Thinking about your food: a school grows and kills its own turkeys - and the ramifications

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I don't know how many schools in Australia operate like the Arthur Morgan School, in North Carolina, USA.  I found this article about growing and killing your own turkeys for Thanksgiving - and the ramifications of this decision - of great interest.

The issue of raising and killing animals, for those at Arthur Morgan School, turned into controversy, discussion, in-school politicisation and became "a rich experiential tool"  to teach children about ethics, economics, health, and the environment.

What I took from my reading of the article was how deeply the students and school community thought about their food - and the violence that is attached to eating animals for their meat.


I know there are people in Australia working in schools to turn attention towards food - not least of whom is Stephanie Alexander through her Kitchen Garden Foundation.  I don't know whether there is in-school experience of raising animals for food except for the sort of program similar to Ironbark, which is part of St Peter's Lutheran College. My daughter had a wonderful term at Ironbark when she was at St Peter's. 

Do Tucker Lovers know of Australian schools where this is happening?  

If animals are being raised, what occurs in regard to slaughtering the animals for food?  How is this handled?  Is there the same level of discussion about killing and violent death as has occurred within the Arthur Morgan School community?


As someone who wants people to think more about 

• what they eat
• where it comes from
• how it is produced
• how it comes to store and table, and 
• the ethics involved in all of this 

I would be interested to hear of the experiences of others.  Just drop me a line at misseaglesnetwork(at)gmail(dot)com.

The coal miners of Pike River, NZ and their families are in my thoughts

Please go here to leave a message.

Mine says:

Thinking and praying for those below the ground and those above. 

Peace be to you and may your men come home to where they belong

OSAMA - Inspired by a true story, this film which centres on three generations of women, deeply affected by the advent of the Taliban's rule in their land. "Osama," is a Golden Globe award winning film. It was the first feature film to be made in post-Taliban Afghanistan. Some review comments: “a powerful film”…. “ offers valuable insights into a foreign culture that few of us have more than a cursory knowledge about” …. “great films like Osama, thoughtfully considered, give us the ability to withhold blanket judgments and come that much closer to the truth” · Note: The film is rated M. It is not suitable for children under 15 years of age.

Picture from here

· John Tresidder is TEAR’s Pakistan coordinator. He will have been back from Pakistan from less than one week. He will give an up-to-date description of the post-flood situation in Pakistan, how TEAR is involved in the re-development of communities and how future funds will be spent. · Pakistan Christian Fellowship has kindly offered to supply supper for the evening, so there will be plenty of tasty snacks to enjoy during the evening. · Suggested donation: $15 (all funds go to TEARs Pakistan and North India Flood Appeal)

WHO: 

ETAG (Eastern TEAR Action Group) are organising the night
.

WHERE:
Blackburn South.

Because this is being held at a private address, 

Miss Eagle is not including this in the post. 

If you are keen to come and need more information,

 please email misseaglesnetwork(at)gmail(dot)com
. 

WHEN:

Saturday 20 November, 7:30pm – 10pm

WHY: 

“In the past I have witnessed many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this”

(UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon).

In the worst flooding in 80 years, up to 2.6 million people in Pakistan have been made homeless. The waters have swept through 124 districts and have led to the widespread loss of houses, crops and livestock, as well as civil infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water and irrigation systems and schools. While the world’s media has largely moved on from the situation in Pakistan, the reality of re-building from one of the worst natural disasters in history continue for millions of people. This night will help raise much needed funds as well as provide an opportunity to hear an on-ground account of the current situation.

NOTE: 

BYO Bean bag or comfy cushion (not essential but will help with seating arrangements!)

Further reading:

Pakistan floods and the timber mafia

Pakistan  flood damage 9.7 billion dollars: World Bank, ADB

Will the Pakistan floods strike again

Pakistan's floods are not just a natural disaster

Pakistan's floods: is the worst still to come?

International Union  for the Conservation of Nature Pakistan   

Related articles

• How the floods have destroyed trust in the Pakistan ruling class (blogs.telegraph.co.uk)
• Pakistan PM urges donors for patience on reforms (reuters.com)
• US Allocates USD500M from Pakistan Aid Law for Reconstruction Efforts (devex.com)
• China vows support for Pakistan's post-flood reconstruction (topinews.com)

Monbiot and apples: pressing, pasteurising and putting away.

 

George Monbiot wants us to know how to press, pasteurise, 

and put away pressed apples and their juice. 

Here's what to do.

Pictures of the doing here.