William Sitwell, editor of Waitrose magazine, was asked to step down from his role following a private email exchange being leaked in which he said: “How about a series on killing vegans, one by one. Ways to trap them? How to interrogate them properly? Expose their hypocrisy? Force-feed them meat?”
Sitwell’s follow-up email states: “I like the idea of a column called The Honest Vegan; a millennial’s diary of earnest endeavour and bacon sandwiches...”
The words were sent in response to a freelance journalist’s suggestion that the magazine consider doing a plant-based meal series.
Sitwell, a one-time Masterchef judge, apologised for his comments, saying: "I love and respect people of all appetites, be they vegan, vegetarian or meat eaters - which I show week in week out through my writing, editing and broadcasting."
However, he was terminated from his job all the same, which has led to a debate as to whether the decision was justified. (Fast fact: Sitwell is the great nephew of Edith Sitwell of the famous Sitwell family.)
The Twitterati are divided in their opinion, with Sitwell supporters noting that "vegans can meat it out, but not take it", and “vegans have no sense of proportion or humour”. His critics, meanwhile, say Sitwell's email was a "pretty bizarre attempt at humour", and it “epitomises the pervasive culture of immature, aggressive prejudice”.
A vegan in The National office says she doesn't think Sitwell should have lost his livelihood over what was obviously an attempt at being at humorous, but she further notes:
“It’s incredible and really quite strange how angry and aggressive [non-vegans] get. It’s as though, by my being vegan, I’m calling into question their decision. They feel the need to make snarky comments, such as plants have feelings, too.
“And yet, people are willfully keeping themselves ignorant, even in this smartphone and social media age, by not watching the videos that show just how barbaric the meat industry is, by not knowing the reality of how that sausage ended up on their plates. If they saw an animal’s throat being hacked off, the meat industry would collapse in a week.
“It’s ridiculous that Sitwell lost his job. I don’t think that should happen over a joke. But it was poor judgement sending it from his work email. I’m sure he’s not an evil man, I’m sure he doesn’t want all vegans dead, and I’m sure it was a joke, but a very crass one. Maybe he should be forced to go on a vegan diet or, better still, made to watch those videos.”
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Read more:
New restaurant guide focuses on honest ethical eateries, so which UAE restaurants made the cut?
How a hearty carnivore embraced vegan life
World Food Day: going vegan can combat global warming, says expert
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MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Law%2041.9.4%20of%20men%E2%80%99s%20T20I%20playing%20conditions
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A