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April 17, 2001 I had to write this letter as I am outraged over the handling of the Foot and Mouth epidemic in the U.K. Pass it on if you like and write to your MP or the RSPCA or the National Farmer's Union or whomever. I have sent this letter to Martin Bell, Andrew Dickson at WSPA, the Observer and the RSPCA c/o Peter Davies, Director General RSPCA, Causeway, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1HG. Just thought I'd share my anger with you ... --------------------------- Over the past several months I have been working with Andrew Dickson and the folks at WSPA as a spokesperson for the work of the organization. I am a great believer in the principal that as we regard our animals and their welfare, we regard ourselves. One reflects the other and no single issue brings that principal more sharply into focus than the abominable handling of the Foot and Mouth epidemic by the government & scientific community acting as lackeys for agribusiness. Meanwhile, the death toll climbs well over a million with no end in sight. Did you read David Rose's investigative piece in the Sunday Observer. 15/4/01 (front section pp 14-15) "I want to scream with rage at this" ? Finally, someone has come out to say it the way it is. Immunization would have been a solution. And why wasn't or isn't it being used? In simple terms, it has been "proclaimed" that in order to maintain "disease free" status U.K., slaughter is the ONLY effective way of controlling the spread of Foot and Mouth; and any further solution...is more killing. What we see now is that the real "disease" is disinformation spread by the hot air of a government more concerned with mollifying the NFU and big business; protecting its 'image' and getting re-elected than in risking its mandate on behalf of the welfare of its people and their animals. This mindless slaughter of animals plays directly into the hands of a select sector of the U.K. economy; agribusiness. Not only will hundreds and hundreds of thousands of animals be needlessly murdered (FMD is NOT a life-threatening disease) but this genocide, sponsored by the government, will have an ultimately devastating effect on the farmer and his family and on ALL of our way of life ... meaning the FUTURE. If a stronger and more forceful position is not taken NOW, surely one of the more important and defining benchmarks of this or any civilized society will have been lost. Even as so many of our societal values continue to erode, the question is begged; "Where is the line to be drawn between "free", profit-motivated enterprise and the long range health and welfare of the public at large?" It would seem, for the moment, that 稽indless slaughter has given us the answer. That we have tolerated the self-serving BLAH, BLAH from "experts" and government "spokes-persons" and allowed this genocide to continue is (forgive me) "un-fucking-believable". We are the sheep. We are victims in waiting. This travesty is a metaphor for the inurement we so-called citizens demonstrate to any part of society that doesn't specifically affect "me". As we demand so little on behalf of our neighbors (or animals), we demand the same for ourselves. By default we allow choices that serve the selfish interests of big business to control our lives and our destiny. (... and treat a sheep or a cow in a manner the RSPCA wouldn't stand for, were it someoneｹs dog). More disturbing perhaps than anything, is the silence. In it, we, the people, become as much the perpetrator as the victim. By remaining silent, we determine what is important to us and our society as a whole. Like the "good German" who knew what was happening to his Jewish neighbor but didn't want to get involved because it wasn't his concern, we put on our blinders and follow the herd to the pyres because like the "good little sheep" we are, 'THEY' (the scientists, big business and the government) know better. It is time to stand and be counted. I hope we have the guts.
Yours sincerely, |