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.
I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis.
I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God.
I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree.
Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons.
I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA.
While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon..
In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God.
We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987).
From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting.
Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982.
I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects.
In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston.
In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018.
Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia.
In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey.
As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova.
Love and God Bless,
Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi
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