News from Friends of the Earth S26 Ep3

Ruth welcomes back Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth (FOE) to talk about FOE’s current environmental focus including the latest fires in Victoria, both from FOE’s perspective and his own personal experience, having been on the ground as a CFA volunteer firefighter in the recent Harcourt-Ravenswood fires that destroyed 48 houses earlier this month. Cam brings a fresh perspective on how to prepare for future fires in these unpredictable times of climate change, including the urgent need for Australia to purchase our own fleet of Large Air Tankers (LATS) currently leased from North America. Climate change is creating longer and longer fire seasons around the world so not having our own fleet is rapidly becoming a risky option.He talks about how to better support out local communities, (that’s all species! Fire affected wildlife are barely getting a mention on the news in these days….), and we will provide important information about where to get all levels of practical help including where we can source what’s actually needed to ensure relevant and appropriate support is available for those devastated by the fires.Cam reflects on where we are at with land management and Cultural Parks, and the new era of land management.With Victoria’s State election looming this year, Cam highlights the environmental issues faced by the State, such as the state of our forests and the imminent Snow Gum Summit whose focus will be on how to save the dying Snow Gums from the native wood-boring beetle whose larvae eats the sapwood, this combined with the effects of climate change, increased drought and fires means these severely stressed trees are struggling to survive.Join us for this interesting and informative conversation when Cam will bring important information to increase our knowledge and awareness of our planet’s environmental needs, so we can actively and most usefully participate in caring for the Earth, both locally and globally.Cam Walker is Friends of the Earth Australia’s campaigns coordinator. Cam has been active on environment and climate justice issues for more than 25 years. He has lectured in environmental politics and change theory at RMIT University and is currently working on nuclear-free energy with Victorian communities to protect farmland from unconventional gas and fracking, as well as new coal developments; koala protection and other regional environmental issues in Central Victoria. You can follow Cam’s Twitter feed at @Cam_Walker.Friends of the Earth fire recovery information is excellent - they have collated resources from the ground, and ideas on grassroots initiatives, to help us all support those affected by the fires. https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/support_vic_fires_jan2026 or, email: Vicky Ellmore <Vicky.rae@melbournefoe.org.au> who is Melbourne FOE's Community Organiser, Act on Climate Collective.The Biodiversity Recovery Alliance. Website: h[ps://www.biodiversityrecoveryalliance.com/ This is the coordinating group for on ground fire recovery from a biodiversity perspective. An alliance of local environmental groups working together to restore the Granite to Goulburn landscape following the Victorian Longwood bushfires this month, 2026. Subscribe to Granite News if you live in the Caveat, Highlands, Hughes Creek, Ruffy, Tarcome, Terip Terip, and Whiteheads Creek area, Their fire support information is excellent advising what help is available and how to get it. Email: pdphroberts@gmail.com Australia needs a publicly owned fire fighting air fleet https://www.foe.org.au/lat_2026#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20the%20Australian%20government,see%20in%20a%20warming%20world. Sign the petition and write to national Emergency Services minister, Kristy McBain, to urge the federal government to get on with purchasing a publicly owned fleets of LATs. Kristy.McBain.MP@aph.gov.au