Thursday, 31 October 2013
Westward Ho
Ros and I will be travelling tomorrow to Portishead, to the west of Bristol. We are looking forward to spending some relaxing time with my wife's family over a long weekend. Although birdwatching is on the agenda I am aware that I will be located not so far away from the badger killing fields of Gloucestershire. I acknowledge and support the efforts of our cull protestors. If I can, I will join you for one night....
This Government's Reckless Policy
Read here about the courageous volunteers who battle on for our badgers...
"... I have a background in science and science says this is not the way..."
"... In a former life I was a weapons instructor and I would never allow such excitable people to carry a gun..."
"... the terrible underlying despair provoked by these nights of senseless barbarity..."
"... surrounded by an unknown number of shooters who can see you in their night vision gear... making their contempt for our peaceful protest known by filming us and shouting obscenities as they pass..." This says it all about the kind of contemptible scum who have been let loose to massacre our badgers.
"... the young sow had been shot through the neck , the bullet exiting through her teeth. She must have travelled some distance in agony..."
"... I have been a Conservative voter for most of my life. But no more!..." My feelings exactly. There is no place in government for these despicable ministers and Tory MPs in general.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mark-jones/badger-cull_b_4177782.html
"... I have a background in science and science says this is not the way..."
"... In a former life I was a weapons instructor and I would never allow such excitable people to carry a gun..."
"... the terrible underlying despair provoked by these nights of senseless barbarity..."
"... surrounded by an unknown number of shooters who can see you in their night vision gear... making their contempt for our peaceful protest known by filming us and shouting obscenities as they pass..." This says it all about the kind of contemptible scum who have been let loose to massacre our badgers.
"... the young sow had been shot through the neck , the bullet exiting through her teeth. She must have travelled some distance in agony..."
"... I have been a Conservative voter for most of my life. But no more!..." My feelings exactly. There is no place in government for these despicable ministers and Tory MPs in general.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mark-jones/badger-cull_b_4177782.html
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Defiant Minister Owen Paterson
Owen Paterson pledges "not to drop our spades and run away home". What a despicable analogy. He also says that "sadly a badger vaccine does not work on diseased animals". I believe that to be the case. But then how do you know how many of the badgers you have butchered carry the disease when the carcasses are not being tested for the presence of the virus. Which no doubt means that your arrogant approach is responsible for the slaughter of hundreds of healthy animals.
And DEFRA's definition of humane slaughter is measured by "how long a wounded badger screams"....
Paterson and his Tory bully-boys, rich landowners and the NFU could well become responsible for the extinction of one of our most cherished wild animals. You refuse to listen to reasoned debate and you refuse to consider alternative measures. I despise you.
And DEFRA's definition of humane slaughter is measured by "how long a wounded badger screams"....
Paterson and his Tory bully-boys, rich landowners and the NFU could well become responsible for the extinction of one of our most cherished wild animals. You refuse to listen to reasoned debate and you refuse to consider alternative measures. I despise you.
Monday, 28 October 2013
Three Dead After St Jude Storm
The storm hit the south coast with a vengeance with winds gusting up to hurricane force 100mph. Following the morning's events here there are:
- three reported deaths
- 270,000 homes without power across southern England
- Hundreds of felled trees block road and rail links
- Heathrow cancels 130 flights
My garden shed has been shifted so violently on its foundation it has been twisted from the base up to such a degree that the door will not shut properly. I have had to work up some 'Heath Robinson' repairs to temporarily fix it. Bird feeders were scattered across the garden and my lilac tree has suffered a severe battering. One garden fence panel has been torn apart. The amount of damage is almost as bad as that suffered in the great storm of 1987.
So, I have busied myself this afternoon making a shepherds pie. Comfort food for this evening...
Saturday, 26 October 2013
The Gathering Storm
The barometer is dropping. There is a quiet presently complete with torrential rain. The south of England is bracing for a tumultuous storm, the worst for 20 years. Not as bad as 1987, God forbid. We should expect trees toppling, roof tiles being dislodged, garden fences ripped asunder. The low pressure area is building over the south west atlantic and is headed this way. And I am concerned for my garden birds.
In tree ripping weather accompanied by torrential rain, where can they hide? Birds cannot fly in 80mph winds, as is forecast. It is virtually impossible to roost apart from in the most sheltered accommodation. And where might that be on the south coast?
I watched my garden birds today attempting to hang on to feeders already battered by fresh winds. It is going to get a lot worse, a lot worse. I have nurtured these garden visitors all year. I braved the rain today to top up the feeders. I see my birds lurking in the topmost branches of the lilac tree, waiting for the food to be replenished. I feel responsible for this population of extraordinary wildlife. I attracted them here and I won't let them down so far as food and water is concerned. But I cannot protect them from inclement weather. Where will they go when the storm hits? Will they survive monstrous winds that will no doubt wreak havoc with my garden trees?
Nature is about to throw its worst at the south coast and I will keep a vigil on my garden bird population....
In tree ripping weather accompanied by torrential rain, where can they hide? Birds cannot fly in 80mph winds, as is forecast. It is virtually impossible to roost apart from in the most sheltered accommodation. And where might that be on the south coast?
I watched my garden birds today attempting to hang on to feeders already battered by fresh winds. It is going to get a lot worse, a lot worse. I have nurtured these garden visitors all year. I braved the rain today to top up the feeders. I see my birds lurking in the topmost branches of the lilac tree, waiting for the food to be replenished. I feel responsible for this population of extraordinary wildlife. I attracted them here and I won't let them down so far as food and water is concerned. But I cannot protect them from inclement weather. Where will they go when the storm hits? Will they survive monstrous winds that will no doubt wreak havoc with my garden trees?
Nature is about to throw its worst at the south coast and I will keep a vigil on my garden bird population....
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
UK's Wild Bird Population Continues to Decline
The number of wild birds in the UK is still falling despite efforts to protect them by changing farming practices. Conservationists have urged the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, to use the money newly available from the EU's common agricultural policy to step up protection measures.
Since 2003 there has been a 13% decline in the population of farmland birds. In the five years to the end of 2012 the decline was 8% overall. The decline has slowed according to the Wild Bird Indicator statistics released by the government last Thursday and some species are in better health than they were in the 1970s when data began to be comprehensively collected. However, conservationists (including me) are concerned that the drop in numbers is continuing with a halving of farmland bird numbers in the past 40 years. Woodland bird numbers are down 17%.
Turtle Doves have had their lowest level of sightings since records began. Lapwing numbers are down by nearly two thirds since 1970, while Corn Buntings are down 90% in the same period and the number of Skylarks is down by well over half. These are truly alarming statistics.
Farmland birds suffer from intensive agriculture as farmers often remove or drastically cut back the hedges and trees where many of them live. Pesticides can leave them with less prey and a lack of wide field margins cuts down on habitat.
The decline in farmland birds has slowed and wildlife friendly farmers who put conservation measures in place on their land are to be congratulated for their hard work. But funding must be there for these measures to continue. Under reforms to the CAP that were agreed this summer our government has the ability to divert some of the millions of pounds available (which come ultimately from taxpayers) to environmental stewardship schemes to reward farmers for good practice. Needless to say, Owen Paterson has still not said how he intends to allocate the funding and given the governments freedom of action under the new rules, much of it could go to farmers not based on their practices but on the amount of land they farm, as other subsidies are. Without Paterson's help farmland wildlife will continue to struggle along with those farmers trying to help.
Since 2003 there has been a 13% decline in the population of farmland birds. In the five years to the end of 2012 the decline was 8% overall. The decline has slowed according to the Wild Bird Indicator statistics released by the government last Thursday and some species are in better health than they were in the 1970s when data began to be comprehensively collected. However, conservationists (including me) are concerned that the drop in numbers is continuing with a halving of farmland bird numbers in the past 40 years. Woodland bird numbers are down 17%.
Turtle Doves have had their lowest level of sightings since records began. Lapwing numbers are down by nearly two thirds since 1970, while Corn Buntings are down 90% in the same period and the number of Skylarks is down by well over half. These are truly alarming statistics.
Farmland birds suffer from intensive agriculture as farmers often remove or drastically cut back the hedges and trees where many of them live. Pesticides can leave them with less prey and a lack of wide field margins cuts down on habitat.
The decline in farmland birds has slowed and wildlife friendly farmers who put conservation measures in place on their land are to be congratulated for their hard work. But funding must be there for these measures to continue. Under reforms to the CAP that were agreed this summer our government has the ability to divert some of the millions of pounds available (which come ultimately from taxpayers) to environmental stewardship schemes to reward farmers for good practice. Needless to say, Owen Paterson has still not said how he intends to allocate the funding and given the governments freedom of action under the new rules, much of it could go to farmers not based on their practices but on the amount of land they farm, as other subsidies are. Without Paterson's help farmland wildlife will continue to struggle along with those farmers trying to help.
Monday, 21 October 2013
Autumn Wildlife to Watch Out For
I am already seeing an increase in the variety of wild birds visiting my garden as Autumn deepens and those foggy, damp days of November will soon be with us. The most numerous bird to the feeders is still the Goldfinch; the Dunnock is now back after several months' absence along with the Robin, several Starlings and Woodpigeons and an occasional pair of Collared Doves.
I am now anticipating the arrival of Blackcaps, those wintering warblers that are fans of high-energy fatballs and suet pellets. In winter, increasing numbers of blackcaps now make the journey here from Germany, while most of our breeding birds head off to Africa. I also love to see flocks of Long-tailed tits. These beautiful humbug-striped tits can often be seen clinging to hanging feeders as they forage in flocks of six or more. One winter I counted fifteen in my garden, albeit briefly.
Visits to deep freshwater sites around Sussex should result in sightings of the delightful Pochard, a duck that arrives here from eastern Europe. The flocks are mainly comprised of males because most females migrate to southern Europe.
Ros and I will be travelling down to Bristol soon for a long weekend and I hope to get some time birding on the Somerset Levels and, if time allows, along Severn Beach.
I am now anticipating the arrival of Blackcaps, those wintering warblers that are fans of high-energy fatballs and suet pellets. In winter, increasing numbers of blackcaps now make the journey here from Germany, while most of our breeding birds head off to Africa. I also love to see flocks of Long-tailed tits. These beautiful humbug-striped tits can often be seen clinging to hanging feeders as they forage in flocks of six or more. One winter I counted fifteen in my garden, albeit briefly.
Visits to deep freshwater sites around Sussex should result in sightings of the delightful Pochard, a duck that arrives here from eastern Europe. The flocks are mainly comprised of males because most females migrate to southern Europe.
Ros and I will be travelling down to Bristol soon for a long weekend and I hope to get some time birding on the Somerset Levels and, if time allows, along Severn Beach.
male Pochard
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Badger Trust Launches Legal Challenge
Today the Badger Trust has launched a legal challenge to halt the killing of badgers. The Trust has warned the authorities to abandon the shooting or face a High Court challenge on the grounds that a plan to more than double the killing period is illegal.
The legal firm acting for the Badger Trust is Bindmans LLC, one of the top ranked chambers in London. Head of Chambers is Sir Geoffrey Bindman QC. The firm is recognised for its public order work and its experience with protest law and the right to protest. The firm has successfully represented campaigners on issues as diverse as racial equality, animal rights, peace, the environment, anti-austerity and social justice. The Badger Trust will be well represented and it will be interesting to see if Owen Paterson and DEFRA continue to defy the challenge and end up in front of the High Court.
This is likely to prove to be an expensive exercise; Bindmans don't come cheaply. I am sure that the Trust will welcome donations to the fighting fund. I am attaching a link to the letter that Bindmans LLC has issued to Natural England.
http://www.badger.org.uk/_Attachments/Resources/941_S4.pdf
The legal firm acting for the Badger Trust is Bindmans LLC, one of the top ranked chambers in London. Head of Chambers is Sir Geoffrey Bindman QC. The firm is recognised for its public order work and its experience with protest law and the right to protest. The firm has successfully represented campaigners on issues as diverse as racial equality, animal rights, peace, the environment, anti-austerity and social justice. The Badger Trust will be well represented and it will be interesting to see if Owen Paterson and DEFRA continue to defy the challenge and end up in front of the High Court.
This is likely to prove to be an expensive exercise; Bindmans don't come cheaply. I am sure that the Trust will welcome donations to the fighting fund. I am attaching a link to the letter that Bindmans LLC has issued to Natural England.
http://www.badger.org.uk/_Attachments/Resources/941_S4.pdf
Friday, 18 October 2013
The Shameful Badger Cull
The groundswell of public opinion against the badger cull and its probable extension, gains momentum. Secretary of State for the Environment, Owen Paterson, wants to extend the cull because marksmen failed to kill the target proportion of badgers, falling well short of their target of killing 70% of badgers within the cull zones. Just recently we have learned that 708 badgers were killed in Gloucestershire out of an original target of 2,900 badgers. And, as we all know, according to Mr Paterson: "the badgers moved the goalposts". In making such a ludicrous statement DEFRA scored an embarrassing own goal. Had it not been for the emergency deployment of cages to trap and kill these poor animals when it became obvious that shooting wasn't working, then the kill figures would have been far lower. The failure of the pilot culls to reach their targets should not be used as an excuse to extend shooters' licences for three additional weeks.
There has been little if any monitoring of the shooting, whether or not badgers shot were killed cleanly. Any number of badgers could have been painfully wounded and fled underground to die. We will never know. Moreover, DEFRA did not include testing of badgers for bovine TB as part of the cull, even though testing of badger carcasses would have been easy enough to do and experts urged it.
And now Owen Paterson is considering gassing whole families of badgers in their setts as a possible future 'tool' for killing our remarkable animals. According to a new YouGov opinion poll 58% of the public would not support the government authorising badger gassing. Indeed, three years ago prime minister, David Cameron, famously called gassing "very cruel". Gassing is excluded as a method of killing species listed by the Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats (Bern convention) which includes badgers.
Mr Paterson's conduct throughout this hapless episode has resulted in him becoming little more than a laughing stock, amazing when our Government seeks to play a leading role in matters concerning biodiversity protection and wildlife crime.
It's time the Government got serious about protecting our wildlife and our farm animals and left our badgers alone.
There has been little if any monitoring of the shooting, whether or not badgers shot were killed cleanly. Any number of badgers could have been painfully wounded and fled underground to die. We will never know. Moreover, DEFRA did not include testing of badgers for bovine TB as part of the cull, even though testing of badger carcasses would have been easy enough to do and experts urged it.
And now Owen Paterson is considering gassing whole families of badgers in their setts as a possible future 'tool' for killing our remarkable animals. According to a new YouGov opinion poll 58% of the public would not support the government authorising badger gassing. Indeed, three years ago prime minister, David Cameron, famously called gassing "very cruel". Gassing is excluded as a method of killing species listed by the Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats (Bern convention) which includes badgers.
Mr Paterson's conduct throughout this hapless episode has resulted in him becoming little more than a laughing stock, amazing when our Government seeks to play a leading role in matters concerning biodiversity protection and wildlife crime.
It's time the Government got serious about protecting our wildlife and our farm animals and left our badgers alone.
Thursday, 17 October 2013
The Baja Watch
The pronunciation of the name of this watch did not escape me with its similarity to 'badger'! So, I have invested a fair amount in acquiring one. The phrase 'It's not rocket science' however is hardly appropriate when accessing all the features that this watch contains; indeed a degree in theoretical physics would be useful! Having said that I confess to being in awe of everything it does. A very worthwhile investment (and, no, I don't get anything from Nixon for saying so!)
http://www.nixon.com/gb/en/mens/watches/the-baja-A489.html?sku=A4891323-00
http://www.nixon.com/gb/en/mens/watches/the-baja-A489.html?sku=A4891323-00
Pro Cull MPs Risk Losing Seats
A recent straw poll conducted amongst Joe Public has indicated that a majority of the electorate would not vote for candidates at the next general election who had shown support for the badger cull. So be it. What goes around comes around.
And in the face of more empty rhetoric from Owen Paterson this latest report once again confirms the needless slaughter is without scientific support. But then we already knew that.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/17/badger-goalposts-cull-owen-paterson-bovine-tb?CMP=twt_gu
And in the face of more empty rhetoric from Owen Paterson this latest report once again confirms the needless slaughter is without scientific support. But then we already knew that.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/17/badger-goalposts-cull-owen-paterson-bovine-tb?CMP=twt_gu
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
The Protection of Badgers Act 1992
The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 (c.51) provides legislation that makes it a serious offence to kill, injure or take a badger, or to damage or interfere with a sett unless a licence is obtained from a statutory authority. But in spite of this, badger baiting continues.
This is law, underpinned by UK legislation and applies to, for example, farmers and gamekeepers. Read about it here http://badgerland.co.uk/animals/legal/legal1992.html
Perhaps our incumbent government should pay rather more heed to legislation that precedes it before extending and wide-spreading the current cull of badgers in England...
This is law, underpinned by UK legislation and applies to, for example, farmers and gamekeepers. Read about it here http://badgerland.co.uk/animals/legal/legal1992.html
Perhaps our incumbent government should pay rather more heed to legislation that precedes it before extending and wide-spreading the current cull of badgers in England...
Tuesday, 15 October 2013
Badger Culls Kill Scientific Honesty
Like so many people in the United Kingdom I am in despair and angry over the Government's intransigence in ignoring the science of epidemiology concerning our badger population. It appears that, even in the face of irrefutable scientific evidence, our government of bully boys are determined to continue with the extermination of wild badgers. Once again, the arguments in favour of continuing the badger cull, as put forward by our Environment Minister, Owen Paterson, are less than scientific.
Please read this to understand what is at stake here.
http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/other_comments/2119726/badger_culls_kill_scientific_honesty.html
A government that has lost the argument with Joe Public. A government so in favour of rich farmers and landowners that it is prepared to completely ignore sensible alternatives to culling, a government that ignores the voices of so many of the electorate. A government that is hell bent on destroying our wildlife, a government without a credible argument, a government that sees climate change as a business opportunity, a government that cares nothing for the vast majority of UK voters.
As a retired businessman I am reluctant to state that I will never vote for Cameron again. He has shown complete disdain for scientific evidence and has positioned himself far beyond my trust. He, together with Owen Paterson, has lost the support of my entire family....
Please read this to understand what is at stake here.
http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/other_comments/2119726/badger_culls_kill_scientific_honesty.html
A government that has lost the argument with Joe Public. A government so in favour of rich farmers and landowners that it is prepared to completely ignore sensible alternatives to culling, a government that ignores the voices of so many of the electorate. A government that is hell bent on destroying our wildlife, a government without a credible argument, a government that sees climate change as a business opportunity, a government that cares nothing for the vast majority of UK voters.
As a retired businessman I am reluctant to state that I will never vote for Cameron again. He has shown complete disdain for scientific evidence and has positioned himself far beyond my trust. He, together with Owen Paterson, has lost the support of my entire family....
Monday, 14 October 2013
Bird Feeder Battle Zone
The amount of food my garden birds are consuming is increasing daily. I have just spent another £20 ($32) on sunflower seeds and I will be lucky if they last a week. The Goldfinches in particular love this food source and I often count 15 or more of this species at the feeders. Their comings and goings and occasional skirmishes are entertaining but hide the fact that they are in deadly earnest and sometimes have serious outcomes.
Our garden visitors are invariably in competition. The food we leave out is still a limited resource. If a bird is displaced from a feeder, an event which is commonplace in my garden and technically known as a "supplanting attack", it can appear to be a minor incident. The juveniles are often displaced by adult birds. If this happens repeatedly a bird could lose body condition little by little and be vulnerable to a change to colder weather. This is becoming of increasing concern given the forecast that we could be in for the coldest winter for 100 years.
This winter then it will be more important to spice up our watching to appreciate just how important aggression is. Bird feeders seethe with tension and it won't take long to spot it. I am seeing it already. Threatening birds stoop forward, head down (like a charging bull) with the bill open. The threatened bird usually simply flies off. It might also offer an appeasement posture, as finches do, which involves fluffing up the plumage. I have also witnessed the unusual appeasement ritual where the subordinate brings food to a dominant bird and feeds it beak to beak. I saw this only this morning.
Other inherently aggressive signals are more subtle. Watch Blackbirds and Woodpigeons when they land. They often lift the tail up and let it down slowly, both acts drawing attention to the individual.
Our garden birds are wild animals in every sense. Remember that when you top up your feeders. and do keep them replenished during the harsh winter anticipated...
Our garden visitors are invariably in competition. The food we leave out is still a limited resource. If a bird is displaced from a feeder, an event which is commonplace in my garden and technically known as a "supplanting attack", it can appear to be a minor incident. The juveniles are often displaced by adult birds. If this happens repeatedly a bird could lose body condition little by little and be vulnerable to a change to colder weather. This is becoming of increasing concern given the forecast that we could be in for the coldest winter for 100 years.
This winter then it will be more important to spice up our watching to appreciate just how important aggression is. Bird feeders seethe with tension and it won't take long to spot it. I am seeing it already. Threatening birds stoop forward, head down (like a charging bull) with the bill open. The threatened bird usually simply flies off. It might also offer an appeasement posture, as finches do, which involves fluffing up the plumage. I have also witnessed the unusual appeasement ritual where the subordinate brings food to a dominant bird and feeds it beak to beak. I saw this only this morning.
Other inherently aggressive signals are more subtle. Watch Blackbirds and Woodpigeons when they land. They often lift the tail up and let it down slowly, both acts drawing attention to the individual.
Our garden birds are wild animals in every sense. Remember that when you top up your feeders. and do keep them replenished during the harsh winter anticipated...
Saturday, 12 October 2013
The Eastbourne Beer Festival
An enjoyable interlude today as I met up with my brother for a session at the Eastbourne Beer Festival, held at the Winter Gardens. This was my fourth consecutive year of attending and on each occasion the weather has been quite remarkable. After yesterday's torrential rain the bright spells today were most welcome.
One is totally spoilt for choice at this particular festival with a selection of more than 120 real ales on offer and a multitude of ciders and perries. We had tickets for the 11:00am to 4:00pm session and enjoyed a variety of the beers on offer and were entertained by two bands: Pocketsize, a group of three with a terrific female lead vocalist, so reminiscent of Alison Krauss, performing material in the Americana/Country genre; and Wakin' Snakes, a terrific rock/folk ensemble with great vocals and an accomplished banjo player.
For the real ale aficionados, here is a record of my selected beverages:
One is totally spoilt for choice at this particular festival with a selection of more than 120 real ales on offer and a multitude of ciders and perries. We had tickets for the 11:00am to 4:00pm session and enjoyed a variety of the beers on offer and were entertained by two bands: Pocketsize, a group of three with a terrific female lead vocalist, so reminiscent of Alison Krauss, performing material in the Americana/Country genre; and Wakin' Snakes, a terrific rock/folk ensemble with great vocals and an accomplished banjo player.
For the real ale aficionados, here is a record of my selected beverages:
- Ginger Tosser 3.8% from Skinner's Brewery in Cornwall
- Betty Stogs Bitter 4.0% from Skinner's Brewery in Cornwall
- British Bulldog 4.3% from the Westerham Brewery in Kent
- Lancaster Bomber 4.4% from Thwaites Brewery
- Battleaxe 4.2% from the Rudgate Brewery
- Hobgoblin 4.5%from the Wychwood Brewery
- Landlord 4.3% from the Taylor Brewery in Yorkshire
- Fortyniner 4.9% from Ringwood's Brewery in Hampshire
I hasten to add that my consumption over 5 hours was in half pints only! A most enjoyable day and it was good to see my brother again (he lives in Kent).
Friday, 11 October 2013
Somerset Badger Cull Given Extension
The government agency Natural England (there is nothing 'natural' about this gang of bloodthirsty individuals) has granted a licence to extend the badger cull in Somerset until 1st November. The planned six-week trial came to an end on Monday but the firm charged with slaughtering our badger population asked for more time after its 'marksmen' fell short of murdering the target of 70% of the badger population.
Government ministers and the NFU, that union of wealthy landowning farmers who don't care a fig about our wildlife, say badger culling is needed to control cattle TB. For those of you who read my blog you will know that this is so contrary to the truth behind the spread of bovine TB and yet these wretched people are hell bent on destroying a protected species of our wildlife instead of embarking on a course of vaccinating them as an acceptable alternative.
David Cameron, Owen Paterson and their other right wing allies have polarised the UK voting public over this issue. They have totally underestimated the groundswell of hatred that this has engendered for the coalition government, amongst reasonable minded people who voted for them. I am a retired Managing Director. In my lifetime I have supported an ethic of business building to create employment, to increase incomes to be spent on the High Street and - yes - I have voted Conservative. But, no more. I now have more time to consider the political motives of our elected government and I am ashamed of what the coalition are doing viz-a-viz the NHS, the Welfare State, Education, Banking, Climate Change and above all - the Environment. You, Mr Cameron, aided by Mr Paterson, have lost the votes of my entire family. Your arrogance in ignoring scientific evidence that has concluded, and been reported to you, that a badger cull is not only futile, may well increase the incidence of TB in cattle by perturbation, and is a crime against a protected species, may well lead to your downfall. To extend the licence for the cull in Somerset is the action of a desperate man and a breach of trust of all those, like me, who voted for you.
Well, let me say this. What goes around comes around. You might not believe that your action and that of Owen Paterson in this crime against our wildlife is a major issue. I believe that you will be remembered for this and you should dwell on your decision when you pack your bags and leave No. 10.
And, frankly, I cannot wait for that to happen.
Government ministers and the NFU, that union of wealthy landowning farmers who don't care a fig about our wildlife, say badger culling is needed to control cattle TB. For those of you who read my blog you will know that this is so contrary to the truth behind the spread of bovine TB and yet these wretched people are hell bent on destroying a protected species of our wildlife instead of embarking on a course of vaccinating them as an acceptable alternative.
David Cameron, Owen Paterson and their other right wing allies have polarised the UK voting public over this issue. They have totally underestimated the groundswell of hatred that this has engendered for the coalition government, amongst reasonable minded people who voted for them. I am a retired Managing Director. In my lifetime I have supported an ethic of business building to create employment, to increase incomes to be spent on the High Street and - yes - I have voted Conservative. But, no more. I now have more time to consider the political motives of our elected government and I am ashamed of what the coalition are doing viz-a-viz the NHS, the Welfare State, Education, Banking, Climate Change and above all - the Environment. You, Mr Cameron, aided by Mr Paterson, have lost the votes of my entire family. Your arrogance in ignoring scientific evidence that has concluded, and been reported to you, that a badger cull is not only futile, may well increase the incidence of TB in cattle by perturbation, and is a crime against a protected species, may well lead to your downfall. To extend the licence for the cull in Somerset is the action of a desperate man and a breach of trust of all those, like me, who voted for you.
Well, let me say this. What goes around comes around. You might not believe that your action and that of Owen Paterson in this crime against our wildlife is a major issue. I believe that you will be remembered for this and you should dwell on your decision when you pack your bags and leave No. 10.
And, frankly, I cannot wait for that to happen.
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Call for Environment Secretary to Resign
Take a look at the obnoxious Owen Paterson posturing in parliament about the badger cull. One Labour MP called on him to resign as I am sure the majority of the voting public would welcome as well.
http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/2013-10-10/call-for-environment-sec-to-resign-over-badger-cull/
Owen Paterson is an industry puppet. This is the minister who makes nonsensical claims about the benefits of GM technology and clearly does not understand the dangers genetically modified crops pose to the ecosystem. Despite this, Owen Paterson has launched a campaign to grow GM crops in Britain.
Owen Paterson is a key member of the Conservative right along with chancellor George Osborne, education secretary Michael Gove and Ian Duncan Smith, the Work & Pensions secretary. That is some gang of four, each one of them despised by so many in Britain. The worst of these is Mr Paterson - he is against gay marriage, deeply sceptical about Europe and has yet to clarify whether or not he believes in man-made global warming. In April he fought against a Europe-wide ban on nerve-agent pesticides, known as neonicotinoids, which many scientists believe are accelerating the decline in bee populations, arguing that there was insufficient evidence. I am sure that he has a vested interest in Monsanto...
To have this man as our environment secretary is of major concern as it appears he cares nothing for the very cause he is supposed to champion and defend. He prefers to slaughter our cherished wildlife in spite of irrefutable scientific evidence that this is indefensible madness that is already costing millions of £s that could have been far better spent on a programme of inoculation.
Owen Paterson must go.
http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/2013-10-10/call-for-environment-sec-to-resign-over-badger-cull/
Owen Paterson is an industry puppet. This is the minister who makes nonsensical claims about the benefits of GM technology and clearly does not understand the dangers genetically modified crops pose to the ecosystem. Despite this, Owen Paterson has launched a campaign to grow GM crops in Britain.
Owen Paterson is a key member of the Conservative right along with chancellor George Osborne, education secretary Michael Gove and Ian Duncan Smith, the Work & Pensions secretary. That is some gang of four, each one of them despised by so many in Britain. The worst of these is Mr Paterson - he is against gay marriage, deeply sceptical about Europe and has yet to clarify whether or not he believes in man-made global warming. In April he fought against a Europe-wide ban on nerve-agent pesticides, known as neonicotinoids, which many scientists believe are accelerating the decline in bee populations, arguing that there was insufficient evidence. I am sure that he has a vested interest in Monsanto...
To have this man as our environment secretary is of major concern as it appears he cares nothing for the very cause he is supposed to champion and defend. He prefers to slaughter our cherished wildlife in spite of irrefutable scientific evidence that this is indefensible madness that is already costing millions of £s that could have been far better spent on a programme of inoculation.
Owen Paterson must go.
Paterson's Spectacular Own Goal
The insufferable Owen Paterson scored a spectacular own goal yesterday when he said, in response to far lower than expected cull figures that: "the badgers had moved the goal posts..." !! A quite remarkable feat by this protected animal. Read more here: http://guardianlv.com/2013/10/owen-paterson-says-more-badgers-must-die/
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Badger Cull Extension Sought
A failure to kill enough badgers (paradoxically I call this a success) has forced those behind England's controversial cull to seek an extension of the night-time shoots in a last-ditch attempt to make up the numbers. Culling is intended to curb the rise of tuberculosis in cattle but experts have warned that dragging out the killing gives more opportunity for badgers to flee the gunmen and could increase TB infections. Mind you, that presupposes that those badgers that escape the gunsights are actually infected, doesn't it?
The UK's leading badger expert, Professor Rosie Woodroffe, said: "I would stop the culls now. They have failed to meet the legal licensing target. There are now many serious questions about this whole approach to TB control."
Ministers are expected to issue a written statement today to parliament. Environment secretary Owen Paterson, bedfellow of the NFU, has argued that the cull is an essential part of TB control even though leading scientists have dismissed the policy as "mindless" and "a costly distraction" from improving vaccination and controls on cattle movements.
The UK's leading badger expert, Professor Rosie Woodroffe, said: "I would stop the culls now. They have failed to meet the legal licensing target. There are now many serious questions about this whole approach to TB control."
Ministers are expected to issue a written statement today to parliament. Environment secretary Owen Paterson, bedfellow of the NFU, has argued that the cull is an essential part of TB control even though leading scientists have dismissed the policy as "mindless" and "a costly distraction" from improving vaccination and controls on cattle movements.
MPs' Pay
As I am sure you know, MPs are expected to be given a 10 percent pay rise taking their annual salaries to £74,000. This comes at a time when Ministers say that a one percent rise for nurses is "unaffordable".
It is the sort of breathtaking hypocrisy that we have come to expect from our politicians who, it should be noted, receive - on top of their extravagant expenses and allowances - a £5.8 million annual subsidy from we taxpayers for the food and drink that they consume at Westminster.
If you don't want to contribute to the cost of their wining and dining and believe that, like everyone else, they should pay for their own food and drink, you should sign this e-petition:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40707
It is the sort of breathtaking hypocrisy that we have come to expect from our politicians who, it should be noted, receive - on top of their extravagant expenses and allowances - a £5.8 million annual subsidy from we taxpayers for the food and drink that they consume at Westminster.
If you don't want to contribute to the cost of their wining and dining and believe that, like everyone else, they should pay for their own food and drink, you should sign this e-petition:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40707
Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Camp Badger to Remain Vigilant
The badger cull has failed to kill enough animals. Sources claim that the cull has failed to kill fewer than half the animals that were the target in Somerset.
http://youtu.be/LewZxNTdn4I
Monday, 7 October 2013
England's Wildlife Killing Fields...
This is the best article by a country mile that I have read on the badger cull and shows conclusively that Owen Paterson, UK Minister for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should resign or be dismissed as totally incompetent. Having said that I have to stifle a yawn over David Cameron's cabinet reshuffle that bears no more weight than the flick of a feather duster. So, without further ado, whether or not you have an opinion on the badger cull and whether or not it will help to reduce bovine Tb, I urge you to read this. A most compelling piece...
http://www.globalresearch.ca/englands-killing-fields-h-m-governments-badger-culls-kill-scientific-honesty/5352805
http://www.globalresearch.ca/englands-killing-fields-h-m-governments-badger-culls-kill-scientific-honesty/5352805
Badger Culls: this is only the end of the beginning
The title is from ThisIsSomerset who turn to Churchillian quotes to make their point:
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Badger-culls-end-beginning/story-19891543-detail/story.html#axzz2h1SwsX3U
and clearly on the side of the Government's decision "to take difficult decisions for what everyone hopes will be a long-term gain and the eventual eradication of bovine TB". Everyone? Really? Have you listened to Dominic Dyer? And the warning from Lord Krebs that you have also reported on? One flies in the face of the other.
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Lord-Krebs-warning-badger-cull-credibility/story-19328415-detail/story.html#axzz2h3Eooyql
The anti-cull protesters will not go quietly into the night....
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Badger-culls-end-beginning/story-19891543-detail/story.html#axzz2h1SwsX3U
and clearly on the side of the Government's decision "to take difficult decisions for what everyone hopes will be a long-term gain and the eventual eradication of bovine TB". Everyone? Really? Have you listened to Dominic Dyer? And the warning from Lord Krebs that you have also reported on? One flies in the face of the other.
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Lord-Krebs-warning-badger-cull-credibility/story-19328415-detail/story.html#axzz2h3Eooyql
The anti-cull protesters will not go quietly into the night....
Sunday, 6 October 2013
October Garden Birds
It is still pleasantly mild in Brighton for early October. The temperature today is 20℃ and the garden is bathed in sunshine with a light breeze.
Since hanging out feeders containing sunflower seeds at the back end of last year the number of Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis has grown from 2 or 3 in January to a squabbling number of 14 or more today, the 'charm' containing first and second brood juveniles. A delight to watch.
Yesterday we had a solitary Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita flitting around in the lilac tree and the Dunnocks Prunella modularis are back after an absence of several months. A pair of Blue-tits Cyanistes caeruleus are daily visitors and a single Great-tit Parus major makes the occasional brief visit. Starlings Sturnus vulgaris have reappeared over the past few days. They certainly enjoy the fruit flavoured red suet pellets. A number of Woodpigeons Columba polumbus raid the feeders every day and since the beginning of the month a Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto has returned. Herring Gulls Larus argentatus and Jackdaws Corvus monedula are always about although they seldom land in the garden. The Jackdaws though do attack the fat-balls with relish.
Noticeable by their absence at the moment are Blackbird Turdus merula and Robin Erithacus rubecula.
Since hanging out feeders containing sunflower seeds at the back end of last year the number of Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis has grown from 2 or 3 in January to a squabbling number of 14 or more today, the 'charm' containing first and second brood juveniles. A delight to watch.
Yesterday we had a solitary Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita flitting around in the lilac tree and the Dunnocks Prunella modularis are back after an absence of several months. A pair of Blue-tits Cyanistes caeruleus are daily visitors and a single Great-tit Parus major makes the occasional brief visit. Starlings Sturnus vulgaris have reappeared over the past few days. They certainly enjoy the fruit flavoured red suet pellets. A number of Woodpigeons Columba polumbus raid the feeders every day and since the beginning of the month a Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto has returned. Herring Gulls Larus argentatus and Jackdaws Corvus monedula are always about although they seldom land in the garden. The Jackdaws though do attack the fat-balls with relish.
Noticeable by their absence at the moment are Blackbird Turdus merula and Robin Erithacus rubecula.
Saturday, 5 October 2013
Bees Losing Sense of Smell
It has been reported by neuroscientists at the University of Southampton that traffic fumes render the scent of flowers barely recognisable to honeybees and could have a serious impact on their ability to find food. The report states that reactive pollutants in diesel destroyed key chemicals in the odour of oilseed flowers making them smell different to the bees.
Honeybees have a sensitive sense of smell and an exceptional ability to learn and memorise new odours. The effect of diesel fumes on flower scent could have serious detrimental effects on the number of honeybee colonies and pollination activity.
Three quarters of the world's food crops rely on bees and other natural pollinators, a service valued at £135bn a year globally. But there have been serious declines in natural pollinators in recent decades. A combination of factors has been blamed including the huge loss of the flower-rich habitats that sustain bees as well as disease and the impact of agricultural insecticides. And now it appears that traffic fumes are adding to the problem.
Honeybees are very, very selective on what they home in on. They do not go randomly from flower to flower. The team of scientists found that it was the highly reactive nitrogen oxides (NOx) that chemically altered the smell by removing key chemicals within a minute of exposure in the laboratory environment.
Emissions from diesel regularly exceed the limits for nitrogen dioxide and emissions from petrol vehicles often contain even higher levels of NOx. These nanoparticle pollutants, already known to harm human health, may also be affecting bees.
Honeybees have a sensitive sense of smell and an exceptional ability to learn and memorise new odours. The effect of diesel fumes on flower scent could have serious detrimental effects on the number of honeybee colonies and pollination activity.
Three quarters of the world's food crops rely on bees and other natural pollinators, a service valued at £135bn a year globally. But there have been serious declines in natural pollinators in recent decades. A combination of factors has been blamed including the huge loss of the flower-rich habitats that sustain bees as well as disease and the impact of agricultural insecticides. And now it appears that traffic fumes are adding to the problem.
Honeybees are very, very selective on what they home in on. They do not go randomly from flower to flower. The team of scientists found that it was the highly reactive nitrogen oxides (NOx) that chemically altered the smell by removing key chemicals within a minute of exposure in the laboratory environment.
Emissions from diesel regularly exceed the limits for nitrogen dioxide and emissions from petrol vehicles often contain even higher levels of NOx. These nanoparticle pollutants, already known to harm human health, may also be affecting bees.
Thursday, 3 October 2013
Playlists on the iPhone
It has taken me some considerable time to realise that by creating playlists on my iPhone I listen to far more of my music. Probably a moot point but I get rather disinterested to listen to every track on a particular album, one after the other. So, for the sake of music fans, here is a playlist I have entitled: "On The Road" (yes, very original...):
- Ain't Nobody Rufus & Chaka Khan
- All My Love Gwen McCrae
- Alphaville Bryan Ferry
- Always and Forever Pat Metheny
- Anyway Jamie Cullum
- Automatic The Pointer Sisters
- Back Stabbers Seal
- Been So Long Anita Baker
- Body and Soul Amy Winehouse & Tony Bennett
- Boogie Wonderland Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions
- Caught Up in the Rapture Anita Baker
- Dance Your Pain Away Agnetha Fältskog
- Deep Within the Corners of my Mind Melody Gardot
- Diamonds Rihanna
- Do You Wanna Be Mine Gwen McCrae
- Feel So Good Gwen McCrae
- Get It Over With Rihanna
- I Can Make You Feel Good Shalamar
- I Can't Give You Anything But Love Terence Blanchard
- I Care Beyoncé
- I Gotta Feeling The Black Eyed Peas
- I Want Your Love Chic
- Mirrors Justin Timberlake
- Cry Me a River Justin Timberlake
- Oh Well Depeche Mode
- If You Don't Know Me By Now Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
- Take Back the Night Justin Timberlake
- After the Love Has Gone Earth, Wind & Fire
- Love Won't Let Me Wait Luther Vandross
- Love Won't Let Me Wait Jackie Moore (same song but different)
- Nobody's Business Rihanna (featuring Chris Brown)
- No Snow Blues Brian Protheroe
- Rock With You Michael Jackson
- A Night to Remember Shalamar
There you have it, a fairly eclectic mix of pop, funk and soul that plays for well over two hours whilst driving. I like it anyway...
Extremely Rare Vagrant on Shetland
An extremely rare vagrant has been seen this week on Shetland. The Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus was first recorded on Fair Isle in May 1955. This week saw the appearance of one on Mid Yell and will become only the fourth record for Shetland.
Hudsonian Whimbrel
This brings the total number of individuals seen in Britain since 1950 to eight. Before this week's individual the most recent sighting was in 2011 from September 20th - 25th at Mizen Head, Co. Cork, Ireland.
I am not a rarity chaser but I would love to be on Shetland right now....
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
The Reality of Life on The Dole
Let me preface this by stating that I am not speaking from personal experience. I am happily retired after a long and rewarding working life. I do however have acquaintances amongst the long-term unemployed. Not because they want to be and not because they are scroungers. They remain unemployed because they are superabundant. If there were several million vacancies and nobody was filling them because of their attachment to daytime TV then the Tory campaign against the jobless would carry more weight. But clearly, George Osborne and Ian Duncan Smith do not have a clue.
I am told by those in the know that the Work Programme is not working. Tougher sanctions against the unemployed are not what is required. What is required is to make work a realistic prospect, which does not mean cleaning graffiti and cooking for the elderly.
Now, IDS has come up with the cockamamie idea under a Workfare scheme that jobseekers will have to report to the job-centre every day, some benefit claimants facing 35 hours a week so occupied. How will the unemployed in rural areas cope? Reporting to the job centre everyday and what that alone means in transport costs. And where will these people be put? There are millions of them all needing to use the toilet facilities....
I am not standing in defence of the work-shy. I am saying though, that treating the unemployed as social outcasts is a toxic form of political attack that has no place in my reasoning.
GO and IDS should try living in the real world....
I am told by those in the know that the Work Programme is not working. Tougher sanctions against the unemployed are not what is required. What is required is to make work a realistic prospect, which does not mean cleaning graffiti and cooking for the elderly.
Now, IDS has come up with the cockamamie idea under a Workfare scheme that jobseekers will have to report to the job-centre every day, some benefit claimants facing 35 hours a week so occupied. How will the unemployed in rural areas cope? Reporting to the job centre everyday and what that alone means in transport costs. And where will these people be put? There are millions of them all needing to use the toilet facilities....
I am not standing in defence of the work-shy. I am saying though, that treating the unemployed as social outcasts is a toxic form of political attack that has no place in my reasoning.
GO and IDS should try living in the real world....
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Upgrading to iOS7
I have finally completed upgrading my iPhone 4S (have a 5S on order), iPod Touch 5th Generation and iPad2 to iOS7. If you are yet to complete this upgrade I assure you it is well worth it. The new user interface is fantastic, but be warned. It takes anything up to 1½ hours to complete the download and install! When all this is done you then need to wait quite a while for your music to re-download from iTunes or iCloud.
Apps re-configured for iOS7 are a joy to use.
Great stuff Apple.
Apps re-configured for iOS7 are a joy to use.
Great stuff Apple.
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