The Wire with Castor

Welcome back to another Monday Wire, on today's show:

Isla and Stella bring you "Tomorrow's World". They look at AI and machine learning with Krithik Ramesh, who won the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair at 16.

Charlie speaks to Olga Pantos from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research about how microplastics affect our lives, and how they're monitored. She also speaks to Oska Rego from the New Zealand Animal Law Association about the current state of New Zealand's cattle laws and what can be done to improve them.

Sam speaks to Dr Paul Winton about the 1.5 Project, how you can reduce your carbon emissions, and further climate action. He also speaks to Wendy Johns from Friends of Oakley Creek about the restoration of Te Auaunga Oakley Creek.

After a court case saw one New Zealand farmer get home detention for starving 28 cows to death, cattle laws in New Zealand come under question of how well they deal with cattle welfare. Charlie speaks with Oska Rego from the New Zealand Animal Law Association about the current agricultural cattle laws, and how these can be improved in the future.

In the midst of their invasion of Ukraine, Russia has signed a decree requiring several G7 countries to pay for Russian fuel supplies via roubles. 

Multiple countries have declined this decree despite their reliance on Russian fuel, with Germany especially calling the move blackmail. 

Putin is now threatening to halt all fuel supplies to Germany,  with more supplies from Russia such as other forms of food and fuel.

To learn more, I spoke to University of Otago's James Headley about what’s going on, first asking him why Europe was so reliant on Russia's fuel supplies. 

A recent international study has found that New Zealand had the highest death rate from melanoma in 2020.

High amounts of UV exposure, as well as traditionally outdoors lifestyles, especially in childhood, lead to an increased risk for melanoma.

Casper spoke to the medical director of the Cancer Foundation, George Laking, about New Zealand’s high rates of melanoma and how they can be addressed by prevention and early recognition. Casper began by asking him why melanoma poses a great risk to New Zealanders in particular.