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Brian’s notes

BLUE FOX

Men and Women of Courage: Conservatives with Compassion.

 

We had a great 'breakfast briefing' with the "Blue Fox" - Conservatives Against Hunting - group at the House of Commons today - set up by The League Against Cruel Sports - LACS, and endorsed by IFAW and the RSPCA.

I am still buzzing from it.

I have not felt as optimistic about the future of the Hunting Act since we began our Save-Me Campaign before the election.

This amazing compassionate group was just a tiny seed of a campaign 9 months ago. Lorraine and Chris Platt talked to us about their dreams of gathering together animal-aware, compassionate Conservatives way back - this time last year. Few people took them seriously. How could an anti-hunting group possibly flourish within the Tory Party, when their leader was promising to bring back those vile sports as part of his campaign to get elected ?! Well, we took them very seriously, I am proud to say. With very small resources and huge determination, these pioneers have worked, and built, and encouraged, and never taken no for an answer.

And the result, seen today, was the consolidation of a fast-growing, emerging pressure group for Animal Welfare, with great power and conviction. It was a joy to hear these guys today, a small band of very brave young Tory MP's, expressing exactly the same conviction as we do, that animals matter, and are worthy of respect. And, moreover, that they are willing to risk their future promotion prospects in the Party, to stand up for what they believe, and what the vast majority of their constituents believe, to be morally right. We salute them. I am not trumpeting Victory for those who seek to protect our wild animals from cruelty - not yet - but the Wind of Change is certainly beginning to gather strength. I believe, and have believed for a long time, that David Cameron, in championing a grisly throw-back 'sport', in which wild animals are pulled limb from limb by packs of dogs, is seriously out of touch with the majority of Conservative voters. He speaks of modernising his party, yet takes sides with the tiny, noisy minority who are desperately trying to put the clock back, and claw back their right to kill, torture, and maim in the name of nothing but their own need for violent pleasure.

The very existence of the brave, and evidently healthily growing Conservatives against Hunting group proves that the popular image of the Conservatives as callous and uncaring towards animals is far from being applicable to the young progressive section of the party. The Save-Me campaign has from the beginning carefully guarded its fundamental a-political stance; throughout the campaign we have stuck to our policy of supporting anyone in ANY party who is dedicated to fighting cruelty to animals. This is a very good day for us, and for all who care about our precious legacy of native wild animals. For now it is finally clear that decent Animal Welfare is a principle which crosses all political boundaries. We at Save-Me are very proud to confirm our support of the Blue Fox group. And we thank them for the work they have already done to push legalised hunting with dogs further back into history.

Where it belongs.

 

Cheers Brian

 

Thank You

 

 

Dear Save-Me Members,

We are currently changing the format of the social media side of Save-Me and are therefore closing the forum down for the time being.

Thank you to all those contributors who have taken the time to support Save-Me and share their thoughts and opinions with other members. We will be doing regular updates on the Facebook  page so  please come and add your comments and continue to support Save Me .

If you have any comments or further queries please contact us at anne@save-me.org.uk

Many thanks again for your support

The Save-Me Team

A new outbreak of Bovine TB - in Scotland

Save-Me sends condolences to the farmers so badly affected by the new outbreak of bovine TB in Scotland.

Scotland has, until now, been substantially free of the disease, so this is a shock in more ways than one.  This article in the Farmers Guardian gives more details.  

Sixty cattle slaughtered after bovine TB outbreak in Scotland
Farmers Guardian
SIXTY cattle from a fully closed dairy herd have been compulsory slaughtered following one of the worst outbreaks of bovine TB in Scotland for several years ...

It is very significant that in this case it's impossible to argue that badgers or other wild animals can be to blame for the outbreak, and from the point of view of those arguing, as we are, that the proposed British badger cull is tragically misguided, this provides concrete evidence that TB is still being spread in ways other than the much vaunted 'Wildlife Reservoir of Infection".  And that even if every badger in these islands were to be killed, cows would still be getting sick.  

This sentence at the end of the Farmers Guardian report says it all.  

 “The absence of repeated reinfections within single herds, or clusters of disease caused by the same strain of TB, are indicators that a wildlife reservoir is not driving infection.”

Mr David Cameron, Mr Peter Kendall, Ms Caroline Spelman, and Mr Jim Paice, please take note, and ask yourselves if you can still sleep peacefully in your beds.  Your 'pilot' cull of badgers must be shelved.  

Brian 

THE GRAND NATIONAL

Traditionally known as the 'Sport of Kings' the Grand National is now clearly an embarrassment to a nation that prides itself on fair treatment of animals.

This is another example of 'tradition' being used to justify behaviour which is no longer acceptable.  In this gruelling four and a half mile course, over the last 12 years, 20 horses have died on the day, and many more in the first week after the race.  

One might imagine that after the worldwide success of the play and film "War Horse", that it would now be apparent to everyone that these wonderful creatures have feelings and are worthy of respect.  But in this 'sport', horses are treated as a commodity.

Around 18,000 are bred into the ever-decreasing gene pool of the racing industry each year and evidence shows around 5000 are raced to death.  Just over 7000 make the grade; the rest are destroyed or cast aside, many ending up in degrading horse markets, on their way to being used as food.  During the actual races, the horses who have survived the system are openly beaten for human pleasure.  As soon as they stop being money-earners, they are discarded - many destroyed on the spot.  

Surely in 2012 this kind of treatment is utterly unacceptable.  The industry has become a cruel factory farm for human financial profit.  

It is time for Britain to stand up, set an example of decency to the world - and consign this barbaric sport to history.   

Brian May CBE. 

 

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Please note that the comments and opinions on this discussion Forum are not the opinions of the SAVE-ME team.

posted 516 days ago Christina Staines:

Strange but true... This is what can happen when you let a farmer try to shoot something.  He could have shot anyone, children even.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-12026796

posted 516 days ago Linda Adams:

@Donna, glad I could help get one more letter through! No comments on my blog today... and it's midnight across the pond now, so I don't know if my mini-blitz was at all effective, but I tried. Must go now... happy Holidays to one and all, enjoy your season!

posted 516 days ago artemiswilde:

Brian - so encouraging! Also saw your interview with Stephen Sackur on the BBC website which was excellent. Thanks for raising public awareness regarding the need to prevent cruelty to wild animals.

 

posted 516 days ago Linda Adams:

@Donna - mine went through, just leave off your phone number, OK?! OK!

I also cross-posted here, where people know me and there are a good number of British members reading along: http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=865627&page=0&PHPSESSID=hkhtonv4aj5d2tq54efvst0095#Post865627

Likely to pull in a little more flack on that board possibly. Oh WELL. All right: that is literally all the PR I can think of to pull in letters for us. Thanks all and bye for a bit!

posted 516 days ago Linda Adams:

Mmmm, okay, good point--I will see about sending it out without the phone number! Heading off now to try - also @Donna - try just sending themtheemail? That's what I'll do if the form dislikes my American accent. :)Everyone: I posted Brian's video call to action on my Facebook Page & Profile, and just now also posted a message on my blog here: http://lindaofficial.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/please-help-save-innocent-wildlife/

Any of you who could go out there and make a positive, supportive comment to help sway my readers into filling out the form today, please do! I do reach a few Brits as well, not many percentage-wise but some. Thank you! I think I have it set so you don't have to log in to comment - I have to approve comments, but will check back in to do that as I can.

This is all I can do today, right now, as it's my 22nd anniversary (we're so happy! he still takes my breath away, sigh!...) and we have company in town and I'm headed off to see my darling 8-year old budding actor star in his class Christmas play in just a bit, but my heart is with you!

posted 516 days ago Linda Adams:

YES, both comments do help, THANK YOU!

posted 516 days ago Raindance:

I have just posted my responses to the consultation - what devious questions! 

Linda: the Order is about destroying wild badgers, so the prohibitions address three main areas in which people might try to prevent wild badgers from being destroyed.  Under the prohibitions, no-one can capture a wild badger and hide it out in order to prevent the badger being destroyed.   No-one can obstruct or interfere with anything that is being done/has been done to destroy badgers.  And no-one can aid, abet, counsel or procure another person to prevent badgers being destroyed.  I guess you could interpret this as criminalizing anyone who may decide to help wild badgers.  So,  I guess we don't agree with the prohibitions.  Hope this helps. 

 

 

posted 516 days ago Linda Adams:

Hi Jen,

I missed this form earlier, thank you for the urgent update! Do you know, should we or shouldn't we post "Save Me" as the Organization? Which way is better? Thank you!

Also as an American I was a little lost on the final question -- what are "the prohibitions under the draft Badger (ControlArea) (Wales) Order 2010?" I assume I agree with these prohibitions? 

I will wait a few hours for a little guidance before I write in, but I will do this today. Thanks for the heads-up and sorry I missed it - thought I'd been watching, :( well it's not too late.

 

posted 517 days ago Jen:

U-R-G-E-N-T   please respond TODAY AT LATEST !

Apologies for using current thread:

If you haven't already had your say on the Welsh Badger cull - please visit and follow instructions to respond URGENTLY T-O-D-A-Y at http://www.save-me.org.uk/news/badger/article/urgent_-_last_day_consultation_on_welsh_badger_cull_enters_final_hours

posted 517 days ago Linda Adams:

@Steve - why thank you! Great thoughts there on how our brains work. @Raindance - thank you for the Cicero quote! Good one. @Matt - wonderful to have an explanation from Bri, cool, thanks!

And at grave risk of being horrible and off-topic, someone sent me this overdubbed animals-in-the-wild footage on YouTube and I found it awfully funny: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHjK33RchEE& (the "&" is part of the link, but it's not turning blue, hm.)  

Now - I know sufficient animal biology to understand *why* most the behaviors featured in the footage take place, however... someone came up with some terrific voiceovers. Forgive me if this is problematic for anyone - thought it might be time for a smile is all - :)  YouTube might be a silly waste of time for the most part but - I laughed. Needed a laugh today. Just sharing! (...if this is bad of me, I'll just run away for a while and hide in the sand!)

posted 517 days ago Raindance:

Thank you for that link, Donna.  It ties up with the note about EDM 957 and the link to stopthebabytrade.org in the "What's New" listing in Brian's main site.  I have had a look at EDM 957 or, rather, the names of the signatories.  My constituency MP isn't listed there, so I shall write to her.  I'm also going to email my networks to ask people to participate.  They responded very well to the badger consultation so I get the feeling they are in tune with these concerns.  The more we lobby, the less we can be ignored. 

posted 518 days ago StevenAult:

As a bloke this feminism stuff is getting a bit annoying, although I will say this. If it was'nt for women, the animal rights movement, and the vegetarian diet would be lightyears behind what it is today. There has always been a link between animal rights and feminism, and I would'nt be a vegetarian today without the trail blazed by mainly women. Women generally use different parts of the brain when processing information and have higher levels of emotional intelligence. We are stupid not to harness this. Although I don't like 'positive discrimination' we need more women in politics. The world WOULD be a better place if more women were in power. This sticks in my throat but it's TRUE!

 

Steve 

posted 519 days ago Jasmine:

A slightly sideways quote deserves a slightly sideways smile :) Cheers for clearing that up!

posted 519 days ago Betina Løvbeck Jensen:

I knew it was referring to the people behind the Blue Fox group, which I thought had two female members (SB photo) and I too was beeing a bit humorous, when I mentioned the brackets, however, fact is women have to work harder on male-dominated fields, especially in politics. (I never saw brackets as a way of highligting anything really important, that's why it sort of stood out to me). I'm not humourless neither, I did noticed this old phrase, in the modern version. We could keep on about this, but I suggest we leave this subject and get on with the animals, please? I posted this link further below and I've received another one with this chap, Dan Barber. It's about animal welfare and sustainability with a humorous touch. What he's saying is important! PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL!

http://blog.ted.com/2010/03/10/how_i_fell_in_l/

http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_barber_s_surprising_foie_gras_parable.html

 

posted 519 days ago Alison Sesi:

Whether it's humorous or not, the issue of the lamentably scant number of women MPs needs highlighting somehow and brackets is as good a way as any, I suppose! Despite the fact that  UK's female representation in parliament is on the rise (within the Conservative party itself, it almost doubled at this latest election), we still lag behind many other countries in this regard, coming in at 52 in the world league table. (Interestingly, the US fares even worse at no. 72!)

So female MPs, especially those in the Conservative Party, are still such scarce animals that they automatically achieve prominence through their rarity - forming, as they do, a highly exclusive bracket of their own.  

posted 519 days ago Raindance:

I quite agree, Anna-Rita. And I don't mind being held together by brackets. Or parentheses, even.

"A man of courage is also full of faith" (Cicero, one of my heroes, the Roman scholar, lawyer and orator,). Very apt in this instance, I think.  On the other hand, another of my  heroes Lewis Mumford (an American who wrote about the philosophy of technology and science) said "A man of courage never needs weapons but he may need bail". 

A little gentle humour is delicious.

 

posted 520 days ago Anna-Rita Fiore:

Yes, Bri, you are perfectly right: "a little gentle  humour"  is fundamentally important in life and in  everything, always, and expecially in matters that count. Very well said!

P.S. I am sure the majority of people in the Save-Me group got your point, entirely.

posted 520 days ago Mitch (Save-Me Moderator):

Hi Guys, here is an explanation from Bri on his reasoning behind the title of this thread :-)

"I was using a well-known quote to draw attention. There was actually also another reason for bracketing "Women". Strictly speaking, I was talking specifically about Conservative MP's ... and in this meeting there was only one - Caroline. It would have looked very silly to put "Men and Woman" of courage. So I opted for the slightly sideways modified quote instead. I always feel a little gentle humour helps to make a point stand out. To me, the bracketing highlighted the importance of women in this cause - very much NOT a slight. Quite the opposite."

posted 520 days ago Betina Løvbeck Jensen:

Hi guys and girls;) Here's a great vid. This chap, Dan Barber, has a point and furthermore he 's using humour to get the message out. Great!

How I feel in love with a fish: http://blog.ted.com/2010/03/10/how_i_fell_in_l/

 

posted 520 days ago Brettley:

Boycott Hello magazine which appears to have a front page photo of Colleen Rooney in full fur outfit.

posted 520 days ago Brettley:

Please join the Keep Fox hunting Banned facebook group, as Bring Back Fox Hunting Group have nearly caught up with it for members and we don't want them overtaking.

Keep Fox hunting Banned is at the following address:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Name-Shame-All-The-Pro-HuntCruel-Celebrities/134410676616480#!/pages/KEEP-FOX-HUNTING-BANNED/308115089034

 

 

posted 520 days ago Brettley:

 

Below is a facebook page that shows all the celebrities who support the countryside alliance, including believe it ot not Christopher Biggins. Just copy and paste this address into the address bar at the top.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Name-Shame-All-The-Pro-HuntCruel-Celebrities/134410676616480#!/pages/Name-Shame-All-The-Pro-HuntCruel-Celebrities/134410676616480?v=wall

posted 520 days ago Betina Løvbeck Jensen:

Donna, that is great news. The word seems to be spreading and the the group of people agains a cull seems to be growing fast. It must be the Wind of Change.

posted 521 days ago Betina Løvbeck Jensen:

Girls and ladies - I did thought it was some kind of and old phrase. World war I? That happen some years ago, this phrase is sort of outdated then - like foxhunting for instance. Women also join the army now. Besides, we wouldn't write down 'Ladies and (Gentlemen)'.

I will leave the feminism (for now) and get on with this page issues. Last night I saw a great program about sharks 'Sharkwater', they have a bad reputation of being evil and sly, created of course by us, the humans. Infact they're not much different in spirit than the cute seals. If they accidently attacks humans, it's usually because they're mistaken us from a wounded seal - they splash a lot, very much like when humans are swimming. Also our white skin can look like a certain fish when we're splashing with our feets.

There's a lot of illegal shark fishing going on. They want their fins and a brutal and cruel catch are taken place. They tow in the wrigling shark, cuts off the fin and then throws it back into the ocean!!! Shark fins has a high rate all over the world and why? SHARK FIN SOUP!

The film was excellent filmed, beautiful shooting of the seabed, which always reminding me of 'Avatar', for some reason. Only one thing annoyed me. In the last minutes, these very carring activists was using alarming words, such as 'global invironment catastrophe' and sometimes I think they/we should think carefully on how we express ourselves. We hear these words an awful lot these days, and however much I want us to care more about nature and animals, I find it important that we stay focused. I have no idea, if it can be a 'global catastrophe', if they keep on fishing for shark fins, but I know it's illegal (some places), cruel and inhumane and that it should be stopped immediately. It's a bit hard to explain, I don't want to sound harsh or anything, it's just, there's a risk we might end up placing obstacles in the way of our mission by exploiting the human instinct of fear and danger.

I would like to see an 'Age of Empathy', but not build on a hidden fear of Judgement Day.

http://www.sharkwater.com/

 

posted 522 days ago Alison Sesi:

I agree with the comments about the employment of brackets for 'and Women' on the soapbox. Although Jasmine has a point, I think the use of dashes would have been more appropriate. I'm certainly not one for insisting on 'PC' in language all the time, but believe in avoiding misunderstandings where they might arise. 

posted 522 days ago Jasmine:

Haha! Don't quote me on the dates, but I think that's it. Merry Christmas! :)

posted 522 days ago Linda Adams:

Oh! Did not know that @Jasmine = so it's merely a hundred years old; got it! 

The parentheses make perfect sense then, thanks!

posted 522 days ago Linda Adams:

Merry Christmas and holidays, everyone, while I'm here. Peace on earth is on-topic, yes? :) 

posted 522 days ago Jasmine:

Betina, Men of Courage is a title typically associated with infantry soldiers, and dates back to (I think) WWI. I doubt it is meant as a 'dig' at us girls! :)

posted 522 days ago Linda Adams:

@Alison, thank you for the clarification - the website surely looks tabloid-ish. "highly biased half-truths" = "tabloid" in my book! 

And good point, @Betina ---  yeah, why are we women listed in that headline parenthetically?

Inadvertent perhaps but still correctable! :)  

posted 522 days ago Betina Løvbeck Jensen:

I pop in here frequently and I really hate to say this, but the headline of this thread kind of strike me. It hits again when I visit Soapbox.

Why are we, the Women, ind brackets? Sorry Bri, I'm absolutely sure it's just an inadvertent mistake <3 XXX <3

 

posted 523 days ago StevenAult:

When the 'right wing' papers publish articles relating to 'animal rights', go to their website and make a comment on the related article. It's a good idea to register with all newspaper websites. You may change someones opinion. Just make sure it's polite and well researched!

Steve

posted 523 days ago Alison Sesi:

@Linda Adams: The 'Daily Mail' does, indeed, contain a plethora of highly biased articles on a number of subjects. They are real experts at telling half-stories, and, unfortunately, the paper appears to have a peculiar grip on the minds of many of my fellow citizens. However, in an extraordinary display of generosity on my part towards this odious publication (well, hey, it's nearly Christmas...!!!) I would point out that, even in relatively recent history, they have not always been producing articles that are hostile to the urban fox. Take this one from two years ago:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1095542/New-Felix-Fox-pays-night-visit-No-10-Downing-Street.html

Is the CA now lurking around the tabloids as well as the Telegraph, I wonder? 

 

posted 523 days ago Linda Adams:

A related reply to the Soapbox post, re: a Daily Mail anti-fox article (I'm in the US - but isn't that a tabloid? correct? Bri, are you really reading those things? seriously? now there's a peculiar and inhumane form of self-torture, I suppose....... :) --and who believes them??? but anyway... always good to correct false information, wherever it's found!) --

Completely agree with the argument foxhunting is hardly "humane" in any way shape or form -- but the other word he used to defend it-- "efficient!" -- is even more laughable!!

Who's the guy trying to kid?! 

Foxhunting has to be one of the most asinine and idiotic ways to try to "exterminate" anything even IF foxes WERE vermin (which I wholeheartedly agree they are not!!) and needed population control.............. Yes! I know I know! Why let's get a clan of twenty men and equal horses AND packs of however-many dogs and traipse across the countryside looking for ONE FOX. 

Count JUST the financial cost on that adventure (including veterinary care, canine and equine feeding and care after major exertion) as compared to bait, traps, and other methods and EFFICIENT is the most ridiculous word EVER attempted. 

The eyes are rolling on *this* English major. 

posted 523 days ago Betina Løvbeck Jensen:

Yes, Wende and another of our missions should be finding a way to break this particular social inheritance AND implement it. What can we do about it? Education yes, but how exactly?

posted 523 days ago Country_Gran:

Wonderful news to give us during these miserable times. Well done Blue Fox and co.! And always thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! Brian.

Betina: thanks for posting your last. Stupid parents, raising moronic children.

posted 523 days ago Betina Løvbeck Jensen:

Fall victim to the social inheritance.

http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/hunting-for-girl-power/

 

posted 524 days ago Chris_Jardine:

"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history." Mohandas Gandhi

posted 524 days ago Alison Sesi:

This 'wind of change' was already reported in the press nearly two months ago:

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/oct/28/countryside-alliance-conservatives-foxhunting

 

(I posted this link in another thread a while back)

 

posted 524 days ago Chris_Jardine:

Well done Brian for your meeting with Consevatives against Fox Hunting.

I have had a response from the Government from a petition I started - To make the importing, selling, distributing and trading in real animal skins and fur illegal in the United Kingdom.

Read their response here - http://www.hmg.gov.uk/epetition-responses/petition-view.aspx?epref=nomorefur

 

posted 524 days ago Betina Løvbeck Jensen:

Just a suggestion, perhaps they could collaborate with this party:

http://www.animalscount.org/

Perhaps they're doing it already?

posted 524 days ago Andrew J Day:

Really glad it went well & that you feel cheered by it. I did comment on this group's activities way back in the fb days and how positive the comments were.

posted 524 days ago Dr Mike Berwick:

Agree 100%!

posted 525 days ago Raindance:

I'm stepping into this room in May Palace to have a rootle around to see what's new, and find this splendid message.  That's wonderful news!  Way to go!  It may - I'm sure it will - take a long time to achieve victory, but mighty oaks grown from little acorns and all that ...

Those who would say that the anti-hunting lobby is all about "class" may have to think again.

Political allegiance isn't just a tribal thing; it's about conscience, and the imperative in "conscience" is to make sure it is well-informed.  It's great to read about these people stepping out in faith so bravely because of their convictions.  It isn't easy to go against the general grain in a political party. 

So, a thousand thank-yous for this post and for all you are doing in this cause.  It's very inspiring, and I'm definitely going to write to my constituency MP. 

And we hope they gave you a jolly good breakfast, too!

 

posted 525 days ago Jasmine:

Wonderful group of people, and very brave! When I emailed my Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood months ago, he wrote that he has never been involved with hunting and did not see any benefit to bringing fox hunting back. He mentioned that he was undecided whether to abstain or vote against a repeal, should the conscience vote go ahead. It makes me wonder how many other MPs are in his position. I hope this group is reaching out to those MPs too, who know that cruelty for sport is wrong, but might not feel powerful enough to stand up on their own to their party leader, the Prime Minister, on this issue.

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