Thursday 2nd October 2009
Unfortunately almost within sight of our home a man was in a wooden ring surrounded by fish suspended on racks in tiny plastic bags. Hundreds more swam in a filthy tank. Loud music and bright lights assailed the poor creatures. We retreated home to decide what to do. The RSPCA were called and they, mistakenly, told us that this disgusting abuse had been banned and we needed to inform both police and council. The police and the out of hours council number were duly called and we gave the authorities a chance to implement common decency. We cannot fault the PC and PCSOs who attended the scene, took this seriously and also contacted the RSPCA for advice as well as “having words” with the abuser. However unfortunately the Animal Welfare Bill 2005 was supposed to include a ban on fish sales was amended to the positively spineless allowance of any abuse of fish as long as no child under 16 participated without guidance of someone over 16. It is therefore legally acceptable for a 16 year old to “supervise” his 15 ½ year old mate in caring for a sentient being. There is no onus on anyone to actually bother checking whether someone is over 16.
Evesham Town Council wrung their hands about the abuse but say that they can only ask the man who runs the fun fair Edward Danter not to sell the fish (even though they give the licence in return or money) and they will probably debate this issue soon. He, Eddie, thinks it’s a nice tradition to abuse animals in public and so we have a problem. Let us make this clear how wrong and cruel this goldfish as prizes is over several points;
1. Tradition at the Mop has including the public humiliation of humans, what next punish a few “criminals” in the stocks, a nice lynching? Years ago a woman was burnt at the stake on the exact site of the Mop , makes a change from watching telly we suppose.
2. It is inarguable that fish suffer pain, are sentient and suffer from stress as much as any of us who classify as sentient beings. Goldfish enjoy cold water, darkness, an ability to hide. To put them on show in tiny bags, with bright lights with vibrations echoing from sound systems is nothing short of torture. It makes a mockery of every scientific fish study ever undertaken. Whatever the excuses of yesteryear, there are none now, furthermore a fair in the 50s would not have had the same noise and light levels. There is an argument that this even surpasses angling in the cruelty stakes, even the aqua pet industry find it disgusting and want a ban.
3. We abhor the exploitation of all animals but in every other case whether it be eating meat or wearing fur the person involved in the abuse has some sort of desire to enjoy the fruits of exploitation. It is unlikely that anyone goes for a night out with the actual anticipation of “winning” a goldfish which makes this utterly mindless. There is absolutely no justification whatsoever, not even “well the kids wanted a fish” because, regrettably, anyone can go and buy a fish from a pet shop.
4. What makes this even more moronic is the fact that even the worst pet shop has some sort of duty of care, and the shop assistant will be able to give some advice and flog basic necessities. “We reserve the right to decline the sale of a pet to anyone without explanation” is a sign often displayed. This idiot on the fish stall would make no such judgements. Drunken yobs can “win” a fish and do as they wish with the poor creature, they are stamped on, flushed down toilets and abused further. We presume that very few “winners” will have 10 gallon, filtered tanks, appropriate food, companions, plants etc waiting at home on the vague premise that they might acquire a fish which if s/he lives may need care for decades.
5. The most sinister aspect of this is that it is aimed at children teaching them that living beings are just things which can be bought, sold, abused and disregarded once they get boring. We are liberationists but even if we accepted the premise that it is morally acceptable to have a pet industry surely the basic moral standard would be that anyone taking on this responsibility will have a tank, the funds to care for the fish, the seeking of knowledge on welfare etc. This is in fact what the law says according to the RSPCA, so even the government accept that pet fish are deserving of basic welfare standards. Edward Danter and his louts only care about making money. We wonder how many of the fish we saw will end up dead abused by Danter, his customers or who die when even well meaning people get them home and do their best.
6. Laughably tiny goldfish bowls were being sold as well. After perusing a few fish care sites apparently what happens after a while is that the fish cannot grow properly and remains stunted, his or her internal organs, however, continue to grow and get crushed causing an excruciating death. What does Danter and his lackeys care about this when they have already made their money?
7. Who on earth is going to feel that their life is less complete with the absence of a goldfish stall? We on meeting these err people have concluded that they are pretty dense but does it really tax the imagination that much to have an alternative, some goldfish shaped sweets for example?

Friday 3rd October 2009
It became obvious that the authorities had failed to do the simplest thing and get fish out of the Mop. It then befell us to do what we could with very limited resources. The Evesham Journal were called and a demonstration announced. This led to the following incident which is described briefly as there may be legal consequences.

It is indeed legal to sell fish and abuse them but it is also legal to hold a peaceful protest. One activist held up a couple of banners on a council owned carpark on Merstow Green she did not touch the stand and remained restrained. There was some, fairly, good natured banter with fairground staff who found this amusing but then the lowlife who ran the fish stall attacked her from behind, robbed her of the posters and ripped them up. His partner screamed at the local activist to leave the area where she lives and tried to assault the activist who stood her ground. An older man joined the fray brandishing a stick. Apparently Danter’s fair staff have the right to push around local people and tell them where they can and can’t stand on public land! The posters were ripped up. The activist not to be outdone marched into the stall and liberated a fish. The animal abuser fish man then attacked the activist from behind causing her to fall straight onto her head, the fish was sent flying onto the tarmac as the 3 assailants 2 men and 1 woman carried on their assault on the lone female activist, as well as trying to stamp on the fish. The activist managed to break free and ran with the fish to save his/her life.

The fish has been called Griffin after the much missed Cambridgeshire activist Pat Griffin who died recently and is in a safe house and doing well despite the ordeal. The activist is covered in bruises but has not sustained any serious or permanent injury. The police are involved but have arrested neither fair workers or the activist. It is expected that no legal action from the police will take place.

Representations will be made to Evesham Council and every council where “Edward Danter’s Fun Fair” turns up to either include a clause in the licence that prohibits the selling or “winning” of any living creatures or to grant no licence at all. Danter can decide whether or not animal abuse is worth the trouble he is now going to face.

For more information on Edward Danter’s Fun Fair go to www.edwarddantersfunfair.co.uk email  info@edwarddanter.co.uk or phone the man himself on 07977 495546 or 07967 538752 and ask him why he abuses animals and why 3 of his workers attacked a lone protestor who was not being violent. We of course ask that all communication be polite and non threatening. Interestingly the website makes no mention of fish, it is a very small part of the very lucrative overall operation which makes it even more bewildering.

Rumour has it that the fair is going to Alcester, then Droitwich. Stratford on Avon might be after that.

For further information about animals used for “amusement” including fish : www.captiveanimals.org
and
 http://www.eveshamjournal.co.uk/news/4662200.Gold_fish_as_prizes_spark_Mop_Fair_demonstration/