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| Campbell has always declared an interest in the animal-rights movement and a cursory glance at his Twitter feed aptly demonstrates his eagerness to promote animal-rights groups such as The Born Free Foundation and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) |
The media love controversy and if it involves animals and allegations of cruelty, they love it even more. The circus is no stranger to this situation despite the fact that bona fide independent research demonstrates that the welfare of animals in well-run circus is not compromised. This fact was accepted by the British government when they announced a muted and yet to be implemented ban on wild animals in British circuses.
"...The 2007 Radford Report on circus animals concluded that there was insufficient scientific evidence to demonstrate that travelling circuses are unable to meet the welfare needs of wild animals presently being used in the United Kingdom. That position has not changed. Consequently, we are now looking at the means by which a ban could be introduced on ethical ground..." Minister of State for Agriculture and Food (James Paice) 1 March 2012
In December 2012, the British government introduced inspection and licensing of all circuses with wild animals as an interim measure.
The latest campaign to ban animals in circuses is now taking
place in Wales. The Welsh Assembly,
which governs Welsh legislation, has decided that they wish to see animals in
circuses banned. To this end, they have
set up a highly contentious “independent review” on whether this should
actually take place. Serious concerns
have been raised as to the objectivity of such research with the appointment of
Professor Stephen Harris – a well-known long-term opponent of circuses with
animals. Furthermore, Rebecca Evans,
deputy Minister of farms and food for the Welsh Assembly, stated in December:
“The Welsh government believes there is no place for the use of wild animals in circuses”.
Therefore, many observers have openly voiced concern that this independent review will be purely a cosmetic endeavour prior to an arbitrary ban of animals in circuses in Wales.
“The Welsh government believes there is no place for the use of wild animals in circuses”.
Therefore, many observers have openly voiced concern that this independent review will be purely a cosmetic endeavour prior to an arbitrary ban of animals in circuses in Wales.
Following this path the BBC Sunday morning discussion
programme The Big Question,
hosted by Nicky Campbell, is due to have a programme regarding the use of
animals in entertainment before a live audience in March 2016. It is interesting to note that the programs
remit has extended the concerns regarding animal welfare not just from animals
in circuses but animals in entertainment.
It is clear that there is an animal-rights agenda in promoting this
program using the proposed ban on animals in circuses in Wales.
The program itself is likely to be even less of objective when one looks into the background of the presenter Nicky Campbell and his association with animal-rights groups. Campbell has always declared an interest in the animal-rights movement and a cursory glance at his Twitter feed aptly demonstrates his eagerness to promote animal-rights groups such as The Born Free Foundation and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA). Therefore, perhaps it is no coincidence that this month Campbell retweeted an anti-circus posting from PeTA, featured below, suggesting that big cats are often trained by being whipped and beaten - a statement that is not supported by the research undertaken in well-run circuses.
The program itself is likely to be even less of objective when one looks into the background of the presenter Nicky Campbell and his association with animal-rights groups. Campbell has always declared an interest in the animal-rights movement and a cursory glance at his Twitter feed aptly demonstrates his eagerness to promote animal-rights groups such as The Born Free Foundation and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA). Therefore, perhaps it is no coincidence that this month Campbell retweeted an anti-circus posting from PeTA, featured below, suggesting that big cats are often trained by being whipped and beaten - a statement that is not supported by the research undertaken in well-run circuses.
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Nicky Campbell promoting PeTA propaganda on Twitter. The photo is of animal-trainer Alex
Lacey and his big cats at the Ringling Brothers Circus. The
suggestion that a trainer of Mr Lacey standing has ever beat or whipped
animals is untrue and defamatory. In the video below Alex Lacey demonstrates the basic methods he uses in training his animals None involved beating or abusing the animals
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Astley's Legacy was formed to counter the misinformation and propaganda spread by animal rights activists. As well as fighting the corner for circus animals and their trainers, we are here to promote and celebrate the cultural heritage of circus in general, and especially in the country of its birth - Great Britain. For more information please see our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/223570581049199
Or follow us on Twitter: @RousterAstley
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