Australian Fires, Climate Change and Animal Welfare: The responsibilities of veterinary professionals with Dr Anne Fawcett
Most of you of heard - and seen - the massive bush fires engulfing Australia over the past four months. The environmental devastation on this scale is historically unprecedented. This week's guest is a veterinary professor, animal ethicist (and part-time philosopher) from the University of Sydney, Dr. Anne Fawcett. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss the latest on the Australian fires, the environmental impact she's witnessing, the damage to both animal life and ecosystems, and the role veterinarians should play in this tragedy. Dr. Fawcett shares her thoughts on why she believes veterinarians should take a more active role in discussing climate change and animal welfare, and offers advice for veterinary professionals who want to help.
Viewfinders, this is an incredible story that impacts every living organism on our fragile planet. Please listen and share this podcast with other animal advocates.
From Dr. Fawcett to the Viewfinders:
If your listeners wish to donate:
For donations for wildlife bushfire victims in Australia: https://www.wires.org.au/donate/emergency-fund [NB this is just in NSW]
RSPCA:
Victoria: https://rspcavic.org/giving/donate
Queensland: https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/donate/koalas
South Australia: https://rspcasa.secure.force.com/donate?utm_source=web_traffic&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=main_donation_page_top_righthand_corner_button
New South Wales: https://www.rspcansw.org.au/bushfire-appeal/
Vets Beyond Borders are coordinating a veterinary response: https://www.vetsbeyondborders.org/
The Australian Veterinary Association Benevolent Fund is helping affected veterinarians and their families in the wake of the fires: https://www.ava.com.au/library-resources/other-resources/bush-fire-resources/
Engage:
Climate Vets: https://www.climatevets.net/
Vet Sustain: https://www.vetsustain.org/
The Climate Council: https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/
The Guardian Newspaper climate change articles: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-change
Climate Emergency Declaration: https://climateemergencydeclaration.org/
The World Scientists Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice, can be read here. A number of veterinarians have signed this (including myself): https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/67/12/1026/4605229
Dr Anne Fawcett BA(Hons) BScVet(Hons) BVSc(Hons) MVetStud GradCertEdStud(HigherEd) MANZCVS (Animal Welfare) Dip ECAWBM (AWSEL)
co-author, Veterinary Ethics: Navigating Tough Cases (5M, UK)
co-editor, The Vet Cookbook (Centre for Veterinary Education, Sydney)
Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5122-0068