Tuesday, July 5, 2022

Dutch farmers protest climate change action in The Netherlands.

File photo of the 2019 farmer's protests. By kees torn flickr
 

Dutch farmers are protesting climate change actions in the Netherlands that would put them out of business. Zero Hedge.  The government wants to reduce farms by 30% in a scheme to reduce nitrogen and ammonia emissions. This move has infuriated Dutch farmers and they have been protesting for some time now. Farmers have taken to blocking distribution centers to prevent the distribution of food. Fishermen have also joined into the protests and have begun blocking ports. 



My Comment:

This story isn't getting anywhere near the coverage it should be getting. You would think that massive protests blocking food would be a big story but American media is, of course, out to lunch. I had to go with alternative media and social media to even hear about this story.  There were a few mainstream sources but they were all out of date and did not include the fact that police were shooting at protesters. 

That incident was fairly shocking to me because I didn't see anything that could possibly justify the police opening fire. The tractor was not anywhere near the police and I did not see any threat at all. I don't understand why police would open fire in this case, it makes no sense and they could have very easily killed the driver. 

The Netherlands is a huge farming country and one of the biggest exporters of food in Europe. Getting rid of 30% of their farms would do massive damage to the economy there and would likely contribute to the worlds major food crisis. Keep in mind crop failures in China and the United States, along with the war in Ukraine have already brought food prices out of control. Cutting 30% of farms in a country that exports a ton of food is only going to make things worse, perhaps dramatically.

And I don't buy that this is actually about the environment. I am sure that is the excuse being used but I think this is really about property. Those farmers sit on land that can be used for other things and I think that is what Holland is after here. 

But I think they have pushed way to hard here and that people are going to put up with it. From what I have been able to gather (and keep in mind, this is from social media and may not be 100% accurate) the people are on the side of the farmers. The see this as a land grab that it is and aren't going to back the government. 

And the government is fairly vulnerable to the tactics the farmers are using. They are using similar tactics to the Canadian Freedom Convoy by blocking roads and distribution centers, but they are doing it in an even more effective way. Instead of blocking useless buildings like the capitol, the Dutch are blocking food distribution centers. Not to mention showing up at politicians homes and using a tank. 

The government of the Netherlands has few good options. The most sane thing they could do is back down and get rid of this stupid plan, but if they do that they lose all credibility and the government could fall. Their other option is to crack down hard on the protesters. Given that they are already opening firing on protesters and going after their bank accounts, I shudder to think about what could happen next. The Netherlands could indeed be heading for civil war... 

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