It seems that Lino Farrugia, secretary of the Federation for Hunting and Conservation (January 14), is the sole entity qualified to educate our children.

In his unqualified wisdom, he changes the meaning of words to suit himself. He claims that "hunting has become synonymous with conservation" and qualifies this by stating "hunters safeguard, husband or conserve" species of birds they hunt, "as otherwise there would be nothing to hunt".

So there we have it, right from the horse's mouth: Hunters conserve just long enough to shoot them down! And what does he mean by saying "species of birds we hunt"? It has long been evident that many hunters are indiscriminate, killing anything that flies, including threatened and protected species. Mr Farrugia, one does not safeguard birds by shooting them; one does not husband by killing them before they reach their breeding grounds, and one does not conserve birds by breeding them for the kill!

Hunters are not allowing our children to enjoy seeing these magnificent birds in our skies. Instead, they selfishly covet these birds for themselves, preferring to see them stuffed and motionless in their display cabinets, rather than enjoy them in their natural environment.

Perhaps they can "educate" our children by inviting them into their homes to see their lifeless trophies!