Compassion launches local bus ad campaign – ‘Cows Belong in Fields’
Compassion in World Farming, the world’s leading charity specialising in farm animal welfare, has today (Friday 15th October) appealed to its supporters to raise enough funds by Sunday evening to place adverts on local buses, encouraging the communities surrounding Nocton to oppose proposals for a ‘mega-dairy’.
Hundreds of local residents objected to the initial mega-dairy plans earlier this year, but now that a re-submission of the plans by Nocton Dairies Ltd is imminent, Compassion is encouraging the local communities to,once again, do all they can to contest the plans.
Compassion have set themselves the challenge of raising over £3,000 by this Sunday evening (Sunday 17th October). The buses will roll out with 80 adverts saying, ‘Cows belong in Fields’ and ‘Say no to the Mega-Dairy’ on Monday morning across Lincolnshire.
Nocton Dairies is preparing to submit new plans for its 8,100 cow dairy which would mean the cows would spend most their lives indoors. The proposed operation could have disastrous consequences for animal welfare, the environment and rural livelihoods.
Pat Thomas, Nocton Campaign Manager for Compassion in World Farming, said:
“The proposed mega dairy is a national issue affecting directly the people in Nocton and the surrounding areas. If this huge dairy gets the go-ahead, it could open the floodgates for similar farms all over the UK.
There would be more cows kept indoors for most of their lives than the total number of inhabitants from Nocton and Dunston put together. If you don’t want to see this happening, please support our ‘Cows Belong in Fields’ campaign at: www.cowsbelonginfields.org .”
Compassion in World Farming has also asked its supporters to email their MPs to ask them to attend a briefing at Westminster on 26th October, where they can find out about the threatening implications of mega-dairies and learn how they can take action against factory farming.
The charity also asked its supporters to ensure their MPs vote for fairer food in Parliament on 12th November by voting for two important farming and food bills- to choose fairer farming systems and a future in which industrial developments like Nocton Dairies would have no place.
For more information see http://www.cowsbelonginfields.org/ and http://www.ciwf.org/
Quotes
Bill Oddie, conservationist:
"I think the plan to build a mega-dairy at Nocton is absolutely horrendous and what is so appalling is how this, and factory farming in general, keeps coming back. It represents everything that both Compassion in World Farming and I oppose."
William Roache, actor:
“I simply had to get involved in Compassion in World Farming’s ‘Cows Belong in Fields’ Campaign. The thought of over 8,000 cows being kept indoors for the rest of their lives and treated like products on a factory conveyor belt I find appalling.
I urge everyone, for the sake of our country's future farming and for the welfare of our animals, we have to oppose any plans for a a so-called Mega Dairy in the UK.”
Jo Brand, comedian:
"If we allow the growth of these mega dairies in which up to 8000 cows can be housed, it won't be long before the sight of cows grazing peacefully in a field is a thing of the past.
Farming on such an intensive scale is unhygienic and cruel and making money is their first priority rather than care of livestock. We should do everything we can to stop it."
Zac Goldsmith MP:
"This is a squalid proposal that takes the British dairy industry in entirely the wrong direction. If this factory farm gets the go ahead, it will damage our small farmers, and take farming to a new low.
I urge everyone to support Compassion in World Farming’s ‘Cows Belong in Fields’ campaign and help stop Nocton Dairies.”
Marc Abraham, TV Vet:
"It's a real shame that here in the UK we seem to have reached a point now where our most traditional, beautiful and tranquil farming practices are in danger of being replaced by factory farming.
This kind of farming is an ugly corporate monster of extreme greed at the expense of yet another intelligent sociable animal."
(Source for all above quotes: http://www.ciwf.org.uk/cows_belong_in_fields/default.aspx )
It would be good if you also gave the other side of the argument given by Roger helmer MEP and B. Holt in the 'Your V'iew section of todays Lincs Echo. Roger has taken a lot of abuse from the anti-dairy lobby, but as an elected politician he is taking the big view of benefits to the economy of the region and the security of British food production, not the (quote) "the modest local impact". Good on him for being objective and not giving in to the bully boy tactics.
ReplyDeleteHello Chris, Thanks for your contribution. I can't find 'Your View' on the 'This is Lincolnshire' website and nor do I take the Lincolnshire Echo. But in any case, you may have noticed... my blog isn't about bringing balance to the dairy argument. I am completely opposed to this develpment as you well know! I choose to select articles of personal interest, place the weblinks on my blog for others to read and then comment where I wish to. I will also submit comments to press articles and letters where I feel the need. So may I politely suggest, that if you feel so strongly about this particular issue, you either use your own blog for your alternative argument, or contribute directly to the Lincolnshire Echo discussion. Please don't expect others to do your work for you. Geoff
ReplyDeleteThanks for your reply Geoff. For information, I had a letter published in the Echo last week in respect of the dairy. It does seem strange however that the campaigns you are involved in are allowed to publish the personal details of the farmers involved in the plans and request that they are bombardered with emails and phone calls until they pull out of the scheme, but you dont like alternative comments on your blog. Freedom of speech!!! can be a bit one sided sometimes, which is the point I have been trying to make all along.
ReplyDeleteRegards Chris
Hi Chris, I'm quite happy for alternative views to be placed on my blog... as can be seen with your entry... so I am a firm believer in 'Freedom of Speech'... and I feel rather insulted that you suggest otherwise, as not one contribution has been moderated to date! But I note your particular suggestion was: "It would be good if you also gave the other side of the argument...". I must say you appear to have a rather bizarre understanding of what campaigning is about, if you expect someone in opposition to support the very thing they are trying to oppose. However, I am not going to get into a 'flaming' discussion with you here. If you wish to have a debate about the pros and cons of the proposed dairy (and for the record that is the only campaign I am involved in), I am more than happy to meet you face-to-face. There isn't enough space to do this justice in a 'Comments' section in a blog, nor is it really the appropriate place.
ReplyDeleteBully boy tactics, Chris? 'People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones' comes to mind. Perhaps you should look at Colossians 2:8 and reflect on what you're doing.
ReplyDeleteMr Helmer himself has said he would welcome the opportunity to hear the 'other' side of the story - indicating that he can not as yet be objective.
I am very happy for Mr Hewitt to carry on representing the minority view ... it's good that someone does ... it's a lonely and brave path he treads with 90 - 95% of local people furiously opposed to the proposal for a mega dairy. Keep it up, Chris ... hugely amusing.
ReplyDeleteHere we go - the economy again. Whatever happened to ethics. Inflicting a development like this on a small (or any other community) without their agreement smacks of greed/profit, greed/profit, greed/profit. And if you want to talk about security of supply, factory farms with their overarching dependence on cereal products to feed animals which should eat grass for the greater amount of their diet, this is hardly the way to secure our food supply. Never mind the cruelty to animals in this case selectively bred Holsteins by pushing their productivity beyond reasonable limits. Cows are meant to eat grass and live for the most part in fields; we already inflict great suffering on them by removing their offspring at such a young age so we can drink their milk.
ReplyDeleteI am mystified - "bully boy" tactics? Since when has having an objection to something, and taking the trouble to do something about it, been classed as "bullying"? Anyone who is pro Dairy has the same rights as the rest of us - it is a complete non-argument for Chris Hewitt to resort to this playground vocabulary.
ReplyDeleteInstead, why doesn't he use his time researching the positives of the Dairy proposals (that should not be too challenging as there won't be much evidence to look at)
It saddens me that 3 rich businessmen who are in this for their own gain are managing to divide villages - it is the issues that matter, and it should not become personal. Mr Hewitt is playing right into their hands.
As for the defence of Mr Helmer - if you read his blog, I think you will see that he is more than capable of taking care of himself.
Thanks for the replies to my conversation with Geoff, however have the courage of your convictions and name yourselves please. Then we can have a discussion. One point though, ALL dairy farms rely on cereal supplements for their animals. The will be no-more cereal usage on the Nocton dairy farm (per head) than on a 50 cow dairy farm. Please dont mis-lead more than you have done already. May be my perspective is different because my father, both grandfathers were and my uncle still is a dairy farmer. Many small dairy farms still chain the animals up in small concrete stalls from Nov through to April , where they cannot walk move around turn etc. They lie down and stand up to be milked, then lie down again, and the smell of raw rotting manure spread on the land stinks. Large dairy farms are more healthy, cleaner and the animals have far more freedom. Please dont dream of a chocolate box picture of 'old fashioned ' dairy farming, I can assure you it was not and is not like that. I have not been mislead by anyone I have my own personal experiences to rely on.
ReplyDeleteChris - I long ago stopped dreaming, on most levels. I am well aware of the reality of dairy farming - however, does that mean we have to accept this whether we like it or not & whether we are concerned about our environment? By the way, I am only "anon" because I don't seem to be able to submit a comment any other way (my fault)- I have no problem with anyone knowing my thoughts. We are all grown ups & should be able to agree to disagree.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that you talk about welfare - something CAFFO have never used in their argument against the dairy. No-one seems to counter our environmental/transport/demise of the smaller dairy farm concerns.
You may also be interested to know that CAFFO also have two retired dairy farmers in support of our campaign, both of whom confirm that we have never misled with our statements.
Any misinformation would seem to have come about because of conflicting information from Nocton Dairy. Wouldn't it be better if they had their own website - or maybe they should just hurry up & submit their application.
Their handling of the situation has been abysmal from the start - it is wrong to blame anyone else.
Julie, Potterhanworth
Chris - no matter what your family background may be - you have no experience in setting up or managing a dairy CAFO of 8100 cows - nor does any of your family - and nor do Willes and Barnes. Believe their rather flakey PR if you want to - but don't expect the rest of us to do so.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, I think you are right, the sooner the plans are presented the better. You are also correct that the issue is environmental and transport, and I hope and believe that the resubmission will have tackled the genuine concerns raised last time round (thats now the discussion for this time) However I dont think the small farm problem is an issue that can be blamed on larger dairies. Small farms have been going out of business in droves since 20+ years ago when the government scrapped the milk marketing board. That organisation paid farmers a fair return for their efforts regardless of size. When the market went fully competitive, initially the dairies forced prices down, now it is the supermarkets, all in the intersts of the consumer and competition. The small guys cant compete in this market. Many continue to try in the hope it will recover but many of these, are farmers who only know this way of life. I believe with good monitoring all the environmental and transpoit issues are controllable and will have no effect on life in these villages. I think we need to let the planners, and evironmental agencies set the requirements that the dairy needs to live up too. Of course the bar should be high and the standards we expect should be nothing less than the best. I believe they will achieve, if they dont it wont work and they will have lost a fortune. Do you really want more cheap milk imported from Poland or China? how are their animals looked after?
ReplyDeleteDeborah, all I can say is neither do you. However Barnes and Willes are looking at a unit only 4 times bigger than they currently operate, and maybe the new plans they submit might be less than that. In your opinion what multiplying scale factor are they competent to work with as they currently operate very successfully and healthily at 2 x 2000? The only real concern here is the aquifer everything else is pretty irrelavent and 'Nimby' ish, and the environmental agency will protect that in the planning process. The NFU rebuttal written to MP's is an objective read which challenges most of the opposition points, I'm sure you are not saying they have been conned with flakey PR. Your CAFFO website also brings together lots of objections based on the US dairy models. If you think the effects of a 32,000 head dairy in the US (under their regulations), reduces correctly in scale to the proposed dairy in Nocton (under UK regulations), why is it unreasonable for Willes and Barnes not to be able to argue that their successful farms will scale up to be even cleaner and more evironmentally aware units when the newer technologies they propose are introduced? The only factual evidence that exists is how THEY work at the moment, and to many that is viewed as excellent husbandry and good practise. Lets have the business and Jobs in Lincolnshire.
ReplyDelete