The written word is powerful. Be it a collection of ideas, a policy or a dire warning, words can change the world. In this week’s episode of Defender Radio, we bring to you interviews with Toronto City Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker, who updated city policy to protect coyotes; Dr. Aysha Akhtar, a medical doctor who has written a book warning the world of the consequences of continuing to abuse animals; and Dr. Marc Bekoff, who recently released a collection of his popular Psychology Today essays in a new book.
An avid animal lover and protector of the environment, Glenn was crucial in updating the City of Toronto’s policies surrounding coyotes and wildlife after a series of unfortunate events involving the canids in 2013. Glenn shares the success of Toronto in working with non-profits like APFA and Coyote Watch Canada in updating the policy and educating the public about coyotes. Interview begins at 1:53.
With a dual specialty in neurology and preventative medicine, Dr. Akhtar is uniquely suited in her role at the Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats of the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. In addition to her important work, Dr. Akhtar has written a book, Animals and Public Health: Why Treating Animals Better is Critical to Human Welfare. Dr. Akhtar joins Defender Radio to discuss her new book and discuss concerns surrounding the wildlife trade and our futures. Dr. Akhtar’s views do not represent those of the FDA or the United States government. Interview begins at 13:10.
A world-renowned cognitive ethologist, Dr. Marc Bekoff is the go-to scientist when it comes to understanding the minds of wild animals and our relationships with them. As part of his ongoing popular blog, Animal Emotions, Dr. Bekoff recently released a new book, Why Dogs Hump and Bees Get Depressed, which features many of his most popular – and favourite – essays from the blog. Marc discusses this new book and an emerging theme in his work – compassionate conservation. Interview begins at 31:36.
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