Program Description: "If you have an animal so advanced that being around them creates a kind of bliss in us, instead of enslaving that animal, why not just borrow their beautiful, free sounds?" Brenda Peterson is a gifted nature writer who has spent her life observing and interacting with animals in profound ways. Her intimate lifelong relationship with dolphins has led her to seek ways for us to engage them without harm, and still benefit from their amazing capacity to heal. This sensitive and deeply compassionate woman inspires us to recognize the true nature of all animals-their intelligence, their emotions, even their souls-and to relate to them as fellow beings deserving of our utmost respect and our reverence. (Hosted by Justine Willis Toms).
Brenda Peterson is a profound observer of nature. Her books include Singing To the Sound: Visions of Nature, Animals and Spirit (New Sage Press 2000), Living by Water(Fulcrum Publishers 2002) , Sister Stories: Taking the Journey Together (Penguin Books 1997); several novels including Duck and Cover(Harper Collins 1991). She's written a memoir, Build Me an Ark: A Life with Animals (W.W. Norton & Co 2001), and is co-author with Toni Frohoff of Between Species: Celebrating the Dolphin-Human Bond (Sierra Club Books 2003), and is the author of the novel Animal Heart (Sierra Club Books 2004) and co-author with Linda Hogan of Face To Face: Women Writers on Faith, Mysticism, and Awakening (North Point Press 2004).
Topics explored in this dialogue:
What would our world be like if there were no more dolphins, no more whales
How we might apprentice ourselves to an animal species
What are the ethics of swimming with dolphins
Why the U.S. Navy's sonar program has a deadly effect on marine life
How to use animal allies to promote psychological healing
