badger – Page 3 – Georgia Locock

Fighting on at all levels

Posted on September 9, 2015November 3, 2015 by Georgia Locock

Raising the profile about how hideous this cull is very important. So has it been over the past weeks and months. Doing anything and everything to try and get through to those involved with making it happen. From what I’ve witnessed, read and heard, it hasn’t been easy at all, which is obvious! This fight isn’t just about the cruelty to the badgers and the science behind it but the policy and politics too.

So as the culls have begun, it’s important to keep up the fight on every level. We must show them that we’re not going anywhere and neither will we ever give up. At the moment so many things are going on to fight against the cull, it’s quite uplifting in such a horrible situation. Although it is happening right now people haven’t given up at all. I certainly felt very hopeless last week when I heard the news, especially about Dorset, but giving up is the worst thing you can do, it’s all about turning it into positive energy and strengthening the fight.

As you may know there’s a whole bunch of dedicated people patrolling the cull zones. I follow what’s happening and how their doing via social media. It looks a very, very tough job for them all. Whether it’s the lack of sleep or some of the sights they witness, it must be hard. But these people are just brilliant, they still go out and are still doing everything they possibly can. Unfortunately though, they do need more support. By that I mean more people and funds. By having more people patrolling with them at night that’s more badgers lives saved, actual lives saved. Whether it’s releasing them from cages before they’re shot, monitoring the setts or patrolling the local area to see what activity is going on.

This is the third time I’ve given details away on my blog but they really do need your help.

Dorset – http://dorsetbandb.org

Gloucestershire – www.glosagainstbadgershooting.org

Somerset – www.somersetagainstthebadgercull.org

I really would like to go and spend a good amount of time helping with all the work they’re doing in the cull zones but unfortunately at the moment I only have at least one weekend planned.

As you’ll probably know, in a situation like this you just want to do what you can and as I mentioned it’s important to keep the fight up on all grounds, keeping the pressure up. So much so a rally at Westminster took place yesterday afternoon.

The rally started at 12 and took place at Old Palace Yard. People gathered, placards were held high and badger masks were handed out, then a crowd of people turned up with placards and Brian May. He always seems to do a superb job. He raises a lot of awareness on social media and in the media and not just for badgers either. Everyone was advised to wear black as it was acted as a funeral. They also had an old hearse with flowers shaping #TeamBadger and #FailingBadgerCull along with ‘2263 RIP’. It was a very strong and stern message to those on the opposite side of the road.

There was a variety of talks, from MPs such as Caroline Lucas (Green) and Angela Smith (Labour) to Will Travers (Born Free foundation), Hilary Jones (Lush), Pauline Kidner (Secret World), Peter Martin (Badger Trust), Marc the Vet, Brian May and a few others too.

After the talks there was some gathering, chatting and lots of interviewing as there were lots of journalist about.

Here are a few photos from the day.

I really enjoyed Caroline Lucas’ talk, it was very powerful and clearly expressing that we will win.

On the way back to our train we happened to pass near this rough place and I couldn’t help but use the opportunity to get this photo.

Worry not, do more

Posted on September 7, 2015September 7, 2015 by Georgia Locock

You may be aware that the badger cull is underway. Over the six weeks they aim to kill 1,000-2,000 animals.

Lives wasted. It’s a disgrace and with it being something that you are against, you want to show your support and help fight against it. For me, I’ve watched, observed and filmed badgers locally to me for quite a few years. I know how superb they are and it makes me very upset that they’re the victims despite all science against it.

So what can you do? For starters, on the ground in the cull zones, badgers desperately need your help. Either patrolling, sett sitting, sabbing, helping at the camps or so on. This is the sort of action that saves lives and shows that we aren’t going anywhere.

If you can’t make it to the cull zones to volunteer there, you can still support the work they do by donating, tweeting or so on. Another opportunity to show how much we care and show how this cull is absolutely ludicrous is by joining Team Badger in London tomorrow. Details below.

Details for getting involved within cull zones:

Badgers – species not game pieces

Posted on September 3, 2015September 3, 2015 by Georgia Locock

I go back to school next week, well my first day at sixth form. Young people and children all over the country will be going back either this week or next. I wonder what the majority of them got up to during their summer term? I wonder how many got outside more then once and interacted with nature? I bet it wasn’t many, in fact I bet it’s a scary figure.

Seeing as many would not even gone out in the countryside or considered that, they won’t be aware of the horrors that are about to begin. Another bid to vandalise the British countryside to please some senseless humans.

I’ve had a busy summer holiday but I’ve enjoyed it a lot. Obviously all wildlife related! If I wasn’t out and about travelling around to different events or writing for some reason or another I was out on my local patch or going to watch and film one of my favourite animals, the badger.

They are a superb creature and I have a great interest in them. I think when I first started setting my trail camera up a few years ago at a local sett, was when my love for them grew. I got some brilliant footage of them rolling around, playing with each other, eating and some unusual stuff too. This was amazing and got me very excited. It still does now when I set my camera up or spend some hours around the sett.

A few years back I also started to learn more about the problems that some have with this animal. Whether it’s to do with btb or because some have no respect whatsoever for them. After them having such a positive impact on me, I wanted to give that back how and when I could. This included writing about them here on my blog, getting involved with the Badger Trust, going on demonstrations and much more. As this has grown more, I plan to go out later this month to the cull zones and volunteer there.

It’s difficult to do more though as I’m still at school. I remember just a few months back when I didn’t quite have my priorities straight, I’d be down to the nearby badger sett to watch them rather then revise. I think it did me good though!

Thinking and writing about when I go and watch or film them brings me joy. It makes me realise that there is hope fighting for an animal that deserves to be here much more then any one of us.

I’ve felt pretty hopeless and down over the last week after the news, even though it was predictable. I think that’s the reason why it’s taken me almost a week to write this blog post, I just haven’t known what to write. But I wanted to write something. Even though the animals that I watch here in Staffordshire aren’t in cull zones, they’re just like those that are. They’re still the same species. Sadly though, they’re still targeted by persecution and man’s evil eye to entertain. A couple of years back there had been disruption at the sett I visit the most but fortunately all looks fine at the moment.

Even with my love for the countryside and badgers, it doesn’t make me naive and stupid. I’m fully aware that there is a problem with btb in cattle and that something needs to be done.

What makes this issue worse for everyone though is the fact that it’s this badger blame game. Wrong on every ground and it’s extremely corrupt, I really can’t understand what their game is. Well I can, we’ve got a Tory government and too many people who either don’t give a dam about what goes on in the countryside or have no idea and aren’t aware. Along with this, those that are the most ‘connected’ and have the most ‘power’ are those who are greedy. Another aspect is DEFRA (etc) have got to be seen to be doing something about btb, and badgers are the easy way out.

It’s like picking on the vulnerable or the poor, the badgers obviously have no voice. However they do have a lot friends and supporters from a whole range of backgrounds! Ones who will stop at nothing to protect them and give the badgers the justice they deserve, wanting to let them live in peace!

At the moment, seeing as the cull is going ahead in West Gloucestshire, Somerset and now Dorset, all energy is being aimed at getting out in and around the cull zones. This includes sett sitting, patrolling, sabbing, help at the camps and much more. These are the people that are saving lives now and they desperately need as much help as possible so if you can help in any way then please do.

You can find out more and get hold of contact details by clicking here.

I’d also like to give a plug for National Badger Day which is on the 6th of October.

Downing Street wildlife protection demo

Posted on July 16, 2015July 16, 2015 by Georgia Locock

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”

– Ghandi

This was the message that I had on the placard I made for yesterdays wildlife protection/anti-hunting demonstration outside Downing Street. Why did I chose this quote? Because it says it all. If a Government is prepared to savage a wild animal in the most inhumane way they can possibly think of in the name of sport then what makes you think they’ll treat humans any better. We all know that animals are innocent creatures which have been on this planet a lot longer then us and at the end of the day their main aim is to survive. They may do small harm to humans but certainly not as much harm as we do to them.

Over the last few days there has been two big protests in London against any amendment or repeal of the Hunting Act. Unfortunately I really couldn’t make Tuesday’s demo but I made sure I was there yesterday to join those in making it clear that we want British wildlife to be left alone and not be a victim of cruelty. People from all different backgrounds joined yesterday to show their support, whether they were young or old or from different areas of the country, we all united outside Downing Street to show that not only us but around 80% of the country do not want any repeal or amendment of the Hunting Act.

As well as this, it wasn’t just the welfare of foxes that we were protesting for. It included all British wildlife like hares which would be affected by a repeal due to hare coursing, deer, they’d be hunted, badgers, a creature that has been heavily targeted by government policies in the past few years and can be affected by hunting in many different way, and many other species. However today was mainly to do with the repeal of the Hunting Act after the weeks commotion.

I say repeal or amendment but repeal is the word I should be using. Even though the Government and the media are saying amendment it is basically a repeal. The Tories are saying that they want to change the law so it’s in line with Scotland, where they use a limited amount of dogs unlike England where two dogs can be used. By doing so it would make it almost impossible to prosecute. Due to this animal charities, like the RSPCA, are accusing the government of approaching an abuse of power with its efforts to bring back hunting by the back door.

On Tuesday though the vote was called off after SNP announced it would be voting against a repeal. When they first announced it this was fantastic news as it was obvious that the ban would stay where it is. However Cameron didn’t seem to like this so spat his dummy out and cancelled the vote. Even though this may sound like good news, especially as under the current EVEL policy SNP would still be able to vote, it’s obvious that Cameron and his chums have some slimy plan up their sleeves. This will be one to watch. In the mean time, as the vote has only been postponed, please get in contact with your local MP and try to make sure that they will not be voting to repeal.

Yesterday, at 12.30pm everyone began to gather at Richmond Terrace which is opposite Downing Street. By 1pm there was a good crowd and the speeches began. Everyone who was there looked great, they either had banners, posters, placards or they were dressed up, wearing hats or had fox masks and overall looked the part. We made a great impression as lots of people walked past. We were also joined by one delightful (sarcasm) man who was a master of a few different hunts and showed no shame whatsoever.

First to speak was Chris Williamson (ex-Labour MP for North Derby). He spoke at the BAWC conference earlier this year which was a great speech and so was yesterday’s. Next to speak was Dominic Dyer, CEO Badger Trust, who normally speaks at the stand up for wildlife and badger marches. Followed by Lynn Sawyer who I’ve also heard talk at past events and then Peter Egan who is an actor and animal welfare campaigner. This was then followed by Luke Steele, animal welfare campaigner, then Anneka Svenska who is a wildlife and Eco presenter. Finally it was Peter Martin who is the chairman of the Badger Trust and an animal welfare campaigner.

After the array of brilliant speeches we then gathered opposite Downing Street for a while before crossing the road and standing right outside the gates. Whilst doing so everyone was shaking their banners and signs, shouting VERY loudly, blowing whistles and much more. Overall we made lots and lots of noise which was fantastic! I thought it was great that we could stand here as we definitely got some attention by people passing by and tourists. Again, even though the vote had been postponed it was still very important to make it clear that we don’t want any repeal now or in the future. This was also made clear by some of the chants. A few were “shame, shame, shame on Cameron”, “blood, blood, blood on his hands”, “No excuse for animal abuse”, “No more killing, no more fear, we don’t want fox hunting here” and a few more too.

Here are a few photos I took.