Category: Environmental

Danish Government Makes Progress ?, Whilst UK (COP26) Government Cops Out On Imposing A Meat Tax and Promoting Plant Based Diets.

WAV Comment:

The Danish government are no friends of ours. 

Mass mink murderers; mass murderers of marine mammals in the Faroe islands; take a look:

Search Results for “denmark mink” – World Animals Voice

Search Results for “faroe islands” – World Animals Voice

Also, never having even been polite enough to respond to our letter to the Danish ambassador in London re the mass mink murders:

Denmark: Still No Response From The Danes Regarding Our Letter of 12/11/20. That’s Life – Or Death, If You Are Danish Mink ! – World Animals Voice

And as of today, 22/10/21 we still have never had any response back.

Now we hear (and welcome) the following; ? something for the British government to take note on – see below for more;

Regards Mark

Denmark announces 1 billion kroner for plant-based foods in historic climate agreement

The Danish government has announced over 1.25 billion kroner (€168 million) in funding to advance plant-based foods, as part of an unprecedented climate agreement for food and agriculture.

The Danish government has announced over 1.25 billion kroner (€168 million) in funding to advance plant-based foods, as part of an unprecedented climate agreement for food and agriculture. This funding is the largest investment in plant-based research and development by any EU country to date. 

The agreement, endorsed by all major parties in the Parliament, acknowledges that plant-based foods must be a “central element in the green transition” and commits the government to creating a national action plan for plant-based food with clear targets for production and sales.

Research by Oxford University shows that the world cannot meet its climate targets without shifting away from conventional animal agriculture. Moving to plant-based meat could reduce climate emissions by up to 90% compared with farming animals.

Under the new agreement, Denmark will create a Fund for Plant-based Food Products, providing 675 million Danish kroner (€90 million) over nine years to support product development and promotion. 

For farmers, a five-year Plant-based Eco-scheme will pay 580 million Danish kroner (€78 million) in bonuses to those who grow plant-based protein crops for human consumption. 

An existing EU-funded scheme, which provides funding for “environmental technology”, will be expanded to include processing equipment for plant-based foods.

The government will also devise a strategy for “green proteins” for animals and humans, backed by 260 million Danish kroner (€35 million) over five years. This funding is likely to support fermentation-made proteins and cultivated meat (grown from cells), as well as animal feed.

Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl, secretary general of the Vegetarian Society of Denmark, said: “It is groundbreaking that we will have a national action plan for plant-based foods with specific objectives, and that Denmark will invest more than 1 billion kroner in this area. This is one of the largest amounts that any country has invested in plant-based development. 

“This agricultural agreement will create thousands of jobs in the plant-based sector. If more funds are set aside later as part of the ongoing negotiations over research investment, we could see tens of thousands of new jobs.”

Acacia Smith, policy manager at the Good Food Institute Europe, said: “With this announcement, Denmark has recognised the huge potential of sustainable proteins to drive down agricultural emissions, and established itself as Europe’s biggest public investor in plant-based innovation. 

“As they prepare for COP26, governments around the world should be factoring plant-based and cultivated meat into their climate plans. If they are serious about meeting the Paris Agreement and building strong, green economies, they must follow Denmark’s lead and invest in bringing sustainable proteins to consumers’ plates.” 

Denmark announces 1 billion kroner for plant-based foods in historic climate agreement – GFI Europe

Meanwhile; in the UK; where COP26 is being held and so very promoted by the UK government; it seems like some information was released (spilled out) when it should not have been – read on::

Plan that suggested meat tax to help people go vegan swiftly deleted

A meat tax should be brought in to tackle climate change and help people move towards a vegan diet, experts have told the Government.

A model for increasing the price of ‘high-carbon foods’ was drawn up for ministers exploring ways to combat rising global temperatures.

The paper was seen by The Telegraph when it was published by mistake on Wednesday morning before it was removed soon after.

The plan was drawn up by the Business department’s Behavioural Insights Unit, known as the ‘nudge unit’.

The recommendations included giving shoppers vegan recipes when they buy new pots and pans and offering students cooking classes that avoid high-carbon foods.

Other solutions included increasing the ‘relative availability’ of plant-based food and providing children with ‘sustainable defaults’ in schools.

But the Government has insisted it has no plans to carry any of these suggestions out, saying the document is an ‘academic research paper, not government policy’.

‘We have no plans whatsoever to dictate consumer behaviour in this way,’ a spokesperson said.

Researchers went on to say that Brits’ hearts and minds could be better won over if the action was directed at farmers instead of consumers.

This ‘bold policy’ would impose a carbon tax on producers of red meat – beef, lamb and mutton.

But experts worry this would just welcome competition from producers which export into the UK that would not be subject to the same environmentally friendly or welfare laws as British farmers.

Indeed, Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton Kevin Hollinrake said: ‘Most livestock farmers, most hill farmers are break-even at best.

‘You start putting taxes on them, and they are out of business…It will not only hit farming, it will devastate communities.’

The Government stressed a meat or dairy tax was not part of its Net Zero strategy – a goal for the UK to cut carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050 which was set out on Wednesday.

Boris Johnson plans to do this with other consumer-directed measures, including phasing out petrol and diesel cars and replacing boilers with low-carbon electric heat pumps.

The Treasury has warned this could cost the UK £37 billion a year but business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told Times Radio: ‘The cost of inaction actually could be greater than actually doing things’.

‘Metro’ – London.

Paper calling for meat tax to help people go vegan swiftly deleted | Metro News

I have one thing to say to both the UK, and the Danish murdering governments

Regards Mark

UK: Viva! – THREE ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE FOR COP26.

THREE ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE FOR COP26

The world’s leaders are meeting in Glasgow for COP26 this November. They are supposed to be tackling the climate crisis – and yet the world’s governments are not addressing animal agriculture, a driving force behind the climate catastrophe.

Governments will only act if the public demands change. We need to show people, the media and world leaders that we can’t fix climate change without diet change.

1. Join us at the Global March for Climate Justice in Glasgow
March with us for animals and climate justice.

Where: Meet us in Glasgow at An Clanchon Cafe, G3 7LH
When: 6 November, 11am

(19) Viva! at Glasgow Climate March | Facebook

2. Represent Viva! at your local climate march
If you can’t make it to Glasgow, represent Viva! at your local march on 6 November. There are climate marches taking place across the UK, from Brighton to Newcastle, and you’re bound to live near a march!

Get in touch to represent Viva! and we’ll provide you with a striking banner and leaflets.

Saturday 6 November: Join Us – Blog | Viva! The Vegan Charity

3. Sign our End Factory Farming letter
Sign our letter calling on the Government to End Factory Farming Before It Ends Us. This is your last chance before we hand our letter in to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and COP26 President Alok Sharma.

End factory farming – Go Vegan Now! | Viva! The Vegan Charity

WE NEED YOU!
Join us in Glasgow, York, Leeds and Liverpool from 1 – 6 November.
Volunteers make a huge difference in terms of how many people we’re able to reach. Have a look at all our events and join us to stand for the animals and planet! 

Regards Mark

Learn something new every day

Preparing a woodpecker for winter.

First he finds a dead tree and starts making holes for the acorns. Each hole is made very thoughtfully, because if the hole is large, other birds can easily steal the acorn.
If the hole is narrow, the nut can break and deteriorate.

By the end of summer, the woodpecker’s “jewelry” work ends, by this time the acorns ripen and take their places in the tree. The trunk of a large tree can hold about 50,000 acorns, allowing the bird a satisfying winter.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/317996143436688/

I don’t know about you friends, but I had no idea about it.
And now I am very happy with the thought that the many nuts that I cleared off the road and put in the forest might have contributed to the construction of a woodpecker
You learn something different every day…

My best regards to all, Venus

Unprecedented operation on La Palma: rescue of the dogs trapped in the lava with drones

Emergency services have discovered dogs trapped in the middle of the lava flows of the Cumbre Vieja on the Spanish island of La Palma.
The overland route to the animals is cut off by volcanic activity. Helpers now take care of the four-legged friends from the air by drone.

The Cabildo de La Palma thanked two local companies, Ticom Soluciones and Volcanic Life, who had been using a drone to transport food and water for the animals trapped by the lava in the Todoque plateau for five days.

The Councilor for Security and Emergencies, Nieves Rosa Arroyo, said in a statement that this situation was discovered five days ago and that after the relevant security studies were carried out, Ticom Soluciones SL. and Volcanic Life were entrusted with the task of supplying water with the help of drones.

The city councilor also highlighted the work of these companies, which selflessly made themselves available for emergencies and whose work was of fundamental importance in locating and caring for the animals.

📌El agua y la comida está garantizada a los animales atrapados en Todoque

➡️Las empresas Ticom Soluciones S.L y Volcanic Life llevan cinco días alimentando a los animales mediante un dron que transporta comida y agua

🧷Más info: https://t.co/5D3qMjOFhb#MásFuertesQueElVolcán pic.twitter.com/SFaS8sr2AF

Cabildo de La Palma (@CabLaPalma) October 12, 2021

They also have veterinary advice on how to choose the most appropriate feed and water supply in this type of situation.

Both companies have announced that they will continue this work as long as weather and safety conditions permit, as these areas cannot be reached by land due to the high temperatures near the lava flows.

The steering committee of the Volcanic Emergency Plan of the Canary Islands (Pevolca), once received the formal request for rescue of the dogs trapped in the exclusion zone by the eruption and after analyzing the action plan presented by the entity, has decided to authorize the possible rescue of animals with drones

Leales.org points out that more than two tons of the latest technology worth 60,000 euros have been transferred to La Palma.

There are three drones, one of cargo for the transfer of materials or rescue of the dogs, another drone with a 30x camera to scan the area and verify the safety of the operation, and the third is a specific drone with a thermal camera to know which is the route where there is less heat, in addition to the study of the terrain.

https://www.mallorca-services.es/drohne-bringt-futter-und-wasser-zu-den-von-lava-eingeschlossenen-tieren-auf-la-palma/

https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/lapalmaahora/autoridades-dan-luz-verde-rescate-drones-perros-atrapados-lava-palma_1_8410536.html

We want to express great praise to the rescue workers on the island, but also to city councilor Nieves Rosa Arroyo!
Apparently for these people it is not only human life that counts as worthy to save, but every life on the island.
And they did it quickly, effectively and professionally.

Thank you on behalf of the animals!

My best regards to all, Venus

USA: US Climate Envoy John Kerry says Glasgow COP26 is the Last Best Hope for the World.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58914524

John Kerry says Glasgow COP26 is the last best hope for the world

America’s climate envoy John Kerry says the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow is the “last best hope for the world to get its act together”.

Mr Kerry told the BBC that key countries were pursuing policies that border on being “very dangerous”.

He said that if greenhouse gas emissions were not reduced enough over the next nine years there was no chance of meeting long-term targets.

The aim is to hold the rise in the earth’s temperature to 1.5C.

Scientists have said that would require global carbon emissions to fall by 45% from 2010 levels by the end of this decade.

But apart from a brief period during Covid-19 lockdowns, emissions are still rising.

China, the world’s biggest emitter, will be key to any hopes of a strong outcome at COP26, when it is held in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November.

Leaders and delegates from around the world will attend the summit, including Mr Kerry and US President Joe Biden.

‘Greatest test of global citizenship’

Mr Kerry has previously said the US will push for rapid action after four years of “reckless behaviour” under previous President Donald Trump.

He said the US would now move forward with “humility and ambition” in the global negotiations.

A former presidential candidate, Mr Kerry has long been a powerful voice in climate politics. As President Obama’s Secretary of State he played a key role in securing the Paris agreement in 2015.

The US Special Envoy on Climate Change told BBC Radio 4 documentary Glasgow: Our last best hope? that there were a lot of big promises without the necessary action.

“The truth is emissions are going up around the world, not down in enough countries, and key countries are pursuing policies that border on being very dangerous for everybody.”

Mr Kerry has previously called on China to increase the speed and depth of its efforts to cut carbon.

China has promised to peak emissions by 2030 – but the US diplomat said that was not good enough.

“If you don’t reduce enough between 2020 and 2030 the scientists tell us we can’t get where we need to go. We will not be able to hold the earth’s temperature rise to 1.5 degrees and we won’t be able to achieve net zero by 2050.”

Mr Kerry said he wanted Glasgow to raise the ambition of the 20 major economies in the world.

He said he would be looking for definite road-maps to net zero and money to help less developed countries also reach their goals without suffering economic hardship.

Mr Kerry called this the “greatest test of global citizenship” he could think of.

“Glasgow is coming at a point where these scientists have told us we have about nine years remaining within which to make the most critical decisions. Those decisions have got to really start in earnest and in a significant sum in Glasgow.”

“We have to get on the road here and we’ve been talking about it for 30 years.

“So this is really what Glasgow is about, the last best hope to do what the scientists tell us we must which is to avoid the worst consequences of climate by making decisions now and implementing them now.”

Glasgow: Our last best hope? is on BBC Radio 4 at 11:00 on Tuesday 19 October.

More on climate change

More reading:

John Kerry says Trump was ‘reckless’ over climate – and we agree !

Climate change: Trump’s Paris withdrawal was ‘reckless’ – John Kerry – BBC News

Climate change: US pushes China to make faster carbon cuts

Climate change: US pushes China to make faster carbon cuts – BBC News

Scottish climate expert Jim Skea warns ‘clock is ticking’

Scottish climate expert Jim Skea warns ‘clock is ticking’ – BBC News

Please – Give A Shit !!

Regards Mark

UK: It’s Fish Jim, But Not As We Know It! – Faux fish: vegan alternatives set to take UK market by storm.

Quorn fishless fingers that looks just like the real thing.
Quorn fishless fingers. Photograph: Tim Gainey/Alamy Stock Photo

I love these – really tasty ! – Mark

Faux fish: vegan alternatives set to take UK market by storm

Alt-seafood scene is ‘hot’ as booming sales of vegan food draw investment in research and development

Faux fish: vegan alternatives set to take UK market by storm | Vegan food and drink | The Guardian

It is seafood but it does not involve fishing nets or the sea, with plant-based filet-o-fish burgers, smoked salmon and prawns the next big thing in alternative protein.

Dubbed faux fish, a raft of new products are going on sale as new manufacturing techniques produce lifelike prawns from peas and flaky fish fillets from jackfruit.

Analysts describe the alt-seafood scene as “hot”, as companies spurred on by booming sales of plant milks and meat substitutes pour investment into the area. The focus on fish alternatives has also increased due to heightened consumer concern about overfishing, which has been spurred on by the popular Netflix documentary Seaspiracy.

Tesco, which works with the American chef and self-proclaimed “plant pusher” Derek Sarno, is set to expand its plant-based range with a handful of new products including Thai-style fish cakes and New England-style crab cakes.

The Dutch brand Vegan Zeastar has thrown down the gauntlet with its ambition of “veganising every dish that involves fish to fight the destruction of our oceans”. Its latest product is smoked “Zalmon”, made from tapioca starch, that looks uncannily like the real thing and is due to go on sale early next year. Its Shrimpz and Kalamariz are stocked online including by Ocado.

The fact that the food industry is getting serious about the area was highlighted by this month’s launch of Vrimp by Nestlé. Made from seaweed and peas, they promise the “authentic texture and flavour of succulent shrimps”, with the lookalike created using special moulds with a fine seam on the body the only giveaway.

Nestlé, the world’s biggest food group, has 300 people working on plant-based foods. Mark Schneider, its chief executive, said there had been a “significant shift” towards plant-based eating across all age groups.

“This is not just a one season fad,” said Schneider. “This is something that has very solid, longer-term growth rates.” He said people were interested in plant-based foods for different reasons. “With fish it is more health-related, and with beef and chicken it is more about the environment,” he said.

For Britons trying to reduce their environmental footprint, eating plant-based food is becoming more palatable because alternatives to meat and dairy today are so good, according to Schneider. Ahead of the Cop26 climate summit, he said consumer behaviour was a “big part of the equation” because making choices that lowered their carbon footprint was “easier than trying to get the carbon out of the existing products we consume”.

To date, a lot more time and money has been devoted to creating plant-based burgers and nuggets because the markets are so much bigger for beef and chicken. Another factor is that restaurants make up a substantial share of fish and seafood sales. When eating out, taste and experience were more important, making it more difficult for alternatives to be on par, said Thijs Geijer, a senior economist at ING.

Geijer said the huge variety in taste and texture within fish meant companies had to “invent the wheel” for a large range of products, with some of them – mainly startups – focused on tuna, which is sold in vast quantities in supermarkets. Nonetheless the category was “hot”, he said.

Continued on next page.

Environmental lawsuit against Bolsonaro before the ICC International Criminal Court

The Amazon rainforest in Brazil continues to shrink due to the enormous deforestation.
The Austrian climate protection organization Allrise has sued Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro for the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The climate protection activists recently filed the complaint with the title “The Planet Against Bolsonaro” in The Hague.
You accuse the right-wing extremist head of state of “crimes against humanity” because of his Amazon policy

However, the Hague Court is not required to actually initiate an investigation.

Allrise estimates that the Brazilian government is responsible for the deforestation of around 4,000 square kilometers of Amazon rainforest every year. Bolsonaro has “systematically” weakened or eliminated laws and controls by the authorities and is taking targeted action against environmental activists.

Deforestation in Brazil rose by almost 50 percent under Bolsonaro’s leadership.
The average size of the deforested areas has increased by 61 percent, and forest fires in the Amazon region have increased by 84 percent.
Bolsonaro has abolished critical environmental regulations, cut the Environment Department’s budget by 23 percent, and reduced the number of law enforcement officers by 27 percent.

Slash and burn in Brazil, here in the north-western state of Rondonia: Most of the deforested areas are turned into grazing land for cattle. © Carlos Fabal / AFP

He has defamed climate scientists and environmentalists as enemies of the state.
Fines for illegal logging have fallen 42 percent during his tenure, while deforestation hits a record high.
Land user penetration into indigenous areas has increased by 134 percent, killing at least 28 people.

The destruction of the Amazon threatens the safety and health of all people on this planet.

The forest fires in Brazil are clearly visible on NASA’s fire map. Photo: NASA Firms

Please sign the current petition against Bolsonaro from German Environmental aid (Deutsche Umwelthilfe e. V.)
Together with the non-profit association AllRise, German Environmental aid calls on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to recognize these acts as “crimes against humanity” within the meaning of the Rome Statute of the ICC.

Any declaration of support helps us make it clear to the ICC and its member states that Jair Bolsonaro must be held accountable

Share. Sign. Stop his crimes.

https://www.change.org/p/the-court-of-public-opinion-anzeige-gegen-jair-bolsonaro-wegen-verbrechen-gegen-die-menschlichkeit

https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Bolsonaro-droht-Umweltklage-in-Den-Haag-article22860252.html

And I mean…Specifically, it is about the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, because the deforestation rate has skyrocketed since Bolsonaro took office.
The Amazon rainforest is well on the way to becoming a dessert.

The forest is considered to be the green lung of the earth.
Its soils and trees provide habitat for tens of thousands of species and store masses of carbon.

Bolsonaro has now managed to destroy the rainforest in a very short time.
He reverses climate protection measures and motivates the ranchers and miners to occupy more areas.

Bolsonaro doesn’t believe that the forest itself has any value.
On the contrary: he considers it to be an obstacle to Brazil’s economic development.
That’s what you call an environmental terrorist.
The consequences of his criminal policy are the devastation of entire regions, millions of livelihoods destroyed, famines, flight, displacement and thousands of deaths.
So the crimes are also about murder.

The environmental destruction of the Amazon by Bolsonaro’s policy would be on a par with war crimes and genocides.

However, the consequences for Bolsonaro in the event that the lawsuit is successful are not yet clear.
The environmentalists and initiators of the lawsuit want to set a precedent.

“Our initiative has strong Brazilian support but we don’t seek to speak on behalf of any Brazilian communities, nor claim to represent them. Our case aims to add an important international dimension to their struggle.
The Amazon is theirs, but it is needed by us all,” so the Organisation ALLRise

In any case, the Allrise organization does not want to stop at just one lawsuit.

“There are several Bolsonaros, there are several Amazonas. We have a lot to do. “

My best regards to all, Venus

Australia: Scott Morrison: Australia PM To Attend COP26 Summit After Global Pressure.

Hey, Fires – I’m On Holiday !

Scott Morrison: Australia PM to attend COP26 summit after global pressure

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-58907526

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he will now attend the COP26 UN climate conference after weeks of initial hesitation.

Global leaders will meet in Glasgow next month to negotiate a new deal to stall rising global temperatures.

Mr Morrison drew criticism when he indicated last month that he might skip the meeting.

Australia, a large producer of coal and gas, is under pressure to commit to stronger climate action.

Its climate policies and emissions reductions are ranked among the worst in the OECD.

“I confirmed my attendance at the Glasgow summit, which I’m looking forward to attending. It is an important event,” Mr Morrison told reporters on Friday.

Climate activists had slated Mr Morrison for not committing to attend, and it was being seen as a diplomatic snub to the UK, a close ally of Australia.

In an interview to the BBC, Prince Charles earlier expressed surprise at Mr Morrison’s comments, urging leaders to act urgently to combat climate change.

COP26 will be held between 31 October and 12 November in Scotland’s largest city.

It will be the biggest climate change conference since landmark talks in Paris in 2015.

The COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow in November is seen as crucial if climate change is to be brought under control. Almost 200 countries are being asked for their plans to cut emissions, and it could lead to major changes to our everyday lives.

Why the COP26 climate summit is important

Simple guide to climate change

How extreme weather is linked to climate change

Mr Morrison had cited the challenges of Covid as a reason he might not attend, saying he had already served a great deal of quarantine.

But Australia is beginning to make plans to end quarantine requirements.

Many countries have set ambitious targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, but Australia has REFUSED to do so.

Analysis: By Justin Rowlatt, BBC climate editor

In poker they call it a “tell”: a tiny change in a player’s behaviour that signals something crucial about the cards they holding.

Now, the Glasgow climate conference isn’t a poker game. Most world leaders do actually understand the huge risks climate change presents and would prefer to minimise its impact.

But they also know doing so could impose real costs on their economies. They would like to see the maximum global action on the issue with the minimum cost to their people.

And for many of them they believe the best way to achieve that is to keep the cards in their hand hidden: to make sure there are no “tells”.

Deciding whether or not your leader is going to attend is part of that, it is a way of putting other nations under pressure.

It makes it very difficult for the organisers and – to be honest – isn’t helpful for negotiations. But it is a fact of global diplomacy. Let’s just hope that they decide to play a more open game when the conference begins.

Australia has committed to a 26% cut on its 2005 emissions by 2030 – a target frequently criticised as too weak.

Experts say it needs to commit to a 47% cut by 2030 if it is to meet the UN goal of keeping temperature rise below or within 1.5C.

Australia is one of the largest emitters on a per capita basis because its energy grid is still largely reliant on coal power.

The conservative government has faced months of pressure, both at home and overseas, to improve its climate policies. It is expected to reveal higher emission targets next week.

“The government will be finalising its position to take to the summit. We’re working through those issues,” Morrison said on Friday.

Many rural parts of Australia are dependent on coal, gas and farming.

Coal is Australia’s second-most lucrative export and it expects demand to continue for at least the next decade.

“The plan that I am taking forward together with my colleagues is about ensuring that our regions are strong, that our regions jobs are not only protected but have opportunities for the future,” Mr Morrison said.

Regards Mark

Can we suggest a bigger one to cover your entire head ?

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives for a media conference

Enjoy !

UK: Overseas abattoir workers to get temporary visas.

https://britishmeatindustry.org/industry/workforce/

Meat processing in the UK employs around 97,000 people of which approximately 62% are EU nationals.  Some producers report workforces of up to 85% EU nationals.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-50986683

Confessions of a slaughterhouse worker

Published  6 January 2020

Overseas abattoir workers to get temporary visas – BBC News

Overseas abattoir workers to get temporary visas

The (UK) government is to allow 800 foreign abattoir workers into the UK on temporary visas, after warnings from farmers of mass culls.

It previously said businesses should pay higher wages and invest in skills.

The shortage of butchers has already seen farmers destroy 6,600 healthy pigs due to a backlog on farms, the National Pig Association (NPA) said.

The government also announced plans to allow thousands more HGV deliveries to address a chronic driver shortage.

The meat industry blames the butcher shortage on factors including Covid and Brexit.

Thousands of healthy pigs have been culled since last week, when the tally was about 600.

Last week, the National Farmer’s Union (NFU) warned that pig farmers were “facing a human disaster” due to the shortage of butchers.

It said that “empty retail shelves and product shortages are becoming increasingly commonplace and Christmas specialities such as pigs in blankets are already under threat”.

 

Butcher scheme

The government is temporarily extending its seasonal workers scheme to pork butchers, it said.

Up to 800 pork butchers will be eligible to apply until the end of the year for six-month visas.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “A unique range of pressures on the pig sector over recent months, such as the impacts of the pandemic and its effect on export markets, have led to the temporary package of measures we are announcing.

“This is the result of close working with industry to understand how we can support them through this challenging time.”

The government added that the temporary visas “are not a long term solution and businesses must make long term investments in the UK domestic workforce to build a high-wage, high-skill economy, instead of relying on overseas labour”.

Alongside the temporary visas, the government announced a package of measures for the industry, including:

  • Animals being slaughtered and processed on a Saturday
  • Longer working days in the meat industry, where possible
  • A “private storage aid scheme” which will allow processors to store slaughtered pigs for three to six months
  • Suspending nearly £1m of tax on pig farmers and producers in November

It said there had been “a suspension of approval to export to China for some UK pork establishments” and that it was working with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to identify other export markets.

The extension of visa requirements for butchers follows the announcement of temporary visas for lorry drivers and poultry workers, as the government seeks to limit disruption in the run-up to Christmas.

Regards Mark

USA: Wolf Pups ‘Adopted’ by Idaho High Schoolers Killed by Trigger Happy (? Obsessed ?) USDA Federal Agents.

Grey wolf pups
Grey Wolf Pups – Getty Images

Wolf pups ‘adopted’ by Idaho high schoolers killed by federal agents

Wolf pups ‘adopted’ by Idaho high schoolers killed by federal agents – BBC News

Conservation groups have expressed outrage after the US Department of Agriculture revealed it killed eight young wolves in an Idaho forest.

The pups were part of the Timberline pack, a group of wild wolves tracked and studied since 2003 by students at the local high school in Boise.

Federal officials have defended their actions as a “necessary” measure in reducing the predators’ population.

But local wildlife groups say wolves are “under attack” in the region.

Earlier this year, lobbied by the livestock ranching community, Republican-dominated legislatures in Idaho and Montana passed measures that made it easier to hunt and kill wolves.

Idaho’s version of the law allows hunters to kill an unlimited number of wolves each year, up from a 15-wolf annual limit, and triples the budget for population control efforts.

Under the terms of the legislation, wolves can be baited into snares, aerially gunned down via aircraft and even mowed over by hunters in ATVs or other motorised vehicles.

Environmental groups have warned the aggressive tactics will whittle down Idaho’s wolf population by 90%, from roughly 1,500 to 150, which is the minimum limit enshrined by a 2002 conservation law.

The Timberline wolf pack – unofficially “adopted” by students at Boise’s Timberline High School over the past 18 years – appears to have been among the targets. Their den, on public lands in Boise National Forest, was found empty this spring.

An official from the Agriculture Department confirmed federal agents had killed the animals in order to force the adult wolves to relocate.

Grey wolves were once nearly wiped out across the contiguous US.

The Endangered Species Act of 1974 created federal protections that saved the species from extinction and led to sustained population recovery efforts.

But the animals were delisted by the Trump administration last October and management of the species has since fallen to the states.

Supporter of the Idaho wolf-culling law have said wolves pose a threat to wildlife, particularly cows, sheep and other livestock.

Van Burtenshaw, the state senator and livestock dealer who introduced the bill, said reducing the wolf population would benefit “our cattlemen, our woolgrowers and outfitters”, as well as the big game hunters forced to compete with the wolves.

But environmental groups have slammed the culling tactics as inhumane. A spokeswoman for the Humane Society of the United States called it “a death warrant for hundreds of Idaho’s iconic and beloved wolves”.

The Biden administration is reportedly considering relisting grey wolves on the Endangered Species List.

Students at Timberline High have told US media they are penning a letter to President Biden over the pup deaths, a sign of the renewed urgency many Idahoans feel to see federal protections reinstated.

“Idaho, Montana and Wyoming are in an all-out frontal assault on wolves,” Dick Jordan, a former science teacher at the school, told the local Idaho Statesman.

“Something has to be done. It’s inhumane, it’s unethical and it’s not ecologically sound.”

Regards Mark

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