Freedom of Species

We speak with researcher and author Dr Peter Li from the University of Houston-Downtown. Peter specialises in East Asian Politics whose research covers elite politics of China, Northeast Asian security, U.S.-China relations and China’s environmental and animal welfare politics. He also consults international animal welfare organizations. In march 2021, Peter published the book ‘Animal Welfare in China’ through Sydney University Press. The book explores the key animal welfare challenges facing China now. Chapters include broader discussions of culture, history and policy, as well as deeper dives into specific issues including China’s ‘civil war’ over dogs and the controversy of bear farming.Find a copy of the book here - https://sydneyuniversitypress.com.au/products/84677 The songs from the day were:Silent Forest, by Su Dan - song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44HNzxI78QU&t=235s, lyrics - https://www.animalsasia.org/au/media/news/news-archive/moon-bears-find-their-%E2%80%9Cvoice%E2%80%9D-on-prime-time-chinese-tv.htmlBird and Fish, by Yisa Y KeWei - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxZPKDB63UU

Relisten to this show for a reflection on animal liberation, total liberation and the use of both legal and illegal direct actions. Trev and Davita are joined over zoom by Kevin Heller. Kevin used to be part of the support group of the Animal Liberation Front in the Netherlands and Belgium. We discuss the context and strategies of these actions in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, and how antifascism and anarchism connected to these actions.  We would like to hear from you dear listeners! Please fill out our survey so we can serve the animal advocacy movement better with your input: https://forms.gle/YarzhaiYxQvw2NP78  Links: Stop Black Deaths in Custody: https://www.natsils.org.au/blm The duck shooting season starts May 26. Coaltion Against Duck Shooting works to ban this cruel activity. https://www.facebook.com/CADSDuckRescue/ Earlier episode on Consistent Anti-Oppression:  https://www.3cr.org.au/freedomofspecies/episode-201809231300/consistent-anti-oppression Related resource: Vegan Bill of consistent anti-oppression  Music Played: Oi Polloi 'On the Streets' https://open.spotify.com/track/0wiOqtRWbeWMgsbIswDJcn Dead Prez 'Way of Life' https://open.spotify.com/track/5aFUVtZw6o3iXjk0fj6iRD Caisha Sprout 'Self Love' https://open.spotify.com/album/5OpCnR1nBfEw5yk4jqJsmD

Action for Dolphins campaigns to protect dolphins all around the world. We speak with Action for Dolphins CEO, Hannah Tait, about the risks faced by dolphins, the projects the organisation is working on and their past successes. You can learn more about Action for Dolphins and support their work through their website: https://www.afd.org.au/ During the show we showcased the Australian band, Grey Whistle Test.

We speak with Dr Ash Nayate, clinical neuropsychologist, author and speaker about her book Staying Positive in a F*cked Up World, animal rights activism and activist burnout. You can find Ash on Facebook at Vegan Neurospychologist.  Adam mentions a related book Motivational Methods for Vegan Advocacy by Dr Casey T. Taft. We play music by Katie White, a West Australian singer songwriter turn vegan cook and food photographer. The three songs on today's show are: All the Same, 106 and Brumby. Please follow Katie here at Olive Wood Vegan

We discuss the recently release netflix documentary, Seaspiracy, with Bronwyn the organiser of advocacy group Melbourne Fish Save. We identify the good parts, some bad parts and some missed opportunities within the documentary.If you care about fish and want to get active to support them please consider joining Melbourne Fish Save, or your local fish advocacy group.

Davita and Trev fact check arguments for and against veganism in this show, related to health, ethics and the environment. We do not support an uncritical adoption of a vegan diet, so that's why often heard arguments within the vegan movement will be scrutinized too. Some of the arguments we discuss include: "It's natural for us to eat animals" - major red flags! What is this 'appeal to nature' argument? And how have other social justice movements responded to this 'nature' argument? "Veganism cures diseases" or "A vegan diet is more healthy than eating animal flesh"  Links: Dumping of surplus milk, and lobbying for new uses in schools, taco's, and McDonalds: https://www.wsj.com/articles/americas-dairy-farmers-dump-43-million-gallons-of-excess-milk-1476284353 "What The Health?" debunkings - The Vegan RD (Ginny Messina) and others: https://www.theveganrd.com/2017/07/a-science-based-and-vegan-perspective-on-the-new-what-the-healthdocumentary Eat For Health, Australian Dietary Guidelines - Official statement on vgan diets (p.35): https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/n55_australian_dietary_guidelines.pdf VeganHealth.org - Evidence-Based Nutrient Recommendations: https://veganhealth.org Book about hormones - Cordelia Fine 'Testosterone Rex': https://www.booktopia.com.au/testosterone-rex-cordelia-fine/book/9781785783180.html  Stop Black Deaths In Custody - Petition calling on the Prime Minister to meet with families whose loved ones have died in custody for the 30th Anniversary of the Royal Commission: https://www.natsils.org.au/blm  Seed's Protect Country Gala: https://www.facebook.com/events/664092760994252  Melbourne Cow Save Activist Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/151521708967534 Melbourne Pig Save: https://www.facebook.com/MelbournePigSave  Music Played: Lara Prokop ‘Teddybear Suicide’: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1vh68V1RrTwBBBdXyAd8fU Regurgitator ‘Strange Human Being’: https://open.spotify.com/album/1SgJ0FwIjzpy8xqjB2XK5q Fur Patrol ‘Into The Sun’: https://open.spotify.com/album/3L5DVDnvbT3r3rARY4TWy2

This show features animal activist and lawyer Katie Batty on the UN Global Climate Poll and particularly the level of support for a plant-based food system. She argues that half the battle is nearly won when it comes to promoting veganism, with this UN Poll, the biggest ever opinion poll on climate change, finding that 30% of people support the promotion of plant-based diets. This, along with other studies cited below, such as a survey that found 47% of Americans support a ban on slaughterhouses, show significant progress for the vegan movement. However, ongoing barriers to individual veganism remain, such as perceptions around the difficulty, inconvenience and lack of social acceptance of veganism (see the Conversation article by Chris Bryant linked to below for more on these issues).   Links to the articles discussed on the show: 30% of people support the promotion of plant-based diets: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/27/un-global-climate-poll-peoples-voice-is-clear-they-want-action 47% of Americans support a ban on slaughterhouses: https://www.livekindly.co/half-americans-ban-slaughterhouses/ Article by Chris Bryant on attitudes towards veganism: https://theconversation.com/what-meat-eaters-really-think-about-veganism-new-research-129583  Music Played: Regina Spektor ‘You’ve Got Time’: https://www.reginaspektor.com/ Propagandhi ‘Lower Order (A Good Laugh)’: https://propagandhi.bandcamp.com/ Stella Donnelly ‘Old Man’: https://stelladonnelly.bandcamp.com/

We speak with Dr Chris Hopwood, Professor of Psychology from University of California, Davis. Chris is an excellent and prolific psychology researcher asking the question, “why do people do the things they do?”; with an interest, among others, about why some people eat animals and others are vegetarian or vegan. Chris is also an organiser of the PHAIR Society (Society for the Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations). The “goal of the PHAIR Society is to advance and promote scientific research and education on a wide range of topics related to how people perceive and treat animals, the consumption of plant-based vs. animal-derived products, animal advocacy, and veganism.” PHAIR are currently running a series of research presentations all about these topics, and leading towards the Animal Advocacy Conference: Insights from the Social Sciences in June 30 – July 2, 2021You can watch the PHAIR Society research presentations, and find out more about the Animal Advocacy Conference on the PHAIR website.

Davita and Trev discuss the recent controversies with social media influencers in the animal rights movement, ranging from transphobia, to anti-semitism, and dodgy donations. We discuss all this while trying not to get sued!  Links: For more discussion on social media influencers, look up these pages: The cranky vegan - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTTIQEjQKBylegGc_CP2z1w Animal RIghts Zone - https://www.facebook.com/ARZone.net Christopher Sebastian - https://www.christophersebastian.info  Looking for inspiration to donate? Check out: Animal Charity Evaluators - https://animalcharityevaluators.org - But daily activist acts can be political and effective too!  Other links: International Women's Day March 2021: https://www.facebook.com/events/244734710567381 Info on the Quandamooka Truth Embassy: https://www.facebook.com/northstradbroke Vegan Bill of Consistent Anti-Oppression: http://www.consistentantioppression.com Ken & Karen Saviour Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/kenthesaviour https://www.facebook.com/kARenSavior  Music Played: Kelly Sarena ‘Moving Fast’: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0F19qVpiwE1f72eKXpzSup The Beatles ‘Money (That's What I Want)’: https://www.thebeatles.com/album/beatles Tegan & Sara ‘Red Belt’: https://open.spotify.com/album/5jbNeqFGcBfFriyocUaM17

This show includes an interview with Kristy Alger, animal liberationist and author. Kristy's blog Writing Liberation is available on Medium and Kristy spoke with us about her book Five Essays for Freedom: A Political Primer for Animal Advocates. We also introduced Caroline to the Freedom of Species team and discussed activism.  You can read Kristy's blog at: https://writingliberation.medium.com/ She has also written for Farm Transparency Project: https://www.farmtransparency.org/editorials.php?author=kristyalger You can check out her book here: https://www.revolutionaries.com.au/books/p/five-essays-for-freedom  On the show we also discuss the following article: https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/news/oatly-denied-trademark/