Some people will be aware that on principal I dislike most “days”, largely the invention of the tourist industry and particularly of the greeting cards industry. But here is an unusual and amusing one.
In the modern age, farmers have to supplement their incomes as best they can and this applies to to Økodag too. Visitors go to farms to watch the cows’ joyful release. Children scramble up hay bales to get a better view and parents hold camera phones poised to capture the magic at midday precisely when the cows are released nationwide. The first Økodag was in 2005 with 10,000 people turning up to watch. Now they expect upwards of a million each year. “Thanks to Covid, we’ve been digital for the last two years, with only a live stream for people to watch, so everyone’s looking forward to getting close to the cows again,” said Louise Køster, the chair of Organic Denmark.
Personally I find it hard to wax sentimental about cows but Ms Køster clearly can do so. “The cows are so happy to be outdoors, to feel the sun and the wind, that they dance,” she said. “Out in the field, a cow can also go for her favourite dishes – grass, clover, various herbs etc.”
Cows have favourite dishes?!
Visitors have the chance to visit farms as well; they can take a tractor ride, tour a milking parlour or marvel at the automatic brush mechanisms set up to give cows a back scratch.
“It’s just the best day,” said Ms Køster. “People get really into it and farmers explain how milk goes from farm to table, so that if you drink dairy, you do so mindfully.”
Cows get a lot of bad publicity as major contributors to pollution. Consequently Økodag is also an attempt to give the much maligned animals a better press: “We talk about their role in the ecosystem, how they contribute to biodiversity, how we need fewer fields dedicated to feeding animals and more producing food for people,” said Ms Køster.
I’m a little wary of cows, ever since a group of friends and I were chased across a field by a small herd who appeared to have taken a dislike to one of our group’s small dog. I was only a child, I hasten to add. And in the family’s collection of tall stories is the one about my aunt and uncle having their car trampled by a stampeding herd on a Cornish country road. Fortunately they were not in the car at the time. Dangerous animals, cows!
Around here we mostly see sheep, who seem to stay outside for a good part of the year. Right now the fields are full of frolicking lambs, of course!
On more serious matters, news and discussion programmes are still full of the Sunak saga, or perhaps that should be sagas. As well as tax matters, there’s the question of residency. Here’s one comment on the matter:
“At least now we know why the Sunaks didn’t hear any of the Downing Street parties. She’s domiciled in India and he’s a permanent resident of the US.”
And here’s Michael Rosen’s contribution:
“Dear Raab
Am worried that dear Rishi and family might be homeless. Is there a way in which party funds might be channeled in such a way that they don't suffer hardship at this time of rising inflation? A little Mayfair pad, perhaps?
Oligarchi anglia
Boris”.
I was reminded that our Prime Minister was also for a while a US citizen until 2017. The suggestion is that he gave up his US citizenship to avoid paying US taxes. I have no idea how true such an idea might be. But it does strike me as odd that people like these who wanted us out of the EU, thus making it difficult for ordinary folk to go and live and work in other countries, are quite happy to be international themselves.
Different strokes for different folks, as some people say!
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
Yes Boris would have had to declare all his earnings outside of the US, to the IRS, as well as information on every single account he holds. Every American citizen is obliged to do so. There was a question about that when Meghan married, because both she and her husband would have had to declare. I assume they did.
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