Freedom of Species

This week we're talking to Jax, a climate and animal activist based in the UK. We talk about taking action in South Africa, hunt stabbing and shutting down the UKs largest dairy production center.  Music: Animal liberation by Los Fastidios: https://www.losfastidios.net/ The Eco-Terrorist in Me by Rise Against: https://www.riseagainst.com/ The Huntsman Comes A-Marching (live) by Frank Turner: https...

We are animal advocates walking on Country, on lands that are still unceded and that continue to be colonised. How are animals placed in the settler colonial history of so-called 'australia'? What is the work that we as settlers need to do within our communities to align with the First Nations cause? Our guest is Shannon Woodcock, speaking from Gunai Kurnai Country, to talk about how we can educat...

 Adam and Caroline head back to the 3CR studio and discuss the emerging trend in animal documentaries - to focus on the real lives of animals, and without narration. It underscores the idea that nonhuman animals are unique individuals with feelings, relationships, goals, desires and personalities of their own.  The films we discuss are: COW by Andrea Arnold, Gunda by Viktor Kossakovky and My Octop...

This show features Jamie Woodhouse of the Sentientism project on effectively communicating with those in the vegan movement who hold conspiratorial and/or non-evidence based views.  Links: Jamie is working to develop Sentientism (“evidence, reason and compassion for all sentient beings”) as a philosophy and as a global movement. He hosts the Sentientism Podcast and YouTube and has published articl...

This show features Sarah on Indigenous critiques of the movie Don’t Look Up (Netflix) and why Indigenous knowledge is so important in informing animal rights and environmental movements. Sarah is a Maori wahine living on Dharawal Country and Criminology researcher. This episode is a follow-up to our previous show ‘What are the Most Effective Individual Actions for the Climate?’ https://www.3cr.org...

 Caroline & Adam speak with members of AJP Western Region at their protest of the Geelong Pro Rodeo event held in Geelong on Saturday February 12, 2022. We discuss a range of topics including what happens to animals at rodeos, how best to advocate for animals during the upcoming elections at the State and Federal level in Australia, and how we can reimagine experiences with animals that recognise...

Listen back to this episode to hear what has happened ever since settlers brought the brushtail possum to Aotearoa (New Zealand). Our guest is Emily Major, a PhD Candidate at Canterbury University in Christchurch. She studies how possums are violently framed as pests, persecuted and exterminated in the region. Links: Emily's Blog - Framing Speciesism: https://framingspeciesism.com/blog/  Music: Is...

We speak with Dr Bill Lynn and Dr Fran Santiago-Avila about Multispecies Justice, an alternative approach to negotiating the complex relationships of coexistence between other animals and humans. Importantly, Multispecies Justice centres animal needs, as well as humans, when determining how to create a just world. Fran is the Big River Connectivity Science and Conservation Manager for Project Coyo...

In this episode of Freedom of Species we talk to Sammi Drew, an an Animal Rights protest photographer and advocate living in the UK. We touch on how she started capturing protests, what it's like to get that perfect shot and the power that art has to communicate the lives and emotions of animals. Sammi worked as a portrait photographer for 20 years and has a Master of Arts degree in photography. P...

Nick and Adam discuss the movie Don’t Look Up (Netflix) and compare individual actions for the climate commonly promoted in the environmental movement with scientific research on the most effective actions. We do this by discussing the actions promoted on the website https://www.count-us-in.org/en-gb/project/ and the following scientific article: Wynes, S. and Nicholas, K. A. 2017. The climate mit...

This Summer Special covers the movie Don't Look Up (Netflix), putting our energy back into climate action after the movement has lost momentum during the pandemic and avoiding burnout when coping with the reality of the climate crisis. It is hosted by Nick from Freedom of Species and his partner Katie. This show is a 3CR Summer Special: https://www.3cr.org.au/summerspecials2021-2022  Links: Graham...

Nick from Freedom of Species plays some of his favourite songs that were released in 2021. This show originally aired on Rotations on 3CR Community Radio on 9 January 2022. Rotations airs 2-3pm every Sunday and features music from a wide range of 3CR presenters. For more information about the Rotations show, see: https://www.3cr.org.au/rotations  Music played: All my favourite songs by Weezer – fr...

It is common for animal advocacy campaigns to describe animals as voiceless, and portray humans as speaking on their behalf. This is incorrect, animals DO have voices! Davita and Trev discuss the theory behind animal voices, with contributions from Nicole Beasley and Belinda Morris. We explore the links to other social justice issues, and why we should listen to and amplify animal voices with our...

 We discuss the Plant Based Treaty with Greta Cuthell, organiser for Youth Climate Save VIC and why our food systems are inextricably linked to the climate crisis. Greta is an animal advocate and activist, ambassador for climate action and a vegan.  The Plant Based Treaty has been designed as a companion to the UNFCCC/Paris Agreement and is the first of its kind to put food systems at the heart of...

Nick and Adam discuss COVID-19 vaccines, animal testing and pseudo-scientific/conspiratorial views in the vegan community and beyond.  We mainly focus on the article ‘Are COVID vaccines vegan? Should I get one anyway? An ethicist explains’ by Ben Bramble: https://theconversation.com/amp/are-covid-vaccines-vegan-should-i-get-one-anyway-an-ethicist-explains-155221  We also briefly touch on the artic...

Jamie Woodhouse discusses Sentientism – a worldview based on evidence, reason and compassion for all sentient beings.  Find out more about Sentientism at: https://sentientism.info/ Follow Jamie on Twitter @JamieWoodhouse  You can read about the life of animal rights and human rights advocate Bede Carmody at: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7489524/bede-carmody-remembered-as-a-true-advocate-...

 In this episode Davita and Caroline welcome Jo-Anne McArthur to Freedom of Species. We talk about HIDDEN: Animals in the Anthropocene, published by We Animals Media. HIDDEN is an incredible piece of work that documents our violent relationships to the non-human animals across the world. It features the work of 40 international animal photojournalists.  Jo also shares her journey into activism, an...

Doug Gimesy and Heather Kiley join us for a Bat Chat! We talk about their stunning children's book, ‘Life Upside Down’ on Australia’s grey-headed flying fox. Flying foxes (and other bats!) have had some bad publicity over recent Covid years. They also face persecution, habitat loss, extreme temperatures and awful injuries from inappropriate fruit tree netting and barbed wire. We discuss with Doug...

In this episode "Are Vegan Products Always Ethical? (Part 2)" Jade joins Davita And Trev to talk about different business models used for some vegan products. We discuss MLM (Multi Level Marketing) schemes: What are they? How do they work? What are some of the criticisms that have been raised? Links: Are Vegan Products Always Ethical? (Part 1): https://www.3cr.org.au/freedomofspecies/episode-20210...

This Rotations show features live music as some kind of a substitute for the lack of live shows during the pandemic. It is hosted by Nick from Freedom of Species and his partner Katie. The show originally aired on Rotations on 3CR Community Radio on 17 October 2021. For more about the Rotations show, see: https://www.3cr.org.au/rotations  Music played:  The Opener by Camp Cope, from the album Trip...

Researcher Ben Hunt and Animal Rebellion activist Harley McDonald-Eckersall discuss the role of theatre and performance in animal activism.  Ben Hunt is a researcher at De Montford University focusing on Animal Rights and Performance. You can find out more about his work here: https://performinganimalrights.tumblr.com/about You can find out more about Animal Rebellion here: https://animalrebellion...

This show features Youtuber and podcaster Mexie on celebrating the victories that have already been won for animals as well as imagining what future victories can be achieved.  Links for Mexie: The Vegan Vanguard podcast: https://veganvanguardpodcast.com/ PLN (Positive Leftist News) Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PLN_mex Mexie Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Mexie  Links to some of the arti...

This Rotations show features musical comedy songs with some kind of political or social commentary. It is hosted by Nick from Freedom of Species and his partner Katie. The show originally aired on Rotations on 3CR Community Radio on 22 August 2021. For more about the Rotations show, see: https://www.3cr.org.au/rotations  Music played:  Comedy by Bo Burnham: http://www.boburnham.com/ Look Who’s Ins...

 Adam and Davita are joined by the wonderful author Kate Hall. Kate is currently working on a dystopian novel around xenotransplantation. She provides a powerful critique of the practice of using animal-to-human transplants. She also introduces us to her protagonist Mouse by reading a few vivid excerpts from her novel in progress.  Kate's published novel Kate Hazel Hall - From Darkness: https://ww...

Trev and Davita are joined by seasoned activist Claire to discuss the crossover between ableism and anti-vax sentiment in the vegan community. We critique issues around the accessibility within the movement, especially for people with an immunodeficiency. This is particularly timely considering the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccine hesitancy. Links: William Cooper (First Nations Anti-Nazi history) htt...