Collated readers' letters to the Times of Malta autumn 2007
19.09.2007
Conservationists? (1)
Jacob Rizzo, Qawra.
A friend of mine from the UK, on holiday in Malta, saw the front page photo of Lino Farrugia and the caption beneath which
referred to his federation as "conservationists" (September 18), and asked me the following two questions: What
was the federation trying to conserve? Is "hunters" and "conservationists" not a contradiction in terms?
To the latter question I knew the answer, and yes in my opinion it is a contradiction. But I could not find any appropriate
reply to why the hunters were calling themselves "conservationists".
Will Mr Farrugia and any of his ilk illuminate my friend before returning home? I do not want him to go back with the
wrong ideas. After all Malta is already under fire for indiscriminate and illegal hunting.
Conservationists? (2)
Aldo Gatt, London, UK
Lino Farrugia of the Federation of Hunters and Conservationists is not concerned about brandishing the word "extremist"
gratuitously. The Times quoted him saying that any foreigner who criticised Malta should be declared a persona non grata.
Now there's an extreme political view if I ever saw one.
20.09.2007
Shooting from the hip (1)
Wilfred L. Camilleri, Ontario, Canada.
I have a few comments regarding the ranting and ravings of Lino Farrugia, secretary of the Federation of Hunters and Conservationists.
Mr Farrugia commented that "The country should be enjoyed by locals, and any foreigner who criticises Malta should be
declared a persona non grata". Mr Farrugia obviously has a very weird and distorted view of democracy. In a democracy
every one, including foreigners, has the right to espouse their views just like Mr Farrugia has the right to espouse his own.
Only when those views are intended to promote violence or illegal acts should legal action be taken.
Mr Farrugia carries on with his diatribe by mentioning "foreign interference". Well, guess what Mr Farrugia?
When Malta joined the EU it joined a community and everyone in that community has the right to air their views about what
is happening in the whole community, which includes Malta. The environment and wildlife is a concern for everyone in the world.
Any activity that harms the environment or endangers the survival of wildlife is everyone's concern and is therefore not restricted
to the citizens of the country where the activity is taking place.
He also urged members not to allow anyone to take photos. As long as those taking photos are on public property, and this
includes public areas where some hunters put up private ownership signs, no one has the right to stop them from doing so.
Once again Mr Farrugia's statement shows his lack of knowledge of democracy, privacy and the law.
People will only start taking the Federation of Hunters and Conservationists seriously if its officials start giving press
conferences where actual facts are presented and reasonable statements are made.
The press conference given by Mr Farrugia certainly didn't. Hunters in Malta are their own worst enemy. If they stopped
illegal hunting the issue would not flare up every time the hunting season starts. If the Federation of Hunters and Conservationists
was really serious about the "conservationist" part it claims, it would make every effort to identify those hunters
that shoot protected species and hunt out of season and help bring them to justice.
Shooting from the hip (2)
Carmelo Aquilina, Auckland, New Zealand.
The reaction of the Hunter's Federation (FKNK) to the presence of the Birdlife raptor camp was depressingly predictable
(September 18). Instead of condemning the observed and documented illegal killing of protected birds of prey we get the usual
paranoid denials and increasingly xenophobic attacks on "foreigners".
The law abiding section of the bird shooters will have to distance themselves by deeds rather than words to avoid becoming
an irrelevance. If Mr Farrugia and the FKNK cannot face external scrutiny or practice some self restraint than they cannot
hide under fake patriotism. For heaven's sake, please join the late 20th century if not this current one !
22.09.2007
Illegal hunting
Charles Gauci, Mosta.
Tony Caruana (Shooting Of Night Heron, September 14) sees the closing of the hunting season at 3 p.m. between September
15 and 30 as a sign of an incompetent government and Minister (George Pullicino), who are unable to control illegal hunting.
Personally I see it as an admission by the correspondent that illegal hunting is still very rampant and that the hunting federation
is still unable to effectively educate and control its members.
Hunters and freedom of expression (1)
Robert Callus, Mosta.
Alternattiva Demokratika Zghazagh (ADZ) considers the statements by Lino Farrugia, secretary of the Federation of Hunting
and Conservationists (FKNK) as reported in The Times (September 18) as an insult to the public.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right that should be respected. FKNK has for a long time benefited from such
a right.
However, when someone else dares to exercise this right and this goes against the interests of the FKNK, Mr Farrugia attacks
people personally and implies that freedom of expression is not valid for them.
The people he is targeting are foreigners some of whom are also bird watchers. He called each of these foreigners persona
non grata.
Apart from the fact that ADZ considers foreigners as well as locals that report abuses as doing a good job, it is needless
to say that such people are mostly tourists, benefiting an industry we depend heavily on.
They might be a pain in the neck for hunters, especially those who won't abide by the rules, but to consider them as unwanted
is offensive.
Hunters and freedom of expression (2)
Joe Zahra, Ontario, Canada.
I am flabbergasted by the goings on of hunters.
I feel sorry for the real hunters. Real hunters are those that hunt for the pleasure of the outdoors and have respect
for the birds.
A real hunter will not get involved in the comedy that is going on. Real hunters do not care about what time they can
go hunting.
I hunted in Canada for 30 years and rules change all the time. Sometimes the changes are inconvenient and not quite realistic.
But we have never had the comedies that go on in Malta. We protest and give the reasons why, but when it comes to the
hunting grounds, the law is always observed.
The remarks by Lino Farrugia of the Federation of Hunters and Conservationists during the federation's press conference
were offensive and ridiculous.
Both the government and the federation are missing the point. All these arguments should be based on the future of the
birds that are being hunted and the safety of hunting.
Bob Elliot's report in The Times (September 17) was accurate and it is what I have witnessed myself on the island many
times.
The federation has to get rid of the so-called hunters that make all hunters look bad.
Now one can see that this whole issue is going to turn political. So the comedy drags on.
24.09.2007
A sighting of Honey Buzzards
Noel K. Micallef, Siggiewi.
On Saturday, September 15 I was on my way to Ghar Lapsi, limits of Siggiewi at around five o'clock in the evening and
when I took a glance at the sky I could see a large number of Honey Buzzards gliding away in the clouded sky.
At one point there were at least 25 of them visible. Sadly enough, after a few minutes, while I was taking some pictures,
some gun shots came from the area next to were I was standing, but it seemed that no harm was done. Could the new laws introduced
by the government allow us to admire these species? Will the hunters keep their promise and not shoot on these types of birds?
26.09.2007
Hunters near the temples
Ruben Overend, Kappara.
While walking along the footpath between Mnajdra Temples and Hagar Qim Temples, my wife, my friends and I were greeted
by a shower of lead from the sky. We had just attended an excellent event organised by Heritage Malta at sunrise to see the
autumn equinox.
In my opinion the whole area between and around the Mnajdra and Hagar Qim temples should be declared a conservation zone,
thus making it illegal for hunters to practise their so-called hobby in this area.
It is ridiculous that while Maltese and tourists are walking inside the prehistoric temples or along the 500-metre stretch
of land between Hagar Qim Temples and Mnajdra Temples, careless hunters shoot at birds from a distance of less than 50 metres
from the footpath thus putting at risk the lives of other people.
I ask these hunters to kindly stop endangering peoples' lives and giving a bad name to Malta.
28.09.2007
Ornithologists' experience
Tim Hall, Oxforshire, UK.
My wife and I decided to visit Malta to celebrate our wedding anniversary, in mid-September, to pursue our interest as
ornithologists. We are members of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in England and had been told that we could
expect to see many birds in migration from Europe to North Africa, including ospreys, honey buzzards, marsh harriers, hobby
etc, which are very rare in the UK.
While researching various possibilities we discovered that BirdLife Malta, would give us the opportunity to join a Raptor
Camp in Buskett, to monitor bird migration and show support for their stand against illegal hunting.
On arrival we were given an excellent briefing, which left us in little doubt that we may see things which would upset
us.
While enjoying the bird-watching with a group of fellow volunteers, from the spectacular Dingli Cliffs, we were appalled
to hear gunshots from close by the old chapel, a well-known tourist area. This continued well into the evening.
Another group of BirdLife volunteers near the forest, the next morning, told us that there were many local hunters who
were shooting birds of prey as they rose from their overnight roost in the forest before embarking on their onward journey
to North Africa.
We later joined them and over several days and in several other rural locations, saw several birds shot by the hunters,
including two ospreys, several honey buzzards, a marsh harrier and a kestrel.
We were horrified at the carnage and at the same time amazed that the Maltese government could allow this illegal slaughter
to continue without serious and concerted effort. The ALE police had a presence and were several times seen patrolling and
asked us if we were in trouble. I also heard they had arrested one hunter caught in the act!
From a British tourist's point of view, I ask why there were no public warnings of this menace and why currently legal
hunting of certain species like turtle doves and quail in autumn could not be confined to areas where members of the public
and tourists like us would be excluded, by visible barriers and warning signs about travelling in the countryside. It has
made us very wary about returning to Malta in the future unless the government can make real assurances that it is safe to
do so and that rare and endangered species are truly given the protected status they deserve and are indeed given in most
countries within the European Union.
Moreover, we are aware of the ongoing infringement procedure opened by the European Commission against the Maltese government
for allowing shooting and trapping of turtle dove and quail during spring.
We sincerely hope that the government will stop this illegal practice and not allow hunting in spring, as it is illegal
in Europe.
29.09.2007
The 62,500 EURO bird
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| Malta - where eagles dare! |
Chris Mallia, Birkirkara.
The article Efforts To Take Injured Eagle To German Rehabilitation Centre (September 23) is an example of why irresponsible
hunting is looked down on by so many EU citizens, tradition or not, sport or not, foreign interference or not.
The lesser spotted eagle wantonly shot down over Birzebbuga was one of 16 eagles that cost 1 million Euros to rescue by
EU Life. That makes it 62,500 Euros per bird.
Such is the commitment and effort shown by the EU to safeguard and protect rare species threatened by extinction.
The hunting fraternity can play with words as much as they like, claiming that all hunters should not be blamed for an
irresponsible few (?), but figures and actions stand out more than words.
They can also power play and threaten with their votes, but that does not change these facts.
The time is long overdue to control these illegal practices properly and seriously, with equally merciless and severe
fines and imprisonments. Even hunter self-regulation practices may not be enough.
This should be done not only to safeguard Malta's image, not only so that everyone can enjoy the Maltese countryside,
not only because of tourism, not only because of lead pollution, but also because we, as an EU nation, should fully shoulder
our wildlife responsibilities, show that we are a civilised nation by example, and proud to be Maltese.
01.10.2007
Nobody cares
Adrian Aquilina, St Julians.
Did I hear right? Did the Minister of the Environment really say that only a few protected birds have been killed and
this does not warrant closing the hunting season? This on top of the abuse given to the birdwatchers?
Is not one dead protected bird enough to stop all this?
I fear there is no hope in Malta if the government behaves this way and the MLP is no better.
The environment, our health, safety on the roads, animal abuse and the killing of animals, making the police do their
job (this seems too much to ask), listening to the liberal thinkers... neither party cares.
04.10.2007
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Tina Hahl, on behalf of the members of The Project Group on Nature, Conservation and Animal Welfare, Johannes-Kepler, Grammar
School, Weil der Stadt, Germany.
We have been following with great interest and full of emotion the incident regarding Sigmar, the lesser spotted eagle
who a few days ago was shot by Maltese poachers on its migration route to Africa. As supporters and collaboration partners
of both German and Maltese NGOs in joint efforts for a better protection of global biodiversity, we are voicing our disgust
at the fact that common and in this case highly endangered European natural heritage is still being blasted out of the skies
of Malta by reckless bird shooters.
We would like to thank all those who went out of their way to save the life of this rare bird and get it back to Gemany
for further medical treatment. We witnessed the live broadcasting of the arrival of Sigmar at Frankfurt Airport through our
German TV station ARD and were very moved to see the bird blinking into the camera, tired and without offering resistance,
but obviously happy and thankful to be taken care of.
Our personal thanks in the first place go to the lady with the big heart who found the injured and helpless bird in the
fields and notified the ALE who in collaboration with national and European partners in the last years have been doing milestone
work in their efforts to protect natural heritage. We would like to further thank Max Farrugia from International Animal Rescue
(Malta) who in collaboration with CABS (Committee against Bird Slaughter) and the Maltese authorities made it possible to
get the bird to Germany to be nursed back to health. Last not least, a big thanks to Air Malta, our favourite airline on our
visits to Malta, who so promptly and unbureaucratically collaborated on the bird's transport.
We would finally like to encourage all nature loving and environmentally conscious Maltese citizens to continue the fight
against a bunch of quite obviously sick-minded people terrorising the country and trying to wipe out both national and European
natural heritage by supporting the NGOs and the enforcement teams in their relentless efforts to save biodiversity for both
present and future generations.
06.10.2007
The sin of 'illegal' shooting
Aldo E. Azzopardi, Sliema.
The Church Environment Commission has urged hunters and trappers to realise that "illegal" practices are unsustainable
and harm their own pastime.
Since this is a Church matter let us speak in parables: Let us say that some future government will lay down the law to
the effect that confessing one's sins is to be against payment, and that the Church would be obliged to pay VAT for rendering
such a service.
Would the Church take this lying down? Of course not, but the ruling would still be legal.
Since when is the Church an expert on the environment? Reading further down in the statement, when talking about "developments
of (presumably) firearms, and hunting from seacraft as being the cause of the depletion of birds", it makes one wish
that the Church should stick to matters of religion and not talk about matters of which it is manifestly and grossly misinformed.
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