Farmers blockaded Paris to protest the impossible mandates being handed down to them by both Paris and the EU in the name of fighting “global warming.”
The farmer interviewed says they (i.e. FNSEA, the largest French farming union) have a list of 140 demands. Try as I might, I can’t find a list of those demands, in English or even French. This seems to hit on key grievances, but there’s a fair amount of highfalutin generalities in the English translation. This seems to be a key point: “In Europe, the very philosophy of the Green deal which assumes degrowth needs to be reviewed to restore visibility to farmers.”
If previous demands from other Eurostrikers are any guide, the demands are probably a mix of good (stop with the green insanity, lower taxes and eliminate red tape) and bad (more subsidies).
It looks like the blockade ended because the government met some of their demands.
The French farmers said President Emmanuel Macron’s government now needed to act fast on its pledges, which have included scrapping plans to raise tax contributions on tractor diesel, an easing of pesticide regulations, a pause on new fallow land rules, and more safety checks on food imports.
If you had told some one five years ago that “French farmers will be hailing Jeremy Clarkson as a hero,” no one would have believed you…
Tags: EU, farming, France, Global Warming, Jeremy Clarkson, Paris, Regulation, video
The concessions being offered to the French farmers seem to be reasonable and easily implemented. Seeing Macron quickly back down when challenged by these protesters signals that he is on his back foot regarding policy decisions.
It invites the question as to why agricultural legislation was adopted only to be abandoned at the first sign of resistance. If Macron’s hand was forced by the EU, this populist pushback suggests that national sovereignty is beginning to make itself known as a political force to the detriment of distant bureaucratic oversight.
Farmers enjoy a rustic and wholesome image. It is stupid and dangerous to single them out as a being a menace to society or a threat to the environment.
Clackson’s Fram is a lot of fun, and a good argument for getting Amazon Prime
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I am not sure what in depth knowledge Malthus has of the farmers’ predicament that lets him state the the concessions offered “seem reasonable”.
Why did the farmers quickly agree to them and end their protest if the terms were unreasonable?
The terms may have been reasonable or unreasonable. The government may or may not live up to their half of the agreement.
But farming is not a career you can pause for weeks on end and resume without consequences. Mother Nature waits for no one, and you only have so many days to prepare for Spring planting.
C’est formidable!
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