The ocean makes half your oxygen - should we really mine it?
About half of the oxygen that you are breathing right now is made in the ocean. And last year, scientists found that some of it is made three kilometres down in total darkness by microbes that live on the seabed.We had no idea about any of this before then, and now, next month, the United Nations International Seabed Authority is deciding whether they will let industrial rigs strip minerals out of the seabed. But is that a good idea when it turns out we know so little about it?Surely there are smarter options, right? And what do we even need those minerals for anyway? Well, that’s what we’ll be discussing in this episode.In this episode let's talk about: What Dark Oxygen is and why we should be worriedWhat is found in the deep seaWhat deep sea mining actually is and why we do itThe dangers of deep sea miningWhy there is a need for the metals gained from deep sea miningWhy everyone is panicking about itWho wants to deep sea mine and who doesn'tTrump’s executive order that is allowing fast-tracking of deep sea mining applicationsOther countries’ responses to deep sea miningWhat you can do about itFind our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
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11:07
Need a break from bad news? Positive stories you might have missed
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the last few episodes have been somewhat… bleak.There’s been a lot to discuss around climate change, governments, and corruption, but I realised if we kept focusing only on that, it was going to get all-consuming.So this week, I’m welcoming back Kate to help me share some good news stories instead!In this episode, we cover:What are drop bears?Some fun community topicsWhat happened at the UN Ocean ConferenceReasons why Kate was put off getting solar and myths about solarHow knowledge and access to information about the environment have changedComparing emissions per person in China and India vs. Australia and AotearoaBreaking down environmental stereotypes about other countriesWhen I talked about “marine saviour pirates,” I was thinking of Captain Paul Watson - he founded Sea Shepherd and now runs the Captain Paul Watson Foundation.Giveaway! This week, I'm giving away copies of Rewilding the Sea by Charles Clover - a fascinating look at how rewilding our oceans can restore ecosystems, protect marine life, and even help tackle climate change. Join me over on Instagram to enter.Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
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30:04
You're not immune to disinformation: 6 ways we all fall for it
You reckon you’re immune to propaganda and disinformation, right? A critical thinker who sees through the rubbish.I thought the same - until I realised I’m way more likely to believe something if it backs up what I already think.That’s not a personal flaw. It’s how we’re all wired. But we need to get better at spotting it, because it’s fuelling polarisation and making it harder to have real conversations with people we disagree with.And with AI making it even harder to tell what’s real, it’s only going to get trickier.If we want to tackle big issues together, we’ve got to become more sceptical, more media literate, and better at asking:Where’s the evidence? What’s the source? Is there consensus?This episode is designed to help you do exactly that - understand and analyse the information out there.In this episode I talk about:What confirmation bias actually isA proper breakdown of propaganda, misinformation, and disinformationHow extremist disinformation groups take holdReal examples of how disinformation can (and does) cost livesHow it delays action on the things that matter mostWhat to look for when spotting disinformationThe six main tactics companies and governments use to spread itAnd how we can start pushing backGiveaway! This week, we're giving away copies of Six Conversations We’re Scared to Have by Deborah Francis White - a practical guide to having honest and respectful discussions on tough topics like politics, climate, and social issues. Join me over on Instagram to enter. Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
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21:39
We’re halfway through, so how is this Government doing?
Well, we are officially halfway through the election cycle. The coalition government has been in place for about 18 months now. David Seymour is our Deputy Prime Minister. So, how are things going?I did my first ever political roundup episode - I think it was episode three - and it ended up being one of our most popular ever.Interestingly, you lot seem to care about what's going on out there, which is nice. So I thought we’d do a check-in, because it's been a year, right?Just to set some guardrails: I'm very much talking about environmental and social issues. I'm not really diving into the economy (though it might get a mention), or the cost of living, or anything else like that. All big problems, all important topics - but I'm absolutely not educated enough to speak on them.Much like the first time I did this, I'm going to try to be unbiased. I will probably fail, because I’m human, I’m violently sarcastic, and I’m obviously quite left-leaning.Everything in here is factual. It’s been fact-checked. But as my mother would say: I might have a tone. Please forgive me.In the episode let's talk about:Budget 2025 - the "no BS budget"What was cut in this budget?What were some budget additions that impact the environment?Some of the new legislation we should know aboutThe Fast Track Approvals Act and what it meansThe shifting of the government's climate policyThe agricultural legislation and how it impacts the environmentOther changes including waste management, bottled water, and live animal exportingThe impact of these changes on NZ's reputation and credibilityThe nonsense political narrativeSome of the good things the government has doneThe University of Canterbury submission's on Gene Technology Regulation: https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/server/api/core/bitstreams/0e1aa118-5e68-4b43-b395-2a4487d90aa4/contenthttps://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/server/api/core/bitstreams/fb5002ba-2e21-4a45-be4e-56d6259b4571/contenthttps://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/server/api/core/bitstreams/05dd6485-82e0-4f54-844b-8860e8548b68/contentFind our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
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30:30
Still arguing about climate change? Listen to this first (Microgreens)
Are you tired of arguing about climate change with your uncle, or your co-worker, or that weird person online?Welcome to the club. Now, if you really want to keep banging your head on that wall, I'm not here to stop you, but I am here to try and give you some facts that might help - because even though you are almost certainly not going to convince those people, it is often worth trying to combat some of that misinformation.You are probably not going to convince the guy who thinks that all scientists are evil and funded by, like, solar - but that's not really why we do it. Misinformation is fricking annoying, and it spreads four times faster than facts. But most importantly, it also stops us doing what we need to do to stop the planet heating up and boiling the oceans. Every fraction of a degree makes a difference. So today, for this episode of Microgreens, I thought I would talk about some of the myths I see quite often in my comment section, parroted by climate change deniers - but also how you can talk about things like climate change a little bit more effectively.Let's talk about: The term 'climate change denier'How the scientific process works and how to know who to trustHow and why climate change became so politicisedHow fossil fuel companies hid the evidence of climate changeThe various myths and why they are falseFind our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
Join Brianne West, environmentalist and social entrepreneur, as she wanders through the world of 'sustainability'. "Now, That's What I Call Green" busts myths, shares the science, and talks about the amazing world we live in (with lots of cute animals). Does rewilding help? But what can I do? Are electric cars better? Is it too late to do something about climate change? Why don't sharks have bones? For those curious about the environment and eager to make a difference, tune in for a non-judgmental, evidence-based approach that is all about progress over perfection.