Welcome to this Forum. It has been set up so that supporters of the Lower Fuel Tax campaign can discuss the ridiculous levels on Fuel tax in this country.
So, Fuel Tax 2000 (or whatever you call it) is now Foot & Mouth 2000.
Shirley, nobody's particuarly happy with what's been going on since FMD hit this country. What we have been asked to accept is watching millions of animals with a disease no more dangerous than a common cold being slaughtered (under the auspices of the National Farmer's Union) so that the British meat industry wouldn't loose it's export licence.....closely followed by what appears to be an alarming bill for compensation from farmers and cull/clean-up subcontractors.
If anyone ought to be marching, it is us "townie taxpayers" whose jobs and income are paying for the whole debacle. Perhaps it's time we demanded value for money for all the subsidy money we've been pumping into the industry.
But if you think we're going to join forces with the industry that the cull was meant to benifit....well, what can I say?
Sussed me? Now if I was going to hide anything would I have put the info on Fuelprotest2000?
Fuelprotest2000 [as I call it] is still Fuelprotest2000 but with FMD info [As it has had for a while] been asleep?
I agree with everything you say nobody is happy but by Christ the farmers have reasons to be more so than most.
As for the slaughter policy and the fact the disease is quite mild [except in cattle] The majority of farmers know this and have fought the slaughter policy tenaciously. THEY WANT VACCINATION...The NFU said no!
The NFU does not speak for the majority of farmers , just as the RHA does not speak for the majority of hauliers. The NFU actually has quite a small membership compared to the percentage of farmers. And when they made this damaging decision re vaccination, they forgot to ask their members anyway.
And yes you "townie taxpayers should be marching. You/we/I are indeed paying for this debacle. Do you know how much the goverment wasted, and is still wasting on the Epynt site? A site that could never be used for carcasse disposal.... Answer around 25 million
Go on I dare you take a look at the website http://www.epynt-disaster.co.uk
By the way ......Just what do you mean by value for money? surely it's our past demand for cheaper and cheaper food that has contributed to this mess anyway.
No I don't want you to join forces with the industry that you hate so much [and understand so little]
But you should be asking questions, and not follow in blind faith a government that has let you down so much.
In other words
OPEN YOUR BLOODY EYES MAN
As for your closing comment
"What can I say" ?
Well you say plenty, as I am sure you will continue to do about things you know NOTHING about.
13.08.01March on London - following our meeting yesterday 12 August with representatives of all the FMD campaign groups in the country, to begin our direct action it has been decided to hold a protest in London on 20 August, 2001. Meeting at Hyde Park, at 1 pm and then proceeding to march to 10 Downing Street to hand in the many petitions that have been signed stating that we will only accept a full and open Public Inquiry. Farmers and general public at least have one thing in common, they must be told where taxpayers money has gone and why. The protest march will be led by Noel Edmunds, and other celebraties will also take part.
This is only the beginning, if Mr Blair still refuses to listen to the people of this country, we shall take Lord Haskins' advice and follow the example of the French farmers, which is something we do not wish to do but unfortunately with the arrogant attitude of Messrs Blair, Beckett, Whitty , Morley & Haskins, they leave us with little choice.
No doubt the spin machine is already warming up but if Mr Blair feels it is safe enough to open up footpaths, it is safe enough for us to come and walk through his backyard!
All members will be advised of arrangements re transport/coaches.times etc.,
For further details and contact numbers in your area tel 01291 690224, fax 01291 690984 Mob 0777 3920306 e mail secretary@farmersforaction.fsnet.co.uk
Yip, this e-mail address says it all, another attempt at revolution by a right wing rag tag army of malcontents that can't accept that there is a democratically elected Labour Government in this country.
I will watch on August 20th the and will, once again, see the same results as the fuelly PADs and go slows, utter failure!!
I won't apologise for coming to the conclusion that turning your website over to the latest FFA/anti-new Labour bandwagon is slightly suspect.
I recall that when the FMD crisis started, yourself and many others were accusing the Government of introducing the virus on purpose to destroy the farming industry in the UK - on behalf of the EU, of course.
When that level of paranoia is evident, you shouldn't be suprised when someone comes along and tries to add a little balance to the argument.
The fact is, MAFF were seriously unprepared to fight the disease in the present day. They followed the same methods used in 1967 without taking into account the wholesale changes in agriculture and food production that have taken place in intervening years. In that, there is a lesson for all of us in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. I think it's pretty safe to say that Tony Blair, MAFF and everyone else involved has taken this on board and that they hardly need you and your mates in the FFA to point this out to them.
On the subject of the FFA.
This is a bunch of militant Farmers who do not represent their industry - they are the Luddites of modern day Britain. Yes, Farmers have had a tough time over the last decade - so have many other industries. The world of business is changing. Globalisation has made it possible for retailers to source their goods from all over the world at a moments notice. Instead of continually bemoaning the fact, you just have to accept this fact and adapt. We are not the first generation to suffer the changes that advances in production, transport and communication bring about and we won't be the last.
"Luddites of modern day Britain. .................. The world of business is changing. Globalisation has made it possible for retailers to source their goods from all over the world at a moments notice. Instead of continually bemoaning the fact, you just have to accept this fact and adapt. We are not the first generation to suffer the changes that advances in production, transport and communication bring about and we won't be the last."
Ireland gets its industrial gases from mainland UK.
Everytime there is a problem or strike at the suppliers, hauliers, ports, shipping, etc Ireland only grinds to a halt. If Ireland's countryside was to be transformed into a countryside theme park despite the efforts of the "Luddites" and anything happened they would only starve though. So that's alright then.
PS Wasn't it the government, government advisers, and government and big, technical, globalised, adapted for the future farming supporting NFU who objected to vaccination, and the little "Luddites" who wanted it?
Boge, you imply that the NFU policy on vaccination was against the views of ordinary farmers. But the NFU is made up of "75% of full-time farmers and growers in England and Wales" (NFU's own information) and only farming members can attend meetings and vote on policy issues.
So if the NFU membership includes 75% of farmers in England and Wales, and it is only those farmers who can decide NFU policy, and NFU policy was against vaccination ... it was the the vast majority of ordinary farmers who made that policy.
QED
Let's face the reality. A large number of farmers saw F&M as an opportunity to clear their overdrafts after years of mismanaging their own industry (despite huge subsidy), just as they did with the BSE crisis.
They have no right at all to call for public sympathy.
Congregate at Speakers Corner, Hyde Park between 12 noon & 1 pm. At 1 pm prompt, the march will make its way to 10 Downing Street to had in a number of petitions calling for a full and open public inquiry into the handling of the Foot & Mouth crisis. British farmers and general public have a right to know exactly where and why their money has been spent.
Please Note - No placards to be held aloft in Hyde Park, there will be no additional toilet or refreshment facilities provided. This is purely and simply a March for Action. Please do not drop litter. And remember this is a peaceful protest, but if Tony Blair does not listen, it is only the beginning.
For further details re transport arrangements etc., please phone Farmers For Action 01291 690224, Fax 01291 690984 or e mail secretary@farmersforaction.fsnet.co.uk.
Presently we need to know of any transport going from mid Wales.
"British farmers and general public have a right to know exactly where and why their money has been spent."
Wasn't it spent, at the behest of the NFU, on maintaining export licences for the Britsh meat industry, of which British farmers are the biggest beneficiaries?
In any case, it certainly wasn't spent for the benefit of the "general public" who would quite happily carry on buying supermarket produce wherever it comes from.
"In any case, it certainly wasn't spent for the benefit of the "general public" who would quite happily carry on buying supermarket produce wherever it comes from."
Funkii
Not if you knew what was in it. FMD and "clean" animals separated by barbed wire fencing ? (Argentinian
ones - to save you a reply )
17 August 2001
3000 expected at inquiry protest
By Donald MacPhail
CAMPAIGNERS for a public inquiry into the foot-and-mouth crisis estimate
that more than 3000 supporters will march on Downing Street on Monday (20 August).
Producers are livid at the government's decision to hold three independent investigations into the virus rather than a full public inquiry.
They will descend on London under the banner "FMD Alliance" in a march organised by the Farmers For Action group.
Speaking to FWi on Friday (17 August), FFA chairman David Handley said that he was delighted with the support which has been pledged.
"Preparations are going very well and today alone support has come in from as far afield as Cornwall, Dumfries and Galloway, said Wales," he said.
"We estimated that if we got 2-3000 protesters in the capital on a working day that would be a good turnout. But we think we may well exceed that now."
Mr Handley said demonstrators would include farmers and their families who have been affected by the crisis and members of the general public.
"We will tell the government that we need a full and public inquiry. If people need to be brought to account then they must be brought to account.
"Some people say that there shouldn't be a witch-hunt, but tell that to the farmer who has lost all his stock or the widow who has lost her husband."
Marchers will assemble at Speakers Corner, Hyde Park, between noon and 1pm and from there will march direct to the Prime Minister's residence.
They included the "Heart of Devon" group started by TV celebrity Noel Edmunds, and other groups modelled on it from Cumbria, Yorkshire and Essex.
Anyone of like mind is welcome and anyone with petitions are invited to bring them and present them to number 10 Downing Street, said Mr Handley.
FARMERS WEEKLY has joined forces a number of leading publications in the Say Yes to a Public Inquiry campaign.
Thousands have signed the petition organised by FARMERS WEEKLY, Horse&Hound,The Western Morning News, the Western Mail, The Journal and the Cumberland
News.
There are now 10 inquiries looking at various aspects of the crisis.
The main investigations will focus on the government's handling of the epidemic, a scientific review and a commission on the future of farming.
In any case, it certainly wasn't spent for the benefit of the "general public" who would quite happily carry on buying supermarket produce wherever it comes from."
Funkii
Not if you knew what was in it. FMD and "clean" animals separated by barbed wire fencing ? (Argentinian
ones - to save you a reply)
Hey, i've been eating diseased meat for 15 years mate!
Remember BSE?
All i'm trying to say is that Farmer's reactions to a crisis in their industry are markedly different when you have a Labour government.
It's fairly well accepted that a good deal of British manufactured meat products produced in the late 1980s and early 1990s contained meat from BSE-infected cattle which causes CJD in humans. It is also fairly well accepted that this was a result of British farmers feeding their cattle with the remains of their ancestors.
The origins of this chapter in British agriculture are well known to anyone who cares to remember. The (Tory) government of the time felt it was serving the competitive needs of agricultural industry by allowing this sort of feed to be widely used. Unfortunately it proved to be disasterously wrong and, perversly, hastened the industry's decline.
The difference, however, is that British (or Welsh?) farmers did not march on Downing Street demanding a public enquiry. NOT ONCE! They never even considered it! In fact, when the link between BSE and CJD was recognised by scientists, they joined the (Tory) government in actively seeking to deny it.
Forgive us for being sceptical when the FFA and assorted friends and acolytes announce the decision to march on Mr Blair's government demanding to know why his Ministry took the advice of the NFU and did everything it could to prop up the remains of their dying industry. For some reason, it doesn't exactly ring true.
Monmouthshire farmer David Handley travelled to the capital on Monday to lead around 600 protesters in a bid to persuade Tony Blair to hold a full and open investigation, rather than three "mini" inquiries. (BBC reports)
Not quite the huge turnout, showing the depth of support for the poor farming community, that was expected, methinks
But at least they were willing to admit their failure: Organisers had expected up to 2,000 protesters to gather in London's Hyde Park to begin the march and admitted they were disappointed by the low turn out. (this one from Ananova, the protestors favourite news server)
<Does believing the protest was not a success really make you that happy Robert?>
Yes, it does, the protest is not about F&M, it is about trying to discredit the democratically elected government of this country, funny how it's the same right wing rabble that tried to hold us all to ransom a year ago with their attempt at depriving us all of fuel and hopefully bringing back the tories.
<Tony Bliar is crapping himself>
Yes I remember this rhetoric too, the PFL were going to rid the country of the Labour government on behalf of the "People". All went wrong though, when the "People" voted them back in again!
<PS been hovering over the delete button for a while>
Oh my, more deja vu, this was your response then as well!!!
