The Christian faith has its believers professing from the heart, "The Lord will provide". The modern, Unbelieving substitute is, "The Government will provide", which is idolatry, pure and simple. God is not mocked. When a culture turns away from the Living God to an idol, one of the divine indictments is to expose that idol to mockery. A demonstration of the impotence of the idol, on the one hand, and a display of the dull stupidity of its devotees, on the other, is the standard divine approach.
So, it is our duty as Christians to be active in sending up the idols of our age to the courts of mockery. The incompetence of the State to be as God to us is to be displayed, described, and ridiculed at every opportunity. Not the State in its legitimate functions, mind you--where it acts not to provide health, education, and welfare for all, but to administer retributive justice to the evil doer, and judge civil disputes with equity and fairness. But we are addressing the State as idol, where it rears up to replace God in the mind and hearts of citizens.
Here is the latest folly from the "Master", our all governing, beneficent, all-wise, providential government--this time addressing the vitally important manner of rat control, definitely in need of rules, regulations, procedures, protections, and punishments.
Glueboard trapsSo, why are insects not included, eh? Why don't they come under the same protections? Or does our all-wise Government deem that insect life form is less important than rodent life-form? It seems it does--which must surely be rank discrimination and prejudice on the basis of its own principles.
Glueboard traps are made up of a base (usually plastic) with a sticky glue layer intended to capture and hold live rodents. They are also used for insects, although this use is not affected by the Animal Welfare (Glueboard Traps) Order.
Internationally and within New Zealand, concerns have been raised over the humaneness of these traps. The main animal welfare concerns are injury and distress associated with being trapped, and the potential for inhumane disposal.
After consultation in 2008 the Government has decided to restrict the sale and use of glueboard traps in New Zealand. New regulations come into effect on 1 January 2010.
The new regulations for glueboard traps are made under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
As of 1 January 2010, the use of glueboards to catch rodents, including mice and rats, is prohibited, with the following exceptions.
§ Commercial pest control operators
§ People employed to conduct pest control on food production premises (excluding retail)
§ Department of Conservation employees and contractors
§ Boat operators transporting people or goods to or from islands that are free of mammalian pests (such as rodents), or who are working in close proximity to these islands.
All of the above people can use glueboards in the course of their work until the end of 2014. From 1 January 2015, the use and sale of glueboards by anyone is prohibited.
The use of glueboards for insects is not affected.
Using or selling a restricted glueboard is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act, carrying a maximum penalty of 6 months in prison or a $25,000 fine for an individual, or a fine of up to $125,000 for a body corporate.
Approval to use or sell a glueboard where it would otherwise be prohibited (and where it is in the public interest and no viable alternatives are available) can be gained from the Minister for Primary Industries.
Yours sincerely
John Corbett
Internal Communications Manager
Egg Producer's Federation of New Zealand (Inc.)
Why, one asks, do rodents fall under the Animal Welfare Act? To our knowledge, rats are not husbanded (apart from the few kept as pets and for scientific research) and farmed in New Zealand. Rats being eradicated in the community and on farms and in the wild are themselves wild animals and disease carriers. Are they now to be placed in the same categories as domesticated animals, farm animals, and husbanded livestock? Apparently so. Will this arouse suspicion on international markets about the quality of our exported ground beef? Will it suggest to our export markets that rat meat is now likely to be included in MacDonald's beef patties?
In the grand scheme of things, the "Master" is not only inconsistent in favouring rats over insects since flies can still be trapped on glueboards and made subject to cruel and inhumane treatment. It would appear that the State in some ways values rats more highly than humans. It is the small matter of penalties. In New Zealand a thug can beat up a person in a cruel and inhumane manner and not get a prison sentence of six months. But if he were to do something similar to a rat, the vengeance of the Master may fall far more severely. Six months prison and a $25,000 fine for the rat molester! As for the brawler who knocks an old man's teeth out--convicted and discharged.
Behold the dumb stupidity and obtuse crassness of the "Master".
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