27,000! And an offer

Mark 68 Comments

Our e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting passed 27,000 signatures yesterday evening. It has accrued 2000 signatures in the last month or so which is pretty good going.

The e-petition closes on 21 January (I’m not sure what time on that day!) and so we are entering the finishing straight.

This is pretty good going, as last year, in ten and a half months, we got to 22,399.  Our cause has momentum.  Every signature counts for something – politicians do notice these things.

And here’s the offer: I’ll send a free signed copy of one of my books ( you can choose from Inglorious, A Message from Martha, Behind the Binoculars and Fighting for Birds) to the person who posts as a comment on this blog post the closest estimate to the final number of signatures on this e-petition when it ends on 21 January – all ‘guesses’ must be submitted by midnight tomorrow (5 January). And if that guess is spot on, then the winner can have two books from that list.

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68 Replies to “27,000! And an offer”

  5. 31,498 is my punt, although I like to imagine there are a few people out there in the twittersphere who could be persuaded to exhort thousands of their followers to sign this and other, worthy, related petitions. I am never really sure though if such lobbying is playing by the rules.

    1. Like those who break the law play by rules?

      Lobbying, PR & media spin, advocacy – within the law, then all is fair in love & war?

  7. I believe the Calderdale constituency has the largest number of signatures on your petition. Thanks maybe to your talk there in the autumn and Richard Bannister of Walshaw Moor’s actions? Have seen horrendous photos of the flooding (again) in Hebden Bridge on Boxing Day.

    1. …but don’t worry about the book, I’ve got a signed copy of them all (except Blogging for Nature but that’s a long while ago!)

  18. I will go for a rank outsider. Petition closed because DGS gets banned before the closing date.

  33. Whatever the final figure, remembering that the deadline is 21 January, so 17 days left, perhaps JUST perhaps, the large membership NGOs are waiting till the 11th hour, 11th minute, 59th second to rally their membership who have still yet to sign via ‘tweets’ etc.? Sadly, and I doubt it, but I’d be absolutely delighted to be wrong!

    What might 100k achieve, possibly a discussion in the Westminster village – yes, that would be great fun so bring it on & let’s hear Truss, Stewart et. al. make placatory noises then we’ll offer odds on how long before the back-peddling?

    Whatever the final figure, Mark has steered this aspect of the campaign on a straight line which has been along a bumpy road, absolutely well deserved praise, appreciation and here’s to the next chapter …. 2016, the year conservation champions bring change?

  38. Not bothered about the books just sad about the figure as it will not top 100,000. All these people add their heads to the sand or should I say silt after recent floods caused by mismanagement of the uplands. Too many ‘I am all right jack or Jill’! May be they should have gone up the hill to fetch a ‘wall of water’ The only winner is Bloomsbury with their book sales!

  40. 33133 total. The news is out there in mainstream press about the negative downstream impacts of drainage on Grouse Moors… so late rush I hope to get this signed.

  41. Pingback: Another mini-milestone - Mark AveryMark Avery

  51. 32796. Strong finish for a petition on firm ground.
    Really hoping that 27000 signers will each ask four friends to sign…..it’s not to late folks!

  60. My guess is 30,008.

    Well done Mark for your perseverance in promoting (lesser known) news items and following up wildlife issues.

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