Dutch MPs reject citizen’s initiative

The Lower House of the Dutch parliament has rejected a citizen’s initiative to make livestock farming more animal-friendly and less harmful to the environment.

The Stop bad meat initiative was submitted earlier today by the Dutch branch of the environmental organization Friends of the Earth. It was supported by more than 100,000 people. Friends of the Earth says that animals are confined in overcrowded conditions that pollute the earth, air and water, and that rain forests are being cut down to provide soya for their feed.

However, while many of the parties in the House were sympathetic to parts of the plan, the majority felt that to adopt it all would be going too far. Only Green Links and the Party for the Animals gave it their wholehearted support.

This was the first time that the Lower House had debated an initiative submitted by members of the public.

Source: Radio Netherlands, 14 December 2007