The controversy about hunt ban

in United-Kingdom.

By Baptiste SCOLA-GRIMALDI

Introduction

Since 1949 there have been seven attempts to restrict or ban hunting with dogs in United-Kingdom.

Finally, on 18th November 2004, the Hunting Act 2004 came into force, outlawing fox hunting, deer hunting, hare hunting, mink hunting and hare coursing.

The Hunting Act was finally pushed through using the Parliament Act. This was invoked by the Speaker of the Commons, because the House of Lords was continually and indefinitely delaying the will of the majority in the House of Commons.

The introduction of the Hunting Act came after a lengthy process. In 2002 a complete ban on hunting with hounds was voted for by the majority of MPs. This was later amended to a ban on stag hunting and hare coursing and strict licensing controls for fox hunting. This compromise Bill was the result of much deliberation and consultation, but did not fully satisfy either the pro or anti hunters.

The main protagonists for fox hunting (The Countryside Alliance) were always willing to consider licensing but condemned any moves to ban stag hunting and hare coursing. Those opposed to hunting with dogs were only really ever going to be happy with a complete ban on all forms of hunting.

In June 2003 a majority of MPs voted for a back bench amendment, effectively banning hunting with dogs and so the government withdrew its own amended Bill that proposed a regulatory system for fox hunting. From that point onwards the Bill became a battle between the House of Lords, who refused to endorse a complete ban, and the House of Commons, where the majority were in favour of a ban.

During this time there were also extensive demonstrations by pro-hunt supporters. Some of these turned into violent clashes between protesters and the police and on one occasion a group of eight hunt supporters managed to break their way into the House of Commons chamber.

Eventually, without agreement and with parliamentary time running out, legislation was pushed through using the Parliament Act.

The introduction of the Hunting Act, whilst welcomed strongly by those who have for years campaigned against hunting, does not put the issue to rest. There are many on-going concerns in the debate, including general issues, economic issues and social and cultural issues.

Part 1 : General issues.

- Hunting : The arguments in Scotland

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1817463.stm

In this article, the author shows the arguments classically used by hunting supporters, in Scotland like in the rest of the United-Kingdom. According to them, hunting is the best way to regulate the population of foxes, which are pest. Moreover, hunting with hounds is not for them a cruel sport. Finally, they underline the traditional and economic sizes of the hunt in English countryside.

Dans cet article, l'auteur expose les arguments classiquement employés par les partisans de la chasse, en Ecosse comme dans le reste du Royaume-Uni. Pour eux la chasse est le meilleur moyen de regulet la population de renards, qui sont des animaux nuisibles. De plus, la chasse à cour n'est pas selon eux un sport cruel. Enfin, ils soulignent les aspects traditionnel et économique de la chasse dans les campagnes anglaises.

- Hunting the Hunters : The Bloody Truth about Fox Hunting

http://www.arkonline.com/foxhunt.html

This article is a plea against foxhunting. It was written by Robin Roth, a member of the League Against Cruel Sports, an organization at the head of the anti-hunt movement. In a first time, the author makes an inventory of fixtures, emphasizing the impact of the numerous fox hunts on the animal's population. He explains the way foxhunting takes place, underlining with force the cruelty of this sport. He shows the role played by the league in making the problem taken in account by public opinion and politicians. He denies the ideas sustained by hunt supporters: fox is not a pest, it is not dangerous for man or for livestock and hunting is not a good way to keep the fox population in check.

Cet article est un plaidoyer contre la chasse au renard. Il est l'œuvre de Robin Roth, membre de la ligue contre les sports cruels, une organisation à la tête du mouvement anti-chasse. Dans un premier temps, l'auteur dresse un état des lieux en soulignant l'impact des multiples chasses au renard sur la population de l‘animal. Il explique ensuite la façon dont se déroule une chasse au renard, en insistant fortement sur la cruauté de ce sport. Il montre le rôle qu'a joué la ligue dans la prise en compte du problème par l'opinion publique et par les politiques. Il dément les idées soutenues par les pro chasses : le renard n'est pas un animal nuisible, il n'est dangereux ni pour l'homme, ni pour le bétail et la chasse n'est pas un bon moyen de régulation de l'espèce.

Part 2 : Economic issues.

- The Ban on Hunting – the death of the countryside ?

http://www.bized.ac.uk/current/mind/2004_5/270904.htm

This article is an economic analyse of hunting. The author shows that in UK a lot of jobs are linked, directly or not, to hunting. More, the business of hounds is going to decrease with a ban of hunting, even if there are some alternatives. The author adds that, in restricting foxes population, hunting limits the losses of livestock for the farmers and helping them saving money.

Cet article est une analyse économique de la chasse. L'auteur montre qu'au Royaume-Uni de nombreux emplois sont liés, directement ou non, à la chasse. De plus, le commerce des chiens va diminuer avec une interdiction de la chasse, même si des alternatives subsistent. L'auteur ajoute qu'en limitant la population de renards, la chasse limite les pertes de bétail pour les fermiers et les aide à réaliser des économies.

- Analysis: the real cost of a ban ?

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4279317.stm

In this article, the author shows that the economic weight of hunting is ridiculous compared with farming, agriculture and services. In these conditions, the economic impact of a ban on foxhunting have to be relativised.

Dans cet article, l'auteur montre que le poids économique de la chasse dans les campagnes est ridicule comparé au poids de l'agriculture, de l'élevage et des services. Dans ces conditions, l'impact d'une interdiction de la chasse est à relativiser.

Part 3 : Social and cultural issues

- A sad goodbye to this atavistic, irresistible, indefensible delight

http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5129741-103541,00.html

This text is a tribute to fox hunting. The author explains why he will regret this practice. The reasons that are evoked are irrational. Anne Perkins speaks about an irresistible but indefensible delight, a guilty love affair. This is a conservative and romantic vision of fox-hunting. She evoked the myth of honour and courage that fox-hunting perpetuates; honour and courage of the hunter, his dogs and his horse; but also honour and courage of the fox.

Ce texte est un hommage à la chasse à cour. L'auteur y explique pourquoi il regrettera cette pratique. Les raisons invoquées sont ici irrationnelles. L'auteur parle d'un plaisir irrésistible mais indéfendable, d'une histoire d'amour coupable. C'est une vision conservatrice et romantique de la chasse au renard. Il évoque le mythe de l'honneur et du courage que la chasse perpétue ; honneur et courage du chasseur, de ses chiens et de son cheval ; mais aussi honneur et courage du renard.

- Foxhunting gave English culture its leap and dash

http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5019047-103677,00.html

This article emphasizes the influence of foxhunting under English culture. Indeed, we learn that foxhunting inspired numerous English painters and writers. In this article, there's especially question of literature. The author show us how Virginia Woolf, Anthony Trollope, Siegfried Sassoon or Rudyard Kipling described and loved foxhunting in their works. This literature is the prove that there is a great English rural culture that the author defends against the partisans of an urban monoculture who voted the ban of foxhunting.

Cet article souligne l'influence de la chasse au renard sur la culture anglaise. En effet, on apprend que la chasse a inspiré de nombreux peintres et écrivains anglais. C'est surtout de littérature dont il est question dans cet article. L'auteur nous montre comment Virginia Woolf, Anthony Trollope, Siegfried Sassoon ou Kipling ont décrit et aimé la chasse du renard dans leurs oeuvres. Cette littérature est la preuve qu'il existe une formidable culture rurale anglaise que l'auteur défend face au tenant d'une monoculture urbaine qui ont voté l'interdiction de la chasse à cour.

- Class War on the Hoof

http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2004/09/14/class-war-on-the-hoof/

In this article, the author maintains that hunting issue is a class war. He refers to the history and shows that hunting was a noblemen's concern. Today, foxhunters are not all members of the aristocracy, but they perpetrate the values and the symbols of the nobility. That's why the ban on foxhunting is a working-class win.

Dans cet article, l'auteur soutient que le débat sur la chasse est une guerre de classes. Il se réfère à l'histoire et montre que la chasse était une affaire de nobles. Aujourd'hui, les chasseurs de renard ne sont pas tous des aristocrates, mais ils perpétuent les valeurs et les symboles de la noblesse. C'est pourquoi l'interdiction de la chasse au renard est une victoire de la classe des travailleurs.

Lexicon

ban : interdiction

burrow : terrier

deer : cerf

fox cub : renardeau

hare : lièvre

hound : chien

hunting with hounds : chasse à courre

livestock : bétail

mink : vison

pack : meute

pest control measure : mesure de contrôle des animaux nuisibles

poisoning : empoisonnement

snaring : piégeage

stag : cerf

torn-appart : déchiqueter

track : traque