Farmers descended on The Hague, Netherlands, in droves to protest possible restrictions and regulations on the agriculture industry centred on greenhouse gas emissions. Hundreds of farmers clogged highways for hours, and drove over temporary fences once at the meeting site. At last report, at least three people had been arrested.
A recent commission report recommends reducing the number of animals on farms by half in an effort to reduce nitrogen emissions, according to the organizers.
The demonstration and protest goes beyond possible cuts to production — it’s personal, too. “We are not animal abusers and environment polluters. We have a heart for our businesses,” says one organizer online. Dutch farmers say they are one industry that has actually decreased its phosphorus, and follow the rules and regulations but are disrespected by regulators.
A New York Times article (found here), says that minister of agriculture Carola Schouten addressed the situation, and said that no reduction would take place as long as she held her post, and said she would to listen to the farmers’ other concerns.
Farmers are protesting in the Netherlands and it is now the biggest traffic jam we’ve ever seen, thousands of tractors are driving on the highways right now ? #boerenprotest is even worldwide trending on twitter right now??? pic.twitter.com/mIcWzq3BnS
— Paploo (@Paploo968) October 1, 2019
Dutch tractor protest sparks ‘worst rush hour’ ???https://t.co/xCZc5a4r6F
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) October 1, 2019
There are several videos of the protest on Boer Bewust‘s Facebook page, here.
