tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070977933232664642.post2365724249860653265..comments2024-02-21T12:23:30.416-06:00Comments on PLANET IN PERIL: Superbug Explosion Triggers UN General Assembly MeetingGraham Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10678179625435076216noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070977933232664642.post-6527590894619548392016-09-23T19:54:50.520-05:002016-09-23T19:54:50.520-05:00When the Manitoba Conservative government rolled o...<br />When the Manitoba Conservative government rolled out the welcome mat to the invasive hog Industry in<br />the mid 1990's, Premier Filmon always emphasized that there would be further "Value Added compliments <br />and benefits " to Manitobans. And he was right!<br />For the past 20 years amid the anger, frustrations and anxiety of rural residents this hog Industry,with the <br />blessings of provincial and municipal governments have built their huge hog producing factories nearly<br />anywhere that suited them.<br /><br />This kind of intensive hog production impacts the quality of living for humans, causes air pollution-noxious odours, <br />toxic gases and drug pollution. As well, antibiotics, growth-enhancing chemicals and other veterinary drugs end up<br />in the animals themselves and enter the environment through their manure and urine, contaminating the water, the <br />soil and our food. Then of course there is the situation of manure itself. A hog complex will produce faeces equivalent<br />to the population of a small city.....all untreated and incorporated unto the land, eventually finding it's way into <br />water sources and Lake Winnipeg as the end designation.<br /><br />But wait....now there is more..for in addition to causing immense animal suffering,factory farms are spawning <br />dangerous superbugs that current antibiotics are powerless against.<br />In May,2016, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research reported the first U.S. case of Colistin-resistent infection, <br />involving a patient in Pennsylvania. Also that month,researchers at USDA and Health and Human Services reported<br />finding Colistin-resistant E.coli in a pig intestinal sample.<br />Because Colistin is a last resort drug for treating superbug (multi-drug resistant) infections, these discoveries signal we are<br />that much closer to what has been referred to as a post-antibiotic era, where people will die from once-treatable infections.<br /><br />The question that needs to be addressed by our government is," Why are they allowing this Industry to continue raising<br />hogs in a fashion that endangers the very lives and well being of people"?<br /><br />As verification and follow up, the United Nations has recognized <br />the seriousness of the situation and has become involved.<br />"UN meeting tackles the 'fundamental threat' of antibiotic resistant superbugs".<br />This is only the fourth time, since it's existence, the general assembly has held a <br />high level meeting for a health issue. <br />The dangers are real, and must not be ignored.<br />Governments must re-act accordingly to direct the hog industry.<br />This is not a time for complacency.John Fefchaknoreply@blogger.com