SAVE THE GULLS

PROACT ITALY - HUNTING LAW CHANGES

SAVE THE GULLS

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MEMBER OF THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT INTRODUCES BILL ON MASS SLAUGHTER OF GULLS AND CORMORANTS

Signor Luca Bellotti, a member of the Alleanza Nazionale (National Alliance), introduced a Bill in May 2003 which would remove Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus, Herring Gull Larus argentatus, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans, and Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo from the (relative) protection of national hunting legislation and permit regional authorities to exterminate them as pests, even within the confines of nature reserves and national parks.

This bill "Disposizioni per il controllo della popolazione dei gabbiani e dei cormorani" (3996)", full wording here, was passed to the XIII Agricultural Committee of the Italian Parliament on 26 July 2003 for consideration.

The League for the Abolition of Hunting (LAC) in Milan, a Proact partner, has asked for support in lobbying MPs in the committee presently considering the bill.

David Conlin, Proact International

and Anti-Hunting League (LAC) Milan, Italy

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Send a email to the members of the parliamentary committee currently discussing the bill by clicking on this link

Mail to members of the parliamentary committee

in clear text:

deghislanzoni_g@camera.it,delaurentiis_r@camera.it,potenza_a@camera.it,

franci_c@camera.it, franz_d@camera.it, alberini_g@camera.it

banti_e@camera.it, bellotti_l@camera.it, borrelli_l@camera.it,

burani_m@camera.it, castagnetti_p@camera.it, catanoso_b@camera.it,

collavini_m@camera.it, dussin_g@camera.it, fratta_p@camera.it,

grillo_m@camera.it, grimaldi_u@camera.it, jacini_g@camera.it,

lagrua_s@camera.it, losurdo_s@camera.it, marcora_l@camera.it,

marinello_g@camera.it, masini_m@camera.it, misuraca_f@camera.it,

monaco_f@camera.it, oliviero_g@camera.it, patarino_c@camera.it,

preda_a@camera.it, rava_l@camera.it, ricciuti_r@camera.it,

romele_g@camera.it, rossiello_g@camera.it, ruggieri_o@camera.it,

sandi_i@camera.it, scaltritti_g@camera.it, sedioli_s@camera.it,

stramaccioni_a@camera.it, vascon_l@camera.it, villani_a@camera.it,

violante_l@camera.it, zama_f@camera.it, redazioneweb@luigiborrelli.it

Copy to: Margot.Wallstrom@cec.eu.int, lacmi@anticaccia.it, info@proact-campaigns.net

A draft text is provided in Italian and English below (send preferably Italian - or send both!) or you can compose your own using the following main points:

Gulls are not automatically pests. Extermination of them in large numbers will upset the ecological balance and deprive us of a graceful addition to our skies
Italy, as a state surrounded by sea and a traditional seafaring nation has a special responsibility in the Mediterranean for coastal wildlife .
The measures are contrary to EU legislation and will bring sanctions and will have to be revoked.
Permitting shooting in nature reserves and national parks will give hunters a free hand to kill anything that flies.
Ask for assurance that the MPs will stop the bill at the committee stage.

DRAFT ITALIAN TEXT

[Email subject] NO ALLA PROPOSTA DI LEGGE CONTRO GABBIANI E CORMORANI

Onorevole,

Oggetto: no alla proposta di legge contro gabbiani e cormorani

Abbiamo appreso con tristezza ed incredulità che un membro del vostro Parlamento, l'On. Bellotti, ha presentato un progetto di legge tendente ad escludere gabbiani e cormorani dal regime di protezione previsto dalla legge italiana sulla caccia, il che li renderebbe oggetto di programmi di sterminio da parte delle autorità regionali. Tra questi vi sarebbe la possibilità di ucciderli allinterno di aree protette e parchi naturali, precedente estremamente pericoloso e quasi certamente in contrasto con le normative comunitarie.

Sicuramente esaminerà questa proposta con attenzione e, speriamo, capirà che è molto discutibile nei suoi contenuti. Cionondimeno vogliamo sottolineare che l'intendimento di massacrare migliaia di gabbiani rappresenta un perverso rovesciamento della tradizione letteraria e poetica della vostra nazione, che tiene in grande stima il mare e gli animali marini. Sarebbe difficile spiegare ai bambini in futuro perché il volo e le grida di uccelli di così forte valore simbolico sono diventati tanto rari o spariti del tutto.

La comunità scientifica internazionale, i birdwatchers e i naturalisti di tutta Europa, compresi noi, guardano con preoccupazione questa minaccia all' avifauna.

Chiediamo con forza che Lei, in quanto membro del Parlamento italiano, prenda nota della nostra protesta e si adoperi per evitare la decimazione di alcune delle più popolari specie di uccelli europei.

Con la speranza che il buon senso e il rispetto per la natura prevalgano,

Distinti saluti

[nome e indirizzo]

DRAFT ENGLISH TEXT

[email subject]: STOP THE PASSAGE OF THE GULLS AND CORMORANTS DRAFT BILL

Dear Honourable Member of the Italian Parliament,

Subject: Stop the passage of the Gulls and Cormorants draft bill

It is with sadness and disbelief that we heard the news from Italy that a bill has been presented by a member of your Parliament, Signor Bellotti, which has the aim of excluding seagulls and cormorants from protection under national hunting law, thus making them the object of extermination programmes to be arranged by regional authorities. This will include killing them inside protected areas and natural parks, which is an extremely dangerous precedent and almost certainly a breach of European Union legislation.

You will undoubtedly give this proposal your careful attention and hopefully conclude that its merits are questionable. Nevertheless we would like to stress that the intention of slaughtering thousands of gulls is a perverse reversal of your national poetic and literary tradition which holds the sea surrounding most of your country, and its wildlife, in great affection and esteem. It will be difficult for all of us to explain to our children in future why the flight and cries of such a symbolic bird is so rare or non-existent.

The international scientific community, the birdwatchers and nature-lovers of Europe, of which we are a part, are mobilising against this ridicule misuse of parliamentary representation.

We urge you, as a Member of the Italian Parliament to take note of our protests, and use your best offices and influence to prevent the decimation of some of our most graceful European bird species.

In the hope that good sense and respect for nature and the environment will prevail we remain,

Yours sincerely,

(name and address)

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