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FMD Judicial Review

Jan 31 ~ A message from Robert Perseu says..."It has been announced that the Attorney General has decided to defend DEFRA in the Judicial Review seeking a Public Inquiry into FMD. Lord Goldsmith QC will be taking on the BBC, the Telegraph group, Associated newspapers, the Mirror group and the Guardian who are all seeking a Public Inquiry. The news people are all quoting Article 10 of the European Convention (Human Rights Act) seeking free access to information. It would appear that HM Government is determined not to have a Public Inquiry. Is there something to hide?"

Advance Notice - reminder - Judicial Review for a proper independent Public Inquiry into the 2001 Foot and Mouth crisis. 18th February - Hearing starts at 10.30 a.m. in the Royal Courts of Justice (Strand). Supporters need to arrive early. T-shirts may be worn...

A group of farmers and a vet are seeking a Judicial Review to force a Public Inquiry into Foot and Mouth Disease. Mr Richard Lissack QC and Clarke Wilmott & Clarke are working on a "No win, No Fee" basis. A group of newspapers, the Western Morning News, The Farmers Weekly and the Western Mail are underwriting part of the Government's costs if the case is lost.

An appeal is being launched, which seeks supporters to make a pledge to pay £1,000 or (lesser amount) towards the costs, but only if the case is lost. Obviously the legal people think it is a strong case or else they would not be working on a "No win, No Fee" basis.

A bank account has been opened with Trustees, to receive donations. If the case is won and the money is not needed the money will go to the R.A.B.I and the Addington Trust.

T-shirts are being sold for £10 each bearing the logo of "Winnie the Pig" and the legend "we seek the truth" - all profits from these will go to the fund.

It is hoped up to 1000 supporters all wearing the T-shirts will come to the High Court when the case is heard.

Donations, T-shirt orders or offers to underwrite part of any costs can be sent to:

PO Box 65,
Honiton
Ex14 3WE
Please make cheques payable to The FMD Judicial Review Fund.

Sizes (which are relatively small) are Medium, Large, Extra Large and EXTRA Extra Large. Please remember to specify which size(s) you'd like.

Many thanks

Guy Thomas-Everard tel 07970 229524

The t-shirt can be seen worn somewhat unconventionally in the photo Ananova published to accompany its report on the Winnie campaign here

Jan 28 ~ Press Release from The Ecologist. (The Judicial Review action to be heard in the High Court will now begin at 10.30 on 18th Jan

NOT the 19th as originally thought)
"The Judicial Review action is challenging the decision of Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs not to hold a full public inquiry into the outbreak and handling of Foot & Mouth Disease.
The Judicial Review case, backed by The Ecologist, is due to be heard in court on February 19th, 2002 {please note that this has been changed to10.30 a.m. the 18th Feb - warmwell.} - exactly one year to the day since the first case of the disease was officially confirmed at an Essex abattoir.
It is our view and that of the great many rural people who contacted The Ecologist during and after the outbreak, that the Government's Foot and Mouth policy was barbaric and possibly illegal - it was surely flawed.
How else - and in whose interest - can Government justify spending roughly 20 times the value of exports in a good year to eradicate a disease that does no harm to humans and that most animals recover from? And given we export and import nearly identical quantities of meat, does maintaining our export status justify the damage done to Britain's small producers?What was the Government's real agenda? Was there, as several people assured us, a deeper conspiracy to 'cull' the number of family farms?

These and many other questions can only be answered satisfactorily by a full public inquiry - independent, open to public and media scrutiny, and where ministers and civil servants can be summoned to give evidence. For Further Information contact:Robin Maynard, Farming Consultant to The Ecologist: 0208 671 5334. 07932 040452. "