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Should the UK have a
'meat tax?'
THE The Vegan
Society
have issued a press release this week saying:- "Reducing meat
consumption is critical to curbing climate change, declared a report by
leading think tank Chatham House earlier do not go far enough."
Animal agriculture was identified as 1 of the major drivers of rising
temperatures. Livestock is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions
than all global transport combined, yet public awareness of the link between
diet and the environment remains low, the report found. Quite a shock was
that Chatham
House has publicly said that it's main
recommendation would be to introduce a:- "meat tax!" We
would love to know your views on this!
"This is a watershed report,
thrusting the catastrophic yet persistently ignored environmental impact of
animal agriculture firmly back into the political spotlight ahead of the UN
Climate Conference next week. That it came from an independent, politically
influential organisation bodes well for new policy coming out of it. Taxes,
however, raise a number of issues and have a history of not working
effectively to phase out consumption. Higher prices add to the inequalities
we have in society which reinforce oppression, and may also perpetuate the
notion that meat itself is more desirable; of greater worth. Rather than
looking at taxing animal products, let's instead focus on plant based foods
that are better for the planet, everybody's health, the future of our food
and, of course, the animals. They are also much more inclusive and
affordable. What's needed is financial support for farmers wanting to
diversify away from livestock and into protein crops. The UK has some of the
world's best conditions for growing plant protein like hemp and fava beans,
which we set out in detail in our Grow Green report." said Jasmijn
de Boo, CEO of The Vegan Society.
The Vegan Society launched its Grow Green campaign at the Labour Party
Conference 2 months ago. More than seeking a reduction in meat eating, it
calls for subsidies for those interested in transitioning from farming
animals to growing protein crops and other plant based agricultural options.
The Vegan Society also said that:- "The benefits are not only
environmental. Major studies, including the World Health Organisation's
report last month, are frequently reporting on the many health benefits of
plant based eating, and its greater sustainability. Farmers could also face
a brighter future. Dairy farmers in particular have struggled very publicly
this year despite each receiving on average about a third of their income,
around £25,000 per year, in EU subsidies. Financial assistance to move out
of these failing industry could save their livelihoods."
So please do let us know what you think by emailing us to:-
news24@southportreporter.com.
Local families chance to
win entire Christmas package
MECCA Southport is calling on residents
from across Southport to nominate families or individual family members who
they feel deserve to be treated to the ultimate Christmas prize package.
Mecca is pledging to provide 5 families from across the UK with the chance
to celebrate Christmas in style by providing everything a family could need;decorations, food, drink and presents will all be gifted by Mecca
Southport.
It could be that the family has been through tough times and deserves a
welcome pick-me-up or they have done something extraordinary for their local
community. Whatever the reason, Mecca wants to provide a touch of Christmas
magic, by making the perfect festive celebration easy and hassle free.
Mecca Bingo spokesperson Lesly Clifford, said:- "Christmas is a
magical time when many of us look forward to spending time at home with our
families, enjoying all the usual festive traditions. However, if you've had
a difficult year or have been extremely busy helping others, pulling
together all the necessary presents, food and trimmings can be more than a
little stressful. That's why we plan to make life easy for 5 worthy families
by providing everything they need for a special, and more importantly stress
free, Christmas."
The prize package includes a fully decorated Christmas tree with festive
ornaments for around the house, as well as all the cards and wrapping paper
needed. Children are sure to be delighted on Christmas morning once they
receive a bumper set of this year's must have toys.
Furthermore all the favourite festive food needed for a slap up turkey
dinner will be provided, complete with soft drink options, a traditional
Christmas pudding and crackers for the family to pull around the table.
A brand new television will be delivered by Mecca Southport, so that the
family can watch the must see festive programmes in style. Should they
prefer to opt for older favourites, they'll also receive DVD copies of the
greatest Christmas films of all time.
No Christmas television marathon is complete without chocolates and mince
pies, so a holiday hamper filled to the brim with treats will also be on
offer.
On top of the Christmas package, Mecca Bingo is also offering a night of
free bingo to members of the family who are eligible to visit the Southport
club.
To make a nomination please email why you think the family deserves a
Christmas on Mecca to:-
christmasmecca@havasww.com by 6
December 2015.
To attend a Mecca Club you do need to be aged 18 years or over and be a
customer of Mecca Bingo. Joining is free of charge and you can sign-up
here
or at the club. |
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Liverpool Business Club supporting local businesses
MOST small business owners
understand their craft alright, but they do not understand how to run a
business. So they soldier on, unsupported, until they run out of money! Are
you in business? Do you agree? According to Liverpool Business Club (LBC)
Mastermind Group, the reasons for lots of businesses failing are simple:-
lack of training, education and support. They group think the skills and
confidence to help small businesses are out there, in Liverpool and on
Merseyside, yet they feel it has not yet been pooled or shared properly.
In a press statement we received this week, LBC's vision would be:-
"to elevate the stature and aspirations of small businesses, so that they
become truly entrepreneurial and develop into vibrant and profitable
businesses. LBC provide support, training and education and we do this both
online and face to face."
Councillor Gary Millar, former Liverpool Lord Mayor and now Liverpool
Cabinet Member for Business, Enterprise and Investment says:-
"Starting a new business can be a minefield not least due to all the various
elements that need to be considered such as do I set up as a sole trader or
limited company, where do I trade from, how do I go about marketing my
business etc. Having support from experienced business club mentors makes
the leap all the less daunting."
For younger people you have groups like Princes Trust, but for others they
think this support is lacking. The group went on to say:- "LBC
is a philanthropic venture. We aim to reverse the trend of small business
failure in Liverpool by giving back. We will empower the small business
community with skills and confidence. We do this by collaborating as a
mastermind group, sharing knowledge and experience and providing previously
unheard of levels of training, education and support, all within an easily
affordable monthly budget."
Mark Cohen, managing partner at Alexander Myerson, who is 1 of the City's
oldest Chartered Accountants says:- "What Liverpool Business Club
offers is exactly the type of hands on, practical and affordable education
and support that small businesses need to survive and thrive!"
LBC currently, we are told, have over 1400 members and that membership is
free! "We are about to introduce a mastermind membership category for
£50 per month. For this, our members receive monthly 2 hour sessions of
networking, business education, coaching and peer group work, supported by 7
days per week of online email and business chat line support. Plus also
online video education and training. In this way, over time, we will help to
transform struggling, small businesses into skillfull, confident going
concerns."
What do you our readers think about this? Is the LBC the only option or do
other exist? Please email us at:-
news24@southportreporter.com.
"Like it or not, social media and digital marketing are transforming news
reporting and business engagement across the globe. Yet across the UK, there
is a dramatic skills shortage in this aspect of business. LBC is tackling
this issue too. Our Social Media Training Academy is 1 of a handful of
companies in the UK, equipped to deliver Diploma Level 3 training in Social
Media for Business. The great news for small businesses is that the diploma
level training is fully funded, subject to certain basic limitations. It is
classroom based, 1 day release per fortnight, spread across 12 months
combining both knowledge and practical skills training. The course is
available to apprentices from age 16 and to established members of staff
looking to up skill. Just think, if every 1 man band operation in the UK
employed just one member off staff, there would be no unemployment in the
UK! It's about time small businesses were treated seriously and given the
same opportunities for training, education and support as big business.
We're on it and it starts here in Liverpool, on Thursday, 10 December 2015,
with a pre-launch event, from 6pm to 8pm, at the Shankly Hotel on Victoria
Street." The group added.
For more information about this group please and this event, please visit
this
link.
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