WELCOME to the absurd world of gamekeeping. The practice of twisting the environment to favour exotic species that are attractive to hunters while exterminating native predators that may possibly consume them first.

The word terrorist is not just a word, it is a weapon, used by those with vested interests in perpetuating animal exploitation and slaughter.

By labelling people terrorists, in this case the animal welfare protesters, it serves to deflect attention away from what they don't want the public to think too much about.

Sections of the media are doing a brilliant job in this respect and some gullible and ill-informed people are falling for it.

But history will judge the animal welfare protesters and one day they will be labelled martyrs not terrorists - when the world looks to us for a lasting respect and the animals look to us for a lasting kindness, some of us will have awakened from our sleep.

Writer and naturalist Henry Beston said: "For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings, they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the Earth."

JEANNE YOUNG (address supplied).