Badger culling on the agenda (From Worcester News)
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Badger culling on the agenda
7:50am Thursday 20th January 2011 in News
TALKS: Organisers are expecting a lively debate.
A LIVELY debate is expected this evening (Thursday) over proposed changes on badger culls aimed at preventing the spread of TB in cows.
Farmers, land-owners and wildlife enthusiasts are expected at the Worcestershire conference on tuberculosis entitled TB or not TB.
Hundreds are expected at the open invitation event, which will be held at the Frank Parkinson Centre at Pershore College.
We previously reported how the Government was proposing to reintroduce culls in hotspot areas where TB was present in herds.
Worcestershire and Herefordshire stock holders broadly welcomed the plans when mooted last year, although there were concerns that a piecemeal approach to culls would not do any good.
Members of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Pershore and Upton-upon-Severn branch are hosting the debate with a panel of guest speakers including Gwyn Jones, NFU vice president, Jack Reedy, of The Badger Trust, Gavin Wilson, of FERA at Woodchester Park, and Kevin Pearce, the NFU’s head of food and farming.
Chairman David Hall, a former college principal, will be keeping the speakers and contributors in order.
Ray Foster-Morison, NFU branch secretary, said: “We have tackled all sorts of issues in the past, but following a change in government policy and the consultation on badger control we look forward to a lively debate.
“We will discuss the issues in all the animals affected by this debilitating disease.
“Places are filling up, but there is still space if anyone would like to attend.”
Tickets are free, but must be booked in advance by calling Bea Mealing, at Carver Knowles, on 01684 853400 or by emailingbeamealing@carverknowles.co.uk People are asked to arrive for 7pm – the debate is due to start at 7.30pm – with drinks available afterwards from 9.30pm.
Comments(14)
crowquill
says...
9:37am Thu 20 Jan 11
Vox populi
says...
12:37pm Thu 20 Jan 11
pudniw_gib wrote:Ha Ha is that after we ban all motor vehicles from the road, hug trees, embrace free love, dance around in our hemp underpants and live on what we grow in the vegetable gardens none of us have is it ?
As cattle spread the disease to each other and badgers perhaps we should not have cows? Going vegan not only is healthy, good for the environment, cruelty free, it also saves badgers as well. Result :)
pudniw_gib
says...
2:18pm Thu 20 Jan 11
Vox populi
says...
4:36pm Thu 20 Jan 11
Ironically even badgers are omnivores…. :-)
pudniw_gib
says...
5:44pm Thu 20 Jan 11
There is a big strain on the food system world wide due to, in a large part, meat and dairy production. Even taking out the CO2 from transport etc the conversion of animal feed into protein is extremely inefficient .
Given that the developing industrial nations are consuming an ever larger amounts of meat and dairy at an ever increasing rate any changes we may make here will become increasingly important.
I would imagine that British farmers might end up getting paid to grow feed for cattle being raised in China for their market, pushing the price of food up here.
When it comes to it; meat is a luxury in environmental terms, quite clearly it is not a necessary part of the human diet as there are plenty of healthy vegans about, several top athletes are now dairy and meat free.
All the other stuff, car free lifestyles and buying greener products is not that difficult, the jobs will still be there.
The current system does rather enslave us, look how much it costs us to run a car for example.
Vox populi
says...
7:26pm Thu 20 Jan 11
Being green costs money and the consumer is not willing to pay for it especially when they see little or no evidence of where their green taxes go. Efficient or not most of us like meat.
The C02 production of the uk is negligible yet we are one of the countries with the highest green taxes in the world..... In actual fact if the C02 production of the uk was zero tomorrow China would take up that slack in less than 2 weeks. That puts it into perspective.
pudniw_gib
says...
10:53pm Thu 20 Jan 11
Capitalism is a con, beats slavery but is the same thing. We are chained to our habit of consuming stuff. We are not really given a choice because the choice is not obvious. Any one who chooses to try and get out of the rat race or just make a positive change in their own life is called a crank and gets the **** taken out of them. Why? Because they are seen as threats to the norm.
It doesn't matter about global warming on your personal level probably as you will be gone before this country gets into serious trouble but changing your life from mindless consumer to thoughtful purchaser might be a good and economically sound move. If you dump the car that might save you a whole load of money, not everyone can do this but some can. Trouble is we are being conned and ripped off by the system we are told we should support, look at the smirking bankers...
I used to eat meat, don't miss it as I have a wife who is a great vegi cook, besides veg sausages have come a long way.
Worcesterman
says...
8:02am Fri 21 Jan 11
You are both like old washerwomen, you are both talking about things that neither of you can change.
Enjoy your life, the way you both want to to do.
As the changes to everyones life, is going to change for the worst in the years to come. You think its bad now? What a surprise that waits for all of us, when the EU. Communist Commissars join with their stable mates around the World, then you will have something to moan about.
Bushbaby
says...
8:56am Fri 21 Jan 11
Vox populi
says...
12:19pm Fri 21 Jan 11
It may surprise you but: I recycle and have no issue with it. I compost all of the waste I can and I grow my own fruit and vegetables. It is simply a good idea to reduce landfill. As for global warming I believe it is not the threat stated, if present at all…. People actually like consuming things, I actually like technology and my gadgets - doesn't mean I'm a thoughtless consumer, why shouldn't I have something I want? I'm not a nun that needs to live a pious life due to a threat I don’t believe in. The economics to "going green" need to stack up before I break out the wind turbines and start living in a yurt. I believe in recycling, an element of self sufficiency where possible, the management of our countryside whether through new or traditional methods but not in global warming particularly. Sorry but its become the new religion. '
As for travel and getting rid of a car…. My commute takes 35 minutes each way. To do this by public transport takes 2 hours each way in a combination of buses and trains. Sorry but those 3 hours 55 minutes are better spent with my family as is the decision made by millions of people everyday. Getting to work costs £60 per person per month in a four person car share - again economics, not being green. Train and bus combined is £9.70 a day. Over a year the commuting cost is £2328 by public transport. Right add in my insurance, road tax and a service - bring it to a total of £1545 for the car and £2328 by train - a saving of £783 and remember that is per person in the car share.
So this means I save £783 per year on my travel costs, spend 950 hours (39 days!!) extra per year with my family, have the convenience of a motor vehicle for other purposes, will get to work on time, can come and go as I please without reliance on an archaic transport system and have less chance of being stabbed or assaulted….. You will undoubtedly think - move closer to work but why would I want to live in the centre of a city and reduce my quality of life even if I could afford to? "Dumping the car" to save the planet, or money is not a viable option for most people. I am by no means unusual in this situation merely normal and the same as millions each day. That my friend is the reality
pudniw_gib
says...
12:40pm Fri 21 Jan 11
I would like you to consider why you like consuming gadgets if that is your thing. Most of the stuff is just advertising hype to get us to buy the latest and greatest.
I am into hifi kit but have ended up with equipment that is 30+ years old after playing about with new stuff that is patently not as good, cheaply made and is clearly disposable to an extent .
Our car is 20 years old, cheap and cheerful, and after using new cars on occasion I have to say the old design was better in many respects.
There is great con, maybe global warming is one, neither of us know for sure but the con that is easiest to avoid is the con of consumerism driving the economy, it is what has screwed it due to widely available credit and the buying of things we do not need.
Anyway... back to badgers..
Vox populi
says...
1:53pm Fri 21 Jan 11
Anyway Badgers…..if they need culling, they need culling, fluffy and cute or not…… If a rational debate proves this through fact rather than emotion and knee jerk reactions then that’s the way it is…
pudniw_gib
says...
4:24pm Sat 22 Jan 11
These projects often end up being useless .
pudniw_gib says...
9:16am Thu 20 Jan 11
Going vegan not only is healthy, good for the environment, cruelty free, it also saves badgers as well.
Result :)