http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/ Former nightclub singer who has become one of the country’s most active animal welfare campaigners. A member of the League Against Cruel Sports since 1993, she later founded North Wales Animal Rights and maintains a close eye on hunting and farming activities in the region. Her home in Rhyl harbours a variety of animals, from cats to squirrels, and she also houses rescued birds in three large aviaries. Now in her mid-50s, Judi is also a vegan who has been featured by veggie group Viva for her unblemished skin. en Copyright 2008 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:47:55 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss HAVING cared for many birds over the years, I came to the decision to call a halt when my three aviaries started to fill to bursting point and my haven for birds was becoming a bird hell. I only have 20 birds left now, mostly pigeons who are much too old to scavenge for a living. But as they die off one by one, it never ceases to break my heart. http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/06/having_cared_for_many_birds.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/06/having_cared_for_many_birds.html Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:47:55 +0000 I HAVE always admired animal welfare/rights groups as dedicated heroes and heroines, which is why it came as a shock to hear that Compassion in World Farming had awarded Prince Philip and Prince Charles awards for their organic/conservation work. Am I missing something here? It's just that these two men have killed animals merely for recreation, so why would any animal welfare group reward them for doing what amounts to very little in the scheme of things. http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/05/heroes_and_villains.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/05/heroes_and_villains.html Wed, 28 May 2008 10:08:08 +0000 AFTER disastrous local elections results for Labour nationwide, I hope the party will now learn a valuable lesson. Despite being a previously loyal Labour supporter, even I - and other members of my family - could not bring myself to turn out. We decided, as I suspect others did, that Labour needs a damn good kick up the backside to make them take more notice of public concerns. http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/05/labours_inadequacy_could_let_t.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/05/labours_inadequacy_could_let_t.html Fri, 02 May 2008 11:16:26 +0000 ALL credit to the National Trust for going against the proposed badger cull in Wales. This popular organisation looks set to become a major thorn in the side of the Welsh government and the likes of the Farmers Union of Wales, which was delighted to hear its call for a cull would take place this autumn. http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/04/badger_culls_spell_disaster_fo.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/04/badger_culls_spell_disaster_fo.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:51:16 +0000 I WAS shocked and dismayed to hear that a badger cull is to go ahead here in Wales, despite evidence from scientific bodies that a cull will do nothing in the long term to eradicate TB in cattle. http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/04/what_can_we_expect_in_wales_wh.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/04/what_can_we_expect_in_wales_wh.html Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:58:37 +0000 THE Welsh Assembly Government (egged on by the NFU, FUW and the likes of Alun Davies and Brynle Williams) is making the biggest mistake of its political existence if it doesn’t call off its proposed killing of badgers in a foolish attempt to halt TB. http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/04/farm_subsidies_fund_badger_cul.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/04/farm_subsidies_fund_badger_cul.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:19:48 +0000 SO, Salford's Frank Evans will be heading off once more to torture bulls in the killing arenas of Spain. The 65-year-old “matador” says he is fully recovered from a triple heart bypass and an artificial knee - fit enough to return to the bull-ring. ]]> http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/03/heavens_above_but_not_for_fran.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/03/heavens_above_but_not_for_fran.html Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:27:42 +0000 AS the hunting season draws to a close, its not just the wildlife that can breathe a sigh of relief: many villagers and their pets can soon enjoy the peace and tranquillity that comes with the summer months. For myself, I can forget (for a while) the anguish of knowing hunts are out and about terrorising foxes, deer and hare and enjoy my hill walks without fear of coming across a hunt in progress. http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/03/silence_of_the_hounds.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/03/silence_of_the_hounds.html Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:53:56 +0000 PART of my work defending animals from abuse involves taking part in campaigns organised by larger organisations like VIVA (Vegetarian International Voice for Animals). I have to admit that sometimes I'm not in the mood to go treading the streets holding a placard and handing out leaflets, especially on a freezing cold day. But then I remember why I got involved in animal rights in the first place, and so off I go.]]> http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/03/britains_hardest_working_mothe.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/03/britains_hardest_working_mothe.html Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:24:01 +0000 HAVING spoken to local villagers while out monitoring the local hunt, it’s become clear that media articles describing big increase in hunt support does not ring true at all. http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/02/i_sound_like_a_lioness_mating.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/02/i_sound_like_a_lioness_mating.html Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:17:46 +0000 IT SEEMS there really is corruption in high places, with high profile newspapers publishing unfounded rubbish from the notorious Countryside Alliance. According to them, hunting is more popular than ever. But how can it be, when hunts are having to be so secretive about their meets? http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/02/lets_have_a_balanced_argument.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/02/lets_have_a_balanced_argument.html Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:35:16 +0000 I MUST say, it was disappointing to see the local media still portraying the Flint & Denbigh hunt in pretty pictures over the Christmas period, alongside the harmless, fun event “Roll the Barrel”. But if my monitoring observations are correct, hunts are still abusing foxes as before, and by omitting this fact, the press are saying that it's alright for this barbarism to continue. ]]> http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/01/colourful_spectacle_or_just_pl.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/01/colourful_spectacle_or_just_pl.html Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:25:36 +0000 DURING the hunting season, I receive daily emails about illegal hunting from colleagues who keep a watch on the news. http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2007/11/sleeping_with_the_enemy.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2007/11/sleeping_with_the_enemy.html Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:41:06 +0000 BEFORE I got involved in animals rights, I was oblivious to man’s inhumanity to other lifeforms. It was only after taking in and nurturing an abandoned sparrow chick that I was forced to stop and think about what life must be like for less fortunate animals, even the smallest of creatures like this tiny bird. http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2007/11/global_chaos_be_very_afraid.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2007/11/global_chaos_be_very_afraid.html Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:07:50 +0000 HAVING just got back from California, some friends of mine asked me if I was sorry to be back in cold, damp Wales. “Not at all,” I replied, “I love North Wales.” For some reason, that seemed to surprise them! http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2007/11/california_dreaming_of_siniste.html http://judihewitt.welshblogs.co.uk/2007/11/california_dreaming_of_siniste.html Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:07:13 +0000