My goodness they’re at it again, the good old Soil Association want to change the rules about organic status. Now they want to put poor African farmers out of business because food miles are no longer organic in the SA minds. Talk about make it up as you go along, this latest policy on the hoof from the I’m alright Jack mentality of the SA is another example of muddled thinking from the unelected Quango.
Cheers me dears
Barney
African Farmers are no longer Organic?
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud
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Cider Boys
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Hi Barney,
It really shows how dogmatic the SA is. I feel that it really is time they were demoted and removed from the certification list.
They are exceedingly selfish and incidentally I find most Organic practitioners the same. It self self self with the vast majority of them. They are another minority group that is trying to rule the majority.
Tonight the facts and figures regarding the production and transportation of Tomatoes came up on Channel 4 news at 7 o'clock.
Spanish Tomatoes use 600 odd pounds of carbon per tonne and British weigh in at a staggering 2400 odd pounds per tonne.
What will the SA make of that! Ban British Tomatoes!
It was also stated that 85% of air freight was documents and the air freight of produce only a very small percentage.
For all those who buy "Fair Trade" you will no doubt be delighted to know that the SA have Shit on the producers from a great height. I hope now people will see them for what they are, a despicable, dogmatic organization and I for one want rid of them!
JB.
It really shows how dogmatic the SA is. I feel that it really is time they were demoted and removed from the certification list.
They are exceedingly selfish and incidentally I find most Organic practitioners the same. It self self self with the vast majority of them. They are another minority group that is trying to rule the majority.
Tonight the facts and figures regarding the production and transportation of Tomatoes came up on Channel 4 news at 7 o'clock.
Spanish Tomatoes use 600 odd pounds of carbon per tonne and British weigh in at a staggering 2400 odd pounds per tonne.
What will the SA make of that! Ban British Tomatoes!
It was also stated that 85% of air freight was documents and the air freight of produce only a very small percentage.
For all those who buy "Fair Trade" you will no doubt be delighted to know that the SA have Shit on the producers from a great height. I hope now people will see them for what they are, a despicable, dogmatic organization and I for one want rid of them!
JB.
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submariner
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What they are trying to do, like all unelected bodies, is try to make themselves noticed! With our money they can be as outrageous as they wish to be. They have to show that they are still around and being usefull!!!!!!!
As our glorious first minister in Wales said:"we will make a bonfire of quangoes"(?): and now there are more than ever. Jobs for the boys!!
As our glorious first minister in Wales said:"we will make a bonfire of quangoes"(?): and now there are more than ever. Jobs for the boys!!
Love veg!
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alan refail
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Allan
A useful and thought-provoking link. Many thanks. Worth a thousand rants!
Alan
A useful and thought-provoking link. Many thanks. Worth a thousand rants!
Alan
Cred air o bob deg a glywi, a thi a gei rywfaint bach o wir (hen ddihareb Gymraeg)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
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Geoff
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Last couple of days radio has been focusing on obesity - guess what, the Soil Association believe organic food can reduce obesity. I didn't think it was that unpalatable though some of the stuff I see labelled organic would put me off my food.
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Cider Boys
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Brilliant Geoff, just brilliant 
Barney
Barney
Hi Barney,
Surprise surprise the SA have been made to do a complete U-turn and now all of a sudden air freighted produce can still be classified as Organic.
Listen to a waffling Peter Melchett on the Farming Today programme. He doesn't know if he's on his arse or his elbow!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/farmingtoday/
Click on Listen Live.
Me thinks the only thing that would make the SA change course is the government wielding the big stick.
Also of interest there is a bit about Badgers and the noses put out of joint by the Government Chief Scientists conclusion. Even to the point where is is said that a cull of Badgers will increase the spread of Bovine TB. How?
JB.
Surprise surprise the SA have been made to do a complete U-turn and now all of a sudden air freighted produce can still be classified as Organic.
Listen to a waffling Peter Melchett on the Farming Today programme. He doesn't know if he's on his arse or his elbow!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/farmingtoday/
Click on Listen Live.
Me thinks the only thing that would make the SA change course is the government wielding the big stick.
Also of interest there is a bit about Badgers and the noses put out of joint by the Government Chief Scientists conclusion. Even to the point where is is said that a cull of Badgers will increase the spread of Bovine TB. How?
JB.
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Cider Boys
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Hello Johnboy
Thanks for the link; I had already heard about the ‘u’ turn on BBC Words service earlier this morning. What a farce the SA are! I will never understand the solid support they receive from other forum members.
Regarding the badger population, the debate has been going on for many decades and I do not understand why the ‘bunny huggers’ can not accept clear scientific fact. No doubt after expressing this opinion I will certainly receive some enlightened replies.
Barney
(The grey old badger)
Thanks for the link; I had already heard about the ‘u’ turn on BBC Words service earlier this morning. What a farce the SA are! I will never understand the solid support they receive from other forum members.
Regarding the badger population, the debate has been going on for many decades and I do not understand why the ‘bunny huggers’ can not accept clear scientific fact. No doubt after expressing this opinion I will certainly receive some enlightened replies.
Barney
(The grey old badger)
I cannot understand how transport can make an organic product "not organic". Unsustainable certainly but how can it affect its organic status.
Now personally I believe the two should be interlinked as sustainability and organic produce to me go hand in hand but you cannot just take airmiles into consideration. For example, Spanish tomatoes use more carbon to get them to the British market than British grown ones but use a quarter of the carbon to produce than the British ones. So which is best for the environment if both are organic.
I think the SA like ever moving goal posts
Now personally I believe the two should be interlinked as sustainability and organic produce to me go hand in hand but you cannot just take airmiles into consideration. For example, Spanish tomatoes use more carbon to get them to the British market than British grown ones but use a quarter of the carbon to produce than the British ones. So which is best for the environment if both are organic.
I think the SA like ever moving goal posts
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alan refail
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Hi Alan,
Quite frankly what I have just read on your SA thread is mainly total bullshit.
It would appear that Melchett is all for taking on the government. I hope he does because he will lose out. This really is another demonstration why the SA should be taken off the accreditation scheme.
JB.
Quite frankly what I have just read on your SA thread is mainly total bullshit.
It would appear that Melchett is all for taking on the government. I hope he does because he will lose out. This really is another demonstration why the SA should be taken off the accreditation scheme.
JB.
it seems to me that the soil association are tryiny to meddle in things outside their remit, if they are the certification body for organic production , they must confine their activities to that, sure they can include substances applied to the product during storage , but whether the produce is transported in a wheelbarrow for a hundred yards or an aeroplane for a thousand miles is irrelivant, as is fairtrade or the social/working conditions of the production workers.
will the SA be telling the retailers to use longlife bulbs and windpower next???
will the SA be telling the retailers to use longlife bulbs and windpower next???
Hi Richard,
I am glad that you see that the SA are going over the top. This has been my quarrel with them since the late 1950's as they have always been the same.
I was told years ago by a SA representative that the SA would not be satisfied until every person producing anything would be forced to comply with their rules. Apart from that they are guilty of a great many scares which they used in order to get the voice they have today. This is a case of a very lazy Tory government wanting to prove to the nation how green they were giving them the power that they have today.
I truthfully feel that the SA should be demoted and removed from the accreditation system there are many many more better Organic people than the SA.
I feel if they take on the government then there is every chance that this will happen.
JB.
I am glad that you see that the SA are going over the top. This has been my quarrel with them since the late 1950's as they have always been the same.
I was told years ago by a SA representative that the SA would not be satisfied until every person producing anything would be forced to comply with their rules. Apart from that they are guilty of a great many scares which they used in order to get the voice they have today. This is a case of a very lazy Tory government wanting to prove to the nation how green they were giving them the power that they have today.
I truthfully feel that the SA should be demoted and removed from the accreditation system there are many many more better Organic people than the SA.
I feel if they take on the government then there is every chance that this will happen.
JB.