Fabian Borg, PR and education committee, Federation for Hunters, Trappers and Conservationists, Żebbuġ.
Hunters were heard
Letters like The Hunters' Message by Audrey Callus (March 11) were expected soon after the official announcement of the general election result. The hunters' message was heard and it is irresponsible to state that the Nationalist Party should go back on their promises, not to mention the black on white agreements between the government and the EU, and abolish spring hunting.
The message was heard loud and clear as for the first time in decades the projections of the election result were uncertain throughout the day on Sunday, March 9, which was Malta's longest day that I can remember.
Speaking of bold steps, the one that needs to be taken now is to face the European Court of Justice with a solid case and valid data to stand up against the wish to alter our traditional practices which were accepted at first instance prior to accession by all countries in the EU.
Failing to hold on to what was agreed on hunting will only jeopardise the other "special" arrangements obtained with success by Malta during the negotiations and that would only weaken us as a country.
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Darren Caruana
Apr 1st 2008, 22:42
Dear Mr Vella,
You know full well what I meant.
just because a practice is no longer the norm of society, it doesn't mean it is wrong.
Legitimate hunting is practised all over the world. It is the poachers we should get rid of.
Mr Vella,
Do you eat chicken?
Do you think chicken is born dead in a plastic wrapping?
Do not be fooled, the moment you pay for a dead chicken you become as guilty for its death as the man who killed it.
Now some of us pay for chicken and also practise legitimate hunting to eat healthy game (legally)
Fabian Borg
Apr 1st 2008, 15:53
Dear Kenneth Cassar,
I believe you should ask that question to MIC and MEP Simon Busuttil. I am sure they will guide you accordingly. Putting it on your website will not necessarily give the desired fruits to all.
Kenneth Cassar
Apr 1st 2008, 07:37
What black on white agreement between the government and the EU? Can you please provide me a copy of the document. I promise to put it on the front page of my website if you do.
Joe Vella
Apr 1st 2008, 06:06
Dear Mr, Darren Caruana, to compare horse riding to killing of prey shows simply shows me your shortsightedness. I rest my case.
Darren Caruana
Mar 31st 2008, 21:04
Dear Joe Vella,
Horse riding was practised in the past as a means of transportation. It is quite clear to me that this is no longer the norm of society - today it is a hobby same as hunting all over the rest of the world
Maria Dolores Fenech
Mar 31st 2008, 18:10
If Hunters wanted to be heard then they should have voted against the EU and against the PN.
If they did not do so, then they have to stick to the rules of the EU unless they want to break the law.
Min xarbu irid jieklu l-bakkaljaw!
Alas now it is too late to complain!
Joe Vella
Mar 31st 2008, 17:36
There is this premise out there that hunting is a sport or hobby. Can anyone tell me since when Hunting became a sport or a hobby, I believe that hunting was practised in the past as a means of one to provide food on the table for his family. It is quite clearly to me that such practiced is no longer the norm of society. So, why would one allow to have hunting to continue in such a barbaric way in Malta.
J. Borg
Mar 31st 2008, 16:49
Mr. Grima, everyone and I repeat everyone, should enjoy the countryside, and all the birds, accompanied by our dog pals. The improvement is that instead of carrying a deadly (for birds), noisy (for people) and pollutant (for the environment) shotgun, you carry a lighter set of binoculars!
Why do you have to kill....a living creature that ultimately is not yours at all!!!
Darren Caruana
Mar 31st 2008, 14:53
Dear Franco Farrugia,
If I may ask, are you planning on banning legitimate hunting from the rest of Europe also? not to mention the whole world!!!!!!
Its not hunting we should ban, its POACHING - when will we learn?????
Antoine Grima
Mar 31st 2008, 14:06
Mr Farrugia , i am a hunter , and i do not want to find something to replace my beloved hobby thank you , and i will keep on fighting to keep my hobby alive untill the day i die for the simple reason that i have every right to do so . How come is it , that something that has been going on for generations , with everybodies blessing , including both the church and all politicians , now is called illegal ?
You have every right to listen to birds singing , same as i do while i am hunting . Yes yes while i am hunting , i love listening to the Golden Oriols singing there heart out and loads of other small birds.I hear them every day , because unlike most people like yourself , i wake up early , and go for beautifull walks in the country side with my dogs .I do this all year round , even when the hunting season is closed , because i love the country side , and i enjoy it all year round .I don't need to have everyone else removed from it . So if you are blaming the hunters because you cannot enjoy the country side , you are wrong , very wrong.Keep away from all private property like i do , and the rest is all yours
Franco Farrugia
Mar 31st 2008, 12:52
Yes - hunters are certainly heard. Every day. Every season. And they want more.
We should end this once and for all: ban hunting and trapping and help the hunters to find other ways of filling in their time, without having to kill live birdsand without having to steal from the rest of the population the pleasure of listening to the beautiful singing and seeing birds at close quarters.
When will we learn? Does it have to take donkeys' years in order for the Maltese to see the light?