As the meat trade prepares for its annual frenzy of eviscerating millions of turkeys, Nottingham's Veggies crew rolled into Sheffield on November 25th, 2010, with Animal Aid's Friend or Food campaign.

The Friend not Food Campaign, based around a redesigned Veggies catering trailer, pretends to be selling labrador steaks, collie burgers and dachshund sausages, asking "why not ... you ear pigs and cows, and ostriches and deer, don't you?"

Following a clear run around the UK, including Southampton, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Derby and Nottingham (twice), the trailer rolled into Sheffield, pitching up on the monthly farmer's market, right by the City Hall.

Possibly on request from the ostrich / buffalo meat stall, the market manager bimbled over to ask if we had applied for a market pitch. It was explained that nothing was being sold and that the stall was just 'surveying public perceptions of meat products'. Having lent over to stick his head inside the stall, he accepted that nothing was being sold and so we could totally carry on.

20mins later, possibly on request from the ‘Fresh -N- local' dead pig stall, (complete with pretty pig pictures), he was back, together with a couple of ‘City Ambassadors'. A long, polite (and slow) discussion followed. No we weren't blocking any access, yes we had liability insurance, no we don't consider the stall to be a ‘vehicle', yes we have a right to politically protest the meat trade, no we really are not trading.

The banter clearly wasn't getting through so, moving to the empty taxi bay 5 yards away, far more productive conversations continued with the public. No for long though. In less time than it takes to read a hundred and one dalmatian recipes, a traffic warden arrived, so after a good hour and more, off we set off for the relative warmth of the Sumac Centre, discretion being the better part of valour!

Many of the questions raise by the appearance of the Friend or Food Stall have been addressed by the care2.com article 10 Arguments Against A Vegan Lifestyle, Including:

ARGUMENT #7: Animals don't have feelings.

Professor Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson said in an article about research done for his book, The Pig Who Sang To The Moon, "A pig could be as devoted, as affectionate, as good a companion, as a dog, given half a chance. Chickens, like many birds, could form close bonds with a human who took the time to get to know these fascinating animals. Sheep, who had been dismissed as stupid animals, turned out to have remarkable discriminating powers, allowing them to recognize, know and have feelings about two hundred other sheep. Goats were as individualistic and as mysterious and complex as cats, and when permitted could live in delightful harmony with humans."