George Monbiot is fast becoming my favourite journalist (and not just because he uses this blog as a source of information!).
In his latest article, due to be published in the Guardian tomorrow but released on his website tonight (see here), Monbiot digs a little deeper inside the #buzzardgate debacle and uncovers some fascinating information.
In addition to #buzzardgate he also discusses the scandalous state of the English hen harrier population. He is one of very few authors willing to state, categorically and without caveats or apologies, that the missing English hen harriers [approx 329 pairs] ‘have been shot or poisoned by grouse-shooting estates’. There’s no dilution or ‘maybes’ or ‘possiblys’ in the name of so-called ‘partnership building’ – English hen harriers have been wiped out by grouse-shooting estates and Monbiot is not afraid to say so.
If you read Monbiot’s biography (here) you’ll see that the thing he fears is ‘other people’s cowardice’.
We can all learn from him.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Thank you George Monbiot for not being afraid to state the facts as they are, I wholeheartedly endorse what he says.
All the time that we have ‘sporting estates’ OUR wildlife will keep on being depleted.
At last, someone who is prepared to speak the real truth about who is responsible for the mindless persecution of our Raptors, keep it up George Monbiot. Only by naming and shaming the shooting estates that are perpetrating these crimes are we ever likely to see an end to it. It’s just a pity that our legal system is not prepared to do what it’s paid to do and make sure the law breaking Raptor persecutors are brought to justice. Maybe it’s time the truth about the judges, magistrates and chief constables etc, who let the wildlife persecuting criminals off the hook time and time again should be brought out into the limelight.
This Blog by George Monbiot may yet be the turning point in aiding what is needed to both concentrate attention on a problem that is not just associated with raptor persecution, but is also clearly a social problem too. The people concerned are not doing any favours for what one assumes to be their political party of choice and it might yet fall to us all in three years time to alter the balance of power which is currently causing the problem. I think I’ll simply condense my own Blog entry for today and say, ” Well done George!”
Sadly none of this will affect the circumstances associated with the English Hen Harrier breeding population this season. Everyone needs to be geared up to producing a clamour in advance of next year to ensure awareness is high on the agenda in order to give them a chance
Yes, well said George Monbiot for publically describing what is an utterly scandalous state of affairs.
If the Langholme report is believed then we are talking 98% of Red Grouse estates killing Birds of Prey and remember that was in the 1990s the naming and shaming is right across the board not just a few estates. With the only English Hen Harrier nesting in a National Park and from this article you can see that they are trying to destroy the National parks as well especially with the loss of the ‘Vital Uplands’ programme there will be no where left for raptors to breed safely. Already erosion is a major problem in the Lake District National Park due to over grazing and still they want to increase stocking! With 1/3 of this National Park owned by the National Trust other organisations need to stand up and be counted..
Well done George about time highlighted what happens in Bowland, get the real criminals Landowners held accountable for their actions.
Apologies for coming back on this subject so late, but have only just been pointed in the direction of shooting times response to George’s article by Shiteshooter (misprint) Alasdair Mitchell. If you get a chance compare the two articles. George’s is still online and can be read via the link in the above blog. While Alasdair’s can be read by going on to shooting times website and hitting the blog button. One article has been researched, provides evidence and references, the other one doesn’t. the other one talks about a self employed gamekeeper with the made up name of Mickey? As a child I too had an imaginary friend called Mickey, so I can relate to this. Mickey seems to work exceptionally hard. In fact he could probably fit quite well into Monty Pythons four Yorkshire men Sketch, for those of you who remember that (you tube it if you don’t) Again I and I think many other people in society can relate to this work ethic these days.
In the following paragraphs Alasdair then makes a sweeping generalisation against the beeb and criticises George for the impact his comments could have on the likes of is Imaginary friend Mickey.
In conclusion Alasdair seems to lose it completely with some nonsense on Buzzards, you could actually change the word buzzard to pheasant and it would still have the same incomprehensible effect. Shame on Shooting Times for reproducing such a poor article, absolute drivel, You could have expected better from Robin Page.