Farming And Suicide

Farming is amongst the toughest jobs out there. The hours are long, there’s no guarantee of success, and there are a lot of factors at play that aren’t under the farmer’s control.

Farmers are reliant on the weather, which is something they have no control over, and often fields of crops fail due to a variety of things, such as too little rain, too much rain, hurricanes, pests, insects, wild animals (kangaroos and deer especially) and a whole host of different factors. And because of these crop failures, farmers are unable to repay their debts to suppliers and banks, and get deeper and deeper into debt. It’s a very tough situation.

Another problem which compounds the debt issues, is the big chain stores, such as Safeway/Woolworths, IGA (Independant Grocers of Australia), Coles and all the other big chain stores don’t pay farmers as much as they should for the quality of farmer’s produce. One figure which I’ve heard quoted (and which I’m unable to verify) is that farmers are paid 10c for every dollar that the chain stores sell the produce for. That’s incredibly low. Should grocery stores really be able to receive a 90% profit on goods they only have the responsibility to sell? I know it’s the market at work, but it still seems highly unfair.

The weather, failure of crops, increasing debt, long hours and minimal profit (if any) would lead any person to dispair, and it frequently does. In fact, it leads farmers to such depths of despair that many see suicide as the only option, and take their own lives. It’s a terrible situation, and there should be more community and governmental support for those who provide us with food.

Lest We Forget

Today is ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand, the day that commemorates the bravery and honour shown by the men who enlisted in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps to fight in the Great War (World War I). It is a day of commemoration, a day to honour the military, a day to remember those who have been lost, and a day in which many take the opportunity to pay respect to the men who died to keep Australia free.

Brave Men, All, and so on this day we say to the memory of those men, their families, and those who survive them, Lest We Forget.

To further remember, enjoy this powerpoint (all files are the same, except for the inclusion of sound.)

ANZAC Day – With Sound

ANZAC Day – Without Sound

ANZAC Day – PDF Presentation

The ANZACs deserve our respect. To celebrate the Australian way, have a shot of rum in your coffee this morning.