“Please watch the video below, from last year…then please sign petitions etc. Together we can save the badgers”
The Government’s proposed badger cull, set to go ahead last year was postponed after a sustained and comprehensive campaign that involved numerous organisations, including the League and our supporters, coming together as Team Badger.
Last year over 160,000 people also signed a Government e-petition, far exceeding the 100,000 signatures needed to be considered for a House of Commons debate, which went ahead on 25th October.
The Parliamentary vote against the badger cull was overwhelming: 147 votes to 28 votes, with the majority of MPs agreeing with scientists, animal welfare organisations and the general public, that the cull is wrong and would be ineffective on scientific, humanitarian and practical grounds.
However, the vote is not binding and the Government are still planning to resume culling this summer.
The League, our partner organisations and supporters are committed, therefore, to continue with the campaign to ensure the cull isn’t just postponed, but abandoned for good, in favour of vaccinating badgers and developing an effective bovine TB vaccine.
As part of Team Badger, the League recently submitted evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee inquiry, which is looking into vaccination alternative to culling and is due to report later this year.
Vaccination has already been a proven success in Wales, where over 1,400 badgers have already been protected against bovine TB as part of a five year programme of work to eradicate TB completely. The badger vaccination initiative in Wales reflects the constructive alternative to culling that the League, along with “Team Badger”, is calling for. It also demonstrates the co-operation that is possible between the farming industry and government in taking swift, positive and decisive action against the spread of Bovine TB.
The League, alongside our campaign partners, believes strongly that vaccination of both badgers and cattle and better husbandry are the most effective and long-term way to tackle this terrible disease. Together we successfully came together to ensure badgers had a stay of execution in 2012 and we are now working for a full and permanent pardon in 2013.
What can I do to stop the cull happening this summer?
You should contact your MP to remind them that the badger cull is set to go ahead in summer of 2013. You should ensure that they know the evidence and science against the cull and ask them to make sure they will continue to oppose the cull in 2013.
Keep checking back at this site for more news & next steps to take:- http://www.league.org.uk/content/643/Badger-Cull
Badger cull to begin from June, Environment Secretary confirms
Conservative MP Owen Paterson said that, if successful, the cull aimed at stopping bovine tuberculosis would be rolled out across the country next year.
It has not been confirmed where this summer’s pilot culls will take place, however the National Farmers Union (NFU) said it believed they would be in Gloucestershire and Somerset.
Animal rights campaigners expressed dismay, claiming there is still no scientific evidence to support the cull and that the move is against the wishes of the British public.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Paterson said: “We need to make sure that these two trials are carried out in a professional and scientific manner and if we prove that this works we will continue.”
The Government wants to stop the animals spreading the disease which has cost the taxpayer £500m in the last decade. That figure is expected to rise to £1bn in the next 10 years.
Adam Quinney, the vice president of the National Farmers’ Union, welcomed the decision and said they had expected the cull to go ahead this summer.
“The two licences have been issued for two areas in Gloucestershire and Somerset and they still stand.
“There have been discussions about looking at alternative areas just because it is prudent,” he said.
A spokeswoman for The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed: “The earliest the cull can take place is from June 1, and it will definitely be going ahead this summer.”
The cull cannot take place before then for a number of reasons, including licence restrictions and welfare concerns for badger’s caring for their young.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said they were “deeply disappointed” with the plans to cull the animals tomorrow as there is no “real proof” that it will help either cows or badgers and called for Defra to look again at alternatives including vaccines.
They said: “The Government must think again and the RSPCA will continue to campaign against the cull until it does so.
“After this year’s postponement we had hoped that the government would finally see sense and pay attention to the vast amount of scientific research showing that a cull will be ineffective, wasteful and potentially damaging to the welfare of both farm and wild animals.
“The vaccination of both badgers and cattle along with more effective biosecurity is the only approach which addresses the welfare of both cattle and badgers and the long term livelihood of farmers.
“This announcement flies in the face of the views of a huge majority of MPs who voted against the cull as well as the majority of the British public and the overwhelming weight of scientific opinion. The RSPCA stands ready to work alongside all those seeking an alternative to this barbaric cull.”
British Badger Cull – Channel 4 News
Published on 19 Sep 2012
UK channel 4 news item with Brian May, badger supported and guitarist with Queen and Jan Rowe, cattle farmer, debating the badger cull which is taking part in the UK now.
This programme was first shown in the UK on Monday, September 17th, 2012
If you are against the cull please support http://www.teambadger.org
Relevant sites & petitions:-
- http://www.savethebadger.com/
- http://www.badger.org.uk/Content/Home.asp
- Petition :http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/badgers-petition#petition
- Petition: http://www.save-me.org.uk/BAD_badgersME.html
- Government Petition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257
- Petition & Info:- http://www.badgerprotectionleague.com/
- http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/wildlife/laws/badgers
- Petition to government: http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/wildlife/badgers/takeaction
- Tweet to UK Prime Minister: https://twitter.com/Number10gov
A selection of related items, to find more, type Badgers in the search box in my blog:-
- https://preciousjules1985.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/kill-the-cull-not-englands-badgers/
- https://preciousjules1985.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/full-scale-badger-cull-set-to-get-government-go-ahead/
- https://preciousjules1985.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/brian-may-heads-to-bristol-for-badger-cull-rally/
- https://preciousjules1985.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/sign-the-petition-to-stop-the-english-badger-cull/
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