Vegan

I think the lack of allotments is a bit of a national shame actually.

x posts.

Good point.

I didnt know her constituecy is inner city.
Not exactly condusive to knowing about rural affairs, nor parts of food. Though I suppose she can learn.

Would you like to post you link gain please rosequartz?

Chomp chomp crunch crunch .....

But - if cows eat grass, surely they love cows because cows are vegan?

A lot of farming methods are 'dirty' and most people are ignorant about exactly how their food is produced - and are happy to stay that way because they know that they are unlikely to be happy about some of the truth. Often I have been told by someone that they just couldn't give up eating meet and would rather not know how it got to the supermarket. I rarely discuss being veggie as I know it can make some people uncomfortable. After all, it was my personal choice, but I don't believe it's my duty to convert anyone else.

As a long time vegetarian with a vegan brother, I can tell you that two reason for our choices are farming methods and the lack of control we have over how food is produced. Food production and animal welfare are subjects most vegetarians and vegans are clued up on. I have yet to meet a vegan who is well aware of where her food from. In fact, many grow their own to make sure they do - think about the waiting lists for allotments. Raising animals is not normally a choice for them for obvious reasons. I've spent many happy times on two farms(one dairy and one sheep), but am well aware that not all are as well run.

A vegan as shadow DEFRA government minister (or whatever the name is now) is an interesting choice, but it shouldn't prevent her doing her job. She's probably better informed than most.

So perhaps vegans don't love animals - they hate plants

I read this online:

BIRDS AND THE BEES

A number of studies have shown that plants feel pain, and vegetables are picked and often eaten while still alive. Animal rights activists are often in the news, but has anyone ever protested for vegetable rights?

Perhaps someone should let Kerry know

So how are we going to feed an increasing population?

I can understand how you can do the job without wanting to embrace all that it involves yourself (anyway, she is only Shadow Minister).

However, as per my link yesterday, she does seem to be very anti-farming - describing it as 'dirty'

Where does she think her food comes from I wonder?

She is against many aspects of rural affairs too.

It is worse than no interest though isnt it. That is the bit I am trying to understand.

Farming is only part of the job soon. There is environment and food as well. Anyway why do you need to eat meat to be able to plan policy? Meat production is only part of farming. So in fact there is a small part of a small area of her remit she may struggle with. Others have responsibility for things they have no interest in.

Her constituency is an inner city area - I would like to know what, if any, knowledge she has of farming communities. I do appreciate that Ministers (or Shadow Ministers) can't be expected to be experts in the posts they are appointed but would hope they would have some experience of the communities they are meant to represent.

The fact she is a vegan will not endear her to animal farmers, their livelihood depending on people eating meat, however, let's hope she will be able to put aside her personal preferences and help the farmers who are currently in a dire situation.