COM: Madhava Gosh (das) ACBSP (New Vrindavan - USA) wrote:

> [Text 2035378 from COM]
>
> >On the grain front, it'll take a couple of seasons to empty out the bins.
> {{in New Vrndavana??}} Also,
> when the large livestock producers can't afford to feed their animals,
first
> thing we will notice in the US is a dramatic drop in meat prices as breeding
> stock.

This is an important point. Historically, at least in the U.S., recession
always
means increased cow slaughter. One thing that will be very cheap next year
will be
beef -- at least in the places it can easily be shipped.

I think recession is pretty much certain. How can you divert hundreds of
billions
of dollars away from production to Y2K fixes and not have it make a dent in the
economy? Some people say the amount for fixes and lawsuits (there are already
several hundred -- and insurers have already begun to cancel accounts with
computer
firms -- next question: what will that do to IT stocks?) nearly equals our
1996
Gross Domestic Product. This has got to become a drag on the economy.

Seems like the opportune moment to get some good cows and bull calfs, right at
a
time when farmers don't want to feed them anymore.

I find myself wishing that more devotee communities could get serious about cow
protection -- but then I am torn because I know they don't have proper training
for
taking care of cows, nor the land to take care of them. Without that training,
cows are sure to suffer, even at the hands of devotees. I'm not sure what the
answer is. How can we provide solid training?

One things that will help at least somewhat are the Ministry of Cow Protection
and
Agriculture "Minimum Cow Protection Standards" which the members of the COW com
conference have just completed. But still actual hands-on training is needed.
And
a commitment to give the young men some land once they complete their training.
What to do?

your servant,

Hare Krsna dasi

P.S. If anyone is interested, I think that Balabhadra and Chaya prabhus are
going
to post the "Minimum Cow Protection Standards" on the COW conference sometime
soon.