Thursday, February 01, 2007

 
Hi,
This just came down today. The effects of fluorides on llivestock is well documented and accepted by agricultural departments and farmers world over. According to the Health Department, Federal and State Governments and Medical bodies we human beings are the only mammals unaffected by fluorides...(curious?).
Compliments
Therese Mackay
President of the Hastings Safe Water Association Port Macquarie Australia
tmackay@tsn.cc and dmackay@tsn.cc

European investigation into Castlecomer farm gets green light
Kilkenny Advertiser 31/1/07
By Naoise O' Donovan Coogan and Mike Burke in Bru
A bid by a north Kilkenny farmer to secure a European investigation into problems which have been ongoing on his farm for 16 years, has been successful.
Dan Brennan brought his case before the petitions committee of the European Parliament in an effort to persuade them to conduct an independent investigation into the mysterious health problems affecting his dairy herd.
The c ommittee has asked the Commission to undertake a full review of all the scientific reports carried out on the farm to date.
Mr Brennan told the Kilkenny Advertiser yesterday evening (Tuesday) that he was delighted that his case is to be investigated by the European Petitions Committee as he was at his wits' end.
"This was a final attempt to try and sort out the problems that are affecting my cattle on my farm. They have experienced stunted growth and have not thrived in years. There is something wrong and I have been down every other avenue in an attempt to discover what the problem is. The Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency have not been helpful and have passed the buck and walked away from the problem while I have to continue on as I am. It has been very frustrating for me and my family over the years trying to figure out what the problem might be, so I am delighted that finally the committee will now investigate this case."
Dan Brennan has a 170-acre farm outside Castlecomer, close to the location of the Ormonde Brick factory on the outskirts of the town. Yesterday he expressed his concerns to the Chairman of the committee about the emissions coming from the stack at Ormonde Brick. He told the committee that he believed that emissions of hydrogen fluoride from the stack had been in breach of an integrated pollution control licence. He added that at various times, he also believed that the company had been non-compliant with the terms of their license with respect to fluoride and chloride results.
However, the Chairman of the committee said any suggestion that emissions from the brick factory are responsible for Mr Brennan's predicament were purely speculative at this stage as the case documented on the petitions form had not yet been established. He added, "it is important however, that the applicable community legislation is fully implemented in order to protect health and the environment."
The Chairman then gave a commitment to visit Mr Brennan's farm when the committee was visiting Ireland to investigate a different case.
Mr Brennan's herd mysteriously lose weight, animals have stunted growth, milk yields from the cows is significantly down and dozens of calves have died. Also, it has been noted that around the farm, over 100 trees have died. There have also been rumours that trees in the nearby golf club have died and samples were sent to be tested by the club. It is unclear as to whether or not other farmers in the area are also experiencing similar problems to Mr Brennan.
The Environmental Protection Agency has examined emissions from the nearby brick factory, but the company says the EPA and Department of Agriculture investigations have shown no link between the plant and the problems on the Brennan farm.
Mr Brennan said that one way or the other he is happy that the case will be examined at European level.
"I accept that they cannot make a decision without coming to see my farm. I am a lot more positive today - I think there is hope again for the future."
Mr Brennan was in Brussels with two local vets, Tom Slevin and Michael Lambe along with Green Party Deputy Leader, Mary White.
Cllr White said that she was delighted with the outcome of yesterday's hearing.
"I very much welcome the decision of the EU Petitions Committee to keep this petition open and to come on a fact-finding mission to Dan Brennan's farm in Castlecomer.
"Anyone who has visited the farm will be shocked at the small size and state of the cattle. It is obvious that there is a serious problem affecting the farm which has been attributed to non-farming practices and which also affects the trees on the farm. It took me six months of research to put this case together on Dan's behalf and we have come to Brussels because the statutory agencies in Ireland have failed this farmer."

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