Defender Radio and The Switch Michael Howie / The Fur-Bearers

Solutions to the climate crisis are multifaceted and require innovative thinking. It also means the way we’ve been doing things, particularly with development, need to change. Imagine the vast array of asphalt, concrete, tar shingles, and metals that cover cities; they don’t absorb water, and they retain heat – the opposite of what is desperately needed in many communities. What if we took all that infrastructure and made it green?
While I traditionally avoid disagreement with my heroes, Kermit had this one wrong: it’s getting easier by the day to be green. Defender Radio was joined by Dr. Anna Zakrisson, a green infrastructure researcher and science communicator to discuss what green roofs and green infrastructure can do for our cities.
SHOW NOTES & LINKS:
Follow Dr. Anna Zakrisson on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/doctor.annas.imaginarium), her website https://annasimaginarium.com/, or Green Roof Diagnostics at https://www.greenroofdiagnostics.com/. 
The building depicted in this week's episode art is the ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall in Japan, a pioneer project of green infrastrucutre. Read more at https://www.greenroofs.com/projects/acros-fukuoka-prefectural-international-hall/. 
Want to suggest topics for 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) 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). 

batch skincare launched this year and are already making an impact. The freshest skincare on the planet, every batch is made to order, has no preservatives or harsh chemicals, and uses vegan, fair-trade, organic and cruelty-free ingredients!
The company, launched by industry experts with decades of experience, also prioritizes kindness, effectiveness, progress, fairness and giving back. The Fur-Bearers is one of the first organizations that is benefitting from the kindness of batch skincare. Right now you can save 10% on your first batch and also have that matched with a donation from batch skincare by using the code FURBEARERS10% at checkout. 
To talk more about this fresh company and what sets them apart, as well as details on how your purchase can help wildlife, Tricia Stevens joined Defender Radio.
Show Notes + Links
Learn more about batch skincare at https://batchskincare.com/?defenderradio
Use code FURBEARERS10% at checkout for your first order and you'll save 10% plus batch will make a donation to The Fur-Bearers! 
You can connect with Tricia Stevens via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-stevens-304500a/?originalSubdomain=ca
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) 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). 

Fairtrade is a recognized sustainability term worldwide. Did you know that fairtrade practices are also applied in fashion? Kemp Edwards, sustainable business expert, President & CEO at Econic Apparel and Ethical Profiling, and Principal at Vert2Grow, joins The Switch to share how people can make a difference in the world through how they buy clothes.
Show notes & Links
Find Kemp Edwards through his sustainable, ethical businesses, including:
Econic Apparel (https://www.econicapparel.com, https://www.facebook.com/econicapparel, https://www.instagram.com/econicapparel/) 
Ethical Profiling (https://ethicalprofiling.com, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063545023269, https://twitter.com/ethicalprofile, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethical-profiling-ltd/) 
Vert2Grow (https://vert2grow.com/)
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) 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). 

It’s a common saying, that animals have no voice. But they do – they can be quite proficient at communicating their needs. It’s more that humans have forgotten how to listen. This is a reality Ellie Lamb, bear viewing guide and educator, encounters often in her work.
Black bears are found across Canada, but one of their largest populations exists within British Columbia. Despite all that is known about bears and how to prevent negative encounters, thousands of them are killed in British Columbia annually by the BC Conservation Officer Service, often for accessing anthropogenic, or human-created attractants and food sources. Talking to bears – or more particularly learning how to listen to them – can be a significant step in preventing such outcomes for bears, and lead to successful coexistence.
Defender Radio was joined by Ellie Lamb to discuss black bears in British Columbia, what it means to talk and listen to bears, and how coexistence can be successful in communities.
SHOW NOTES & LINKS
You can find Ellie Lamb on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100033726425739
More information about BC black bears, how to coexist, and current actions from The Fur-Bearers can be seen at: https://www.thefurbearers.com/bcblackbears. 
Want to suggest topics for 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) 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). 

Two fur farms in Quebec are at the centre of a complaint filed by Animal Justice after they received images from We Animals Media. The photos, captured in August 2022, show deplorable conditions for mink and foxes. The Montreal SPCA has initiated a call for a ban on fur farming in Quebec and are setting up inherently inhumane fur farms as an election issue in the province.
Camille Labchuk, executive director of animal law non-profit Animal Justice joined Defender Radio to discuss the situation in Quebec, what the images revealed, how various organizations are pushing for change, and what individuals can do to make a difference.
Show Notes and Links:
Animal Justice Article on Quebec Fur Farms: https://animaljustice.ca/blog/quebec-fur-farm-photos-show-suffering-foxes-mink
We Animals Media Photo Gallery: https://tinyurl.com/yc245upv
Montreal SPCA action page in French: https://www.spca.com/fermes-a-fourrure-images/
Montreal SPCA action page in English: https://www.spca.com/en/fur-farms-images/
The Fur-Bearers Article on Quebec Fur Farms: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/animal-justice-submits-complaint-to-investigate-quebec-fur-farms/
The Fur-Bearers National Fur Farming Toolkit: https://thefurbearers.com/our-work/make-fur-history/fur-farming/act-against-fur-farming/
Want to suggest topics for 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) 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). 

Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are being banned in jurisdictions around the world due to the harm they cause ecosystems and individual animals. Fortunately, rodent proofing your home or business is a humane solution that's also great for the environment! Erin Ryan, a wild animal welfare specialist for the BC SPCA shares simple ways you can make the switch to a rodent proofed home!
Shownotes and links:
Learn more about humane methods to manage rodents from the BC SPCA at https://spca.bc.ca/ways-to-help/take-action/urban-wildlife/humane-rodent-control. You can also hear Erin talk more in-depth about SGARs in this episode of Defender Radio: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/defender-radio/rodenticides-with-erin-ryan. 
Looking for more on finding humane removal companies? Check out the BC SPCA's Animal Kind program at https://animalkind.ca.
Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio and 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) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 
Defender Radio and 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).