The Rural Voice, 2004-02, Page 14Jeffrey
Carter is a
freelance
journalist
based in
Dresden,
Ontario.
Justice is conscience, not a
personal conscience but the
conscience of the whole of humanity.
Those who clearly recognize the
voice of their own conscience usually
recognize also the voice of justice.
– Alexander Solzhenitsyn
A survey of Canadian newspaper
editors and broadcasters placed the
SARS outbreak in Toronto as the top
Canadian news story in 2003. Of the
117 ballots cast from newsrooms
across the nation, 38 gave the nod to
the infectious disease story.
Second place, with 16 votes, went
Jeffrey Carter
The human side of BSE
to issues surrounding gay marriages.
Tied for third, with 13 votes each,
were the forest fires in British
Columbia and the "mad cow" (BSE)
crisis.
The survey was conducted by The
Canadian Press and Broadcast News
organization.
Severe Acute Respiratory •
Syndrome caught the attention of the
media for good reason. First of all, it
primarily affected folks in Toronto so
trips to the hinterland were
unnecessary. Secondly, all those
health workers in masks made for
dramatic photo ops and television
footage. Finally, the public fear,
although the actual threat to human
life was insignificant, was tangible.
Perception became reality.
If gay cattle producers were to step
forward to complain that their
spousal relationships were threatened
by the BSE crisis, perhaps the
imagination of the mainstream media
E2WsY�
• No more feeding calves outside. Comfy Calf Suites make
feeding easier for you.
• Calves are easier to see in Comfy Calf Suites as compared to
enclosed shelters.
• Better ventilation improves the health of your calves.
• Plastic dividers isolate each calf keeping your calves healthy.
• Dividers remove quickly and easily when required. Cleaning is
simple and removal of dividers makes group penning an option
as your calves mature.
• Available in various sizes and with various options to suit your requirements.
THE NEW
GENERATION IN
CALF REARING
Comfort For Your Calves
Comfort For You!
For more information contact your local BSM Dealer:
GRANTON
AVONBANK
FARM EQUIPMENT
(519) 225-2507
TARA
H. NICHOLSON
& SON
(519) 934-2343
MILDMAY
MIDWAY FARM
SYSTEMS
(519) 367-5358
LUCKNOW
MAITLAND VALLEY
AGRI SYSTEMS LTD.
(519) 529-3820
DRAYTON
CONESTOGO
AGRI SYSTEMS INC.
(519) 638-3022
WALTON
KEITH SIEMON
FARM SYSTEMS LTD.
(519) 345-2734
WELLESLEY
PROGRESSIVE
FARMING
(519) 656-2709
BSM Agri Ltd. R.R. #4 Arthur, ON, Canada NOG 1A0
Tel.: (519) 848-3910 Fax (519) 848-3946
Visit our website at www.bsmagri.com
10 THE RURAL VOICE
would have been captured to a greater
degree. Stranger things have
happened.
As it was,)the BSE -crisis was hard
pressed to compete with SARS, as far
as media pundits were concerned.
There were the generic shots of wide-
eyed cattle in pens and the repeated,
canned footage of that stumbling
cattle beast from Great Britain.
These images were not quite '
dramatic enough for newspapers and
television networks focussed on
advertising sales and readership. Too
many readers were flipping to the
next page. Too many television
viewers were changing the
channel.
Besides, the main message being
conveyed was that there was nothing
to worry about. Beef was declared
safe and the public was enlisted to
help eat up the excess. Canadians
responded appropriately and started
consuming more steaks and burgers.
End of story.
There's another story, however,
that Canadians need to hear, or at
(east have expressed to them in clear
terms.
The BSE story is about much more
than cattle, the threat of tainted beef,
or economic repercussions. It's a
story about people, about farm
families.
Even those with small herds stand
to lose a lot — have lost much
already. For many, their work -worn
hands and the weathered face that
stares back from the mirror will be all
that's left from a life's labour.
Canada's new agriculture minister
has a role in putting a human face on
the deepening crisis. More important,
farmers themselves need to step
forward, and tell their stories.
After all, a farmer contributes to
society as much as anyone else.
Perhaps more. Agriculture is a
foundation on which our nation is
built.
Canada's cattle producers have
many reasons to be proud. They need
not hang their heads in shame. It's
not a question of asking for charity.
It's an issue of justice.0