[diggers350] Rural Solidarity

[Xanthe Bevis]

"Not all farmers are agricapitalist bastards"
Many farmers are too busy working from dawn to dusk to notice what campaigns
it is those of us freeloading in the urban complex are requiring support
for! What support are we giving them every single time we munch food not
bought in the local farmers market/off the organic veggie box scheme/from
our allotments? But many have been really positive about anti-gm. As with
all folk, they come in all shapes and sizes. First step to a positive future
is recognising this! Otherwise we give in to those who would rather divide
and rule.

"Let them eat information"
While some in the media are now talking about whether we should see the end
of agriculture (presumably they hope to use other people's countries as vast
farms for our northern european military industrical complex, thus adding to
energy expendend on transport as well as oppression. etc.) and comparing it
with Thatcher pulling the plug on a non-profitable coaling industry, the
saner amongst us are presumably thinking "hm, but we can't eat the products
of the knowledge economy" ... and hoping that the current crisis will give
impetus to a future of sustainable agriculture based around the needs of
local communities. A second agricultural revolution perhaps, heralded
already by the reaction to GM and subsequent expansion of the organic
market?
It had better be, or we really will be eating protein pills.

----- Original Message -----
From: tansy bedford
To: diggers350 at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 2:16 PM
Subject: [diggers350] Rural Solidarity


I've thought about this as well.  People in Devon have been getting fined
for using closed-off lanes.  Folk disregarding quarantines have been
confined to their houses- neighbours have been passing food to them over the
garden walls- and had the inside of their house sprayed with thick
disinfectant- everything including books etc which don't really like being
made wet.
This is because of a survivable disease which reduces yields slightly and
stops export opportunities.  No-one is suggesting a cull of people around
the TB outbreak area.
I still have a problem with supporting people who support hunting and treat
animals as commodities, though.  Not all farmers do, and not all are
agricapitalist bastards, but most have done all right for a lot of years
(right enough they put the hours in)and haven't done a lot to support other
people when they've been having a hard time.  Added to this is the political
inclinations of most of the farmers (not necessarily crofters, farmworkers
or even farm managers, though)being excessively tory etc.   I don't think
extending support to these people as an example of how to behave would be
particularly productive or uplifting for most of us.  So a specific example
approach, rather than blanket support, might be a better idea.


DISCLAIMER:

Use of formerly advanced computing technology does not
imply an endorsement of Western Industrial Civilization.

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