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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Federated Farmers threatens lagoon's future

Who could have predicted the response from the Federated Farmers to news that the Waituna lagoon was under immediate threat from the effects of farming in the catchment?
Who would have expected the Federation to say, hang on, let's not be hasty, taihoa?
Who could have seen that they'd challenge the science that's saying that the lagoon is on the brink of flipping and requires immediate intervention to save the internationally recognised lagoon from system collapse?
Who in Southland, would have expected to read in today's newspaper that Federated Farmers 'co-spokesperson for water and the Resource Management Act' David Rose  wants the science that describes the state of the estuary peer-reviewed.
No-one I imagine, least of all me.
I expected the Feds to be as anxious as the rest of us, to quickly solve the looming issue of the endangered lagoon, swing in behind efforts to make changes to ensure it didn't flip and become a stinking, muddy wasteland. But no, it seems, we should challenge the science instead, delay actions to arrest the decline, procrastinate instead of activate, fiddle while Rome burns.
This is a block-headed, self-serving response from Federated Farmers that endangers a very precious eco-system and the reputation, such as it was, of the Federated Farmers in Southland.

14 comments:

PM of NZ said...

And if the 'science' had not been challenged we might be still stuck with climate change.

robertguyton said...

Scientist eh PM! Whadda they know!!
Those scientists employed by the regional council that have been intensively testing the lagoon for years now - them and their fancy-pants "science degrees" and "experience in the field" - ha! We know better! The Feds can tell at a glance that those young whipper-snappers wouldn't know a eutrophic lagoon from an effluent pond and so could you PM!
Science - it's for namby-pamby liberals!
Time! We've got yards of it.!
Eh.

Pauline said...

Constantly Federated Farmers and their members assure us they are environmentalist who are not interested in stuffing up their own back ..BUT reality who constantly interferes with those appointed to look after the environment to assure it is not stuffed up.

It would be nice if just once FF and their members would be honest and say we really don't give a stuff as to the environment problems we cause we primly in our farming business to make money and if the environment gets stuffed up from our farming practices well tough its all a case of collateral damageto make a profit .

robertguyton said...

Hard hitting Pauline!

I wish you'd gone to their meeting the other night. People are being so civil - perhaps it's time for some vitriol to bve applied to the truculent!

KjT said...

Typical Federated Farmers.
Climate change denying polluting clodhoppers.

Any one who thinks farmers are interested in more than the next dollar should have a look at the state of our rivers.
FF claiming concern for the environment is a joke.

The only farms I've seen around Northland that take any notice of environmental requirements are the ones managed by Fonterra itself.

robertguyton said...

It's the same from the south to the north KjT?
That's sobering.

Pauline said...

Robert I would be no good at the meeting ...I couldn't keep my mouth shut :) I would be evicted now wouldn't that be embarrassing :)

robertguyton said...

I'd block the door so they couldn't get you through Pauline, and in the meantime you could continue your soliloquy :-)

Piwakawaka said...

The refusal to accept science, and to challenge it is a tactic long-used by NZ's commercial fishing industry - and this is no different from the Feds.

I have worked alongside the feds for many years through a variety of issues and topics, and the constant vitriol, attacks, lies and aggression have staggered me, and frankly, no longer surprise me. I also have many farmer friends who refuse to join them, because of their dinosaur-like attitudes to the environment. It's no wonder their membership is dropping.

So tell me, how come the Feds, with a mere 20 000 members get so much airplay and 'power', when an outfit like Forest & Bird with 70 000 members has to push hard to even be heard?

Piwakawaka said...

Oh and by the way, i saw "River Dog" this weekend - if you haven't had a chance to see it, make the time! beautifully shot, told by a farmer, about the destruction of a river by cattle, and the heartbreaking and exhausting efforts he and his dogs make to keep them off it every day.
http://blog.greens.org.nz/2011/03/18/governments-dumb-dirty-dairying-solution/

robertguyton said...

Piwaiwaka - that's a very interesting point of view you've presented there - mind if I lift it and post it?
The fishing industry you touch on is another which has huge question-marks over it - sustainable fishery is a phrase that send shivers down my spine. I wionder if you've seen the film about the Antarctic toothfish and the Ross sea yet? Chilling.
I now want to see the film you mention, 'River Dogs'. Sounds depressing and realistic all at the same time by there's a need for sobering reality to give us all a kick into action. Hope they never have to make one about the Waituna Lagoon.

Piwakawaka said...

Hi Robert, what part did you mean? you're welcome to press on with any of my opinions! ; )

Piwakawaka said...

oh and apologies for the double-postings, but this was the link i wanted to send through for "River Dog" http://riverdogfilm.com/riverdogfilm.com/River_Dog_Home.html

get them to bring it down South!

robertguyton said...

Thanks Piwakawaka (piwaiwaka down here in Kai Tahu country.