#av2013

Dying for Trophies and Trinkets: Threats to Bears, Rhinos, Elephants, and Tigers

At the top of the hour, we hear from Douglas Neasloss about the Bears Forever project and the ban on trophy hunting in B.C.’s Great Bear Rainforest. The provincial government disputes First Nations authority in the area, and claims that trophy hunting—a gruesome practice in which people kill a bear and cut off his head and paws—has huge economic value. But through education, scientific and economic studies, and lobbying, the Bears Forever project is working for a future in which people respect bears and live alongside them as neighbours.

V is for Vegan: Author Ruby Roth Teaches the ABCs of Kindness to Animals

Should we be learning compassion for animals at the same time as our ABCs?  Absolutely, says author/illustrator Ruby Roth. Her new book, V is for Vegan, gives children ages 3 and up a funny, joyful introduction to veganism in 26 sentences.

Live to Work: Labour Studies Professor Kendra Coulter Examines Work By Animals and Work With Animals

Do you think a therapy dog might love his job? How about a racehorse?

Dr. Kendra Coulter is teaching the first-ever Labour Studies course focused on nonhuman animals at a major university. From horses who get “flipped” like real estate until they finally go to slaughter, to grooms who die in poverty after careers caring for champion racehorses, Coulter shows us how animal work is enmeshed with capitalism and class.

But there are hopeful stories too: we will hear how Greek cities are socializing care of street dogs, what “red-green” and “blue-green” political alliances can teach us about changing exploitive industries, and how the gender shift in veterinarians may be improving the affordability of animal care.

You’re Safe, You’re Home, You Matter: Kathy Stevens of Catskill Animal Sanctuary

In 2001, Kathy Stevens walked away from a career in teaching, bought a junkyard, and transformed it into a 110-acre animal sanctuary. Since then, Catskill Animal Sanctuary has cared for over 3,000 animals rescued from situations of cruelty and hoarding.

Still a teacher at heart, Kathy runs camps for children, does outreach in schools, and holds cooking classes at the sanctuary. People who are too far away to visit can read Kathy’s newest book, Animal Camp. In the book they will meet Tucker the steer who thinks he’s a puppy, and Hope the horse with low self-esteem.

Author & Filmmaker Rob Stewart Wants to Save The Humans (And Everyone Else). Plus, Animal Rights Events Across Southern Ontario

If you have any doubt that southern Ontario is a hotbed of activism for animals, this show will prove it to you! In a whirlwind tour, we will hear from:

Hannah Lachnit, an organizer of Festival for the Animals, which includes demonstrations at 3 captive animal parks plus a conference at Brock University;

Mike Nicholson, an organizer of Pigfest (compassionate Guelphites’ answer to Ribfest) and of the Human Rights Are Animal Rights conference;

Jaydene Lavallie, an organizer of the Animal Rights Day happening at both Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier Universities.

Life in Prison for Killer Whales: Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Director of Blackfish, on the Tragedy of Marine Parks

Gabriela Cowperthwaite was a regular “mother who took her kids to Seaworld”… then Tilikum the orca killed trainer Dawn Brancheau, and Cowperthwaite set out to understand why. The result is the documentary film Blackfish. Featuring former trainers who started out idealistic but came to realize they were part of a “depraved” industry, the film exposes the violence of wild capture, the trauma of separating mothers and calves, and the terrible psychological and physical effects of lifelong captivity. Cowperthwaite will also discuss how the makers of Blackfish are pushing for the establishment of “sea sanctuaries” for animals who have spent their lives captive in marine parks.

Knowing Where You’ve Been: Carolyn Merino Mullin on founding a National Museum of Animals & Society

Then in our feature interview, we speak with Carolyn Merino Mullin, founder and president of the National Museum of Animals & Society. There are museums to preserve the history of the women’s suffrage and civil rights movements, so why not for the animal protection movement? We will hear about some of that history, including early groups like the Bands of Mercy and the Jack London Club.