The story about possible cases of BSE in the states has again dropped off the news media radar. I really don't know what to make of it. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who would like to hear more, but there has been absolutely nothing for almost a week now.
The news story that just won't go away is the mud that is being unearthed at the Gomery Enquiry. I don't know why they're making such a fuss about it all. Has there been one thing come up that we didn't expect to hear? Is there even one Canadian who thought that the Cretien government was lily white? I guess, if there are points on which I was a little choked, it was the amounts of tax payer's money that was tossed around to pad the bank accounts of certain people. It is no wonder that polititains are held in such low esteme - they are hardly worthy of anthing more than scorn and contempt.
As bad as the Gomery coverage is, it's the spin-off story that has me really angry. All three opposition parties are circling the carcass, wonder when it will be safe for them to sweep in and force an election. They are not the least bit interested in what is good for the country, they just want their turn at the trough. Will a second election in less than a year do us any good? Will it change what happened in Quebec years ago? What do they have to give us that will ensure it will never happen again?
I hope that the polls keep telling them that Canadians want to hear the enquiry out. The Opposition leaders are all being very careful to sound professional and reserved, but give them half a hint that they could win an election and we'd be in the middle of a free for all again. If the pollsters call me, my answers won't be vague!
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Most Interesting News
The National News tonight was most interesting. Last week there was a little blurb of a story where a former veterinarian with the USDA (U S Department of Agriculture) had come forward - in Canada - to tell of suspicious cases of downer cattle he had witnessed during his career. Cases he felt sure were BSE and that he had requested tests for but had, for one reason or another, had never received satisfactory results for.
When I first heard the story, many things went through my mind. The first thing was simply "That's no surprise to anyone." In the two years BSE has ruled the Canadian cattle industry, we've had plenty of time to think about how it is that we, with the size of the Canadian herd should have four cases, and they with their much larger herd should have none ... well except for the ones that they knew they could trace back to Canada, that is. I didn't know how it could ever be proven, but it seemed mighty suspicious that Canada was to blame for everything.
The next thing I thought of was who was this vet? And, if he did have information to blow the lid off a very serious cover-up in the U S Ag Department, was he safe?
I waited to hear more about it in the passing days, but the story seemed to drop off the map. Not so much as one word for four or five days. I began to wonder if the poor guy had been in a mysterious car accident, or something, but tonight the CBC had lots to tell. And I'm sure there'll be plenty more to come.
The story is mind boggling. If, indeed, the USDA falsified test results and hid cases of BSE, how many cases were there? The cases this vet is citing both took place in his jurisdiction in New York state; were there others? Where? How many? Were the herds they came from investigated? Or destroyed like those in Canada were? Or, was it all business as usual?
And if it was business as usual, where did the meat from these animals end up? That thought is just plain scary.
I'm sure that we haven't heard the end of this now. The US has a lot of explaining to do. If it is proven that they have been using Canada as a scapegoat while hiding cases of their own, they won't have a friend left in this world. Their credibility will be nil. And any potential markets they had for their beef will evaporate. Somehow it's easier to picture countries buying beef from a country who is known to have BSE, but is honest about it and has a superior animal tracking system to keep on top of new cases, than them wanting to buy from someone who has been proven to be dishonest and untrustworthy. If the American public decided they don't even trust their food supply, their problems will only get worse.
I guess we'll just sit back and watch how this unfolds. Two things, though, have to be said:
First - honour and integrity are not dead in this world, there's at least one guy - a retired vet from New York state - who understands the difference between right and wrong and is willing to show us uncommon courage to set the record straight.
And second - well, sometimes a bad thing turns into a good thing. Thanks to U S policy the Canadian herd has been held totally separate from the American herd for the past two years.
When I first heard the story, many things went through my mind. The first thing was simply "That's no surprise to anyone." In the two years BSE has ruled the Canadian cattle industry, we've had plenty of time to think about how it is that we, with the size of the Canadian herd should have four cases, and they with their much larger herd should have none ... well except for the ones that they knew they could trace back to Canada, that is. I didn't know how it could ever be proven, but it seemed mighty suspicious that Canada was to blame for everything.
The next thing I thought of was who was this vet? And, if he did have information to blow the lid off a very serious cover-up in the U S Ag Department, was he safe?
I waited to hear more about it in the passing days, but the story seemed to drop off the map. Not so much as one word for four or five days. I began to wonder if the poor guy had been in a mysterious car accident, or something, but tonight the CBC had lots to tell. And I'm sure there'll be plenty more to come.
The story is mind boggling. If, indeed, the USDA falsified test results and hid cases of BSE, how many cases were there? The cases this vet is citing both took place in his jurisdiction in New York state; were there others? Where? How many? Were the herds they came from investigated? Or destroyed like those in Canada were? Or, was it all business as usual?
And if it was business as usual, where did the meat from these animals end up? That thought is just plain scary.
I'm sure that we haven't heard the end of this now. The US has a lot of explaining to do. If it is proven that they have been using Canada as a scapegoat while hiding cases of their own, they won't have a friend left in this world. Their credibility will be nil. And any potential markets they had for their beef will evaporate. Somehow it's easier to picture countries buying beef from a country who is known to have BSE, but is honest about it and has a superior animal tracking system to keep on top of new cases, than them wanting to buy from someone who has been proven to be dishonest and untrustworthy. If the American public decided they don't even trust their food supply, their problems will only get worse.
I guess we'll just sit back and watch how this unfolds. Two things, though, have to be said:
First - honour and integrity are not dead in this world, there's at least one guy - a retired vet from New York state - who understands the difference between right and wrong and is willing to show us uncommon courage to set the record straight.
And second - well, sometimes a bad thing turns into a good thing. Thanks to U S policy the Canadian herd has been held totally separate from the American herd for the past two years.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
That Springtime Scent
Those TV commercials for laundry detergents or fabric softeners that tell us that they've managed to bottle the scent of spring always make me shake my head. I'd be willing to bet that no one will ever manage to capture the smell of spring - sure, they can make your laundry smell pretty with perfumes, but the real scent of spring? Not a chance.
That's not to say that you can't bring the smell of spring into your house. Today, not only did I have all the windows open, airing out the winter blahs, but I hung my laundry on the clothsline for the afternoon and then carried it all back in and folded it in the living room. The house doesn't smell like flowers - there are no flowers anywhere near blooming in Saskatchewan in April - but the whole house smells FRESH. The perfect ending to a day of fresh laundry is a bed made up with the same kind of freshness. I've put in a long, physical day, and I'm not far from that perfect ending.
This past week has been phenomonal. Seven days ago it looked and felt like winter. There was snow everywhere. Mother Nature must have decided it was time to turn up the thermostat because in less that one week the white stuff just disappeared. One morning the world was white, the next day there were patches of brown showing through, and after two more days, the creeks were going into flood mode. Tuesday morning we had a lake in our front yard. Water drains toward our corner of the quarter section we live on, and if the culvert under the road south of us is blocked, it takes no time at all for the to water back up and threaten to contaminate our well. We were pretty relieved later that morning when the pressure of the water managed to push through and it started to drain away. As of this morning (Saturday) the waters have receeded to our usual spring creek trickling between the house and barnyards.
We spent a few hours at an auction sale this afternoon. Glen was kind of interested in a tractor, if it would have gone cheap enough, but mostly we went because it was a beautiful day to be outside and to visit with friends and neighbours. By the size of the crowd, it would seem that everyone had the same idea.
The weather forecast is saying that we may have rain or snow tomorrow. It hardly seems possible after today - I even got a bit of a sunburn today! But, even if we do have one more turn with the white stuff, it won't last long. We don't have flowers to prove it's spring, but the birds are back. We've seen robins and meadow larks and kildeers; the crows have been back for quite a while, and great wedges of Canadian Geese fly north over us every day. I guess that means it's time to dig out the humming bird feeders - they'll be showing up next.
That's not to say that you can't bring the smell of spring into your house. Today, not only did I have all the windows open, airing out the winter blahs, but I hung my laundry on the clothsline for the afternoon and then carried it all back in and folded it in the living room. The house doesn't smell like flowers - there are no flowers anywhere near blooming in Saskatchewan in April - but the whole house smells FRESH. The perfect ending to a day of fresh laundry is a bed made up with the same kind of freshness. I've put in a long, physical day, and I'm not far from that perfect ending.
This past week has been phenomonal. Seven days ago it looked and felt like winter. There was snow everywhere. Mother Nature must have decided it was time to turn up the thermostat because in less that one week the white stuff just disappeared. One morning the world was white, the next day there were patches of brown showing through, and after two more days, the creeks were going into flood mode. Tuesday morning we had a lake in our front yard. Water drains toward our corner of the quarter section we live on, and if the culvert under the road south of us is blocked, it takes no time at all for the to water back up and threaten to contaminate our well. We were pretty relieved later that morning when the pressure of the water managed to push through and it started to drain away. As of this morning (Saturday) the waters have receeded to our usual spring creek trickling between the house and barnyards.
We spent a few hours at an auction sale this afternoon. Glen was kind of interested in a tractor, if it would have gone cheap enough, but mostly we went because it was a beautiful day to be outside and to visit with friends and neighbours. By the size of the crowd, it would seem that everyone had the same idea.
The weather forecast is saying that we may have rain or snow tomorrow. It hardly seems possible after today - I even got a bit of a sunburn today! But, even if we do have one more turn with the white stuff, it won't last long. We don't have flowers to prove it's spring, but the birds are back. We've seen robins and meadow larks and kildeers; the crows have been back for quite a while, and great wedges of Canadian Geese fly north over us every day. I guess that means it's time to dig out the humming bird feeders - they'll be showing up next.
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