labsnlurchers 39 Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 This is the letter in my paper I am writing to add my voice to the many who feel disquiet and distress at the prospect of Elin Jones' proposed badger cull. The senseless murder of these innocent and beautiful creatures is i believe dispicable and will achieve nothing. Badgers are already terribly threatened and decimated by the destruction of their natural habitats in the pursuit of human development, equally thousands are killed each year by speeding motorists on rural roads. Badgers co existed in harmony and peace and thousands of years with grazing cattle intil the indication of intensive farming which pushes the environment and animals to their limit. Elin Jones and her tribe must stop percecuting and scapegoating this innocent and magical creature and urge farmers to look at their own practises and conciense in the spread of this disease. Are we to betray and eradicate every species on earth before we satisfy human greed and appetite? Let us not forget the its the badgers palnet too and these astonishing creatures have a moral right to live without fear, violence and prejudice. This is not the first letter of its kinf=d that i have read in the paper yet i have seen no letters responding so..... I have written one What do you think? do I need to put anything alse in it? Madam, I am writing this letter after reading “it’s the badgers planet too†in last weeks issue of the Cambrian News, a letter which I would like to respond too. To start with I’d like to provide your readers with a little background information that will arm them with the facts on which to form an opinion. In 2008 12,043 cattle were slaughtered as a direct result of TB compared to just 669 in 1997. The 2008 figure was up 52% on the 2007 figure and the 2007 figure was up 30.5% on the 2006 figure. The slaughter of these animals is to control the spread of TB yet we still see these huge increases which only highlights the presence of another disease vector within our countryside. The results of the badger found dead survey showed that; in areas of high TB in cattle the badgers tested also harboured a high prevalence of TB and in areas of low cattle TB the badgers also had a low level of TB. The results of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial show a significant reduction in herd breakdowns when badgers in that area were culled. It also showed increased TB levels in the surrounding areas BUT these reduced to “acceptable†levels after 2 years, is this a price worth paying for the future of Welsh agriculture? When you consider the rate at which TB slaughters in cattle are increasing and armed with the fact that in 2008 £56,700,000 was paid out in compensation as a result of TB I think most would agree this is neither productive nor sustainable. A vaccine for badgers and cattle may be available at the earliest 2014 but can we wait that long to curb the slaughter of cattle and start to reduce the financial strain of compensation payouts, I think not. Now I refer to the letter in which there is a claim that the badger population is “terribly threatened and decimated†for which there is absolutely no evidence to support but plenty to contradict, I quote The British Wildlife Centres online publication which states “protection has enabled the UK badger population to dramatically increaseâ€. Also the reference made to intensive farming being to blame for the prevalence of TB, I argue that it is environmentally sensitive farming that introduces the diversity of wildlife (including badgers) onto farmland. These farming practises should be valued and encouraged, the prevalence of TB in badgers does neither. And finally the humanised anecdotal way that the badger is portrayed in the letter is somewhat baffling, I suggest that we all consider the opinions we would form if TB were spread by rats or spiders or some other less gentle and magical creature. Who are we to give preference to the “pretty†and “fairytale†creatures in our country? What right do we have to give preferential treatment to one animal over another? And what about the “moral rights†of our farmers? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fidgety 8 Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 (edited) "And finally the humanised anecdotal way that the badger is portrayed in the letter is..." Anthropomorphism - common among the bunny huggers! Good reply L&L Edited May 21, 2009 by Fidgety Quote Link to post Share on other sites
labsnlurchers 39 Posted May 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 "And finally the humanised anecdotal way that the badger is portrayed in the letter is..." Anthropomorphism - common among the bunny huggers! Good reply L&L Thanks i knew there was a word for it but didnt know what it was Quote Link to post Share on other sites
labsnlurchers 39 Posted May 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 I added a bit more to it..... I commend Elin Jones for her decisive action which will inevitably result in Welsh farmers once again being recognised for their proactive approach to production animal health and welfare and their success in disease control and eradication. I sincerely hope that my letter is printed, not as a piece of pro cull literature but as a tool for the Welsh people to use when forming their opinion of the proposed badger cull. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SportingShooter 0 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Halfinch 51 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 :clapper: Touche. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OldTrapCollector 377 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 A well written reply L&L - could you add anything about the population explosion of badgers within the same timescale, and why there are so many badgers killed on our roads? OTC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oggy808 24 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 well done i like what you have done keep us posted on any feed back , if you want any body to see the effects send them down here to pembrokeshire!! P.s. thanks for comming to tivyside t&L show have you dried out yet thanks oggy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TIMMAY 6 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 Well done, think more people should respond to anti letters in their local rags! I had a letter printed in the carmarthen journal last october, in response to an anti hunting letter. While your letter is very well constructed, I fear that like my letter, it might be heavily edited to fit on the letters page! Might be worth editing it down yourself, to make sure that your main points are printed, and not edited by someone who might miss the point! once again well done and good luck! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
droid 11 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 Good piece. Certainly a lot more constructive and reasoned than the usual 'all antis are scum' illiterate rants you read. Timmay makes a good point too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 A well written response to a letter littered with ill informed opinions. The problem is, Joe Public doesn't know the scale of the problem. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IanB 0 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 They are a pest in certain areas with very high densities... Just like most other species they need to be controlled in this day and age... Ignore the antis, do gooders and wanna be a tree types... There ignorant to it all, thinking nothing should be killed or controlled... This will always be the case, in our life time anyway, nothing thats said or done will change this.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mk3 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 great reply Quote Link to post Share on other sites
labsnlurchers 39 Posted May 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 They are a pest in certain areas with very high densities... Just like most other species they need to be controlled in this day and age... Ignore the antis, do gooders and wanna be a tree types... There ignorant to it all, thinking nothing should be killed or controlled... This will always be the case, in our life time anyway, nothing thats said or done will change this.... Your right, they are ignorant to real life, living in their magical fairytale dreamworld where we just sit back and watch mother nature do her work and everthing will be ok. The problem comes because they are so passionate about their ignorance, they spread it round like wild fire, mis informing and misguiding joe public who know no better than to take their preechings as fact. Grr it really makes my blood boil. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
labsnlurchers 39 Posted May 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 well done i like what you have done keep us posted on any feed back , if you want any body to see the effects send them down here to pembrokeshire!! P.s. thanks for comming to tivyside t&L show have you dried out yet thanks oggy lol, just about dried out! was a shame about the weather but a good show and we will be back next year Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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