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Growing Resistance
Throughout Europe
Foot-and-Mouth
Disease – a Vehicle of the EU Agricultural Policy?
by R.
Schaber, German Association of Dairy Farmers
An old proverb
says: ‘It never rains, but it pours’. As affected farmers we have the impression
that for some of the key people in Brussels FMD in Great Britain broke out
just at the right time because the market situation had begun to ease. What
has happened since then in the regions hit by FMD in Great Britain, Holland
and in other countries defies human understanding. The majority of German
farmers and myself included are convinced that these annihilation-orgies
at the expense of healthy animals in order to defeat the epidemic are a crime
against Creation and the farmers concerned. A policy which places greater
value on the possible advantages of an export market and on profit rather
than on the rational and responsible treatment of our animals, which are
our fellow creatures, has lost any claim to credibility and acceptance. Here
the extent of political ruthlessness and weak leadership becomes apparent.
Or is the destruction of our livestock intentional? Are the farmers in the
EU, who have already been facing difficult times, to be further demoralised
and compelled to give up? Is structural change to be brought about with a
sledgehammer or is the plan to cut back production in Europe on a lasting
basis? The decision taken ten years ago to no longer vaccinate against FMD
cannot justify mass culling of hundreds of thousands of animals.
What can we farmers do together with open-minded
citizens against this madness, against these disadvantageous developments
which are detrimental to the whole of society? What common goal should we
set ourselves?
Supplying one’s own population with food produced
by one’s own farmers must again be given top priority.
In order to reach this aim I think we have to do
everything within our power to inform our fellow citizens and to offer resistance.
One could imagine taking court action against the ban on vaccination (as
has already happened in Germany), or protesting against the absurd culling
of our livestock, organising demonstrations and blockades in streets and
squares in order to draw people’s attention to this deplorable state of affairs.
It’s high time and absolutely necessary that the farmers of the individual
countries and, of course, throughout Europe join ranks to organise this resistance.
Our sorely afflicted colleagues in Great Britain
may rest assured of our solidarity and support. Let us struggle together
for a better future!
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