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RURAL BRITAIN HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT? This is the best place in the world to live, the green paddocks with healthy livestock and the productive fields of corn swaying in the breeze. But the best part is knowing it is all here to produce the best quality food to feed our country. But the days of traditional English country life are definitely numbered. Government policy over the last 30 years, no matter which of the main parties has been in power, seems determined to wipe out our traditional way of life and past-times. For generations, country folk have made their living from the land, and spent what free time they have had involved in country pursuits. Part of living in the country is a willingness to work hard, play hard and be self reliant, and if you have to get your hands dirty, then so be it. But the powers that be are determined to turn the countryside into a glorified museum or sanitised theme park, where only “acceptable” activities are allowed. We already have the hunting ban - what will be next, shooting, fishing?? And even with all the apparent concern for animal welfare, no one says a word about the barbaric slaughter of livestock to supply the ever growing demand for halal and kosher meat. However we choose to spend our free time, the major issues are about how we earn a living, and where we can find to live. Even with this being the 6th year out of the last 7 when consumption of cereals has been greater than world production, British farmers are still being forced out of business. Supermarket power, leading to unsustainably low farm gate prices, and the new subsidy system results in no incentive to grow anything at all, for virtually the same income. Farmers are being paid off to stop production, and the land is being taken for “much more important” tree planting, conservation and environmental schemes. The domination of the supermarkets keeping down prices, forces those that persist with production to cut costs wherever possible, and the only saving can be found in the wages bill. With limited money in the farming community, there is a knock on effect across all rural businesses, and as a consequence the ability of locals to compete in the housing market. British agriculture is being destroyed to make us reliant on foreign imports, giving us no choices in the future but to pay what ever the multi-national and foreign suppliers demanded of us. So who would benefit, why would they do it? The simple answer is the multi national corporations and the banks. Our country and traditions are being destroyed for the financial benefit and world domination of the small number of money lenders and their supporters. Once they’ve finished with us, they’ll turn to eastern Europe as a supplier of our food, and the profits from lending money for the purchase of foreign rural land at increasing values. If you had a problem with rats, you’d put down some poison or get a big stick, if you had a problem with foxes, you’d get a gun. Well we’ve all got a very big problem, and although we are not suggesting that everyone gets guns or poison, of course, we do need to stand up and break the vicious circle of destruction, to protect our traditions, and secure a future for our country, before its too late. 19.09.06 |