Anglers attacked by animal extremists

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:29 am

These extremists are nothing but a breed of thugs and terrorists.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... w_19082006

Anglers attacked by animal extremists

By Nigel Bunyan

(Filed: 19/08/2006)

A gang of masked animal rights activists has attacked a group of anglers, prompting fears that extremists are determined to widen the scope of their campaign of intimidation.

The 35 masked extremists had earlier disrupted a grouse shoot before being moved on by police.

A handful of people, some of them families, was enjoying a day out at the Bank House fly fishery, at Caton, near Lancaster, when the saboteurs arrived.

Lucy Belson, of Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, was fishing with a friend when they suddenly found themselves at the mercy of the gang.

"They began throwing stones at my rod and one of them said, 'It's the easy way or the hard way. You've been sabbed.' They told me to pack up and go or I was 'going to get wet'."

Fighting broke out as two anglers on a nearby stretch of bank struggled with the protesters. Miss Belson, a resuscitation nurse at Westmorland General Hospital, in Kendal, said: "I decided to get out of there and go home but suddenly they all ran towards me waving bats and blocks of wood, shouting, 'Get her'. "I was jostled and they smashed my fishing rod."

As she broke away from the melee, Miss Belson saw another woman being punched in the face and several cars being vandalised.

"I was shaken at the time but now I am angry," she said. "They are cowards and I certainly won't be frightened to go back to the lake. I love fishing and I have been doing it since I was a little girl."

Lancashire police believe that the anglers were the victims of an opportunistic attack. Earlier in the day the saboteurs had tried to disrupt a grouse shoot at Lowgill, near High Bentham.

At the height of the confrontation, police called in the force helicopter, an armed response vehicle and nine other vehicles. However, there were no arrests and the saboteurs headed away.

Pc Duncan Thomas, the force's wildlife officer, said that saboteurs were increasingly attacking anglers.

"Both anglers and grouse shooting parties should be aware of the threat to them and they should have contingencies in place to protect themselves."

A Countryside Alliance spokesman said: "It does seem to be the way animal rights extremists are heading. Their issue is not animal welfare - it is about hating people. They simply want to cause trouble."

Last year animal extremists attacked anglers on the Grand Union canal, in Milton Keynes. Some of the fishermen were thrown into the water.

Tom Fell, the regional director of the Countryside Alliance for Cumbria, said: "These people will stop at nothing to achieve their ends. They are a real worry and a real danger."

© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2006.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:40 am

They should arrest them, that is assault and battery.

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:23 am

I agree with chronsi, those folks should of been arrested for assault.

I don't understand how they expect to get a message across being so violent.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 12:50 pm

Sheryl wrote: I agree with chronsi, those folks should of been arrested for assault.

I don't understand how they expect to get a message across being so violent.

Their behaviour is actually turning people away from their cause and from those who protest animal rights peacefully and legally.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 1:13 pm

I understand where they're coming from although I wouldn't have thrown rocks at the fishing morons.

I am sick of animal rights people all being labeled "extremists." I think we should be calling hunters and fishers "terrorists." Works for me. :-5

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 1:25 pm

RedGlitter wrote: I understand where they're coming from although I wouldn't have thrown rocks at the fishing morons.

I am sick of animal rights people all being labeled "extremists." I think we should be calling hunters and fishers "terrorists." Works for me. :-5

Do you seriously think that? :-2

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 1:43 pm

RedGlitter wrote: I understand where they're coming from although I wouldn't have thrown rocks at the fishing morons.

I am sick of animal rights people all being labeled "extremists." I think we should be calling hunters and fishers "terrorists." Works for me. :-5

So, if I don't like something that you are doing, I can come and terrorise you, can I?

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:06 pm

fishing enthusiasts are merely people that like to eat fish

No...they're not "merely" ppl who like to eat fish. They kill the fish. Now whether or not you think that's acceptable or part of the food chain or whatever, that's what fishing is. I knew I'd get a ration when I replied as I did and am not surprised. Let me see if I can put this another way: I support the right to get a safe abortion even though I also see it as a form of killing. I understand why "extreme" (since we're using that) anti-abortion people kill the doctors and blow up clinics. I'm not saying I agree with it, only that I do understand where they're coming from. They are fighting for what they believe in, literally. It's a war to them. Just like the world fights wars and kills people for what they believe in. With some animal activists, it's no different. They're doing what they think is just and right and fighting for animals. I don't think what they do speaks for me as an activist as I fight my own way and that does not inlcude assaulting people whether I think what they're doing is okay or not.

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:13 pm

Ok smart ass comment warning...

would you rather they eat live fish???

Ok but back to the topic. Being an animal activist is ok, it's just that you can't expect people to change to vegans because it's killing something to be eaten. Humans have eaten meat for thousands of years. Before people started settling and farming, hunting was the major source of food.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 6:44 pm

Hi Sheryl. I don't want to turn this into a "what you should eat" thread but doing something for thousands of years is not always an excuse when you can do better or differently. It's been a proven fact for decades now that people do not require meat or animal products to get all their nutrients and to remain healthy. Mostly the people who go against this fact are the Big Ranchers and Farm Food Industries because they have a vested interest= money.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 7:33 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: I think that's seriously extreme... fishing enthusiasts are merely people that like to eat fish. I eat fish. Am I a fish terrorist?

I mean, come on. :rolleyes:

Ive always thought so.

The groups slogan is let us eat lettuce

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:03 pm

RedGlitter wrote: Hi Sheryl. I don't want to turn this into a "what you should eat" thread but doing something for thousands of years is not always an excuse when you can do better or differently. It's been a proven fact for decades now that people do not require meat or animal products to get all their nutrients and to remain healthy. Mostly the people who go against this fact are the Big Ranchers and Farm Food Industries because they have a vested interest= money.

Tis ok Red, I was just stating my point. And you pegged me, my husband and I farmed up till last March.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:06 pm