Friday evening, Saturday, Sunday and this morning were spent at WOMAD in Wiltshire – I was doing some (very little) work there (about which, more tomorrow), but with Henry the Hen Harrier and some other friends several thousand leaflets were handed out plugging the e-petition.
WOMAD was great! And we chatted to some great people – not just Jon Snow who fully understood the link between grouse moor management and flooding but lots of people who knew about grouse shooting and were eager to sign the petition. People were really shocked by how few Hen Harriers there are in England and totally shocked that this is because of a hobby which involves shooting birds for fun. Those who knew what a Hen Harrier was were often RSPB members – RSPB members who were surprised that they hadn’t been pointed in the direction of the petition and surprised that the RSPB hadn’t brought this matter to their attention. We met several folk from Hebden Bridge who knew about the studies linking intensive moorland management and flooding and had experienced those floods at first hand. I was also really impressed by the number of people who knew that at 100,000 signatures, an e-petition like ours would be debated in parliament.
Our e-petition has passed three more milestones – 66,000 signatures, 67,000 signatures and then, this morning, 68,000 signatures. In July, we added more than 20,000 signatures to our total. 100,000 signatures by 20 September is entirely possible – but by no means certain – so please get all your friends to sign this e-petition and to get a debate in parliament about the future of the uplands.
And the winner of the competition for a free signed copy of the new paperback edition of Inglorious is … drum roll … regular commenter here, and close watcher of how the total of signatures has progressed … Jim Clarke. Congratulations Jim! I’ll be in touch to get your address so that a copy can be in the post very soon.
Henry’s a bit tired – so he’s having hammock time thanks to the Mexican Hammock Co. Thanks guys!
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So when is Jon Snow going to take up the challenge and discuss this issue on Channel 4 news? On the brink of extinction in England through persecution must be a news worthy topic?
Erica – petition heading for 100,000 signatures is a newsworthy story on 12 August!
Listened to some of WOMAD on BBC R3, sounded some great music. See you at Rainham Mark.
69,000 reached at 2110 hours!
Nick
69096 at 2204. Turn this one on its head and we’re nearly there!
Jon Snow is a cousin of Peter, whose son, Dan Snow, is married to the Duke of Westminster’s daughter. Perhaps he could use his family connection to organise a televised debate.