- Title: Farmers cause traffic chaos across the Netherlands in third protest
- Date: 16th October 2019
- Summary: BILTHOVEN, UTRECHT PROVINCE, THE NETHERLANDS (OCTOBER 16, 2019) (REUTERS) FARMERS BLOCKING A HIGHWAY WITH THEIR TRACTORS FARMER DRIVING TRACTOR ON HIGHWAY CONVOY OF TRACTORS ON HIGHWAY TRACTORS IN MOTION TRACTORS DRIVING SLOWLY ON HIGHWAY (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) 25-YEAR-OLD FARMER FROM HOLLANDSCHE RADING, RICK VAN BRENK, SAYING: "We are a producer of milk and meat. I am the head of this farm. I hope to continue this project but then the rules must be adapted otherwise it will not be possible." TRACTORS CONVOY ON HIGHWAY FARMER DRIVING HIS TRACTOR FARMERS DRIVING THEIR TRACTORS TOWARDS A BRIDGE FARMER DRIVING TRACTOR (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) 49-YEARS-OLD FARMER FROM WEERT, MONIQUE GROENHUIJZEN, SAYING: "It is with great pleasure that farmers work for the next generations and that implies if ecological moorings are necessary, they will apply them with attention if there is sufficient financial margin and this does not currently exist because there is no financially sustainable model at the moment in the sector." TRACTORS DRIVING PAST ROAD SIGNS TRACTOR CHANGING LANE TRACTORS ON ROAD TRACTORS BLOCKING ROAD PEOPLE WAITING IN TRACTOR CABIN TRACTOR CARRYING HAYSTACK IN ITS LOADER BUCKET WITH AN ANGRY FACE DRAWN ON IT (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER FROM THE NETHERLANDS' BRABANT PROVINCE, SAYING: "Our parents told us 'you are young and you represent the future, so we will work today so you can protest, for us, there is no need anymore but for you there is.'" (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER FROM THE NETHERLANDS' BRABANT PROVINCE, SAYING: "It's our right to exist!" FARMERS STANDING IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY PROTEST IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 30th October 2019 14:41
- Keywords: European emission rules Convoys Netherlands nitrogen pollution Dutch farmers agriculture tractors Livestock farming Environment
- Location: BILTHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS
- City: BILTHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS
- Country: Netherlands
- Topics: Pollution,Environment
- Reuters ID: LVA001B1CLHL3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Thousands of Dutch farmers on tractors blocked traffic in and around The Netherlands on Wednesday (October 16) in protest against what they say are attempts to blame them for nitrogen pollution.
Convoys of tractors set out in the early morning, first for the city of Utrecht and later to The Hague, causing long traffic jams across the country. More than 375 km of roads were blocked, according to drivers organisation ANWB.
It is the third time the farmers have mounted a day of protest, in a campaign launched after a court ruling in May found the Netherlands in violation of European emission rules.
Livestock farming is a leading cause of nitrogen pollution, along with construction and transportation. But farmers argue they have made substantial efforts to cut emissions and their role in providing food for the nation is under-appreciated.
Although no concrete steps against the farmers have been announced, one political party has suggested the Netherlands reduce the number of live animals it produces. The suggestion provoked an outcry from farming groups.
(Esther Verkaik, Clement Rossignol) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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