Today Lottie discussed the ethics of human and non-human animal reproduction and adoption. She argues that adopting pets reduces harm and saves lives. But adopting children is not a perfect analogue and removing children from their families and communities often causes a lot of trauma. She argues that an ethics of adoption that is consistent across species would center what is best for the animal or child, not treat them as commodities to profit from, and would keep existing families together whenever safe and possible.

 

 Previous Freedom of Species episodes on this topic:

 'Antinatalism and humans' impact on the planet' https://www.3cr.org.au/freedomofspecies/episode/antinatalism-and-humans-impact-planet

 'Vegan Dogs & Cats / Human Population' (first 30 minutes) https://www.3cr.org.au/freedomofspecies/episode-201804011300/vegan-dogs-cats-human-population

 

 Other media mentioned:

 'Should vegans have children? Examining the links between animal ethics and antinatalism' by Joona Räsänen: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11017-023-09613-7

 'Why (at least some) moral vegans may have children: A response to Räsänen' by William Bülow: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11017-023-09632-4

 'Veganism, Anarchism, and Adoption' by Nathan Poirier and John Tallent in 'Veganarchism: Making veganism and anarchism dangerous again' edited by Will Boisseau and Nathan Poirier https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1850

 Alé Cardinalle (international adoptee) https://wildheartcollective.care/

 Karlos Dillard (transracial adoptee) https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/my-adoptive-mother-abandoned-me-gay-adoptee-foster-care-transracial-adoption-child-abuse/

 'The Baby Brokers: Inside America’s Murky Private-Adoption Industry' by Tik Root

 'The politics of ‘orphans’ and the dirty tactics of the adoption lobby' by Patricia Fronek https://theconversation.com/the-politics-of-orphans-and-the-dirty-tactics-of-the-adoption-lobby-10537

 

 Sources of statistics mentioned on the show:

 264 healthy cats and dogs are killed everyday in Australia: https://www.animaljusticeparty.org/companion_animals

 Conditions of animals raised for food including "humane" or "free range": https://foodispower.org/animals-on-land/humane-myths/

 Australian adoptions statistics: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/adoptions/adoptions-australia/contents/adoptions

 Australian children in out of home care statistics: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/child-protection-australia-2023-24/contents/insights/supporting-children

 US adoptions statistics: https://adoptioncouncil.org/article/adoption-statistics/

 US foster care statistics: https://theworlddata.com/foster-care-statistics-in-us/

 Poverty hinders reunification of parents and children: https://www.jstor.org/stable/48647842

 Orphans worldwide statistics: https://cafo.org/orphan-statistics/

 

 Music:

 'The Pill' by Loretta Lynn

 'Us and Pigs' by Sofia Isella https://www.sofiaisella.com/

 'NoBody is a Product' by Dakini Songs https://dakinitranslations.com/mantras-music/

 

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