August 7, 2007

Sharkwater: An Interview With Rob Stewart

We speak with Rob Stewart, director of the award-winning film Sharkwater, about his compelling case for the global protection of sharks. Busting the myth that sharks are unstoppable killing machines, Stewart portrays them as complex and evolved beings, beings whose survival is threatened by the lucrative shark-fin industry. "A dangerous shark makes money and sells papers," he says, "If they tell you a shark is beautiful and perfect and wonderful and won't attack you, that's only going to make the news once."

Stewart's love of sharks has taken him as far as the Galapagos Islands, Guatemala and Costa Rica, where he has worked alongside Sea Shepherd to expose and stop shark poachers, at times under harrowing conditions. He joins us to talk about his film, his travels, and why sharks matter.

Sharkwater is Rob Stewart's first film, and was Winner of Canada's Top Ten at the Toronto International Film Festival, People's Choice Winner at the Atlantic International Film Festival, Winner for International Documentary at the Beverly Hills International Film Festival. In addition to visiting schools across Canada to promote his message, Stewart has also appeared on The Today Show and Larry King Live.

Download mp3s of the interview:
lower quality / smaller: part 1 (3.36 MB) and part 2 (2.87 MB)
higher quality / larger: part 1 (6.88 MB) and part 2 (5.78 MB)

April 3, 2007

Cows, Colonialism, and Capitalism: Interview with David Nibert

Well-known within the animal movements as the author of Animal Rights/Human Rights: Entanglements of Oppression and Liberation, Dr. David Nibert is a professor of Sociology at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Historically grounded, and passionately argued, Nibert's theory contends that oppression is primarily underpinned by economic gain and supported by state ideology. His scholarship offers both an economic analysis of oppression, including animal oppression, and a strong call for socialism. Beyond simply considering the roles animals have played within human society, significantly, Nibert also attempts to account for animals' experiences and perspectives throughout history.

His recent paper entitled "Cows, Profits, and Genocide: The Oppressive Side of 'Beef' Consumption," recently presented at Brock's "Thinking about Animals: Domination, Captivity, Liberation" conference, carries forward Nibert's economic critique through a sustained case study. Focusing on capitalism, colonialism, and their intimate connection to the exploitation of cows, Nibert explores how the colonization of the Americas was intertwined with the growth of the "beef" industry. Provocatively, he ties his historical insights into contemporary examples: "The entangled oppression of devalued humans and cows is most obvious today in Brazil and the Darfur region in western Sudan — where murder and displacement are tied to the expansion of the profitable 'beef industry.'" Tune in to hear more about this and related arguments.

Download mp3s of the interview:
lower quality / smaller: part 1 (4.03 MB) and part 2 (2.17 MB)
higher quality / larger: part 1 (8.13 MB) and part 2 (4.42 MB)

October 31, 2006

Igualdad Animal / Animal Equality

Source: elmundo.es

Join us for a conversation with Sharon Núñez from Igualdad Animal / Animal Equality, a Spanish and Latin American animal rights organization. Learn how activists in Spain are raising awareness about animal treatment, and how, through a series of creative campaigns, the anti-speciesist movement is growing. From the “meat tray” actions, to chaining themselves to slaughterhouses, Igualdad Animal is dedicated to an abolitionist agenda. Outside of the North American context, Spanish activists face less legal and governmental restrictions regarding their activism.

Download mp3s of the interview:
lower quality / smaller: part 1 (3.17 MB) and part 2 (1.63 MB)
higher quality / larger: part 1 (6.27 MB) and part 2 (3.24 MB)

October 24, 2006

“I Used to be a Vegetarian...”: Interview with Rae Sikora Part II

On this week's show we continue our conversation Rae Sikora, educator and founder of Simply Enough. Rae reflects on her experiences with meditation, and its relationship to her activism. She also talks about her recent trip to an organic turkey farm and the production of "happy meat". In closing, Rae speaks about working with anger, themes from the "I Used to be a Vegetarian..." workshop, and an important message she received from a rather big fish.

Sikora's decades-long journey with animal, environmental, and human rights education provides wisdom for those seeking to bring more peace to their advocacy and daily lives.

Download mp3s of the interview:
lower quality / smaller: part 1 (3.62 MB) and part 2 (2.68 MB)
higher quality / larger: part 1 (7.2 MB) and part 2 (5.32 MB)

August 8, 2006

Animals in the Crossfire

Source: BETA

Source: CHAI Online

What happens to animals during times of war? How do animal organizations mobilize in high risk areas? How does war compound existing problems for animals, and also create new ones?

We are joined by representatives from two animal organizations, one from Lebanon and one from Israel, to learn more about how animals are tangled up in this particular crisis in the Middle East. First, we will connect with Maggy, a co-founder of BETA (Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to hear how activists are helping stray and companion animals in Beirut, in addition to those from farms and zoos. We'll hear about the struggle to rescue animals, and to provide ongoing care despite dwindling supplies, the destruction of the international airport, roads, and blocked ports.

Then, Tali Lavie from Hakol Chai, the Israeli sister charity of CHAI (Concern for Helping Animals in Israel), will share her perspective from Tel Aviv. As people flee parts of Israel, animals have slowly begun to starve to death in the wake of the evacuations. Like those in Beirut, many animals are terrified, confused, and hungry. Tali will tell us how Hakol Chai is working to alleviate the suffering of animals in Israel.

Finally, tune in to hear about the messy intersection between adoption and vegetarianism in the United States, and how the diet is associated with neglect by some adoption and legal authorities. Shirley Dumas, from Indiana, will share her troubling story of adopting a child only to have him taken away, based on the State's prejudice against her "vegetarian lifestyle".

Download mp3s of the interview:
lower quality / smaller: part 1 (3.86 MB) and part 2 (1.81 MB)
higher quality / larger: part 1 (7.72 MB) and part 2 (3.62 MB)

January 24, 2006

Food Not Bombs Interview

Tune in this Tuesday to learn about one of the most radical and down-to-earth movements on the planet: Food Not Bombs. From the FNB website, "There are hundreds of autonomous chapters sharing free vegetarian food with hungry people and protesting war and poverty. This energetic grassroots movement is active throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Food Not Bombs is organizing for peace and an end to the occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. For over 25 years the movement has worked to end hunger and has supported actions to stop the globalization of the economy, restrictions to the movements of people, end exploitation and the destruction of the earth."

We are honoured to be joined live by Keith McHenry, one of the original co-founders of Food Not Bombs. Hear how McHenry has fed people, protested against state repression and environmental devastation, faced police brutality, served time, and managed to keep going after decades of unrelenting activism.

Inspired by books like Diet for a Small Planet, vegetarianism has always been integral to the revolutionary vision of Food Not Bombs. On this week's program, get a primer on the history of the non-violent movement and find out how you can be involved. Peek into the personal life of an activist whose battle scars and laugh lines chart a fascinating journey through a landscape of social and political change.

Pull up a seat, loosen your tie or take off your balaclava, and settle in for a conversation with "the gentle anarchist."

Download mp3s of the interview:
lower quality / smaller: part 1 (2.55 MB) and part 2 (3.68 MB)
higher quality / larger: part 1 (5.11 MB) and part 2 (7.37 MB)

November 22, 2005

Bob Barker & Taimie Bryant: Animal Rights in the Classroom and the Courtroom, Part 1

Bob Barker & Frederico

Taimie L. Bryant

First, Bob Barker, venerable host of The Price Is Right for the past 34 years, explains his motivation for donating 1 million dollars each to the law schools of Stanford, Columbia, Northwestern, Duke, UCLA and Harvard to fund animal rights law courses. A passionate animal advocate, Bob also set up the DJ & T Foundation in honour of his wife, Dorothy Jo, and his mother, Matilda (Tilly) Valandra, to fund low cost spay/neuter clinics and voucher programs as a way to help relieve animal over population.

Then we speak with Taimie L. Bryant, PhD, professor of law at UCLA who has taught classes in animal law since 1995. In 1998, she was the lead drafter of California state legislation to shift animal sheltering from killing to saving lives. More recently, Professor Bryant is utilizing the literature of social justice activism in feminism and disability rights areas in order to inform activism for animals. In particular, she seeks to combine the approaches of radical feminism and social justice activism in her work on animal protection. She is also developing projects that combine social science with law with funds from a generous endowment by Bob Barker to UCLA Law School for the purpose of animal rights law teaching and scholarship.

Download mp3s of the interview:
lower quality / smaller: part 1 (1.89 MB) and part 2 (4.03 MB)
higher quality / larger: part 1 (3.76 MB) and part 2 (8.19 MB)

October 11, 2005

The Politics of Production and Consumption

Lauren: "Years ago, an irate university student accused me, a new vegetarian, of "being worse than meat-eaters because [I] steal the cows' food!" Even at the time his logic seemed a little faulty. Thankfully, with the help of folks like Danielle Nierenberg, a research associate with the World Watch Institute, we're all a lot more educated about world food systems."

We discuss Nierenberg's recent report Happier Meals: Rethinking the Global Meat Industry, which addresses the devastating effects of factory farming on the industrialized and "developing" world. If you've ever been curious about how widespread factory farming has become or what animal issues have to do with globalization, this will be the show for you. From the health, ecological, and humane issues associated with factory farming, we've got it covered.

Download mp3s of the interview:
lower quality / smaller: part 1 (2.47 MB) and part 2 (3.16 MB)
higher quality / larger: part 1 (4.96 MB) and part 2 (6.35 MB)

August 9, 2005

Global/Local Food Politics with Lauren Baker

How can we make compassionate and conscious food choices? Is consumption of a plant-based diet only part of the picture? Lauren Baker, a doctoral student at York University and food activist, will tackle these and other questions during this week's show. We'll discuss the corporatization of agriculture, global food politics, and the importance of farmers' markets, seasonal veggies, organics and roof-top gardening. Toronto listeners will also learn where to buy locally-grown produce and how to get involved with community gardens around the city.

Baker received her Master's of Environmental Studies in 1997. She has worked extensively with FoodShare in Ontario on issues of urban horticulture and food security. Her current research areas include biodiversity conflicts and new social movements in Mexico.

Download mp3s of the interview:
lower quality / smaller: part 1 (2.92 MB) and part 2 (2.4 MB)
higher quality / larger: part 1 (5.89 MB) and part 2 (4.77 MB)

June 14, 2005

Halifax Activism & Car Culture

Marc, Levi, Lauren, and Rob

This week, we're joined by Marc, an esteemed member of ARCH (Animal Rights Collective of Halifax). He'll tell us about the group, east-coast animal activism, and the hottest veg-friendly hangouts around town. Then we'll switch gears and speak with Dr. Levi Waldron about his passion for bicycles and veganism...

Cars play such a big part in many of our lives that we are no longer aware of how much they influence our bodies and minds. Although car culture continues to perpetuate systemic social inequality and affect a devastating environmental toll, the connections between the automotive industry and animal rights might initially seem obscure. Levi, a long-time cycling activist with a doctorate in Forestry and Environmental Studies, will illuminate some of these connections in his discussion of car culture, cycling politics, and their impacts on animals.

Download mp3s of the interview:
lower quality / smaller: part 1 (2.94 MB) and part 2 (2.48 MB)
higher quality / larger: part 1 (5.9 MB) and part 2 (4.97 MB)