The following email was sent to Youth Food Movement Australia on 1st December 2017:
Hello,
I refer to your Facebook comment of 21st November 2017, inviting me to contact you at this email address regarding my article “Some questions for Youth Food Movement Australia“.
You indicated in your comment that we had “chatted” about your approach previously. However, I received little more than the following comment:
“#beefjam is a project collaboration with @Target100AUS amazeballs crew.”
You never responded to my Facebook question of 25th July 2015:
“What about misinformation promoted by Target 100 and published by Meat & Livestock Australia in the form of its primary level (age 5-12) ‘study guide’, ‘Cattle and the environment‘?“
You have also not responded to the straightforward questions contained in my latest article, as referred to above.
Nor have you commented on these extracts from that article:
- The links between YFM and the livestock sector also include the fact that co-founder, Joanna Baker, spent nearly two years (while also holding senior positions with YFM) as manager for membership, communications and policy at Dairy Connect. That organisation describes itself as “an advocacy body, 100% focused on being the voice for all partners in the dairy industry”.
xxx - The other YFM co-founder, Alexandra Iljadica, was a speaker at the two-day 2016 Australian Dairy Conference, sharing speaking duties with high-profile industry participants. She was given two speaking opportunities; a plenary speech and a workshop, with the title of the latter being, “How to herd consumers toward Australian dairy: A workshop in human behaviour change”.
As I said in my Facebook comments, the issues apply to much more than BeefJam, including the forced and permanent separation of cows and calves as a fundamental aspect of dairy production in all its forms (with the calves sent to slaughter or retained to become dairy cows themselves). Also the maceration (and other forms of killing) of male chicks as a fundamental aspect of supplying layer hens for all forms of egg production.
I would have thought the issues I have raised would be of interest to many of your subscribers, volunteers and others who follow you, including people who have attended your “meet the maker” events (including the event with dairy and egg producers) and those who generally rely on your “food education projects”.
I look forward to hearing from you in a display of your professed values of transparency and authenticity.
Regards,
Paul Mahony
Image
Unconsciously Cruel via Aussie Farms, Untitled showing sheep at Ballarat Saleyards, Alfredton, Victoria
terrastendo 
AS always Paul, you present very clear, truthful and plausible arguments. It is sadly not surprising that these animal agricultural bodies will continue to lie, deceive, exploit, and self-serve. Fortunately, many people are now waking up to the ugly truths of animal agriculture and are taking different directions, and ceasing to contribute to violence and exploitation – thanks to people such as yourself, and the handy tool of social media.
Thanks Susan. I’m disappointed that, after inviting me to email them, YFM have not responded. Their silence may say a lot.
Obviously your facts Paul, are put in the too hard basket. I am disgusted that a Youth Food Movement continues to ignore the cruelty involved in the dairy & meat industry.
Their brainwashing activities of future generations is unconscionable. The planet is dying, the animals are suffering, and the proven health benefits of a plant based diet are being ignored. This is a backward movement, certainly not one that will see positive change for future Australians. Alana 🐝
Thanks for your comments Alana. Yes, it’s a major concern, and I look forward to seeing YFM’s response, assuming they provide one.