7 Replies to “Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill”

  1. I’d suggest cull is the most disturbing all all those words as it means a deliberate attempt to drastically reduce the population. You can kill, slaughter or destroy without impacting on populations though that is not what is happening in this case.

  2. I agree cull can be a disturbing word if you understand its exact meaning…though I feel for most people it is a less emotive and more sanitising word than the other options. People get less upset about a cull than a slaughter. Cull suggests reducing a population for a reason, in this case the reason is just the whim of the NFU and has a total disregard for public opinion and science – i feel that it is better described as indiscriminate slaughter

    1. I agree, Ralph.

      Also, even more deceptive words, such as ‘control’ and ‘manage’ are used – they all mean ‘kill’.

  3. I could write a list of these euphemisms, starting with ‘improved grassland’ meaning ‘previously a meadow now drenched with chemicals’.

  4. I think in this case, badgers are better served by us all focusing on the flawed science, huge waste of public spending and political manoeuvring behind the decision. As well as the continued poor biosecurity around livestock sales and movements.
    Words may spark emotion and (hopefully) meaningful engagement with this issue, but whatever it is, it’s not a question of what we choose to call it. It’s a question of what we choose to do.
    Write to your MP, come to London (if you can) for the People’s Walk, read Dominic Dyer’s book, tell everyone you know, join a conservation group. Keep going.

  6. Jamie,take it that you cannot find any lack of biosecurity at sales.
    Just another cheap shot at things that are as good as is practical.
    Some conservationist start the ball rolling about things they know nothing about such as this and every bloody Tom Dick and Harry believes them.
    Biosecurity at livestock sales is very good.

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