We start off this episode by announcing the lucky winner of our draw for a Green Beings “Electric Green” CD! Congratulations to Luvena Kwong!
Then we give a review of this week’s Oprah Winfrey show in which Oprah took on a vegan challenge again, this time for one week and with her 378 staff members. The show also features “Veganist” and “Quantam Wellness” author Kathy Freston, and “In Defense of Food” author Michael Pollan.
Geoff Urton, BCSPCA, New Codes of Practise for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals in Canada
For our first interview, we have Geoff Urton of the British Columbia Society for the Protection of Animals on the show. Geoff is the Animal Welfare Manager at the British Columbia Society for the Protection of Animals. Earlier last year, the Federal Government announced 3.4 million dollars in funding for animal welfare projects, including new Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals to be developed under the leadership of the National Farm Animal Care Council. Geoff speaks to us about these new Codes of Practice and what we can expect from them in terms of progress for the treatment of Canadian animals in the animal agriculture system.
Neil D’Cruze, World Society for the Protection of Animals, on the Dancing Bear Trade in India
For our feature interview, we have Neil D’Cruze from the World Society for the Protection of Animals to speak to us about the ancient practice of bear dancing in India, which still continues today. Neil is a UK wildlife biologist, possessing a Master of Science degree from the Natural History Museum in London, and has previously led field based conservation research programs throughout Africa and Central America.
With a particular interest in wild animal welfare, he has worked for WSPA since 2007, and has been involved in a range of different bear focused welfare projects including human-bear conflict, bear cub rehabilitation and release, bear farming and bear dancing.
Here is a video from WSPA Canada that paints a vivid picture of what is happening to these bears:
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