Should vegans leave us alone?
Dear Editor, At an early age, I was warned “Be wary of those who preach tolerance as they will probably be the most intolerant people you will meet”.
The treatment of the chef who “spiked” the meal of a vegan is symptomatic of much that is wrong with our society.
From their moral high ground, vegans berate us for eating meat and animal products.
Do they not realise that vast areas of forest are being replaced by coconut palms and soya to satisfy their needs?
Should society follow their lifestyle where will farmers source their organic fertilisers when nobody wants to farm sheep and cattle?
Without sheep and cattle, vast areas of our countryside would revert to non-productive scrubland removing the habitat of vast numbers of our wildlife which would inexorably disappear.
What will be used to manufacture our footwear when leather ceases to be obtainable or affordable? Surely not plastic. We could however shuffle about in wooden clogs and canvas espadrilles.
Wouldn’t it be great if vegans and their supporters just get on with their lives and let the rest of us get on with ours?
J Rimmer Park Road Hamilton Dear Editor, Loaves and Fishes would like to thank everyone who donated this Christmas both financially and with food donations.
The donations received helped us to reach families that would otherwise not have had a Christmas.
Sadly, the need for food banks are growing.
This Christmas saw the biggest demand for help yet, mostly due to people being put on Universal Credit.
Service users told us that due to being put on this system, they would not receive any payment until mid-tolate January.
How do you explain to a child that Santa will not come to them?
Thankfully, our donors played that part and everyone received food and toys for the children.
You also gave hope to those losing hope and love to those who thought love was gone.
You are the unseen workers – the people who make Loaves and Fishes possible.
Saying thank you seems so inadequate as you do not get to see the difference your donations make.
You made it possible to answer the unasked question: Can you feed my children? Because I can’t.
That is the unasked question which can be seen behind the eyes of despair.
The thanks given to Loaves and Fishes should go to you – our donators, businesses large and small, schools, churches, unions and individuals.
We may not be proud of our government. But we are very proud of our citizens.
To you all, we wish you a year filled with peace and contentment.
Denis Curran MBE, Loaves and Fishes chairman