Your task this weekend, should you choose to accept it, is to submit evidence to the inquiry on grouse shooting – for details of how to do that see here.
‘Submit evidence’ sounds a bit scary doesn’t it? How about ‘Send your thoughts’ instead? You could do that couldn’t you? Look at Question 1 – ‘Should the law on grouse shooting be changed? If so, how?’. I reckon you have thoughts on that.
I am writing my evidence and it’s quite a task to limit oneself to 3000 words on such a big subject. You could write a book about it – hang on! Someone did. I know that many organisations are preparing detailed and erudite submissions to send in by the closing date on Wednesday 5 October but I have already also seen quite a few short submissions by members of the public which have been sent in too. These are often very compelling! You could add to their number.
Would you like to see more birds of prey in our National Parks? I bet you would.
Have you ever been affected by floods that you believe were exacerbated by moorland management, for example in Hebden Bridge?
Do you believe in re-wilding and believe that driven grouse shooting is a barrier to progress?
Do you feel angry every time you hear about another bird of prey being killed or ‘disappearing’?
Do you object to your taxes being given to rich grouse moor owners through CAP payments?
Do you think that wildlife crime against birds of prey is unacceptable in this day and age?
Do you think that the government is failing to do enough to combat wildlife crime which emanates from driven grouse shooting?
Do you think that the Defra response to the e-petition suggested that they were speaking for the shooting industry rather than for you?
Do you think that Defra is ducking the issue of wildlife crime and this might be because grouse moor owners are natural Conservative supporters?
Do you think that Defra should consider introducing vicarious liability for wildlife crimes as the Scottish government has done?
I could go on, but if there is a single question above to which you answered ‘Yes’ then you have enough to stimulate you to send in a note to the inquiry. Please do. Be sure that others who answer ‘No’ to those questions will be busy over the weekend – are you going to give them the floor?
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Inspiring and practical, as usual, Mark. I will be sending in my thoughts this weekend!
Kevin – thank you!
Me too Mark!
I notice that the specific reference to DRIVEN grouse shooting seems to have been dropped somewhere along the way.
Yes, that strikes me as very tricky indeed.
You made me think – I’ll be sending in something.
Consider it done mark.
I will be be sending in my thoughts for sure. I’m so angry at the apathy the government and defra have for the care of wildlife in this country!
All done, Mark.
Done. Thanks Mark.
Hopefully you all mentioned the destruction of wildlife tourism as top prey species removed! And remember that ‘Walked up’ Red Grouse shooting is good for the NHS has the gun men have to walk over large areas of uplands to find their prey using dogs to finally flush them and don’t need expensive roads to get them to the butts destroying the wilderness feeling.
Thanks for this advice Mark. I just sent my submission. It did seem daunting at first, but your prompts got me started and then there was no stopping me!
I have just sent mine Mark. Hope it helps make the difference.
Done my best to contribute to this, Mark. Good luck for the 18th!
“Do you think that wildlife crime against birds of prey is unacceptable in this day and age?” depends on what the law being broken is.
If it were against the law not to kill BoP I’d support wildlife crime against them.
Just saying wildlife crime is wrong 100% is ridiculous because that assumes that wildlife law is right 100%.
Previously contacted my MP, John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings) and received a full letter including the ideas that shooting is a fundamental part of rural life and game management can make an important contribution to biodiversity. Also wishing to support the rights of those using firearms in accordance with the law.
Have replied today (3rd Oct), pointing out that it is the particular practices of grouse rearing currently under debate and that now widely available evidence strongly suggests firearms are being used other than in accordance with the law.
Just got my letter off to Petitions Comm. today…. let’s hope for a reasonably sensible debate with a few well informed Parliamentarians on our side!? Excellent continuing campaign Mark ; really good to see such positive follow on by our side since petition closed…. Still awaiting any reply from Nick Clegg tho’… maybe he’s given up on Politics after his catastrophic ‘run’!!! Let’s keep the pressure on…
Added my six-penn’orth, Mark.
Where have all the wildcat’s gone?