What You Can (And Should) Do To Bring Jamie Oliver To Justice

Vernon Coleman





The utterly, unspeakably appalling Jamie Oliver seems to have got away with slitting a lamb's throat on television.

On 10th November 2005 Channel 4 showed Jamie Oliver slitting a lamb's throat. The film was shown before the 9 pm watershed even though it is prohibited for television companies to show material at this time which might `impair the mental, physical or moral development of children'.

In the UK animals must be killed on licensed premises and must be stunned before being killed. An EU directive rules that everywhere in Europe (and that includes Italy) animals must be stunned before being killed. Oliver was in breach of British and EU law. Italians are allowed to kill animals in their own homes for personal consumption. Was Oliver killing the lamb for his personal consumption? Or was he killing it for a TV programme?

Hardly anyone complained about this utterly barbaric piece of television.

Has no one noticed that what the loathsome Sainsbury spokesman did is against the law?

Doesn't Channel 4 care?

If an animal lover dared even to breathe on the law he or she would doubtless be arrested. (Probably after being beaten up).

But, it seems, that the Sainsbury spokesman can break the law with impunity because the victim was merely a lamb.

So, here's what I would like you to do:

1. Write to the Italian Ambassador in London and ask him why Jamie Oliver has not been arrested and extradited to Italy for breaking the law. Under EU law, Italy has the right (and duty) to have Oliver extradited to stand trial. Don't the Italians care about the law?
To contact the Italian Ambassador at his London address write to:

HE Signor Luigi Amaduzzi GCVO,
14 Three Kings Yard,
Davies Street,
LONDON
W1Y 2EH


2. Write to your MP and ask why Channel 4 has been allowed to broadcast a film showing Jamie Oliver breaking the law. If Jamie Oliver can break the law on television how can we expect others to show any respect for the law? Or is it permissible for Channel 4 to encourage lawlessness?
To contact Channel 4 write to:

Andy Duncan, Chief Executive,
Channel 4 Television,
124 Horseferry Road,
LONDON
SW1P 2TX


3. Write to Sainsburys, tell them how disgusted you are with Oliver's behaviour. Ask them if they plan to continue to employ someone who has clearly broken the law to protect animals. And tell them that you will boycott their stores for as long as Oliver is their spokesman.
To contact Sainsbury's write to:

P.R. Hampton, Chairman,
J Sainsbury plc,
33 Holborn,
LONDON
EC1 N2HT

Please ask your friends who care about animals to write too. And, of course, remember that polite letters are far more likely to generate a response and lead to a useful conclusion.




14.11.05
Copyright Vernon Coleman 2005



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