On Saturday the following posting from Green Flavour appeared on my dashboard :
"A New Zealand Government Bill which may be enacted in the near future turns the human right to grow food and share it, into a government authorised privilege that can b summarily revoked. The bill would undermine the efforts of many people to become self-sufficient within their local communities." So I followed the link Caron gave. That took me here:
"NZ Food Bill Will Make Growing Food a Government Privilege Rather than a Human Right"
A New Zealand Government Bill, which may be enacted in the near future, turns the human right to grow food and share it, into a government-authorised privilege that can be summarily revoked. The bill would undermine the efforts of people to become more self-sufficient within their local communities. It will also make it illegal to distribute any type of food based on the bill's language. This includes seeds, nutrients, natural medicines and even water - without the expressed government permission."
"In accordance with the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Codex Alimentarius scheme for global food control, the NZ Food Bill, if passed, will essentially transfer primary control of food from individuals to corporations under the guise of food safety. And unless massive public outcry and awakened consciences within the NZ government are able to put a stop to it, the bill could become law very soon."
Do you remember back in November when I posted about the Nationwide Census that had just be undertaken in South Africa.
You may recall I wrote:
"Funny enough, one of the questions asked of RMan when he answered the doorbell was: "Do you have a veggie patch?" Bear in mind that this census took place at our 'town house', and, RMan, mindful of what I have read (and shared with him) from overseas blogs, answered, "No". Why, I asked him? His reply to me: "Well, it's not 'my' (his) veggie patch" (so he wasn't technically lying). But the question struck him as strange. So he now thinks that the government may try and tax us on our potential additional "privilege" (as is happening overseas where small time growers (as opposed to full-on farmers) have to have a permit to grow crops for their own consumption / bartering), etc...?"
RMan was obviously correct - there appears to be (amongst the powers that be) a bid to manipulate the common man, who put them in power, even more. Big Brother certainly seems to be in the process of taking complete and utter control.
The Bill is even talking about having armed "Food Safety Officers" who will be able to raid a property without a warrant. ARMED?!?!?!
"What all this means, of course, is that the NZ Government may soon be able to arbitrarily decide, at any time, to restrict individual freedom to plant vegetable gardens and share the produce with their neighbours, for instance. Even "cottage industries", which include at-home food artisans, could be restricted under he new law."
WHAT?!!!??!?! We can't even barter in future?
Between the predicted revenue (licences) being collected by the Government with this Bill, and with major seed distributor's ever increasing monopoly (does Monsanto want to take over the world?) it seems as if a giant seed distributing companies can influence governments. They seem to be wielding too much power - to the detriment of every one of us.
What happened to free enterprise? As far as I can tell Money, Greed, Back-hand payments and Monopoly seem to have taken over.
And if we are only able to purchase GM seeds provided by giant agribusiness companies - oh boy - I really fear for this planet we live on.
I reckon that the time to start saving seeds from your plantings is now!
Otherwise, it may be a case of: "Someone - stop the world. I want to get off." And even that may be too late...
Someone mentioned this to me at Christmas although they said it was America rather than NZ. I must admit that I didn't take it seriously because it is just too fanciful and ridiculous, but now it looks like it is a serious idea. But surely growing food in your own garden is a right and a personal choice, I cannot begin to imagine who thought this up. Of course, it is likely that food producers are putting pressure on governments to make people 100% reliant on them, and after all, governments are run by these powerful companies really. They do not like to see people getting something and no-one profiting from it other than the individual. Surely people will not allow this to happen?
ReplyDeleteFrugal Living - Yes, I too had heard about this being an issue in America, but New Zealand? And the rest of the world...?
DeleteDo "people" have enough of a voice?
I know here in the states our rights are being stripped away at an alarming rate. Big Brother is indeed about to embark on a whole new way of doing things and unless we are vigilant--this could easily happen. Scary scary times we are living in!
ReplyDeleteSue - Very scary, completely unthinkable, and horrific for the future of this planet, I fear.
DeleteSame type of issues are going on in America...unbeknownst to most of us. U.S. judge has ruled that "Plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to produce and consume the foods of their choice." - http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/wisconsin-judge-rules-no-right-to-own-a-cow-or-drink-its-milk/
ReplyDeleteMr H - This is an outrage! What level are we (you) being relegated / delegated to?
DeleteWhat does your constitution say regarding growing your own crops, and rearing your own animals? You have the right to bear arms, what does it say about being a farmer, whether you are a home grower, subsistence farmer or major producer?
All in the name of food safety!! All food problems in the past have come from the corporate farms not the individual mom and pop gardens. This makes me so mad and puckers me up in places I don't need to be puckered up. The NWO will cause a world revolution like cannot be imagined. Governments cannot rule with an iron fist if there is free enterprise. If people are broken down into whipped robots, then the government can do what they want with little or no resistance, or so it is thought. It also scares me that only individuals with money can become President, as in our case. Money breeds more money and undesirable influence. Thanks for the post. Just confirms a lot of fears that I have.
ReplyDeleteJohn - I don't believe it is for food safety. What health incidents have there been regarding poisoned foodstuffs - apart from the bean sprouts last year. Nada! Reckon they need to control food because of the fertilizers that are allowed to pollute our planet. THEY know what those fertilizers contain - us mere mortals have to trust them. I for one will do whatever research I can do to ensure that I grow food fit to be eaten raw.
DeleteMoney certainly breeds money - and, though we may be thoroughly modern, I keep feeling that the decadent Roman times are upon us again...
This is drastically radical, yet not news to me. We have some legislation that passed in the US that impacts very few-but is massively harmful to independent food security.
ReplyDeleteWoe unto us all for allowing the governments of the world to become so all powerful that they have taken the right of a family to provide for themselves away.
Yes, the time to preserve seeds, as well as how to grow, put up the harvest etc...is NOW.
Not paranoid in the USA, just aware that the times have indeed changed.
Jennifer
Jennifer - I've heard / read what is happening in the US of A. Frightens the life out of me - you're living in a supposed 1st World country - and I'm in a "developing" country... where is this going to lead?
DeleteSave seed. Save seed. Save seed :) It's in your best interests.
While these types of laws have been passing for a while here, they are often difficult to enforce on a small scale. And each State can make up its own rules that can negate the federal rules. All a bunch of political crap. But we cant blame anyone but ourselves. The people have given over their rights long ago to crooked corporations because they dont care enough to become involved. Even with all the information out there, people still make the wrong choice because it is easier and make matters worse. In the words of a character from a favorite book "cheer up, you will soon be dead" :)
ReplyDeleteJane - Just frightens me that ARMED Food Safety Officers will be on the prowl.
DeleteYup - if you don't take the time / effort stand up for your rights, you have no right to question when things aren't to your liking.
Just plain world wide doom and gloom. Gov'ts in bed with $ and big companies. Little folks squashed like bugs .. Makes me want to not post any more pics of my garden .. oh ya, I had a black hawk helicopter take aerial photos at tree top level two years ago of my backyard garden. Sigh .. on knees praying.
ReplyDeleteMrs Mac - Don't mean to be doom and gloom. I'm only trying to spread awareness of, what is to me, an horrific situation.
DeleteGood point about photo's of our veggies... LOL
This is a horrific idea (evil plot) that I had heard about last year. I even had wild ideas of planting booby-traps in the yard. :(
DeleteNow THAT'S a good idea, Mrs Mac :)
DeleteIts Divide and Conquer here in the US and has been going that way for a LONG time. With what you are talking about if we are left with what the government wants us to have then we are more easily controlled. (Especially when Food, Water and so on are involved.) On top of that the government is killing off animals saying they are not indigenous to the areas they are in and are harmful. Down here its wild donkeys, Audads, feral pigs and probably a few more. Actually that would mean food to the starving if it game down to that and the government doesn't want us to have that food source to fall back on. Some might think the thought of eating a donkey is revolting, but if you get hungry enough you probably wouldn't think twice about it.
ReplyDeleteDavid - Dunno about the divide, but definitely seems a case of conquer.
DeleteHope this idea doesn't spread to Oz and it smells like it's not governments but possibly seed companies(dare I mention GM ones?) with lots of money to throw around that might be pushing this idea!
ReplyDeleteWhat happens to a country when a sixth of it's growing area is impacted by a cyclone and flooding like what happened in Queensland, Australia? They are still recovering well over 12 months later. The prices of fruit, especially tropical fruit, skyrocketed and even common veges like tomatoes were an astronomical price. We either have droughts or floods here in succession and if it's not one state it's another and everyone pitches in to help with whatever foodstuffs they can spare. I can't imagine the bill if it has to be supplied by a mega grower regulated by the government because no one is allowed to grow their own and donate it to the cause.
What about those with food and chemical allergies - this certainly isn't a good food safety influence for them as there's still many 'hidden' ingredients in fresh food!?
ttfnguy - Australia exports wild camels and feral goats(non-indigenous animals) as the original countries they were native to have hardly any decent breeding specimens left! There are even farms in our desert areas set up to care for wild camels when seasonal conditions are tough.
OK, off my soapbox but this REALLY gets up my nose.
Robyn
Robyn - Lots and lots of money, making the powerful more wealthy. At the expense of the common man.
DeleteI can see the headlines now. 4 smugglers shot dead on the Mexican boarder. Agents found 5 cases of 303 cans of un taxed green beans. Not meant to be funny.
ReplyDeleteLou - But the mental picture is LOL
DeleteWould governments go that far. I guess we'll find out...