Farmers at the Irish Grassland Association Dairy Summer Tour on the farm of Bruce Thompson, Ballyfin, Portlaoise, and Roy and Trevor Cobbe, Doolagh, Portarlington, Co Laois. \ Donal O' Leary
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I was struck by the use of language on two occasions recently. The first was when an RTÉ radio presenter introduced a segment on the nitrates derogation by describing it as a licence for Irish farmers to pollute waterways more than their European counterparts. The second was in the sales catalogue for a large dairy farm, which the agent describes as a modern “pollution-compliant” dairy unit.
It was George Orwell who noted: “If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”
It could be a slippery slope if the industry allows essential nutrients to be described solely as potential pollutants without challenging it. Words matter. Language matters.
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I was struck by the use of language on two occasions recently. The first was when an RTÉ radio presenter introduced a segment on the nitrates derogation by describing it as a licence for Irish farmers to pollute waterways more than their European counterparts. The second was in the sales catalogue for a large dairy farm, which the agent describes as a modern “pollution-compliant” dairy unit.
It was George Orwell who noted: “If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”
It could be a slippery slope if the industry allows essential nutrients to be described solely as potential pollutants without challenging it. Words matter. Language matters.
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The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
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