March 2009 - The Headlines we don't like!

Hello again folks.

Well, what a few weeks it has been since I last put pen to paper! With Sammy Wilson shunning everything Eco-Friendly and Michelle Gildernew coming up with great ideas on how to dish out grants, it seems that our two 'so-called leading political parties' are making a right mess of things!

Born and bred outside Rathfriland, I am proud to be a farmer and a countryman. Following last weeks' fiasco throughout the province as hundreds of farmers queued overnight outside DARD offices, in order to submit farm modernisation applications, I felt somewhat ashamed of what I saw in the media. I can only say that it was a very sad day for our Farming Industry as even the National News headlines were 'zooming in' to watch as Ulster farmers were being reduced to beggars - What's worse is it was our own money to start off with!

Another 'disturbing headline' that caught my attention was the repulsive discovery of Badger Baiting in Co Armagh.

As Northern Ireland remains the only country within the UK that still tolerates hunting with dogs, it is imperative that we in the Stormont Assembly should now introduce legislation to ban an activity that offers nothing but suffering to our native wildlife.

To my amazement badger baiting has experienced an increase in popularity in recent times, with as many as 20,000 badgers being killed in the UK annually.

Sadly, it is the badger's tenacity, its apparent ability to absorb almost any punishment and still go on fighting, which has made it an easy target for people who get their kicks from inflicting cruelty upon animals. When eventually the badger can fight no longer - and this can be an hour or more after the baiting session started - it is killed, either by repeated blows to the head with a spade, or by stabbing or shooting in some cases.

I know that this may be hard to read for some. It is difficult for civilised people to understand how the baiters derive enjoyment from this so-called 'sport', but clearly they do.

As I said before, I am proud of my 'County Roots', and if you are too, I can only emphasize the real need for people like us to stand up against these thugs for the sake of our wildlife. If the evil of badger persecution is to be eradicated from our countryside it is the responsibility of landowners as custodians of the environment, the Statutory Agencies, whose remit is to protect this valuable creature, and the rural community to be vigilant, now more than ever!

ENDS