MPs mount bucking bronco for planet-friendly farming28 April 2009
MPs have joined our call for planet-friendly farming by climbing aboard a mechanical bucking bronco.
Former Agriculture Minister John Gummer MP rides the bronco
They braved the beast to show their concern about the impacts of Britain's intensive meat and dairy industry.
It is a tragedy that tropical forests are being chopped down in developing countries to grow food for our cows, pigs and chickens. We need to take action to make sure the system works for the planet and for farmers and families in Britain.
John Gummer MP
The bronco riders aren't the only politicians who want to buck the system.
Over 170 MPs have now signed Early Day Motion (EDM) 845 to demonstate their concerns over the industry's impacts.
Feeding the beast
The fairground fun coincided with the release of our new report Feeding the beast (PDF† 84KB).
Our new research reveals that over £700 million of taxpayers' money is used to prop up the factory-farming industry each year.
But while huge factory farms rake in subsidies, small farms are still in decline. At least four thousand jobs are lost from farming each year.
Intensive meat and dairy production also wipes out rainforests - and release more climate-changing emissions than every car,truck and plane on the planet.
Fix the Food Chain
Planet-friendly farming is possible, but more MPs need to demand a change to the system.
but more MPs need to demand a change to the system.MPs listen when thousands of their voters get behind Friends of the Earth's campaigns - so please ask your MP to fix the food chain today.
