In the death-camp system that enables cheap eggs, male chicks are fed into industrial shredders once they are recognised as male. The Carnist war machine propogates Gendercide here and in other contexts such as when male calves are shot in the head if there is no torture/slaughter market for their 'useless lives'. This skilful video raises issues through anthropological tropes which explore our lack of understanding about the extent of Sentience in birds. Our limited human consciousness does not give us insight into the consciousness of other animals other than via the blunt tool of our evolving science, which is now beginning to recognise the full catrastrophe of Carnism in all areas. Or rather, can no longer provide a valid set of ruses for ignoring research evidence. Anthropological tropes in art have a powerful history of resonance, a childhood favourite of ours being "Watership Down" by Richard Adams which this beautiful video reminds us of. And of course, there's the master George Orwell:
"Animal Farm is still taught to school childen, and remains for many the entry point into the political thought processes that shape the planet. It took some talking pigs and horses to achieve that."
"Why we're all animal lovers.From Watership Down to Tarka the Otter, what is the appeal of anthropomorphic literature?"
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2008/jun/10/whywereallanimallovers
"Are Chicks Brighter Than Babies?"
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/20/opinion/sunday/are-chicks-brighter-than-babies.html
"PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange. "The best way for anyone to celebrate Morrissey's birthday is to go vegan—not 'someday,' but today.""
With the imminent arrival of
www.Veganz.de in the UK more options open up. However, there are also class and economic Intersectionalities to address with the issue of 'going vegan'. We spend a lot of time and money on minimising animal torture/slaughter detritus from the Carnist War Machine in our lives. But we are relatively rich and completely sovereign over our time. We have a farmer's market, allotments and decades of skill in choosing and preparing meals without animal ingredients. For those who have to put up with a X-tian sermon about fishes and loaves to get a discarded 'ready meal' at the homeless shelters in Birmingham, such a lifestyle is impossible. For the harassed, harried single-parent on minimum wage in Chelmsley Wood, it's almost impossible. For some reading this article and comments, economically and practically unrealistic due to sharing diet plans with family members and work colleagues. But that doesn't matter. Each and every meal that seeks to alleviate cruelty to other animals (humans are animals) is worthy. In the journey towards a Plant-Based Planet, the western lifestyle option of veganism cannot be allowed to become a cult. Veganism Is Not a Cult, a chic accessory for Trustafarians to adorn themselves with alongside being 'clueless consumers' on The List- it is an exploratory journey of compassion. And that compassion extends to those who can only afford the enemies food as survival rations. Even Quorn has egg in it, despite our protests and requests/pleas/demands for change. Soon there will be other options in the UK high street due to the astonishing vegan entrepreneurs of America:
http://beyondmeat.com/about/
http://www.hamptoncreek.com/
Alongside the confrontational agitprob shock-trooper blitz of footage accompanying "Meat Is Murder", a new flank is now opened up. It will be fascinating to watch audience reactions as they are taken on the roller-coaster ride from visceral gut-wrenching revulsion of actual abbatoir footage to the heart-rending invitiation to empathy which this beautiful piece of ArtPop offers. Some will be moved, some will emotionally shut down and fiddle with their i-Devices or 'go to the loo/bar' as displacement activity to avoid engagement. Our only concern remains the premature exposure of children to age-inappropriate entertainment, education and propaganda materials including the "Meat Is Murder" footage. But that is a matter for responsible parents to address themselves, or by engaging with their local licencing authorities to ensure promoters issue content warnings about the age-appropriateness of shows are clearly exhibited on advertising and tickets, and admission to venues policed. At what age does responsible parent tell their children the truth about human behaviour in sex and food? At what age do they move from "Watership Down" and "Animal Farm" to PETA? We are addressing this issue with the local authority licencing authorities in relation to the astonishing appearance of Ms Miley Cyrus in Birmingham and the stage/audience co-mingling of rugby, stripper, lap-dancing club / hen & stag / triple X orgy party dynamics whilst unsupervised children below the age of consent were in attendance. Inappropriate. Issues to resolve, etc. The same concern exists in relation to children viewing the footage of "Meat Is Murder". We hope Morrissey brings this new show to Birmingham at some stage 'going forward'. We look forward to the day when there are numerous fully vegan fast-food options for the reveller on Broad Street after a Morrissey gig at the Symphony Hall/NIA. In fact, we're working on it so that a Vegan Pizza option is visibly added to menus rather than needing discussion and explanation. Until then, do what you can do. Every amelioration of suffering is worthwhile. "Meat Is Murder", "Fowl Is Foul Play, Eggs Is Egregiously Ecocidcal" and so on and so forth. Etc.
Wealth confers privilege and options which poverty strips. We have more options here in The Shire than our friends and collaborators in Mordor. When we visit Brompton Oratory we can even consider the option of a luxury indulgence of Hare Krishna bovine and avian cruelty free meal using eggs and milk. But only as a special treat, maybe once a year on our birthdays, say. "Cow Nation" "Hen Nation" "Beyond Meat" "Hampton Creek". Do not despair, change is in the air and we know it's all going to fall into place "Someday". To conclude, here's a link to wonderful, troubled Liz Jones and an article from another "BrummieBoy" which explores all of this with astonishing skill. So, let's hand the mic over to Benjamin Zephaniah.
Happy Birthday "Morrissey"
best wishes
"BrummieBoy"
"Until the philosophy which hold one Species superior And another Inferior Is finally And permanently Discredited And abandoned - Everywhere is war - Me say WAR! And we say "World Peace Is None Of Your Business" BrummieBoy
"I'm selling the world's most expensive - and delicious - milk... to give my cows a pension"
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...expensive--delicious--milk--cows-pension.html
"Abolish Your Meat Habit in 2014"
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ben...bolish-your-meat-habit-in-2014_b_4628803.html
