Now this may be a bit of an odd subject for this blog - but it is something I feel strongly about. No doubt I may have some people against my views - but I am going to share them as this is my blog and it is a free country - I think this is half the problem at the moment - we are all too scared to say what we think for fear of retribution, being called "racist", sexist or the like just because we share our thoughts - well in advance if you do not wish to read this - please don't but I am going to have my say.
I have never written a letter to the editor but after watching Four Corners last night - well some of it - some of it I just had to look away from - I am reeling!!! It has not led me to write a letter to the country life - yet but I am sure going to have my say somewhere and being My Blog it is going to be here!
For those of you who read this but do not know us well this is a bit about us - we are Beef Producers - we may only be little fish in a big pond so to speak but we are proud Australians Farmers who come from families of farmers since they arrived in Australia and probably before that too! We take pride in looking after our land and our livestock and make a living from it and so logically it would pay to - wouldn't it?
I am so so cranky with what is going on with the live export industry - and I do feel sorry for the small family companies in the north where there marketing avenues are restricted HOWEVER we all make choices and I can GUARANTEE you that if we knew that our cattle were being slaughered in the manner in which they are in Indonesia - WE WOULD NOT SEND THEM!!! Yes we may get a couple of cents less BUT we could sleep at night.
DO NOT be under any doubt here - the big companies in the north that were mentioned on the TV last night are fully aware of what is happening and what has BEEN HAPPENING FOR over 10 years! THEY have visited these abbatoirs and what really makes my blood boil is that the MLA has even spent money there - our levy money that everytime we sell cattle we have to give them for "marketing" Aussie beef - well if that is the job they are doing they should all be sacked NOW!
The "Boxes" they have put in Indonesia with a cost of I would estimate of in excess of $500 000 plus the "training" etc is a disgrace - the only thing the boxes may protect is the cruel $#@% men that are practicing cutting these animals throats - and believe me I would have loved to see a few of those yak cattle get away and really give it to them!
You may think that I am going a little over the top with this seeing I am usually a reasonable, logical and "diplomatic" person but as Allan Jones said - Evil takes hold when good people do nothing.
Well if anything this story on Four Corners unfortunatley will be detrimental to the meat industry in Australia in general which is WRONG. Australian slaughtering is a totally different ball game - just as well and a very important industry. Please don't boycott beef but DO get behind the push to stop Live Export to Indonesia until they can slaughter cattle in the same way as us.
Don't be tricked into believing that they are making inroads with their training etc - they have been doing this for over 10 years and are still atrocious at it - not to mention it is clear that they don't really care about the cattle at all. Their women are treated worse than dogs in some cases so how do they expect them (the Indonesian Men) to treat cattle better overnight?
If for the case of Halal kills - let them come over here and bless whatever they need to bless but we should be slaughtering the cattle HERE and if the meat is so in demand - well gee whiz - maybe we can ship the meat not the animals to them!!
As for the MLA the whole board of directors - should be all sacked and funnily enough isn't it amazing how the more cattle you have the more votes you get - so guess who has all the clout - the big companies involved in all this mess.
Our levy dollars are clearly being wasted on so many levels and having the MLA involved in this is just another rort with these large companies and their cronies! It makes you wonder where else the revenue collected from Australian farmers is going with the MLA controlling it - it is clearly not used for "promotion"
If Australia stops sending cattle to Indonesia will the MLA take back their "Boxes" or do they stay there to assist in the cruelty by the Indonesians to some other countries' cattle?
So remember continue to eat your favourite cut of beef = just be picky where you get it from!
I didn't see the program but I heard about it today on the radio. It is so shocking and I hope something gets done about it. I love my beef but if I knew it was getting tortured there is no way I would buy it, luckily I don't live in Indonesia.
Posted by: Jessica | May 31, 2011 at 03:17 PM
I totally agree with all u say Julie & MLA execs should hang their heads in shame & resign immediately.
Posted by: Arlie Wormwell | May 31, 2011 at 04:20 PM
Bravo Julie! So glad you are who you are. Thank you both (Jeff as well) for being the great (and humble and typical and fabulous) Aussie farmers that you are.
Cate
Posted by: Cate M | June 02, 2011 at 11:23 AM