One of the warmest winters on record and bird flu (H5N1 strain) finally infects a holding of 159,000 turkeys. The entire slaughter of the flock was the only option open, considering the risks to the human population. Since January 2003 over 150 people world wide have died of this virus.

The cost of feeding a human population on animal products is far higher in resources than the UK shopper has to pay out for. Just recently a new government website www.direct.gov.uk advises consumers, ‘The production of meat and dairy products has a much bigger effect on climate change and other environmental impacts than that of most grains, pulses and outdoor fruit and vegetables’ Local Green Party officials believe the government is right to concern the public with these important facts but the Green Party wants Ben Bradshaw (Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare) to go further and abolish factory farming.
Spokesperson Joe Cox said “ It is a ludicrous situation that tax payers money is helping to rear intensively farmed animals that inevitably will help lead to the destruction of our environment. Any subsidies made available to farmers through the Single Payment Scheme should be for grain and vegetable products used directly for human consumption. Ideally these should also be grown organically.”
He added “ Inevitably a cull of animals will eventually eradicate this disease as did the cull of sheep, cattle, pigs and goats at the beginning of the millennium to stop Foot and Mouth - but we must recognize that the more we subsidize cruel and intensive methods of farming, the more we also have to pay for the resulting clean-up operations.
Green Party MEP Dr Caroline Lucas has called on the EU to consider an outright ban on factory farming as a way of preventing the further development and spread of deadly bird 'flu - and for the World Health Organization to recommend free-range farming and keeping birds outdoors wherever possible.