Few realise the UK VAT system can precisely identify, at the point of sale, the major powerful global interests skewing our food system, costing us and the earth. Here’s how it does so:
Where, we asked ourselves, should we recommend civic leaders to focus their time and effort given what else is on their agenda? What’s within their power to do?
Taxation is really interesting. Oh yes it is. In 1940, Britain was at war. The British Isles surrounded by water. Dependant on imports that couldn’t get through. Shortages everywhere.
Taxation is really interesting. Oh yes it is. In 1940, Britain was at war. The British Isles surrounded by water. Dependant on imports that couldn’t get through. Shortages everywhere.
Birmingham spends some £3.4bn every year on food and drink, yet the cost of obesity to the city has been estimated to be £2.6bn, with a further £448M being spent here on dealing with alcohol related harm.
My starter-for-ten for the discussion on climate change and food security tonight for the modern-day Lunar Society is that we need to find qualitatively different kinds of questions on the matter.
Radical changes in our diet could be a major part of us meeting the huge global food security challenges we’re facing. Yet what the heck is any one of us meant to do?
If the average person spends 30% less on their household food bill, they’ll save money — and pay less tax, be a lot healthier and contribute to global food security.