Letter 1.
Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
10 Downing Street
London
SW1
Dear Mr Blair
I am writing to express my concern over the government's mass cull programme for the control of foot and mouth disease.
In the early days of the outbreak I accepted a limited-scale slaughter policy in order to meet the objective of rapid eradication of the disease. However, I now feel that the tactics being adopted are no longer justified.
I consider myself part of a groundswell of support for a switch away from the mass cull towards a voluntary vaccination strategy.
The arguments in support of the voluntary vaccination are as follows:
· A voluntary vaccination programme used in conjunction with slaughter
on infected farms provides the best hope of getting the disease under control;
· Giving farmers an alternative to slaughter in the firebreak zones is
the only way to regain their confidence;
· The voluntary vaccination strategy should be applied in all infected
regions in the UK, not just Cumbria and Devon;
· It is essential to start voluntary vaccination immediately - days count;
· Vaccinated animals should not be subsequently slaughtered - it is unnecessary;
· Vaccinated animals can and should go into the food chain;
· Milk from vaccinated dairy cows can and should go into the food chain;
· Many farmers keep rare breed herds and flocks which must be saved.
Voluntary vaccination is the only way of ensuring the protection of these animals
in foot and mouth restricted areas;
· All species of stock should be vaccinated in the firebreak zone farms;
· Only the livestock in infected herds and exceptionally 'at risk' farms
should be slaughtered in future;
· Even with the widespread use of vaccines, it will still be possible
for the UK to regain disease-free status 12 months after the last animal is
vaccinated or the last case identified;
· Once vaccination is complete it may be possible to allow limited access
to the countryside, relieving some of the problems the tourist and other affected
industries are facing,
Please consider an immediate change in policy using all means necessary to bring this disease quickly under control - without unnecessary slaughter.
Yours sincerely
Letter 2.
Name of MP
House of Commons
Westminster
LONDON
SW1A 0AA
Dear
Foot and Mouth Disease
I am very concerned about MAFF's culling of animals to form a "fire break" around infected farms in the fight against Foot and Mouth disease. There really does need to be an opportunity for a clear public debate. The whole process is unscientific, brutal and logistically flawed which reflects directly on our day to day lives. I believe it will also ruin this Country as a tourist attraction for the foreseeable future.
As for animal welfare it is truly barbarous. In an age when our children are routinely vaccinated for infectious diseases it is difficult to understand why we do not apply the same humane treatment to animals. The vaccine is available.
In the coming General Election this whole sorry affair is going to be a major factor in how many country orientated people vote. Could you please let me know whether the your Party Policy backs the policy of culling or is it in favour of vaccination?
Yours sincerely
letter 3.
Name of your MP
House of Commons
Westminster
LONDON
SW1 A0AA
Foot and Mouth Disease
Dear
I am very concerned about MAFF's culling of animals in the fight on Foot and Mouth disease. There really does need to be an opportunity for a clear public debate. The whole process is unscientific, brutal and logistically flawed which reflects directly on our day to day lives. It will also ruin us as a tourist attraction for the foreseeable future.
As for animal welfare it is truly barbarous. In an age when our children are routinely vaccinated for infectious diseases it is difficult to understand why we don't apply the same humane treatments to animals. Arguments con include the one about various strains. However, the government actively encourages certain groups of the population to have flu jabs-although the strain could change every year. I believe a vaccination policy adopted throughout the whole EU-and there are many EU member countries that would wholeheartedly support such a move-would force the rest of the world to take note and follow a policy that would prevent a repeat of the situation we are faced with now.
In the coming election-whenever they may take place-this whole sorry affair is going to be a major factor in how a significant proportion of the population will vote.
Yours sincerely,