Thursday, April 15, 2004
I'm very pleased. I've been getting regular updates via email from the Green Party about the (presumably) upcoming election. It's one of those things that the more I read, the more I really think that they offer by far the best solution to the country's problems. Like I've said before, I don't think they should actually form the government, but I'd be pleased as punch if they got a handful of seats in the house in order to force discussion and offer real alternatives to real problems. (Before I lose all of you...the sens won! This means my productivity is destined to take continued hits through the next week atleast!)
(From a news release)The Green Party of Canada is calling for a re-evaluation of the poultry industry, by linking avian flu compensation to the promotion of more diverse, humane, and economically sound farming
practices, said Green Party deputy leader Andrew Lewis today.
19 million chickens in the Fraser Valley will be slaughtered by the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency, because of the avian flu threat. The federal
and provincial governments are now considering public compensation to
support the industry during these devastating times.
"Before we give away a dime of taxpayer money, we first need an
alternative to intensive factory farming in the Fraser Valley that directly
contributed to the avian flu threat. Taxpayers, organic small farms and 19 million
chickens will pay the price if governments proceed with their short-sighted
compensation plans", said Lewis, Green Party Deputy Leader.
With 80% of B.C.'s poultry in the Fraser Valley, de-clawed,
de-beaked, cooped 10,000 to the barn in some cases, and fed antibiotics, it is
inevitable that poultry immune response systems will be compromised, and that
epidemics such as flu will spread farm to farm in such a small geographic area.
"It's time for the Canadian government to ask whether the corporate
health of Colonel Saunders comes first or the health of Canadians", said Lewis.
The concerns of the Green Party are that compensation without
promoting change will lead to a further loss of genetic diversity in poultry,
increased density in cages, increased concentration in the Fraser Valley, and further
taxpayer costs when the industry needs to be bailed out next time. Lewis said,
"this is an opportunity to diversify poultry farming, break the unhealthy
concentration in the Valley and support local economies across B.C with locally
produced, humanely raised chickens and eggs".
***
Seems like a pretty reasonable approach if you ask me!
Anyways, I think a bunch of you are having your last exams today! Best of luck to everyone!
(From a news release)The Green Party of Canada is calling for a re-evaluation of the poultry industry, by linking avian flu compensation to the promotion of more diverse, humane, and economically sound farming
practices, said Green Party deputy leader Andrew Lewis today.
19 million chickens in the Fraser Valley will be slaughtered by the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency, because of the avian flu threat. The federal
and provincial governments are now considering public compensation to
support the industry during these devastating times.
"Before we give away a dime of taxpayer money, we first need an
alternative to intensive factory farming in the Fraser Valley that directly
contributed to the avian flu threat. Taxpayers, organic small farms and 19 million
chickens will pay the price if governments proceed with their short-sighted
compensation plans", said Lewis, Green Party Deputy Leader.
With 80% of B.C.'s poultry in the Fraser Valley, de-clawed,
de-beaked, cooped 10,000 to the barn in some cases, and fed antibiotics, it is
inevitable that poultry immune response systems will be compromised, and that
epidemics such as flu will spread farm to farm in such a small geographic area.
"It's time for the Canadian government to ask whether the corporate
health of Colonel Saunders comes first or the health of Canadians", said Lewis.
The concerns of the Green Party are that compensation without
promoting change will lead to a further loss of genetic diversity in poultry,
increased density in cages, increased concentration in the Fraser Valley, and further
taxpayer costs when the industry needs to be bailed out next time. Lewis said,
"this is an opportunity to diversify poultry farming, break the unhealthy
concentration in the Valley and support local economies across B.C with locally
produced, humanely raised chickens and eggs".
***
Seems like a pretty reasonable approach if you ask me!
Anyways, I think a bunch of you are having your last exams today! Best of luck to everyone!
# posted by Greg @ 5:09 AM 
