National Farmers Strike Today!
a farmer | 23.08.2002 10:10
Farmers For Action call a national strike
Farmers For Action have called for a national strike by UK food producers on Friday 23rd August. The strike will commence at 12 midnight, Thursday 22nd August and run through until midnight of the 23rd August. By calling the strike, the group intends to highlight the disastrous situation that is now surrounding British food production.
The group is calling on all farmers in the UK and Ireland to abide by the strike, and not to sell any product produced on their farm within the 24-hour period. This includes dairy farmers, livestock farmers, egg producers, fruit, vegetable and arable farmers. They are also asking all livestock and Farmers Markets not to operate on this day.
The strike has the support of the president of the British Pig Association, the chairman of the Irish National Sheep Association and the Northern Ireland Branch of the UK Beef Association. The strike is also supported by the Green Party and Grassroots Action for Food and Farming, an organisation which works with farmers to oppose the increasing corporate control of the food system. But James Pavitt of the National Association of Farmers Markets has said that farmers markets will not close as they are some of the few places where producers can get a fair price for their produce.
Farmers For Action argue that ‘no one at present appears to be listening to what is happening to British food production.’ They predict that ‘if we do not bring awareness to the general public, government and all other bodies that represent farming, our industry will be extinct by 2010.’ The group have vowed that ‘if we are not listened to we intend to escalate this action over the coming months.’ Plans are already afoot for action throughout the autumn and winter period.
Contact the Farmers For Action Office: Tel 01291 690224 Fax 01291 690984 Mobile 077111 94947 www.farmersforaction.org Email
secretary@farmersforaction.org
Farmers For Action have called for a national strike by UK food producers on Friday 23rd August. The strike will commence at 12 midnight, Thursday 22nd August and run through until midnight of the 23rd August. By calling the strike, the group intends to highlight the disastrous situation that is now surrounding British food production.
The group is calling on all farmers in the UK and Ireland to abide by the strike, and not to sell any product produced on their farm within the 24-hour period. This includes dairy farmers, livestock farmers, egg producers, fruit, vegetable and arable farmers. They are also asking all livestock and Farmers Markets not to operate on this day.
The strike has the support of the president of the British Pig Association, the chairman of the Irish National Sheep Association and the Northern Ireland Branch of the UK Beef Association. The strike is also supported by the Green Party and Grassroots Action for Food and Farming, an organisation which works with farmers to oppose the increasing corporate control of the food system. But James Pavitt of the National Association of Farmers Markets has said that farmers markets will not close as they are some of the few places where producers can get a fair price for their produce.
Farmers For Action argue that ‘no one at present appears to be listening to what is happening to British food production.’ They predict that ‘if we do not bring awareness to the general public, government and all other bodies that represent farming, our industry will be extinct by 2010.’ The group have vowed that ‘if we are not listened to we intend to escalate this action over the coming months.’ Plans are already afoot for action throughout the autumn and winter period.
Contact the Farmers For Action Office: Tel 01291 690224 Fax 01291 690984 Mobile 077111 94947 www.farmersforaction.org Email
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a farmer
Homepage:
http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/news/farmers_strike.htm
Comments
Hide the following 6 comments
Yes, but...
23.08.2002 12:44
Which seems to me to sit strangely with Farmers For Action's objective to:
"Raise environmental issues, such as the costs to the environment of the unnecessary transportation of food over long distances."
They didn't seem that concerned about the environment last time around, when all they bleated on about was cheap fuel.
food eater
Don't trust em
23.08.2002 13:06
And anyway, all they are arguing for, it seems, is a bigger chunk of the profits for themselves. Hardly radical.
But what can you expect from a group of people responsible for the environmental wastelands caused by monocultural farming, pesticides, growth hormones, GMOs, BSE, etc etc etc
air breather
Don't be so harsh
23.08.2002 14:10
FFA might be naive at times, but they are genuine people fighting for a decent living and have proven to be more than willing to engage with the left, namely Corporate Watch. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and support them in their strike, instead of being narrowly ideological and urban in our approach.
Dan
ever heard of:
23.08.2002 16:20
yippee
ok, point taken, but...
23.08.2002 18:38
I would agree that solidarity with struggling toilers of the soil would be great, but not unconditional support. I really can't trust a movement which is bound to be filled with reactionary countryside alliance types, and farmers involved in some pretty heavy animal cruelty.
But in the spirit of dialogue and urban/rural solidarity in the face of corporate exploitation of both producers and consumers, I'll contact the FFA and ask them a few questions. Report back later. Expect they are quite busy at the moment, pouring hormone-enhanced milk down the drain.
No, no, sorry, I couldn't help it. I really will contact them. They can't all be bad.
air breather
Like all people
24.08.2002 00:02
I think the FFA represents honest farmers like my family. The National Farmers' Union, dominated by industrial farmers, is angry at the fact that FFA is stealing the show. But the fact is that the FFA is the only group of farmers that stands for local production for local need, quality produce over profiteering and local communities over the free-market.
My support is for the FFA trouble-makers, not the NFU government stooges.
Dan