Safety Globe Podcasts

Germany’s Bird of the Year -- Capturing usable water out of the air -- Spreading the word about animal welfare -- and -- Climate Witness: Indonesia -- these stories and more in this edition of Living Planet.Tune in via the live-stream or download the program as a podcast. Send your comments and questions to features@dw-world.de.Kingfisher Named Bird of the Year 2009While the bird itself is not endangered, it can tell scientists a lot about how the environment is doing.The Common Kingfisher has been crowned Germany’s bird of the year for 2009. The bird itself isn’t endangered, but conservationists are hoping the added attention this brings may results in increased protection for its dwindling habitat: rivers. Kingfishers need natural river banks and clean, clear water to flourish – all of which are in short supply in Europe. Report: Kate HairsineCoaxing Water Out of Thin AirPulling humidity out of the air is a cheap and environmentally safe way to provide the world’s ever growing population with usable water.It may be fall in the northern hemisphere, but far south of the equator summer has almost arrived, and with it comes humidity. The air gets sticky and you sweat right through your clothes. But humidity isn’t all bad; in fact, it can be downright life saving, especially to those living in the world’s semi-arid regions. The Israeli company EWA, which stands for Extraction of Water from Air, has come up with a way to pull humidity out of the air in an economic and environmentally friendly way. It sounds almost too good to be true, but the idea is actually thousands of years old. It is mentioned in the Bible and in ancient Jewish prayers, and archaeologists still find the stones ancient Israeli farmers used to collect water for their crops. Living Planet spoke to the CEO of EWA, Dr. Etan Bar, about the innovation. Interview: Mark Mattox and Dr. Etan Bar, EWAPassionate Pensioner Teaches Children About Animal WelfareA German woman, along with her dog, is spending her retirement trying to broaden the horizons of Germany’s youth.Gisela Lichterfeld is a pensioner with a passion for educating the younger generation about animal welfare. Accompanied by her dog, Lucky, she visits schools in Germany to teach children about respect for animals. She wants to make them aware that a household pet is not just a cuddly "toy", but a living being that requires appropriate care and handling. Lichterfeld also aims to raise general awareness of animals' needs, including the issue of ethical farming practices. Report: Eva WutkeClimate Witness Series: IndonesiaIn Living Planet’s ‘Climate Witness’ mini-series we hear first-hand testimony about the consequences of climate change.The effects of climate change in Indonesia could be devastating. Communities in Jakarta have been hit by floods and as weather conditions become more unpredictable it is disturbing the way rice farmers have worked for generations. We hear from Norman Givan an indigenous Dayak from West Kalimantan, or Borneo, in Indonesia. Report: Cheryl Northey read less