This is obviously quite an emotive issue and clearly it inhabits a grey area.
As a society we have to weigh up the value of people, their livlihoods and rights/freedoms, with the environment/nature.
Those that live and work in the countryside clearly experience it on a level, that those of us who only visit do not.
But it doesn't mean you have to live in the 'countryside' to be able to have a valid opinion.
Being told with a blanket statement that 'we just don't understand' is not very helpful.
As I see it we're arguing about whether it is right to cull a limited number of buzzards to help protect young pheasants that are being bred to be shot by rich people at a considerable cost.
Obviously the rights of the landowner/pheasant farmer must be considered.
But shouldn't we also consider the rights of the buzzards.
I'm not sure that a potential financial penalty to the pheasant farmers/landowners means that apex predators should be culled.
I'd have to know a hell of a lot more about the subject and this particular situation in particular before I could be definite.
But it does seem to me though that a potential dent in profits is no reason to kill otherwise protected species.
Also before people start telling me that people may lose their jobs etc. I've seen people lose their jobs for far more trivial reasons, I've seen entire communities ravaged.
If you want to breed and shoot pheasants as a blood sport for money, then go ahead, not my cup of tea but I have no objection.
If you want to cull otherwise protected wildlife to potentially protect that system then I think it's morally wrong.
It may be that this is the only viable option in this instance, however I'm a cynic and think that those intent on farming pheasants to be shot by wealthy sadists are probably better at arguing than the buzzards...
As a society we have to weigh up the value of people, their livlihoods and rights/freedoms, with the environment/nature.
Those that live and work in the countryside clearly experience it on a level, that those of us who only visit do not.
But it doesn't mean you have to live in the 'countryside' to be able to have a valid opinion.
Being told with a blanket statement that 'we just don't understand' is not very helpful.
As I see it we're arguing about whether it is right to cull a limited number of buzzards to help protect young pheasants that are being bred to be shot by rich people at a considerable cost.
Obviously the rights of the landowner/pheasant farmer must be considered.
But shouldn't we also consider the rights of the buzzards.
I'm not sure that a potential financial penalty to the pheasant farmers/landowners means that apex predators should be culled.
I'd have to know a hell of a lot more about the subject and this particular situation in particular before I could be definite.
But it does seem to me though that a potential dent in profits is no reason to kill otherwise protected species.
Also before people start telling me that people may lose their jobs etc. I've seen people lose their jobs for far more trivial reasons, I've seen entire communities ravaged.
If you want to breed and shoot pheasants as a blood sport for money, then go ahead, not my cup of tea but I have no objection.
If you want to cull otherwise protected wildlife to potentially protect that system then I think it's morally wrong.
It may be that this is the only viable option in this instance, however I'm a cynic and think that those intent on farming pheasants to be shot by wealthy sadists are probably better at arguing than the buzzards...
