Animals should not be harmed, caged or force fed for the sake of cheap food. It makes people feel very worthy to say 'I buy free range organic you know. Happy food from happy animals. It costs a bit more but it is important and I like to do my bit.' There is nothing fundamentally wrong with this view. It seems to have become the done thing to be 'right on' with animal rights but does anyone bother to think about the human cost?
News articles this week exposed the modern day enslavement of exploited Eastern Europeans kept in battery accommodation and paid virtually nothing via un-cashable cheques. Appalling and degrading treatment of fellow humans all for the sake of happy chickens. Also, in a hypocritical twist, the willingness to pay more for some foods has to be offset by a desire for the cheapest possible price on milk. The impact of this? Farmers who can no longer afford basics for their own table because the supermarket dictated sale of their product only delivers a loss never mind a meagre profit. Rant over but maybe we should all start pushing for labelling on food that covers ethical production for humans and not just animals.
Thursday 1 November 2012
With a Heavy Hat
I wear a flat cap for three reasons. Firstly, as rather a square individual in his early 30s, I convince myself that it makes me slightly quirky and interesting. Secondly, I am bald so need to keep my head warm. Thirdly, as a northerner with working class routes, it is a nod towards my heritage.** I had two grandfathers who wore flat caps and there is something nostalgic about following their example. I am beginning to question, however, whether this outward sign of my style and heritage is a means of keeping me in my place.
Yesterday, I frustratingly looked out of the window of the 1970s cattle truck I was travelling on which purports to being a train. We had stopped in a siding to let pass the gleaming express with its plush seats, l.e.d displays and leg room. (Our humble line is being borrowed by the transpennine high flyers while their own line is being upgraded.) My usual rage then ensued. ‘Why, when it is our line, are we the ones who have to stand aside and have 35 minutes added on to a one hour journey?’ ‘Isn’t this just another example of poor value for money and poor service punishing me?’
I then started to wonder. There didn’t seem to be anyone on the six carriage wonder train wearing a flat cap while huddled under a leaking window. Perhaps this is a sign that we, the people of Halifax and Calderdale should know our place in the world and remember the limitations of where we come from. All of a sudden the cap on my head started to feel heavy with the weight of my socio-economic heritage. Do others look on saying knowingly to themselves, ‘ah there goes one of those unfortunates who doesn’t live in Leeds or own an Audi. Isn’t it fetching that he has a cloth cap? I wonder if whippets are allowed on that line?’
As a proud man who likes to face a challenge head on, what did I do to address this socially just (paranoid) burden? I got on a connecting train this morning and joined the express set....... I still wore my flat cap though.
** I also own a trilby so I am either an aspirant to better things or perhaps I just like hats.
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