Because the Minister for Health in Germany had to say something about the situation regarding the outbreak of a virulent new strain of ecoli bacteria which has so far killed about 17 people in that country, she pointed the finger at the Spanish in general, and their cucumbers in particular.This false accusation had an effect that has spread quicker than the illness itself, and - pretty soon - every other non-European country in the world has taken advantage of the situation by pronouncing bans on all Spanish produce, there by promoting the interests of their own agricultural lobby, making tons more money and securing widespread political popularity as a result.
Meanwhile, back in Spain, 17,000 people have already lost their jobs, and this figure is set to rise. Thousands upon thousands of tons of good fruit and vegetables are being harvested right now, then thrown into waste-disposal bins. Farmers are going out of business, with no guarantee of compensation from the EU.
All this at a time of world food shortage, and all this at a time when there has never been a better time to invest in food as a stock commodity, because of the opportunities for fast returns which the high proportion of starving people - in the non-EU countries which actually GROW the stuff - offers to the lot with full stomachs and a few spare bucks on their hands.
Don't you love the E.U.?
Bloody pathetic.
ReplyDeleteMeldrew here. I cannot understand how ecoli can get into EVERY Spanish grower's cucumbers. Surely there must be a simple test. Some of these farmers may never recover.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I grow my own!
Ultimately it will probably be found to be some concern that cuts corners to make some big agricultural outfit obscene profits. I hope the Spanish return the favor by refusing the IMF's demand that they enslave themselves to make German (and other EU) banks whole.
ReplyDeleteIt seems I've thrown a perfectly good cucumber in the bin!
ReplyDeleteThey just announced this morning that a new strain of MRSA virus has been found in British cattle. Personally, I think that this could be what the old prophets predicted when they said "The meek shall inherit the earth". Look out, the meek are ganging up on us....
ReplyDeleteThe whole situation is appalling. On holiday we met a fruit farmer from East Anglia who had sold up in desperation after supermarkets demanded ten percent red on each cox's apple - and all on one side! The world has gone mad. Having said that Tom - don't think i shall be buying a cucumber today. Brain washed I supp[ose.
ReplyDeleteToday is the day we should ALL be buying several cucumbers (even if we throw them away later).
ReplyDeleteEvery year there is a major outbreak of ecoli and every year it is a major disaster to farmers. Sad on both ends.
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ReplyDeleteIgnore that - I'll try again and see if I can get it right this time.....
ReplyDeleteI've always hated the fact that everything in a supermarket is identical to its neighbour. Regulation size and shape. And they're always tasteless too. A while back Tesco started selling bags of 'same value - just odd shapes' veg. Nobody bought them, so they gave up.
Is the E. coli thing because the EU wants all cucumbers to be straight?
Another post on the cutting room floor hehe.
ReplyDeleteNone of us 'meek' want the earth now you lot have f**ked it all up...
You are far from 'meek', Chris - unless you see yourself as a single-cell organism. This post is one which will not end up in the bin, actually, boring though it is.
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