MP helps Cheltenham women fight badger cull
POLITICS was not something Lynne McEwen and Dawn Branch had involved themselves in until recently.
But the two NHS workers from Cheltenham decided it was time to make a stand after learning about the badger cull planned for Gloucestershire.
The vegetarians, both aged 46, put pen to paper and wrote to the town's MP, Martin Horwood, to ask for his advice on how they could raise awareness of the cause.
And to their delight, the politician invited them to speak to him about the issue.
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Arguments
Lynne and Dawn took up the cause after attending a meeting held by Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting in Coleford, Forest of Dean, at which they heard arguments from farmer Steve Jones, the League Against Cruel Sports, and the RSCPA, as to why culling badgers would not cure TB.
As an eye-opener, it was "just amazing", said Lynne.
Farmers have said the cull is necessary to tackle rising rates of TB in cattle, as the wild animals can spread the disease to livestock, costing the industry and taxpayers millions of pounds a year.
Lynne said she had not written to an MP before, but she was concerned for animal welfare and has been a vegetarian since the age of 18.
Having researched the issues, it was her belief that there was a lack of scientific reasoning and evidence that prompted her to write an impassioned letter to Martin Horwood on the issue.
"Badgers haven't got anyone to speak for them," Lynne said.
Mr Horwood invited Lynne, Dawn, and Liz Gaffer from Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting (GABS), to meet him on Friday to discuss just how they could exert a grassroots influence to halt the cull.
Lynne said: "I've never been involved with anything like this before.
"Mr Horwood replied very quickly, and said we could come and meet with him in person.
"I wanted to ensure that he attends the Commons vote this week. The meeting went well and he was very helpful."
Dawn, who lives in the same road as Lynne, added: "Both of us are very passionate about animal welfare.
"Obviously we had heard about the badger culling, and the evidence suggested to us it wasn't in the best interests of anybody in the country."
Comments
by honeybee6
Monday, October 22 2012, 7:28PM
“Well done ladies, more conscientious people like you are needed in the world.”
by eyeopener
Monday, October 22 2012, 1:41PM
“@Countrylad I suppose anyone with limited cognitive powers might find the word vegetarians sufficient to "say it all".
I am not a vegetarian, I really enjoy meat. But I do not like seeing situations where in times of what George Osborne calls 'National Crisis' the government using not just flawed, but dubious Defra advice from a sub-committee amongst which is a member with an economic vested interest in promoting a cull goes ahead with a policy that will show farmers a small profit and the community at large a huge loss.
Apparently its OK for the government to strip the disabled of benefits but not OK for it to upset the NFU?
Readers might like to read today's 'THISISSOMERSET' article "Badger cull could be stopped by fresh legal challenge."
http://tinyurl.com/949boza”
by stefanu
Monday, October 22 2012, 1:24PM
“I am not a vegetarian, but wholeheartedly support these two ladies in their efforts to stop the badger cull. It's good to see Martin Horwood is going to see them.
I hope the Commons debate on Thursday goes in favour of the cull being postponed or better still scrapped, however the outcome of the debate will not be legally binding.
Lynne said "Badgers haven't got anyone to speak for them" so that is why we must do the talking for them.”
by Clued-Up
Monday, October 22 2012, 1:23PM
“@Countrylad and @galloping bear
The opposition to the badger cull is near universal, the polls indicate up to 97% public are against it, the scientists say it won't work, the vets say it'll be hugely cruel and the economists say it'll cost far more money than the amount of savings the most optimistic say it'll generate. The opposition isn't coming "only" from vegetarians ...
One of the interesting points about this article is that it shows how even people who've never been politically active before have reached the conclusion the cull is WRONG and are willing to try to stop it.”
by E_Badger
Monday, October 22 2012, 1:23PM
“@Countrylad ... Last time I looked vegetables were grown in fields. Therefore these Vegetarians are Farmers' end customers. Also they are vegetarian not vegan and so they are probably also prospective buyers of eggs, milk and dairy products.
Farmers in hot spot areas where they are unable to maintain a bTB free herd should diversfy into arable. Wheat prices are at an all time high are they not?”
by LordGagas
Monday, October 22 2012, 1:11PM
“Re. vegetarian.
if someone came from another planet, and found one species, ill treating another species, and even eating them!, what would they think? or if we went to another planet and found the same, what would we think?
vegetarian is the way to go, we cant keep feeding protein, to animals, to make protein for us to eat!”
by Countrylad
Monday, October 22 2012, 12:37PM
“Says it all really Vegetarians,”
by Spike25
Monday, October 22 2012, 12:29PM
“Some comments I have come across from scientific experts on badgers:
Dr Chris Cheeseman, Oral evidence to Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee 2006 "I would venture to suggest now that I do not believe that any culling policy is sustainable in the long term."
Prof David Macdonald, Letter to The Guardian 2006 "The evidence is that a badger cull on a scale or level of efficiency that seems feasible will not solve cattle farmers' problem"
Prof Tim Roper, Press release on behalf of the Mammal Society 2006 "While we understand the farming community's concerns, we believe the available evidence does not justify a policy of badger culling"
Lord Krebs, Discussions in House of Lords 2007 "We now know from reading the report of the Independent Scientific Group that culling is not a viable policy option. There is no wriggle room."
"...while badgers are clearly a source of cattle TB, careful evaluation of our own and others' data indicates that badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control in Britain. Indeed, some policies under consideration are likely to make matters worse rather than better" (Bourne et al., 2007).
Why farmers are so desperate to alienate their customers by rushing into intuitive solutions opposed by the vast majority of scientists involved in the trials mystifies me.”
by gallopingbear
Monday, October 22 2012, 12:17PM
“Two vegetarians attended a meeting. Now they are experts in badgers, and pressurising an MP not involved in the cull.
A little knowledge can be dangerous.”