Geoff Reid poked the bear
Geoff Reid NZ poked the bear
If you know me, you probably know that I don’t like to say much on social media. And I certainly don’t get involved in online arguments. But when I have something to say, it’s probably important and it’s probably going to be long. The longer it percolates in my mind, the more I will have to say.
This is why, when environmental activist Geoff Reid posted his latest photos in an attempt to shame a Southland farmer that was simply doing his job, I had had enough. I have known about this person for a while - spoken about in both professional and private capacity. I considered sending the post to him privately but no, I wanted others to see the harm this man (and others like him) create. I will include the post below this. Rural people are my heart, and Geoff Reid is hurting them.
Geoff Reid poked the bear.
I have been learning for a long time now as a university student - 10 years in fact! I’m in the midst of a PhD currently. I wracked my brain yesterday to remember a single incident as a student where one of my uni lecturers or professors taught us concepts by using examples of other students who had done poorly - through the use of shame. I could not think of a single time. Without exception, every time we were taught something, it was through the use of other academics’ work - research, lectures etc, that were done in the right way. So, teaching people to be better at what they do is more effective when positive examples are used. Amazing! Can someone tell Geoff Reid?
It looks like I’ll have to be the one to come up with all the solutions here. Am I a farming or soil expert? No. Environmental scientist? No way. However, I was always taught that when you present a problem, it’s always good to try and offer a solution. So here is mine to Geoff Reid: Use your good photography skills to document the good work that many farms are doing. Show people how to do better. Lead by example and give them mentors. There are so many good examples if you try and look - sustainable practices, farmers who care voluntarily for the water and land that surrounds their own farm, trying to get a little bit better and more knowledgeable every year. There are even farms in Southland that are doing this right now, so you won’t have to look too hard. But one piece of advice: ask permission before you trespass on people’s land.
Original post:
Geoff Reid NZ I’m not sure I can stand another winter with your trouble making. It’s time you understood what kind of harm you are causing to our farmers. I’m a rural counsellor in Southland and I’m also studying rural mental health at master’s level. The fear, misinformation and moral panic you are responsible for spreading is causing mental and social harm in our rural communities. Your posts are sending farmers and their families into turmoil, having to defend and protect their livelihoods. Agricultural workers are already more than twice as much at risk of suicide attempt than urban people - and often this is elevated because of publicity events like the ones you are creating.
Have a wee think about what these posts might be doing to those farmers, and how that might have a knock-on effect with their partners, wives and children (children that don’t understand but definitely understand their parents’ distress). One of your posts can have an out-reaching effect on a farming family for weeks or months. And all for what? So you can display your self-serving virtue-signaling by calling out perceived wrongs on the environment and give yourself a big pat on the back.
Yes there are farmers that need to be better, so how about instead of public shaming, you go and talk to them, get down to their level and give them some good suggestions on how to do things better while still being able to make enough to feed their own families, as I’m sure you are an expert on such matters. As many here have rightly pointed out, many vegan staples also require the same spraying, so why aren’t you snooping on them as well? It seems there is a lot of assumption on your part. You’d better be very sure of what is happening before you throw damaging accusations around. Your personal vendetta has an extremely high cost.
I am calling you out here as a direct contributor to our poor rural mental health situation in New Zealand.