Torn down posters, insults, even a death threat against the initiator: the closer June 13th approaches, the dirtier the dispute over clean drinking water becomes. Even with Blick TV the tatters flew yesterday – of course only verbally. Tiana Angelina Moser (42) campaigned for a yes to the drinking water initiative. The group leader of the GLP dueled in the “view voting battle” with farmers’ association president Markus Ritter (54).
“We have to set the course now”
In Moser’s view, the measures that Parliament has decided to take to protect the environment are by no means sufficient. «Today we no longer have any near-natural agriculture in the Central Plateau. The drinking water is polluted. We now have to set the course again, ”said the National Councilor.
Ritter, on the other hand, rates the water quality in Switzerland as “very good”. The pollution with pesticide residues is so low, “you would have to drink 470 liters a day until it is dangerous for human health,” interjected the Central National Council.
«Initiative overshoots the mark»
The initiative, which wants only farmers who do not use pesticides to receive direct payments, is overshooting the target, criticized Ritter. “Production in Switzerland would decrease by 30 percent.” The result would be more imports and higher prices. “That affects the socially disadvantaged and the families.”
Moser accused the top farmer of scaremongering. She is convinced of the opposite: “The initiative would make more ecological and healthier products affordable for a wider population.”
The two had seven minutes each to present their best arguments. You decide who wins! With one click, you can vote for the person who convinced you more. The winner can look forward to a free voting advertisement. (lha)
You decide who wins the VIEW vote! From Wednesday, 6 p.m. to Thursday, 5:59 p.m., you can vote on Blick.ch for the person who has convinced you more. The whole thing goes with one click. Tricks is not possible. Fraud protection prevents voices from being generated by bot. However, it is of course allowed for the two camps to mobilize diligently for their representative. On Thursday evening, VIEW will announce the winner.
Keystone
Only subsidies for farmers who do not use pesticides – this is what the drinking water initiative, which was launched by fitness trainer Franziska Herren, demands. For decades, agricultural policy has been promoting food production with billions in taxpayers’ money, which is dependent on pesticides, imported feed and antibiotics, causes major environmental damage and pollutes drinking water.
“I would no longer like to support that with my tax money,” explains Herren, explaining her motivation for the initiative. Their vision: subsidies should be redirected to pesticide-free, sustainable food production. Another condition for direct payments in the future will be that the animals are fed only with the farm’s own feed. And third: the prophylactic use of antibiotics would be prohibited. In order for the conversion to be successful, the initiative would like to support farmers through research, education and investment aid.
The Federal Council rejects the drinking water initiative – as well as the pesticide initiative, which will also be put to the vote on June 13th. Neither environmental initiative found a majority in parliament either.
Published: May 19, 2021, 4 minutes ago
Last updated: May 19, 2021, 2 minutes ago