A screenshot of a Tweet responding to Yummy Lummy sous vide kangaroo recipe blog post
Posted on by Gary

Planetary health

A screenshot of a Tweet responding to Yummy Lummy sous vide kangaroo recipe blog post
A screenshot of a Tweet responding to Yummy Lummy sous vide kangaroo recipe blog post

Planetary Health

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On Tuesday night I attended a lecture on planetary health. Part of the emphasis was on the move out of the Holocene epoch into the Anthropocene epoch. The Anthropocene geological age is dominated by humanity and its role in earth’s climate and the environment.

It was a very interesting lecture that considered the role of human endeavour on the climatic and environmental changes occurring on our planet.

One of the points raised pricked my ears. Our diet may need to change to be higher in vegetable content with a better and more sustainable source of animal protein. Kangaroo meat was suggested as a good source of protein. On hearing this I murmured that that was all very well but kangaroo can taste disgusting if it’s not cooked properly. There was an immediate response from those seated near me. They all seemed to think kangaroo meat is delicious and healthful. I think it tastes gamey and unless it’s cooked carefully it can be awfully tough. There is also a risk of parasitic infestation associated with poorly processed and cooked macropod meat.

I had an epiphany. With my current sous vide cooking endeavours, I thought kangaroo meat would be perfect for sous vide cooking. So on Friday night, I cooked kangaroo for the first time. It was surprisingly good.

The other interesting thing was the feedback I received on Twitter. The people who didn’t like my sous vide kangaroo post were interested in not killing kangaroos because kangaroos are native fauna. Some also claimed some species of kangaroo are bordering on extinction. I saw some posts which also mentioned cruelty in the kangaroo culling business. For example, there was a comment about joeys of shot kangaroos being clubbed to death. I assume it’s safer for the shooter and observers to do that than shoot joeys at close range. I would have thought a quick neck twist and break would work just as well, just like the way I’ve killed chickens before plucking them.

This is a gallery of screenshots. Click on one and scroll through them.

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I’ve embedded some of the tweets at the end of this post.

I certainly appreciate the feedback and I appreciate that people have different perspectives. Life, and our human existence is so exquisitely complex. I eat meat and I will try almost any food, and at the same time I respect that people don’t agree and will demonstrate that by not eating meat and/or take the time and effort to live according to their own ethical standards. One of the good things about public discourse on social media is the ability for people to express themselves freely, and even, to proselytise. I think one of the drawbacks is when people lose respect for another’s expression. I like receiving direct feedback, what I find curious is when people will try to shut something down indirectly. Going behind someone’s back reflects more on the ethical and moral position of the ‘dobber’.

It’s as unAustralian as tampering with a cricket ball during a game of cricket. It’s as unAustralian as conspiring to cheat. For those who don’t get what I’m referring to, news broke this weekend that the Australian cricket team has been exposed for ball tampering during a test match with the Republic of South Africa and that the Australian captain was part of the planning for this cheating.

In days gone by, Australian cricket captains were revered with an honoured status in our society. This episode is a shameful blight on our country. In my opinion, the team should be sacked, they should all be fined, and they should all return the match fees from the last two seasons. The captain should also be banned from all forms of cricket for five seasons and he should not be allowed to profit from cricket. No more appearances for money on TV, no writing deals and no more endorsements, not that any company should want to use a disgraced Australian captain to endorse a product. I know I sound harsh, but Australians pride themselves on fair play and a fair go.

If someone doesn’t like what I say or write, tell me straight, don’t go behind my back and conspire to cause disruption and chaos.

Cows and clouds of Lake Ginninderra

It’s been a while since I walked around Lake Ginninderra and shot some photographs. This morning was a little cloudy and a little cool. The cows of Lake Ginninderra were out and about.

This is a gallery. Click on a photograph and scroll through them.

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Scathing reviews

A friend in the Canberra Food Bloggers Facebook Group shared an ABC news story this week which was a warning about how people should be careful when reviewing restaurants, hotels and other products.

I’ve always tried to be careful when I write a review of a product. I am honest and if the restaurant or product isn’t to my liking I’ll make that clear but I won’t go over the top and exaggerate for effect.

Apart from Yummy Lummy, I enjoy writing short reviews on Google Maps and in the past, I’ve written reviews on Trip Advisor.

This week in Canberra there was a little social media excitement when a popular food establishment in a very trendy and hip part of Canberra received some negative feedback. The interchange between the shop manager and various people using Instagram and Facebook was interesting. I’ve noted there are now reviews in Trip Advisor and other review platforms trying to express a strong opinion about this particular food establishment. The cause for the vigorous discourse was the availability of options for people with food intolerances and food allergies. While plenty of people certainly eschew types of food for personal, health and ‘lifestyle’ reasons. Many people in our society have fair dinkum health problems with some food elements and components. It’s really important for sellers to make it clear if their product contains certain food elements and components and if the seller purports to sell a special product or service for those who make a choice or who are afflicted, the labelling needs to be very clear. That said, I don’t believe, a seller or purveyor of a food product must provide options for people who desire their food not to contain certain elements and components. If they state up front they don’t offer such an option, I think that is fair enough. Others disagree, and some believe that options must be available. It’s a business decision for the business owner. If I decided to open a cafe (not that I ever would), I would want to accommodate customers’ desires within reason. But if someone came in asking for raw (unpasteurised) milk products, I’d just say no, I would not make such products available. If I lost business because of that, so be it.

Being an observer to this reminded me and I’m guessing some other Canberra food bloggers of the importance of careful and considered thought when we write reviews of products and services.

What I ate this week

It’s been a bit of a disruptive week. On returning from Brisbane, I weighed myself on Monday morning and was 1.6 kg heavier than when I weighed myself on Friday morning.

Tuesday evening I went out to that lecture so dinner was not very appropriate.
Let’s hope the coming week sees a little more discipline in my eating and sleeping.

This is a gallery. Click on a photograph and scroll through them.

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Podcast link love

No such thing as a fish
Mouthy Broadcast NSFW
Mission Log Podcast
Dork Trek NSFW
The Random Yummy
Zombie Anonymous NSFW
EFTM NSFW
The Peta Pixel Photography Podcast
The No Name Photo Podcast
Hilah’s Happy Hour NSFW
Keep it quirky

Tweets reacting to my sous vide kangaroo post

These are some of the replies to the tweets I sent about my sous vide kangaroo meal. You can click on them and see more of the tweet.

There are more, but I think you get the gist.

Final thoughts

Next weekend is Easter. On Good Friday I’m planning on cooking beef short ribs if I can find some. I did this last year and broke a tooth. I hope this year I will be more careful tearing meat from the rib bones.

I hope you have a good week. Take care and enjoy life in infinite diversity in infinite combinations (IDIC) 🖖

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Here are a video and infographic about planetary health.

Read the full Lancet Commission:
The Lancet: Safeguarding human health in the Anthropocene epoch: report of The Rockefeller Foundation–Lancet Commission on planetary health

10 Replies to “Planetary health”

  1. Bit of a heavy wrap-up this week. Kangaroo is a living organism just like how plants are too. Plants and the common foods that we eat everyday are also vulnerable to extinction. Couple of years ago it was suggested avocado might became extinct as a result of global warming. Like you, I’m all for eating pretty much anything and if someone has an opinion, they have an opinion. Okay with me and best to be upfront with me about it.

    I also agree with your take on serving food at restaurants. For instance, if you open a steak joint, your customers would primarily be those after a good steak and it makes sense to invest in good cuts of beef than half a menu of non-steak food.

    Good luck with a healthy food week, Gaz. Stick to eating in weekdays and have Maccas on the weekend 😃 Hopefully I can find some of those cotton candy grapes near my work’s Safeway tomorrow.

    1. Thanks Mabel
      Live and let live I reckon
      People should be free to express an opinion
      I’m open minded so if someone objects and can convince me to change, I will.
      I hope you can find some of the fairy floss grapes. I was so surprised with the taste.

    2. Live and let live and just enjoy the food we like eating 😀 I am very stubborn…but I also like to listen. Happy to let others be so long as they don’t force me to change. If I want to change my opinions or myself, it has to be of my own desire.

      Really, really want to get my hands on those grapes. Hope at least one of the two Woolies on the way to work has them 😀😀

    3. I hope you find some.

      If I’m shown I’m wrong I’ll change. If it’s vague then I’ll listen and remain open minded.

    4. If I’m wrong, I’ll admit it too. If I’m wrong and the outcome is not something I agree with, I’ll admit it and walk away.

      Those grapes must be so good that they are pretty much all gone lol.

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