Of all the happenings over the past ten weeks, the reward for “outstanding and courageous community service” has to go to Mike King for his exposure of the totally un-clean and un-green and unacceptable treatment of pigs in NZ.

That some/many/most (verbal stats have gone mad) ‘farmers’ use this stall system - legally - is a Kiwi disgrace. Of course, other countries do too -- but they don’t claim to be ‘saints’ like we do. Just as well or this would be as world-wide news as Kiwis with ‘swine flu’.

Did you get the tiny drops of ‘truth’ from industry spokesmen? The move is towards ‘free-range’ but still using sow crates which truly free-range real pig farmers have no need for.

Apparently some sows attack others, they say. Pig farmers over the years have selectively bred to resuce the size of a pig, once the height of Jersey cows but much heavier, they were difficult to handle. Aggressive pigs can be eradicated to reduce and breed out future aggressive pigs. Simple standard farming practice.[*]

It is here that the difference between a ‘true farmer’ and the ‘commercial businessman’ becomes evident. The sheer numbers of pigs that are needed to pay overheads of substantial seven and eight figure salaries and shareholder payouts -- not true?- Open your books.

“Free-range’ pig meat is too expensive for the the consumer to buy. They say. They also said that the practice of adding water to cheap bacon was a practice ‘everyone knows about and accepts”. But if the bacon was not watered down, it would have to be sold at a higher rate than it is now -- the consumer would loose nothing by buying less… and drinking a glass of water. The true cost between pigs raised decently and the ‘cheap’ tortured creatures would be much closer.

The Consumer who bought free-range would adjust the volume purchased and eat healthier food as well.

There is no choice, the law must be changed.

Back to Mike King himself. He suffers from depression as did his mate who made him aware of the conditions of pigs in the industry he had been front icon for.

Mike will have eaten pig meat - pigs that spent their whole life in depressing conditions… is this carried in the pigs gene memory? Mike will not have been chemically aware - his interviews would suggest.

This writer suffered regular depression his whole adult life until some 25 years ago, when I was challenged to eat chemical-free organic food only. While it appeared that I was allergic to wheat -- my life improved when I stopped eating wheat. Challenged to eat organic wheat all remained well, I had no relapses. Imported ‘organic bananas proved to be disastrous - my reactions led to an investigation that showed this organically grown fruit was sprayed by NZ Customs to kill unwelcome pests - and was killing me slowly too. Dried organic banana is not treated and I eat a considerable amount without any adverse effects.

So my personal experience proves to me that my depression was directly connected to poisonous chemicals and industrial farming practices.. I personally know others who have similar experiences.

So to Mike King I say, maybe my experience can help you too. If you know him personally, do suggest he phones me -- he deserves all the help he can get.