FoS presenters recently gave a talk at the Students of Sustainability Conference 2018 called 'Environmental Liberation Through Animal LIberation'. We highlight some of the key points from that talk by covering the connections between animal and environmental movements, including exploring the environmental impact of animal agriculture. You can see the associated PowerPoint presentation for some references and visuals on the topic.
We’re joined by Jess Ison from the Institute for Critical Animal Studies (Oceania) who discusses the upcoming workshop-based discussion forum in Melbourne: ‘Community as Activism: Building Community within the Animal Liberation Movement and Beyond’.
Event Details:
Saturday 4 August, 1-5pm at Library at the Dock (107 Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands).
We have Dr Judi & Bryce Inglis in the studio, describing their work advocating for the much-misunderstood house rabbit whose welfare is largely ignored in Australia. Their organisation, Rabbit Run-Away Orphanage, is dedicated to bringing education to all levels of government as well as the public, leading to improved welfare and legal change.
We speak with Dr John McEvoy from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia, USA, about his and his colleagues' work tracking Asian elephants in Myanmar. We discuss the threat that elephants are facing from poaching and how elephant-human relationships in local areas are key to keeping the elephants safe.
Speak to a vet & they will tell you thousands of healthy cats & kittens in our urban & peri-urban areas are euthanaised by the "bucket load" throughout Australia & according to research this is NOT bringing cat populations down or improving conditions for our wildlife. What it is doing is making the job for animal health workers & rescue groups intolerable at times and creating a lot of dead cats. There is a much better way to manage these populations through trap-neuter-return (TNR) programmes & cat diversion.
We’re joined by Mark Allen who discusses his holistic approach that he has developed through many years of activism. According to his zine on holistic activism, this approach provides ‘some ideas about how we can reduce conflict among activists, create campaigns that are long lasting, reach out and connect with people who have different values to that of our own and work towards a meaningful shift in paradigm.’
We have Narelle, coordinator of the Melbourne chapter of Sea Shepherd Marine Debris Campaign, and Nicko, founder of Scab Duty, live in the studio. They're talking about the devastating impacts of rubbish, particularly plastic, on the ocean's inhabitants.
Being a highly respected psychologist and animal activist, Clare knows all there is to know about the pitfalls of how & why we get in a pickle communicating our message on behalf of animals. She also has answers to see our way through these tricky rabbit warrens of anguish in her new book called "Vystopia". Clare joins us for our fundraising radiothon show and appears at the 1.15 min mark if you want to scroll through us asking for donations!
We talk about dingos and the fact that these important apex predators are killed under wild dog 'management' plans. Who are we referencing when we use the name wild dog or dingo anyhow? It seems everyone and their dog (pardon the pun) has a story about wild dogs or dingos, however, few of us in the city really understand who we are talking about.
We’re joined by activist and academic Jess Ison who discusses her research challenging the use of prisons and other punitive measures as a way to counter animal abuse. If you’d like to look further into the issues of prisons and prison abolition, Jess recommends the book Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Davis: https://www.sevenstories.com/books/2907-are-prisons-obsolete
We're in the studio with local representatives Monique Luci & Tania Milton of the global campaign to stop the dog & cat meat trade, who explain the extent of dog & cat consumption around the world including here in Australia, and why this is one of the very cruellest trades. Monique & Tania are also organisers of a march scheduled for Melbourne on Saturday 2nd June, which is the campaign's Worldwide Awareness Day.
We speak with Megan Moon, the founder and president of the Humane Education Coalition. Megan describes what humane education is, why the world needs it and what the Humane Education Coalition is doing to make humane education a prominent part of our education landscape.
The Animal Justice Party's Andy Meddick chats about the community of Lara campaign against a cruel 4500 head intensive goat factory and processing plant, in what has truly been a David and Goliath struggle, battling not just the international dairy giant but City Hall as well!
On 28th April 2018, over 2000 activists took to the streets of Melbourne for what was to become Australia's largest animal rights march. We play an edited recording of the speeches from that historic evening.
We're joined by a founder of the orgnisation Young Voices for Animals (YVA), along with some participants from the first round of YVA's Catalyst program. Catalyst is a free leadership program that offers passionate young people aged 16 ‑ 18 the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge to take their love of animals to the next level and build a more compassionate future.
We chat about the Catalyst program and find out what the participants have gained from the experience.
Do you think threatened & highly stressed animals should be used for fun & entertainment value? Animal Liberation Qld are calling for a ban on rodeos after two bull deaths last weekend. At the very least, ALQ want a ban on the calf roping event which is banned in Victoria and SA.
We talk with Revekka Eli (pictured), lead organiser with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) Melbourne, and Rochelle Van, founder of Animal Activists Australia. They discuss the recent surge of slaughterhouse actions and restaurant disruptions, both locally and internationally, and the significance of the resulting mainstream media coverage.
We share two talks: One about vegan companion animals and the other discusses human population and why it's important to think about it in relation to animals.
We chat with Lucy's Project founder, Anna Ludvik. Lucy’s Project is busy raising awareness that "we fail to save human domestic violence victims lives when we fail to address the whole family - paws and all."
Sam Tucker is Vegan Outreach's coordinator for Australia & NZ. He's handed out something close to a quarter of a million leaflets that promote a vegan diet to end the suffering of farm animals. Consequently, he knows a thing or two about effective leafleting & gave a presentation on this very subject at Melbourne's Animal Activist Forum late last year.
Whether you're seeking a non-confrontational form of activism, or you're wanting to expand your existing activism skills & methods, listen to this presentation & learn directly from the master!
Trap-neuter-return for urban and peri-urban cats has proven to be a highly successful component for community cat population management. Why aren't we adopting these community cat programmes more in Australia when we can't actually afford the alternatives proposed? We listen to an illuminating presentation by Emeritus Professor Jacquie Rand who is the Executive Director & Chief Scientist of the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation.
Laurie Levy, campaign director and founder of the Coalition Against Duck Shooting, brings us up-to-date on the campaign to stop Victoria's routine recreational slaughter of native waterbirds, including last year's massacres at Koorangie Marshes which shocked even the Game Management Authority. He goes on to explain what we might expect this coming killing season. We also find out how to support and get involved in CADS' campaign to end this government-endorsed annual atrocity.
We speak with Kristin Leigh, the lead organiser of the campaign Melbourne Against Horse Drawn Carriages. Kristin gives us an update on some recent changes to the campaign and where it is headed in the future.
We're sharing the talk given by dedicated animal liberation activist Joey Carbstrong at last year's Animal Activists Forum in Melbourne. Joey offers excellent advice to fellow activists, concerning the fine art of vegan outreach communications, whether it be online or on the street. Drawing on his own experience, he explains candidly what works and what doesn't. Even if you just sometimes struggle with effectively communicating your veganism to your non-vegan friends, family & colleagues, this is the show for you.
In March 2018, the twenty-year Victorian Regional Forest Agreement expires & there is great concern that it shall be rolled over for another twenty years of native old growth forest destruction.This agreement has exempted the logging industry from national environment laws which means many protected species and countless others are basically bulldozed with their habitat! Take the greenwashed glasses & earphones off as we replay a chat Freedom of Species had with Ed Hill from the Goongerah Environment Centre.
We are joined by vegan neuropsychologist Dr Ash Nayate and discuss how neuropsychology can inform vegan advocacy. We also chat about activist burnout and the importance of self-care.
We're in the studio, chatting with wildlife ecologist Joshua Griffiths (pictured here) & conservation photographer Doug Gimesy (photo credit) about threats to the platypus. They also tell us about nifty 'citizen science' initiative PlatypusSPOT, new technology that detects platypus DNA in waterways, and the Victorian Alliance for Platypus-Safe Yabby Traps which has been formed with the objective of a complete ban on the enclosed yabby traps that kill platypus almost every day. Josh & Doug advise us of actions we can all take to improve the chances of this u
In this episode, we speak with philosopher Michael Hauskeller about the problematic framing of animals within transhumanism. We also chat with recently completed PhD Ashley Keefner about her thesis on how prejudice impacts the study of animal minds.
This is the talk given by Brad King, director of Farm Animal Rescue (Qld), at the recent Animal Activists Forum in Melbourne. Brad details the cruelty & terrible suffering caused by farmed animals' genetic design. He also shares some wonderful stories of the FAR sanctuary residents who, now in safety, are able to express their natural range of social and emotional behaviours.
In this week’s show, we check the pulse of the vegan community in Melbourne by speaking to people at the Spring Vegan Festival that was held at the old Meat Market. We discuss the challenges facing animals, what is inspiring about the vegan movement and where people find hope.
In March this year, Darebin Council in Melbourne, Victoria, announced the next pound contractor will manage a 'no kill' shelter facility for companion animals. Our guest is a major driver of that momentous change - Kathleen Chapman from Save Darebin Pets.
This is a presentation delivered by American animal activist Gary Yourofsky, at a New York college in 2014 (with its short video section edited out). He's converted countless people to veganism with his powerful & damning argument. This presentation is just one of around 3000 that he's delivered at schools & universities across the USA & Israel. Gary also performs his spoken word piece I Will Not Stand By.
In this week’s show, we talk with Dr Mel Taylor about protecting our animals in emergency situations and look at some new research that shows a plant-based food system would be much better for our environment.
There are some animal advocates that transform your thinking and how you approach your activism. Psychologist Melanie Joy and Animal Asia founder Jill Robinson come to mind. Well, add Sandra Higgins to the list. Sandra has a clarity of purpose that will inspire and challenge you.
Sandra is the Founder and Director of Eden Farmed Animal Sanctuary and the creator of the world's largest vegan advertising campaign - 'Go Vegan World'. As a psychologist, Sandra is the Director of The Compassion Foundation of Ireland.
Amanda Leeper talks about the cruel realities behind the chick hatching programs commonly run by Australian primary schools, kindergartens and child-care centres. At face value, these programs seem to be a cute cuddly experience for all involved but the reality is very different, and the learning outcomes for the children are not necessarily positive. Having successfully lobbied her local council and primary school to discontinue their hatching programs, Amanda is well-qualified to share her experiences and tips on how to speak out on behalf of these most vulnerable.
Throwing the baby out with the bathwater? It appears current feverish land clearing, mostly for pastoral animal agriculture, makes a mockery of efforts & money to protect threatened species, biodiversity & climate change mitigation.
We hear from CEO Nick Spencer and Marketing Officer Phalkun Chan of Ibis Rice, in Phnom Penh. This project of the Wildlife Conservation Society protects some of Cambodia's most endangered wildlife species, particularly the iconic giant ibis, by collaborating with local rice farmers for a win-win outcome.
Support the summit on 1080 poison