As we all know the famous Bear Grylls
has launched a new show on Channel 4 called The Island, where modern
men are dropped off on a deserted island somewhere in the South
Pacific Ocean and left to survive for a whole month. Three of the
men are trained camera men however they will be living in the same
conditions as the rest.
The premise for this reality show is
quite unique and Lord of the Flies-esque. The show allows us to share
the highs and lows of the men surviving on the island. I find as a
viewer I'm constantly rooting for these guys to succeed as the
audience is so invested in this concept, that if the modern person
was put in a survive or die scenario we could all rise to the
challenge, channeling our inner warrior and coming out triumphant.
Only two episodes in and already we
have seen our guys struggle to find shelter, start a fire, produce
clean drinking water and successfully fish. Whilst all this has made
fantastic television, everyone is waiting on tender hooks for the
first 'fall out' of the group, I wanted to address a moment that
happened in episode II. The capture and killing of the Cayman
crocodile.

When our boys first saw the crocodile
they were on the brink of starvation, “wasting away” in front of
each others eyes. I too shared in the joy and excitement of the
capture of the Cayman. It was inspiring to think the average Joe
could capture such a ferocious creature. However my emotions changed
as I continued to watch the defenceless crocodiles arms be tied
behind his back and I felt such empathy for that poor little
creature, as did all the men on the island. As Ryan correctly said,
“We're fighting for our lunch, he's fighting for his life.” As
the Cayman was humanely killed to feed the tribe, the tears started
to flood down not only my face but the faces of the men who were
still starving and in desperate need of food.

This made me think about meat on the
supermarket shelves and the big Halal meat debate that is consuming
our food market at this present time. We are so used to have things
handed to use the world has become completely desensitised to how it
got from the field, to our plate. I know that I could never have
killed that animal and I ask you, could you? Could the average
person kill a cow?I know that many people will say “We are built to
eat meat” and to this I reply, when are we ever so hungry we need
to eat meat when we have so many other viable food sources available
to us in the current mass produced economy.

My dad came at me with, “But remember
Charlotte the Cayman crocodile would tare you to pieces.” Although
this statement is correct, the crocodile is fighting for his life and
is it not our empathy for this creature that makes us human in the
first place? We have evolved passed survival and now we thrive with a
humanity that separates us from the animal kingdom. Yet we carry on
to consume without thought for the consequence of future generations
and even species.

To conclude I have made a life changing
decision, I have decided to no longer eat any meat product I could
not kill and prepare myself. I'm not a vegetarian by any means, I'm
only eating animals which I would feel comfortable to hunt, kill
myself. I have no problem catching fish and gutting them ready to
cook, neither do I have a problem with necking and plucking a chicken
as I have done both of these things in the past. However I don't
think I could bring myself to slaughter (yes lets not beat around the
bush here, it is called a slaughter house after all.) a cow, lamb or
pig. There for I'm not that desperate to eat them. So until the
zombie apocalypse happens nothing from a cow, pig, lamb or duck will
pass these lips.
Disclaimer: This is not meant to offend
anyone and I am not trying to push my options on others. My family
are still going to eat all types of meat and I'm fine with that. I'm
just sharing my personal opinion. Thank you.