… or a puppy is for dinner, not just for christmas
As the meat trade prepares for its annual frenzy of eviscerating millions of turkeys, Veggies crew rolled into Sheffield on November 25th, 2010, with Animal Aid’s Friend or Food campaign.
Possibly on request from the ostrich / buffalo meat stall, the market manager bimbled over to ask if we had applied for a market pitch. It was explained that nothing was being sold and that the stall was just ‘surveying public perceptions of meat products’. Having lent over to stick his head inside the stall, he accepted that as nothing was being sold we could totally carry on.
20mins later, possibly on request from the ‘Fresh -N- local’ dead pig stall, (complete with pretty pig pictures), he was back, together with a couple of ‘City Ambassadors'(!). A long, polite (and slow) discussion followed. No we weren’t blocking any access, yes we had liability insurance, no we don’t consider the stall to be a ‘vehicle’, yes we have a right to politically protest the meat trade, no we really are not trading.
The banter clearly wasn’t getting through so, moving to the empty taxi bay 5 yards away, far more productive conversations continued with the public. No for long though. In less time than it takes to read a hundred and one dalmatian recipes, a traffic warden arrived, so after a good hour and more, off we set off for the relative warmth of the Sumac Centre, discretion being the better part of valour!
Nov 27: Comment on this story at Nottm Indymedia
Nov 24: Sheffield Farmer’s Market Press Release
Oct 31: Friend or Food Campaign – full and ongoing details
Oct 28: Animal Aid Friend or Food Campaign launch