Tuesday 18th October 2005
Attishooey
It’s front page news every day now, and it’s really starting to piss me off. The H5N1 strain of avain flu has now been found in Europe - big fucking deal. It was devastating poultry farms in Thailand when I was there back in January 2004 - almost two years ago - and poultry farmers were dying every day. But only poultry farmers. Everyone else just got on with it.
Think about this - it will eventually jump the species barrier, but where is that more likely to happen - here, where poultry farming is highly industrialised, or where people and animals share houses and streets with one another? And so if it’s going to jump the species barrier somewhere in South East Asia, what does it matter if migratory birds have flu in Greece? If there’s going to be a pandemic, then it’ll start somewhere, and arrive at Heathrow a day or two later. The newspapers seem to be making it out that we’re be doomed once it reaches our shores, and only when it reaches our shores, which is utter nonsense.
Moreover, why is this suddenly such a big deal? Has it escaped everyone’s notice that it’s been going on for years now? Has it become something montrously different now that some birds are dying - (gasp) in Europe?
Generally, we’re all pretty pathetic. Under-educated, over-sensitive, easily agitated, lacking in common sense and needing to brush up a bit on our sense of fatalism.
As the deadly serious virus (currently being tested in Greece)was found in a turkey will this mean escalation of border conflict with… Turkey? Is this in retaliation for perhaps, maybe, possibly letting them in or not to the EU…. eventually? May I suggest taking bets on the next conspiracy theory/press ramble/its a quiet news day lets start a panic syndrome or do I just invest in beef or pork derivatives? On second thoughts - mmm BSE, foot and mouth………..
Comment by DOM — 18/10/2005 @ 3:07 pm
I was going to go and get my flu jab today (i apparently was meant to get a letter about having a jab, its all part of my doctors service. I am surprised i didnt get the letter seeing as flu jabs and the like are one of the way doctors are rated these days) but the waiting room looked packed. and a policeman was just walking in (hmmmm), and to be honest i am not *that* bothered. One has to wonder if people are suddenly being a bit more keen about them this year.
Comment by Eddie — 18/10/2005 @ 5:34 pm
“Under-educated, over-sensitive, easily agitated, lacking in common sense and needing to brush up a bit on our sense of fatalism.”
I think its called the daily mail readership…
or i may be feeling a bit cynical after union council hustings…
Comment by Ant — 19/10/2005 @ 3:13 pm
It’s more than just the Daily Mail readership these days. It seems to be spreading. Even through IC.
Comment by @ndy — 20/10/2005 @ 2:10 pm
““Under-educated, over-sensitive, easily agitated, lacking in common sense and needing to brush up a bit on our sense of fatalism.”
I think its called the daily mail readership…”
I think thats a bit unfair. Why highlight only the written press - what about the BBC/Sky/ITN/Channel 4/Radio 1 ‘News’/Every other news outlet publishing exagerated sensationalist crap
Comment by Dan — 20/10/2005 @ 2:38 pm
@ndy - In the time I’ve been here, IC (esp. Union related stuff) has epitomised the problems with lacking common sense. Which is worrying - if some of the smartest people in the country act so stupidly so much of the time, what hope is there?
Comment by Andy — 21/10/2005 @ 9:42 am