Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, Orangutan Foundation International; & Sophie Middleton, Cow Ribbon Campaign

To start this episode, we discuss the World Week for Animals in Laboratories, which is happening this week, April 21-29. It is a time to speak out for the animals being treated in terrible conditions while being tested on and used in scientific research.

Support the Animal Voices Show

It’s that time of the year again – Vancouver Co-operative Radio’s bi-annual membership drive is happening now, where, at this time, we are asking you, our listeners, to please support the work we do at Animal Voices radio, and make a pledge to keep our show on the air. Animal Voices (and Vancouver Co-operative Radio) is a non-profit charitable organization that is volunteer run and listener supported.

If you appreciate the work that we do here every week at Animal Voices to bring you original, quality programming on the topics of current animal issues and the vegan lifestyle, please show us your support by making a donation to us at Animal Voices at Co-op radio, because we DO rely on your donations to keep this show on the air! To make a donation of $5, $10, $20 or whatever you can afford, simply go to www.coopradio.org and click on “Donate Now!” And remember to indicate on your donation that it’s going towards Animal Voices. And if you’re in Canada and make a donation of at least $25, your donations ARE tax deductible! Every little bit helps, so we thank you for your assistance!

Sophie Middleton, Cow Ribbon Campaign

Our first interview is with local activist Sophie Middleton. She is a volunteer with the Vancouver non-profit animal rights organization Liberation BC, and to speak about the annual Cow Ribbon Campaign put on by Liberation BC, which strives to raise awareness to show support for all mothers during Mother’s Day.

If you would like to wear your own cow ribbon, you can get one here.

Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, Orangutan Foundation International

Our feature interview is with Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, who is the world’s foremost  authority on the orangutan. She is a scientist, conservationist, and educator: for almost four decades Dr. Galdikas has studied and worked closely with the orangutans of Indonesian Borneo in their natural habitat. As President and one of the founders of Orangutan Foundation International, Dr. Galdikas has studied orangutans longer than any other person in human history and has worked ceaselessly to save orangutans and forests, and to bring orangutans and their plight to the attention of the world.

The mission of the Orangutan Foundation International is to support the conservation, protection, and understanding of orangutans and their rain forest habitat while caring for ex-captive orangutan orphans as they make their way back to the forest.

Dr. Galdikas speaks with us about the current plight of the orangutans, who are having their habitats destroyed by palm oil plantations, and could see extinction in the near future. It is being called a “global tragedy”.

Check out this touching music video that explains the issues between orangutans and the palm oil that you consume:

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