Freedom of Species

We chat in the studio with Adam Cardilini, an ecologist at Deakin University.  Adam tells us about his journey to becoming an animal rights activist, educator, and scientist.  He also speaks about his animal advocacy training project that's been short-listed for a funding grant by Voiceless, his VeganSci initiative, and his recent attendance at the Institute for Critical Animal Studies (ICAS) Oceania conference in Canberra.VeganSci:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUxfvYan_YcsU6QpjirMGGg

Catherine CaddenCatherine Cadden has been an educator since 1987 finding alternatives to teaching, learning, and conflict resolution that work with the principles of nonviolence. She is a certified trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication bringing over 14 years of experience practicing, living and teaching Nonviolent Communication (NVC) internationally to participants of all ages. In 1997, she founded the TEMBA School, a visionary K – 8 academic program rooted in nonviolent philosophy, NVC, sustainable living, and artistic expression. She is the co-founder of Play in the Wild! Wilderness Initiations into Nonviolence for Youth & Families. Catherine also served with her German shepherd dog, Marley, on WOOF Wilderness Finders working Search and Rescue missions in California and Wyoming. Through her years in Search and Rescue she gained knowledge about wilderness survival and became a wilderness first aid responder. Her work with her indigenous roots, elders, and teachers taught her to live interdependently with the earth and wants to share that with all who are willing to learn. Her passion is to advance a consciousness of interdependence among all peoples, for generations to come, through cultivating the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual maturity of the 7th generation. Her work has reached 6 continents and thousands of people supporting and inspiring the practice in being nonviolence. Catherine is also the author of Peaceable Revolution Through Education.Kate RaffinKate Raffin grew up in rural Australia and is a visual artist who enjoys many forms of communicating. She has made and sold about 8,000 one-of-a-kind Hand bound, Hand painted books. Kate has a passion for supporting herself and others to open up to who we really are, to our true and beautiful essence and picture. Music is also a huge part of Kate’s life. Having spent 18 months in Tanzania (East Africa) studying traditional music with master musician Hukwe Zawose and learning Ki swahili, she has been part of performing groups, including an 18-member vocal group for 10 years, singing songs from all over the globe. Kate loves yoga and sitting in circle with groups of people and creatures of all ages and numbers of legs. For the last 7 years, Kate has studied with and assisted various local and international Nonviolent Communication (NVC) trainers. This includes training with the founder of NVC, Dr. Marshall Rosenberg. Kate offers foundation trainings in NVC and runs practice groups that aim to support the integration of these skills. She is a trained facilitator and mediator and works with specialist groups, including Aged care workers, Juvenile Justice, parents, teachers and children. Find out more about Kate at www.kateraffin.com.https://playinthewild.org/

This week's show will feature an interview with Dr Peter John Chen. Ahead of his upcoming talk at October's Animal Activists Forum we chat with Peter about lessons that can be learned form the history of the animal rights movement in Australia.Peter John Chen DipMR, BComm(Hons), PhD is a lecturer in Australian politics, media and policy at the University of Sydney. He is the author of Electronic Engagement: A Guide for Public Managers (ANU E Press, 2007), Australian Politics in a Digital Age (ANU Press, 2013), and the forthcoming Animal Welfare in Australia: Politics and Policy (Sydney University Press, 2016).For more information on "Animal Welfare in Australia - Politics and policy", see:http://purl.library.usyd.edu.au/sup/animalwelfareinaus

Has the use of the word 'feral' been a great weapon of distraction from the institutionalised violence & environmental destruction caused by the livestock industry?We play a thought-provoking presentation by Fiona Probyn-Rapsey from the School of Humanities & Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong.Fiona is also the Chair of the Australasian Animal Studies Association.To send your submissions in regarding the planning changes for greyhound breeding establishments in Victoria: planning.systems@delwp.vic.gov.auFor more information regarding the Australian Brumby Alliance Press Release on brumbies used as scapegoats: http://australianbrumbyalliance.org.au/alpine-brumbies-used-as-scapegoats/

Paul Mahony, climate change & animal rights campaigner, describes the links he's found between Australia's environmental organisations & the livestock industry, which he's mapped out in his online presentation "The Link That Too Many Ignore".  Could this explain why so few people are talking about the very significant role of animal agriculture in climate change?Paul's blog:  https://terrastendo.net

Lucy's Project is hosting the Domestic Violence & Animal Abuse, International Perspectives Conference in November. We chat with the creator of Lucy's Project, Anna Ludvik, & also chat with Lisa Craig about the project "Saving Grace" which she has co-created with photojournalist Richard Wainwright & will be launching at the conference. "Saving Grace" focuses on the individual stories of people who have experienced domestic violence and the rich tapestry of relationship they share with their companion animals. We also chat with CEO of RSPCA Victoria, Liz Walker, about the Andrews Govt proposed changes to puppy/kitten farm regulations.https://lucysproject.com/If this has triggered any discomfort & /or you need help, please call: Lifeline 13 11 14 or 1800 RESPECT / 1800 737 732

Do we have to choose between wildlife and cats? Before we go to a cruel & expensive war on cats, the Threatened Species Commissioner is holding a round table on this issue in a week. We speak with Lynda Stoner from Animal Liberation NSW who will be attending & play an informative discussion hosted by Mini Kitty Commune. The MKC discussion includes Arian Wallach who co-authored "Let's give feral cats their citizenship" http://theconversation.com/lets-give-feral-cats-their-citiz… http://mkc.org.au/

We chat with Dr Lynn Johnson, founder of Breaking the Brand, an organisation fighting the rhino horn trade from a completely different angle.

"Dairy is often promoted as a ‘no harm’ industry, yet at the core of this multi-billion dollar business is the exploitation of the dairy cow and her calf."Voiceless sat down last year with a dairy farmer, a vegan, an academic and an animal activist to talk about the ethics of high production dairy farming in Australia.

We hear from Shir Friedman of Israeli food biotech start-up SuperMeat, about the anticipated arrival of cultured meat into our supermarkets. "Cultured meat packs a triple punch. First, it helps drastically reduce unsustainable environmental impacts that are common in the current meat industry. Second, it will set free countless of animals who currently undergo tragic conditions prior to slaughter. Third, it will remove cancerous chemicals and antibiotics from our food chain."We also hear from science student Alexandra Sedgwick about her new campaign Cruelty Free Labs Victoria.SuperMeat  www.supermeat.comCruelty Free Labs Victoria  www.facebook.com/crueltyfreelabs/