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Countryside
Action
Network
P.O.
BOX 22, USK, NP15 1ZA.
Tel:
01291 650962 Email:
enquiry@countrysideaction.net Fax:
01291 650586
Website:
www.countrysideaction.net
Newsletter Issue No
11 December
2004
As you will be only too well aware, and as we anticipated, the
Government decided it had less to fear from a hunting community subdued
by its non confrontational leadership than from its own backbenchers and
has permitted the use of the Parliament Act to bring in a complete
hunting ban. This will come into force on Friday 18 February 2005 - a
mere couple of months away. The Countryside Alliance has planned legal
appeals against the use of the Parliament Act and on the grounds of
Human Rights. We believe these to be mere distractions. A previous
challenge to the Parliament Act in the High Court was unsuccessful
whilst the Scottish appeal on the grounds of Human Rights has been
abandoned as unwinnable by the Countryside Alliance before it reaching
its final stages.
The Government has indicated that it does not have any fears regarding
these appeals, but that it is apprehensive of civil disobedience and
disorder in the period leading up to the General Election, expected on
May 5 2005. Ministers have publicly requested the Countryside Alliance
to restrain those participating in Direct Action and it seems to be
heeding their call. We were encouraged by the organisation of the
Hunting Declaration, in which some 40,000 people declared their
“intention to disobey, peacefully, any law purporting to ban
hunting.”
At the time, the antis claimed that this was a mere act of bravado and
that hunting people would not have the stomach to carry it through. We
believe it is essential that the Declaration is put into effect, that ‘Defiance
Day’
should be
Saturday 19 February 2005
and that those who encouraged us to consider signing are honour bound to
ensure that it can be achieved.
From
reports we have received of briefing meetings arranged by the Council of
Hunting Associations, it appears that our “leaders” are leaving it to
individual hunts to decide what they might
do on that day.
We have been told that we are in a war situation - but the actual battle
plans are being left to individual troops on the ground without
any effective central direction !!!
. We believe that there should be a number of combined meets throughout
the country so that individual hunts and followers have the strength and
support of large numbers and to enable the intention to offer ourselves
up for arrest to make a real impact. From that day to the end of the
season, we consider that our hunting must be non confrontational and our
intention must be to stick absolutely to the letter of the law, by
hunting rabbits or drag or by exercising hounds. Should nature take its
course at some stage during the day’s proceedings, then we should cope
with it to the best of our ability……We should not forget that one of the
arguments advanced by the CA and by our supporters in Parliament is that
a ban would be unpoliceable. It is now up to us to demonstrate that that
is the case.
IT’S NOT OVER UNTIL IT’S OVER !!!
It is evident that Direct
Action has been the one thing that has made Alun Michael’s life a
‘misery’ and that the one thing the Government fears is such action
detracting from its efforts to get its message over in the period
leading up to the General Election.
The chairman of the
Countryside Alliance declared that if a ban were implemented the
countryside would “erupt in fury”. We now have
to make sure that the Alliance does not prevent this happening. We are
totally opposed to violence, which would be entirely counter productive.
However, we have to be prepared to make uncomfortable the lives of those
legislators who, without just reason, are intending to wreck our lives
and those of our hounds, greyhounds, terriers and lurchers and to
deprive hunt staff and
many others of their livelihoods.
Government ministers are
keeping their appointment schedules a closely guarded secret:
Do please let us know by ringing 01422 206624 / 07702
491951 or 01291 650962 / 07774 890021 immediately if you hear a whisper
of the likelihood of one appearing.
C.A.N. will continue to
assist and co-ordinate, whenever it can, at both national and local
level.
It is also important that voluntary cooperation with the Government
which has refused to listen to us is withdrawn and the enclosed leaflet
shows some of the ways in which this can be done.
Please
put these into effect immediately and photocopy and circulate the
leaflet widely.
If you can use bulk supplies, please phone one of the numbers above.
ELECTIONEERING
Whilst we may not be able to guarantee the result of the General
Election, we can do much to oust anti MPs in marginal seats. We
understand the Lechlade Action Office is planning to allocate
constituencies to hunts etc. and we would ask you to get involved in
leaflet drops, envelope stuffing etc.
So far as voting and campaigning are concerned, we have to state the
fact that, of the three major parties,
only
the Conservatives are committed to
rescinding the Ban.
Whilst many of us voted UKIP in the European elections as a valid
protest, we believe that to vote for them in the General Election would
weaken our cause and strengthen Labour.
We
still have
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
available, including:
·
‘Bollocks
to Blair’ Badges:
50p
per badge +50p post & packing per order
·
Car Stickers:
We are
happy to supply small quantities free but would ask for a contribution
of £5 per 25 stickers for hunt mailings etc to help defray costs.
·
Large Stickers:
(28”
long x 8” deep - suitable for the sides and backs of horseboxes,
trailers, vans etc):
Small
quantities free, but donation appreciated for larger quantities.
BOTH
STICKERS SAY: ‘KEEP
HUNTING!
WE
C.A.N. and WE WILL!’
·
T-Shirts:
Orange
with above motif as above: XL & L Now only £2, inc. p&p,
WE
C.A.N. AND WE WILL! PETER, JANET AND PETER. |