Charles Moore in the Spectator, ‘It would be wearisome (not least because Matt Ridley’s piece last week set it all out so well) to go through how most such accusations about the killing of hen harriers are false, how hen harriers do better on kept moors than on unkept ones…‘
Prof Rhys Green and Brian Etheridge:
Charles Moore (not to be confused with Charlie Moores) shoots grouse.
Rhys Green is a Professor of Zoology at Cambridge University (and an employee of the RSPB) and a prize-winning scientist, and Brian is lovely, a famous raptor worker and also used to work for the RSPB.
I know it would be wearisome, Spectator, but could you try to get your columnists to stick to the facts? Repeating the same errors week after week is pretty blatant and rather tawdry. The not-so-talented Viscout Ridley got loads of stuff wrong last week – and now you let (or was it get?) Old Moore’s MisAlmanak get it wrong again. These aren’t opinions – these are matters of science and fact. Have you forgotten the truth?
See George Monbiot and John Vidal on how the supporters of grouse shooting are apt to make ‘mistakes’ like these.
There is an e-petition that the likes of Charles Moore and Matt Ridley cannot stand – to annoy them greatly please add your name to it here.
[registration_form]
On another note; i’ve been in correspondence with Paul Simpkin, Senior Committee Assistant to the House of Commons Petitions Committee. He will be raising the issue of the changed wording of the ‘Protect grouse Moors and grouse shooting’ petition with the Petitions Committee. The full correspondence is available should you want it, Mark (with Mr Simkin’s consent to publish it online – though the content so far is hardly revelatory so I’m doubtful is it will be of much interest to readers). Also, should you be reading Adam Adams, I’ve forwarded your concerns over security to Mr Simpkin, with the request that he passes them on to the Government Digital Service.
ICYMI the “Save the stone curlew” petition passed the 10,000 signatures mark earlier today
It seems certain to gain some signatures, Jeff. The Countryside Alliance is primed to try and paint a campaign to ban driven grouse shooting into one that is seeking the removal of all thatched roofs.
Mind you, for starters;
1) a Government response will be interesting. Will it mention Stone Curlews – in answer to those who initially signed the petition, or Curlew – in answer to those who signed later. Or will their have to be two responses?
2) If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, does that mean we will get a second Parliamentary debate on the future of driven grouse shooting without having to make any further effort ourselves?
Jim – me too! Poor Paul – his boss (I think) has gone on holiday and he is left dealing with us. I’ll email you my correspondence privately and I’d love to see yours. I think we will keep this private for a while.
Does this fall within the remit the Press Complaints body ?(lost touch with what it calls itself nowadays, sorry). Seems very similar to the YFTB lies about the RSPB and the non existent NE press release.
That seems a very good point …
Was ‘Sir’ speaking on their [YFTB] behalf when he cited a non-existent BTO Report?
Hi Mark, I’ve sent you the lot. Hardly surprisingly, as it’s your petition, but may I just say that you would certainly seem to have more of a talent for firmly (but fairly) making your point then I do!
Jim – oh I don’t know – I thought yours were great. And independently making the same points is obviously good.
I found this comment in Mr Moore’s witterings deeply ironic:
“Why are charities so often taken over by people with quite different aims from their memberships?”
He seems upset the RSPB want to change his “independent sport”.
When he comes to realise that RSPB have been protecting his “independent sport”against what their members really want he will get in a lather about what the plebs will do to his “independent sport”.
He doesn’t sound like a man looking for a carrot to me, unless it’s been gently poached in a nice Madeira so he can eat it with his silver spoon. The only species diversity he’s promoting are the types of cuckoos found in the cloud he lives in.
Maybe he’s referring to the H&OT? Their trustees seem to be acting to their own agendas not that of a once respected organisation?
The same people who write this crap will be telling us that windfarms are great for the economy and will never kill birds of prey.