As you may be aware, the Badger Trust recently lost its appeal against the judgment given by Lord Justice Ouseley in July in respect of the Judicial Review made against the Government’s decision to hold a pilot trial of the free-shooting of badgers in parts of Somerset and Gloucestershire. This is clearly not the outcome they were hoping for. If, like me you feel passionate about this and would like to add your voice to the petition to get this cull stopped, then please click on the link below:http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257
For more information, do take a look at the Badger Trust website hereClaire
I've signed and forwarded on to others as well!
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
Signed and forwarded too! When will this STUPID government listen????????????????
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Signed and forwarded on!
Mrs T,I would appreciate it if you offered up a solution as a retired farmer we just cannot go on slaughtering tens of thousands of cattle each year and then when farms restock some of the herd slaughtered each 3 monthly test.
Although I doubt this cull is tough enough to solve the problem for farmers,cattle and just as important the badgers need a solution.Someone has to come up with a solution and I do not see any solution from the badger people but if they have offered a solution then I would like to know what it is.
At the moment the disease is definitely spreading from somewhere and infecting what were clean badgers which as the farm we were on must have had clean badgers and now the disease is very close to them which must mean they are likely to become infected this I consider to be the worst scenario and must be repeated all over the country.
I think personally that if the badger trust are against a cull then they should really push for vaccination and say they will pay for it with higher taxes for everyone because it is not a cheap option but my favoured solution.Do not think it is any good saying we are against the cull unless they have a alternative.
Sooty, further to your feedback, which is always welcome, I would wholly recommend taking a look at the Badgers Trust website, with regard to some of the points you have made:
www.badgertrust.org.uk/.../News.asp
Mrs T,Good point and taken but could only really find about a very small part of vaccination in Somerset and if it is the answer and there preferred option suggest they need to promote it more as perhaps the papers do not say everything but all that seems to be reported is that they are against the cull.
If they consider vaccination will solve the problem then it needs to be a countrywide thing and would be expensive to fund and we must all pay extra taxes for the period it takes to eradicate BTB with of course huge benefits in less taxes when eradicated.
If the badger trust seriously think vaccination is the answer then they need a huge push in their promotion of it and say they will do all over the country.
Arguments for this cull do not convince me and I have been glad to sign the petition.
Lot to learn
Apparently there is going to be something about the cull on Country File tonight
Caroline in Jersey
Cin J
I think it's fairly clear some of the farming community want a scapegoat for the BTB issue and the badger is that scapegoat. They have a strong voice in government so are getting this pushed through regardless of the poor scientific evidence behind it.
I think farmers should take a look at their own practices first. Outbreaks of BTB have occurred where there are no badgers, clearly they need to get their own houses in order first in regard to transfers and animal welfare.
What's next? Kill all the deer as well? I doubt that, too much money changes hands for hunting.
Vaccination would seem to be the solution rather than wiping out our wildlife.
Sunrider,totally wrong on some counts,Badgers are so widespread that there is no evidence that cattle have caught BTB where there are no badgers or at least there would be evidence of it.
Farmers do not want a scapegoat and there is widespread evidence that Badgers are involved in spread of BTB so to suggest they are not is rather confusing the issue.
Suggesting that farmers look at their own practices is nonsense before making such a comment you should look at the law and rules governing cattle movement in regard to the BTB disease and you will find that they are so strict that no one can get round them.
Vaccination as a alternative may well be the expensive answer so why do not all the different badger lots wanting signatures against the cull all go under one banner push the alternative of vaccination it is hardly mentioned in thousands of words.
Perhaps after you have studied the rules on cattle movements by farmers with regards BTB you will explain how farmers can spread it because for sure the rules make life extremely difficult for them
Finally the farming community comes up regularly with proof of herds that are called self contained herds meaning they never buy cattle in which in theory should mean they stay clear of BTB and when herd tested they have positive reactors which means the badgers have infected those cattle.