SchNEWS the free weekly direct action news sheet covering social and environmental issues in the UK and abroad including climate change, arms industry, ecological direct action and more... On The Verge - The Smash EDO Campaign Film - made by SchMOVIES - is out!
Subscribe to receive SchNEWS erery week by email View all of our back issues Find out about the history of SchNEWS and how it's put together every week Search for contacts and links of protest and community groups in UK and abroad A selection of How To guides for direct action andother fun stuff Previous articles and hot topics SchMOVIES
Copyleft - Information for direct action - Published weekly in Brighton since 1994

Home | Friday 24th October 2008 | Issue 652

Back to the Full Issue

DEFRA-NATELY MAYBE

Just in case you were in any doubt, starting to think, ‘hang on, why do we spend our time risking arrest and assault in futile actions against war, oppression and animal abuse?' and considering hanging up the balaclava - well, think again... There's been a hearty thumbs up for the power of direct action from, of all places, the Department of Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), who said last week that the decision not to sanction a mass killing/cull of badgers in England (see SchNEWS 610) was all down to the threat of direct action from animal rights protesters.

In government-speak, Hilary Benn (DEFRA secretary) stated that their decision was based on ‘the likelihood that public order problems’ could jeopardise the slaughter, ‘in the face of the total lack of public acceptability of a badger cull.’

So there you have it. Straight from the horse’s mouth. If it was just ‘unacceptable to the public’ the Man would have gone ahead and committed badgercide anyway...

* See www.badgertrust.org.uk



Subscribe to SchNEWS: Send 1st Class stamps (e.g. 10 for next 9 issues) or donations (payable to Justice?). Or £15 for a year's subscription, or the SchNEWS supporter's rate, £1 a week. Ask for "originals" if you plan to copy and distribute. SchNEWS is post-free to prisoners.