JCR declares opposition to battery farming Christ Church JCR has shown its support for serving free range food in Hall. Last Sunday the JCR voted on a motion, which stated, “In designing menu items, ‘Hall’ should make use of free range food, and end their use of battery farmed animals.” The proposal received substantial backing although the free range standard will not be immediately adopted. However, students voted to set up a working group to investigate the financial feasibility of the move for the JCR. Tom Ward, a Theology second year student who put forward the motion, said, “I am very satisfied with the result of the meeting… As far as confidence goes in ultimate success at Christ Church, I think the fact that the motion went unopposed is a strong indication that there is a very real wish of the entire JCR for Hall to go free range. “In my opinion, intensive farming techniques are both cruel and unnecessary in this country…I am sure many at Oxford feel the same way, and indeed endeavor to purchase free range products at home. However, when dining in Hall we find ourselves stripped of that choice, and inadvertently end up supporting the intensive farming we feel so passionately against. I do not think that there is any insurmountable barrier, cost or otherwise, to using free range products in the respective Halls of Oxford…it would serve as an example to the rest of the catering world that mass utilization of free range products is feasible.”Ward subsequently set up a Facebook group to bolster support for the motion. John Harris, Steward of Christ Church, agreed that the idea is gaining momentum. He explained, “The College is looking into it… I was at a catering managers’ meeting [on 22 January] regarding the introduction of free range products. We are very positive about it. At the moment there is not enough free range produce to meet likely demands. However there is widespread interest in it. It is not a matter of the JCR persuading reluctant caterers. Many of the caterers are very positive in it.” Laura Ellis, Christ Church JCR President, said, “The working group will consist of three members of College staff; the Hall manager, the Steward and the head chef and from the JCR the food rep, the veggie rep and Tom Ward.”
by Rob Pomfret
Christ Church calls fowl on chicken cruelty
