check the ** cumbria news and star** try the link

Foot and Mouth has spread throughout the area, and now the government has declared all sheep and pigs within a 3km radius of an infected site are to be slaughtered - which is literally everything. As suicide rates among farmers soar and we watch our local economy collapse the only hope I can possibly have is that this 'under control' situation may at least spark some form of review of intensive farming methods.

 http://www.farmersforaction.fsnet.co.uk/

This situation is out of control. This is one of the most immoral campagins I have ever heard of in the so-called 'developed world.'

The English government is treating all of these perfectly healthy animals like they were blocks of granite or sea shells or something. To my mind this is just completely inhuman.

These animals have allied themsleves to the human race for thousands of years. To my mind there is a bargain between us and our animals: they provide us with sustenance, clothing, shelter, wealth, warmth, and companionship; we provide them with food, care, and protection. Our domesticated animals, particularly livestock, have literally entrusted the human race with their lives and the very survival of their species and I believe we have an obligation to uphold our end of the bargain, to act as responsible stewards and as allies. Where would we be? Where would the human race be without these animals? Would we even exist? I think the question is at least arguable.

We have a responsiblity not just to be HUMANE but to be HUMAN towards our allies and helpmates in this world. The activies going on the countryside at this very minute are not "inhumane", they are "inhuman". This whole campaign is monsterous. I have had trouble even comprehending what is going on out there.

These are dark, dark days in the lands of 'civilization.'

I agree with the above posting, we are treating living breathing creatures like a disposable product, past it's sell-by date. The suffering of these animals is incomprehensible, but I get the feeling 'SOMEONE' is trying to provoke us to the limit, like bear-baiting, to INCITE an uprising that will justify the Martial Law, which seems to already be in force.

that is, jim 'scud-amore' chief vetinary 'can ye do owt, mr herriot ?' anyway, chek out alt news site www.commondreams for more updates

Is burning the bodies of these animals safe?

I understand the virus can be spread in the wind.

Tossing an animal on a pyre does not immediately burn it. Are they disinfected first?

Could heat from a pyre bear the virus aloft, the heat carrying it up into higher air, putting it on the wind?

I think its a fair question to ask.

While in principle I agree with the point put earlier that we need to treat animals humanely, there are a few points that seem to have been missed.

First: Animals can and do die from foot and mouth. It's a painful way to go.

Secondly: Foot and mouth is amongst the most contagious diseases currently in existance. As it can literally be spread by a touch, or blown many kilometers on the wind, unchecked there is nothing to stop it spreading far and wide across the entire country.

Thirdly: I live in Cumbria, have for all of my life, and while not a farmer myself I do keep sheep and am a member of the local community. I have strong friendships with many farmers, and I know they would be happy for me to say this: the vast majority of farmers are fully in favour of the proposed cull. They are not happy about it, understandably, but they will support any measures needed to prevent the spread of this disease. It is not 'inhumane' to slaughter on a large scale to prevent foot and mouth spreading, rather it would be 'inhuman' not to take every measure available to combat the disease. This outbreak has the potential to inflict misery and suffering on an even greater number of cloven hoofed animals in this country, and indeed across the world. We have a duty to prevent it's spread. Can we perhaps imagine the problems if the disease were passed on to areas less able to control it? Look at Saudi Arabia, for instance. If the vast majority of farmers want anything it is the resources and the aid to speed up slaughter and disposal times.

Finally: It it a minority, and a very vocal minority, who are vehemently opposing the proposed cull. I fully believe, as someone who has lived in the country all of my life, that they do so in order to further their political gain, and do not do so out of a sense of duty towards their animals and the local communities which stand to be devestated. I am not willing to watch the farming community in this country be painted as a group of rabid reactionaries, who are willing to disregard any wide view of welfare and crises management in order to gain politivcal clout for other issues.

I am fully in support of reviews of the intensive methods of farming used in this country, which I feel have contributed significantly to the scale of the problem. I firmly agree that animal welfare should be at the top of the farming agenda. The time to discuss, react and, if necessary, protest about these issues is not now. The last thing the communities affected by the foot and mouth outbreak need now is more angst and tension, as I'm sure you can apprecicate.

If anyone wants to discuss and/or flame me, please do at:

 ohuzi@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks.

The time has come, to set all the cloven beasts free, to roam amidst hills and dales. To live until old age and die a natural death. Turn the fields over to crops, corn, wheat, maize and fruit orchards. An abundance is at our fingertips, if we utilise the land sensibly. We are the custodians of Earth and it’s animals, not their owners.

Ye can Cull us, but ye canny tak oor freedom!

American activists seem to think this is a conspiracy to destroy small farmers and ensure all food production is controlled by multi-nationional food corporations. What do you think?

is precisely what its about...