Pressure is growing for the badger cull in Wales to be cancelled
The row over bovine TB erupted yesterday after a group of
MPs launched a campaign to stop the cull of badgers planned for
-
Wales.
They have been signing a Commons early day motion
congratulating Environment Secretary Hilary Benn on his
principled stance in rejecting calls for a widespread cull in
England.
The MPs claim the evidence shows a cull would do nothing to
eradicate the disease, and is likely to make matters worse, and
say Mr Benn is right to take his decision in accordance with
science.
They hope Elin Jones, Minister for Rural Affairs at the
Welsh Assembly “will set aside her intention to allow a cull,
and return to an evidence- based approach”.
The motion was tabled by former Welsh First Minister Alun
Michael, who said: “Given that we have a long and porous border
between Wales and England any widespread culling of badgers in
Wales would be bad for farmers in Wales and could also be very
bad for farmers in England.”
It has been signed by several Welsh Labour MPs, and maverick
English Tory Peter Bottomley. And campaign group Viva! urged
Welsh Assembly Members to put pressure on Ms Jones to follow
England and throw out proposals for a cull.
Viva! believes scientific research has shown slaughtering
badgers would be an animal welfare disaster, would not work and
may actually spread the disease further.
Assembly members have been warned the wrong decision could
also damage the reputation of Wales, hitting tourism and
trade.
Campaigns manager Justin Kerswell said the cull had been
touted as a quick fix, but Welsh chief vet Dr Christianne
Glossop had since admitted even in 2018 the end game would not
necessarily be in sight for TB.
But the National Farmers Union said: “Hilary Benn's recent
announcement was a disgraceful abdication of responsibility and
despite his promise to base his decision on the facts, he had
ignored the scientific evidence.
“To admit that a cull might work, and then push the already
crippling burden of TB controls further on to the farming
industry is just plain wrong.
“It is ridiculous to expect farmers to continue fighting TB
with one hand tied behind their back,” it said.
“The Welsh Assembly should be congratulated on having the
courage to tackle every aspect of the spread of bovine TB and
we urge Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones to carry on with
their proposed managed badger cull in TB hotspots.”
Mr Benn said: “Those decisions in Wales are a devolved
matter.”
Tory North Wiltshire MP James Gray said farmers were
distraught that culling of badgers would not be allowed, after
200,000 mostly healthy cattle had been slaughtered in the past
10 years because of TB.
5 Comments
by Charles Henry, Somerset
Wednesday, July 23 2008, 9:49PM
“May I be allowed to draw yours and everybody else¿s attention to some quite prophetic quotes from Dr. Jerome Harms. University of Wisconsin-Madison back in 1997.
Mycobacterium bovis the cause of Bovine Tuberculosis;
"In contrast (to 1 in 10 immunocompetent humans), nearly all cattle infected with M. bovis develop active disease and can transmit the organism to other animals or humans."
"Recently, there have been many outbreaks of M.bovis caused tuberculosis in humans especially HIV+ patients. Most have occurred in countries where M.bovis is endemic in the animal agriculture population. Multi-drug resistant strains of M. bovis are now appearing as well. The significance of this TB threat from M. bovis has not been taken as seriously as the threat from Mycobacterium TB."
"However, the scientific and medical community must not ignore the potential of an M.bovis TB epidemic."”
by Judi Hewitt, North Wales
Tuesday, July 22 2008, 9:38PM
“Charles Henry, you have just proved beyond reasonable doubt what an ignorant man you are! If you had just an ounce of intelligence, you'd know that it's extremely rare for people to catch TB from cattle. Also, as long as milk is pasturized which it has been since the 1940's, then children cannot possibly become infected.
Strange though that its only pro-hunt creatures calling for the culls.
No doubt, you lot won't be satisfied until we're living in a clinical world just full of pro-hunt zombies and abused farm animals, oh and those poor defenceless creatures that you lot like to torture to death.
In future Charlie,, get your facts right before putting your miniscule brain into gear..”
by Charles Henry, Somerset
Saturday, July 19 2008, 3:01PM
“The main difference in their approach to badgers and Mycobacteriun bovis, between the Welsh Assembly and the Westminster government is the deafening silence from Westminster about the obvious threat to children now it has become endemic in wildlife.
The so-called animal lovers (except for farmers' cattle that is) choose always to totally ignore that threat.
Here is another quote from the Welsh incidence when a 4 yr.old child from Powys in Wales developed lesions which later burst. . ¿In the last 3/4 years, eight or nine children, not including this little one, have had treatment for enlarged neck glands. This has involved either a 6 month course of antibiotics, or operations to remove. Veterinary Surgeons will tell you these are classic m.bovis legions; but they are euphemistically referred to by ¿Doctors¿ as "Atypical tuberculosis from a non human source". They have just been telling these children that they picked it up on the ground.¿”
by Charles Henry, Somerset
Saturday, July 19 2008, 2:59PM
“Up to 300,000 Mycobacterium bovis bacilli have been measured in a single millilitre of badger urine.
The letter from the ¿so-called¿ Animal Welfare Consultant from Kent, John Bryant and those from David Thomas and M.Hughes in today¿s paper are ¿a disgrace to humanity¿. . We all love animals but the human population must take precedence”
by Charles Henry, Somerset
Saturday, July 19 2008, 8:34AM
“'Ignorance is bliss' when it is no risk to your livelihood, your immediate health, or costing you any money. . Rather like government ministers¿ attitude to the sky-high cost of petrol, diesel and gas. . Welsh people are proud of their agriculture traditions and won¿t allow any to be destroyed, or for any more children to be put at risk, particularly by Parliament in London.
It is becoming more obvious by the day that it is those in 'The House' that are in need of a serious cull. . Roll on the Revolution.”