We have all been familiarised with the unsustainable practices of the fast fashion industry. However, we do not often hear about unsustainable food and what we put into our bodies and the toll it takes on the environment. As a university student who lives alone, I have received many comments about the stereotype of having to eat ‘pot noodles’ all the time because of assumptions such as not having your mum’s cooking, or not knowing how to cook, and not being able to afford anything else. No, this is not a pity party. Yes, I have had to eat pot noodles but that has more to say about our government and the economic crisis we are currently in than it does about me as an individual. When I think of the word ‘sustainability’ automatically I picture the environment, and what it really means is what us humans are doing to the environment; the place we are living in, our homes, and our future. With the rise in the cost of living, we have all had to make certain sacrifices and compromises in order to survive, but how much longer do we have left to live if we have to work to survive? The ability to realise the impact your eating habits are causing to your body and the environment is one step closer to making the earth and your future a much better place. By all means, this is not an attempt at telling you that you are bad person and that others are better, instead I am here to help those who need it see a different perspective of food.

Sustainability is around us everywhere, whether we are doing it intentionally or if it is forced upon us. Undoubtedly, we have seen a huge decrease in the use of single-use plastic, which is demonstrated in our paper straws which sadly become soggy after only a few sips. Furthermore, coffee shops such as Starbucks, encourage customers to bring their own cups when purchasing a drink. Many brands now use recyclable sustainable material for their products and packaging. However, this does also show that we, as consumers, are not being sustainable by choice but because certain brands that we feel loyal to have to provide them. Consumers back in 2020 during the pandemic did lead sustainable lifestyles, such as that of having to shop more local to them, which again shows that it was not their own choice to do so but because it was technically the law for everyone around the world.

The truth about our favourite foods

I have an undeniably bad habit of eating really unhealthily. Being a student and trying to meet all of my assignment deadlines, I prefer having food ready-made and delivered straight to my doorstep. Not to mention the occasional ‘stress-eating’ of snacks and convincing myself that I have deserved a ‘treat’ each time I felt stressed and overwhelmed. The problem is that these foods that I have been consuming are actually considered unsustainable food. They consist of red meat, poultry, farmed fish, shrimp & prawns, rice, sugar, eggs, and cheese. Not only are they harmful to the environment, but also to us humans consuming them. So, if you are wondering what makes food unsustainable, this is the right place for you. I will break it down so that it is easier to read and understand:

Red meat:

Beef is a contributor to deforestation and climate change.

Lamb can ruin natural habitats which also releases very high levels of methane (a greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere.

Poultry:

The farming of chickens, pigs, ducks, and turkeys contribute to deforestation and water pollution. These animals are often fed with processed feeds.

Shrimp farming:

Mangroves are tropical trees that provide protection in cases of extreme natural disasters, like hurricanes, by absorbing storm surge impacts. Now, you may be wondering how shrimp farming and mangroves are linked. Well, the farming of shrimps has not only caused extreme water pollution but also extensive destruction of mangrove trees.

Cheese & Eggs:

Products of ruminant animals contributes to a much higher carbon footprint compared to that of plant-based foods.

Eggs are bad for the environment as they emit high levels of greenhouse gases.

Rice & Sugar:

Both of these products have a negative effect on our climate. A huge amount of methane is produced into the rice fields.

Sugar comes from sugarcanes which need a lot of water. Freshwater ecosystems are then polluted as a result of chemicals from the sugar mill factories. Contaminants are then ‘disposed’ of in the sea affecting the climate.  

Moving forward

As I begin my journey of slowly detoxing certain unsustainable foods from my system, I hope to inspire you and others who may be going through the same or similar situations and begin living a sustainable lifestyle. We should cut down on how often we eat non-renewable food sources and begin learning different recipes for plant-based meals. If you feel like you cannot cut anything out, perhaps opt for buying from brands that are sustainable, such as Biona, Rubies in the Rubble, Pip Organic, and Wholly Greens.

Conclusion

In summary, these are all non-renewable resources, meaning that they will run out one day. The more we get used to consuming them and by the time the day comes where we’ve ran out of them, we will end up panicking and not knowing what to actually eat, and thus World War III will start. Furthermore, studies show that around 7.2 million British adults that have gone meat-free. With the rise in veganism in the UK, the population can learn from vegans and follow in their footsteps before it is too late.

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Inequality disguised as being “special” and “gifted”

Equality can be defined as making sure that all humans have the same opportunity to live life the way they should regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, etc. Looking back at my personal experience in secondary school during my GCSE’s, I was put on the spectrum for having learning difficulties, and therefore qualified for extra time. I remember being separated with my fellow extra time buddies away from the rest in the exam hall. It made me feel like there was something wrong with us, and that we were different, far from equal to my friends and everyone sat on the opposite side to me. Schools should not separate less able students to help the invigilators distinguish between those who can leave the hall and those who have extra time. I want to open your eyes to the hidden inequalities and discrimination to humans that are disguised as equalities. Industries claiming to be diverse and equal just for the sake of it, rather than actually living up to the name of it. Although there have been significant changes regarding equality, there are still many gaps left in the margin that need adhering to in order to make the changes necessary. Despite there being inequality around the world, this blog will hold the focus mainly on groups within the United Kingdom. The types of equality I will be exploring will be social equality, gender equality, and racial equality specifically within the workplace environment and how they all link together.

Social equality or social inequality?

Social equality is based on fairness and justice between the social class hierarchies of upper-class, middle-class, and working-class groups and individuals. Being socially equal also means having the same rights, freedom of speech, and being able to have equal access to the same goods and services. For example, marriage has always been available and acceptable for heterosexual individuals, however same-sex marriage in the UK only became legalised in the summer of 2014.

Income inequality and class divisions are common in the UK. Those who are already wealthy will continue to get more wealthy. This means that with the cost of living rising each year, the pay grade also rises as help scheme but it does not get the poor richer while things are increasing price. This links to the saying “the poorest get poorer and the richest get richer” meaning nobody will ever be financially equal.

Gender Equality and Inequality

Generally speaking, men have always been known to be in power. For years society was an immensely patriarchal one, where women had to stay at home, cook, clean, and look after the kids, while husbands were the ‘breadwinners.’ Today times have changed as we know it. Gender roles have switched and traditional norms of women staying at home are no more. We see this in the fact that women can now work and have rights to education as any man would. Definitely, one can say discrimination against women in this case have lessened in the United Kingdom. However, according to the Office for National Statistics, the gender pay gap in the UK is decreasing. Although it has greatly improved, the gap is still there which suggests that it will take a while for men and women to be deemed equal within the workforce.

Racial Inequality at work

In a study that surveyed 2,000 employees in the UK, it was found that BAME individuals felt coerced and pressured into behaving a certain way of professionalism that white individuals did not need to do because of their ‘privilege’. Results showed that 49% of the workers claimed that they felt they have to ‘mask their identity’ in order to fit in the workplace, while 43% were white employees who said they do not feel the need to conceal their true selves. These figures show how black and minority ethnic groups are treated differently by the board of directors of companies who are mainly white men and women. Many companies tend to employ BAME groups to come across as ethnically diverse, and yet make them feel different. Interestingly, 59% of BAME women said that they hide their real personalities when at work. It is important to note that white males are earning more than ethnic minorities. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that most minority ethnic groups earn less than white British employees. All of these show that racial inequality in the workplace will be inevitable and not only at work but in public worldwide.

Let me paint you a picture

Evidently, we are living in a world where everybody has equal human rights regardless. Without historic inequality, there would not be any forms of equality that we have today. All of the protests and boycotts have massively paid off and impacted our lives for the better. However, in my opinion, there are still small ounces of inequality and prejudicial people within society that make up the workforce. These are proven from official statistics. There will always be a social hierarchy between human beings. Although members of the LGBTQIA+ community are given their rights, they are still experiencing discrimination throughout the course of their lives as they face social stigma and feel as though they are not protected from bigotry and violence the same as heterosexual groups and individuals. The three forms of inequality mentioned throughout all show a certain pattern. That pattern tells us that equality is not at 100% yet, and the reason for this is because old, outdated mindsets have not left. Some people are not open to new generational norms and values, although it should not be the norm to ask for basic human rights, we have done everything we can and should hope for a better future.

The post Equality first appeared on wbsdigital.