On another very sad topic, it is time for Wales to save the badgers, a huge cull is being planned. I got this email:
Dear Friends,
Thank to everyone for all your messages of support. Save The Badger was formed in order to meet an urgent need - to campaign against the Welsh Assembly government's decision to implement a five-year plan to "cull" badgers in Wales as a supposed method of eradicating bovine TB. We strongly oppose this policy for many reasons - it goes against a large amount of scientific evidence, it is uneconomic, it is unethical, it causes un-necessary cruelty and harm to badgers, and it will not work.
In the short time Save The Badger has been operating together as a group we have:
set up our own internet domain and web site which is been updated regularly with any new relevant information orgainsed our first public meeting at Miskin Manor nr. Cardiff which was attended by representatives from South & West Wales Wildlife Trust, Viva, Badger Trust Cymru, PAC, a large number of Badger groups from Wales, and members of the public also opposed to the WAG cull
established a network of excellent contacts and an working relationship with the media
issued press releases - the South Wales Argus not only published one of our releases it also carried an Editorial in which the Editor welcomed and supported the fact our new campaign group was up and running and has also being so effective
issued copies of Save The Badger supporter John Evans' essay, The Killing Fields of Wales for publication in various magazines in the UK
our respresentaitves have also appeared on BBC Wales News, ITV Wales News, and S4C News on the welsh language channel to voice their public opposition to the WAG 's proposed badger cull
had a letter appealing against the WAG policy on badgers hand delivered by Sue Hetherington to the European Parliament in Brussels (full details to appear on the news page on our website soon)
continually reserched all the factors relating to this issue and followed all resulting leads - political, economic, media, scientific etc - which might help our campaign
Our work continues, but we need your support. In the past few weeks Save The Badger have also been looking in to the viability of a rally in Cardiff outside the Welsh Assembly Senedd building and how to ensure this has the appropriate amount of press and public interest, and most importantly how we can try to change the opinions of Assembly Members. We have now decided on a plan which we believe would, as best as is possible, achieve our objectives. We have discussed our intentions with various other organisations who are supportive of our planned rally. We strongly believe that there our plan could influence opinion within the Welsh Assembly and with the wider public.
Ideally,to be as effective as possible we need arournd 200 people. As it is strongly felt that, to the have the most impact, our rally should take place when the AM's are present within the Senedd building we intend that the rally take place on Monday (a day which would give us the most media coverage), 8th March, 12.00 GMT. We would like everyone to assemble near the building at 11.45 GMT. Due to the nature of this particular protest we ask that those attending wear smart clothes and we would prefer if there was only two people, maximum, wearing badger costumes. Please also note, our protest will be lawful and non-violent, and anyone attending must agree to behave within the law if they wish to participate in this protest.
At the rally we will also be handing information to the Assembly Members and media which we also feel will greatly help in the campaign against the badger cull in Wales.
We hope you will be able to attend this important occasion in the campaign to save badgers. We also hope you will encourage as many other people as possible to attend. As it is a week day, and therefore a working day, getting numbers to participate can sometimes be more difficult, so we would appreciate it if you could let us know if you, or any others, will be able to attend.
Please join the campaign. Save the badger! Arbed y broch! Stop the slaughter!
Best wishes,
Susan Morris (Save The Badger)
SAVE THE BADGER
Tel: 01443 231990
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.savethebadger.com