PKL - Ceasing

[TSKA Rory Matier]

Hi,

After much thought, considerations and deliberations, l have decided to close down the Pro Keepers Lobby. My own politics have changed considerably in the last 12 months, with an emphasis on the last 6 months. Close colleagues and myself have been in discussion concerning this decision, and l can say it was not easily reached and was not a light passing.

I look upon the industry with different eyes to how l did 5 years ago, and whilst legislation has finally moved on in leaps and bounds, l see no change to the industry that it so deeply affects.

Whilst my views and opinions are still strong for specialist, dedicated, motivated and energetic keepers, l can not look at the politics that so many do in the way that they do any longer.

TSKA - The Specialist Keepers' Association has its own 'brand' of political belief, this being supporting legislation that concerns husbandry and ethics behind such issues, and because of our own thoughts, we can no longer see the path being open for the lobby per se.

There are a large community of keepers in the United Kingdom that are deeply concerned with the state of play with regards to all animals and how they are maintained regarding animals welfare, but insufficient motivation to sustain a lobby aimed at that.

The ADG's have this market sewn up, and it will only be a matter of time before the rest of this industry realises that. Political parties that could have the keepers backing are too small and would become underfunded and mismanaged due to an incredible variety and range in beliefs and direction of what should and should not be.

From this point in time, all legislational concerns will be displayed within TSKA for one and all to view as they so require. But will only concentrate efforts upon what is imperative and integral to the animals and the keepers themselves.

Thanks For Reading

Rory Matier
The Specialist Keepers Association.

[purejurrasic]

All differences aside, its interesting to see that two recently closed threads contain a total of 28547 views and 634 replies, many purporting to be by concearned keepers and involving welfare and the law.

Yet, when the one man who has most openly brought these issues to the public over the last year says he is ceasing, whats he get?

28 views and NO replies.

Its a shame things have gone they way they have Rory, the hobby does need people who are not afraid to stand up and be heard, or to be regarded as the anti christ .

Good luck.

Tony

[CBR1100XX]

Comparing it to the viewings and posts on a locked thread discussing the deaths of animals is not the same is it. Nice to see that these threads that involved yourself are brought up again at a time where Rory should be receiving thanks for his help.

Some may not be into the political side of reptile keeping so as Rory knows may not even understand what the PKL was or did but I think all who keep reptiles would be concerned about unnecessary deaths regardless of who is at fault if anyone.

To Rory I think many do understand the work you have put into PKL even if they may not have seen or responded to this thread and thank you for it in there own way. I hope that you still have a similar involvement even without PKL running. Even though as you are aware from talking in the past I am not into the political side I still feel that people like you are needed within the hobby. I wish you luck in whatever you decide.

[TSKA Rory Matier]

My thanks to all.

It is not that l have given up as some have said onto me recently.

The Pro Kepers Lobby, l believe would have worked some years back, perhaps even when l first began looking at politics seriously within this industry.

It is just that it simply does not fit in - that is it. Its agenda lost track, l have made mention to this quite recently. My beliefs are firmer now than they were some years ago when l was simply naive.

My respect for the keepers within this field alone is quite probably much higher than in my own mammal field, for at least the reptile keepers - have had me hammering them for the last year with what is going on, and RFUK has and must take a lot of credit for that for allowing the facility to write politically in the first place, whereas many mammal forums still either do not wish for this information or are very slow at accepting that - unlike the mammal keepers who still have their heads in the sand!

And because of this, and especially not being a reptile keeper per se myself except by default of Nerys' collection, l will always have a fondness for.

So, the fact that PKL does/did not fit in, hardly surprising with all the errors that this industry has seen from societies, clubs and political groups over the last five years - but it did arouse emotions within for more keepersto think about what is happening within this industry and challenge where needs be, and to not be afraid to speak out.

Tony, 'without predujice' l now write.

Threads such as the ones you speak of, will incite much emotion and response - for obvious reasons - political threads - unless they were a debate of which response could be guaranteed, a remark in which answers were expected and so on, a simple statement such as my original post was not designed to receive massive responses - it was simple directive as in 'This is what we are doing - this is what is happening'.

What responses are there to be had in reality?

It is only a poltical faction that is disappearing, it is not the believing of the keepers or their charges that is going, nor is it the complete absence of the support. It is simply a brand that is breaking down through lack of committment and motivation towards that brand, not just by the keepers, viewers etc, but also by the creators.

We can do just as much good work within the TSKA brand as we could do or have done with PKL.

TSKA as a brand is non aggressive, it is objective.

PKL as a brand - WAS aggressive, as were the campaigns, no, this is NOT the way forwards - the way forwards is to display the facts only.

Application, rather than implication. The truth only.

Thanks For Reading

Rory Matier

[purejurrasic]

In fact, if my reply is read with an open mind, its pointing out that people cant wait to jump on the bandwagon, yet when some one who really did try do something stopped, no one was bothered.

Sy, your reply is classic, you see my post, you assume you think you know what I am saying, and then put your boot right in it

Whatever differences there may be now, Rory DID try to bring things to the open.

Its a shame thats changing.

[ratboy]

A wise decision Rory.... the right one.

You know my views on Welfare, the hobby and the people within it. You also know my views on the politics around it.

Best wishes for the future of TSKA my friend.

[Maureen Collinson]

A good decision for you to have made Rory, and I also firmly believe the right one for you, given the way things are now.

Wishing you and Nerys every success for the future.

Mo.xxxxxxxxx

[gtm]

I've always found your posts interesting Rory & I think the decision to close PKA is a wise one - there is enough 'militancy' on both sides of the fence.

[essexchondro]

My own experience of Rory's posts is that they've not contributed all that much to reptile keeping simply because, as Rory openly admits, he's not a reptile keeper himself. I have to admit, though, that I've not really followed Rory's posts that closely (because of the reason I've just mentioned) so I could have missed something that would suggest otherwise.

I agree with purejurassic, our hobby does need people who aren't afraid to stand up and be heard, but those people need to actually be a part of our hobby, not "external observers" with no hand-on experience in the subject matter they wish to create a debate around.

cheers

Stuart

[ratboy]

Originally Posted by essexchondro

My own experience of Rory's posts is that they've not contributed all that much to reptile keeping simply because, as Rory openly admits, he's not a reptile keeper himself. I have to admit, though, that I've not really followed Rory's posts that closely (because of the reason I've just mentioned) so I could have missed something that would suggest otherwise.

I agree with purejurassic, our hobby does need people who aren't afraid to stand up and be heard, but those people need to actually be a part of our hobby, not "external observers" with no hand-on experience in the subject matter they wish to create a debate around.

cheers

Stuart

The PKL (Pro Keepers Lobby) that Rory created and has now closed was aimed at keepers of all species of animals, not just reptiles.