Opposition to the UKs largest pig farm is possible and to be encouraged on the grounds of questionable control of methane gas and other emissions, animal welfare, human health in the vicinity and on a global scale. However - we must not neglect the overriding question: are we happy to sit and watch our independent farmers be outcompeted by giant US style factory farms under our noses?
Although the petition deadline was yesterday, there is hope still for those who wish to register an objection to the proposed 2,500 sow unit in Foston, Derbyshire. On the 27th July the planning officer Tim Dening will meet with the rest of the Planning Comittee and before then we will be providing each and every one of the elected members with a DVD of the film Pig Business - the film that reveals the true cost of cheap pork for people, pigs and planet.
Animal welfare, environmental damage and zoonoses aside, the future loss of local jobs and the accompanying destruction of rural economies (not a new pattern) is the impact that will have greatest long term effect in the locality, but also across the UK. When all our independent farmers are outcompeted by cheap homegrown and imported pork (save for the 'luxury - ethical' minority market) it will be too late to reverse the trend of casualised labour, pigs raised indoors as standard, overuse of antibiotics and the further disconnection of our lives with our food.
To some extent it has already happened, we buy prepackaged pork with no thought of where it comes from or how it was produced but that is the product of factory farm thinking, i.e. If people don't know, they won't care. What we are seeing in the current uprising in Foston is a recognition of where farming is heading and a realisation that we have to make our choices now before it is too late.
So if you are a resident of Forston, a keen campaigner or an interested individual - watch pigbusiness for free on our website www.pigbusiness.co.uk it provides information on the rise and spread of intensive pig farming from the US across the world and the impact of this change on local economies, the environment, the animals and all of us as farmers, citizens and consumers.
Armed with information we can ask our elected representatives to take the future of our jobs, our health and our planet into account, not just the interests of the corporations who will be making money and taking it out of the local economy.

"Consultation period now closed: an amazing 1,700+ people objected. Thank you! The consultation closed on the 30 June 2010, and we await the outcome."
-viva