Saturday Morning for Saturday 3 September 2022

8.10 George Monbiot: presenting alternatives to farming

People talk a lot about the damage to our environment by agriculture, but what are the alternatives? In his latest book, Regenesis: How to Feed the World Without Devouring the Planet George Monbiot explores options. 

An author, Guardian columnist and environmental campaigner Monbiot has in fact recently argued that organic, pasture-fed beef and lamb are the world’s most damaging farm products. In Regenesis he travels to meet people who are using the science of soil ecology and fermenting bacteria in vats, pioneering new methods of cultivation. 

The need Monbiot argues is urgent: half of the world’s habitable land has already been taken to produce food, and population growth sees us needing to at least double food production by 2050. 

 

9.05 Jules Howard: what do dogs really think of us?

The relationship humans have with our canine friends is more established and, arguably, deeper than with any other animal. In Wonderdog: How the Science of Dogs Changed the Science of Life Jules Howard looks at the fascinating history of scientists’ work with dogs to understand what they - and we - are capable of. 

Questions about the minds of dogs drove the likes of Pavlov and Pasteur to unspeakable cruelty, influencing the practice of many other psychologists and animal behaviourists. Yet a new breed of scientists have opened up far greater understanding of dogs through employing love and compassion.

Jules Howard has written numerous books on science and wildlife both for adults and young people and writes regularly for BBC Science Focus and The Guardian.

 

9.35 Toody Cole: return of the living Dead Moon

Back in 1992 cult Portland garage rock trio Dead Moon skipped the chance to play with Nirvana to do a 20-show tour of New Zealand, gaining many ardent fans here in the process. 

This month sees the release of Going South, a double LP of live recordings of the band’s gig in Invercargill, to mark the 30th anniversary of that tour.

Singer and bassist Toody Cole formed Dead Moon with her husband Fred Cole and drummer Andrew Loomis back in 1987. They returned to play in New Zealand in 2016 after drummer Loomis’ death. Fred was to pass away the following year. 

Going South will be launched at a special tribute event at Tāmaki Makaurau's UFO on 9th September. 

 

10.05 Tame Iti: promoting the speaking of Māori

On friday night Tūhoe artist and activist Tame Iti was announced as one of seven 2022 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureates. The laureate awards "celebrate and empower New Zealand’s most outstanding artists".

It comes at a busy time for Tame Iti. He has been painting the words ‘I Will Not Speak Māori’ (and then crossing the ‘not’ out) up large on Wellington’s waterfront. These were the words a young Iti was forced to write out at school, driving his passion for Te reo to be widely spoken.

I Will Not Speak Māori is part of Te Hui Ahurei Reo Māori, a festival celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Māori language petition being presented to Parliament. Iti was there back in 1972, part of a three week parliament tent sit-in with Ngā Tamatoa.

Iti’s project also includes a collaboration with Delaney Davidson at The Engine Room at Massey University and Suite Gallery in Wellington, and a poster campaign nationwide. 

All this at the same time as the release in cinemas nationwide of Tearepa Kahi’s Muru, a cinematic response to the 2007 Tūhoe police raids, in which Tame Iti stars.

 

11.05 Playing Favourites with Emily Perkins

Emily Perkins is acclaimed as a novelist and short story writer, but her career started as an actor graduating from Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School in 1989. 

In her playwriting debut In 2015 Perkins created a contemporary interpretation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House with Auckland Theatre Company, who have now commissioned a new work from her. The Made explores the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and the ethical quandaries and issues this technology raises. Perkins asks: if Dr Frankenstein were a 21st Century woman, what would she create? .

Emily Perkins was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to literature in 2017.

For details on the world premiere of The Made opening 20 September go here.  

 

Books featured on this show:

Regenesis: How to Feed the World Without Devouring the Planet
George Monbiot
ISBN: 9780241563458
Publisher: Penguin
 

Wonder Dogs
Jules Howard 
ISBN13: 9781639362622
Publisher: Pegasus

 

Music featured on this show:

My Time and Yours
Ewan McLennan & George Monbiot
Played at 8.10am

Johnny's Got a Gun
Dead Moon
Played at 9.40am

I Was in the House When the House Burned Down
Warren Zevon
Played at 11.15am

Kissin' and a Huggin'
Joan Armatrading
Played at 11.27am

The Magic
Joan as Police Woman
Played at 11.40am

Kiss
Prince
Played at 11.58am