This is a repost of a past episode. New episodes will be streaming by June 2022!

The illegal wildlife trade is significantly broader and includes far more species than most people think; and Canada is seemingly playing a role.

Dr. Chris Shepherd, Executive Director of Monitor Conservation Research Society, is working hard to research and expose the illegal wildlife trade around the world. In two papers he co-published regarding black bears and their illegal trade in various parts of the world, Canada had a clear connection. Links to these, which explore the bear trade in Czech Republic and Australasian countries, are available in the show notes. Dr. Shepherd joined Defender Radio to share more about Monitor Conservation Research Society, how Canada factors into the illegal wildlife trade, and what average residents can do to make a difference.

Links:

Find Dr. Chris Shepherd and Monitor Conservation Research Society at https://mcrsociety.org/

Bearing all Down Under: the role of Australasian countries in the illegal bear trade (https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/PC21057) 

Bear trade in the Czech Republic: an analysis of legal and illegal international trade from 2005 to 2020 (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10344-020-01425-7) 

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio and/or The Switch? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael), TikTok (www.tiktok.com/@howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Repost of a popular Defender Radio episode. New episodes return May 2022!

Episode originally released September 2021.

The idea of walking into a flat earth convention makes my tummy hurt. For Dr. Lee McIntyre, it was an exercise in curiosity explored in the introduction of his new book, How To Talk To A Science Denier.

Dr. McIntyre is an author, a research fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University and an instructor in Ethics at Harvard Extension School. An award-winning teacher, McIntyre has penned several popular titles on the philosophy of science and anti-science sentiments and strategies. His latest, published by MIT Press this year, is a dive into science denial in the modern era.

How to Talk to A Science Denier combines Dr. McIntyre’s own experiences and thoughts with a well-executed explanation of what, somewhat ironically, science and history can tell us about the current state of science denial. The book itself covers subjects ranging from climate denial to conspiracy theory, flat Earth to anti-vaccine and more. However, as I learned by reading the book and through my conversation with Dr. McIntyre, curiosity, compassion and disconfirming inquiries will play a far greater role in bringing science to those who deny it than I initially thought.

Learn more about Dr. Lee McIntyre and How To Talk To A Science Denier at https://leemcintyrebooks.com.

Want to suggest topics for the show? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael), TikTok (www.tiktok.com/@howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Placemaking and little free libraries go hand in hand to help residents make a switch in their community. Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff of the Victoria Pocket Places Project joins The Switch to explain how the idea of placing making and community library boxes (which don’t replace libraries) can help communities become climate resilient and benefit everyone.

Please note we are not discussing Little Free Libraries, a non-profit organization.

LINKS

Greater Victoria Placemaking Network: https://victoriaplacemaking.ca/placemaking/

GVPN’s Little Free Libraries:  https://victoriaplacemaking.ca/little-free-libraries/

Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff: https://www.teale.ca/

Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff on Social: https://www.tiktok.com/@tealepb

https://www.facebook.com/Teale.Phelps.Bondaroff/

https://twitter.com/TealePB

https://www.instagram.com/tealephelpsbondaroff/

Want to suggest topics for The Switch? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael), TikTok (www.tiktok.com/@howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

The Switch is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Want to suggest topics for The Switch or Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael), TikTok (www.tiktok.com/@howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

The Switch and Defender Radio podcasts are produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Urban Resource Institute, America’s largest domestic violence residential service provider. and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, recently released the results of their national survey. The PALS survey, part of URI’s People and Animals Living Safely, clearly showed the fear for safety of pets is a critical component in a persons’ decision in leaving abusive situations. The findings are staggering – with 97% of respondents saying that keeping their pets is an important factor in deciding to seek shelter, and 50% saying they would not consider shelter for themselves if they could not take their pets with them.

To discuss the important findings in this survey, I was joined by Danielle Emery, URI’s Director of People and Animals Living Safely program.

Read the PALS report: https://urinyc.org/palsreport/

Learn more about Urban Resource Institute: https://urinyc.org/

Ending Violence Association of Canada: https://endingviolencecanada.org/

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: https://ncadv.org/

Domestic Violence Resources (Canadian Association of Social Workers): https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/resources/domestic-violence-resources

Mental Health Services in Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html

Mental Health Services in America: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help/

Kids Help Phone: https://kidshelpphone.ca/

I have no words this week.

There is nothing I can say that will soften the hurt facing people in North America, and particularly Indigenous peoples and people of colour. This is not the time for my voice.

Now is the time for the voice of those who must be heard. This week, instead of Defender Radio, which will return next week with two new interviews, I hope you will join me in listening to podcasts created by Indigenous peoples and people of colour. A few that I’ve enjoyed include:

MediaIndigena, an Indigenous hosted podcast about Indigenous current affairs

Yo, Is This Racist, a Q&A show, hosted by Andrew Ti and Tawny Newsome

and

Code Switch by NPR, featuring journalists of colour Demby and co-host Shereen Marisol Meraji

This is by no means a complete list, or even the ones you should listen to. By searching “podcasts by people of colour” or “podcasts by indigenous people” you’ll start seeing lists pop up. In this week’s show notes I’m also including a list of POC-created audio fiction podcasts.

Defender Radio will return. For now please stay safe.

MediaIndigena: https://mediaindigena.com/

Short, curated list of POC-created podcasts by Christian Burro, arts reporter for WBUR in Boston: https://www.wbur.org/artery/2020/06/05/podcasts-to-listen-to-about-race-america

List of fiction podcasts (audio fiction): https://www.podchaser.com/lists/fiction-podcasts-created-by-poc-107a4WZHfN

How can you tell the difference between a wolf and a coyote? What’s a coywolf? Do they live alone or in packs? Are their packs like wolves, or different?

We asked for questions and we got ‘em! A few weeks back, I asked on social media what your questions would be for Lesley Sampson, Founder and Executive Director at Coyote Watch Canada. You answered. And then you kept on answering! Between Defender Radio and Coyote Watch Canada’s social media, we had two packed pages of questions to go over in our recent interview.

We didn’t get to all the questions – this episode is already a pretty long one. But we may be able to use some to create blogs for our websites, so stay tuned on that. And because this is such a long episode, you’ll be able to find some time codes for specific topics in the shownotes in the coming days.

Coyote Watch Canada: www.CoyoteWatchCanada.com

Article regarding the coyote mating meme: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/breaking-down-coyote-mating-meme

Defender Radio Facebook: www.FaceBook.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HowieMichael

Show notes to be updated soon!

There’s no interview this week but I do want to share with you a brief version of the 20-year history behind The Fur-Bearers’ quest to regain charitable status and what that could mean for the animals and for you!

Here are some relevant links:

Donate Now: http://thefurbearers.com/charity

Intuit Tax Article: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/what-charitable-status-would-mean-you

Defender Radio Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HowieMichael

Dr. Max Foran is no stranger to telling Canada’s stories: he’s written dozens of books and articles on subjects ranging from urban sprawl to international trade of historic Alberta. But in his latest project, he takes on a subject steeped in philosophy, history, science, and industry: Canadian wildlife management.

The Subjugation of Canadian Wildlife, published in April 2018 by McGill-Queen’s university Press, is an outstanding look at the twisting tale of how wildlife in our country is managed. Perhaps the most all-encompassing book on the subject that does not simply repeat what managers and the political system tell the public, Dr. Foran does a superb job of bringing together the vast array of moving parts, history, and moral-decision making that makes up modern wildlife management. It is an absolute must read – and is accessible for readers of virtually any level, regardless of academic background.

Dr. Foran joined Defender Radio to discuss what drove him to write this book, what he learned along the way as a professional researcher and writer, and what he hopes Canada’s wildlife management policies can become as we move forward.

This is a news brief edit of our extensive interview. The full interview will be made available later this week on TheFurBearers.com, via your iOS device on the iTunes store, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

The Subjugation of Canadian Wildlife: http://www.mqup.ca/subjugation-of-canadian-wildlife--the-products-9780773553163.php

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eNews: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates