United Kingdom Badger Cull

Sadly, badgers are now being shot in two areas of England as part of a terminally misguided attempt to control TB in cattle. 

Please help us to stop this cull. It is inhumane and barbaric. The scientific evidence has shown that it will not work, yet the government have pressed ahead with it. The badgers are scapegoats for farmers' failings and outrageous political backslapping. 5000 are due to be murdered in Somerset and Gloucestershire over the next 6 weeks. If successful and I pray to God that it fails, it will roll out across the country. DEFRA insists that the cull is being conducted humanely, yet people are hearing badgers left screaming in pain after they have been shot. This morning badgers in Somerset were also discovered mauled by dogs, which is totally illegal. 

What can you do:

• Sign the e-petition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257
• Write to/email your MP, David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Owen Paterson and your local papers. There are some useful resources on the Viva site to help you with this: http://www.viva.org.uk/campaigns/badgers/action.php
• Boycott Milk and other dairy products. Go Vegan! There are now many delicious alternatives to milk such as soya milk and nut milks. 
• Some of you may want to get out in the field and help the volunteers patrolling the cull zones. These groups are working peacefully within the law. It is hoped that their mere presence will prevent shooting in the areas. There are also volunteers out looking for injured badgers. There are several groups on Facebook that can provide information for this, StopTheCull, SomersetAgainstTheBadgerCull and GloucestershireAgainstBadgerShooting for example.

* image coutesy Paul Silver