Today’s Daily Telegraph has a bit of a go at Tony Juniper for knowing me…
It has emerged that Mr Juniper has close links with the group’s [Wild Justice’s] co-founder, former RSPB conservation director Mark Avery.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/04/26/new-head-natural-england-fire-links-activist-brought-legal-challenge/
The pair appear to go back a long way. Two years ago, Mr Juniper collaborated on behind More Binoculars, a book about birds written by Mr Avery. While looking for endangered hen harriers together, Mr Juniper told Mr Avery of his pleasure at “putting the heat on people who should know better”, and of his frustration at “self-centred and ideological” politicians.
Apparently Tony and I have been on conservation panels together and have interacted on social media for years (where in 2012 I wished Tony Happy Birthday, on his birthday, the Torygraph has discovered).
Above: the book that shows that Tony Juniper and I have been plotting the downfall of everyone for ever.
Above: the book that shows that Tony Juniper and Prince Charles have been plotting the downfall of everyone for ever.
Above: the contents page of Behind More Binoculars which shows others equally likely to have been plotting the downfall of everyone with me (although Tony is obviously the mastermind behind it all).
Note that others involved in plotting the downfall of everyone include the BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner (although I guess he is more likely to be plotting with my co-author Keith Betton than with me) and best-selling crime author Ann Cleeves.
Look out for tomorrow’s Sunday Telegraph for news of former equally dodgy collaborators in plotting the downfall of everyone revealed in this earlier book …
… whose list of interviewees reveals that the ring of people plotting the downfall of everyone is even wider, including as it does, a Fellow of the Royal Society (as does Behind More Binoculars actually), a wonderful bird artist, several nature conservationists, authors, TV personalities and most notably Andy Clements who is an NE Board member and has clearly infiltrated NE in order to bring about the downfall of everyone too.
I feel like I am the dead crow dumped on Tony Juniper’s doorway.
Why not sign this petition giving Chris Packham support, please?
Strange times are these in which we live.
I’ve started noticing (and comparing notes with friends), that people in general are starting to act in the strangest ways, and forgetting that people are being affected by their actions.
Whether it’s bawling at each other on TV, driving homicidally, expressing insane views in corner shops, or just looked crazed via social media, so many people seem to be losing their grip this year.
I can only think it’s connected to the political uncertainty of our times, the slow acceptance of some of the worst environmental news we’ve ever had, or the acknowledgement that “change is gonna come”. Strange times indeed.
Good luck with your campaigning Mark. There’s bound to be much more flak ahead.
I was thinking the same thing yesterday. People seem to be quite angry/bewildered/incapable of rational thoughts so much more these days. Glad I’m not the only one thinking this!
(He says as he irrationally posts on a blog).
Oh this is funny! Well done Mark for drawing the attention of the whole world to the bluntness of mind and wit of the peddlers of untruths, in collaboration with just about everyone else in the world, in secret.
Send it to Private Eye.
Shock Horror I’m almost sure, well it might happen, that one of the right wing Sunday rags will publish headlines that people with different, even opposing views on some subjects actually speak to each other regularly, may even be friends and subversively some also cohabit. The end of the world is nigh! Surely not its what we have always done!
Perhaps this is why some Tories object to the talks with Labour over Brexit?
The good news in all of this – an obvious and growing sense of insecurity among the ‘Despicables’.
“Read all about it: Former Director of Friends of the Earth acquainted with former Conservation Director of RSPB”
How could their paths possibly have crossed? What will the next shocking revelation be? Bears appear somewhat familiar with woods?
Brilliant blog post!
The Torygraph’s most stinging rebuke of you is that you have made sure that the laws of this land are adhered to.
“Mark Avery, the leader of Wild Justice, whose legal challenge prompted the ban”
I guess it would be better if Tony Juniper had in the past associated himself with robbers and brigands?
This article coming from people who write lies and distortions in return for money from influential men who pay no tax in this country, and treat the Island of Sark as their own fiefdom.
Spot on David!
What stunning hypocrisy..compared to the linkages and networking between the shooting industry, landowners, NFU/NFUS/the judiciary, MPs and Tory MSPs and the civil service throughout the UK….networking connections between conservationists seem almost primitive.
I think that what you refer to as non news about your links with Mr Juniper is relevant .
Call me cynical but Mr Juniper had only started as Head of Natural England on the day that the general licences were revoked. ….and that Mr Juniper in his previous role wanted to put the heat on those who should know better
No wonder Wild Justice are delighted at the decision
Why should the Daily Telegraph be concerned that the head of Natural England has in the past expressed a desire to ‘put heat’ on people who break the law with respect to protected birds of prey? I always thought that the Daily Telegraph was supposed to stand for law and order; it would be shocking to discover that it believed that its readers shouldn’t have to comply with laws that interfere with their personal amusement.
This article was a pretty good example of barrel scraping but I am sure that Tony is well equipped to deal with it. However the most telling part of the article for me was “It comes amid broader concerns from countryside groups that Michael Gove’s decision to appoint the veteran activist may see conservation prioritised over the rights of farmers.” As an ex-employee of EN and NE this shows how far wildlife protection has regressed under this government.
How shocking! Two people know each other. Even I have had the pleasure of meeting Mark Avery and thanking him for his continued efforts in wildlife conservation. Does that invalidate my views, which are similar to Mark’s. If so then the voice of hundreds of thousands of like minded people would be worthless. Fortunately, I think not.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you and Tony were in the same loo at the same time too but perhaps that’s too sensitive an issue to raise in case it’s misinterpreted differently to their intent (apologies if you weren’t).