Badger shooting has now been given the go-ahead in parts of England. In light of this, Brian May has opened a petition to seek a parliamentary debate. Read on below for an update from Pat Hayden of the Badger Trust.
As many of you will already know, on 11th September Badger Trust lost its appeal against the judgment given by Lord Justice Ouseley on 12th July in respect of the Judicial Review we made against the Government’s decision to hold a pilot trial of the free-shooting of badgers in parts of Somerset and Gloucestershire.
Our Chairman, Dave Williams, needed to attend the Rally being held in Bristol and it was agreed that Jeff Hayden, Financial Director and the main point of contact with our legal team, together with myself, should represent Badger Trust at the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice.
This note is sent to you from the perspective of how it felt to sit in the courtroom, listening to the fate of thousands of badgers being decided solely on points of law. Science, humanity, common sense, none of these came into the equation. A couple of hours were spent on discussion on the law relating to the protection of badgers and what was in the minds of people decades ago when such laws were introduced or consolidated into existing law.
We went to Court in the hope of winning the appeal but came out knowing we had lost as judgment was given immediately and all three judges concurred with Lord Justice Ouseley. Difficult to maintain one’s composure listening to the summing up, knowing it is now likely that the shooting of badgers will commence in a few weeks’ time in those two parts of the West Country. But we have to put yesterday behind us and move forward for the sake of the badgers, they have been made scapegoats and we must continue to do our best for them.
We also have to bear in mind that whilst bovine TB is a serious problem for the farming community, the government’s proposals will only address at best 16% of the problem over a 9-year period. Many farmers recognise this and are seeking a real solution to the problem, including increasing numbers asking us about vaccination of the badgers on their land.
I felt a great sense of injustice when I left the High Court. On the positive side, Badger Trust is grateful to the Judge for clarifying the law. But the facts remain the same – the science is unaltered and the appeal was based solely on interpretation of the law and will not improve the bTB situation.
Because of this, I am writing to ask you to do one thing for badgers, all it will cost is a little of your time. Brian May has put a petition on the e-gov petition site, asking for the badger cull to be stopped. If between us we can achieve 100,000 signatures on that petition, we can request a parliamentary debate and this is a unique situation, none of the other petitions many of us have already signed can achieve that.
E-Gov petitions can only be signed electronically by residents of the UK and I implore everybody reading this e-mail to sign it and to ask everybody you know who has the welfare of badgers at heart, to do the same. To access the petition, click on this link http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257. Please forward this message to all your e-mail contacts. Thank you for reading my note and please sign Brian May’s petition for the badgers.
Best wishes,
Pat Hayden,
Vice Chairman, Badger Trust
Please help the badgers
Cattle are routinely checked. Why not vaccinate them all at that time. It is ludicrous to even suggest badgers are responsible for passing on diseases to cattle. Where’s the logic? they would passi t to every other creature if it were possible, but how many foxes, rabbits, squirrels, deer etc have TB?
There is absolutely NO justification in culling Badgers, Cows are the cause of Bovine TB not the other way around, This is a protected & iconic species. Vaccinate the cattle NO CULL!!!
Nothing good to say about farmers nor this government!
We have to save the badger before this cull completely decimates them in the West Country. Cameron is just pandering to his lazy farmer voters.
Crazy,their a protected species!
please let us see an end to badger culling,
let us help them now
helping Badgers and any suffering animal is prime importance. What surprises me is to see Network for animals Logo involved in this issue. Nfa saved then killed 3000+ dogs in the Philippines, abandoned 122 dogs in 2011 and 43 dogs went missing under their care in 2010. Nfa care only for money - NOT for animal welfare.
This planet is a sad place for all animals. We humans have lost all our dignity towards animals.
Every living creature has a right to life. If animals are going to die of some painful desease then let it be done in a humane way. Breeding animals in factory farming for humans to eat is horrific, exploiting them is wrong. All animals should be helped if they need it, the responsibility and privelege is ours. Animals are special,they deserve our love and respect!
Please ensure animals are given the respect they deserve and let us see an end to badger culling.
Stop Badger Shooting Everywhere :-0
We need more dignity toward animals. Please ensure an end to badger culling.
It’s the politicians that need culling !!!!
there are some humans that should be culled instead
Stop badger culling.
spent a year in nepal with a british medical team set up to help the endemic problem of tb in humans
causes - overcrowded insanitary conditions poor diet contaminated water saliva from spitting
bovine tb causes - overcrowded insanitary conditions poor diet dirty water saliva from the cows sneezing coughing - this applies to cattle housed indoors which more and m ore are now & not just autumn/winter. simple solution used on humans dogs rabbits horses etc take preventive medicine and vaccinate the cattle. our politicians have degrees public school privileged backgrouunds BUT NOT AN OUNCE OF COMMON SENSE
typical Govt. cop out to blame badgers - we will end up with same scenario as 10 years back with the foot-and-mouth fiasco, needless slaughtering of animals often in cruel illegal scenarios and farmers making a fortune in compensation, many bought vast ranches in North America with the proceeds of their last “crime”
Will not be buying any dairy produce from either Somerset or Gloucestershire where badger killing is taking place. Would be helpful to know where the Crown Estates are too so that I can avoid buying products from these estates as I know Prince Charles is in favour of badger killing on his land.
A BLOODY DISGRACE AND AN EXPERIMENT THAT WONT WORK ! HOW THE HELL CAN CRUELTY BE OK ?? GETTIN LIKE THE USA WANTING TO SHOOT EVERYTHING. DISGUSTING-WRONG-CRUEL AND WHO DOES MAN THINK HE IS . MOTHER NATURE SORTS HER OWN PROBLEMS OUT !!!
Look at the Scottish model for controlling/eradication TB in Scotland. We do not cull - and neither should the rest of the UK. There is no need. It is inhumane and very very unnecessary.
The only reason they are doing this tragic thing is the panic the farmers etc have that they are going to lose money they hav’nt a clue that it is badgers that are causing this to spread between cattle. And the poor cattle that have it are seen as sterling, but its the typical answer by government and farmers if you can’t think what to do with it kill it
This is a shot in the dark, in more ways than one!
We cannot allow this slaughter to happen, the evidence is just not clear enough to justify this mad cull.
Why do we as humans always blame every other creature for our man made problems?
Badgers are a protected species, what message does this send out to people about our laws?
There are other ways to deal with this other than a mad cull, I feel disgusted with the people than think this is the answer to controlling TB.
Why do animals seem to get the blame of everything, this is an unnecessary and not the answer
Animals should never be treated like this, now they are being used for purely greed, money or in the name o ‘fun’. This needs to stop.. we have no right to do this to these beautiful creatures.
Perhaps cattle are infecting badgers ?
Vaccinate the cattle-spare the badger.
This is a ‘knee jerk’’ reaction and not a long term solution. More needs to be looked into why cattle are getting TB and not just killing inocent badgers!
This is not the answer, please rethink this action. Why are animals always on the paying end!!
Stop badger culling. These are defenceless animals who are hurting no one.
please stop this terrible cull, only vaccination is the solution, not murder of this beautifull creatures.
we are supposed to be a nation of animal lovers, please spare these innocent creatures.
end animal cruelty now