Freedom of Species

We talk with Revekka Eli (pictured), lead organiser with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) Melbourne, and Rochelle Van, of Animal Activists Australia.  They explain why the recent surge of slaughterhouse actions and restaurant disruptions, both locally and internationally, is getting the attention of mainstream media. Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) Melbourne:  https://www.facebook.com/dxemelbourne/An...

We share two talks one about vegan companion animals and the other discusses human population and why it's important to think about in relation to animals. Professor Andrew Knight – Vegan Companion AnimalsFor more on Professor Andrew Knight’s research on vegan companion animals, visit his website: http://vegepets.info/Biography: Andrew Knight is Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics, and Director...

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." We chat with Lucy's Project founder, Anna Ludvik. https://lucysproject.comMy Saving Grace: http://www.mysavinggrace.org.au/

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...

Trap-neuter-return for urban and periurban 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 alternative proposed ? We listen to an illuminating presentation by Emeritus Professor Jacquie Rand who is the Executive Director & Chief Scientist of the Aus...

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 a...

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.

Parks Victoria  plan to eradicate all the  brumbies in the Bogong High Plains of Victoria which is not founded on any peer reviewed science.  Jill Pickering from the Australian Brumby Alliance unpacks the injustices & inconsistencies of the evidence used to back the cull. We have until Friday to tell Parks Victoria to not eradicate all the brumbies! Scroll down  to follow link to feedback form for...

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.  If you sometimes struggle with eff...

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...

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 objectiv...

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  ...

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 fr...

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...

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 th...

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://ww...

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 adverti...

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 counci...

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 chat with Dr Hugh Finn from Curtin Law School who wants the animal welfare implications of land clearing addressed,April Reside from Queensland University about the...

Sandra Higgin's presentation at this year's Irish Vegan Festival titled What Other Animals Need From Us.  Sandra Higgins is Founder and Director of Eden Farm Sanctuary and the woman behind the largest vegan advertising campaign, Go Vegan World. As a psychologist, she is Director of The Compassion Foundation of Ireland. The talk is a motivation check for animal activists and an ethical check for ve...

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. Ibis Rice www.ibisrice.com 

WORLD DAY FOR THE END FOR SPECIESISMNearly 50 years on from when British psychologist Richard Ryder coined the term 'speciesism', we now have a World Day for the End of Speciesism. It's a day to call for an end to discrimination against another purely on the basis of their species. Marches are being held in over forty cities in ten countries, including Melbourne, Sydney and Burleigh Beach in Queen...