News

August 14, 2008

On The Spot Report: Russians Torch Crops And Kill Livestock In Georgia

By Sally White in Georgia

Bringing the crops through to harvest is difficult enough this century. Weather patterns have created havoc for farmers the breadth of the globe. For the Georgia farmers for whom, against the trends elsewhere, growing conditions have been good, there is now an age-old nightmare. So ancient, in fact, that few would expect it to occur on European land. This is pillage and burning by Russian soldiers intent on destroying crops and livestock.

So the apple, pear and peach trees and maize fields around the main focus of Russian and separatist action, the central Georgian town of Gori, are now aflame. The cows and pigs are slaughtered, not just accidental casualties as bombs and bullets fly, but murdered to drive farmers off this land.

Hopes of revenue from sales to the large population of two million or so living in the capital Tbilisi are now dashed. Certainly any plans of getting fruit out to markets across the Black Sea,...