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Details for the Living Planet Podcast
Exploring the environmental issues facing the world today. this prize-winning weekly radio magazine brings you environmental news, background reports, interviews and features from our international network of correspondents.
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Episodes
1 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
Living dangerously on one of the world's highest peaks; A look at the pressures on European bats; Changing bears behavior in Slovakia - for their own sake; and a Dutch astronaut-turned-sailor and his obsession with a more sustainable life.You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items. Living dangerously on Mount ElbrusAt 5642 meters Russia's Mount Elbrus – located close to the border with Georgia - is Europe's highest mountain.Together with Kilimanjaro and Everest, it's one of the world's seven summits and wildly popular with mountain climbers, as well as snowboarders and skiers, who can find snow there all year round. But it's also under siege - from the forces of nature and humanity. Report: Mareike Aden The pressures facing European batsAndreas Streit is the head of EUROBATS – a UN conservation body.His organization has warned that last month's fires in Russia could prove to be devastating for bats, which are already facing tremendous pressures for survival there, as well as elsewhere in Europe. Andreas joined DW in the studio to talk about the creatures' plight. Interview Andreas Streit / Nathan WitkopChanging bears behavior in SlovakiaSlovakia is struggling with its growing population of brown bears.Their territory is shrinking and its driving more of them to seek food in populated areas. Some Slovaks want old rules prohibiting bear-shooting overturned, but others say the alternatives have not been exhausted. The inhabitants of the Tatra mountain region in Slovakia are used to living alongside bears, yet even they believe it is getting too dangerous. Report: Laura PostmaDutch ex-astronaut trades his house for an eco-boatFor sailing enthusiasts, boats aren't just a hobby. They're a lifestyle.Yet for most sailors, living on a boat is usually a distant dream. Unless you're former Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels, who's been sailing for 25 years. He traded in his home for his new boat. It not only handles well - it's designed to be as reliant as possible on renewable energy. Report: Cintia Taylor
2 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
Two scientific papers draw differing conclusions on BP's oil spill; Why peatlands matter - the lesson from Belarus; How industrial poisons are making their way into polar bears' diets; and five years on from Hurricane Katrina, a local reporter recounts what it was like to work through the disaster. You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items. Studies draw differing conclusions over BP oil spillTwo separate studies in the past two weeks have arrived at different conclusions on BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.With scientists scrutinizing an underwater plume, everybody's attention is fixed on its chemical composition, and whether naturally-occurring microbes are breaking it down - or not. Last week, a team of researchers published a study in Science magazine, suggesting that the plume is not dissipating as rapidly as expected. But this week, another team writing for the same journal, paints a different picture. Report: Laura IiyamaWhy peatlands matter - the case of BelarusEurope's last remaining dictatorship – Belarus – may have little to teach the continent when it comes to human rights, but not when it comes to the environment.When wildfires swept through the region this month, Russia's smouldering peatlands were blamed for helping blanket Moscow in a toxic smog. That's because many were drained, providing ample fuel in the conditions. But the situation was different in neighbouring Belarus - despite it having some of the highest concentrations of peatlands in Europe. Since 2002, it's been working to restore these areas. Report: Mareike Aden Ice-trapped pollutants poison polar bears' dietsThe polar bear – the emblematic species of the Arctic – isn't just losing habitat thanks to climate change, it also stands to get poisoned.Research on polar wildlife, published recently in the journal Science of The Total Environment has found that the retreat of sea-ice cover in the Arctic, together with changing ocean and air currents, could increase the exposure of predators like polar bears to a range of man-made chemical compounds: Everything from flame retardants to substances used to harden plastics. Report: Mark TamhaneKatrina five years on: A chat with a journalist who was thereResidents of New Orleans will be looking back this weekend to the moment five years ago when Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Thousands are still living in trailers there today.John Pope is a staff reporter for the New Orleans Times Picayune newspaper. He was in Germany earlier this year to talk about the challenges of reporting from a disaster – especially one that hits your home. Author: John Pope / Nathan Witkop
3 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
An eco-friendly way of dealing with corpses runs up against taboos in Belgium; How much has government mismanagement stoked Russia's forest fires? We take a look at Italy's illegal construction boom – and the incentives driving it; and a decade to halt desertification – the UN launches a new drive to stop the loss of our planet's precious soils.You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items.Resomation meets stiff resistance in BelgiumWhat we want to happen to our bodies once we die can be a very touchy subject. For some the thought of decomposing is intolerable, for others the idea of cremation is profane. So what about being reduced to liquid? The idea is called resomation. It involves reducing the body to a mixture of liquid and minerals and is far less carbon intensive than conventional ways of disposing bodies. So far it has been approved in six states in the US and now a group of funeral directors from the northern Belgian province of Flanders is eager to get it authorised. However, they're running into some stiff resistance. Report: Stephen BeardDid Russian mismanagement worsen the forest fires?Although Russia's forest fires have mostly been brought under control, the fallout remains stark.We speak to DW's Moscow correspondent about the fallout from the forest fires. Interview: Mareike Aden / Nathan Witkop The incentives driving Italy's illegal constructions boomThink of the words Italy and landscape and you probably conjure up images of Tuscany – rolling hills and quaint towns seemingly untouched by modernity. But Italian landscapes also have another side.It is often easier to build illegally in Italy than wait for permission from local authorities. Government amnesties seem to be encouraging the problem more than solving it. Report: Stephanie RaisonThe UN launches a new drive to stop desertificationNearly a quarter of earth's land surface is suffering from some degree of soil erosion. It's a worrying scenario for a planet that's going to need to expand food production to keep pace with demand this century. This week the UN warned that poor farming practices, water mismanagement, deforestation and climate change are rendering vast stretches of the Earth barren. DW spoke to the UN convention to combat desertification about the problem and the new campaign to halt it. Interview: Yukie Hori / Nathan Witkop
4 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
The birth of an ice island in Greenland; urban foragers go dumpster diving in Amsterdam; conservationists in Wales breed falcons for commercial hunting; and toxic toads invade West Australia.You can listen to the show online or subscribe to the Living Planet podcast. Click on the links below for the individual reports.Canadian ice expert witnesses the birth of a massive ice islandCanadian Ice Service researcher Trudy Wohlleben talks about her discovery of a giant ice island. The 260 square kilometer ice sheet had torn away from Petermann's Glacier on Greenland’s northwest coast.Trudy Wohlleben, a researcher with the Canadian Ice Service, got quite a surprise when she discovered the gigantic iceberg. While reviewing NASA satellite images, she noticed that a massive ice island had torn away from Petermann's Glacier, on Greenland's northwest coast. It's common for glaciers to shed ice - a process called calving - but this size of ice island is rare.Urban foragers go dumpster diving in AmsterdamDumpster diving already has a solid following in the US, where activists are trying to reduce the pressure on landfills. But are Europeans ready dive in?We follow a group of dumpster divers as they go scavenging at a market in Amsterdam. They can afford to buy groceries but say this is a lifestyle choice aimed at saving the planet.Conservationists breed falcons for commercial huntingBreeders in Wales are working to revive falcon populations across Europe and the Middle East. In order to prevent poaching, they also provide birds for hunters.Falcons are some of the most formidable and ferocious birds to patrol the skies. But in recent decades, their numbers have taken a nosedive. Now breeders in Wales have partnered up with commercial hunters in an effort to preserve this endangered bird.West Australia fights cane toad invasionCane toads were introduced to Australia from South America and have become a serious threat to native wildlife.Locals in West Australia are banding together to fight the spread of the poisonous cane toad. The toads were introduced to Australia from South America more than 70 years ago and have devastated native populations of lizards, snakes and even marsupials.
5 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
The birth of an ice island in Greenland; urban foragers go dumpster diving in Amsterdam; conservationists in Wales breed falcons for commercial hunting; and toxic toads invade West Australia.You can listen to the show online or subscribe to the Living Planet podcast. Click on the links below for the individual reports.Canadian ice expert witnesses the birth of a massive ice islandCanadian Ice Service researcher Trudy Wohlleben talks about her discovery of a giant ice island. The 260 square kilometer ice sheet had torn away from Petermann's Glacier on Greenland’s northwest coast.Trudy Wohlleben, a researcher with the Canadian Ice Service, got quite a surprise when she discovered the gigantic iceberg. While reviewing NASA satellite images, she noticed that a massive ice island had torn away from Petermann's Glacier, on Greenland's northwest coast. It's common for glaciers to shed ice - a process called calving - but this size of ice island is rare.Urban foragers go dumpster diving in AmsterdamDumpster diving already has a solid following in the US, where activists are trying to reduce the pressure on landfills. But are Europeans ready dive in?We follow a group of dumpster divers as they go scavenging at a market in Amsterdam. They can afford to buy groceries but say this is a lifestyle choice aimed at saving the planet.Conservationists breed falcons for commercial huntingBreeders in Wales are working to revive falcon populations across Europe and the Middle East. In order to prevent poaching, they also provide birds for hunters.Falcons are some of the most formidable and ferocious birds to patrol the skies. But in recent decades, their numbers have taken a nosedive. Now breeders in Wales have partnered up with commercial hunters in an effort to preserve this endangered bird.West Australia fights cane toad invasionCane toads were introduced to Australia from South America and have become a serious threat to native wildlife.Locals in West Australia are banding together to fight the spread of the poisonous cane toad. The toads were introduced to Australia from South America more than 70 years ago and have devastated native populations of lizards, snakes and even marsupials.
6 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
A wind farm in Scotland makes energy education a breeze; The Census of Marine Life probes the bottom of the ocean; and an organic garden in South West Wales plants seeds of hope for the economy. You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items.Learning is a breeze at Scotland's Whitelee Wind FarmAt the Whitelee Wind Farm visitors learn about the 140 giant wind turbines scattered across Eaglesham moor.The Scottish renewable energies sector is booming and wind power is leading the way. There are towering white turbines along the highways, on the coast and in the middle of the countryside. Now, one wind farm has come up with a way to make learning about renewable energy a lot of fun. Report: Irene QuailleScientists count plenty of fish in the seaThe first global Census on Marine Life was released earlier this week. The decade long study investigated the diversity, distribution and abundance of life in the world's oceans.This week the Census of Marine Life released an inventory of species that live in the sea. The census took ten years and involved thousands of scientists who investigated 25 biologically representative regions. They examined coral reefs, observed the continental shelf and probed the Antarctic seafloor. Dr. Brigitte Ebbe is a specialist in marine biology. She worked on the census and told us a little about her findings. Interview: Saroja CoelhoNegotiations for a new climate change treaty continue in BonnDelegates at the UN Climate Change Conference say the negotations on a new global treaty have been painfully slow.This week, delegates from around the world gathered in Bonn to discuss how to replace or extend the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. Kyoto calls on industrial countries to reduce emissions but makes no demands of developing countries like China and India, which have emerged as major polluters. As the world returned to the negotiating table, we asked representatives from Gambia, Costa Rica, Australia and the European Commission about their impressions of the Climate Change Conference. Interview: Saroja CoelhoOrganic garden plants seeds of hope for the economyThe conversion of a deserted dairy farm into a thriving eco-business has locals in South West Wales thinking organics may be the future.We peek over the wall of what looks like a regular farm and find a huge organic kitchen garden. It's part of a luxury hotel which has turned this neglected patch of land on the Towy estuary into a thriving eco-business.
7 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
A wind farm in Scotland makes energy education a breeze; The Census of Marine Life probes the bottom of the ocean; and an organic garden in South West Wales plants seeds of hope for the economy. You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items.Learning is a breeze at Scotland's Whitelee Wind FarmAt the Whitelee Wind Farm visitors learn about the 140 giant wind turbines scattered across Eaglesham moor.The Scottish renewable energies sector is booming and wind power is leading the way. There are towering white turbines along the highways, on the coast and in the middle of the countryside. Now, one wind farm has come up with a way to make learning about renewable energy a lot of fun. Report: Irene QuailleScientists count plenty of fish in the seaThe first global Census on Marine Life was released earlier this week. The decade long study investigated the diversity, distribution and abundance of life in the world's oceans.This week the Census of Marine Life released an inventory of species that live in the sea. The census took ten years and involved thousands of scientists who investigated 25 biologically representative regions. They examined coral reefs, observed the continental shelf and probed the Antarctic seafloor. Dr. Brigitte Ebbe is a specialist in marine biology. She worked on the census and told us a little about her findings. Interview: Saroja CoelhoNegotiations for a new climate change treaty continue in BonnDelegates at the UN Climate Change Conference say the negotations on a new global treaty have been painfully slow.This week, delegates from around the world gathered in Bonn to discuss how to replace or extend the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. Kyoto calls on industrial countries to reduce emissions but makes no demands of developing countries like China and India, which have emerged as major polluters. As the world returned to the negotiating table, we asked representatives from Gambia, Costa Rica, Australia and the European Commission about their impressions of the Climate Change Conference. Interview: Saroja CoelhoOrganic garden plants seeds of hope for the economyThe conversion of a deserted dairy farm into a thriving eco-business has locals in South West Wales thinking organics may be the future.We peek over the wall of what looks like a regular farm and find a huge organic kitchen garden. It's part of a luxury hotel which has turned this neglected patch of land on the Towy estuary into a thriving eco-business.
8 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
'Growing Power' and the urban farming revolution; A peek inside the doomsday vault for seeds in the Arctic; and the D-I-Y workshop in Berlin for making bikes out of bamboo. You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items. Will Allen, Growing Power and the urban farming revolutionUntil now, the US city of Milwaukee has been famous for beer, but Will Allen has planted the seeds of another legacy.Over the last five years, the Midwestern town has gained a reputation as the home of what many are calling a "good food revolution" - the push to provide locally grown vegetables in the city. This year, the man who began that revolution, Will Allen, was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by America's Time magazine. DW visited his farm, Growing Power. Report: Kateri JochumA peek inside the Arctic's Svalbard doomsday vault for seedsDeep under the permafrost of the island of Svalbard, just 1500 kilometres from the North Pole, lies an unusual treasure: Half a million seed samples from all over the world are stored for posterity in the Svalbard global seed vault.The idea is to protect them from danger. A sort of doomsday vault, where the current diversity of edible crops can be preserved for future generations in the event of a cataclysm – or just the loss of one particular species. The vault is only opened a few times a year. Roland von Bothmer, Professor of plant breeding and genetics at the Swedish University of Agriculture, is one of the few with a key to get in. He took Deutsche Welle on a trip inside. Report: Irene Quaile Berlin workshop gives D-I-Y classes in bamboo bikesIf you've ever been to Berlin, you've probably noticed that it's a great city for getting around on a bicycle, but that's not enough for some.Berlin's biking population has exploded in the last ten years, not least thanks to the flat terrain and the bike paths. But for some, conventional bicycles just aren't environmentally friendly enough and they've founded a D-I-Y workshop for making bikes out of bamboo. DW went along to see why – and how. Report: Leah McDonnell
9 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
'Growing Power' and the urban farming revolution; A peek inside the doomsday vault for seeds in the Arctic; and the D-I-Y workshop in Berlin for making bikes out of bamboo. You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items. Will Allen, Growing Power and the urban farming revolutionUntil now, the US city of Milwaukee has been famous for beer, but Will Allen has planted the seeds of another legacy.Over the last five years, the Midwestern town has gained a reputation as the home of what many are calling a "good food revolution" - the push to provide locally grown vegetables in the city. This year, the man who began that revolution, Will Allen, was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by America's Time magazine. DW visited his farm, Growing Power. Report: Kateri JochumA peek inside the Arctic's Svalbard doomsday vault for seedsDeep under the permafrost of the island of Svalbard, just 1500 kilometres from the North Pole, lies an unusual treasure: Half a million seed samples from all over the world are stored for posterity in the Svalbard global seed vault.The idea is to protect them from danger. A sort of doomsday vault, where the current diversity of edible crops can be preserved for future generations in the event of a cataclysm – or just the loss of one particular species. The vault is only opened a few times a year. Roland von Bothmer, Professor of plant breeding and genetics at the Swedish University of Agriculture, is one of the few with a key to get in. He took Deutsche Welle on a trip inside. Report: Irene Quaile Berlin workshop gives D-I-Y classes in bamboo bikesIf you've ever been to Berlin, you've probably noticed that it's a great city for getting around on a bicycle, but that's not enough for some.Berlin's biking population has exploded in the last ten years, not least thanks to the flat terrain and the bike paths. But for some, conventional bicycles just aren't environmentally friendly enough and they've founded a D-I-Y workshop for making bikes out of bamboo. DW went along to see why – and how. Report: Leah McDonnell
10 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
Holiday-makers may be about to catch more than just sun on beaches in Italy; A new report says international efforts are having a dramatic effect on reducing illegal logging; A mighty wind blows through Texas; and can we catch fish without wreaking havoc on other species that are in the way? You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items.Sewage threatens the safety of Italian beachesItaly's beaches have long been among the favorite destinations of Europeans taking a summer break. Next summer they may be in for more than a tan, though.A warm Mediterranean climate, great food, the legacy of Roman architecture and some of Europe's longest stretches of coastline for swimming, make Italy a perennial holiday hit. But Italy also has a problem with effluent, and it has the most beaches in Europe closed each year. Although Italy used to have some of the strictest regulations for bacterial pollution in sea water, this may be about to change in the next 12 months. Report: Stephanie Raison World makes progress on illegal loggingThe most thorough assessment to date of the state of illegal logging found that a decade of efforts to tackle the problem have had a dramatic effect.The report is called Illegal Logging and Related Trade and it was put out by the think tank Chatham House. It found that total production of illegal timber has fallen by a fifth since 2002, yet the battle isn't won just yet... Report: Trevor GrundyA mighty wind passes through the Texas energy sectorIf there's one commodity to be associated with Texas, it's probably oil. Yet the state renowned for doing everything 'big', has also been getting into renewables in a big way, if quietly so.Currently, wind power supplies around two percent of energy in the United States. In Texas, it already supplies over 10 percent, and the state is home to the world's largest wind park. Report: Christina Bergmann / Susan HoultonCan we catch fish without bycatch?Barry Baker is a specialist in the field of wildlife management. For the past 25 years, he has worked for Australia's Environment Department, where he's focused on developing recovery plans for threatened species.Barry Baker is all about trying to find better ways to manage human's interactions with wildlife, to reduce unnecessary levels of impact. He was recently in Bonn to give some scientific advice on the issue of bycatch in commercial fishing, and joined DW in the studio to talk about the problem. Interview: Barry Baker / Nathan Witkop
11 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
Holiday-makers may be about to catch more than just sun on beaches in Italy; A new report says international efforts are having a dramatic effect on reducing illegal logging; A mighty wind blows through Texas; and can we catch fish without wreaking havoc on other species that are in the way? You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items.Sewage threatens the safety of Italian beachesItaly's beaches have long been among the favorite destinations of Europeans taking a summer break. Next summer they may be in for more than a tan, though.A warm Mediterranean climate, great food, the legacy of Roman architecture and some of Europe's longest stretches of coastline for swimming, make Italy a perennial holiday hit. But Italy also has a problem with effluent, and it has the most beaches in Europe closed each year. Although Italy used to have some of the strictest regulations for bacterial pollution in sea water, this may be about to change in the next 12 months. Report: Stephanie Raison World makes progress on illegal loggingThe most thorough assessment to date of the state of illegal logging found that a decade of efforts to tackle the problem have had a dramatic effect.The report is called Illegal Logging and Related Trade and it was put out by the think tank Chatham House. It found that total production of illegal timber has fallen by a fifth since 2002, yet the battle isn't won just yet... Report: Trevor GrundyA mighty wind passes through the Texas energy sectorIf there's one commodity to be associated with Texas, it's probably oil. Yet the state renowned for doing everything 'big', has also been getting into renewables in a big way, if quietly so.Currently, wind power supplies around two percent of energy in the United States. In Texas, it already supplies over 10 percent, and the state is home to the world's largest wind park. Report: Christina Bergmann / Susan HoultonCan we catch fish without bycatch?Barry Baker is a specialist in the field of wildlife management. For the past 25 years, he has worked for Australia's Environment Department, where he's focused on developing recovery plans for threatened species.Barry Baker is all about trying to find better ways to manage human's interactions with wildlife, to reduce unnecessary levels of impact. He was recently in Bonn to give some scientific advice on the issue of bycatch in commercial fishing, and joined DW in the studio to talk about the problem. Interview: Barry Baker / Nathan Witkop
12 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
BP begins testing its latest attempt to halt the flow of oil in the Gulf of Mexico; A compromise proposal to allow more GM crops into the EU upsets both biotech backers and detractors; A community scheme in the UK finds a clever way to generate power close to home; and an ambassador for animals says we shouldn't miss the forest for the trees when it comes to preserving life.You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items.BP tries latest attempt to seal its leaking oil wellThe oil giant BP began it's latest attempt to halt the flow of oil from its leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico this week.Tests are currently underway to establish how successful the operation has been. We spoke to DW's Washington correspondent for more. Interview: Christina Bergmann / Nathan WitkopThe EU attempts to end its internal stalemate on GMThe EU's executive has announced a compromise proposal on GM crop cultivation, aimed at ending the bitter stalemate over the controversial technology.Members of the bloc will be given the right to ban GM within their national borders if they want, in return they'll have to give up their objections at an EU level, so others who want the crops can have them. The idea hasn't been warmly welcomed, though. Report: Nina-Maria Potts Mini-hydro makes inroads in British power sectorA community in Britain has struck on a novel idea for self-reliance when it comes to energy.They've discovered that a legacy of the industrial revolution, is now perfectly suited for this century's energy revolution. Their power source is renewable, constant, relatively cheap - and local. It's called mini-hydro, and while it's no silver bullet, it is generating waves in the UK. Report: Lars Bevanger A conversation on poachers, gorillas and copper wiresIan Redmond is a tropical field-biologist. He's renowned for over 30 years of work with great apes, among other species. He calls himself a 'reluctant conservationist'– he'd rather study his subjects in peace, than document their continued decline.This year Ian Redmond was made a UN ambassador for migratory species, following a similar diplomatic posting for gorillas last year. He was recently in Bonn for a scientific advisory meeting on the state of migratory species, and joined me DW in the studio. Here we pick up the conversation as he described what it was like to come face to face with poachers… Interview: Ian Redmond
13 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
BP begins testing its latest attempt to halt the flow of oil in the Gulf of Mexico; A compromise proposal to allow more GM crops into the EU upsets both biotech backers and detractors; A community scheme in the UK finds a clever way to generate power close to home; and an ambassador for animals says we shouldn't miss the forest for the trees when it comes to preserving life.You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items.BP tries latest attempt to seal its leaking oil wellThe oil giant BP began it's latest attempt to halt the flow of oil from its leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico this week.Tests are currently underway to establish how successful the operation has been. We spoke to DW's Washington correspondent for more. Interview: Christina Bergmann / Nathan WitkopThe EU attempts to end its internal stalemate on GMThe EU's executive has announced a compromise proposal on GM crop cultivation, aimed at ending the bitter stalemate over the controversial technology.Members of the bloc will be given the right to ban GM within their national borders if they want, in return they'll have to give up their objections at an EU level, so others who want the crops can have them. The idea hasn't been warmly welcomed, though. Report: Nina-Maria Potts Mini-hydro makes inroads in British power sectorA community in Britain has struck on a novel idea for self-reliance when it comes to energy.They've discovered that a legacy of the industrial revolution, is now perfectly suited for this century's energy revolution. Their power source is renewable, constant, relatively cheap - and local. It's called mini-hydro, and while it's no silver bullet, it is generating waves in the UK. Report: Lars Bevanger A conversation on poachers, gorillas and copper wiresIan Redmond is a tropical field-biologist. He's renowned for over 30 years of work with great apes, among other species. He calls himself a 'reluctant conservationist'– he'd rather study his subjects in peace, than document their continued decline.This year Ian Redmond was made a UN ambassador for migratory species, following a similar diplomatic posting for gorillas last year. He was recently in Bonn for a scientific advisory meeting on the state of migratory species, and joined me DW in the studio. Here we pick up the conversation as he described what it was like to come face to face with poachers… Interview: Ian Redmond
14 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
The growing bioplastics industry and the changing face of disposable packaging; the donkeys powering a rubbish revolution in Sicily; the latest on the oil spill clean-up operation in the Gulf of Mexico; and the eco film festival that practices what it preaches. A greener form of plasticWhile plastic used to be seen as the material of the future, these days we recognize that goods such as plastic bags can have a harmful impact on wildlife and the environment. Can a new generation of plastics restore their reputation?The term bioplastics can refer to two different types of polymer. One type can be digested by microbes. The second type is bio-based. Report: Robin PowellDonkeys as rubbish collectorsA small Sicilian town has started a rubbish revolution; when their refuse trucks came up for renewal, the local council decided to replace them with... donkeys!The town of Castelbuono has found that downgrading from truck to donkey makes economic sense and is better for the environment. Even the donkeys seem happy with the new arrangement - they're protected by the same union rules as any other worker! Report: Naomi FowlerThe latest on the oil clean-up in the Gulf of MexicoSuper-skimmers, tar balls and a newly created investigation commission; we've got the latest on the bid to stem the spill, clean up the mess and appropriate the blame.The race is on to stop the oil from reaching sensitive wildlife regions before migration season starts. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has set up a commission to look into the causes of the oil spill and make recommendations for the future. The commission is due to start hearings next week, but doubts are already being raised about its competence. Interview: Christina BergmannThe eco film festival practicing what it preachesThe Dutch Environmental Festival doesn’t just showcase green films; it showcases them in a green way. This year, 100 percent of the festival's profits are being reinvested into making next year's festival even more environmentally friendly than the last.The festival opened with ‘The Music Tree’, a film about the threat musical instruments are posing to a particular type of Brazilian tree. Report: Cintia Taylor
15 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
The growing bioplastics industry and the changing face of disposable packaging; the donkeys powering a rubbish revolution in Sicily; the latest on the oil spill clean-up operation in the Gulf of Mexico; and the eco film festival that practices what it preaches. A greener form of plasticWhile plastic used to be seen as the material of the future, these days we recognize that goods such as plastic bags can have a harmful impact on wildlife and the environment. Can a new generation of plastics restore their reputation?The term bioplastics can refer to two different types of polymer. One type can be digested by microbes. The second type is bio-based. Report: Robin PowellDonkeys as rubbish collectorsA small Sicilian town has started a rubbish revolution; when their refuse trucks came up for renewal, the local council decided to replace them with... donkeys!The town of Castelbuono has found that downgrading from truck to donkey makes economic sense and is better for the environment. Even the donkeys seem happy with the new arrangement - they're protected by the same union rules as any other worker! Report: Naomi FowlerThe latest on the oil clean-up in the Gulf of MexicoSuper-skimmers, tar balls and a newly created investigation commission; we've got the latest on the bid to stem the spill, clean up the mess and appropriate the blame.The race is on to stop the oil from reaching sensitive wildlife regions before migration season starts. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has set up a commission to look into the causes of the oil spill and make recommendations for the future. The commission is due to start hearings next week, but doubts are already being raised about its competence. Interview: Christina BergmannThe eco film festival practicing what it preachesThe Dutch Environmental Festival doesn’t just showcase green films; it showcases them in a green way. This year, 100 percent of the festival's profits are being reinvested into making next year's festival even more environmentally friendly than the last.The festival opened with ‘The Music Tree’, a film about the threat musical instruments are posing to a particular type of Brazilian tree. Report: Cintia Taylor
16 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
Alien invaders catch the US on the back foot; Whales are granted a reprieve – for the next 12 months at least; Scientists enter an unusual alliance to monitor some disturbing trends in the Arctic; and an initiative to fix the health and environmental hazards plaguing many South African homes. You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual reports.US Great Lakes prepare for Asian carp invasionFor years, the United States has been struggling with a deadly invader. Last week authorities had some bad news to report.The Asian carp is a fish species alien to the US. It has a voracious appetite and a history of chocking off the food supply for other fish in its wake. It's been gradually making its way up the Mississippi towards the Great Lakes, and if it gets there, it could spell doom for the region's unique ecosystem – as well as it's multi-billion-dollar fishing industry. Last week, authorities made a chilling discovery: An Asian Carp was fished out of a waterway close to Lake Michigan – behind the last line of defense aimed at holding the intruders at bay. Report: Kateri Jochum Whales are granted a reprieve – for the time beingA heavily billed show-down between pro- and anti-whaling nations ended more in a fizzle than a bang last week. Conservationists claim a tactical victory.For now, the 25-year-old ban on commercial whaling remains in place after the defeat of a controversial compromise-proposal to overturn the moratorium in return for whaling nations making fewer kills. Niki Entrup was at the meeting and DW spoke to him after the International Whaling Commission conference to get his take on the outcome. Interview: Niki Entrup / Nathan WitkopScientists make unusual alliance to check disturbing Arctic trendsFor scientists to maintain their credibility, they have to be seen to be independent. That's why they're often wary of interest groups with agendas that could compromise their perceived objectivity. So a lot of people were surprised to hear about a joint venture between the respected Leibniz Institute for marine sciences at Kiel University and an environmental lobby group.The scientists announced they would be heading up to the Arctic with Greenpeace. Together they aimed to look into the effects of ocean acidification from rising levels of carbon dioxide. Deutsche Welle went along to find out why this time, scientists and NGOs were in the same boat. Report: Irene QuaileInitiative targets hazards of South African homesLow-cost housing has boomed since the end of apartheid, unfortunately many constructions are poorly desingned and leading to health and environmental problems.Millions of people around the world have been glued to TV sets these past couple of weeks following the soccer World Cup. For audiences in host-nation South Africa, the most common venue is their home. Low-cost housing has boomed since the end of apartheid – thanks to social housing programmes – unfortunately many constructions of have been of poor quality. They're causing health and environmental hazards, which are affecting the nation's poorest, hardest. A partnership program between Germans and South Africans aims to changes this. It's called Enerkey. Report: Richard Fuchs
17 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
Alien invaders catch the US on the back foot; Whales are granted a reprieve – for the next 12 months at least; Scientists enter an unusual alliance to monitor some disturbing trends in the Arctic; and an initiative to fix the health and environmental hazards plaguing many South African homes. You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual reports.US Great Lakes prepare for Asian carp invasionFor years, the United States has been struggling with a deadly invader. Last week authorities had some bad news to report.The Asian carp is a fish species alien to the US. It has a voracious appetite and a history of chocking off the food supply for other fish in its wake. It's been gradually making its way up the Mississippi towards the Great Lakes, and if it gets there, it could spell doom for the region's unique ecosystem – as well as it's multi-billion-dollar fishing industry. Last week, authorities made a chilling discovery: An Asian Carp was fished out of a waterway close to Lake Michigan – behind the last line of defense aimed at holding the intruders at bay. Report: Kateri Jochum Whales are granted a reprieve – for the time beingA heavily billed show-down between pro- and anti-whaling nations ended more in a fizzle than a bang last week. Conservationists claim a tactical victory.For now, the 25-year-old ban on commercial whaling remains in place after the defeat of a controversial compromise-proposal to overturn the moratorium in return for whaling nations making fewer kills. Niki Entrup was at the meeting and DW spoke to him after the International Whaling Commission conference to get his take on the outcome. Interview: Niki Entrup / Nathan WitkopScientists make unusual alliance to check disturbing Arctic trendsFor scientists to maintain their credibility, they have to be seen to be independent. That's why they're often wary of interest groups with agendas that could compromise their perceived objectivity. So a lot of people were surprised to hear about a joint venture between the respected Leibniz Institute for marine sciences at Kiel University and an environmental lobby group.The scientists announced they would be heading up to the Arctic with Greenpeace. Together they aimed to look into the effects of ocean acidification from rising levels of carbon dioxide. Deutsche Welle went along to find out why this time, scientists and NGOs were in the same boat. Report: Irene QuaileInitiative targets hazards of South African homesLow-cost housing has boomed since the end of apartheid, unfortunately many constructions are poorly desingned and leading to health and environmental problems.Millions of people around the world have been glued to TV sets these past couple of weeks following the soccer World Cup. For audiences in host-nation South Africa, the most common venue is their home. Low-cost housing has boomed since the end of apartheid – thanks to social housing programmes – unfortunately many constructions of have been of poor quality. They're causing health and environmental hazards, which are affecting the nation's poorest, hardest. A partnership program between Germans and South Africans aims to changes this. It's called Enerkey. Report: Richard Fuchs
18 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
A balloonist, a psychotherapist and a business executive give their perspectives on climate change at this year's Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum. Swiss pioneer Bertrand Piccard wants to prove that he can fly around the world without fuel; Journalist-turned-therapist Mark Brayne says our species is in denial; and Desertec executive Rainer Arlinghoff thinks the future looks bright after all. You can listen to the show online or download Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items.A balloonist reflects on humanity's need for weathermenBertrand Piccard – together with his travelling companion Brian Jones – holds the record for being the first person to circumnavigate the world non-stop in a hot air balloon. His next challenge is to fly around the world non-stop - without fuel.The ballooning record was set in 1999 and it nearly cost Bertrand his life. He says the experience led him to an epiphany that would lay the foundations for his next challenge. Bertrand used this anecdote of his ballooning experience to open Deutsche Welle's Global Media Forum Author: Bertrand Piccard A therapist's view of our reaction to climate changeMark Brayne is a former foreign news correspondent from the 70s and 80s, who retrained as a psychotherapist in the nineties. He's also the founder of the European branch of the DART center for Journalism and Trauma.Brayne is deeply concerned about the direction humanity is taking – as well as its collective capacity to react in time to a type of crisis it's never confronted before. With polls showing people's doubts about the science underpinning climate change growing, Deutsche Welle asked him if he thought humanity was in denial Interview: Mark Brayne / Nathan WitkopDesertec exec holds out hope for bright futureRainer Aringhoff – the chief operating officer of the Desertec initiative. It was founded last year by over a dozen firms and aims to revolutionise Europe's energy supply. The idea is simple: produce renewable energy close to where it makes sense, instead of close to customers. By the middle of the century, Desertec hopes to have enough solar and wind projects in North Africa, and an improved grid to access them, to supply Europe with 15 percent of its energy. DW put it to Rainer Aringhoff that the initiative is, if anything, rather un-ambitious. Interview: Rainer Aringhoff / Nathan Witkop
19 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
A balloonist, a psychotherapist and a business executive give their perspectives on climate change at this year's Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum. Swiss pioneer Bertrand Piccard wants to prove that he can fly around the world without fuel; Journalist-turned-therapist Mark Brayne says our species is in denial; and Desertec executive Rainer Arlinghoff thinks the future looks bright after all. You can listen to the show online or download Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual items.A balloonist reflects on humanity's need for weathermenBertrand Piccard – together with his travelling companion Brian Jones – holds the record for being the first person to circumnavigate the world non-stop in a hot air balloon. His next challenge is to fly around the world non-stop - without fuel.The ballooning record was set in 1999 and it nearly cost Bertrand his life. He says the experience led him to an epiphany that would lay the foundations for his next challenge. Bertrand used this anecdote of his ballooning experience to open Deutsche Welle's Global Media Forum Author: Bertrand Piccard A therapist's view of our reaction to climate changeMark Brayne is a former foreign news correspondent from the 70s and 80s, who retrained as a psychotherapist in the nineties. He's also the founder of the European branch of the DART center for Journalism and Trauma.Brayne is deeply concerned about the direction humanity is taking – as well as its collective capacity to react in time to a type of crisis it's never confronted before. With polls showing people's doubts about the science underpinning climate change growing, Deutsche Welle asked him if he thought humanity was in denial Interview: Mark Brayne / Nathan WitkopDesertec exec holds out hope for bright futureRainer Aringhoff – the chief operating officer of the Desertec initiative. It was founded last year by over a dozen firms and aims to revolutionise Europe's energy supply. The idea is simple: produce renewable energy close to where it makes sense, instead of close to customers. By the middle of the century, Desertec hopes to have enough solar and wind projects in North Africa, and an improved grid to access them, to supply Europe with 15 percent of its energy. DW put it to Rainer Aringhoff that the initiative is, if anything, rather un-ambitious. Interview: Rainer Aringhoff / Nathan Witkop
20 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
A sea-change from conferences this week: we talk to a conservationist about the upcoming International Whaling Commission meeting, which will consider lifting the ban on commercial whaling; we explore Japan's taste for whale meat; and we hear about the losing struggle of balancing tourism with sustainable fishing practices in the Bahamas.You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual reports. Eating whales: It's (not that) big in JapanAlthough most Japanese don't go for whale meat, they're uncomfortable with opposition to whaling.Japanese nationalist have long-argued that it is a traditional component of the country's culture which foreigners can't appreciate, and although the government claims the hunt is for scientific purposes, it's well known that the meat is meant for restaurants. Yet supply has been outstripping demand for some time. Report: Robin Powell IWC prepares for whaling showdownCould a political compromise see the 24-year-old ban on whaling overturned next week?Next week the International Whaling Commission will gather in Morocco for what is shaping up to be one of the biggest showdowns between whaling nations and their opponents in decades. On the agenda is a compromise proposal, which would overturn the ban on commercial whaling in return for a quota system that would lead to fewer whales being killed. Conservationists are dead against a compromise. Interview: Niki Entrup / Nathan Witkop The Bahamas tries to balance tourism with sustainable fishingIt's better in the Bahamas, especially if you're poaching from the sea.Imagine fishing laws without enforcement. It's a poacher's paradise. Well in the Bahamas, disappearing stocks are proof of the damage being done. The challenge facing the government of the Caribbean island-chain is to change that freebooting culture, and the appetite of the tourists that sustain it. Report: Cesil Fernandes
21 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
A sea-change from conferences this week: we talk to a conservationist about the upcoming International Whaling Commission meeting, which will consider lifting the ban on commercial whaling; we explore Japan's taste for whale meat; and we hear about the losing struggle of balancing tourism with sustainable fishing practices in the Bahamas.You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual reports. Eating whales: It's (not that) big in JapanAlthough most Japanese don't go for whale meat, they're uncomfortable with opposition to whaling.Japanese nationalist have long-argued that it is a traditional component of the country's culture which foreigners can't appreciate, and although the government claims the hunt is for scientific purposes, it's well known that the meat is meant for restaurants. Yet supply has been outstripping demand for some time. Report: Robin Powell IWC prepares for whaling showdownCould a political compromise see the 24-year-old ban on whaling overturned next week?Next week the International Whaling Commission will gather in Morocco for what is shaping up to be one of the biggest showdowns between whaling nations and their opponents in decades. On the agenda is a compromise proposal, which would overturn the ban on commercial whaling in return for a quota system that would lead to fewer whales being killed. Conservationists are dead against a compromise. Interview: Niki Entrup / Nathan Witkop The Bahamas tries to balance tourism with sustainable fishingIt's better in the Bahamas, especially if you're poaching from the sea.Imagine fishing laws without enforcement. It's a poacher's paradise. Well in the Bahamas, disappearing stocks are proof of the damage being done. The challenge facing the government of the Caribbean island-chain is to change that freebooting culture, and the appetite of the tourists that sustain it. Report: Cesil Fernandes
22 - Living Planet: Environment matters from around the world
Another special edition of Living Planet this week – we're focusing on the climate talks taking place in Bonn. We get an overview of the progress to date; a look at what the future holds in store for Bangladesh; and a conversation with an organization dedicated to ensuring climate action is wedded to what the science demands – even when it sounds 'unfeasible.' You can listen to the show online or subscribe to Living Planet as a podcast. Click on the links below for the individual reports.Snapshot of the talks' progressA 'legally binding international deal' to tackle climate change remains as elusive as ever, but at least parties are talking again, instead of trading accusations.Though delegates in Bonn aren't expected to come up with a deal this week, it is hoped that they will lay much of the ground work for an agreement at the next big summit in Mexico at the end of the year. To get a snapshot of where the process stands, DW spoke to Keya Chatterjee, acting director of climate change at the US branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Interview: Keya Chatterjee / Nathan WitkopThe view from BangladeshOne of the critical areas of climate negotiations is money. Developing countries are expected to require hundreds of billions of dollars in aid to help them adjust to a hotter world. Wealthy nations have recognized this in principle, and the European Union has pledged over seven billion euros over the next few years to get the ball rolling.For poor countries, money on teh table is a crucial gesture of good faith. They didn't create the climate crisis, but they stand to lose the most as it unfolds. Bangladesh is a prime example. The South Asian country is desperately poor and has a very small carbon footprint. But a mixture of geography and poverty makes it highly vulnerable to rising sea levels and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. Report: Sophie Tarr Too little, too late?Ainun Nishat is vice chancellor of BRAC University in Bangladesh and a member of the country's delegation at the climate talks currently underway in Bonn.DW spoke to Nishat about the Bangladeshi efforts to adapt to climate change and his concerns over the slow progress in raising funds. Interview: Ainun Nishat / Nathan WitkopShooting for less than two degrees350.org is credited with having organised the world's most widespread day of political action last year, when it motivated millions of people around the planet to take to the streets to protest climate inaction.350.org sprang up two years ago as a grass roots movement aimed at making sure climate action is just as ambitious as the science demands. The group was founded by the eminent US environmentalist Bill McKibben. DW spoke to the group's US coordinator May Boeve about what's in a name. Interview: May Boeve / Nathan Witkop
