I approached the organisers of the national front line conservation movement that are organising events under the Hen Harrier flag to have a representation for the front line people and nature movement from where I am (at Beddington Farmlands in South London). I was given permission by the organisers to have a low profile presence, alongside other groups as part of a unification effort to gather front line conservationists across London and the south east.
The permission needed to be cleared by the lodge as the event is being organised at Rainham marshes,an RSPB reserve. The Lodge refused permission. I roughly translate that (in our local tongue) as 'Go fuck yourselves and die you chav c#nts'.
Maybe I'm being over sensitive??
But why would they do that????
What other possible reason could there be for the RSPB to be blocking unification of conservationists????
3 comments:
Hi Peter, I'm a lurker, enjoy your posts and your wildlife reporting and am amazed by what you achieve for wildlife in your corner of London (and indeed Bulgaria). I'm just guessing, of course, but maybe the RSPB is concerned that your organisation strays too far into politics for a charity, which has to try and steer clear of that sort of thing. Quite a few of your posts on here are almost certainly incompatible with the obligations a charity must meet.
Best
Matt
Hi Matt,
I agree there are territories which need to be respected in the conservation movement but unless there can be a unification of effort across those territories biodiversity decline will continue to escalate. The front line of conservation is not the front line of organisational boundaries but of nature overall and protectionism of directors/ trustees interests (often capital interests) is not the objective of conservation. There is an enemy within the movement and it needs to identified clearly.
RSPB are already political (they have to be as the protection of birds and nature is a political issue)
http://www.rspb.org.uk/joinandhelp/campaignwithus/campaigners.aspx
In this instance the blog post refers to an initiative to bring together various efforts in London and the south east which are focusing on the most pressing conservation regional issues (which are pan organisational, group and individual). Those issues including the Lodge Hill public enquiry, HS2, the second Thames crossing, Beddington Farmlands and other major threats to the SPAs, LNRS, SINCS and protected species in our region. While there is a need to focus on a simple flagship issue (in this case the Hen Harrier Campaign), that flagship issue is always a symptom of a set of fundamental wider and more complex problems that can only be dealt with at system unification level. So in this instance it was agreed with the local organisers that various groups could have a background presence at the Rainham Hen Harrier Day, to unify under the Hen Harrier flag. This was blocked by RSPB central. The reason for this is presumably an effort by the RSPB to 'own' conservation in London in the south east and not show too much support for other organisations and efforts. This is self serving, selfish, small minded and anti-conservation. The protection of birds and nature is their primary remit- not the protection of their organisation and the capital interests of their senior staff. IMHO.
Hi Peter
If the RSPB's objection was based on a wish that it alone owns conservation in London and the south east, then I agree that that is appalling and frankly not in the interests of its members. I completely agree that there needs to be a coordinated, unified approach across conservation bodies to combat increasing threats to bio-diversity.
Keep up the good work!
Best
Matt
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