Weblog special: Foot and mouth disease
As the outbreak of foot and mouth disease reaches mainland Europe, we link to the best resources and reaction.
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The disease in focus
Thepigsite.com - for "pig, hog, swine and pork matters" - includes a detailed backgrounder to the disease and what to look out for. Also on the site, a farmer remembers the outbreak of 1967.
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The human consequences
A scientific background, somewhat more drily presented, comes from the British Medical Journal.
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Causes of the crisis
"Everybody has a favourite villain," says Newsweek in its analysis of the causes of the crisis. BSE, the pound, the government, fuel prices, factory farming, deregulation, globalisation - take your pick.
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A community in despair
Tim Rogers of ITN reports from the village of Hatherleigh in Devon, south west England, which has been devastated by the crisis.
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Livestock market could seek redress
A livestock market is considering taking legal action against agriculture minister Nick Brown, after he named it as a possible hub of foot-and-mouth infection, reports Farmers Weekly.
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Farmer George
As the Prince of Wales donates £500,000 to help affected farmers, The Times finds it follows a tradition of royal aid - started by George III, nicknamed "Farmer George" for his support for agrarian causes.
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Unlucky for some
Many areas which are free of the virus have found their tourist industries hit hard nevertheless. That is certainly true of Norfolk, says the Eastern Daily Press.
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Closed for business
The Scotsman notes the irony of a series of advertisements, flyposted in Paris by the Scottish Tourist Board in an attempt to drive the ailing tourist industry. One of the castles depicted in the posters is, sadly, closed.
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The power of democracy
The government "could and should " postpone the election beyond May 3, argues Donald MacIntyre in The Independent - especially if it wants to appear whiter than white in front of the Tory press. He draws a comparison with the contested Florida precincts in the US election last year.
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The effect on canvassing
Lord Crickhowell, former Pembrokeshire MP and secretary of state for Wales, has written to The Times expressing his view that elections should not go ahead on May 3. "In present conditions," he claims, "canvassing would be impossible".
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Another blow for Wall Street
America has been accused of over-reaction in banning imports of livestock, fresh meat and dairy products from the EU. USA Today's report on the global "fallout" of the crisis concentrates mostly on the economic impact on an already paranoid Wall Street.
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Toronto's sniffers get to work
It's hard to tell whether the National Post journalist, sent out to cover the Canadian sniffer dogs, was taking the crisis seriously - but for the record, Daisy, of Toronto airport, sniffed out some dry milk powder, a few sausages and a leftover airline meal.
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The truth about food?
In a well-argued leader on the crisis, The New Statesman examines the flaws of democracy: that people will support what will help them in the short term (e.g. intensive farming) - without much of an eye on their long-term consequences. Should governments be less keen to get a "daily mandate" for everything they do?
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