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![]() The Government has announced that it will green-light a badger cull in order to prevent the spread of bovine TB. Public opinion is opposed to the cull in light of the fact that it will actually create more of a problem. In fact evidence of overwhelming public opposition to the proposed cull of badgers was withheld until the Government had decided to go ahead with the controversial plan. The government's own scientific advisers warn that it won't solve the problem of TB in cattle. The issue is this, the cull is a DIY effort, meaning that landowners will be able to self-organise and shoot free-running badgers completely unregulated and unsupervised. The reason this has come about is due to the Environment Secretary accepting too big a budget cut and therefore not having the means to fund the effective solution which involves vaccinations and better cattle welfare. Shooting free-running badgers will make the problem of bovine TB worse as the badgers will flee to other areas of the country. In short, the cull is a political gesture to appease the farmers. Please note the quotes from the experts below and the story from The Independent. "This is despite scientific studies which have shown that culling would be of little help in reducing the disease in the long term, and could actually make things worse in some areas." - RSPCA “I can’t understand how anybody who’s looked at the science would say this is a good idea.” - Professor John Krebs "Time and again in recent years, responsible and authoritative research has concluded that a cull will not prevent cattle from contracting TB, and indeed that it could make the situation worse." Bill Oddie Majority objected to badger cull before policy was approved - The Independent Simply put a cull is not good for us as humans. It will lead to a larger spread when we should be taking better care of cattle to start with rather than engaging in such intense farming. Do we really want people tearing around the countryside with guns shooting wildlife? How will they dispose of all the corpses? Burn them? The alternative is oral vaccination for both cattle and badgers. Safer and far more effective. I for one would fundraise for that. I am also concerned that the shooting of badgers will introduce a new rural bloodsport and add extra support to the repeal of the Hunting Act. Please sign either of the petitions below:- http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/badgers-petition#petition http://www.league.org.uk/badgerpetition Here is what we are calling for instead (from http://www.greenexe.org.uk/badgers/) WHY WE OPPOSE THE BADGER CULL It is inhumane
WHAT WE ARE CALLING FOR INSTEAD In the short term:
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