For those of you that have followed the work of CAPS for some time, you may know that the 23rd
June 2011 was an important day for the long-term campaign to see an end
to the use of wild animals in circuses. It was on that day that a
debate in Parliament led to a unanimous motion being passed to call on
Government to implement a ban in England. For animal protection
advocates, it was important not just for the outcome, but also for the
simple fact that the campaign had reached such heights politically and
that leading politicians were taking to the floor to speak out so
strongly on the issue. There was widespread celebration following the
debate as the “light at the end of the tunnel” suddenly seemed within
our reach.
But one year on and the Government is still delaying.
March 2012 saw Government officials promise to ban and that promise was reiterated in April when CAPS, along with representatives from other leading organisations, met with the minister responsible for the issue to discuss a way forward (see HERE for more info). In the same meeting we committed to supporting Government in the introduction of a ban, but warned that we would also be holding officials accountable for the promises made and expect changes to be introduced as soon as possible.
True to our promise, in the weeks running up to the anniversary of the debate, we have been working closely with Parliamentarians and seen renewed cross-party commitment to the ban, as well as a number of MPs keen to move the campaign back into the spotlight. In addition, members of the animal protection lobby have stepped up campaigns to ensure that the message is coming through loud and clear: we will not allow this issue to be brushed aside.
We are still working hard with partner organisations – making the most of our pooled skills and resources to move the campaign forward by implementing a detailed campaign strategy. We continue to oppose the plans for a temporary licensing system for circuses with wild animals as only a ban will do. We maintain that a ban could be brought in quickly and easily under the Animal Welfare Act and that the timescale of “prior to the next general election” is not soon enough. We continue to support local grassroots activists who are making positive changes on the ground. Each day, we move a small step closer to the long-overdue ban.
The situation is far from perfect but we remain hopeful that, with continued pressure, we will see wild animals out of circuses once and for all. But we can only achieve this aim with your continued support.
Stick with us and click below to see how you can help.
Sign up to our online mailing list to stay up to date with our work. You’ll find the sign up button in the top right corner of every page of this site.
Make a donation to CAPS to support our vital campaigning work for animals
But one year on and the Government is still delaying.
March 2012 saw Government officials promise to ban and that promise was reiterated in April when CAPS, along with representatives from other leading organisations, met with the minister responsible for the issue to discuss a way forward (see HERE for more info). In the same meeting we committed to supporting Government in the introduction of a ban, but warned that we would also be holding officials accountable for the promises made and expect changes to be introduced as soon as possible.
True to our promise, in the weeks running up to the anniversary of the debate, we have been working closely with Parliamentarians and seen renewed cross-party commitment to the ban, as well as a number of MPs keen to move the campaign back into the spotlight. In addition, members of the animal protection lobby have stepped up campaigns to ensure that the message is coming through loud and clear: we will not allow this issue to be brushed aside.
We are still working hard with partner organisations – making the most of our pooled skills and resources to move the campaign forward by implementing a detailed campaign strategy. We continue to oppose the plans for a temporary licensing system for circuses with wild animals as only a ban will do. We maintain that a ban could be brought in quickly and easily under the Animal Welfare Act and that the timescale of “prior to the next general election” is not soon enough. We continue to support local grassroots activists who are making positive changes on the ground. Each day, we move a small step closer to the long-overdue ban.
The situation is far from perfect but we remain hopeful that, with continued pressure, we will see wild animals out of circuses once and for all. But we can only achieve this aim with your continued support.
Stick with us and click below to see how you can help.
How you can help:
Write to Defra to show your support for the ban and to ask them to prioritise its introduction by clicking here.Sign up to our online mailing list to stay up to date with our work. You’ll find the sign up button in the top right corner of every page of this site.
Make a donation to CAPS to support our vital campaigning work for animals
