Defender Radio and The Switch

This episode is later than originally anticipated – between human and canine health issues and some technical whoopsies, things got delayed. And before we get into it, I want to let you know that JoAnne and I get into some heavy conversation about compassion fatigue and the emotional weight of advocacy work. If that isn't something you're up for – no problem! Please know that there are many available resources to help manage self-care, compassion fatigue, and other emotional or mental-health related topics. Start by talking to your doctor, caregiver, or Googling what local resources exist in your municipality or county.

Now let's get started with this week's episode.

Photographs tell stories. Some of them are funny, some sad, some tragic, some a mixture of many emotions. Regardless of what story is being told, photography has a way of getting to people when words have failed. And that's why We Animals Media matters.

Through a variety of storytelling methods – including founder Jo-Anne McArthur's incredible photography and photojournalism – We Animals Media is a home for a catalogue accessible to traditional media, advocates, and everyone in between. It's also the site of exciting new projects – like a We Animals masterclass, book sales, mentorships, and really, more than I can say in a short introduction.

I was thrilled to chat with Jo-Anne about the history of We Animals, the current projects she's developing with a growing team, and what the future holds for the world's premiere animal advocacy storytellers.

We Animals Media: https://weanimalsmedia.org

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

The Ontario government is considering liberalizing wolf and coyote hunting in Northern Ontario in a bid to increase moose hunting opportunities. But their own science and facts indicate that killing more wolves and coyotes won't have the impact they want – making this an entirely political policy.

This issue isn't just about wolves and coyotes and moose; it's about understanding what is being said by those affected in Northern Ontario by the climate crisis and a rapidly changing ecosystem. It's about learning to bring science to story and story to science to ensure that we're doing what's best for people in Ontario, as well as the individual animals and infinitely complex ecosystem that we all share.

To dive into the policy, the history, the science, and the difficult ethical conversations, Defender Radio was joined by Hannah Barron, Director of Wildlife Conservation Campaigns for Earthroots.

TAKE ACTION: https://earthroots.good.do/wolf/huntingcomment/

Earthroots website: www.earthroots.org

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

What is compassionate conservation? How can teaching today's students the tenets of this movement affect government decisions tomorrow? And why does it matter in the end? All these questions and more are discussed with UBC professor and researcher Dr. Kristen Walker on the first episode of Defender Radio's seventh season!

Join the Defender Radio Patreon: www.patreon.com/defenderradio

Sign up to get email alerts from The Fur-Bearers: www.thefurbearers.com/updates

Dr. Walker's reading list:

Bekoff, M. 2013. Ignoring Nature No More – The Case for Compassionate Conservation. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, USA.

Wallach et al. 2018 Summoning compassion to address the challenges of conservation. Conservation Biology DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13126

Fraser, D. 2010. Towards a synthesis of conservation and animal welfare science. Animal Welfare 19: 121-124.

How do you grow empathy and protect the future non-human animals in a part of the world most people will never visit? One company has the answer – and the science to back it up.

Krikey, a mobile gaming company founded by Jhvani and Ketaki Shriram, recently partnered with The Ellen Fund to launch Gorillas!, a 3D, augmented reality game that allows people to learn about the lives of critically endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda. What makes this fascinating is not just the adorable graphics and enjoyable gaming aspect, but that it's backed by scientific evidence that indicates the augmented reality experience actually grows empathy in adults.

Despite my best efforts, I am unable to succinctly explain the various aspects of what Jhvani and Ketaki have created with Krikey, so let's dive into the interview with these two incredible people and hear why I'm telling people that they may have developed one of the tools that could actually change the hearts and minds of humankind.

As many of you know, I'm a dog guy. I share my home with JJ the Hamilton Hound, who you'll often hear clicking around and bringing me toys while I'm interviewing folks. And as you may also know, I'm a huge fan of Dr. Marc Bekoff. He's a prolific author, professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, and as an ethologist has incredible experience, wisdom, and insight into the animals around us. Along with his friend and regular writing partner Dr. Jessica Pierce, Marc co-authored Unleashing Your Dog: A field guide to giving your canine companion the best life possible.

I'm describing this book as the book anyone should read before they read a dog training book – because this isn't a dog training book. Unleashing Your Dog examines our relationships with dogs and challenges us to give our dogs what they need to truly be who they are while living in a human world. Marc joined Defender Radio to discuss the motivations for the book, how we can all use the tools of ethology to learn more about the non-human animals in our lives, and what exactly unleashing your dog means.

Get your copy of Unleashing Your Dog: https://www.amazon.ca/Unleashing-Your-Dog-Companion-Possible/dp/160868542X

Learn more about Marc: www.marcbekoff.com

Read Marc's Psychology Today blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/animal-emotions

Support Defender Radio via Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Bears are dying in British Columbia as spring turns to summer. I'd like to have a cute, chipper way of introducing this interview, but that's the sad fact. Largely due to poor attractant management, bears wander into communities in search of easy meals, an inconsistent response from various residents results in their ongoing presence in the community, and, eventually, it often leads to conservation officers killing the bear for alleged habituation.

It doesn't need to be this way. Luci Cadman of the North Shore Black Bear Society in British Columbia works tirelessly to educate communities and push for enforcement of existing by-laws regarding attractants and human behaviour that leads to these conflicts. She joined Defender Radio to discuss the reality of living near bears, the things individuals and whole communities can do to stop the killing, and why this isn't a bear issue, but a human one.

North Shore Black Bear Society: www.northshorebears.com

Defender Radio Patreon: www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Sign Up For Emails from Defender Radio & The Fur-Bearers: www.thefurbearers.com/updates

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Cats love to climb, jump, pounce, and play. Unfortunately, they often want to do this outside, where those skills help them kill wildlife and birds in large numbers and are exposed to innumerous risks to their well-being. It's not fair to tell cats they can't be who they are, and it isn't exactly fair to let them be at risk of causing damage or being injured.

There is, however, a middle ground: catios.

The BC SPCA recently hosted a tour of catios in the Vancouver region with great success and are strong proponents of people giving cats a safe way to live their lives and engage their behaviours fully. Marieke van der Velden , an outreach specialist for the BC SPCA joined Defender Radio to share the secrets of catios and how easily cat lovers can build or buy them for their furry friends.

Learn more about catios: https://spca.bc.ca/catio

Join the Defender Radio Patreon: www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Check out The Young Defenders: www.youngdefenders.ca

Mountain caribou are endangered in British Columbia. It's a big deal: the federal government has threatened to intervene if plans aren't put in place to protect them. One plan, worked on heavily by First Nations leaders, is receiving praise. But the plan for at least one other region has huge holes and fails to address some key issues.

While protecting caribou habitat may seem like a straight-forward task, the previous BC provincial government run in a majority by the Liberals and the current government run by an NDP-Green partnership is showing that it's anything but.

From literally selling the rights to cut down trees in the habitat of the endangered caribou during negotiations to killing wolves despite widespread scientific and ethical opposition to a disturbing rise in racist comments and economic disinformation, it's been a bit of a confusing journey.

As the consultation period winds down – and links to actions on that are included in this week's show notes – I wanted to take some time to break out the points, challenge the myths, and hear opposing opinions to what industry and politicians have spouted. That's why we connected with Charlotte Dawe, Conservation and Campaign Manager for Wilderness Committee, who patiently listened to my tangents and walked me through the last year of work on this campaign and how you can be part of the solution.

Take action: https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/SouthernMountainCaribou

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Articles mentioned:

Agreements mark 'turning point' for six B.C. caribou herds, but leave most herds hanging https://thenarwhal.ca/agreements-mark-turning-point-six-b-c-caribou-herds-leave-most-herds-hanging/

500 dead wolves vs. 500 lost jobs: Town balks at potential cost of saving caribou in northeastern B.C. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/caribou-jobs-wolves-chetwynd-northeastern-british-columbia-1.5087317

Northern B.C. leaders pressure province to halt caribou plans https://www.princegeorgematters.com/local-news/northern-bc-leaders-pressure-province-to-halt-caribou-plans-1368244

Caribou protection plan spawns racist backlash in northeast B.C. http://thenarwhal.ca/caribou-protection-plan-spawns-racist-backlash-in-northeast-b-c/

West Moberly First Nations chief denounces 'fear mongering' over caribou protection plan https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/caribou-draft-plan-west-moberly-chief-racism-jobs-1.5102961

The 0.1% that trappers contribute to nature-based economics https://thefurbearers.com/blog/the-01-that-trappers-contribute-to-nature-based-economics

The Fur-Bearers and Defender Radio are proud to announce the launch of a new project: The Young Defenders, a site and podcast to help youth Defend The Future Of Wildlife And The Environment Through Education, Communication and Kindness.

Visit www.YoungDefenders.ca!

Young Defenders Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theyoungdefenders

Young Defenders Twitter: https://twitter.com/youngdefenders

Young Defenders Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theyoungdefenders/

Defender Radio & Young Defenders Patreon: www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio

PJ is the Director of Fashion Policy at the Humane Society of the United States and has played a major role in getting big brands like Armani to drop fur and institute fur-free policies. We had a wonderful conversation about fur, policy, the historic context of the current fight to #MakeFurHistory, and how his method has proven successful. We even got into self-care and what solutions exist for every advocate who wants to see an end to the use of fur in fashion.

Find out more about PJ's work with HSUS at: www.HumaneSociety.org.

Become a Defender Radio Patron at: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio.

Defender Radio Facebook page:

www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio

www.YoungDefenders.ca