Federal Politics With Rachel Withers; Listening In Nature And The Crisis Of Sensory Extinction; Is This The End Of Australia's Golden Age Of Beekeeping?

Uncommon Sense

American biologist Professor David George Haskell talks about his new book on the evolution of sound and the beauty of listening in nature. David also shares how humans are now silencing and smothering many of the natural sounds of the living Earth. It's a crisis that is easily solvable with political will. David is a professor of biology and environmental studies at Sewanee: the University of the South. His latest book is called, 'Sounds Wild and Broken: Sonic Marvels, Evolution's Creativity and the Crisis of Sensory Extinction.' The recent detection of varroa mite in Australia via the Port of Newcastle has alarmed many beekeepers. A deadly parasite, varroa mite has plagued every other continent on Earth except Australia, until now. Nicholas Dowse, founder of urban beekeeping collective Honey Fingers, speaks about this concerning development and the likelihood of varroa mite being eradicated. If it is not, what might its effect be on honeybee populations, beekeeping, and agriculture? Is this the end of Australia's golden age of beekeeping? Plus, Rachel Withers Contributing Editor to THE MONTHLY and The Politics columnist talks about the latest in federal politics.