Slum Clearance

Jack Prescott
(Internet Published) Feb 2001

People of Sheffield, England, were evicted from so called slum properties and re-housed in high rise flats during the 1950's and 1960's. Dwelling in one of these flats, a family had no back yard or personal back garden. Zoologically speaking, these flats were totally unsuitable for raising kids. Where could a man or a kid keep a few pigeons? I tell you straight that this form of compulsory environment was a disgrace. A man and his family must have back yard or back garden, a little bit of territory where he and his kids can potter around with some kind of a hobby. This kind of concentration camp, or prison block environment is no good. Any Zoologist would testify to that. However, the urge to keep pigeons is dominant.

I tell of certain men who kept pigeons in cardboard boxes in the flats of Sheffield. For exercise they would take their pigeons to a near by field and fly them to a portable loft, probably also made of cardboard. Well, this system was not good. The exercises attracted a lot of uninvited attention. Spectators would arrive, mostly kids, and the poor fellow involved had no peace. Inevitably, some one would complain and then the Police would appear. This portable loft idea is certainly no substitute for a loft in the back yard.

I have heard of a man who kept pigeons on a High rise flat fire escape in New York. I have heard of men who kept pigeons inside of their flats, also in New York. All terribly wrong. A man and his kids should have a back yard and be able to keep small livestock. So often these days we can't do this due to restrictions. Is there any wonder that crime, drugs and violence are on the increase. We live too far from nature and the so-called experts are to blame. There are far too many people in the world, so we must stop breeding.

[Internet Published Feb 2001 at http://www.tipplers.com/jack/]