In the Cove Lane Cove Podcast – March 2022 Tofugate and Events are Back

Welcome to the In The Cove Podcast – it has been a while but we are back, back, back.

ITC has been very busy keeping our loyal readers up to date on all things COVID-19, Events, and Lane Cove Council news.  It has been a very active period for Lane Cove Council with three meetings in the first two months of the year.

We have a great guest speaker who will provide us with some information about plant-based proteins and put Tofugate to bed plus a big fundraising event for residents impacted by floods.

Listen to the podcast here (on your desktop or via Spotify or apple)

What is TOFUgate?

At the March 2022 meeting, TOFUgate popped up.  What is TOFUgate?

Greens Councillor Rochelle Flood asked Lane Cove Council to consider options to reduce meat consumption and promote plant-based alternatives at Council functions and events, as well as in Council managed facilities, to improve environmental, as well as human health and animal welfare outcomes.  Just as a side note ITC was at a Lane Cove Council workshop only a few weeks ago and one of the participants remarked that there were no vegetarian options provided.

Councillor Flood made it clear that the notice of motion was to ensure that there were options for vegetarians and vegans at council events and it was not an attempt to remove meat from the menu.  Councillor Flood stated numerous times it is about having options.

The motion had an extended discussion after Councillor Bennison asked three questions and moved the following amendment:

“An amendment was moved by Councillors Bennison and Brooks-Horn that Council undertake consultation with the community to determine if they would like plant-based proteins included in catering for all Council events and venues.”

During his speech in support of the amendment, he referred to UK literature about Tofu being no good for developing brains and making them smaller.

ITC has done an extensive literature search and cannot find anything to back this up.   ITC has written to Councillor Bennison and asked him to provide a link to the research he cited – we have not received a reply.

He also stated he was not keen on “farting cows causing climate change”.

Councillor Bennison’s amendment motion was lost.  The original motion was carried with a unanimous vote.

V2 Food – what is it?

After we published our article on TOFUgate, we were contacted by Andrew May (who grew up in Lane Cove and is part of the famous May family).  He is now working with V2 food.

What is V2 food – well this is how they describe themselves on their website.

“Introducing the Taste-a-tarian™: a diet that consists of tasty and delicious food. This includes but is not limited to plant-based meat. So, whether you’re a vegetarian, pescatarian or just love meat, there’s one thing we can all agree on…

We’re all Taste-a-tarians™!”

In our podcast we speak to Andrew about what is a plant-based protein, and it is not just TOFU.   Andrew May is the chief Taste-a-tarian & Chief Growth Officer at v2food

Easter is Coming

We are on the run down to the Easter vacations and ITC will have all your Easter news and information on what’s happening around Lane Cove (and most importantly where can you get that coffee fix on Good Friday and Easter Sunday).

Help Lane Cove raise some money for those who have been impacted by the floods.

Christine Anu and Miriam Lieberman Trio Friday 29 April, 6:15 pm – 9:00 pm

This is a $10 ticketed event with the proceeds being donated to GIVIT to support people impacted by the recent storms and floods across New South Wales

6:15 pm – 7:15 pm Miriam Lieberman Trio

7:45 pm – 9:00 pm Christine Anu

Christine Anu is one of Australia’s most popular artists of all time who uses her voice and reputation to spread a message of unity and hope. With 17 ARIA nominations, including the APRA AMCOS award-winning My Island Home and her platinum album Stylin’ Up, she has one of the country’s most enduring and recognisable voices.

Tickets for this event are $10 (+ ticketing fee). Click here to book.

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