EU Politicians have introduced a new law obliging the United Kingdom, Ireland and Italy to organise the killing of hundreds of thousands of grey squirrels, every year from 2016, using methods that include poisoning, bludgeoning to death or trapping and shooting. In the UK the Forestry Commission has drawn up new plans obliging UK landowners to carry out this cull if they wish to receive improvement grants; they would be paid £100 per hectare per year for five years using taxpayers’ money. In March 2014, Oliver Heald, the Solicitor General, told MPs that eradicating the grey squirrel was "no longer considered feasible". Representatives of animal welfare organisations, like Mimi Bekhechi (director of PETA UK) and Andrew Tyler (director of Animal Aid), have stated many times that killing grey squirrels is an inhumane, ecologically and socially damaging practice, and is an absolutely pointless cruelty waged against beautiful animals. Andrew Tyler said, “The grey squirrel is hated by members of certain groups, most notably those with shooting or forestry interests and some 'conservationists' who believe that the mass killing of greys is justifiable in their quest to boost the numbers of red squirrels”. "People have been responsible for wiping out the red squirrel, it's an excuse to blame the grey squirrel. The damage they do is exaggerated. Attempts to purge the landscape of them in the past have failed and this will fail too." Rob Atkinson, the head of wildlife science at the RSPCA, said: "It's ethically dubious killing one species for the sake of another. Up until the 1970s you could get a licence to kill red squirrels, so they were the baddies then, now it's grey squirrels. Apart from all that it doesn't work. There's absolutely no point in doing it." Killing squirrels is to be conducted even in the time of year when females nurse their dependent kittens. Killing thousands of nursing females will cause tens of thousands of baby squirrels to die of starvation. Starving animals is a torture in breach of animal welfare standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health. Scientific research has dispelled many myths about grey squirrels, yet these are still used to ‘justify’ the killing of grey squirrels. The red squirrel population in the UK has been declining for centuries now for a variety of reasons. Their habitat is coniferous woodland, their main diet, seeds from pine cones; these forests now exist mainly in Scotland, England has more deciduous woodland, which is best suited to grey squirrels, This can clearly be seen in the Forestry Commission's 1998 research data on grey and red squirrel numbers across the UK. A huge factor in the decline of red squirrels is the destruction of millions of acres of woodland by humans for agriculture, housing and industrial purposes. As a species, reds are far less adaptable than the grey, and have suffered badly when their habitat has been destroyed by us. Red squirrels will not thrive unless we give them the correct habitat, which will, in turn, limit the greys. These innocent creatures (the grey squirrel) were brought from their native country for the entertainment of wealthy landowners in the 1870s. They have not killed the red squirrels. Up to the late 1970s I remember that red squirrels were being slaughtered by landowners who blamed them for bark stripping and the loss of songbird eggs amongst other things, now it is fashionable to protect them, so blame has been transferred to the grey squirrel. The two species do not share the same habitat or food in most cases, there is no decent or logical justification for this cull. As with badgers there is no logic in the squirrel cull, which will cause untold suffering to a much loved animal and the main beneficiaries are people in the commercial business of killing wild animals.

Junior doctors of the United Kingdom have reluctantly, and almost unanimously, voted in favour of the first "all-out" strike in the history of the NHS. This is in response to the proposed imposition of a contract which is widely acknowledged in medical circles to be unsafe for patients and doctors alike, without mentioning the likelihood of a significant cut in pay for medical staff, while asking them to work longer hours. This is not a decision that has been made lightly, and at all points the BMA has remained open to the option of full, fair contract negotiations - an option which Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt and the current government have repeatedly declined to take. Throughout this process, junior doctors have been the target of a smear campaign headed by national media institutions, none so fervently as The Sun newspaper. This systematic abuse reached a new low today (10/01/2015) in an article entitled "Moet medics: High life of docs’ leaders who are heading up NHS strike", which passes beyond slander into the realms of active discrimination. To take photos of doctors on holiday from personal social media accounts and print them in a national newspaper is invasion of privacy enough, without pretending that this is evidence of a "jet-set lifestyle" being enjoyed by these medical professionals. As part of every doctor's contract, they are entitled to periods of annual leave, and whether they choose to travel abroad or not during this time is utterly irrelevant to their professional practice. Similarly, stating that these doctors are "champagne-swilling socialists" on the basis that one individual supported a ratified candidate in their successful campaign for the position of head of the Labour party is not only a sweeping generalisation completely immaterial to the debate at hand, but is an attempt to debase an entire profession by implying that, for doctors, the right to political expression is not a basic human right. The same is true of publishing the values of property owned by various committee members - the insinuation being that home-ownership in major UK cities is somehow a crime for the medical staff who work in these areas, and being able to afford accommodation is evidence of the "high life". Articles 8, 9 and 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998 enshrine the right of every UK citizen to " the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence", "freedom of thought" and "freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas". For an article in a mainstream newspaper to imply that a person's profession and position on committees somehow renders these guarantees forfeit is not only a pathetic excuse for "investigative journalism", but also risks setting a dangerous precedent whereby the basic rights of essential, hard-working medical professionals are eroded in the public conscience. Such thinly-veiled attacks on dedicated doctors will serve only to reduce already unprecedented low levels of morale, and further drive the ongoing exodus from the medical profession in the United Kingdom. As such, we the undersigned petition Tony Gallagher and The Sun to limit the damage done to these individuals and the medical profession as a whole by submitting a full, unreserved apology to the BMA junior doctors' committee in a prominent position on the front page of an edition of their newspaper.

We call upon all Staffordshire landowners to support the vaccination of badgers to address concerns about Tuberculosis (TB), culling is not the answer. There have been ongoing governmental trials to kill badgers in Somerset, Gloucestershire and Dorset and was extended to six other Counties in 2016, a further 11 cull zones in 2017 and further expansion this year and expected to include Staffordshire. Killing badgers as a method to prevent bovine tuberculosis (TB) as well as being inhumane and barbaric is scientifically proven to be ineffective. The government’s own figures, which were quietly released on the last day before Christmas, show TB in cattle to be rising in and around cull zones. In 2017 19,274 badgers were killed with 20 – 40,000 more expected by the end of 2018. The Welsh Government's approach has been far more successful by focusing on improved testing and movement controls in cattle. New incidents of bovine TB in cattle are now down by 28% in Wales with a 45% cut in the number of cattle being slaughtered. This now leaves 94% of the welsh herd TB free, without killing any badgers. Please say no to the badger cull and show the UK Government that we will not let badgers be murdered. Vaccination and cattle control must be implemented.

Because groups such as these are fomenting more animosity and hatred towards a group of people, namely Muslims, using misinformation and scare-mongering tactics. This is leading to more violence on British (and other European countries) streets.

Each year our pets go through trauma because of the noise of Fireworks. This move would simply take out the unnecessary noise while keeping the beauty of the displays of fireworks. It would be a great selling point and help people feel that they are helping all animal who are affected by these noises. The problem for pets and wild animals results in startling wild deer, (many deer are injured or killed) birds, Cats, Dogs and other pet. The trouble often starts in late October continues into and beyond November the 5th and then re-occurs come new year. Such noise is cruel to animals even domestic pets who try escape the noise in their own homes. And it isn't necessary. A caring government can help stop this unnecessary cruelty.

We The TAXPAYERS Need to Change UK Banking Culture and STOP Product Mis-selling, Dodgy Loans, LIBOR Rigging and Huge Bonuses. Jail Crooked ‘Fat Cat’ Bankers Don’t Reward Them! The Government’s Financial Conduct Authority has dropped a major investigation into bank pay, promotion, bonuses and other incentives. Osborne said he knew nothing about this - so SIGN this petition to ask him to reverse this decision! USA & Iceland jail crooked Bankers Vietnam shoots crooked Bankers The UK rewards crooked and inept Bankers! UK banks brought our country to it’s knees with a £1.3 TRILLION debt, and we, the taxpayer, bailed them out. It’s time for a change. We need to make banking accountable, responsible, fair and honest, AND, once more, COMPETITIVE. Dodgy and irresponsible bank lending and too much bank leverage led to the 2008 financial crash! How many times does the taxpayer/uk population have to be kicked? Had the Bankers not brought the country to its knees in 2008 what state would the NHS and other public services be in right now? - Better funded for sure. How deep would the cut's need to be, had it not been for the 10's of billions to keep Banks afloat due to fat cat greed and arrogance. The Bankers have stolen your money, robbed your pensions, over-stated their profits, manipulated their share prices and raised new capital under false pretences: Accusations any normal businessman would have been sent to prison for. From 2001 to 2013 - 100,000 small UK businesses were mis-sold hundreds of billions of dodgy loans by Clydesdale/Yorkshire Bank, RBS, Barclays Lloyds & HSBC related to a rigged/ non-existent Libor rate! These mis-sold loans loaded with massive hidden charges have destroyed many thousands of these businesses, and continue to do so. Some of the banks have washed their hands by offloading these loans to American vulture funds to break up these businesses. PPI Mis-selling affected many millions of us, but still the banks get away with it with new scandals continually surfacing. Banks were being brought to book for PPI, but the Government has now decided to water down/cancel it’s own investigation into banking culture. Sign this petition which asks George Osborne to restart the Financial Conduct Authority investigation into banking culture.

In the 21st Century the world is linked by communications and multi nationals.How can it be possible that starvation of children and infants is a weapon of war by those armed with Uk produced weapons? How did they get them? how can it be legal for people to buy weapons with no conditions or checks?Obama is doing his best. we have to do our part. There is a tide rising against uncontrolled use of weapons. We need legislation locally , internationally and particularly on the internet. We have all a duty to protect the innocent and vulnerable wherever they are and not shirk our responsibility.

Because people are dying of starvation. The innocent, the powerless, the young.

Arts and culture have an important role to play in the life of a capital city such as Cardiff. The ambition that has been laid out for Cardiff in the current 10-year strategy, Cardiff Proud Capital, wants the city to be a great place to live, work and play. Arts festivals, venues and organisations make a valuable contribution to the delivery of this vision, not just by providing leisure activities, but also by supporting community cohesion, health and wellbeing outcomes, and educational attainment. What would our city and our nation look like without this provision? Investment in the arts often more than doubles in the return to the economy. Three of the arts festivals that are under threat of cuts bring visitors to Cardiff from across the world to see the world class visual arts and music they produce. Tourism is a key part of Cardiff’s economy and the proposed cuts also seeks an increase in tourism income. Surely, in light of this, the cuts are a false economy. Many of the arts organisations and venues that Cardiff Council are proposing to cut are working with some of the most vulnerable residents in Cardiff to improve their quality of life. These venues and organisations are willing partners who will work the Council to develop this provision the funding is sustained. The right to culture is a basic human right. We want Cardiff Council to ensure that Cardiff is the Capital City Wales deserves and needs, and that culture remains alive and vibrant in the city. We don't want a #cardiffwithoutculture. Mae'r celfyddydau a diwylliant yn chwarae rhan bwysig ym mywyd prifddinas fel Caerdydd. Mae'r uchelgais sydd wedi ei gosod allan ar gyfer Caerdydd yn y strategaeth gyfredol, Prifddinas Falch Caerdydd, eisiau i'r ddinas fod yn le gwych i fyw, gweithio a chwarae. Mae gwyliau celfyddydol, lleoliadau a sefydliadau yn gwneud cyfraniad gwerthfawr at gyflawni'r weledigaeth hon, nid yn unig drwy ddarparu gweithgareddau hamdden, ond hefyd drwy gefnogi cydlyniant cymunedol, iechyd a lles, a chyrhaeddiad addysgol. Sut le fyddai ein dinas a'n cenedl, heb y ddarpariaeth hon? Mae buddsoddi yn y celfyddydau yn aml yn fwy na dyblu'r budd i'r economi. Mae tri o'r gwyliau celfyddydol sydd o dan fygythiad o doriadau yn dod ag ymwelwyr i Gaerdydd o bob cwr o'r byd i weld y gorau yn y byd o ran y celfyddydau gweledol a cherddoriaeth. Mae twristiaeth yn rhan allweddol o economi Caerdydd ac mae'r toriadau arfaethedig hefyd yn ceisio sicrhau cynnydd mewn incwm twristiaeth. Yn sicr, o ran hyn, mae'r toriadau yn economi ffug. Mae nifer o'r sefydliadau a'r lleoliadau celfyddydol y mae Cyngor Caerdydd yn bwriadu eu torri yn gweithio gyda rhai o'r trigolion mwyaf bregus yng Nghaerdydd i wella ansawdd eu bywydau. Mae'r rhain yn lleoliadau a sefydliadau fydda'i yn bartneriaid parod i weithio gyda'r Cyngor i ddatblygu'r ddarpariaeth hon os yw'r cyllid yn parhau i fod ar gael. Mae'r hawl i ddiwylliant yn hawl dynol sylfaenol. Rydym eisiau i Gyngor Caerdydd sicrhau bod Caerdydd yn brifddinas y mae Cymru ei haeddu a'i hangen, a bod diwylliant yn parhau i fod yn fyw ac yn ffynnu yn y ddinas. Nid ydym eisiau gweld #caerdyddhebddiwylliant.

Children and young people in custody are effectively being cared for by the state. They are among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in the country. Their treatment by private contactors such as G4S has been, and continues to be, disgraceful. The latest allegations about Medway STC, backed by video evidence, are just the latest in a sorry line of serious incidents. Children have died in custody at the hands of staff members and many more have taken their own lives after ill treatment. It is nothing short of a national scandal that despite this, contracts continue to be awarded to G4S, who have such a poor record of providing public services. Does money matter more than children’s lives to the government?

Wildlife crime is increasing throughout the UK, but government funding of the National Wildlife Crime Unit ends in March 2016. Wildlife crime being practiced includes hare coursing, badger baiting, killing of birds of prey and deer poaching, and the National Wildlife Crime Unit is a vital resource involved in the fight to investigate and prosecute those responsible.

Red deer are native to our wild lands and one of the many reasons why tourists and cash rich stalkers come to visit these generally economically disadvantaged areas. The Red Deer are beautiful majestic animals and must be managed in a way as to assure there is a viable population for all. JMT preach "deer management" which to them means kill on sight to protect uneconomic tree species. JMT are ONLY interested in the ancient woodland at Ardvar, Knoydart and their other reserves to the detriment of anyone and anything else. This year the JMT shot and killed 86 stags on Knoydart which was 38% of all stags culled in the area despite them owning only 4% of that land mass and figures. The story is the same in Assynt. Most of these stags were shot and then just left to rot on the open hill which is clearly unacceptable. Locals have volunteered to fence off the areas that they want to preserve; their response was no. Fence off your land instead. This would mean hundreds of miles of fencing which would be unsustainable, unaffordable and nonviable. The red deer roam from estate to estate as they have always done. JMT want them penned in like pets which is disgusting coming from a trust that preaches conservation and natural habitats. They are killing not only the red deer but our way of life and our livelihoods. For more information please visit http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/dozens-of-shot-stags-left-to-rot-on-knoydart-hillside-1-3982538 and http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/scotland/article4646287.ece If this unsustainable deer management practice is allowed to continue it will lead to many job losses in areas adjacent to JMT land. This in turn will leave many families with no choice but to sell up and depart these already underpopulated but truly beautiful naturally wild areas.