  
Brian May Musician, astrophysicist, and advocate for animals, most widely
known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen, gives his
views on the Welsh Assembly Government’s decision to "cull" badgers. SAVE THE BADGER To all those who have pledged their time and energy to fighting
for justice for Badgers in Wales. I wanted to pledge my support
for the campaign you are fighting, to overthrow a decision which
is so obviously wrong, it defies understanding. The disease at the centre of this appalling tragedy is called
Bovine TB. The history of the establishment of this virus in populations
of Cattle in the British Isles is well documented. It did NOT,
of course come from Badgers (or it would presumably have been
called "Badger TB") - it was allowed to flourish because of intensive
farming methods, and was spread around the UK by farmers moving
cattle around to maximise the profit that could be made from them
when they were slaughtered. Badgers were infected by the cattle,
entirely innocent of any wrong-doing except being in the vicinity
of these diseased farm animals. The only scientific study of the control of the disease concluded
that the slaughter of badgers did NOT achieve control of Bovine
TB. This is not guesswork…thousands of badgers died to prove this
fact. To go ahead now and start murdering these innocent creatures
goes against any logic, and is an act of madness and cruelty.
We simply do not have the right to slaughter animals who have
just as much right to live in our country as we do. In the name
of justice, reason and human kindness, this decision must be swept
away. The recent economic melt-down has reminded what happens when we
make decisions based only on making profits, and in this case,
it has been shown that this course of action does not even make
sense economically. Hilary Benn was able to make the informed
and humane decision for England - to proceed towards inoculating
both badgers and Cattle. It's time for the people of Wales to
demand that this appalling decision be thrown out...and demand
decency. Wales does not need to go forward over the dead bodies of these
precious native creatures. All power to you, who care. Brian May, 4th March, 2010 Save The Badger was set up as an umbrella group to coordinate the campaign against
the Welsh Assembly Government's plan to slaughter badgers by the
thousand in Wales in early 2010. It will of course also fight
any similar plans by the Westminster government or any of the
other devolved powers in the UK. Please take the time to look through the pages on our site. We will try to bring you any up to date information and news
which is of particular relevance – if you want more general information,
please go to one of the other sites where you will find a lot
of background information. We will also periodically feature the views and opinions of prominent
individuals who oppose the WAG decision. We begin with a piece
by Welsh writer and environmental activist, John Evans. This is
a must read! Don't forget, we want to hear your news, and we also want you
views. We must unite together to fight this premeditated act of
barbarity. Please contact us by clicking the link at the side of the page. "The evidence is that a badger cull on a scale or level of efficiency
that seems feasible will not solve cattle farmers' problem – that
problem is truly serious. Understandably, the feeling is that
something must be done, but the evidence is that it should not
be a badger cull." Sir David Attenborough “We must not make badgers scapegoats for bovine TB”. Joanna Lumley "I say no to this or any other badger cull and I urge all caring
people to do the same. Get rid of ignorance, not badgers.” Benjamin Zephaniah copyright © www.savethebadger.com |
