Collated readers' letters to the Times of Malta autumn 2007 - II
09.10.2007
Not a bird in sight
Mike Hare, England.
As someone who lives in another country, and only visits this beautiful island to holiday and enjoy the warmth of its
people, I have no right to dictate to the Maltese about their customs, or how they should be, nor shall I here.
The hunting of birds in these lovely islands was something that came to my mind in August while on a boat trip around
Gozo. After being on the boat for a while admiring the beautiful cliffs, it suddenly occurred to me that there was an absence
of birds, and I mean total absence. We did of course know that some Maltese love hunting birds, but at the end of our boat
trip around Gozo, not to have seen one bird was really quite unnatural and a very strange experience.
I live in a city 30 miles from the sea, which is plagued by seagulls; their noise and mess can be quite unbearable to
live with and I do think sometimes some kind of control is necessary.
There is some sort of balance that needs to be reached in both our countries and there is no doubt in my mind we have
not yet reached it.
Hunting and killing
Lesley Gail Kreupl, Gharb.
In view of what has happened in Malta and Gozo over the last few weeks, I simply do not understand why the Minister for
the Environment has not put an immediate stop to the hunting season. Will he wait until someone gets killed? As it is Ray
Vella will be scarred for life - mentally and physically.
This is completely apart from the vindictiveness which occurred during the raptor camp and the over 200 reported cases
of illegal poaching and killing of birds.
If all hunters are made to take the blame for a so-called minority of baddies, then perhaps they will wake up and help
the authorities in convicting their "wayward colleagues".
Eagle spotting
Manuel Briffa, Gzira.
Alas, in view of recent events in this warm and friendly land, where honey oozes from its very pores, it is likely that
the extremely rare lesser spotted eagle, now with considerably more spots than it ever bargained for, will be spotted lesser
than ever.
11.10.2007
Hunting is a grey area
Albert Gauci Cunningham, St Paul's Bay.
The hunting debate has taken many "colours", a lot of space in this newspaper and far too much of our national
energy.
On one hand we have some in the hunting "fraternity" who claim to be victims as they see their hobby being destroyed.
Any law or any kind of enforcement that might jeopardise their beloved pastime is bad. Anyone who even dares to protect anything
that flies is their enemy and could get threatened with cow dung, insults and obviously the vote.
On the other hand we have some in BirdLife who want to stop hunting (even sustainable) at all costs. All the ills of the
country are the hunters' fault. Last year they even blamed the bad tourism situation on hunting.
What about this year? Illegal hunting still goes on, albeit not as rampantly, and yet we still had the best year in six
and the best August ever in tourism.
In Malta things work this way; it's either black or white and most people fail to acknowledge or understand the fact that
the only way to solve this, by now nauseating issue of hunting, is to go grey!
Letters TOM 12.10.2007
Shooting mathematics
Albert Gauci Cunningham, St Paul's Bay.
The hunting debate has taken many "colours", a lot of space in this newspaper and far too much of our national
energy.
On one hand we have some in the hunting "fraternity" who claim to be victims as they see their hobby being destroyed.
Any law or any kind of enforcement that might jeopardise their beloved pastime is bad. Anyone who even dares to protect anything
that flies is their enemy and could get threatened with cow dung, insults and obviously the vote.
On the other hand we have some in BirdLife who want to stop hunting (even sustainable) at all costs. All the ills of the
country are the hunters' fault. Last year they even blamed the bad tourism situation on hunting.
What about this year? Illegal hunting still goes on, albeit not as rampantly, and yet we still had the best year in six
and the best August ever in tourism.
In Malta things work this way; it's either black or white and most people fail to acknowledge or understand the fact that
the only way to solve this, by now nauseating issue of hunting, is to go grey!
Letters TOM 13.10.2007
Outdated practice
Dennis Cini, Zebbug, Gozo.
Hopefully hunting will be to future generations as anachronistic, barbaric and cruel as the holding of slaves is to us
today.
What civilised justification do hunters have to deny us the right to enjoy living birds that seasonally grace our skies?
There are no good hunters: Fact is hunters sweep birds out of the skies indiscriminately in the hunting season.
By bullying environmental organisations and the ever growing pro-environment segment of the population, and by defending
a practice that's clearly out of tune with the times, the hunting lobby is only shooting itself in the foot.
In the meantime environmental organisations are to continue beating their drums to further scatter the ever thinning hunting
party.
Letters TOM 14.10.2007
'Interfering foreigners'
Mr Clifford John Williams, Sta Lucija.
I've been following Lino Farrugia and the FKNK's comments with regard to "interfering foreigners", particularly
the Germans who are here monitoring bird migration.
Why, I ask myself, are they so paranoid about photos? Surely, if those being photographed or "in" the photo,
are obeying the law and shooting legally, this can only be to their benefit, and strengthen their case.
Of course, if they're not, or their illegal intentions are frustrated by the presence of photographers, then it is quite
understandable.
Vilifying foreigners, Germans in particular, with offensive comments like "Nazis", and "foreign spies"
is racist.
Hunters would do well to remember that Germany is one of our top tourist markets. As to the federation's statement that
foreigners are responsible for any incident because of their "interference in our country" - what arrogant rubbish!
The truth is that if reports of a dead or injured birds were multiplied by a hundred, it would still be a gross underestimation.
And that does not take into account those that were wounded and able to fly on.
Stop hunting
Ms Lesley Gail Kreupl, Gharb.
In view of what has happened in Malta and Gozo over the last few weeks, I simply do not understand why the Minister of
Environment has not put an immediate stop to the hunting season.
Will he wait until someone gets killed? As it is, Ray Vella will be scarred for life - mentally and physically.
This is completely apart from the vindictiveness which occurred during the raptor camp and the over 200 reported cases
of illegal poaching and killing of birds.
If all hunters are made to take the blame for a so-called minority of baddies, then perhaps they will wake up and help
the authorities in convicting their 'wayward colleagues'.
Letters TOM 15.10.2007
Hunter to hunters
Henry Fenech Azzopardi, Ornis committee member, Sliema.
Whether we are part of Europe or not, illegal hunting must stop. It is the only way to safeguard legal hunting and at
the same time give a chance to the numerous law abiding hunters to practice their sport. The hunters' federation should do
much more to convince the authorities that they are all out to support law enforcement. I fully understand that FKNK are in
no position to play the role of the police to enforce the law. It is entirely the duty of the Police Commissioner to see that
illegal hunting is controlled. It is no excuse to keep saying that only a few hunters flout the law. Whatever the number,
these so-called few hunters must stop before it is too late.
I am convinced that Minister George Pullicino was not pleased at all to introduce the ban on afternoon hunting. He wanted
to avoid a situation of hunters being out in the open with their guns when birds of prey are known to migrate. This was criticised
by FKNK and to a certain extent I sympathise with them but on the other hand the minister wanted to avoid a situation of rampant
killing of birds of prey, thus repeating an early close season. Frankly, an early close season in September would have meant
shortening the autumn season by 130 days and not by 10 days as happened in spring. This was a scenario which the minister
wanted to avoid. However, this measure was again taken at the expense of the law abiding hunters.
I therefore urge the FKNK to go all out against illegal hunting without having to participate in police rounds. I do not
understand why FKNK were so against the foreigners patrolling the countryside. As far as I can understand they were a blessing
in disguise because FKNK did not have to stick their neck out with their members, and at the same time the few plus who are
still adamant will face the music. Only then perhaps, we law abiding hunters will start having dates fixed in advance for
spring and autumn seasons.
With regard to other outstanding matters I am sure that once the illegal hunting is controlled the Minister will reciprocate
by reaching agreements on petty existing problems. FKNK has to prove to the minister that BirdLife are after the whole abolition
of hunting. It has already been proven that the number of turtle doves and quails migrating over Malta is insignificant and
even if these are all shot down (which is not the case) the species are not endangered.
Finally, I would like to express a word of advice to FKNK. I am under the impression that the federation made alterations
in the statute to guide its members in the forthcoming elections. I may be wrong, but if I am right, what would be the outcome
if the federation directs its members to vote for one party and the end result puts the other party in government? This is
a very delicate situation and I feel the federation should remain out of politics and help the government of the day to enforce
the law. We are on the right track, and with a bit more tolerance and cooperation from BirdLife, FKNK ORNIS members and the
government, we should reach our goal.
My last word goes to the media. I condemn any form of illegal hunting whether it's a four-inch bee eater or a 48-inch
wing span eagle, but for goodness sake let's not blow isolated incidents out of proportion, which results in bad publicity
for our dear Malta. In the recent past the fall in tourism was also blamed on the hunters. Going by the same argument, once
tourism is flourishing illegal hunting has been on the decline. The media has a role to play without having to expose our
country to outsiders.
Illegal hunting takes place everywhere, but no country takes pride in this malpractice. One's duty is first and foremost
to report any wrongdoing to the police and the name of anybody brought to justice should then be published to serve as a warning
to possible offenders.
I have written this in very good faith and if anybody feels offended I apologise, but at the same time I feel that the
only way to secure our hunting tradition is to be positive and argue around the table without creating bad blood.
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