Re: Putty Medals and Rotten Fellows?
Originally from: Jill Britten
I couldn't agree more. My memory serves me ill and maybe someone can remind me of the part Dick Sil bey played in this ugly drama. Next thing you know we'll be reading that Ben Gill has been sainted for personally seeing off vaccination. Jill
Originally from: Farmtalking
The Royal Agricultural Society of England has seen fit to present awards to Prof. Roy Anderson and the vet, Dick Sibley.
To bestow these accolades on two such 'rotten fellows' surely reduces them to no more that mere 'putty medals'.
As far as I can remember, both these gentlemen were keen supporters of the policy of slaughtering healthy animals to control FMD in 2001 and against vaccination as an alternative.
Dick Sibley was certainly very 'active' with his campaign to promote the slaughter of healthy sheep to save his beloved cattle.
While Prof. Anderson's flawed model most certainly 'galvanised' the Govt into adopting a cruel and illegal policy.
The actions of both men contributed to the most appalling suffering of both the human and animal population. Not to mention the huge financial loss to the country.
Why such deeds merit any sort of award is quite beyond my understanding.
http://www.rase.org.uk/communications/rev2002/awards.html
RASE Awards for science and hard work
The work of key scientists has been recognised throughout the year by the Society’s awards programme.
As the RASE’s Year of Science kicked off in February the Research, Technology and Bledisloe Veterinary Medals all went to people engaged in animal science and animal health. Veterinarian Dick Sibley received the Bledisloe Veterinary Medal as one of the most active and important vets in the campaigns on BSE, TB and FMD. His colleagues praised his leadership and courage during the FMD outbreak.
At the Royal Show four new Honorary Fellows were appointed, all of whom have contributed to science and scientific education. Professor Roy Anderson is the epidemiologist whose forecast of the spread of the FMD virus galvanised the Government’s eventual plans to control the outbreak. Professor Chris Bostock also accepted Honorary Fellowship for his work as Director of the Institute for Animal Health during which time BSE, scrapie and TB have been important areas of research.
Originally from: Mary Critchley
Sorry Jill
I meant to answer that before.
The trouble with Sibley is that he wanted to have it all ways. He said "The key success measure in controlling foot-and-mouth disease is bravery in leadership. You have to say ruthlessly that animals have to die." and then he added "But I think in hindsight there has been overkill," That was in June 2001 when he spoke to Reuters.
He likes to be noticed. He got into the UK government's Foot and Mouth Disease Scientific Group. He said that 100 farms in Britain had been infected in February 2001 before the authorities became aware of the disease, blaming that and the cut in the SVS on the government's failure to control the disease.
He also blamed 'public opinion for controlling animal disease'...but I have no idea what he meant by that.
"Then, because public opinion began to control animal disease and science lost out, the disease continued to spread," he said, when addressing a conference in Wicklow organised by the Animal and Plant Health Association
He said at the same conference that Blair chose culling because of the upcoming election. "The contiguous slaughter policy proved unpopular, unworkable and perhaps unnecessary in many areas. The target of slaughtering infected animals within 24 hours was rarely met," ...so at least he got that right.
He said the computer models used to develop the extended culling policy were based on faulty data. BUT he ALSO maintained that all the draconian killing was 'the price we had to pay' – and being so influential lots and lots of farmers believed him.
He wanted to have his cattle cake and eat it too.
He said if Britain was to change policy and opt for control rather than eradication, then vaccine would have to be used. He was opposed to the use of vaccine because it "would lock British exporters out of world markets."
That was what stuck in the minds of those who are influenced by his charm and charisma – they assumed he must know what he was talking about abd had everyone's interests at heart. In fact – like so many others who thought their position alone gave them knowledge about FMD – he hadn't much of a clue – and he probably did more harm than good. Like Roy Anderson, (and he is like him in lots of ways it seems) he has an uncanny way of ending up with his bum in the butter – as my old granny used to say.
Mary
Originally from: MediaVets
Hi
The 'best' that can be said of Sibley I suppose is that – like any 'good' union leader – as President of the British Cattle Vet Association he represented what he (mistakenly in my opinion) perceived to be his members interests most assiduously. He undoubtedly revels in being perceived as a 'player' too.
Had the BVA and RCVS not proved so ineffective and utterly spineless, and had the vast majority of TVIs not proved to be so unthinking and so easily led, the self-regarding and ambitious Sibley (and his celebrity seeking acolyte Carl Padgett) might never have achieved the prominence they did (and so little deserved) in the media.
To reward his behaviour in this way – not to mention that of the ego-monster Anderson – is quite bizarre, but not a great surprise. It's much easier for the RASE to believe/accept that what was done was 'right' than to face up to any alternative view/interpretation of the handling of FMD UK 2001.
Of course such awards make it ever less likley that things will be any different next time.
Regards
Andrew
Andrew Stephens BVetMed MRCVS
41 The Causeway, Isleham, Ely, Cambs., CB75TA
Tel: +44-(0)1638–781468 Fax: +44-(0)870–1337217
Email: ...
Web: http://www.mediavets.co.uk
Originally from: Jill Britten
Thanks for that Andrew. Yes I remember now and was it not also the Pedigree Breeders Ascc that also blocked vaccination for their precious export trade that had been ruined anyway by the equally mishandled BSE debacle. Now I have the ammunition I will write to RASE to express views upon these awards. Surely Mark Purdey and Mary Critchley could have been more deserving winners for trying to expose myths lies and dam lies. I remember reading Roger Windsors address to RCVS and was completely amazed at what vets had been up to during the FMD crisis. Jill
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