On today’s show we looked at a controversial new tax being imposed on farm animals in New Zealand.
Farmers are up in arms at the planned imposition of taxes aimed at curbing the climate-heating gases emitted by farm animals when they burp and fart.
Lobby group Groundswell New Zealand helped organise more than 50 protests in towns and cities across the country attracted farmers who came up with some creative slogans to express their frustration.
One placard read: “Without farmers you will be hungry, naked & sober”; and another: “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
The government says the new levy, designed to curb climate breakdown, would be a world first and that farmers should be able to recover the cost by charging a premium for climate-friendly products, however the industry which involves 10 million beef and dairy cattle and 26 million sheep compared to New Zealand’s population of five million people, argues a tax could increase global greenhouse gas emissions by shifting farming to countries less efficient at making food.
At least it’s not just here where controversy rules.
Meanwhile over in the USA news has emerged of a 55-year-old Massachusetts woman involved in a “sting” operation against officials trying to enforce an eviction notice.
Yes it seems that she is apparently facing several assault and battery charges for allegedly releasing a swarm of bees on a group of sheriff’s deputies.
Rorie Woods, who lives in Hadley, is accused of carrying out the attack while officers from Hampden County Sheriff’s Department were dealing with an eviction notice at a home in Longmeadow.
Wearing a beekeeper’s suit to protect herself it seems that she turned up with an SUV towing a number of beehives and started “shaking” them, breaking the cover off one and causing hundreds of bees to swarm out in an effort to stop the eviction.
She was eventually arrested but not before several officers were stung including three who were allergic to bee stings. When made aware of this, Rorie responded, “Oh, you’re allergic? Good,” One victim had to be hospitalised but fortunately made a full recovery otherwise she might have faced more serious charges.
Her connection to the property where the eviction notice was being served has not been revealed.
Well I never!
Hope to have the pleasure of your company again tomorrow,
Scott
