Another View

Opinion

Discussion

January 24, 2013

Another View

"The Fox Guards the Chickens"

Charlotte Shivvers Journal-Express The Zope Gazette Thu Jan 24, 2013, 10:43 AM CST

Knoxville —

I’ve been disturbed to learn that beautiful Iowa’s list of “impaired waterways” has grown to 628 so I decided to attend the recent day of action sponsored by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (ICCI).

It was a great to chant, “This is what democracy looks like!” as hundreds of us milled around the grand rotunda of our Iowa Capitol before Gov. Branstad delivered his speech. It was however quite painful to see more of how our democracy works.

My interest in clean water took me to the session on factory farming – runoff from confinement animal feeding operations (CAFO’s) is the main source of impairment to our waterways. (There’ve been at least 800 manure spills since 1995.)

Main update was – little has been done: one woman related how her home is now surrounded by CAFO’s; odor and excrement from thousands of hogs so poisons her landscape that their retirement nest egg – the value of their farm home – is gone. A man told about the asthmatic condition he’s developed from CAFO pollution around the home they bought for an escape to Iowa’s clean air. And we’re still trying for small safeguards: local control; no CAFO closer than half a mile to a home; cut the construction permit threshold to 1,250 hogs …

So, of course, I went to the meeting where the 8-member, Governor-appointed, Iowa Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) was to vote on a proposed new rule for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). ICCI explained, “A big-moneyed corporate ag interest group called the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) has proposed a new rule to the DNR that, if passed, will weaken the DNR’s ability to crack down on factory farm polluters who violate our clean water laws … “

First, four people spoke for the new rule, representing Farm Bureau and Hog Producers, for instance. Then came all who could speak against it in a half hour – compelling testimony against the rule. (In previous public hearings 86 percent of speakers had been against.) The new rule was hard to understand – a rule against rules, one said. Why now when the DNR needs full staff restored and stronger rules to protect our water? But after the EPC unanimously approved, I found out why: most of the EPC are so intricately connected to factory farms and other polluting industries that in a court hearing they would have been required to “recuse” or excuse themselves.

EPC includes for instance:

• Max Smith, who runs the big CAFO on Highway 5 between Knoxville and Attica.

• Brent Rastetter, who owns a company that builds factory farms.

• Joanne Stockdale, a past chair of ABI, the group that pushed the new rule.

• Cindy Greiman with Monsanto Iowa.

• Mary Boote, head of Truth about Trade & Technology, a group for big ag and free trade.

Get the picture? An agribusiness support group? Probably none – except Max Smith – live within breathing distance of a CAFO. No one known for their actions to clean our water. No one from any child safety or health initiatives group. No, all the EPC members for whom I could find a quick bio would be dollars ahead if nothing were done by DNR to protect Iowa’s environment.

Conclusion: we have well-trained, highly motivated foxes who are empowered to watch over all us chickens. Chickens who are too poorly organized to bring change for the great majority of Iowa citizens who would like clean water and clean air. “Cheep, cheep” – let’s get together and make change!

Text Only

Opinion

Memorial Day A Memorial Day poem On this beautiful Memorial Day We humbly bow our heads To pay homage to our fighting men The living and the Dead. Let us also hold in reverence The wives and mothers too, Who gave a husband or a son To die for me and you. Gre
May 24, 2013
Slices of Life: I'll do it later "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today." Thomas Jefferson Yeah right. I've been meaning to write a column about procrastination - I just never got around to it. Besides, I'm not sure even Thomas Jefferson could abide by his own words 100
May 17, 2013
Some of the lessons of motherhood I've been on the job for more than 21 years, without a day off for longevity, illness, endurance or good behavior. I'm not complaining. I wouldn't want a day off. Not a whole day, anyway. Although I do appreciate 10 minutes under a hot shower within
May 10, 2013
A thought for you How often do you stop and think How much you owe your mother And if she goes away for good You never have another How often do you realize Just how much she's worth The trouble she had raising you That started in at birth And as a child, the care you
May 10, 2013
No Headline Provided To the Editor: In your recent article, "Controversy at Board of Health Meeting", the board had a problem at a meeting and blamed their argument on Robert's Rules of Order. They now plan to discuss whether to use Robert's Rules in the future. Your art
May 10, 2013
The bonds of preschool It was a party 14 years in the making. Attendees included nine moms who met when our kids were in preschool. Now, we came together to anticipate and celebrate those same preschoolers' high school graduations. We sat around a long table at a local res
May 3, 2013
The Sinclair Report
This year’s legislative session was scheduled to last 110 days. We reached that mark on Friday, May 3. Though we are in the final days of the first year of the 85^th General Assembly, our adjournment date remains uncertain.

May 2, 2013 1 Photo
Medicaid expansion will help property tax payers Opponents of Medicaid expansion have mischaracterized the effect its implementation would have on Iowa counties. In pointing out the fact that more Iowans with a need for mental health services would be covered and funded with federal dollars, it is
May 1, 2013
Letter to the Editor To the Editor: I appreciate your candor in explaining your use of quotation marks around the word "affordable" in news stories regarding the Affordable Care Act. The issue here is not affordability but credibility. News is to be presented objectively
May 1, 2013
Iowa's child care, early education providers call for worthy wages For over 20 years, at the beginning of each May, child care providers and other early childhood professionals nationwide recognize Worthy Wage Day (May 1), raising public awareness to highlight the importance of child care provider compensation as pa
May 1, 2013
More Opinion Headlines

Opinion

Search Results

Discussion

Another View

"The Fox Guards the Chickens"

Do you intend to volunteer for RAGBRAI®'s stop in Knoxville?

Site Map

Contact Us