Good morning!
Yes, this is our 100th newsletter since the very first in mid-February 2019. Back then, we weren't sure that we would be around this long.
Here we have news on a successful pushback against DEFRA, a revised date for the Westminster Hall debate on badger shooting, more examples of what your MP has told you about their support for raptors, further news on DAERA in Northern Ireland and their plans for a Badger cull, further evidence that DAERA doesn't meet its promises and a couple of petitions that you might want to sign.
Schrodinger's Pheasant - DEFRA are pushed back by Wild Justice: DEFRA inserted a few words into their General Licence 42, which we believe were after pressure from the shooting industry, that extended the circumstances under which Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges which were reared in captivity and released to be shot at a few months later could be considered livestock. This attempted change would increase the period of time under which various other bird species could be killed under the terms of the General Licence, and we pointed out this was attempting to change the law by stealth. DEFRA backed down. It's as simple as that.
It's not a massive win for wildlife but it will embarrass DEFRA, it might make them less keen to do what vested interests ask, and it will remind them that they are being watched. More detail, including a link to the Guardian story on this, in our blog - click here.
Westminster Hall Badger debate moved one week: the debate on Badger shooting scheduled for today at 4:30pm has been moved back to next Monday at 4:30pm to make way for a debate on Ukrainian refugees. We have no issue with that. It does mean that you can still write to your MP and ask them to attend and speak up for Badgers - click here for advice on what you might say.
Mark Avery met Nick Fletcher MP, a member of the Petitions Committee, last week to brief him on the issues (via the internet). Mr Fletcher will open the debate. Mark made the point that whether you are in favour of culling Badgers or against it (Wild Justice is against it) shooting of Badgers at night is an inhumane culling method and that no-one should support it.
We understand that important new analyses on the efficacy, or lack of efficacy, of the Badger cull to control bovine tuberculosis in cattle will be published later this week.
MPs and birds of prey: Chris Loder MP seems to be more or less on his own in speaking out unfavourably about birds of prey. Many Conservative MPs seem to be toeing the party line, a positive one, that reintroducing species is part of the conservation need, and that includes birds of prey where the right conditions are met.
Many are using these words: 'The Government is committed to the recovery of species including wild birds. The Environment Act included a new legally binding target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030. Ministers continue to provide opportunities for successful reintroductions such as white-tailed eagle to the Isle of Wight, pine marten in the Forest of Dean, and restoring populations of hen harrier and curlew.'. We're sceptical about the efficacy for reintroductions of Hen Harrier or Curlew but the general drift of the responses is positive.
Is Chris Loder your MP? We'd be interested to learn what he is saying to his constituents. Has he retracted or has he dug himself a deeper hole?
DAERA and its plans for a Badger cull in Northern Ireland: DAERA, the Northern Ireland Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department tells us that any legal challenge to their proposed Badger cull would be premature, and yet they appear, from what the farming press says, to be pushing ahead with their plans - click here. We believe there might be a statement on this matter to the Agriculture Committee on Wednesday this week. Wild Justice stands ready to take this matter to the courts and we can only do that because you have supported our crowdfunder which passed £25,000 at the weekend. Thank you!
DAERA delays promised General Licence consultation again: Following our successful legal challenge to Northern Ireland’s general licences for the killing of wild birds back in December, DAERA conceded that their general licences were flawed and unlawful. At the time they said they’d replace them with interim licences, and assured us that a full public consultation would be launched in due course.
Initially we were told the consultation would begin in early February. Early February came and went. Following some prodding, DAERA then promised the consultation would happen sometime between late February and early March – but definitely no later than March 7 2022. March 7 has now passed. Last week, we heard from DAERA that they’re aiming for the consultation to go public on 21 March 2022.
You can see why we take anything that DAERA says with a big pinch of salt - click here.
Some petitions for your consideration: Wild Justice and its three co-founders, have some experience of launching and promoting petitions.We know they can be hard work; getting the wording right, promoting the petition widely and trying to get those last thousands of signatures that will mean that a petition is debated. Here are a couple of petitions for you to consider, please:
- Suspend trade agreement with Faroe Islands until all whale & dolphin hunts end, on 96,000 signatures and needs 100,000 by 21 March to be debated - click here
- Make the use of free-running snares illegal for trapping wildlife, on 78,500 signatures, closes 9 May - click here
Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay).
This email was sent to you because you subscribed to it through the Wild Justice website or through an e-action or a petition where you ticked a box. Thank you. We will only use your personal details to send you the Wild Justice newsletter. We will not give or sell your details to anyone else. You can unsubscribe at any time: there is an unsubscribe button at the foot of this email or you can reply to this email and ask us to remove you from the list (the former will happen immediately, the latter might take a few days).
No comments:
Post a Comment