Freedom of Species

The 29th January is the deadline for submissions to prevent a rollover of the 20 year Regional Forest Agreement. 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 and tune in  as we replay a chat I had with Ed Hill from GECO and send your submission in please & contact your MP . Come on! It only takes a couple of minutes. The Wilderness Society has made it easy to do so: https://goo.gl/sMCrBq

We're joined by vegan neuropsychologist Dr Ash Nayate to discuss how neuropsychology can inform vegan advocacy. We also chat about activist burn-out 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 a 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 unique & iconic animal.PlatypusSPOT website  http://platypusspot.org/PlatypusSPOT Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/platypusSPOT/

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 normal range of social and emotional behaviours.Farm Animal Rescue  https://www.farmanimalrescue.org.au/Animal Activists Forum  http://www.activistsforum.com/

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.

Pam Ahern's presentation from the recent Australian Animal Activist Forum.Pam is the Founder and Director of farmed animal sanctuary Edgar's Mission (Victoria, Australia).Pam's talk was a journey of self-discovery from animal lover to animal advocate as she explores the role of farm sanctuaries in the bigger picture of creating a kinder world for animals.This is the perfect show to share with friends and family who may not 'get' why you are vegan or those who love animals but are still on the 'journey' towards kindness for all.Freedom of Species would like to thank Pam Ahern and the Animal Activist Forum organisers for granting us permission to broadcast this talk.Edgar's Mission website https://www.edgarsmission.org.au/Edgar's Mission Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/edgarsmission/Edgar's Mission Cooking with Kindness cookbook https://shop.edgarsmission.org.au/Animal Activist Forum website http://www.activistsforum.com/Animal Activist Forum Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/activistsforum/

In March this year, Darebin Council in Melbourne, Victoria, announced the next pound contractor will be a 'no kill' shelter facility for companion animals. Our guest is a major driver of that momentous change - Kathleen Chapman from Save Darebin Pets.The Maneki Neko Cat Lounge  info:http://www.neko.org.au/neko-hq/November 3rd GECO Citizen science camp info ( note there are a few camps over summer if you can't attend in November) : http://www.geco.org.au/calendar

As the world is waking up to the cruelty and destructive consequences of industrial animal agriculture, do the proposed Victorian planning laws give the green light for more of it? And will they make it harder for us to oppose such facilities 'in our own backyards'?  We speak with Sarah Davison from Planning for Animals about this and Lisa Ryan from Say No to Blantyre Pig Farms in Harden shares the activism nuts and bolts of the campaign that stopped a large intensive piggery from being built in NSW.Photo courtesy of Aussie Farms http://www.aussiepigs.com/piggeriesTo object to the proposed planning laws in Victoria: https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/planning-reform/sust...

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.For more on what Dr Mel Taylor was talking about please see: http://theconversation.com/seven-ways-to-protect-your-pets-in-an-emergency-83484Here is the Facebook link for Blue ARC: https://www.facebook.com/BlueARCAnimalReadyCommunity/?hc_ref=ARR1r9hQ5T9vao4ewT2CezX57oz2ZsWl9fwgY64O34ZLMUZGpISdRm5y75tV-lhDtKQ&fref=nf#The Bushfire & Natural Hazards CRC project webpage is here: https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/research/hazard-resilience/237For more information about Dr Mel Taylors research see  'Hazard Note': http://www.bnhcrc.com.au/hazardnotes/35The research paper discussed, it’s open access so anyone can read it! Greedy or needy? Land use and climate impacts of food in 2050 under different livestock futures - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378016306872