Relationship between diet and politcs...

[revol68]

"here man, how can you eat that processed garbage, I mean frozen food is just capitalist garbage that poisons you."

"Great man, speckled Audis! These are well banging!"

 

[In Bloom]

Too true

Suppose it's no worse than liberal nobheads who go on and on about fair trade and then happily snort a shit load of coke at the weekend, though

 

[guinnessdrinker]

I am sure it is minutely better to eat manky organic veggie shite that you grow on your allotment but it wont save the planet. What it will do is annoy the pants out of most people as you drone on yet again about your political vegetarianism.

Vegetarians, well the ones who mention it in every sentence should be eaten.

Oy, organic veggy food from allotments is not manky but yes, vegetarians should be an optional part of a balanced diet.

 

[Wilf]

Innit.

Just the lump of Morroccan in their hemp bag probably caused more misery and exploitation than if they'd worn a leather jacket and ate at McDonalds...

shurely there must be Fair Trade Blow by now? And if there isn't, Tesco's gonna be selling it real soon

 

[Wilf]

Hmm, to an extent I'm an anarchist because I don't like exploitation, but cheifly because I don't like being exploited. It's our shared experience of exploitation and our awareness of collective self-interest that engenders solidarity, that can't really happen with animals, can it?

yes, i agree there's a difference. For me the two things are entirely compatible as an ethical position - I'm in favour of both human liberation and animals not being eaten/exploited for the same kind of reasons. But as a political process its bound to be different - anarchism being primarily about self liberation by the exploited themselves.

 

[In Bloom]

yes, i agree there's a difference. For me the two things are entirely compatible as an ethical position - I'm in favour of both human liberation and animals not being eaten/exploited for the same kind of reasons. But as a political process its bound to be different - anarchism being primarily about self liberation by the exploited themselves.

I'm not saying there's any inherent contradiction, it's the people who insist that one is essential to the other that bug me.

 

[max_freakout]

What about the drug markets though?

If you're happy to take drugs, the production of which is the absolute essence of exploitation and disregard for the poor worker's welfare, as well as the expendability of human life in getting the drugs to the UK, then surely it doesn't matter a fuck how many cows you don't eat...

And I know lots of supposed "anarchists" happy to take whatever illicit drugs they can get their hands on...

That's why we should make our own drugs

 

[omni]

What about the drug markets though?

If you're happy to take drugs, the production of which is the absolute essence of exploitation and disregard for the poor worker's welfare, as well as the expendability of human life in getting the drugs to the UK, then surely it doesn't matter a fuck how many cows you don't eat...

I think this is a very fair point. Especially considering the amount of toxic chemicals involved in production which have to be disposed of illegally, often in nature reserves. (this is a serious problem in the Netherlands..)

But it also depends what drugs you're talking about here. You CAN grow/pick your own, or if you're crafty get them prescribed/send from OP's.

At the end of the day, the exploitation appears most severe depending on its legallity and who made them illegal in the first place? (that's no excuse for using them though...)

 

[guinnessdrinker]

I am sure it is minutely better to eat manky organic veggie shite that you grow on your allotment but it wont save the planet.

have you heard of food miles?

 

[CUMBRIANDRAGON]

I've always thought of stuff like veganism/vegetarianism as strictly a lifestyle thing, but a few recent encounters with political vegan types has made me rethink it re: the "sustainability" stuff. I'm not about to become a vegan myself, like, but what do yous reckon? Is it a lifestyle thing or is there a political aspect to somebody's choice of diet?

I've been a vege for the last 20 yrs. Its about saying no to the shit that we are being brain washed to consume
www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-information.html

 

[TeeJay]

They have more power as consumers to influence multinationals pay and conditions than any union action they could take.

I wasn't comparing consumer power with union power - when I said 'political participation' I meant in pushing governments to take action. Of course everyone has both potential political power and potential consumer power and they can use both - but IMO the key one to use is political power and involvement and neglecting this can't be compensated for by any amount of "green shopping".