Survey of Grantham Shoppers Shows Opinion on Badger Cull

A Grantham man concerned about the plight of badgers carried out a survey to gauge opinion after being told by Grantham MP Nick Boles that the majority of his constituents support the cull.

Philip Gadd took to the town centre last Saturday, joined by four other members of Grantham Wildlife Protection, to ask shoppers: "Do you support the badger cull?" Of 238 responses, 74% said 'No', 10.5% said 'Yes' and 15.5% were undecided.

The move followed Mr Gadd's receipt last year of a letter from Mr Boles, stating: "Most of my constituents support the Government's proposal for a careful, scientifically evidenced cull of badgers in TB hotspots. I cannot represent them and represent you. So I chose to do the democratic thing and represent the majority".

Mr Gadd said that this was reiterated during a recent meeting with the MP. He added: "Although only a snapshot survey it does appear that our MP is wrong and the majority of his constituents are in fact against the culling of badgers. We would like Mr Boles to reconsider his views and represents the views of Grantham people".

Mr Gadd puts this very politely. What he wants to say Mr Boles is that you are a lying Tory toad who runs in fear of the party whips. You have no idea how your constituents really feel about this vital issue and your constituents will remember this when it comes to the next general election. You are a typical example of current Conservative MPs who don't give a fig about our environment and our wildlife and who suck up to the NFU and large landowners to solicit their votes.

Watch your back Mr Boles.

Culling of Badgers by means of CO Poisoning

This excellent article by Stephen Hadley is yet another damning report on the depths our government and the NFU are prepared to sink to, to continue the slaughter of our badgers. I am sending a copy of this to Simon Kirby MP, our local representative, who supported the badger cull and in so doing lost the support of my entire family and close friends.

Please read this: http://leanonus.co/blog/badgers/

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.

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.

Police Accused of Bias over Culling of Badgers

More disquieting news about the behaviour of the police and their involvement in action against badger cull protesters. Further evidence on the lobbying power of the NFU and the Countryside Alliance and our weak coalition government that decides to ignore genuine scientific evidence that the cull will not work.

The groundswell of public opinion against the cull continues to gain momentum. Long may it continue.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/24/police-accused-bias-culling-badgers

Call To Kill The Cull

Yet another damning article on the needless massacre of our badgers driven by the NFU and politicians. Take the time to read this and contact your own Member of Parliament to voice your strong opposition to the cull.

http://www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/news/letters/call-to-kill-the-cull-1-5483752

The Truth about Bovine Tb

The current badger cull in Somerset and Gloucestershire has divided the nation. On one side the powerful National Farmers Union (NFU), DEFRA, our Environment Minister, Owen Paterson, our Prime Minister, David Cameron and our elected dictatorship and on the other the like minded members of the National Trust, the Wildlife Trust,  the RSPB, the Badger Trust, Nature Conservation and such well informed people as Dr Brian May, Lord Krebs and Dominic Dyer.

And me.

For the TRUTH about Bovine Tb please watch this informed video of Dominic Dyer talking at the Badger March on 7th September in Taunton, Somerset. Listen to his compelling evidence that this cull is not only wrong, it is futile and ill-informed and is driven by the greed of the NFU that has completely distorted the facts surrounding the origin of this disease.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1mxVO4-U3EU

The badger cull is now likely to be rolled out to take in East and West Sussex. Mike Weatherley, the conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, has signed a Parliamentary Motion to call on the government to allow a vote in the Commons to decide on the further badger cull. Mike said: "This badger cull is entirely unnecessary......" We, the people, agree. It is time for the stench of the NFU and its supporters to be shown for what it is. A package of lies to hide the fact that Bovine Tb originated in cattle and not badgers. And yet these people want to virtually wipe out an animal that is supposed to be protected in this country of ours.

Join your local Badger Protection Group and take a stand for our wildlife. Owen Paterson cares nothing for badgers. Indeed, he wants farmers to be given the right to shoot any badger on sight. What a contemptible man he is - and he is our Environment Minister. He should be ashamed for ignoring popular opinion, but then isn't that typical of this coalition government in general?

Write to your MPs and urge them to sign Early Day Motion (EDM) 299 Pilot Badger Cull Parliamentary Assessment and Vote. Make your own MP accountable for the views of his/her constituents and not the demands of the government whips.

United, we can put a stop to this massacre of our wildlife.

Badger Cull To Start

The Guardian has learned that England's badger culls are due to begin on the night of Monday 26th August. The cull will take place in Gloucestershire and Somerset. The animal welfare group 'Care For the Wild', using figures released by Defra under the Freedom of Information Act, has accused them of not properly assessing the suffering of badgers as the figures reveal that as few as 120 out of the 5,000 shootings will be independently observed. The Information Commissioner instructed Defra to reveal this information.

The expected cull has split national opinion. Although the badger is a protected species ministers and farmers insist that a cull is necessary to stop spiralling rates of bTB in livestock. Opponents say it will have little effect on infection and will cause suffering to badgers.

Many of you will recall that Lord Krebs, one of the Government's key advisers on the issue and a world expert in zoology, has previously described the policy as a mistake. He said research showed that killing 70% of badgers in a restricted area only reduced bovine TB by 16%.

Philip Mansbridge, Care For the Wild chief executive, said: "The truth is this cull has no scientific or moral basis. Going ahead with it will give false hope to farmers, is pointless for cattle and utterly disastrous for badgers".

The NFU is making an injunction bid today in the High Court to restrict the activity of badger cull opponents. They claim that some farmers have been intimidated and harassed and therefore need protection. Opponents will challenge the legal bid claiming it will prevent their right to peaceful protest.

An e-petition to HM Government, created by Dr Brian May CBE, entitled "Stop the Badger Cull" has been signed by 264,965 individuals. No matter which side of the debate you support this is a compelling number of people who want to see the cull stopped.

The nation will, I am sure, remain divided on this one.