Freedom of Species

Meg Good from 'Voiceless - The Animal Protection Society' discusses Australian animal law and how it is used to persecute and protect non-human animals.

We're joined in the studio by two highly-experienced environmental communicators, Angela Rutter of the Australian Conservation Foundation and Doug Gimesy of communication consultancy The Framing Effect. They share their wealth of knowledge on how to most effectively deliver your message to engage audiences and, further, how to motivate them to act.  

For many people who consume animal flesh slaughterhouses act as a black box where animals enter and “meat” emerges. This week were joined by Dilan, one of the organisers of the March to Close All Slaughterhouses event that will be happening on the 11th March in Melbourne. Listen to hear about what the March to Close All Slaughterhouses is attempting to do, what it symbolises, and how you can get i...

Image credit: Northcote artist Colleen Burke http://www.colleenburke.net.au/ Building lush golfing greens in corella country may not have been the brightest of ideas but when the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning approved a permit to kill the native birds to stop them feeding on the fairways it's not surprising that the community was outraged. We hear from those fighting...

Members from Deakin University Vegan Society, Monash Vegan Society, and University of Melbourne Animal Protection Society joined us in the studio to discuss all things veganism and animal protection at University campuses. Universities have a large audience of young people ready to connect with the animal movement. We'll learn how these three groups are making those connections and how well it's w...

Founders of Melbourne Chicken Save, Melbourne Cow Save, Melbourne Pig Save & the newest Melbourne Sheep Save join us in the studio to talk about their place in the growing worldwide Save Movement for farmed animals.  They explain what the principle of "bearing witness" means in practice, the purposes of their rallies and slaughterhouse vigils, and what each group is up to.  The Save Movement  http...

On our first show back from the summer break, we speak with Kristin Leigh of Animal Liberation Victoria about a series of vigils they have been holding at Melbourne slaughterhouses. Kristin tells us about why ALV has been doing this activism, what they have witnessed and what happened when dozens of police showed up to one of their recent peaceful vigils. 

For many, the goodwill of sharing a meal at Christmas often camouflages animal cruelty when it comes to pigs in the food production system. For activists, there is much opportunity to speak up for these individuals this festive season. Today we speak with Lisa Ryan, a  campaigner busy trying to stop an intensive pig factory farm intended to hold 22,000 pigs being built in Harden NSW.  Fore more in...

Josh Agland - Where time is money and compassion is a cost. Ex-industry insider who worked in an abattoir for 3 years explored the realities of a modern slaughterhouse, and the effect they have on animals, workers and the surrounding community.

We speak with Lawrence Pope, a successful Melbourne campaigner for over two decades for bats, cats, dogs and horses. 

Our guest is Mae Lee Sun, editor of the comprehensive " Wild Horse Journal ". We'll be talking about  many issues surrounding wild horses in Australia including the Snowy brumby management plan designed to reduce the brumby population from 6000 to 600. It's not too late to voice your support for the Snowy brumbies! Please, PLEASE follow the link on how to: http://australianbrumbyalliance.org.au/wp...

The introduction of the Australian brushtail possum to New Zealand for the fur industry has resulted in a highly successful population of approximately 30 million.  We speak with Hans Kriek of SAFE New Zealand about the broad context of the issue, including the possum's entrenched demonisation in NZ society.  We also hear from Nicholas Holm of Massey University about how the possum takes the blame...

Today's Freedom Of Species show features Alexandra Sedgwick, animal activist, former science student at Deakin University and founder of Cruelty Free Labs Australia. Alexandra discusses what led her to start the organisation, and where to next for her and CFLA. If you would like to contact Alexandra, go to the Facebook page Cruelty Free labs Australia Inc.

This week, the FOS team will be joined in the studio by our friend Justine Curatolo who has recently returned from volunteering in Zimbabwe with the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF).International Anti-Poaching Foundation: http://www.iapf.org Justine's fundraising page: https://www.gofundme.com/2nn97q2s

Last April, we recorded the fantastic talk given by Dr Michael Klaper at Melbourne's Astor Theatre, an event hosted by Animal Liberation Victoria. Dr Klaper is an acclaimed doctor, dedicated environmentalist, and passionate educator. He has been a champion of the vegan diet since the early 1980s, recognising the devastating impacts that animal agriculture has on human and planetary health and, of...

We chat with many illuminating minds about dairy cows, including Elise Desaulniers, the author of "Cash Cow - Ten Myths about the Dairy Industry".Why is China encouraging the consumption of dairy whilst at the same time discouraging meat consumption in the latest dietary guidelines?   We also chat with Mia Macdonald from Brighter Green, a public policy action tank that works to raise awareness of...

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) Ocea...

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 1...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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 ca...

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