Grub first, then ethics.
Bertolt Brecht, 1898 – 1956, German poet, playwright, and theatre director.
George Monbiot
The Grumpy Vegan enjoys reading authors whose work he simultaneously agrees and disagrees with. It challenges ones thinking. George Monbiot is one of those writers as is Andrew Sullivan. Madeline Bunting is another.
Recently, Monbiot wrote a column in The Guardian, “This great free-market experiment is more like a corporate welfare scheme,” that I particularly liked. Here’s the beginning:
After my column last week, several people wrote to point out that the neoliberal project – which demands a minimal state and maximum corporate freedom – actually relies on constant government support. They are, of course, quite right. The current financial crisis, caused by a failure to regulate financial services properly, is being postponed by government bail-outs. The US federal reserve has reduced its lending rate to the commercial banks, while the Bundesbank organised a €3.5bn rescue of the lending company IKB. This happens whenever the banks suffer the consequences of the freedom they demand. But over the past week an even starker example has emerged.
In Britain the split loyalties of the major political parties have created a hybrid system of public provision. If it left public services intact, the party in power would be roasted by the corporate media, but if it attempted full-scale privatisation, it would be booted out of office. So the last Conservative government devised a plan that would keep both sides if not exactly happy, then at least totally bewildered. They called it the private finance initiative, or PFI. Corporations would build and run our schools, hospitals, roads and prisons, and rent them to the state. This, the Tories maintained, would enable costs to be cut, while ensuring that public services remained free of charge.
At first Labour opposed this scheme. Alistair Darling warned in opposition that “apparent savings now could be countered by the formidable commitment on revenue expenditure in years to come”. But as the 1997 election approached, Labour sought to prove that it was more sympathetic to business than the Tories were. Two months after the party took office, the health secretary, Alan Milburn, announced that “when there is a limited amount of public-sector capital available, as there is, it’s PFI or bust”. From then on, the only money the NHS could rely on for capital projects belonged to the private sector.
Thought for the Day
To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.
Aldous Huxley, 1894 – 1963, English writer.
Anita Roddick RIP
The Grumpy Vegan never had an opportunity to meet Anita Roddick but The Body Shop has always been present in my animal rights work. I recall when I lived in Brighton in 1979-1980 reading in the window of one of the original stores (if not the original) their policy against animal testing. Roddick and The Body Shop is a big reason why the testing of cosmetics on animals in Britain is illegal. As Body Shop’s international presence grew so did its influence in the European Union and throughout the world on animal testing. It’s always easy to find fault, including with The Body Shop. But one thing cannot be denied. Roddick was a business pioneer who challenged successfully the traditional business world. And that’s a good thing.
Alex RIP
The Grumpy Vegan’s heart (yes, he does have one) always feel great sadness when there’s news of someone losing a companion animal. This one, I think, is particularly sad.
Noah’s Wish Update
The Office of the Attorney General in the State of California recently issued a report on its investigation of Noah’s Wish
Noah’s Wish, a charity formed to respond to the needs of animals affected by disasters, has agreed with the Attorney General to pay over $4 million into a fund for rescuing and caring for the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina. The settlement was reached after an investigation by the Attorney General concluded that much of the roughly $8 million in contributions received by Noah’s Wish in response to its solicitations after Hurricane Katrina had not been spent to help animals affected by the Katrina disaster. Under the settlement agreement, Noah’s Wish also agrees to increase its number of board members, provide governance training to its board, pay the Attorney General’s investigative fees and costs, and not to employ its founder and former president and board member, Terri Crisp, in any manner. Under the agreement, Crisp agrees that she will never again serve Noah’s Wish in any capacity and will not serve as an officer, director, or trustee of any charity for a period of five years.
Click here to read the settlement agreement.
