Badger Cull Protest

Done - hope that worked

Lai

Thanks Lai worked fine. I can use parts of the letter in mine, as they say its better to personlise it if you can
WS

WS - although I don't suppose they actually read passed the first line!

Lai

That was a really nice clip from Brian Lai, thanks for posting that.......even nicer to see the Badgers in the clip I haven't done my letter yet but I will do, more than likely it will be over the weekend when I have more time to compose it.

littlewid-x-

Don't worry Littlewid, there is time yet and just now the petition stands at 127,832. It is amazing what can be achieved via social media.

I need to follow up with a letter to our MEP and see if our MP replies!

Lai

Just watched the ITV News, and there was a news item on the Badger Cull. It was really slanted towards the Farmers where the Cull is taking place, mentioning that scientists say over time there would be a 16% drop in infection. They did not give the opposing scientific information against the Cull, and had no one prominent to put the counter arguement. Instead they talked about hardline animal activists, and interviewed two.
WS

The extreme activists are not helping at all. Sadly I missed the news last night WS.

An interesting fact we learned at the Simon K talk with Cheshire Wildlife Trust is that bovine TB is carried by many other animals.

Nearly all warm-blooded animals are susceptible to the infection including farmed animals eg pigs, sheep, goats and camelids; wildlife eg badgers and deer; pets including cats and dogs; and humans.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/a-z/bovine-tb/animal-keepers/other-species/

So what on earth is going to be achieved by culling badgers, unless they completely wipe out the entire population?

Last night we were at an East Cheshire Hospice art preview event at the Town Hall and our local MP was there. The first thing he said to me was that he had received my e-mailed letter and would be replying although as I knew he and I disagree on the issue of the badger cull (previous letters/emails and conversations)!

Pete & I put forward all the arguments why the cull wouldn't work (so pleased I had just heard Simon talk) and told him about deer, sheep, goats etc all being carriers. Now I know we didn't change his mind but Pete & I certainly had a good and lengthy discussion.

I haven't given up lobbying him for sure.

Lai

Well done Lai & Pete, glad you gave your MP some stick. As you say you might not have changed his mind, as he's proberbly following party policy, and that takes no account of the facts. Also the other people that where at the meeting would have heard what you both said, and will hopefully take it on board.
I did'nt know about the other animal infection problems so thanks for that, I will include it in the letter to my MP. As you say the only way that TB is going to be wiped out in Badgers in a cull is to wipe out the entire population, and with other animals carrying the infection it wont solve the problem anyway. It will just wipe out one of Britains iconic wildlife.
The fight goes on

WS

That DEFRA link is an interesting read Lai, I had an idea it was in a few of those animals but I hadn't thought of the Camelids.

Brilliant that you and Pete gave your MP a good talking too the other night, well done both of you as you say, it might not change his mind but it was good for him to be loaded with the real facts.

I still need to do my letter, a bit of a busy weekend but I will get there.

littlewid-x-

George Galloway MP put down an Early Day Motion against the Badger Cull. Might be worth lobbying our MP's to see if we can get them to sign it!

http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2012-13/509

Lai

Googd idea Lai. Email on the way, although I have'nt had a reply to my letter yet, it keeps the pressure on
WS

Me neither WS despite our conversation with our MP - I still want a written reply!!!

From the Badger Trust today

http://www.badger.org.uk/_Attachments/Resources/713_S4.pdf

A short video explaining the preparation process behind vaccinating badgers against Bovine Tuberculosis or bTB.



and from the Independent today.

Stop blaming the badgers, a cull won't solve our problem

Bovine tuberculosis in cattle causes emotional and financial havoc, but it's time for farmers to stop looking to a badger cull - it won't solve anything.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/stop-blaming-the-badgers-a-cull-wont-solve-our-problem-8192416.html

Lai

good article in the guardian

https://apps.facebook.com/theguardian/environment/2012/oct/04/farming-shortcomings-badger-cull-bovine-tb

Thanks Lai and PPH for the links, ive not had much time this week so I will catch up properly on this thread this evening or over the weekend.
littlewid-x-

More heated action on the cull and I hadn't realised Prince Charles had lobbied Pariament for a cull.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/countryside/9591376/Police-probe-intimidation-of-cull-farmers.html

littlewid-x-

Thanks for the links, and info PPH. Lai, and LW. I just wish parliment, the government, and our MP's would listen to the scientific advice. At the moment it's all about short term small gain, long term big loss, and Charles should know better.
WS

Vaccine breakthrough may mean no more badger culls
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/vaccine-breakthrough-may-mean-no-more-badger-culls-8201315.html

WS

Thanks Littlewid. I had no idea about Prince Charles's view on the badger cull, I am very surprised and saddened. Also sorry to hear the activists are causing problems. It is not the way forward nor the way to succeed.

Interesting article WS and good to know there is a breakthrough. The petition is still looking for more signatures and last time I looked was at 144k which is great.

Lai

Pete finally had a letter from our MP in response to his re the cull. It was not worth the piece of paper it was written on, no surprise but bitterly disappointing given all the latest information on the cull and why it won't work.

I didn't get a reply to my letter!

Lai

At least Peter got a reply, from your comments about it Lai another animal comes to mind Sheep. Like you I have'nt had one
WS

That is good news WS but it also sounds like it could be a long way off as it has to go through OIE, so may not be good news for Badgers at the moment.
Sadly all these things take time. The OIE is the animal equivalent of our WHO...World Health Organisation and NICE.....National Institute For Clinical Excellence, they are the ones who approve all human drugs and give them a liscence for use and sadly ours all take years as well. Hopefully it will be gven full approval and the bdgers of the future can be saved......if not the ones under threat now.

Shame Petes response was not a better one Lai but sadly I think so many MP's are for the cull to remin on the good side of the Farmers.

littlewid-x-

Now they are using Beatrix Potter for their fight for the cull.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9604460/The-murky-21st-century-tale-of-Tommy-Brock-and-Mr-Grant.html

littlewid-x-

Brian May takes the fight to Brussels

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-19925166

Thanks for the Links LW & PPH.Latest new in Sundays Guardin/ Observer
Badger cull 'mindless', say scientists
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/oct/13/badger-cull-mindless

WS