Countryside Matters_Burning Issues_Index 2003

	Countryside Matters Burning Issues
Farming Matters! Facts and figures Burning Issues 2004	Burning Issues 2003 'Don't Shop at Supermarkets' - National Day called for first Saturday in September 'Fuel Rules! - OK??' - New rules on lending tractors and use of red diesel - March 2003 The GM debate continues - Controversial statements on co-existence 'Food' for Thought - GM Crops debate Burning Issues 2002: - including GM crops report Dec 02, post offices, food additives etc Burning Issues 2001 - Globalisation, the WTO, Foot and Mouth Crisis, Global Sourcing Also articles from 2000 and archive access	Countryside Matters! 'Food' for Thought 2002 and 2003
Top	National 'Don't Shop at Supermarkets' Day
	The role of the major supermarkets has been a cause of concern to the farming community and others for a considerable time. Continuing concerns over the impact on farming world-wide, the global and local environment and local communities prompted a call for a national boycott of supermarkets on the first Saturday in September. For the full article explaining the reasons for concern, which the author has said may be copied and circulated, see National 'Don't Shop at Supermarkets' Day.
More Burning Issues 2004	Main Index	See also Food for Thought 2003
Helplines	Main index
Top March 2003	Fuel Rules! - OK??
	‘Neither a borrower nor a lender be’:- or if you be a lender make sure you register with HM Customs and Excise as a ‘fuel dealer’! I jest not! It seems that any farmers who ‘lend out’ their tractors will have to register under a special scheme listing them as Registered Dealers in Controlled Oils. Once again new guidelines are coming into effect at ridiculously short notice on 1st April (a matter of 3 weeks from the news breaking!). Once again farmers are to be faced with bureaucracy and paperwork. Once again the call by Ministers and Advisors to ‘co-operate’ is made a mockery by a Government department. The practical outworkings of these new rules will have severe implications for machinery rings as well as the everyday help given by one neighbour to another. Does the Government really want farming to become more efficient, or does it want to abolish noisy smelly tractors along with cows, sheep, pigs and ultimately farmers themselves? Link to news item:- http://www.fwi.co.uk/article.asp?con=9471&sec=20&hier=20 You will need to register as a user to access the FWi site if you have not already done so.
More Burning Issues 2003	Main Index Food for Thought 2002 and Burning Issues 2002	See also Food for Thought 2003
Top July 2003	The GM Crop Debate
	During June and July the issue of GM crops has been discussed at a number of meetings across the country. Dr Malcolm Hooper gave a very helpful and interesting presentation to groups in Devon and Somerset.
October 2003	The GM Crop Debate Scientists say ‘Co-existence 'is no problem'’
	If you question the wisdom of growing G.M. crops then be aware of the concerted push by bio-tech scientists and researchers towards their acceptance by the Government. See the Fwi web site at http://www.fwi.co.uk/article.asp?con=12796&sec=2&hier=66. If you are not already registered as a user you will need to ‘log on’ (for free) before downloading.
More Burning Issues 2003	Main Index 'Don't Worry (It's Safe to Eat) Top	See also Food for Thought 2003