Freedom of Species

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/

This week we are very happy to be presenting our interview with Dr Jonathan Balcombe.Jonathan Balcombe is the director of animal sentience at the Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy and the author of a number of books, including Second Nature, Pleasurable Kingdom, and the newly released What a Fish Knows. Balcombe has three biology degrees, including a PhD in ethology from the University of Tennessee, where he studied communication in bats. A popular commentator, he has appeared on Fresh Air with Terry Gross, the BBC, and the National Geographic Channel, and in several documentaries, and has contributed features and opinions to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Nature, and other publications. He lives in Florida. Find him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter at @Jonathanpb1959, and visit his website at www.jonathan-balcombe.com

19th August is the deadline for sending your submissions to the Kosciusko Brumby management, or put more aptly, the brumby eradication plan. Don't let that date literally mean the DEAD line for thousands of brumbies! We play conversations with Jill Pickering, President of the Australian Brumby Alliance & Lynette Sutton from Hoofs2010 Brumby Rescue about their objections to, and frustrations with, the proposed government draft.TO TAKE ACTION! Get your act together please and write individual or group submissions! Follow this link:http://australianbrumbyalliance.org.au/how-you-can-help/help-the-kosi-brumbies/The August 2nd Rally in Sydney:http://australianbrumbyalliance.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Save-Our-Brumbies-Rally.pdf

Paul Bashir, co-founder and director of Anonymous For The Voiceless, explains the motivation and method behind this new highly effective direct action and public outreach initiative in Melbourne.  He details how his astonishingly successful approach gets passing pedestrians to commit to veganism on the spot.www.facebook.com/anonymousforthevoicelesswww.aussiefarms.org.au