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Re: British Beef Situation



 
In article <4kq15o$qpk@zeus.intellinet.com>, Bob Yates (byates19@pop.intellinet.com) writes:
>>It'll give people jobs and the beasts won't have to suffer.

>Sounds like a good ideal, take some of these people that are not
>performing worthwhile work and put them to work on the farm to replace 
>mechanical labor.  I can just see how that would go over with the Crips.

I'm English and don't really know much about gang mentality. But
they are probably not the best choice. It will, I feel, only happen
through people who want to do it when they want to do it. There's
no use trying to convince people of things they're not interested
in is there! 

>>They do it in India, why not elsewhere?

>Seems like they are manufacturing tractors and other farm machines in 
>India now.

Of course, but are still using a very large amount of bullocks. The
dairy industry is big there and very few people eat beef (if
any because the cow is considered sacred by most). I have spent time
in India and am working with a colleague who has recently returned
>from  a six month research period there. There is no doubt that
animal draft is performs a very high proportion of the tillage. 

>>Obviously it couldn't be done overnight. There probably aren't many
>>farmers who would give up their warm tractor cabs for a bullock
>>cart. But it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

>Of course you would be willing to put in the 10-12 hours a day on a farm. 
>High heat, humidity, hard manual labor, no thank you I have done it and 
>much prefer working my keyboard.

I have been a farm labourer since the age of 14 and so I know
exactly what you're talking about. It is young mans work. But
there may be a time in the not to distant future when we have no
choice. 

>>A thought for the future/sustainability/employment and the
>>re-vitalising of rural economy.

>What percentage of the population would have to be working on the farm?  
>How many more acres would have to be plowed under?
>How do we reduce the population to the level that can be carried by the 
>land?  Biological agents? Nuclear war? 

Interesting questions. Very pertinent questions. I, in all humility
cannot answer them. 

The only reply I can give is that.............

The process of life is spontaneous and that evolution seems to be a
gradual and cumulative process. I like to use the analogy of a
beautiful lotus flower growing out of the filth. Humans who choose to
follow the paths of self-destruction will get what they want. Humans
who choose to follow the path of life, of evolution.... will get
carried through. 

It seems to me things happen as a manifestation of our desire.  There
are people who do desire to use animal power for tillage.  Although
they are not necessarily in a position to do it. I want to do it
and I have many friends who want to do it too. We are all
connected to the land in some way or other and are by no means
ignorant of the harsh world of modern farming. But we have vision
which transcends the tunnel vision of the so-called economists. We
also have the will power to do something. We couldn't be accused
of sitting on our behinds all day waffling about things we don't
understand. 

Many people throughout history were thought of as mad by those who
feared them and they mostly turned out to be the most significant
people in history (all the major prophets for example). I am
honoured that Oz thinks me a fool. I consider it a compliment. 

The use of horses is still alive in England and there are too many
enthusiasts for it to die. 

Since the BSE scare intelligent people are really starting to
think more about agriculture. They are considering organic
agriculture much more and there have been countless extremely
positive articles in the quality newspapers pointing out the
benefits of a more ecologically considerate agriculture. 

It is impossible to cover all aspects of this subject as it is
impossible for a single human to build a city. We are all parts of
one single organism and the the light of that I humbly put forward
my aspect of the whole.

 
 



David Libby:  112 Kedleston Rd, Derby, DE22 1FW, England
Tel: 01332 736775, Fax too but please ring first.





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