Hundreds of League supporters across the country are gearing up for the 2008 Snare Aware Week, which kicks off from the 19^th July. They will be letting the public know about the cruelty inflicted on pets and wildlife by these crude wire nooses. 

Cerys Roberts, League snaring Campaigner said: 'When people hear about the cruelty inflicted on animals by snares they are shocked that such barbarity is still legal.'

The English badger cull has been called off after research concluded it would not be effective in stopping the spread of TB in cattle.

The research was conducted by the Independent Scientific Group on TB in Cattle. Lord Krebs, who designed the trials said: 'It's not practical to carry out that kind of scorched-earth cull over a prolonged period for a policy that may not even work'. The news is welcomed by the League and millions of of the British public who do not want to see thousands of these wild animals killed unnecessarily.

Read our comments and have your say on the League's blog

Never Mind the Buzzcocks star Bill Bailey is throwing his weight behind the League's bullfighting campaign.

The actor and comedian said: 'I am delighted that the League has joined with our European friends to put an end to bullfighting. I have signed the World Wide Bullfighting Pledge and I urge everyone else to do so. Bullfighting has to go!

Over 20,000 people have now signed the League's pledge, which was launched just a few weeks ago by Coronation Street star, Lucy Evans.

Coming soon: Look out for Lucy Evans' video diaries when she visits Spain to discover some of the many ethical alternatives to bullfighting. 

Visit Bill Bailey's Website

Sign the World Wide Pledge

Last month the League learned that musician, James Blunt, is to perform at a concert in a bullring in Lisbon, Portugal.

That may sound innocent but the truth is that proceeds from the event will be used to support the bullring for its intended purpose: bullfighting

Earlier this year Ben & Jerrys ice-cream withdrew their support from an event in the same bullring after the League alerted them to the fact that a bullfight would take place as part of the proceedings.

The League wrote to James Blunt's agent to ask that he moves the concert or make a statement against bullfighting at the concert. We have, however, not received a reply and are therefore calling upon fans of the musician to let him know how they feel by writing to him or emailing him via his agents. A suggested text and contact details can be downloaded here.

Päivi Vahvelainen, Bullfighting Campaigner at the League said: 'I'd hoped that once James had been made aware of what he is doing he would withdraw or at least agree not to perform in a bullfighting arena again. As a fan, I'm really disappointed that he hasn't bothered to respond at all.'

An open seminar held in the European Parliament in Brussels has agreed that bullfighting must be abolished. 

The meeting, which was chaired by Green MEP Caroline Lucas and attended by animal welfare experts, veterinary scientists, economists and politicians delivered strong arguments against bullfighting. 80 MEPs also signed a life size bull in support of the anti-bullfighting movement.

The seminar coincided with the 2nd International Anti-Bullfighting Summit with 25 groups from Europe and Latin America.

Florian Leppla, the League's bullfighting campaigner said: 'We are very grateful for this vital support. There is no doubt, bullfighting is not only cruel but also lacks economic credibility and is indeed unpopular in the bullfighting countries.' 

For further information see Caroline Lucas's article in the New Statesman