Polarization in Animal Protection- Primer

Animals in Translation is a podcast brought to you by hosts from across the globe who talk with experts about their animal welfare work. The goal? To deconstruct animal issues into palatable pieces for listeners wanting to dig deeper into international animal welfare, ethics, or policy. Tune in monthly for new episodes.

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast | Website | Spotify | RSS

Sophie and Kerri discuss the polarization (or polarisation if you live in UK, Aussie…) within the animal protection movement and the need for clear communication and discussion for progress. They recap their interview with bioethicist Peter Sandøe from their last episode and introduce their next interview with animal welfare scientist, Duley, about the negative impact media has on Irish farmers. The hosts discuss how communication can be affected by differing terminology and negative stereotypes, and suggest that finding a middle ground between polarized viewpoints can improve productivity in setting standards for animal welfare. Sophie and Kerri review a recent paper by Sandøe that offers a new definition of positive animal welfare, which includes elements such as positive mental states, resilience, having choice, good genes, and the ability to flourish. They also explore the online disinhibition effect observed in social media and its potential for toxicity, hate speech, and bullying. The two Gen-X hosts reminisce about growing up without cellphones and value disconnecting from technology.