If you can, then save the date of 9 December for a rally of the Westminster parliament by nature conservationists.
An event, organised by the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and the League Against Cruel Sports (the first time these organisations have worked together in this way?) will be held on the 9 December – the day before the end of the grouse shooting season.
This event is also supported by the Mammal Society, Butterfly Conservation and the Ramblers (and good for all of them!).
The rally is broader than just Hen Harriers – and so it should be – but it is a follow-up to the Hen Harrier Day of 10 August. Let’s hope for drier weather.
If you can make it – book here, spaces are limited – you will get some speeches and briefing and then we’ll all wander over to the Palace of Westminster (aka the Houses of Parliament) to see whether our MPs can spare us a few minutes. Of course there is nothing to prevent you from turning up at Parliament on that day anyway.
The aim will be to tell our MPs that we expect them, if they want to be re-elected, to do more for nature. We want strong commitments in their election manifestos to help nature. We need the EU directives to be maintained, a Nature and Well-being Act and an eradication of wildlife crime (eg Hen Harrier persecution – eg by banning driven grouse shooting).
If you cannot attend in person, and that would be entirely reasonable, please watch out for details of how to contact your MP on these issues. I would love for every MP to get several letters or emails as well as many of them to have conversations with their enthusiastic constituents.
This rally was my original suggestion but I am very pleased that the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts and LACS have grabbed the idea, broadened it and made it better, and attracted supported from others.
Let’s ask our elected representatives to do a better job for nature. In my opinion, that includes banning driven grouse shooting, but it also includes much more.
How many of the ‘sodden 570’will make it to Westminster on 9 December too – maybe we should mint a campaign medal.
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Mark I would love to attend, however the expense in December of getting to London means I will not be able to attend. My only hope is if anyone from up north , particularly in the Derbyshire area would like to car share, that could make it feasible. Even if it’s just to turn up at Parliament. Anyone interested can let Me know via Twitter, birdman1066. The event is a great idea and I wish everyone attending a safe journey and good luck. I wonder if Beefy will show up and give his support to nature?
Stewart – thank you. Yes, the costs will make it difficult, and places are limited, but all those southerners who couldn’t make it ‘up north’ to stand in the rain on 10 August can have their turn now and bring the message of threatened nature to the capital and our MPs.
Look out for details of how to contact your MP to make your views heard anyway.
Lyn and I are booked in Mark. See you there.
Richard (and Lyn) – you were quick off the mark as ever!
Hello Mark,
As one of those northerners in south west exile who couldn’t make the first rainy event I feel obligated to attend.
I might even invite my MP to explain his position on this subject in person as I’ll be passing his “office”.
John
john – great! Register through the link – demand for places will be high, although, as I say, as a citizen you can turn up to the Palace of Westminster to see your MP at any time.
Already done Mark. I’ve corresponded with my MP ( Duncan Hames) in nature related matters on several occasions. It will be good to “look him in the eyes” and hear his responses without the luxury of time-as he has in the case of written replies.
John
John – good luck!And well done too!
I think this calls for another T shirt. As this looks like a Green Blob rally, how about the slogan ‘Blob Pride’ coined by George Monbiot?
Just booked. As its early Dec it’ll be fine, looking forward to this.
Great to see the momentum maintained with this varied group of people getting together. We all want the same thing. See you there.
Registered and raring to go. Great to see the momentum’s still gathering pace.
Would it be worth those of us who find it a bit expensive to go to London to talk to our MP’s at their surgeries? I have written to my MP about wildlife/Hen Harrier etc. issues on a few occasions but never actually seen her to talk to her face to face. Maybe doing that will further impress upon our MPs our collective strength of feeling about the degradation of the natural world. Perhaps we could all go on the same week to get the extra impact of a coordinated event?
Unfortunately I can’t join you so will do a bit of MP bothering!