When most of us think of a typical protest, images of cowboy hats and tractors don’t generally come to mind. But, farmers have definitely played a role in shaping public policy (or at least garnering some attention) through protests.
1. Cows Against TPP
Cows, milk, farmers and tractors hit the streets of Ottawa this week — only days after Quebec farmers hit Montreal — to protest trade negotiations surrounding dairy in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). The farmers have certainly received mainstream attention already:
“OK guys move the cows along” are instructions I don’t think Ottawa police give too often. #TPP #cbcott pic.twitter.com/dz8mK5ss6K
— Andrew Foote (@amkfoote) September 29, 2015
Can’t have a dairy protest without some spilled milk. Farmers protest #TPP on Parliament Hill today. pic.twitter.com/jJWBauyERU
— barrie mckenna (@barriemckenna) September 29, 2015
About 450 ppl at the #TPP protest and 120 tractors parked on Wellington according to RCMP. No cow estimate. #OttNews pic.twitter.com/8WkHnJHq3C
— Kristy Cameron (@CFRAKristy) September 29, 2015
About 3 dozen big tractors moving slowly up Wellington past parliament now pic.twitter.com/Kc9F4i1vD0
— Stu Mills (@StuMillsCBC) September 29, 2015
Related:
- Poll: Should Canada Join the TPP if the Cost is Supply Management?
- Canola School: Understanding What the TPP Could Mean for Canola Growers
- The Trouble with the TPP TPP Participation is Critical for Maintaining Canadian Pork Exports
2. The Urban Lagoon
French farmers hit the streets in July and September, to protest falling food prices. The most recent protest hit Paris, with over 1000 tractors and reports of traffic backed up 60km in areas. July protests saw farmers blockading roads from Germany and Spain, preventing hundreds of food trucks from entering the country. They ransacked food trucks, dumped manure in the streets, burned tires on major roads and sprayed straw on cars. The French government gave in to provide emergency tax relief and loan guarantees, but unrest in the country continues.
Photos: French farmers spray straw on cars in prices protest http://t.co/GxEdC2uc4o pic.twitter.com/FCKzIFjKC5 — Edward Morgan (@EdmogFW) July 29, 2015
Europe: UK Drivers Warned Over French Protest Chaos: Drivers heading off on holiday to France are being warned… http://t.co/zl8h7ntSeu — Elain Duke (@ElainDuke) July 23, 2015
Don’t be surprised if you get stuck behind manure, trolleys, tyres or tractors in France today http://t.co/xifDeIC5WV pic.twitter.com/V4UEULTyvM — The Local France (@TheLocalFrance) July 23, 2015
Manure v EU laws: French farmers dump sh*t nr administrative offices http://t.co/z3Tjk8Ny1t http://t.co/zNMbgid2hU pic.twitter.com/MELGqnICu8 — Lajouetreine (@lajouetreine) November 10, 2014
3. A Sheepish City of Lovers
France hits the list again. This time, with the 2014 protest of wolf predation on sheep flocks. Some media outlets reported up to 300 sheep grazing beneath the Eiffel Tower, while their owners protested the protection of wolves, saying compensating farmers for losses is a waste of money.
French farmers take sheep flocks to Eiffel Tower to protest ‘govt-protected’ wolves | @scoopit http://t.co/0WoNRSrqNp — SuzyQ8 (@anonymiss8) January 9, 2015
Sacre bleu! RT @AngryNIdaho: OMG #WOLVES! MT @ModFarm: Sheep at Eiffel Tower. Because, wolves. http://t.co/5tjOodKQ9u pic.twitter.com/VbeC9JchuG
— Kevin Richert (@KevinRichert) December 3, 2014
French sheep farmers ‘cry wolf’ in Eiffel Tower protest http://t.co/ktI9OcOE8upic.twitter.com/ffxUOYoHDV
— Farmers Weekly (@FarmersWeekly) November 28, 2014
4. Brussels Sprouts with Ag Turmoil
An extension of the frustration expressed over falling food prices in France, the September protests in Brussels made mainstream news largely thanks to the use of tear gas and water cannons by police in the city. The thousands of farmers were far from innocent, throwing eggs, firecrackers, stones and straw at anti-riot police The European Union released emergency funds as a result of the protests.
Violence erupts at Brussels farmer protest – follow @FarmersWeekly live coverage here: http://t.co/oUiKRyx66A pic.twitter.com/iCOZRsDF6p — Karl Schneider (@KarlSchneider) September 7, 2015
Mass EU farmer protest: Tear gas and water cannons in Brussels http://t.co/qwcWjWsb0r pic.twitter.com/5HNybHWqEo
— Lana Violet88 (@LanaViolet88) September 7, 2015
Tear gas, water cannon at mass EU farmer protest in Brussels https://t.co/fWZ2KsgyjA #video [ad http://t.co/3w0S6lKmjw ] — Collected News (@CollectedN) September 7, 2015
PIC: Pig farmer and burning pallets at the #FarmAction protest in Brussels pic.twitter.com/Uzt05zS1kK — Johann Tasker (@johanntasker) September 7, 2015
5. Jail Time
We’d be remiss if we didn’t also include the protest by thirteen Canadian farmers who challenged laws by crossing the U.S. border with grain in the 1990s — in the time of the Canadian Wheat Board. The handcuffs came out in Lethbridge in 2002, and ten years on, all were pardoned by Prime Minister Harper.
.@PMHarper grants pardon for #WRP MLA Rick Strankman and all those convicted for violating CWB monopoly… Congrats Rick! #ableg #cdnpoli — Team Wildrose (@TeamWildrose) August 1, 2012
Please register to read and comment.