Have I Got News For You… yes, that was me
So… if you happened to be watching Have I Got News For You last night, you might have seen the segment explaining how I’m running for Scottish Parliament dressed as a giant gannet.
What they didn’t explain, though, is why I’m doing it.
If you’ve been following our work over the past few weeks or months, you’ll already know. This is about one thing: bringing attention to the Guga hunt and finally ending it.
Every year, a group of men travel to a remote Scottish island and kill gannet chicks, known as “guga.” They are taken from their nests and bludgeoned to death, all in the name of tradition and as a so-called local delicacy.
It’s something most people don’t even know is happening. And right now I am calling on all major Scottish parties to commit to a policy of ending it.
If you want to learn more about the Guga hunt, and read our latest article uncovering some shocking findings through Freedom of Information requests, you can do so here.
I’m really glad the BBC picked up on the story. I’m more than happy to be the butt of a few jokes if it means shining a light on something that urgently needs public attention.
Have I Got News For You pulls in around 4 million viewers.
That’s 4 million people who may have seen that clip, picked up their phones, and searched, “Why is someone dressed as a gannet running for Parliament?”
And that’s exactly the point.
Because that’s how this issue breaks out of the bubble and reaches people who would never normally come across it.
That’s how campaigns grow.
We want to do more of this. More ideas that cut through. More ways of reaching the mainstream. More moments that force people to stop, question, and learn, especially when it comes to protecting wildlife.
If you like the sound of that, I would really appreciate it if you chucked in a few pounds each month to support our ongoing work fighting for British wildlife.
Rob
Great work Rob. You're reaching an ever widening audience so a brilliant result. If only you had "End the Guga Hunt" somewhere on shot but maybe they would not have shown it then. All publicity is good publicity. Thank you. PS I hope you have got your maiden speech ready for the Scottish Parliament. You have just reached out to a million Scottish voters without the BBC having to say "and there are 20 other parties standing etc"
Yes, I saw that Rob. Well done for taking this initiative. A pity they didn't bother to say why you were dressed as a gannet but like you say, let's hope at least some people take time to find out.