Gandhi said: “Remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it, always.” Q. What event, festival or service would you being to Geelong? A. Bring Pope Francis, American actor Arnold Swartzenegger and Indian scholar Vandana Shiva to Geelong via the Internet to back the Geelong community's efforts in working towards a zero carbon city turning carbon drawdown into the immense business opportunity it really is, once we begin to put a price on pollution. Open a room or a house in the CBD for activities that focus on sustaining our community, integrate the message in all the regions’ festivals, and also establish a yearly event to celebrate how far we have come in such a short span of time. Q. What song is your guilty pleasure? A. ‘It’s Only Rock n Roll, but I like it’

Tony Gleeson | Co-Host of The Sustainability Hour | 94.7 The Pulse

Colin Mockett | Co-Host of The Sustainability Hour | 94.7 The Pulse