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To start this show, we chat about our recent day trip to the local Happy Herd Farm Sanctuary in Aldergrove, where Caroline, Denise and Alison spent the day meeting and cuddling with the beautiful rescued animals who reside at the sanctuary (as well as shoveling lots of goat poop).
Then we speak about local vegan children’s book author Maritza Oliver’s online fundraising campaign for a new book she is publishing, called “A Pig Is A Dog Is A Kid”. The deadline for donations to support this important project is this week, and you can find the Kickstart campaign here.
Patricia Welty on The Hike To End Elephant Poaching
For our first interview, we have Washington, DC-based activist Patricia Welty on the show. She describes herself as “concerned about our environment, habitat destruction, factory farming, and wildlife”, and she founded the non-profit called A Vegan Life 2 years ago to address the issues of farmed animals. But this year, she decided to do something for the elephants.
She has created a fundraising campaign to protect the endangered African elephants as she hikes the 2100-mile Appalachian Trail in the eastern United States. In this interview, Patricia speaks to us literally from the side of the road mid-hike in New York State to tell us about the fundraiser, and some of the issues facing the African elephants today, which are gravely endangered and may be wiped out in the near future if the illegal poaching for the ivory trade continues to exist.
Patricia’s goal is to raise $10,000, and 100% of funds raised will be donated directly to non-profits that are working on the ground in Africa to stop the elephant poaching. These are Conservation Lower Zambezi, African Wildlife Foundation, and the Black Mambas. Again, you can find her online fundraising campaign and donate here.
She serves as an inspiration for all of us who would love to take up such a big initiative to help the animals, and she gives advice on how to go about diving into an endeavour like this.
Leif Cocks, The Orangutan Project
Our feature interview is with Leif Cocks, founder of the Australian-based organization The Orangutan Project, which was started in 1998. The Orangutan Project was formed with a key mission: to ensure that endangered wild orangutan species would be protected against extinction, and would continue to live in secure populations for generations to come.
Today, The Orangutan Project is a successful not-for-profit organization that supports a wide range of critical projects that address the holistic problem facing remaining fragmented orangutan populations – including fighting deforestation and habitat loss at the highest level.
In this interview, Leif talks to us about his 30 year connection with these stunning beings and their looming extinction in Indonesia. He also addresses the problems with palm oil and whether or not there is such a thing as “sustainable” palm oil that isn’t wiping out orangutan habitats.
On August 19th, Leif will host a gala fundraiser in Langley to benefit The Orangutan Project.
Leif’s academic qualifications include a Masters of Science studying orangutans. He is also the author of the book “Orangutans and their Battle for Survival”.
