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Friday, May 25, 2012

A shit of a day

It sounds a little indelicate, I know, but poo was the abiding theme of the day as we visited dairy farms across Southland. I took photos. Here they are.








6 comments:

Shunda barunda said...

Your photography has really turned to crap lately Robert!!

robertguyton said...

Now that I'm a fat-cat councillor, I've joined the effluent society!

Anonymous said...

Yep. A reality of life. Do you take photos of the effluent plant each time you visit Invercargill?

robertguyton said...

I don't post photos of animal effluent as a criticism of the industry, Anonymous. I found the pattern/colours/texture of the effluent swirling in its tank, very interesting. I'm reluctant to say beautiful - people might think me odd :-)
If I was to post photos of the ponds at the sewerage treatment plant, how do you think people would react?
Of course, if I was on a visit there, as I will be and have been, I would take photos and I would post them. The collection and disposal of human manure has been an interest of mine for years and years and its something I have debated with the Council more than once. I see the systems we use now as inappropriate. I've always favoured disposal to soil rather than water.
I have to challenge your 'reality of life' statement; there has to be shit, but it shouldn't have to be mixed with water the way it commonly is around this part of the world.

Anonymous said...

Doesn't human effluent contain heavy metals? How long can you apply it to land before you ruin it? Not a criticism. Genuine question.

robertguyton said...

Yes, and other things that threaten the soil and water environment, like pharmaceuticals. Animals have those too, of course. Tiger worms do a great cleaning up a lot of things from human and animal manure, but the more important thing to do would be to stop those substances going in at the beginning, or at least separate them out from the rest. What it would take, Anonymous, is a significant change of behaviour from society with us taking real responsibility for our own waste, which of course, would suddenly become a valuable resource. That's what i think about.