Subscribe
Notify of
guest

46 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
polidori redux
polidori redux
1 year ago

“…a broad spectrum of political parties agrees change is needed in industry, transport and building to combat climate change.”
It may be a broad spectrum, but it is a very shallow one. A classic case of a Twitter Bubble Government pursuing a policy that is designed to reduce the living standards of ordinary folk. When the plebs notice what is being done to them they turn quite nasty.
PS: Just to clarify. I am invariably on the side of the plebs.

Paula 0
Paula 0
1 year ago

Hm. Collect the nitrogen for fertilizer?

Meanwhile, the cities and land are remarkably livable in Holland. Tap water is drinkable.

Stop farming and…Germany will have no eggs, no pork and no tomatoes. Really.

I suppose they can eat bugs…if they import them. Currently there are not enough bugs in the Netherlands or Germany. Yet I suppose one farm family can be saved by growing all the meal worms? One family surely has government connections, and can provide kickbacks to the right people?

Oh well, as long as Bill Gates, the Clooneys, Kylie Jenner, and everyone else using a private jet, can continue to get farm raised steaks and tomatoes, I guess I am fine with the New World Order/ Great Reset.

Last edited 1 year ago by Paula 0
Nick Beard
Nick Beard
1 year ago
Reply to  Paula 0

I believe Bill Gates has switched to lab-grown recycled tumour protein as an alternatiove to actual meat… 🙂

Steve Jolly
Steve Jolly
1 year ago
Reply to  Nick Beard

This is likely to be the future of meat production, but it will be more because that process eventually becomes cheaper and more efficient so that traditional meat is actually more expensive. The free market works. Learn to use it and not fight it environmentalists.

Saul D
Saul D
1 year ago

In most countries Green parties are rejected at the ballot box and don’t get to hold positions of authority, yet the Green lobby, via NGOs and foundation-funded academics, also seems to be behind tons of un-mandated legislation and regulation that voters have no say over and that they didn’t vote for, with cruddy solutions that turn out to be ill-thought out nonsense somewhere down the line.

nil hammerstrumm
nil hammerstrumm
1 year ago
Reply to  Saul D

“cruddy solutions that turn out to be ill-thought out nonsense somewhere down the line” that is a fairly accurate description of almost any human activity where it attempts to improve on nature.
Green parties and eco movements are big in democratic multi party countries that have specialised in the industrial torture, maiming and killing of animals.F.i. Denmark, Netherlands, Germany. Much less so two party dictatorships like the USA or UK.

Christian Moon
Christian Moon
1 year ago
Reply to  Saul D

“Greenwall”, I’m thinking.

james elliott
james elliott
1 year ago

Farmers are denying reality?

I think not. The government, under EU orders, is seriously suggesting tackling weather change by implementing Marxist policies of land confiscation, central planning and a strategy which may well result in a new Holidomor.

No. This is a free society, and the givernment has no authority for these bizarre plans they are implementing.

This problem is widespread among governments across the EU.

The people are simply reminding them that governments exist to serve people, not the other way around.

nil hammerstrumm
nil hammerstrumm
1 year ago
Reply to  james elliott

And yet, as mentioned in this article, this government was ousted, elections were held, and as a result nearly the exact same government was formed.
Torturing, maiming and killing billions of animals on a yearly basis for pleasure and profit, the human race gets what it deserves.
If you have any complaints, blame your parents. After WW1 and WW2, they knew the score. They put you here.
The sheep are bleating.

Peta Seel
Peta Seel
1 year ago

My scepticism about the seemingly balanced nature of this article was alerted when I got to the bit about “alternative Right-wing media”. That would be “conservative” would it?
I don’t suppose it has occurred to those setting the “targets” that it is as much in the interests of the farmers to farm sustainably to conserve the land and the waterways as it is in everyone else’s, and probably more so.

Last edited 1 year ago by Peta Seel
Giles Toman
Giles Toman
1 year ago

Why don’t politicians stop setting these silly “targets” and just let everyone get on with living their lives?

Will Fleming.
Will Fleming.
1 year ago
Reply to  Giles Toman

It’s not politicians setting targets. Those are being set by the far better funded NGO sector,by now endemic in western society. Largely made up of cranks,angry people and billionaires.

CHARLES STANHOPE
CHARLES STANHOPE
1 year ago

The Dutch ‘Government’ should recall what happened to the de Witt brothers on the 20th August, 1672.
If they have forgotten, the Rijksmusem holds an excellent contemporary painting of the ‘event’ by Jan de Baen.

Saigon Sally
Saigon Sally
1 year ago

those blasted Dutchies deserved everything they got, especially that Johan de Witt

Steve Jolly
Steve Jolly
1 year ago

A warning to environmentalists. When environmental directives clash with human needs, the latter will win ten times out of ten. The lions, tigers, and bears of the world don’t care that the food they eat might be a living creature or serve some greater environmental purpose, they just eat it because they are hungry. Only our relative abundance allows us to imagine we are better than they. Take away that abundance, and we will not be much different. Take that lesson to heart. The ONLY, and I mean ONLY way to “save the planet” from humanity (accepting the arguable premise that it even needs saving) is through innovation and technology that maintains production of things like food and energy. If environmental policies result in widespread economic hardship, it will lead to political changes that put other concerns back in charge, resulting in compromise that falls far short of what most ‘environmentalists’ believe is needed. If environmentalists wanted to be more productive, they’d all get out of politics and use their considerable intellects and resources towards finding actual solutions to these problems. People collectively are neither slaves to nature nor its master. They are, rather, a force of nature, and as any other, they can be harnessed, managed, and understood, but can never be fully controlled. Here’s an analogy for environmental types. Having government force changes like this is rather like trying to stop a volcano by filling it with concrete, putting an artificial stop on a natural source of pressure. It might seem to work for a while, but the later explosion will be all the more devastating. There may be a problem with nitrogen pollution, but this solution has all the elegance of a mob boss kneecapping a storeowner who fails to pay protection money. The alt-right media the author mentions, while greatly oversimplifying an issue to fit into their narrative, have at least identified a larger pattern of wealthy overlords believing they can herd humanity like sheep to achieve macro level outcomes by dictating micro level actions without eventually reaping the consequences, but there are consequences. This is why populist movements are thriving all over the world.

Last edited 1 year ago by Steve Jolly
Carmel Shortall
Carmel Shortall
1 year ago

“It’s not Klaus Schwab driving farmers to black roads — it’s a run-of-the-mill collection of Dutch politicians and activists.”

Oh, I think you will find that if you look behind the curtain, at the man pulling the levers and booming out instructions to not look at zat man behind ze curtin, you will, in fact, find Klaus.

Geir Aaslid
Geir Aaslid
1 year ago

Nope, this is a good statement of facts: — it’s a run-of-the-mill collection of Dutch politicians and activists.”
The problem in most of Western Europa (plus US/Canada) is the run-of-the-mill collection of group thinkers, who insist there is a Climate crisis and are willing to destroy western civlization to save the planet from the climate crisis, a crisis which is invented by media, according to the IPCC.

Bernardo 0
Bernardo 0
1 year ago

This reminds me of the Canadian trucker protest. People who do not do the manual work of running an economy dictating rules that impact those that do.
I wonder when the Dutch farmers will be considered domestic climate denying terrorists and have their banking accounts frozen.

Steve Elliott
Steve Elliott
1 year ago

Is this another example of Government through the courts? One thing that bothers me about the UK’s legal commitment to net zero is that it gives green and environmental groups a hammer to attack through the courts almost any development such as new roads or new airport runways.

Christian Moon
Christian Moon
1 year ago
Reply to  Steve Elliott

Greenwall.

Carmel Shortall
Carmel Shortall
1 year ago
Reply to  Steve Elliott

https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/1810/299414/REP_Absolute_Zero_V3_20200505.pdf?sequence=9&isAllowed=y
Paragraphs 4 & 5 of the summary make interesting reading – a commitment to net zero by 2050 means closing most airports, ending new building (no cement) and stopping farming/consumption of beef and lamb. What’s happening in the Netherlands is only the beginning of the roll-out of this agenda. And it IS an agenda! This is not accidental stupidity and no amount of journalistic soul-searching or hand-wringing can change that – only cover it up.

Malcolm Knott
Malcolm Knott
1 year ago

Familiar story: government over-reacting to doomsday scenarios.

Will Fleming.
Will Fleming.
1 year ago
Reply to  Malcolm Knott

The main scenario appears to be a return to year zero,a la Pol Pot.

R Wright
R Wright
1 year ago

I will not eat bugs.

Ray Zacek
Ray Zacek
1 year ago
Reply to  R Wright

I will eat bugs when Schwab, Soros, John Kerry and Leonardo DiCaprio eat bugs.

Andrew S
Andrew S
1 year ago

Manure is most certain ly a vital fertiliser. Your point, I think, was that when app,lied to create run-off it is also a problem.

Please can we have less political campaignng and more informaton and clear analysis.

Sophy T
Sophy T
1 year ago

It’s not Klaus Schwab driving farmers to black roads…..
What does ‘to black roads’ mean?

ruby lescott
ruby lescott
1 year ago
Reply to  Sophy T

They mean ‘block’.

Peter Lloyd
Peter Lloyd
1 year ago

On face value it seems ludicrous that a country like the Netherlands is a massive agricultural exporter.

Like every country that gradually builds a powerful lobby, bringing about change can be extremely difficult.

Nigel Franks
Nigel Franks
1 year ago

“Plant-based food needs fertiliser, and where do you get it if you don’t have manure?” Livestock eats plant-based food. You would have thought that a farmer would know that first you have to feed an animal before it produces manure. So the food cycle doesn’t start with manure, it ends with manure. It starts with fertiliser. Even if you used all the manure produced by animals, you would lose nutrients because those contained in the flesh that people eat are flushed down the toilet.

Graeme Cant
Graeme Cant
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Franks

…are flushed down the toilet… and recycled to the environment. It’s a closed system apart from energy.

Nigel Franks
Nigel Franks
1 year ago

We recently found a text book from the University of Delft for the study year 1979/80. It mentioned the problems of the intensification of farming, leading to job loses and environmental damage. That was more than 40 years ago and yet the farm lobby tried to continue with business as usual. They were storing up problems for the future. Now that the future has arrived, they want more time to cope with this surprise development.

Graeme Cant
Graeme Cant
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Franks

The 1979/80 text book (I notice not actual research) was written by the same academic irrationalists who pushed the legislation the Dutch farmers are protesting about. To know any problem existed in 1979/80 and has since got worse requires evidence which you don’t present.
The farmers don’t want more ‘time to cope with this surprise development’. They want these people to stop persecuting them and trying to remove their livelihood.
The author can be a vegan if he wishes but the farmers need to be free to cater to those of us who aren’t.

nil hammerstrumm
nil hammerstrumm
1 year ago

the sheep are bleating…

Eleanor Burt
Eleanor Burt
1 year ago

On ethical, as well as ecological grounds, the ‘farming’ of sentient animals ought to cease. If our agricultural colleges were prepared to teach veganic farming in the mainstream curriculum and if farmers (there are some exceptions) and their ‘representatives’ (eg., the NFU in the UK) were open to fundamental change, the human species, sentient nonhuman animals, and the planet would be in a better place.
There are veganic growers out there and they are showing the way, and they will be more than happy, I am certain, to help other farmers to make the transition.

james elliott
james elliott
1 year ago
Reply to  Eleanor Burt

Do you also find it unethical that animals eat each other?

nil hammerstrumm
nil hammerstrumm
1 year ago
Reply to  james elliott

Animals do not breed, torture maim and kill their food for pleasure and profit.
More than 5% animal proteine in human diet is a health risk.The human body has a limited capacity for breaking down animal proteine. Cancer cells, which have a “skin” resembling animal proteine, can thus no longer be unmasked and killed by the immune system, and set up shop in the body.

But, cancer is an extremely profitable illness. The average patient brings in half a million dollars , at half a million diagnoses per year in the USA alone. Follow the money.

Last edited 1 year ago by nil hammerstrumm
JR Stoker
JR Stoker
1 year ago

You are making things up to suit your agenda

nil hammerstrumm
nil hammerstrumm
1 year ago
Reply to  JR Stoker

My agenda is the search for Truth.
T. Colin Campbell. The China Study. Compiled all available Chinese studies and data before and after the chinese opened up to western diet.
Cancer erupted when they adopted the consumption of meat as a status symbol.
7th day adventists, vegans in general, much less cancer.
Born and raised on a US dairy farm, Campbell was a staunch supporter and researcher into increasing animal proteine in diet. Until he started thinking for himself. Dangerous hobby, thinking for yourself. Dont try it..you might learn something.

james elliott
james elliott
1 year ago

Animals do torture, maim and kill for pleasure.

Dogs do this. So do cats. As do foxes and many other predatory animals.

Your argument sounds cutesy, but it is hopelessly flawed.

nil hammerstrumm
nil hammerstrumm
1 year ago
Reply to  james elliott

It is your body, your health, not my problem.
Lets say your argument, (pretty weak coming with domesticated species as an example) is acceptable, they do not BREED their FOOD.
Such playful behaviour is to maintain skills for survival. Though not pretty from a “human” standpoint,one could argue the fact that domesticated animals need to do this is because they get food on a platter everyday…
As for wild predators…does it legitimise our mass torture, maiming and killing of animals? What skills do we need to maintain exactly?
There are superfit sporters who do not eat any animal proteine.
T. Colin Campbell experimented with mice, he injected them with a carcinogen, and could turn cancer on and off like a lightswitch, with 100% consistency, just by adding or withdrawing animal proteine in their diet.

Last edited 1 year ago by nil hammerstrumm
Julian Farrows
Julian Farrows
1 year ago

T. Colin Campbell’s experiments are often taken out of context by those who have an agenda.
Veganism may be a good idea, but like many ‘noble’ causes, its most ardent supporters are most often its worst form of advertising.

Jonathan Howell
Jonathan Howell
1 year ago
Reply to  Eleanor Burt

A vegan diet is unhealthy ( can only be sustained by supplements) and the ecological argument is at best weak.

nil hammerstrumm
nil hammerstrumm
1 year ago

Parrots usually speak without any personal experience or research. They hear something that sounds good to their ears and repeat it.
The only supplement needed is B12, a bacteria found in soil and natural water, costs around 9 euro for a years supply. It is injected into farm factory animals, because the soil and water they live on no longer has it…
All other proteines etc. can be gotten from plants. Lewis Hamilton, 7 times F1 racing world champion, the Williams sisters…spring to mind, Novak Djokovic…world N0 1 tennis player
yeah…very very unhealthy.

Last edited 1 year ago by nil hammerstrumm
Samir Iker
Samir Iker
1 year ago
Reply to  Eleanor Burt

You are free to choose “Veganic” and offer tips to other farmers who voluntarily choose to do so.

You don’t have the right to dictate to others what they should do.

And if you are so concerned about the environment, make private jets illegal, impose a 100% tax in EVs that cost more than 20k to subsidise those too poor to afford them, limit air travel holidays to once every three years or so, put a cap on the size of houses and gardens…

And see how quickly the upper class elites preaching about the planet change their tune.

MRS DORIS BETTENCOURT
MRS DORIS BETTENCOURT
1 year ago
Reply to  Samir Iker

God is love , I am Mrs. Doris Bettencourt from USA a widow with heart of love for the help of humanity And also a devoted Christian suffering from
a chronic illness skin and breast cancer, i am a poem lover, my late husband is a successful businessman, So happy to have found this wonderful platform please contact me with faith and I will be glad to know more about you ,i am very
Lonely ,sad and unhappy because of my present condition , I will be so glad to share more prayers and more friendship with you. Please send me an email because I have something very important to share with you concerning my charity mission and wish for the masses Kindly write to me with the faith of GOD in you.
[email protected]
Thank you
God bless you ,
Ma’am Doris Bettencourt