ACIG NEWS 55

Bulletin of the Animal Cruelty Investigation Group 

July 2017

 

 

I shared this shocking image on Facebook as part of our campaigning work in the recent election. It was shared 2506 times, meaning that around 250,000 people saw it!

 

GENERAL ELECTION JUNE 8th 2017

On Tuesday April 18th Theresa May called a snap general election, ostensibly to strengthen her negotiating position over Brexit. Two days later, on April 20th, a YouGov opinion poll put Labour on 24% and the Conservatives on 48%. The Conservatives were predicted to win with a majority of 150 to 200 seats. The hunters were jubilant as they looked forward to the repeal of the Hunting Act, and much more besides.

There are a sizeable number of Conservative MPs who oppose hunting. It was estimated that if the Conservative majority were 50 or below the Hunting Act was safe. If the majority was 50 to 100 the Act was at risk. Any majority above 100 and the Hunting Act would be repealed. We on the compassionate side had a mountain to climb.

In the 2015 election rough figures were that 11 million voted Conservative and 9 million voted Labour, but 15 million registered voters did not vote! It was clear that if we were to make progress we had to first encourage people to register to vote and then, most importantly, encourage people to vote.

I set about doing my best to increase awareness and generate anger over the possible outcome. I mainly used the Internet and Facebook but I also wrote pertinent letters to local papers and set up an event to help Chris Williamson regain his seat in Derby North (he had lost it in 2015 by just 41 votes). I invited colleagues to help with leafleting and chatting to constituents in Derby on the afternoon of Saturday June 3rd.

When the party manifestos were published there was a stark difference between the Labour one, For the Many not the Few, that was full of hope and positivity and the Conservative one that even their supporters viewed as a dud. On page 26 the Conservative Manifesto stated: “We will grant a free vote, on a government bill in government time, to give parliament the opportunity to decide the future of the Hunting Act.”

Theresa May went further personally. Campaigning in Leeds on May 9th she was asked about her views on hunting. She was clear: “I have always been in favour of fox hunting.” For her to publicly support a pastime that is loathed by the overwhelming majority showed an astonishing measure of complacency.

I started my main Facebook campaign by posting the infamous picture of the two hunt terriermen holding a lactating vixen aloft by her ears, with one man mocking her swollen teats. This was an image given to the LACS in 1987. I put on the photograph the plea: “Use Your Vote These Guys Will Use Theirs”. My post was shared 2,951 times. We estimate that each share will be viewed an average of 100 times so that makes getting on for 300,000 people who would have seen that post. This is the extended ‘reach’ of social media.

I went on to post a cluster of images with suitable slogans. The third most popular in terms of shares was a very old black and white photograph showing the end of a fox hunt. The jacketed hunt servant has thrown the dead fox up into the air for his hounds to catch whilst his colleagues look on. I added the slogan: “The Tory Party at Play”, which was the slogan Dick Course used for the LACS over similar images at a Labour Party Conference in Brighton in the early 1980s. That post was shared 656 times.

As the campaigning days passed blunder after blunder by the Conservatives saw their poll lead whittled away. Conversely Jeremy Corbyn and Labour who had been written-off found a degree of harmony with the electorate. On polling day I privately predicted a Conservative win with a majority of up to 50. When the exit poll came out on election night predicting the Conservatives to have the most seats but no overall majority I was astonished, and delighted. So much that I got up in the early hours in time to see Chris Williamson regain his seat with a majority of 2,015. The actual poll shares were: Conservatives 42.4% and Labour 40% - quite a change from the YouGov poll on April 20th.

The Conservatives had been keen to align themselves with the cruelty of fox hunting. That association cost them dearly. On June 12th the Conservative supporting Sun ran an article under the headline: “Theresa May’s support for fox hunting lost Conservatives huge election majority, say campaign chiefs.” The paper quoted one campaign boss: “The fox hunting thing really resonated. It helped seed doubt about Tory motives, that we’re just in it for the rich. It was a really disastrous stereotype that we just couldn’t shift after that.”

 

OUTFOXED AGAIN TIMELINE

Here is the story about how my latest book was written. No sooner had I completed Outfoxed Take Two than I knew I would have to start on the sequel. On Thursday October 1st 2015 I sent the computer files for Outfoxed Take Two to our printers. A couple of weeks later, on Friday October 16th I started work on Outfoxed Again – it was to prove to be a lengthy task!

On Monday October 19th 2015 copies of Outfoxed Take Two were delivered to my home and the book was officially published on November 1st. My time then alternated between selling and posting copies of my first book, writing the second, carrying out investigative work in the fields and maintaining and running both the ACIG and the AWIS.

We encountered the inevitable hiccups. The major one occurred on Saturday September 24th 2016 when our main computer crashed and died. Most of the work was backed-up, but some that had only just been created was lost. The whole process of purchasing a replacement computer, setting it up and transferring files ultimately delayed the publication of Outfoxed Again by about three weeks. It also cost us some £900 that at the time we could ill-afford as all our assets were being poured into the printing fund.

Three supporters—Stephan Bodini, Joe Hashman and Dave Wetton—very kindly offered to help with proof-reading my text and checking my facts. Given that the final text amounted to some 278,000 words that was an awesome task for which I am very grateful.

Friday November 4th 2016 was significant as that was when I had the proof-reading copies of Outfoxed Again printed. I posted them to my colleagues the following day. I then turned my attention to working on the pages of photographs—as in Outfoxed Take Two there were 64 pages. Needless to say, choosing which pictures to include and which to leave out proved difficult. I had some 10,000 images that could have been included!

The momentous day in the exercise was the evening of Monday January 16th 2017 when, at 5pm, I pressed the button to send the final completed computer files to our printers. After that it was a matter of waiting for the copies to arrive, posting them out, then waiting for the feedback.

I then switched my attention to producing our next ACIG bulletin to encourage supporters to buy my book. Because of the pressures of other work, that bulletin was smaller than usual. It was mailed on Thursday February 9th 2017.

The following morning was a significant day in my campaigning life as that was when copies of Outfoxed Again were delivered. A quick glance through confirmed that it looked good and that the pictures were in order and as expected. My first task was to mail copies to my proof readers, to those who had kindly contributed to the text or photograph sections and to the British Library. Then I mailed copies to supporters who had donated to the publishing fund. Next, books were sent to supporters who had pre-ordered copies. Then copies were sent to supporters who responded to our ACIG Special Bulletin that was mailed to supporters.

Later that month, on Wednesday February 22nd I contacted all who kindly bought a copy of Outfoxed Take Two and invited them to buy the sequel. The final act in the publishing sequence came on Tuesday February 28th 2017 when Outfoxed Again was formally published. That was the date I gave to the business that controls the book identifying ISBN numbers and it was the date when I formally announced publication on my personal Facebook page.

On Saturday March 4th I put on our acigawis web site details about how to buy Outfoxed Again. Because we worked hard to keep the costs down I sought to encourage purchasers to pay by cheque or bank transfer rather than by Paypal or credit card where we incur charges. I posted on Facebook the first review of Outfoxed Again on Tuesday March 4th. It was by Joe Hashman.

I have been keen to promote my books to the general public, particularly students. On Friday March 24th I emailed 15 University, College and Council libraries with details about how to buy Outfoxed Again. I emailed 22 similar libraries three days later, and another 10 the following day. That made 47 libraries contacted. Few even bothered to reply and none were interested.

Soon after seeing copies of the new book I spotted one minor spelling error. In April I learned of an error of more significance. On Thursday April 20th after I posted pictures of the BUAV rally in Trafalgar Square that I said were dated May 12th 1985 (as in the book) a colleague said he thought they were 1983, I checked and they were in fact 1984. The original prints in my archive were correctly dated it was my scan of them that was dated wrongly. These mistakes can happen. I posted a Facebook apology and correction.

Tuesday April 25th brought a welcome request for five copies of Outfoxed Again for the Legal Deposit Libraries: the Bodleian Library Oxford University; The Cambridge University Library, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales and Trinity College Dublin. The books were despatched by Courier the following day.

 

OUTFOXED AGAIN REVIEWS

We now have two books for sale that span some 35 years of active front line campaigning and investigative work with colleagues. The books have been selling well, both by mail-order and from stalls and events that I have attended.

Outfoxed Again covers my campaigning work from 1984 to 2005. It has 528 pages of text and 64 pages of photographs. It also has a comprehensive index and is a valuable reference source. Here is a review by my campaigning colleague from Hounds Off, Joe Hashman:-

“Mike Huskisson's latest book, Outfoxed Again, is an important read for anyone interested in the animal rights movement between 1984 and 2005 - a radical period in terms of campaigning and investigative strategies. It was Huskisson's work (with others) on numerous front lines which, via printed media, photographs and film, brought the nightmare realities of vivisection and bloodsports especially to the attention of an animal loving nation. The resulting shock, horror and public roars of disapproval pushed forward, then achieved, real social, political and animal welfare changes during these years.

Huskisson has dedicated his life to fighting and exposing animal abuse. Outfoxed Again details his efforts, achievements, seminal scoops and exposés along the way. As in life so in animal cruelty investigations; here are 528 pages containing stomach-turning accounts of mans calculated, deranged and thoughtless inhumanity to other creatures; of roller-coaster moments, passages, chapters and also (much less glamorous) the slog - countless early starts, miles travelled, vehicle breakdowns, days in the field 'on the job' which turned up nothing and, yes, time in prison spent reflecting and preparing.

Huskisson is studious in crediting his backers, partners, colleagues (and opponents). Part Two of an intended trilogy, Outfoxed Again is a chronicle of Mike's work and how he used the resources made available to him thanks to the vision and generosity of his supporters. It's a weighty tome but vital in keeping the memory of animal suffering alive and teaching us all valuable lessons as we strive for a more compassionate future.”

Joe Hashman 13th March 2017

Here is a review from my ICABS colleague Philip Kiernan (April 2017):

“"Outfoxed Again" is a captivating account of a campaigner's tireless crusade to expose some of the world's worst acts of animal cruelty. Follow Mike Huskisson across two decades and several lands as he bravely goes undercover amongst a menacing cast of characters, gathering evidence to reveal the hidden victims and help end their suffering.

In this sequel to Outfoxed, he covers a lot more ground - circling above a field in Altcar for aerial surveillance of hare coursing, clambering into a farmyard in Ireland to film a terrified deer cornered by hunt hounds, journeying to the bloody bays of the Faroe Islands to document the massacre of whales and dolphins. Also recounted is his work to shine a light on the gruesome brutality of foxhunting and the horrors of shooting, pig farming, live exports, fur farming, etc.

Some of the situations will horrify, others will infuriate but ultimately these 500 pages will serve as an inspiration and a reminder that with unwavering commitment and determination, a positive difference can be made in the world.”

Here is a review from a hunt saboteur colleague:

Most normal people would probably not take Mike Huskisson’s “Outfoxed Again” away with them as their holiday reading, but then a fellow animal rights comrade told me many years ago that I am not normal. So, this begs the question, “If I am not normal, what is Mike Huskisson?” Well, if you read his book Outfoxed Again, you will find out. Mike is an extraordinary man, who has spent his whole adult life going to extraordinary lengths in order to expose those that abuse animals. Many people have worked undercover over the years but I doubt that many have worked undercover in such a variation of animal abuse establishments as Mike. How he coped with working undercover in a vivisection laboratory one day and then working undercover with a hunt the very next day is unfathomable to me. I myself have faced up to animal abusers first hand and gathered evidence of the wicked cruelty they inflict on animals and it takes its toll. If you read Mike’s book however, you will read virtually nothing of how his work has affected him on a personal level, you will just read what he has witnessed happening to the animals. 

I am not going to lie; the book is emotionally heavy going at times (so probably did not make the best holiday reading) but I would recommend to any animal rights activist/hunt sab that this is a must read book. Although I have been a hunt saboteur myself for 15 years, I still learnt a considerable amount about hunting from the book. If you read Mike’s book, you will realise that one man really can make an amazing difference to the animals. If you haven’t already, then buy “Outfoxed Again” and get inspired to get active for the animals. If folks were to do just a tiny percentage of what Mike has done for the animals over the years then the world sure would be a better place.  

Tracey Bryan, Norfolk & Suffolk Hunt Saboteurs, July 2017

Outfoxed Again costs £20 plus £4 postage and packing to a UK address (please contact me for postage rates abroad). These books are priced to sell by mail order and are not available in bookshops (unless second-hand). (Bookshops demand a one third discount on new books plus free delivery to their door so the cover price would have to be significantly more if they were involved. I prefer to give the bookshops discount to our supporters).

To order please send a cheque or postal order for £24 payable to AWIS. You can also pay using online banking – the bank details are: account: AWIS; sort code: 20-92-08; account number: 70490989. Please let me know if you would like your book signed.

 

OUTFOXED

Just for comparison here is an old review of the original Outfoxed (1983) written by P.G. Lucock from the Conservative Anti-Hunt Council:-

““Outfoxed” by Mike Huskisson is, to quote the Author, a factual account of “sporting” activities in the countryside and is a very well written record of Mike’s undercover investigations into hunting from the end of April, 1981 until the beginning of May, 1983 in compliance with the assignment he received from the League Against Cruel Sports to penetrate the hunt from within and to use his cameras to collect indisputable evidence to show the British public that hunting was cruel and barbaric.

In the course of the assignment some 150 meets of Staghounds, Foxhounds, Minkhounds, Beagles, and Basset Hounds were attended, including two on one day on some occasions, as well as hare coursing meetings and the result is an extremely well researched book with many true stories of cruelty and inhumanity involved in hunting that the pro-hunting fraternity would have preferred to keep to themselves. As an example to quote from page 94 of the book “The earth was shallow and the mud-caked fox was clearly visible, At one point it tried to escape but was barged back with spades. Cricket (a terrier and notorious fox killer) was entered again and after a further lengthy battle managed to gain a hold on the fox’s throat. The sounds of the fox choking and gurgling were dreadful but the supporters merely cheered Cricket on “Get him! Get him boy!”

“Outfoxed” is an invaluable reference book for the anti-hunt campaigner with many useful anecdotes such as “It’s amazing you know, we have plenty of foxes here, the sheep are in the open, yet we have never lost a single lamb to a fox” (Page 85). “It’s still alive Ian, what shall I do?” “Throw it up on the bank behind the hounds” (Page 162). “We were expecting the saboteurs and we had hunt people come from all over the country. On the Huntsman’s instructions the hunt staff took off their coats and really sorted them out. They had broken noses and broken jaws” (Page 169). “One of the terriermen rolled her on to her back, pressed her stomach, and gleefully remarked that he could feel her cubs. The vixen was killed just a few weeks before she would be expected to give birth” (Page 101).

“Outfoxed” contains a wealth of photographs taken by the Author in colour and black and white depicting the sheer barbarity of hunting including the infamous picture of a bagged, bleeding and urine soaked fox being released before the start of the hunt by the Dulverton West Foxhounds. If anyone needs reinforcing in their opposition to hunting let them look at the photographs in “Outfoxed”.

Mr. Huskisson is a brave man who took considerable personal risks to carry out his investigation under cover for over two years and “Outfoxed” bears testimony to these risks as well as providing a great deal of ammunition for those of us who wish to see an end to bloodsports. When I first read “Outfoxed” I could not put the book down until I had finished it. I have read it many times since and wholeheartedly recommend it as essential reading to all who really want to know what hunting is about and who, like me, look forward to the day when the barbarities of the hunting field will be no more.”

P. G. LUCOCK. Conservative Anti-Hunt Council

[Outfoxed Take Two is a reprint of Outfoxed with many extra pictures and some extra text.]

 

TALKS

With Outfoxed Again published I have given my full attention to selling copies of both my books by giving talks about our work and by manning stalls.

On Saturday April 8th I spoke at the National Day of Action in Cambridge in tribute to Joan Court. Animal Rights Cambridge performed some brilliant street theatre which drew great interest from passers-by enjoying glorious sunshine.

On Saturday April 29th I manned a stall for ACIG/AWIS and gave a talk at the Cambridge Radical Bookfair. The following month I flew to Sweden on May 5th to meet Animal Rights colleagues in Gothenburg. On Saturday May 6th I helped them with street protests highlighting the cruelty in factory farming and on the following day I spoke at the Blackbird Restaurant about my campaigning work over the years. I took as many books as I could carry – and sold them all! (Many thanks to Daniel Rolke for his invitation to meet his dedicated and determined activists and for his hospitality.)

On Saturday May 20th I manned a stall at the Norwich Vegan Festival and also gave a talk to an enthusiastic audience. The following week, Saturday May 27th I took my stall to Harefest 2017 in Aldeburgh where I sold several copies of each book, spoke to many friends and to many new people.

Saturday June 10th found me back where I feel most comfortable – giving a talk at the HSA AGM at the Jacksons Lane venue in Highgate. Many years had passed since my last talk to an HSA AGM but some of the same people were in the audience. I showed images of sabbing in the 1970s, so it was very much a visual trip to the past. I also sold copies of both my books and in fact sold every copy of Outfoxed Again that I carried to the meeting.

On Sunday July 16th I helped on the Dorset Hunt Sabs stall at the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival. I discussed with the public practical ways to protect our wildlife and sold many copies of my books.

Years ago I would illustrate my talks by showing slides and to be honest I still think nothing can beat the visual impact of a 35mm slide projected onto a white screen in a darkened room. However, times have changed and we now need to project digital images that are computer files not slides and we need to show video clips. I did this both in Sweden and in London by borrowing equipment provided but I cannot rely on such generosity. Some of the smaller groups that I seek to talk to will not have such expensive equipment that ranges in price from £500 to £3500 and upwards. It is some time now since we put out a specific appeal for equipment but now I do so to raise money to purchase a digital projector. Any donations will be greatly appreciated.

I also seek venues for further talks. We have images and videos to show and books to sell. We make no charge for expenses (that is what the AWIS exists to help fund) but as always donations towards my travelling costs are welcomed.

 

HUNT MONITORING AND WILDLIFE PROTECTION

With Outfoxed Again safely at our printers I returned to hunt monitoring and wildlife protection work. Saturday January 21st found me trying to help my local Norfolk and Suffolk Hunt saboteurs. Both the Easton Harriers and the Waveney Harriers either were not hunting or we could not find them. If the former were the case the local wildlife would have cheered.

On Saturday February 4th, we found the Easton Harriers at Stutton south of Ipswich and had a busy day trying to prevent hunting ‘accidents’. The following Saturday I had copies of my latest book to hand. After a successful day with local hunt saboteurs following the Waveney Harriers from a meet near Bungay, with snow falling, I sold three copies to colleagues.

On Saturday February 18th, I joined my hunt saboteur colleagues for an excursion into Essex. We joined excellent teams of hunt saboteurs from other groups to monitor the meet of the Essex & Suffolk Foxhounds at Horsley Cross. We all did our best to ensure that animals were neither hunted nor killed.

Saturday February 25th was an eventful day. We went to the Waveney Harriers meeting at Hill Farm, Gillinghan, a meet where I had previously encountered aggression and violence from hunt supporters. Around mid-afternoon the hounds rioted after deer and set off in the direction of the nearby busy A146. With traffic speeding in both directions there was clear danger for motorists, the deer and the hounds. Colleagues and I dashed to the scene, stopped the traffic and stopped the rioting hounds. Of the many hunt supporters who are so quick with the aggression and the threats there was no sign – it was the antis who put themselves in harm’s way to protect the hounds. I dress in hunting gear to confuse our opponents and soon afterwards I was berated by a passing driver who claimed to be the local Estate Manager. He told me the hunt had no permission to hunt the fields they were in.

I had another encounter with hare coursers on Wednesday March 8th. I had driven from home heading for a dental appointment when I met an oncoming car full of hare coursers scanning the fields for hares. I turned about to follow them and record their details on my dashcam. I then drove to my nearby home to call the police on a 999. I next alerted the farmer that coursers were looking to trespass on his land but he advised to leave it to the police. I knew how long the police might take so chased the coursers myself. They had parked on a lonely track in open fields and one lad was out walking with a dog on a lead. I turned my video camera on them and as soon as they saw me they bolted. When I later called the police to ascertain the outcome they said they had attended but could find no sign of any hare coursers. I sent six still images of the coursers from my dashcam and video to the police. It was another demonstration of our routine wildlife protection work—Wildlife Watch if you like.

With the fields in our parts of Suffolk and Norfolk thankfully full of hares we cannot always expect to win our struggles with the hunts. When a pack of dogs is unleashed that can hunt here, there and everywhere they will have ‘accidents’. So it was for our last meet with the Waveney Harriers on Saturday March 11th. They were at Frostenden, near Sotterley. We feared they killed in mid-afternoon when there was a short chaotic hunt that ended with hounds spattered with blood. We always do our best but sometimes that is not enough. With more saboteurs and monitors we could save more lives.

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

You are welcome to quote anything in our literature or on our web site.

LEGACY SUPPORT FOR THE ANIMAL WELFARE INFORMATION SERVICE (AWIS)

If we are to have any hope for a compassionate world we need to invest in teaching compassion to the next generation, and succeeding generations. Hunters and shooters promote their gruesome pastimes by taking school children out to visit hunt kennels and meet gamekeepers. We need to give our side through talks and providing educational material such as books. I hope that now that we have started our publishing venture we can keep it going so that our books will always remain in print and available to all. We need substantial financial resources to do this. When making out your will please consider supporting the work of the AWIS. It will be a lasting and precious legacy.

OUTFOXED TAKE TWO and OUTFOXED AGAIN

Do please buy these books either for yourself, as a gift for a friend or colleague or as a gift for your local school or college. Both are priced to sell by mail order only. Buying these books will help us to keep both in print. If you have bought and read my books and found them interesting and useful please promote them on social media. We cannot afford to advertise so rely on supporters for making others aware about these books. Personal recommendation is often the best way of selling!

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

We put all our resources and more (from my personal pension) into producing Outfoxed Again. You will see from the enclosed Financial Report that we have run out of money and now live from hand to mouth. This is not such a problem for a campaigning group like ours as it would be for an animal sanctuary but it still means that we are somewhat limited in our activities. Much-needed items of equipment, such as a digital projector, require specific appeals. I have to hope that our vehicles keep running (they get some harsh treatment when monitoring hunts). Your continued support for our investigative and educational work is greatly appreciated.

TALKS

Please recommend that I give a talk about our campaigning work to your local animal rights group, college, or university. I can also give more specific talks about types of hunting or shooting. I always seek to motivate my audiences to show how each person can get involved and really make a difference.

UNWANTED ITEMS THAT CAN BE SOLD TO RAISE FUNDS

I am now back to manning stalls at events to raise funds for our work. Small unwanted items that are easy for you to post and easy for us to sell are really appreciated. As I also hope to be getting around the country giving talks I may be able to collect larger, more bulky items. Unwanted foreign currency coins and notes left over from your holidays are particularly appreciated.

 

LIKE MANY CAMPAIGNING GROUPS WE ARE NOT A CHARITY

Please note that neither the ACIG nor the AWIS is a charity. We have given a lot of thought to and taken legal advice on making one or other, or perhaps both, of these groups a charity but as yet we have not done so. Whilst many animal rescue centres are charities most of the large campaigning animal welfare groups are not. Like them we are at present unwilling to restrict our campaigning activities which would be the inevitable result of taking on charitable status. Please do not allow your solicitor to discourage you from leaving your money to whomsoever you wish, whether they are a charity or not.

LEGACIES

You have seen after many years of ACIG successes that we have a proven ability to win for animals. For anyone considering remembering the vital investigation work of the ACIG in their will, to enable us to continue to achieve, I respectfully suggest using the following form of bequest:

“I bequeath unto the Animal Cruelty Investigation Group of P.O. Box 8, Halesworth, Suffolk,

IP19 0JL, the sum of ............................. free of tax and I direct that the receipt of an authorised officer of the group shall be a good and sufficient discharge of such legacy.”

We have successfully published one book. I am currently working on the next and I really hope that we can secure the future funding to keep both these books in print. For anyone considering remembering the vital educational and publishing work of the Animal Welfare Information Service in their will I respectfully suggest using the following form of bequest:

“I bequeath unto the Animal Welfare Information Service of P.O. Box 8, Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 0JL, the sum of .............................. free of tax and I direct that the receipt of an authorised officer of the group shall be a good and sufficient discharge of such legacy.”

 

IN MEMORIAM

Tragically, far too many people working for animals have suffered appallingly at the hands of the abusers. Several have paid the ultimate price. They will never be forgotten. The memory of their sacrifice should inspire us all to do much more for the causes that we know to be just. ALL who give their lives for animals are remembered but we do particularly recall the following whose lives were taken by our opponents:-

 

James Piper, RSPCA Inspector: Died in 1838 after sustaining severe injuries tackling cockfighters at Hanworth, Middlesex.

William Sweet, LACS member: Murdered 6/1/1976 after altercation with man shooting birds. Assailant was jailed for life but has long been released.

Fernando Pereira, Greenpeace photographer: Murdered 10/7/1985 by the French Secret Service when the vessel “Rainbow Warrior” was sunk by two explosions, Auckland Harbour, New Zealand.

Michael Hill, Hunt Saboteur: Killed 9/2/1991 protesting against hare hunting at the Cheshire Beagles.

Thomas Worby, Hunt Saboteur: Killed 3/4/1993 protesting against fox hunting at the Cambridgeshire Foxhounds.

Jill Phipps, Animal Rights Activist: Killed 1/2/1995 protesting against live exports of farm animals, Coventry Airport.

Paola Quartini, animal activist for LIPU (Italian League for Bird Protection - UK) from Genoa, Italy and Elvio Fichera, a volunteer for the Association of Abandoned Animals:  Both were murdered 12/5/2010 whilst trying, with police, to serve a warrant on Renzo Castagnola for cruelty to animals. Renzo Castagnola shot them dead, then injured his wife, then killed himself.

 

I write this at a time of great change and consequent opportunities for the causes that we care so deeply about. A short time ago we had feared that by now we would be in the grip of a strong Conservative Government pledged to give time for the hunting issue to be resolved, and a whole lot more, but that has not happened. We must seize the opportunity offered by the close election outcome to push an attempt in Parliament to strengthen the Hunting Act, close all the loopholes and see it properly policed and enforced. There are other opportunities to make advances for animal welfare, such as trying again to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.

If you have not already done so please consider buying either or both my books. I want them in your hands – not piled up in boxes in our house. Once you have read them you could pass them on to your local college or University library. Your continued support for our work is really appreciated – we particularly value regular monthly support by standing order. Thank you.

Our next bulletin will be written in January 2018.                                           Editor July 2017

 

Animal Cruelty Investigation Group, PO Box 8, HALESWORTH, Suffolk. IP19 0JL

                  E-mail: acig@btinternet.com                 Web site: www.acigawis.org.uk