Now tracking the new emerging South Africa Omicron Variant |
"Cow Manure Pie Assault Ends Meeting" |
Post Reply |
Author | |
Guests
Guest Group |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: March 13 2006 at 8:02am |
Manure assault ends informational meeting
By Associated Press March 13, 2006 ELLSWORTH, Maine - An attack by masked protesters who targeted state agriculture officials with cow manure pies ended a weekend meeting with farmers on a controversial livestock identification and tracking plan. The informational meeting at City Hall was winding down Saturday when the two attackers threw aluminum pie tins containing a mixture of manure and wood shavings at Dr. Don Hoenig, the state veterinarian, and Shelley Doak, director of animal industry for the Maine Department of Agriculture. The Ellsworth meeting, and a similar session in Columbia Falls, drew critics of proposed legislation authorizing the state to develop rules governing registration of farms and tagging of individual animals. Rules for the Maine Animal Identification Program would be consistent with a federal system being developed. Noting that 12 of the last 13 major human infections, including SARS and bird flu, had an animal origin, Hoenig said the ID and tracking system would enable officials to track animal movements in the event of a disease outbreak. "If we have a system of animal identification, we can do our job quicker and more effectively," Hoenig said. The proposed system drew little support at the meeting, with critics calling it invasive, insulting and ineffective. Some said it would be costly and unenforceable, causing the most harm to small farmers who raise animals for their own use or for a limited, regional market. "This is for big money," Dan Huisjen of Brooksville said of the proposed rules." Looking around the room, he added, "And we don't have big money to put into this. These are the people that this is going to destroy." Some characterized the plan as an unfunded government mandate that could not be enforced and would not work even if people complied. The pie-wielding protesters, dressed in black and wearing caricature masks, entered the auditorium toward the close of the meeting. They threw the manure at Doak and Hoenig with enough force that the spray also struck several of the attendees and spattered against walls. No one was seriously injured, and both assailants escaped. Meeting organizer Lore Lipvich of Mariaville said she was appalled by the attack and worried that it might undo the good the conversation had achieves. "We're trying to work this through so everybody benefits," Lipvich said. "This is not the message we were trying to send." Hoenig said he would insist that police be present at future meetings on the issue. Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/special/3_13special1.htm |
|
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You can vote in polls in this forum |