Hi folks,
Just thought I'd let you know what's happening with the petition and keep you all up to date. Wild Justice: A Mixed Blessing You may have seen that Wild Justice, the Chris Packham/Mark Avery/Ruth Tingay initiative, is planning a legal challenge against Natural England, calling for more regulation and better monitoring of the licencing system. It appears to be good news until you realise that they are only focusing on birds covered by the 'general licence', that means just 10 species. But our petition is to save more than 65 species of native birds from being needlessly killed through licences issued by Natural England, and many of these species are in steep population decline. I asked Wild Justice if they would consider including these species under the umbrella of their legal challenge - but I'm afraid they declined. That seemed a shame to me. A missed opportunity. We have more than 250,000 supporters and harnessing the power of our heavyweight petition, combined with the efforts of Wild Justice, might have proven too much for the government to ignore. Their action, though commendable in its own right, has distracted somewhat from our own work, the media coverage of the Wild Justice news has unfortunately led many people to think that their legal challenge tackles the issues we have been campaigning about, that is to say the protection of all our birds from legalised killing. This is not the case. Another unfortunate side-effect of the high profile Wild Justice legal challenge is that the media coverage of their work has been, to some extent, at the expense of our own campaign. The fact is that Wild Justice are fighting for just ten species. We are fighting for all birds and for a complete overhaul of the licencing system, in particular to make it more transparent. However, we will keep pushing for change at Natural England, as will Wild Justice - albeit each pursuing slightly different angles. Another Bland Statement From Natural England In other news, I had an 'anonymous' email from Natural England, anonymous in the sense that nobody had put their name to it..... hardly surprising as it was a blatant 'copy and paste' job, merely a standard blurb about how carefully they assess licence applications and that they only approve lethal control when all other avenues have been exhausted. The usual guff. I'm supposed to be hearing directly from Defra soon, though one wonders if that email from Natural England is all we can expect. No doubt I will reply to them and ask for a more intelligent response to our petition. All in all, it's been a challenging and frustrating couple of weeks! But I'm fighting on in spite of the apparent setbacks. I haven't been able to get any further media coverage (partly due to the media interest in Wild Justice), but we are fast approaching 300,000 signatures so that should make the press sit up and take an interest again. Thanks to all of you for your continued support, please keep sharing the petition, Spring is in the air and the birds are counting on us to speak up for them! Best, Jase
57 Comments
Carlo A Ambrosino
20/3/2019 02:32:59 pm
Carry on the good work & make people proud of your throughly good intentions in doing the right thing, based on heart mind & soul, good luck Sir.
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Pauline allon
20/3/2019 03:13:09 pm
Thanks you for fighting this important cause. I am wondering what the RSPB are doing about this and also would it help if we wrote to our MPS about this appalling situation. Our birds are in decline - the future is grim for all wild life.
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Annette Hicks
20/3/2019 07:25:40 pm
Hi Pauline, like you I wondered what the rspb were doing about this. I rang them and all they said was they were checking how the licenses were being given out. I said it made no sense as we are all aware (re their garden bird count!) how our bird population is severely dwindling. Felt it was a feeble reply.
Ruth
20/3/2019 04:11:11 pm
Keep going Jason! Would it help if supporters contacted wild justice?
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Leonard Smith
20/3/2019 04:23:01 pm
You are doing a wonderful job, don’t get disheartened we are all behind you
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Susanne
20/3/2019 11:32:48 pm
Why is it that humans???? can do anything they like to animals and it is ok. Every creature has a reason to be here (unlike humans) and one day, we will be very sorry for what we are doing to nature and animals.
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21/3/2019 09:21:10 am
I'm across the Atlantic in Canada; I applaud what you are trying to do and wonder why you are finding so much indifference and opposition. Good luck with your efforts!
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Fliss Zakaszewska
20/3/2019 02:36:03 pm
Good luck with your fight and surprised at the 'bland guff'? Sadly, no.
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Gill Skipworth
20/3/2019 02:44:13 pm
What a good idea that is, I would certainly e-mail
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John Lumbard
21/3/2019 08:23:22 am
Interesting comments about the bland Natural England reply
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Sally Blandford
20/3/2019 02:37:09 pm
I hope that the appointment of a new Chair at Natural England may lead to some changes there - Tony Juniper is a man with a real record of concern about conservation and the environment. So a letter to him personally, telling him about this campaign and its 300k supporters would be worthwhile.
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Janet Allison
20/3/2019 02:48:10 pm
I agree with Sally Blandford. A new Chair in post looks like an opportunity. I also think the suggestion of an email campaign is worth considering. It's succeeded with other issues.
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Jacqui Corbett
20/3/2019 02:39:51 pm
Hi,
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BA Williams
21/3/2019 01:36:24 am
That is also mine! How special is that! Ravens were my favourites before I discovered the family crest. This campaign is close to.my heart. Hope we can stop the killing
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Dave Presland
20/3/2019 02:40:17 pm
Don’t stop fighting Jason, absolutely no one has the right to take the lives of these birds,they’re here for a reason,you’re doing a great job mate 👍
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BoB Howson
20/3/2019 02:45:45 pm
Have you tried to have a meaningful conversation with 'Wild Justice' about why they have taken their particular approach?
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Gill Skipworth
20/3/2019 02:46:55 pm
Keep up the good work, if you want us to bombard the relevant organisations point us in the right direction.
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20/3/2019 02:47:17 pm
What about the covering of trees and hedges with netting etc. by greedy builders, thus preventing many birds and wildlife building homes?
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Nick Roteman
20/3/2019 02:51:37 pm
I don't understand why are Wild Justice just concerned about 10 species? Surely all birds deserve to live out their lives without us humans meddling as ever!
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Neville Dick
20/3/2019 02:52:14 pm
Well Done. Jason. Keep going. Best Wishes and Special Thoughts to you.
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AnneMarie Devisme
20/3/2019 02:56:04 pm
Dear Jason,
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Emm
20/3/2019 02:58:32 pm
Thank you for taking up the work involved with campaigning for change. Your petition & Wild Justice's campaign can both be submitted together and will be a powerful request for change of Natural England's practices & the laws antiquated governing them, it doesn't matter that one is asking for more species to be protected, by them both being submitted it demonstrates there are problems that are completely unacceptable to many citizens, in the practice & legislation for Natural England.
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Lennie Johnson
20/3/2019 03:03:22 pm
Can't understand the thought process of Wild Justice restricting their limits of protection to just 10 species. Keep up the great work Jase.
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Rosemary Bush
20/3/2019 03:03:49 pm
Totally agree about the email campaign - I'll email definitely. I can't understand the reasons behind this mass slaughter of birds. I wrote to RSPB but haven't seen much from the organisation about this campaign.
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20/3/2019 03:05:11 pm
It is an outrage that only a handful of UK bird species have 'close-seasons' to allow them to reproduce. What is worse, is that very few wild mammals are protected at all, and apart from a few deer species, most wild mammals have little or no protection. Now that we know that wild species declining all over the planet, we should update the Wildlife & Countryside Act to save wildlife from bloodsports and other only pointless human activities.
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Millie Carter
20/3/2019 03:23:43 pm
Birds are beautiful and bring so much joy into our lives so why do brainless people want to kill them. Michael Gove is suppose to be our Sec of State for the Environment so why is he not acting on this? If he did it could help with his ambition to be PM!
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Ottowell Charles
20/3/2019 03:24:27 pm
What is the leader of the SNPs position on this?
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dale smithies
20/3/2019 03:26:47 pm
I find the action by natural England,both repulsive and down right repugnant.Will natural England be wanting to kill the ravens who are kept in the tower of London.No they won't,because visitors and tourist won't allow it.
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Amanda Gill
20/3/2019 03:28:59 pm
Thank you Jason, for your compassion. Most interesting - and dismaying - to read the informed comments here further detailing the sorry plight of our beautiful birdies.
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Angela Moyler
20/3/2019 03:40:09 pm
Carry on with the good work. These so called people such as the RSPB and Natural England. Why this urge in the U.K. for killing wildlife and ridding the countryside of trees I do not know. May be emails to local MPs would help. Prevent the slaughter of Ravens stickers for cars might help.
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Stephanie
20/3/2019 07:35:30 pm
Yes Angela, indeed! I prepared a lengthy objection to a planning application by the RSPB which was to result in a vast wetland being turned into a leisure complex. I'm very much afraid that the people at the top of these "charities" that are supposed to be for the protection of wildlife are more interested in the real estate and money to be made from it... The Rats are in charge of the Cheese at every level of society so it seems.
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Dee Howard
20/3/2019 03:41:34 pm
Living in Hastings we all know that the Herring Gulls are a protected species - doesn't stop kids on holiday throwing chips in the road to get the birds run over though - children need to be educated! We feed the birds in our garden, including a few pigeons, even though some people consider them pests. They didn't ask to be born and they were probably here long before humans. Keep up the good work.
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John Bradfield
20/3/2019 04:05:26 pm
Although the legal challenge of Wild Justice is restricted to 10 birds, would a legal precedent about those, have benefits for other species? I know the frustration with Natural England. It has ensured that what was once the largest known population of legally protected great crested newts in the UK would crash. Its policy is to restore large populations but ensured that would not happen in this crucial case. It was also the population over which the first court case in the UK was fought and won. Why are wildlife charities silent on the issue? Helping to devastate one population of any protected species, means no wildlife is safe and secure. The government has already mentioned that it will weaken wildlife legislation when (if) we leave the EU.. Should any of us believe, that it is serious about leaving the world in a better state than we found it?
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20/3/2019 04:05:36 pm
Why does this country feel the need to destroy nature?
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Linda Badham
20/3/2019 04:06:55 pm
I despair of the cruelty to all animals in this world. Some humans think they are above nature but this is not possible. With you 100%.
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Jeanette Duffey
20/3/2019 06:40:06 pm
Totally agree with all I have read here Jason. Linda sounds like me, most emails I get are asking for support against some other evil move made by ‘man’
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heather mabey
20/3/2019 04:25:38 pm
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Carole Nicholson
20/3/2019 04:26:51 pm
Well done and thank you for all your hard work,you are an inspiration. Wild Justice may help us in the long run as the petition profile may be raised via their publicity.
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Linda Fullerton
20/3/2019 04:27:12 pm
Thank goodness there are people like you Jason to bring attention to the plight of our wild life and showing that we have got keep fighting to protect it.
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Phoenix Toliman
20/3/2019 05:26:24 pm
AMAZING Work Jason,, Thank you so much. Is it worth letting labour Animal rights group, They could be a good uniting force. I am part of the Chris Packham group on fb and see if I can help.
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KS Turner
20/3/2019 05:45:45 pm
Keep fighting the good fight! You are doing SO well. I do know it's really tough and frustrating (understatement!!). We are up against the 'blindness' of those who cannot or will not see the devastation humans are doing to our beautiful wildlife and planet. Every time I see someone really trying to improve the situation for nature, I am heartened and it helps me, and others, to keep fighting for what is right too. So thank you.
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Marilyn Barker
20/3/2019 05:53:33 pm
There are many comments on here which give reasons for not killing birds because of the joy they bring us. I would argue that such a sentiment, whilst true for many of us, including me, is not the reason why we should act to stop the killing of birds by their thousands. The reason is that the Natural World is constantly being affected, manipulated, controlled and limited by us Homo Sapiens, supposedly Thinking or Wise Man. I would suggest an alternative term for us: Selfish, Greedy, Callous Man-UNkind. Because we have interfered for so long and with such gusto in our quest for power over our surroundings, bowled over by our increasing abilities to control, amend, distort and regulate everything living or non-living around us, we have lost track of the basic fact that we are all related to each other and all living things. We have forgotten our responsibilities to ‘live and let live’ in our ever increasing salacious hunger for more and better. We are so fortunate to live on this beautiful planet. Yet we exploit it with no mercy, taking for granted the delicate balance between everything upon and in the earth, shaping and moulding everything in our path to get what we want or believe we need to survive. The innocent creatures all around us are simply concerned with living their short lives and producing their descendants. Without malice they battle the elements and circumstances that more often than not are the keys to their surviving another day. Our role should be simply to leave them alone as nature intended. When a living organism gets out of kilter it’s often the end for it. The same applies to the environment and all living things dependent upon it. Thus we should stop all our interference, end our predisposition to control, improve, dominate or marginalize other species and live our lives as simply and harmlessly as humanly possible. Even if that means we have to forfeit some of our own lifespan.
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Julie West
20/3/2019 11:41:36 pm
Excellent post. I wholeheartedly agree with you.
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Liz Smith
20/3/2019 06:47:19 pm
I’m glad someone is standing up for our wild birds, thank you Jason.
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Stephanie
20/3/2019 07:29:25 pm
Hi
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20/3/2019 07:50:23 pm
Thanks everyone for the wonderful support here and the really great suggestions as to how to proceed with progressing the petition.
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20/3/2019 07:53:02 pm
Well done Jason on your excellent campaign which I think is vital in resisting the actions of "Natural England" What an inappropriate name. I am puzzled by Chris Packham and colleagues in only supporting ten species. I thought he would have been the last person to take such a narrow view of things. Keep on keeping on!! Good Luck.
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Pippa Hurley
20/3/2019 08:36:36 pm
Dear Jason,
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Jon Pain
20/3/2019 08:42:22 pm
Thanks for the update Jase. It seems a little curious, the angle that Wild Justice are taking. Their seems to be a missed opportunity; many people are aware of the general decline of bird and wildlife and the establishment (I including RSPB as well as Natural England and other bodies) either lack the resource or will to take it seriously.
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Geoff Halpin
20/3/2019 09:56:47 pm
I find it very Hard That In This day and age that someone gives The Right For others To destroy OUR Wildlife Not Yours Not mine But OURS ! I recued a Baby bird at the Age of 14 My Grandfather reared Him And Gave him Back To me , In My Mind he Was The Most Beautiful Bird I Had seen OUR Beauty Was the " BULLFINCH " all Our Birds are Special as we No Not see Them Like We Used To ,Farming Methods, Building and Poisoning Have all been To Blame , Get A Picture Of A Bullfinch Male and You Will see and I Mean see Because You Hardly Ever Do What a Beaut He Is
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Meryl B.
21/3/2019 12:49:31 pm
I read the details of all the bird licences on the Natural England website and I can't see any which allow for the killing of 65 species for things like housing development purposes or for protecting game birds, unless game birds count as 'livestock'? I'm sure I must be missing something, or is it that the system is actually being abused and the licences are being granted when they don't actually fulfill the strict criteria? Don't get me wrong, I've signed the petition and I would definitely advocate much stricter control on this kind of licensing but I just want to make sure I've understood the issue properly. Can anyone shed any light on this, please?
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William Clay
21/3/2019 05:03:44 pm
Shame on anyone who seeks to destroy our wildlife,
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Frances Sabey
21/3/2019 05:29:12 pm
Where can you find the full list of the 65 birds they are allowing to become extinct?
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Gemma
21/3/2019 10:45:30 pm
Keep up the good work. We're all behind you.
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Julie Carter
22/3/2019 06:04:38 pm
I think this is disgusting. I believe that all birds should have a right to survive no matter where they are as they are meant to be. I can't see any reasons why any birds should have to be killed. I think that all birds should be thought about equally and I can't understand why Natural England are only thinking that so many species have the right to live and not all of them. This seems so unfair and heartless. These people are showing absolutely no compassion for the birds they want to kill and they should be ashamed. We need to stop loosing natural areas and stop killing our wildlife.
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Tom Bickerton
23/3/2019 01:29:45 am
NE are not the only ones we should hold accountable, but those who have applied for these licences too, perhaps their responsibility is more despicable. The analogy I would use is blaming the ammunition manufacturer for the actions of the gunman.
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Keith Dancey
28/7/2019 04:17:02 pm
There is BIG misunderstanding, demonstrated by the comments here, on the critical difference between this petition and the Wild Justice legal case.
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