Episode 93: If You Love This Planet with Dr Helen Caldicott and Morag Gamble

"What gives me hope is people who have the guts to stand up … like you!"

"There’s an urgency. The earth is in the intensive care unit - acutely ill.  We’ve got nothing to lose, and everything to gain from speaking up."

This episode takes me to the essence of why I do what I do and why I speak up - the peace movement, my love of this planet, the political precariousness in which we dwell and my deep concern for our common future.

Dr Helen Caldicott (from Melbourne near where I grew up)  is the world’s most articulate and passionate advocate of citizen action to remedy the nuclear and environmental crises. 

She practices global preventative medicine and has spent 5 decades educating world leaders, influencers, physicians and communities of the impacts of the nuclear age - nuclear energy, nuclear war and nuclear disasters on the planet, on life, on humanity and the necessary changes in human behaviour to stop environmental destruction.. She's spoken Presidents, Prime Ministers, celebrities - even the Dalai Lama.

At this point in time, she has never been more concerned. She warns that have never been closer to a major nuclear catastrophe at the same time as being in the midst of climate and biodiversity catastrophes.

This is not easy to hear, but we must.  Let it move you, empower you, stoke the fires in your belly and let it rise up.

The Smithsonian named Helen one of the most influential women of the 20th Century.  She taught at Harvard in the 70s and practiced at Children’s hospitals around the world.  In 1980 she resigned and became a planetary physician.

Helen has: 

written 7 booksreceived 21 honorary doctoratesbeen the subject of several films including the oscar-winning IF YOU LOVE THIS PLANETreceived multiple awards, and prizes - including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985 as part of a international network - the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War 

When I was a teenager,   I was deeply motivated by Helen's work. I consider her a catalyst of my lifework. And like her, I am astounded that there is so little media attention while we teeter on the edge of nuclear catastrophe.

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This podcast is an initiative of the Permaculture Education Institute.

Our way of sharing our love for this planet and for life, is by teaching permaculture teachers who are locally adapting this around the world - finding ways to apply the planet care ethics of earth care, people care and fair share. We host global conversations and learning communities on 6 continents.

We teach permaculture teachers, host permaculture courses, host Our Permaculture Life YouTube, and offer free monthly film club and masterclass.

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