Has the use of wild animals in Circuses been banned yet?

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Whilst catching up with the Animal Blogs I follow I stumbled across this post from Four Paws remarking on how appalled they are that the UK Government continues to drag its feet over banning the use of wild animals in circuses.  Despite the ban being supported by the vast majority of the British public and politicians from all parties there has been no movement.  

Four Paws alludes to the House of Commons backbench debate in June 2011 where MPs approved unanimously of a motion for the government to ban the use of wild animals in circuses by July 2012.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) referred to a legal challenge to a similar ban in Austria as the reason they could not proceed with the ban.  The legal challenge to Austria's ban has since been dismissed which leaves Defra with no reason to refuse the ban.

Four Paws tells of two new Early Day Motions that have been launched this month calling on the Government to listen to the will of the House of Commons and endorse a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, the other asking the Government to release reports of circus inspections that were carried out by Defra staff.  Previous requests to release these reports under the Freedom of Information Act have been refused.

What are they trying to hide?

Please e-mail your MP and ask them to sign EDM 2563 calling for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses and also EDM 2586 calling for the release of circus inspection reports.  You can find your MP by clicking here and typing in your postcode.  You are then able to click on the name of your MP and be directed to their e-mail address.  It would be better if you were to personalise your e-mail but here is a template in case you don't have enough time:

Dear _____,

I am writing to ask you to please sign DM 2563 calling for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses and also EDM 2586 calling for the release of circus inspection reports.  This ban is supported by the vast majority of the British public as well as politicians across all parties.  Several other European countries have enacted such bans, the latest being Greece.

I feel very strongly about this issue and ask that you sign both EDM's without further delay.

Yours sincerely,

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Please also e-mail the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Caroline Spelman and ask her to tell Defra to stop stalling and enact a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.  The template e-mail can be found at the bottom of this post, but do personalise it if you can please.

Please share this post with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter, the more people that contact their MP's and Caroline Spelman - the better!

Protect Young Hares in the UK

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The population of Hares has suffered a serious decline in the UK with an estimated 80% reduction within the last 100 years.  A government target to double numbers by 2010 sadly failed.

HSI reports that due to a lack of protection of hares during their breeding season, every year tens of thousands of young hares are left to die when their mothers are killed.

Legislation has just come into force in Scotland making it an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill, injure or take brown hares from 1st February to 30th September, and mountain hares from 1st March to 31st July.  Most of mainland Europe protects hares during the breeding season too.

Please contact your MP and ask them to help protect young hares in the UK by signing Early Day Motion 2531 which introduces a close season during this sensitive breeding period.

Please ask your friends to do the same by sharing on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you!

Keep Cruelty History

Source: League Against Cruel Sports

Eight years ago hunting wild animals with dogs for sport was banned.  The process to make it legal again has begun with MP's being asked to vote and pro hunting groups doing everything in their power to bring back this blood sport.  Hence, we need to do EVERYTHING in OUR power to keep the ban.

If you are in the UK please click here, enter your postcode and be taken to a webpage showing your MP and how he or she intends to vote.  Unfortunately my MP wants to repeal the ban which means he wants bloodsports to become legal again.  I have also checked my parents' MP's views and she too wants to repeal the ban.

If your MP also plans on voting to repeal the ban and you wish to contact them to ask that they reconsider their vote, or to applaud them for voting to keep cruelty history, simply enter your name, address and e-mail in the readily prepared form and this will automatically bring up a message for you to quickly send to your MP.  I strongly advise that you personalise the message as much as possible to encourage them to read it, please be polite yet persuasive!  

Please let me know how your MP is planning on voting and please encourage everyone you know to contact their MP and express their views, as well as sharing this on Facebook and Twitter please talk to people in the older generation who may not necessarily use social networking applications.



Thank you.




UPDATE:


A while after typing this post I received a response from my MP stating the following "I am not sure where you have obtained information that a vote or debate is imminent. I have seen press reports but as yet I am not aware of any proposals to bring the issue back before the Commons."  


I forwarded the response to James Dixon at the League (JamesDixon@league.org.uk) who advised me to inform my MP that; 


"The urgency for this campaign is prompted by the Prime Minister’s comments on Countryfile on January 15^th this year in which he said, “I always thought the hunting ban was a pretty bizarre piece of legislation, I think there should be a free vote in the House of Commons.”


I responded to my MP telling him this and also explaining why I think he should decide to keep cruelty history when a vote is inevitably called.

Good Egg - Update

Following this post, I e-mailed my MP.  I am pleased to say that I received a speedy response, as follows:

"Thank you for contacting me about the potential importation of illegal eggs into the UK from Europe.

I understand your concerns and let me take this opportunity to assure you that the UK has already implemented EU Directive 99/74/EC, which bans the use of battery cages for hens. From 2012 British farmers will only be able to use, as a minimum, better welfare cages that provide laying hens more space to move about. Free range, barn and organic systems will also be permitted.

The Government wants to ensure that UK producers who have made significant investments to comply with the legislation are not disadvantaged if other countries do not meet the 2012 deadline. Ministers are therefore pressing hard on the European Commission to ensure that the 2012 deadline is met by all Member States. The Government has told the European Commission that there must be no derogation for those Member States who have not yet implemented the ban.

Within the UK, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has stated it will be illegal to market eggs as "Grade A" eggs (which nearly all imports are) if they do not comply with the Directive, and will be taking additional measures to enforce this.

The Department also intends to take firm action against any UK producer still keeping hens in conventional cages after 1 January 2012."

Although this may sound good, it isn't.  My MP was telling me about the new and improved cages which in actual fact aren't much better than the original battery cages.  Hence, I felt compelled to write the following response:

"Thank you very much for your speedy response.  I am relieved that in 2012 British farmers must use better welfare cages, however, slightly bigger or so called "enriched" cages are still not enough unfortunately and not much improvement on battery cages.  As hens are naturally inquisitive animals that like to perch, exercise, preen, dustbathe, forage and nest it is of great concern that hens will not be able to carry out these natural behaviours very easily whilst in cages.

Ideally, all laying hens would be kept in well-managed, free-range or barn systems and I hope this is something that the government will consider."

I'll keep you posted.  In the meantime, let me know what your MP says and how you responded.  Please feel free to use the text above which I took from the RSPCA's website and amended slightly.

Thank you!

Quick Action Needed!

MP's are discussing the issue of irresponsible dog ownership in Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday 19th October) so it is vital that you take this action here TODAY in order to contact your MP in time and ask them to attend.

Irresponsible dog ownership means stray dogs, dangerous dogs and out of control breeding.

The RSPCA reports that:

Dog fighting has increased dramatically over the last few years, 

More than 6,000 people were admitted to hospital with dog-related injuries in the year 2010/2011.

Over 75 million pounds is spent each year picking up after irresponsible dog ownership.

Please spare a moment to click here and contact either your MP, or the Minister in charge of dangerous dogs - Lord Taylor of Holbeach CBE and ask them to attend the debate and take action now.

Can you please remember to spread the word to your friends?  There is a "Share on Facebook" button on the RSPCA site, or you can share this page.  Thank you!

QUICK! Less than 36 hours to make a difference.

On Thursday 23rd June, backbench MPs have forced a debate in the House of Commons on circuses which is very likely to be followed by a vote.  This comes after Government's recent decision not to introduce a total ban on wild animals being used in circuses and to introduce a licensing system instead.

If the MP's do back a ban on the use of wild animals in cirucses it doesn't mean it will automatically be passed as a law BUT it will increase the level of pressure on the Government.

How to help

Please can you spare a minute to click here in order to write to your MP asking them to attend the debate and vote to ban the use of wild animals in circuses?  All you need to do is click, enter a few details and WSPA will do the rest of the work for you.  If you do have time to add your views to the readily prepared e-mail it would be really great.

If you have some more time to spare, WSPA is supporting The Independent newspapers campaign asking for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.  Add your name to their petition here and please don't forget to spread the word.

Read WSPA's article and see what animal loving singer Leona Lewis says about the campaign.

The Big Fish Fight!

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Most of Europe’s fishing grounds are currently over-fished. Iconic species are disappearing and coastal communities are being run down.  This is all due to current unsustainable fishing regulations.

Channel 4 is currently running "The Big Fish Fight" where chefs including Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall join forces championing sustainable seafood ("and celebrating lesser known delicacies of the deep" but as a vegetarian I'm not interested in that part!)

Have a look here and if you have time watch some of the very interesting and informative programmes about the fishing industry.

Did you know that over half of the fish caught in the North Sea are thrown overboard dead?  Please visit Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's campaign to help stop this wasteful fishing.  If you support the campaign your name will be added to the ready prepared letter to Commissioner Maria Damanaki, as well as members of the Common Fisheries Policy Reform Group, and all MEPs.  If you have a bit more time to spare you can lobby your MP here asking them to sign the Early Day Motion agreeing to debate the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

WWF are also running a More Fish petition which you can sign here.

As I have mentioned, I don't eat fish but I don't agree with what is currently happening on our planet either.

2013 Ban on Animal Tested Cosmetics Under Threat

The ban on the sale of cosmetics containing ingredients that have been tested on animals is due to come into force in 2013, unfortunately at the European Commission is considering delaying this and is asking all EU member countries to give their opinion before making their decision.

The opinion given by the UK government will be very influential in the European Commission's decision on the ban going ahead in 2013 or being delayed so it is vital that we use OUR influence by asking Members of Parliament to support the "Early Day Motion 1242" to ensure the ban goes ahead sooner rather than later.  If the ban does go ahead companies around the world will be forced to stop animal testing in order to sell their products to consumers in the EU. This is only the beginning and eventually this could pave the way to end cosmetic animal testing all over the world.

How to help:

Click here to be taken to the Humane Society International website where you can complete a short form in order to contact your local MP and ask them to support the Early Day Motion 1242.

Remember to ask your friends to do the same!

Response from Caroline Spelman on The Badger Cull.

I received a response from Caroline Spelman regarding the Badger cull. It is always interesting to hear what your local MP may have to say about issues that concern you. Unfortunately I did not receive the response I wanted and I do feel that money seems to be Mrs Spelman's chief concern.

"Thank you for contacting me about bovine TB and badger culling. Bovine TB is one of the most serious diseases facing our livestock industry. Last year over 36,000 cattle were slaughtered and the annual costs of control measures reached £108.4m. Since 1997, around 250,000 cattle have been slaughtered at a total cost of over £600m. The emotional and financial toll on farmers is considerable, as underlined by a recent report by Farm Crisis Network.

As you are aware, the Government has committed that as part of a package of measures, it will introduce a carefully-managed and science-led policy of badger control in areas with high and persistent levels of bovine TB.

Please be assured that I am considering all the issues carefully, including the scientific evidence, to work out the detail of the package to ensure we get it right and we are looking at vaccine options as part of that package. I want to see healthy wildlife alongside healthy cattle.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Spelman"

Back off Badgers!

I had a message from the RSPCA this morning about a potential badger cull in England. The cull is an attempt from the government to control bovine TB. The cull is mentioned in the government coalition document where it states that "the government will undertake action against bovine TB on a science based approach".

What is Bovine TB (bTB)?

There are several reasons why a cull of badgers is not the way forward.

Following a ten year study, the latest science shows that a badger cull would have to exist over a very large area and virtually wipe out the badger population over a number of years in order to achieve ANY reduction in bovine TB.

The study also shows that a cull in a local area increases bovine TB in the cattle based in the surrounding areas and actually achieves a limited reduction in the targeted area. Basically science has shown that culling badgers has only a limited benefit in small areas or in areas where there is not a complete cull. Therefore the benefit is outweighed by the increase in bovine TB elsewhere.

How to Help
Contact your MP by following this link which will direct you to the RSPCA Campaign site and enter your details. If you have time please make a few additions to the e-mail they have already prepared and let your MP know what you think about this issue. The website also allows you to share the campaign on Facebook and Twitter as well as forwarding to a friend.

The badger cull was last under discussion back in 2006. Over 47,000 people responded to the governments proposal and stated that they did not want the cull to go ahead. The government then looked into other ways of combating bovine TB and one of the suggested alternatives, badger vaccination, was due to begin in June. If the badger cull does go ahead it would be difficult to measure which method, badger vaccination or a badger cull affected changes in the disease patterns.