38 degrees is a web based group that were very active in helping to stop the daft idea to sell off the national silver / forests.
I received this email to-day from them:
Personally I need to read around the subject a bit more before being sure, but I know many on WAB would like to have their voice heard.
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Environment minister Caroline Spelman has announced plans to shoot tens of
thousands of badgers. [1] If her plans go ahead, badgers will start being
killed next summer. The government says this will help stop the spread of
cow tuberculosis. But key scientists warn badger shoots could make the
problem worse. [2]
38 Degrees members have been discussing the plans on the 38 Degrees website
and Facebook page. [3] Many think we should get involved. What do you think?
Is the government right to push ahead with killing badgers? Is this an issue
we should work on?
The government is consulting on their plans right now - there's still time
to stop them. [4] If we vote "Yes" we can launch a huge petition on Monday.
But it won't work unless enough of us want to get involved.
Should we work together to protect badgers? Please take 30 seconds to vote
yes or no:
38 Degrees | Badger poll
The government says the decision to kill badgers is "science-led". [5] But
leading experts have spoken out against the plans. Oxford academic and
zoologist Lord John Krebs led a government inquiry into the link between
badgers and cow tuberculosis. He says of plans to shoot badgers: "I can't
understand how anybody who's looked at the science would say this is a good
idea." [6]
Animal charity the RSPCA have warned that "this cull will contribute little
or nothing to the long-term goal of eradicating TB nationally. Instead it
will wipe out huge numbers of this much-loved species". [7]
We know that when we decide to work together we can change things. We
stopped the sell-off of England's forests by building the pressure with a
huge petition, letters to MPs and woodland protests, until the government
was forced to reverse its plans. [8] If we decide to work together to
protect badgers, we could play a key role in stopping these plans.
Should we launch a campaign to stop the badger cull? Please take a moment to
vote yes or no.
38 Degrees | Badger poll
Thanks for getting involved,
Marie, Becky, Hannah, Johnny, David, Cian and the 38 Degrees team
PS: Cow TB expert Prof John Krebs said on Channel 4 News this week, "I can't
understand how anybody who's looked at the science would say this is a good
idea. The government is saying they want a science-led policy, if they do
want a science-led policy they should not be trying to control TB in cattle
by culling badgers." See more here:
38 Degrees | Blog | Badgers – trial shoots to go ahead
NOTES
[1] Guardian article, "Badger cull: Caroline Spelman 'strongly minded' to
allow shooting" -
Badger cull: Caroline Spelman 'strongly minded' to allow shooting | Environment | The Guardian
[2] Government scientists say that if a cull isn't carried out "in a
co-ordinated, sustained and simultaneous manner according to the minimum
criteria, then this could result in a smaller benefit or even a detrimental
effect." See article -
Ministers to back badger cull - MeatInfo
and notes from DEFRA meeting April 4th 2011 -
http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm...rts-110404.pdf
[3] 38 Degrees blog post and discussion -
38 Degrees | Blog | Badgers – trial shoots to go ahead
and Facebook page -
https://www.facebook.com/peoplepowerchange
[4] DEFRA "key stakeholders" consultation
Guidance to Natural England on the implementation and enforcement of a badger control policy Consultations
[5] DEFRA webpage "Next Steps to Tackle Bovine TB in England"
Next steps to tackle bovine TB in England Defra News
[6] Lord Krebs speaking on Channel 4 News on Tues 19th July -
Catch up - Channel 4 News
[7]
A black day for badgers as long-feared cull is confirmed - News story - Media - rspca.org.uk
[8]
38 Degrees | Blog | Victory! Government to scrap plans to sell our forests 
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