Berry chooses Jail over NAIS

I applaud W. Berry’s strength of character – maybe we should all refuse to participate – nation wide!

Unfortunately, when it looked as though the NAIS program was on the verge of complete failure, the “international market” – specifically South Korea entered the debate and gave the NAIS supporters new life. Essentially, if international markets require traceability on imported meat then we must implement our NAIS protocol or be shut out of these markets. Let those who choose to ship abroad be required to be a part of NAIS – why everyone?

FROM BEEF magazine:

South Korea Reinvigorates NAIS Discussion

Just when it looked like traceability was dead, the marketplace steps forward to reinvigorate it. South Korea has instituted a traceback system on domestically raised beef, and indicated it would require traceback on imported product by 2010. If this comes to pass, then all of the debate regarding the Naional Animal Identification System may be mute. As expected, traceback is moving toward being a requirement for international trade. (See “South Korea Mandates Full Beef Tracing System” in this newsletter).

Korea has fallen to fourth in terms of size of beef market, but it was up 128% in 2008 compared to 2007, and accomplished that after having been open only less than half of the year. Many experts predict Korea could be a billion-dollar market for U.S. beef if we can regain market share and the confidence of the Korean consumer. Those kinds of incentives are the sort that quickly can drive change.
— Troy Marshall

@Carl Russell 9932 wrote:

I too am a non-cooperator. However, I do not believe in our judicial system enough to go to jail to try to prove that it can save us. I will not fight with them, and I won’t conform, NAIS will have no affect on my life.

It’s important that people understand that we are not alone when we stand up to them, because the fear is all they have. There is no way they will be able to enforce this lunacy, unless we all scatter and get picked off one by one.

Carl

I agree with you, except that if it does pass and you continue to refuse to comply, it may very well affect your life. When they start forcing veterinarians to report noncompliers, or auctions or slaughter houses to do the same, at some point it will affect you. Who was it that wrote something like: When they came for this group, I wasn’t one of them, so I didn’t complain. When they came for that group, I wasn’t one, so still I said nothing. Then when they came for me there was no one left to help me.

I receive several mailings (surveys, census, etc.) from the USDA each year or so. This year I have decided to protest NAIS by refusing to cooperate in any way with the USDA. I have made up a letter in which I state my opposition to NAIS, inform them that I will no longer work with them until they stop this nonsense and I include it with the unanswered survey (no postage necessary if mailed in the United States). I have done this twice so far this year. One of these surveys stated that my response was required by law. So when they come to get me, I wonder if they’ll let me bunk with Wendell Berry. Or better yet, maybe I can get solitary confinement so I can get caught up on my reading. Hope I can bring my easy chair.:D

The USDA can get your info from various sources – how about through the brand inspection service, for one – a requirement if you are selling or transporting animals across state lines. BTW – These things are a joke.