British farmers face ruin over foot and mouth outbreak

[Guest guest]

British farmers face ruin over foot and mouth outbreak

8: 00 AM AEST February 23 (from ABC News)

 

British farmers say they are facing potential ruin as scientists work around the

clock to trace an outbreak of the highly contagious foot and mouth disease.

 

Meanwhile, a total ban is in force on all meat and livestock exports from the

UK.

 

There have been no new cases of foot and mouth disease confirmed since it was

first discovered earlier this week at an Essex abattoir, where the quarantine

zone has been extended to nearly 20 kilometres.

 

Another abattoir in Surrey was closed whilst a suspect animal was investigated,

but it has now been given the all-clear.

 

Meanwhile, farmers have warned they could face ruin if the ban on meat and

livestock exports continue for weeks, as some experts have predicted.

 

 

--

 

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[Guest guest]

As far as I can see there is no down side to this for the animals. Sure, a

lot of them will die younger than they would usually, but given the quality

of life that they " enjoy " I can't think of this as a down side either. Fox

hunting has ceased (due to the possibility of spreading contagion between

farms) and the government has had to suspend the slaughter of badgers which

has been going on in a futile attempt to eradicate bovine TB (perpetuated,

many reputable scientists think, by poor animal welfare and intensive

factory farming). Live exports have ceased. All those animals being killed

to prevent the spread are being slaughtered humanely (for once) on their

home farm, so no 12 hour journeys with no food or water, no bastard with an

electric prod pushing them around, no waiting in terror in the abbatoir, no

waking up after stunning to die fully conscious over a pit of blood. It's a

GOOD time for the animals!

And, as a bonus, at the end of all this there should be a few less farmers!

 

On a less radical note, I was delighted to see part of an interview on

breakfast tv this morning where the interviewee (don't know who

unfortunately) was saying in a very reasonable and convinncing manner that

it must be obvious that we cannot carry on the current farming practices.

The interviewer said that we couldn't turn back the clock to a time where

each farmer had half a dozen cattle and a pig, the economincs of it are not

viable. The interviewee replied that at the moment, all this " cheap " food

we enjoy comes at the expense to the public of paying for cancer, heart

disease, food poisoning, compensation to farmers for BSE, swine fever, now

foot & mouth, not to mention the usual subsidies to farmers to produce all

this " cheap " food in the first place. He was wonderful - not at all preachy

or desperate-looking, but calm and sincere with a little twinkle in his eye.

Our radical views are at last starting to enter the mainstream. It will

take time, I know, but for the first time ever I think I can see a little

spark at the end of that dreary tunnel!

 

Cheers!

Cathy

 

> ----------

> Bliss [sMTP:bliss]

> Reply

> 26 February 2001 15:11

>

> British farmers face ruin over foot and mouth

> outbreak

>

> British farmers face ruin over foot and mouth outbreak

> 8: 00 AM AEST February 23 (from ABC News)

>

> British farmers say they are facing potential ruin as scientists work

> around the clock to trace an outbreak of the highly contagious foot and

> mouth disease.

>

> Meanwhile, a total ban is in force on all meat and livestock exports from

> the UK.

>

> There have been no new cases of foot and mouth disease confirmed since it

> was first discovered earlier this week at an Essex abattoir, where the

> quarantine zone has been extended to nearly 20 kilometres.

>

> Another abattoir in Surrey was closed whilst a suspect animal was

> investigated, but it has now been given the all-clear.

>

> Meanwhile, farmers have warned they could face ruin if the ban on meat and

> livestock exports continue for weeks, as some experts have predicted.

>

>

> --

>

> Free email services provided by http://www.goodkarmacafe.com

>

>

>

>

> Powered by Instant Portal

>

>

> Post message:

> Subscribe: -

> Un: -

> List owner: -owner

>

> Shortcut URL to this page:

> /community/

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your comments about this Cathy! I have been wondering

about this! I think it is AMAZING times we live in. I'm sad

that it seems to be taking such devastation and disease to knock

us into consciousness as a specie about our food choices, but, I

can understand it too, as it took illness on a personal level to

get me to change.

 

Deborah

 

 

As far as I can see there is no down side to this for the

animals. Sure, a

lot of them will die younger than they would usually, but given

the quality

of life that they " enjoy " I can't think of this as a down side

either. Fox

hunting has ceased (due to the possibility of spreading contagion

between

farms) and the government has had to suspend the slaughter of

badgers which

has been going on in a futile attempt to eradicate bovine TB

(perpetuated,

many reputable scientists think, by poor animal welfare and

intensive

factory farming). Live exports have ceased. All those animals

being killed

to prevent the spread are being slaughtered humanely (for once)

on their

home farm, so no 12 hour journeys with no food or water, no

bastard with an

electric prod pushing them around, no waiting in terror in the

abbatoir, no

waking up after stunning to die fully conscious over a pit of

blood. It's a

GOOD time for the animals!

And, as a bonus, at the end of all this there should be a few

less farmers!

 

On a less radical note, I was delighted to see part of an

interview on

breakfast tv this morning where the interviewee (don't know who

unfortunately) was saying in a very reasonable and convinncing

manner that

it must be obvious that we cannot carry on the current farming

practices.

The interviewer said that we couldn't turn back the clock to a

time where

each farmer had half a dozen cattle and a pig, the economincs of

it are not

viable. The interviewee replied that at the moment, all this

" cheap " food

we enjoy comes at the expense to the public of paying for cancer,

heart

disease, food poisoning, compensation to farmers for BSE, swine

fever, now

foot & mouth, not to mention the usual subsidies to farmers to

produce all

this " cheap " food in the first place. He was wonderful - not at

all preachy

or desperate-looking, but calm and sincere with a little twinkle

in his eye.

Our radical views are at last starting to enter the mainstream.

It will

take time, I know, but for the first time ever I think I can see

a little

spark at the end of that dreary tunnel!

 

Cheers!

Cathy

 

> ----------

> Bliss [sMTP:bliss]

> Reply

> 26 February 2001 15:11

>

> British farmers face ruin over

foot and mouth

> outbreak

>

> British farmers face ruin over foot and mouth outbreak

> 8: 00 AM AEST February 23 (from ABC News)

>

> British farmers say they are facing potential ruin as

scientists work

> around the clock to trace an outbreak of the highly contagious

foot and

> mouth disease.

>

> Meanwhile, a total ban is in force on all meat and livestock

exports from

> the UK.

>

> There have been no new cases of foot and mouth disease

confirmed since it

> was first discovered earlier this week at an Essex abattoir,

where the

> quarantine zone has been extended to nearly 20 kilometres.

>

> Another abattoir in Surrey was closed whilst a suspect animal

was

> investigated, but it has now been given the all-clear.

>

> Meanwhile, farmers have warned they could face ruin if the ban

on meat and

> livestock exports continue for weeks, as some experts have

predicted.

>

>

> --

>

> Free email services provided by http://www.goodkarmacafe.com

>

>

>

>

> Powered by Instant Portal

>

>

> Post message:

> Subscribe: -

> Un: -

> List owner: -owner

>

> Shortcut URL to this page:

> /community/

>

>