22/9/22
In relation to my recent letter asking who in UK government is right and who is wrong – you can read the letter here; England: Who In Government Is Right, and Who Is Wrong ? – We Write For Clarification (Maybe). Or Are They Confused Just Like Us ? – World Animals Voice
I need to draw your attention to what statements (in my view) contradict each other:
Quote from the DIT
“the government has made it clear in its manifesto that in all our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards”.
Or
Liz Truss has refused to enshrine animal welfare in trade deals;
Wanting to know what is right or wrong relating to government policy; I have now been sent a reply from my own MP stating that on my behalf, he has now written to the Department for International Trade (DIT) asking for ‘policy statements’ to be given and if ‘anything has changed’ – ie a very recent conversion to the Liz Truss view. Or, do the commitments expressed in their original (DIT) letter ‘remain intact’. ? – yes, that’s what I want to know !
So; a little progress of sorts but I am still not being given the final government approach now of dealing with international free trade agreements (FTA). I now wait to be forwarded the response from the DIT to see, as I originally asked, who is right, and who is wrong.
I will publish their (DIT) response when it is provided to me. In the meantime, I sit twiddling my thumbs and other bits waiting to get ‘a government policy statement’. Depending on how this is worded (change or no change) will then set the agenda for future actions by WAV on the issue.
Once I have had a response about this, I have further questions lined up regarding several things – the live transport of live animals from the UK being one. Here again, Truss appears to be changing the goalposts and giving the AR movement a good kick in the teeth for the years of campaigning it has taken to get this stopped. Read here the great article from Jane who really sums up the situation and attitudes:
The government had a consultation on banning live animal exports and it was clear from the results that the majority of people wanted the trade banned:
Check it all out here – Search Results for “live export consultation” – World Animals Voice
We are used to long drawn out campaigns, and we are used to false promises and being shit on by governments on a host of issues relating to animal welfare and the environment. Our movement has tenacity on its side; the government changes and relies on the votes of citizens to remain in power, or not !
I am a big badger fan, so badger culling will be another issue being prepared for future letters.
Personally, I have battled the disgusting live export trade for 35+ years; done undercover trails especially relating to British horses going into Europe for meat, and I sure as hell am not going to stop now. There are too many animals in this sordid trade that require us to be a voice for them. So we will, however long it takes.
Regards Mark
“In the past, Mark worked with television comedy scriptwriter Carla Lane for many years; and had the position of being the investigator for her animal charity (Animaline) throughout the years of the horse export investigations. Through undercover investigation work, port monitoring, visits to UK horse markets, and trails into Europe, it was shown that British horses were being exported from the UK whilst being declared as ‘going for riding’ to Europe. In reality, the animals were being exported to Europe for their meat. What was declared on the export licenses was a complete and utter lie to get around the complexities of exporting sentient animals for one thing when they were actually going to their deaths !
After all the investigative work was completed and documented, which involved a lot of work, Carla and Mark teamed up in London one day and made formal presentations to the UK Government Ministry – DEFRA (previously MAFF) about all the investigation work”.
35+ years of live export tenacity – I do know a little about live exports and hopefully can argue in defence of those who cannot speak.
Fight the fight ! – be yourself no matter what they say.
Regards Mark
A few of my other bits of work:
World Animals Voice 