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.

>
>
> 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.

At this point, they have been forwarded to the GBC for review and approval.
then thye will be distributed more widely. Anyone interested in seeing them
now
can probably get a copy from ISCOWP.

We are assuming they will be approved by the GBC and become official ISKCON
policy, but it ain't over till it's over.

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

> [Text 2048599 from COM]
>
> >
> >
> > 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.
>
> At this point, they have been forwarded to the GBC for review and
approval.
> then thye will be distributed more widely. Anyone interested in seeing them
> now
> can probably get a copy from ISCOWP.
>
> We are assuming they will be approved by the GBC and become official ISKCON
> policy, but it ain't over till it's over.

Unfortunately, without widespread devotee support, I fear that the GBC will
probably ignore them. They have many other things, such as guru issues and
public
relations issues which will probably take up their time.

At least, that's what usually happens with all the agricultural issues we send
to
GBC -- they never even get discussed.

It is only thanks to Lokanatha Maharaja and Bhakti-tirtha Maharaja that our
proposal for a Minister of Cow Protection and Agriculture could even be
discussed
last year.

Unless we publicize it a little bit in advance, I'm afraid that the GBC will be
so
preoccupied with other problems that they will simply let the whole issue die.

your servant,

Hare Krsna dasi

>
>
> Unless we publicize it a little bit in advance, I'm afraid that the GBC will
be
> so
> preoccupied with other problems that they will simply let the whole issue
die.
>
> your servant,
>
> Hare Krsna dasi

Squeaky wheel gets the oil? Anyway, the cat is out of the bag on Chakra. Or
should I say, someone left the barn door open?

At least it's the copy that has been worked on all year, compared to which the
initial rough draft we threw at them last year is practically an embarassment.