For the story so far, click for Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4 and Episode 5

*************************************************************

For episode 7 click here

These comics are available in paperback from our shop 😀

You can also download Reflecto Girl #5 & #6 from our e-book shop.

***

This comic created with Comic Life by Plasq

Sources:

https://savemetrust.co.uk/2015/07/02/illegal-culling-is-making-matters-worse/

https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/badger-trust-gives-evidence-to-judicial-review-on-cull.html

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/21/badger-cull-faces-fresh-legal-challenge

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/28/badger-cull-humaneness-test-tb-cattle

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/oct/13/badger-cull-mindless

‘Big’ science in the field: experimenting with badgers and bovine TB, 1995 -2015: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4552774/

https://www.badgertrust.org.uk/post/defra-admits-using-incorrect-data-to-deny-findings-of-important-new-badger-cull-research  :

“Badger Trust continues to put forward the case the badger cull is unjustified on scientific, animal welfare and cost grounds. The new independent study gave further evidence that the badger cull simply does not work in reducing bTB; in response, Defra’s rebuttal is now found to contain incorrect data. This is a mess, and the badger cull needs to stop – no more badgers should be lost.”

On 13th April 2022, Badger Trust hosted the Big Badger Debate webinar with ecologist Tom Langton and veterinary surgeon Dr Mark Jones, two authors of the scientific paper. Zoonotic expert Professor Dr Paul Torgerson also joined the authors, and the panel discussed the significance of the findings and the methodological rigour employed. The paper, published in Vet Record in March 2022, analysed data released publicly by Defra using a variety of statistical methods, all of which “failed to identify a meaningful effect of badger culling on bTB in English cattle herds.”

Defra’s corrected calculations continue to show no convincing difference between culled and unculled areas, seemingly in line with the findings reported by the independent peer-reviewed study.

Yet, despite this, Defra still claims badger culling reduces bovine TB in cattle.

Dr Mark Jones, Head of Policy at the Born Free Foundation and one of the study’s authors, said:

“Since 2013, more than 175,000 badgers have been killed under licence as part of the Government’s strategy for controlling bovine TB in cattle. In order to justify such a devastating massacre of a protected native species, Government must surely, at the very least, be able to demonstrate a substantial and predictable reduction in cattle TB as a result. Our paper, which was subject to rigorous peer-review, examined all the data on bTB prevalence and incidence across the entire High Risk Area over the period 2013-2019 and compared those areas where badger culling had taken place with those where it hadn’t. We saw no difference between culled and unculled areas.

“More importantly, no further badgers should have to lose their lives for the sake of this ineffective, inhumane, unscientific and unnecessary policy.”

https://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/ :

Milk depletes the calcium from your bones
The milk myth has spread around the world based on the flawed belief that this protein and calcium-rich drink is essential to support good overall health and bone health in particular at any age. It is easy to understand that the confusion about milk’s imaginary benefits stems from the fact that it contains calcium – around 300 mg per cup.

But many scientific studies have shown an assortment of detrimental health effects directly linked to milk consumption. And the most surprising link is that not only do we barely absorb the calcium in cow’s milk (especially if pasteurized), but to make matters worse, it actually increases calcium loss from the bones. What an irony this is!

Here’s how it happens. Like all animal protein, milk acidifies the body pH which in turn triggers a biological correction. You see, calcium is an excellent acid neutralizer and the biggest storage of calcium in the body is – you guessed it… in the bones. So the very same calcium that our bones need to stay strong is utilized to neutralize the acidifying effect of milk. Once calcium is pulled out of the bones, it leaves the body via the urine, so that the surprising net result after this is an actual calcium deficit.

Knowing this, you’ll understand why statistics show that countries with the lowest consumption of dairy products also have the lowest fracture incidence in their population.

“Consumption of dairy products, particularly at age 20 years, was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture in old age. (“Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Hip Fractures in the Elderly”. American Journal of Epidemiology. Vol. 139, No. 5, 1994).1

 

********************************************

Violet’s Vegan Comics – creating funny, enlightening and sometimes action packed vegan children’s books for readers of all ages since 2012.