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January 26, 2010 Rescate Abierto: Open Rescues and Inspiration with Igualdad Animal’s Sharon Núñez 
Photo from openrescue.net In the (Western) world of image streams and media saturation, Igualdad Animal (Animal Equality) knows how to play the game, and be effective. Having built a strong network of supporters and activists across Spain (and now expanding to the UK, Colombia and Venezuela), the group holds close to a dozen actions per week, sometimes more, garnering public attention, generating discussion, and keeping the idea of abolishing animal exploitation circulating in the Spanish public consciousness. In all they do, whether it is rescates abiertos (open rescues) or town square demonstrations advocating veganism, Igualdad Animal does their work in a way that is ethically sound, attention grabbing, and serious. You won’t see any women in lettuce bikinis here. In this, our third conversation with Igualdad Animal founder and director Sharon Núñez, we discuss the philosophy behind IA, the importance of open rescues, and the way that image obsessed Western culture can still be touched by a serious dedication to the truth. An inspiration for abolitionist activists everwhere, Sharon and IA prove that you don’t need to resort to childish antics to garner media attention, and that demanding abolition of animal slavery can be a goal that is reached for with more than just carefully worded pamphlets. To donate via Paypal to help IA continue their open rescues, send funds to: info@igualdadanimal.org News links:
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Animal Rescues | Direct action
November 10, 2009 When The Fight Is Over: Cockfighter Rehabilitation With Miriam Jones 
Photo from Eastern Shore Sanctuary website Cockfighting is major news in the United States these days, with almost weekly reports of police raids on the illegal fighting and gambling operations. What happens after the raids, rescue and relocation? On this week’s program, we catch up with Miriam Jones from the Eastern Shore Bird Sanctuary who tells us about the politics and practice of fighting rooster rehab. Though the process can be long and difficult, Jones gives us a clear picture about why it is vital that we don’t give up on animals who have been trained to fight. From the Website: “Founded in a rural region dominated by the poultry industry, the Eastern Shore Sanctuary and Education Center provides a haven for hens, roosters and ducks who have escaped or been rescued from the meat and egg industries or other abusive circumstances, such as cockfighting. We work within an ecofeminist understanding of the interconnection of all life and the intersection of all forms of oppression. Thus we welcome and work to facilitate alliances among animal, environmental, and social justice activists.” The Eastern Shore Statement on Backyard Birds: News links:
Download mp3s of the interview: July 28, 2009 Filling the Ark: Dr. Leslie Irvine discusses animals in disasters 
When disaster strikes, news reports come fast and furious with constant updates and around the clock coverage. However, the coverage of earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and floods is almost always human-focused; where animals are concerned, the media often has little to say, especially if those animals were to become food or be used as research subjects. In this interview Dr. Leslie Irvine explains how some animals are deemed more worthy of coverage than others, and how an animal’s sociological status affects how they are - or are not - protected when disasters occur. Covering both “natural” and “human-made” disasters, Dr. Irvine discusses the current state of animal protection in times of crisis, and gives practical suggestions for how the plight of animals can be ameliorated in the future. Leslie Irvine is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She received her Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Her research focuses on the role of animals in society. She has studied animal sheltering, human-animal relationships, and most recently, animals in disasters. Her book, titled Filling the Ark: Animal Welfare in Disasters, urges us to rethink our use of animals that put them in harm’s way. She is also the author of If You Tame Me: Understanding Our Connection with Animals, and numerous articles on our relationships with other species.
Download mp3s of the interview: September 23, 2008 Toronto Wildlife Centre: Education, Rehabilitation, and Conservation 
© iStockphoto.com / Jeff Chevrier It was 1:00 am, and we just turned a corner of a quiet Toronto street. Lost in conversation, we walked on, oblivious to our surroundings. Then, suddenly, the scene became clear: A squawking bird overhead, another barely limping toward the curb, and a sleek cat waiting in the wing. A car sped past, nearly hitting the injured the American Robin. Struck by our own ignorance, we wondered how to ethically respond: What should we do? Nathalie Karvonen, Executive Director and co-founder of the Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC), has spent over fifteen years helping wildlife in need. A truly inspirational registered charity, the TWC has provided medical care and rehabilitation services to tens of thousands of animals, while also educating the public about how to live more harmoniously with our wild neighbours. In this interview, we learn about the major dangers facing urban wildlife, how to help a sick or injured animal, why wildlife vets are a rare breed, and the TWC's specialized programs, including the Wildlife Rescue and Oil Spill Response. News links:
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Animal Rescues
August 12, 2008 Behind the Scenes of Farm Sanctuary’s Incredible Pig Rescue 
Photo credit: Molly Wald / Best Friends Animal Society Farm Sanctuary's Tricia Barry shares with us the extraordinary story of the large-scale pig rescue that occurred in the midst of the Midwestern United States' flood disaster. A testament to their incredible courage and industriousness, pigs from Iowa's factory farms fought the elements in truly perilous conditions. Those who were not killed by bullets, drowning, or hunger continued to starve as their skin burned under a blistering sun. 
Photo credit: Farm Sanctuary Farm Sanctuary and other animal organizations waged an emergency effort that was both a considerable technical and organizational achievement. Tune in for a gripping rendition of the events, including the logistics behind the rescue and the stories about the individual pigs who survived and who are now recovering in at the Sanctuary's New York shelter. Additionally, Barry provides insight into negotiating within a deeply agricultural state that was faced with a monumental crisis.
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Animal Rescues | Pigs
July 15, 2008 Animals Asia Foundation: Sanctuary and the Struggle to End Bear Bile Farming 
Photos from animalsasia.org Jill Robinson, founder and CEO of Animals Asia Foundation, joins us from Chengdu, China. Tune in to hear Robinson describe her work with Chinese and Vietnamese animal activists to provide sanctuary for moon bears (Asiatic black bears), and their efforts to stop bear bile farming. Robinson provides detailed first-hand accounts of bear rescues, painting vivid pictures of the farms and the conditions that the bears endure. From mutilations and physical pain, to emotional and psychological damage, rescued bears face significant challenges in their recovery. Some do not make it. Others manage to thrive at the two Moon Bear Rescue Centers, one in Tam Dao, Vietnam, and the other in Chengdu, China. Listen in for some of the bears' stories. Also in this interview, Robinson outlines the economics of bear bile farming, traditional medicines (TM), successful lobbying techniques, and the stumbling blocks the Foundation works to overcome.
One of our favourite interviews to date!
Download mp3s of the interview: May 27, 2008 Everyone Counts: Homeless Cats in the City 
Photo from Annex Cat Rescue In our first interview, Barbara Isherwood, a member of the volunteer-run Annex Cat Rescue (ACR), talks about the ins and outs of working with feral cats. We delve into the elusive lives of these animals, the underlying causes of their homelessness, and the creative ways the ACR helps. With the arrival of spring comes the birth of many kittens, and the need for volunteers grows even greater. From feeding cats for an hour a week, to screening potential adopters, aiding with the Trap-Neuter/Spay-Return (TNR), or making a financial donation, among other useful contributions, the Annex Cat Rescue offers crucial support to thousands of cats who are too often neglected or simply forgotten. Isherwood calls her volunteering with the ACR the most rewarding aspect of her life. Tune in to find out why. Then, Michelle Cliffe, WSPA's Communications Manager, provides an update about the organization's efforts to help animals affected by Cyclone Nargis in Burma/Myanmar. News links:
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Animal Rescues
May 13, 2008 Relief Efforts for Animals in Burma/Myanmar 
WSPA in Pakistan after an earthquake in 2005. Source: wspa-international.org Although animals are clearly affected by natural and political disasters, their lives are often not prioritized in relief efforts, while their plight also receives little media coverage. WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) predicts that many animals have already died and countless others are now suffering in the wake of Cyclone Nargis in Burma/Myanmar. In this interview, Project Manager Josey Kitson explains the role of WSPA's emergency response team and what they hope to accomplish once the country's borders open to foreign aid. We hear about the role of the team, their preparations for disaster relief, and the lessons learned from years of experience. (Click here for an update on the situation, and WSPA's efforts.) News links:
Download an mp3 of the interview (8.42 MB) Tags: Animal Rescues
January 22, 2008 Travel Tips with Sarah Kramer, and Beating the Odds with BETA Seasoned traveller Sarah Kramer invites you to share your favourite recipes from How it All Vegan, The Garden of Vegan, and La Dolce Vegan, for her upcoming cute and compact travel book. In this fun interview, we peek into Vegan A Go-Go, and hear Sarah's essential tips for the road. Then we connect with Maggy (Marguerite Shaarawi) from Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In this moving conversation, Maggy tells us about a cat they rescued, literally right as we ended our interview in 2006. We also learn what it's like to fly over the Atlantic with three hundred animals (they definitely don't fit under the seat), and how BETA keeps hope alive in the midst of political instability and violence. Click to watch the short video "From Beirut to Best Friends - BETA - In Their Own Words". News links:
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Animal Rescues | Cooking
September 11, 2007 Rescue, Shelter, and Education: The Ferret Aid Society Speaks 
When people think of vivisection, ferrets aren't usually the first animals who spring to mind. Or, similarly, mention animal cruelty investigations, and people tend to imagine cats and dogs. While ferrets are plagued by cultural stereotypes that they stink and love to bite, The Ferret Aid Society offers a very different interpretation of these inquisitive animals. Started in 1994, president and founder of the organization, Randy Belair, tells a heart-wrenching story of the first ferret who inspired her and her mother to launch the FAS. Thirteen years later, Randy has rescued many ferrets, nursed them to health, turned her home into a shelter, educated the public, and side-stepped imminent burn-out. (Needless to say, it's been a lot work!) Tune in as Randy shares personal stories about the ferrets she and the FAS volunteers have known and loved. Hear about Randy's experiences doing investigations, and find out what ferrets need to thrive. Keep the dial locked to find out more about ferrets not only in Ontario, but also around the world. Additionally, we'll talk about the economic connections among backyard breeders, farmers, and hunters. Still under the radar of many animal advocates, this show promises to pay homage to the struggles and joys of these underrated animals. News links:
Download mp3s of the interview:  |
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