Missed last week due to a week’s holiday in Tuscany, a lovely part of the world; it’s always nice to get away from it all from time to time, but there’s nothing quite like that feeling of going home, is there?
So watching the almost biblical catastrophe unfold in Japan while watching BBC World News, and of course how modern communications can bring up-to-the-minute pictures and information right into your living room, was shocking yet compulsive, frightening yet revealing.
Our hearts and best wishes go out to the Japanese people, but they are a stoic nation, and will recover. They always do.
The ugly side of dictatorship is also prominent on the world scene at the moment. The Middle East crisis which at the moment revolves around Colonel Gaddafi and Libya and the jackboot tactics and response used serves to remind us how these types of people react when seriously challenged. All dictators act in this way when threatened. Ring fence the opposition and crush seems to be the tactic, dissenting views are not an option.
I’m sure Norman Bagley, policy director of the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) will be feeling that way inclined with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) at the moment.
Not forgetting how this Government Agency continually trumpets “transparency”, “openness”, “working together”, “stakeholders”, etc., all cosy and friendly stuff, it actually only applies as long as you don’t criticise them!!
In a circular to members, Norman reveals how relationships with the FSA are breaking down. Not on his part, but entirely from the side of the FSA. As we know, Norman is not frightened to get stuck in on behalf of his members with robust and hard-hitting comment when necessary; he rattles cages and wears his heart on his sleeve, and I’m sure he won’t mind me saying that “political” and “correctness” are two words that probably don’t appeal to him too much!
The FSA “ has instructed its staff not to speak to anyone representing AIMS for a period of time during which they have asked us to only communicate with the Agency through the Director of Operations”, the circular read. This followed criticism of the FSA by AIMS in the Meat Trades Journal (MTJ) apparently because of so-called offensive statements made to its staff. They would call it offensive, Norman would call it the truth.
And that’s why I liken the FSA to a kind of dictatorship, who regulate our industry with totally unjustified interpretations of the law, publically demean our industry if it should suit their purpose, and who are intending to tax abattoir operators to such an extent that even the Sheriff of Nottingham would squirm!
But put the boot on the other foot, give them some of their own medicine, and their true jackboot traits are revealed. But who do they think they are? Who are they to deem themselves to be above criticism? What makes them so special?
Communication and negotiation should be a two-way conversation but that is still miles off the political landscape. The Big Society will hopefully bring about a change of emphasis, but I doubt it. Meanwhile, Big Brother remains firmly in control.
The FSA are trying to isolate Norman Bagley, but they have picked the wrong man to bully. Just imagine though if, say, another three or four prominent trade representatives (and that is all it would take) got together with Norman and thrashed out a battle plan to confront and take on the FSA, and have the backing to do so. Suddenly there would be some hope, I’m sure, for those of us who are abattoir operators and who at the moment see only the bleakest of futures. It is going to take something on these lines to bring these bureaucratic bullies to heel.
History shows that the day of reckoning for a dictator arrives eventually, but it is the damage they cause in the meantime. We in the abattoir sector are rapidly heading to be part of FSA damage, so something must be done.
To succeed you have to try.
Toby Baker