Australia’s Livestock industry is not the public interest – not even remotely. You can be forgiven for thinking so though, the way it is paraded by some. Take Liberal MP John Vogels for instance. Doing his job no doubt, but in a very short sighted way.

In a few breaths he communicates the most dangerous misconceptions floating in our cultural consciousness:

It seems tofu-munching climate change extremists and animal libbers have taken over the CSIRO, wasting taxpayer funds to publish books designed to wipe out our agriculture industries with the ultimate goal of forcing farmers off the land. As a nation we need to move beyond the kindergarten view that livestock generate greenhouse gas emissions and focus climate change strategies on reducing those emissions which are genuine pollutants. (Via The Standard)

I did have these points arrayed in witty sarcasm but it was just too sly for my style so here they are with less ado.

• “Tofu-munching” vegetarians will live longer by developing less chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. I doubt there are significantly more vegetarians than in the rest of society (ditto for following points).

• “Animal libbers”:  people who recognise the similarities between humans and animals, and seek to reduce their suffering.

• “Climate change extremists” . . .  people who pay attention to large scale and multi-faceted research and are thus concerned about the future of the country and our children. People who don’t want more deadly fires or dust storms.

• “Taxpayer funds” . . .  The money Australians pay to keep their country running, implying not drought devastated, dusty, barren, infertile, saline, burnt and otherwise degraded and depleted. Not the money paid to support the private interest of select industries or people.

• “Kindergarten view” . . .  The view of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, IPCC Cheif Dr. Rajendra Pachuari, NASA director Dr. James Hansen?

Former prime ministers Billy Hughes and Stanley Melbourne Bruce would be turning in their graves because they established the CSIRO to assist Australia’s primary and secondary industries, not to attack or undermine farmers.

To me Mr Vogel’s statements represent fear of change. Ideological concepts are being stripped from society and the violence that underlays them is becoming clear. We don’t need to abuse animals, our own health and our environment. There is no practical reason to do so – only imaginary reasons – mentally constructed reasons. Either the reasons will die or we will.

I don’t mean to belittle the man – none of us are perfect. However at this point in time, with the current pressure on our world from meat, I do want you to know how ridiculous this particular view is.

Bless him and bless us all – can we turn around now please?

Here’s an simple PowerPoint presentation that highlights some of the ways livestock damage our earth.

And another one - slightly more in depth.