23/12/2003 
Just a few words before the turn of the year - A comment by Franz Meyer zu Holte, ISN Chairman
Looking back on the year, trying to console the people or just let them hear some encouraging words: that's the custom around Christmas time. But seeing the desperate situation on the pig market, this is not so easy if it's about pig keepers, who to cheer up or comfort is very difficult under these circumstances. Even all that actionism, arising in many places, cannot be of help really.
Fortunately we know about the phenomenon of what we call the
Looking at the political sphere, you will find that this is much more disappointing. Here he is, a Chancellor who just doesn't take it very seriously that complete branches of industry are being transferred to countries with a low-wage economy, and who lets a stubborn Minister allow that huge sectors of food production be shifted to countries with a poor environmental consciousness.
Letting egg production move away was the first step, and the next one will most probably be taken regarding meat. It looks utterly absurd that our Government complains about escalating bureaucracy. Haven't the governing politicians themselves turned the screws, and are they not doing so still?
We, as resistant-to-subsidies pig keepers, feel hurt so much by all those matters. We have grown accustomed to the rigours of market, but we do feel indeed the burden of all those little pricks that result from populist considerations which are directed at the pig keepers as a minority group -- which feels by far worse than empty accounts would do.
Let us hope for more political fairness and common sense in 2004; we are used to cope with the rest by ourselves. This would mean a great step forward to a successful and good new year.
Wishing you and your families good luck for this, the ISN hopes that all its members will have a very Happy New Year!
Fortunately we know about the phenomenon of what we call the
pig cycle. And we do know that -- despite all that prophecy of doom -- this cycle will bring back satisfying situations some day. It just needs to be allowed to work, i. e. the market must be enabled to clear itself up again.
Looking at the political sphere, you will find that this is much more disappointing. Here he is, a Chancellor who just doesn't take it very seriously that complete branches of industry are being transferred to countries with a low-wage economy, and who lets a stubborn Minister allow that huge sectors of food production be shifted to countries with a poor environmental consciousness.
Letting egg production move away was the first step, and the next one will most probably be taken regarding meat. It looks utterly absurd that our Government complains about escalating bureaucracy. Haven't the governing politicians themselves turned the screws, and are they not doing so still?
We, as resistant-to-subsidies pig keepers, feel hurt so much by all those matters. We have grown accustomed to the rigours of market, but we do feel indeed the burden of all those little pricks that result from populist considerations which are directed at the pig keepers as a minority group -- which feels by far worse than empty accounts would do.
Let us hope for more political fairness and common sense in 2004; we are used to cope with the rest by ourselves. This would mean a great step forward to a successful and good new year.
Wishing you and your families good luck for this, the ISN hopes that all its members will have a very Happy New Year!
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