Planet over Profit

Ok, so it should be obvious that I am a big believer in sustainability and I certainly think that we should use every nutrient and resource that we have on this planet to the fullest extent we can. However, my trip to Vietnam this week is challenging me to consider how far I am willing to go with that belief.

I have been to Vietnam several times before and I am used to seeing crazy things, especially on motorbikes, as the Vietnamese are experts at getting motorbikes to carry all manner of things that you wouldn’t expect to see on a them. What I saw today, however, was not something oversized and seemingly out-of-place but, rather, something small and furry.

As I was returning to my hotel from my day in the field, we approached an older couple riding a motorbike with two small cages on the back. As we got closer, I soon realized that the cages were filled with rats. The driver of my taxi must have seen me looking and began to laugh and then explained to me that these rats were collected by the couple at a local restaurant and they were taking them home to eat or possibly to sell to others to eat. Yes, I said to eat!! Apparently, in south Vietnam rats are often eaten as my Vietnamese colleague explained to me.

“Waste not want not” was the first thing that jumped into my head, which was quickly followed by …well, maybe not in my world, but good for them!