[Yudster]

Not especially, although its hard not to be near an arable farmer in this part of Essex - but my work does require me to be thoroughly familiar with conservation legislation (amongst others). And wood pigeons are not specially protected. Some birds are. All birds nests and breeding sites are protected when active. So if you want to chop down a hedge or a tree in your garden in June, you are probably committing a criminal offence. So hope your nosey neighbours don't know the law.

[Nicola_Red]

People always think that fish is a separate issue. They still have eyes and a brain. The complicated bit is whether it should be ok to eat over fished fish like cod.

You'd be surprised how many people believe that fish don't feel pain. Which is of course b0ll0cks. When restaurants denote fish dishes as 'vegetarian options' on their menus...grr. The rule for vegetarianism is simple: no food with a face.

[Yudster]

I'm never quite sure how that particular lie has been perpetuated. Its ludicrous.

[claradooblue]

Ah but then you've got the question about shellfish. I personally eat mussels and the like, but many vegetarians don't. They don't have a face, or at least, i've never spotted one as yet. Do they even have a brain?

[Yudster]

Its not a case of "if it feels pain you can't eat it" though - unless that bothers you, in which case, don't eat it! I am happy to catch a fish and kill it as quickly as possible and eat it - I really object to coarse fishing though, where they catch the fish, traumatise it, extend its agony by taking photos of it and weighing it, and then put it back so it can go through the whole horrible scene over and over again. I had a massive row with a fisherman about this the other week, he genuinely thinks that it doesn't do the fish any harm. There's no understanding the denial of such people.

[Vivienne]

No, I most definitely could not eat a horse, thank you v. much ...

[Nicola_Red]

Ah but then you've got the question about shellfish. I personally eat mussels and the like, but many vegetarians don't. They don't have a face, or at least, i've never spotted one as yet. Do they even have a brain?

sorry to say, if you eat shellfish you're not veggie.

Vegetarianism is the practice of living on products of the plant kingdom, with or without the use of eggs and dairy products, but excluding entirely the consumption of any part of the body of an animal as food (including chicken, fish and seafood). The term "vegetarian" means a person who follows such practice, or describes such a person, creature, establishment or food pertaining to vegetarianism.

(from http://www.vnv.org.au/Definitions.htm)

[Yudster]

Totally.

[kendra k]

vegetarianism used to mean people who only ate plants and their biproducts, then those ovo-lacto lazy bums corrupted the definition. boo!

i've never eaten horse, and most likely never will. i used to have sheep, which we named, and we ate those. i had to accept the fact that that was why we raised them. they had a better life than lots of sheep too. oh well. it's all moot since i'm veg now. people need to accept that if you eat one animal, you can eat them all.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

I want someone to prove to me that a Fish feels pain.

[claradooblue]

Pull it's tail off and it'll squeal; "Gaspode Gaspode please don't hurt me".

[Yudster]

people need to accept that if you eat one animal, you can eat them all.

I would exclude any protected or threatened species from that. I wouldn't eat crocodile for instance.

[Yudster]

Lucky panda....???!

[claradooblue]

Pizza seems to be pretty standard birthday fare, bet you'll have that or something similar.

[Yudster]

Good choice. Enjoy.

[MK Chris]

Be honest though, people are nice to you generally on here. I like Chinese, I fancy some of that tonight. Unfortunately I won't be getting any (Chinese).

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Topher - be a man and get a chinese if you want one.

Pull it's tail off and it'll squeal; "Gaspode Gaspode please don't hurt me".

if it did that then i would believe it.

[MK Chris]

Ha it's not because I'm not allowed one - I'm not even seeing Mrs Topher till tomorrow now anyway, but she likes Chinese more than me... it's just I'm boracic until I get paid now.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

I just paid my first electricity bill since moving in. I expect your contribution Topher...

[MK Chris]

No worries, I'll send you a pack of batteries.

[nickynoo]

here you go Gaspode! ( mind you they sure taste good as well as being good for your joints!)
http://www.firstscience.com/site/editor ... 092003.asp

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

I want a fish to tell me in its own words what the pain is like.

[nickynoo]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=boa-5vNcGSQ

Is this the sort of thing you were after?

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

see now thats pathetic.

[nickynoo]

yeh sorry was the best i could find unless you speak Russian!