Today outside the Scottish Parliament, we stood in silence.
Tape over our mouths.
Not because we had nothing to say. But because more than 100,000 people have spoken out against the Guga hunt – and they are now in danger of being silenced.
In less than 48 hours, the Petitions Committee will make their final decision on the fate of Rachel Bigsby’s petition, which calls for an end to the barbaric tradition that sees 10 men bludgeoning baby Gannet chicks to death on the island of Sula Sgeir.
At their last meeting on January 21st, the Committee agreed to shortlist the petition as one of the very few allowed to be carried forward to the next session of parliament after May’s elections. Now it’s decision time.
On Wednesday, they have two options: close the petition down, or keep it open and carry it forward, allowing MSPs to properly scrutinise the exemption in law that allows the Guga hunt to happen.
History in the making
Reaching 100,000 signatures is not only a major milestone, it made history.
It makes this petition:
- the largest petition put before this current Scottish government.
- the fourth most signed petition in Scottish Parliament history.
- the largest animal welfare petition Scotland has ever seen.
That only happened because of each and every one of you who took time out of your day to add your name and take a stand for the Gannets of Sula Sgeir. So thank you.
If you haven’t yet added your name, then it’s not too late, but you’ll have to act fast.
Next time you hear from us, we’ll be letting you know what Parliament has decided – and where this campaign goes next.
