Wednesday, 16th April 2008
Hunters held as birds flock in
Several hunters and trappers have been arrested as a big wave of migrating birds flew in during what would have been the start of the spring hunting season.
Police sources told The Times that about 10 arrests were made on Monday when scores of hunters and trappers took to the countryside, despite the season having remained closed.
"There was a record surge of birds on Monday, which, coupled with the good weather, drew a large number of hunters to the countryside," a police source said.
"The (police) Administrative Law Enforcement unit and the district police held about 10 people," the source added.
Another source described the situation as "very serious" although he did not go so far as BirdLife did when it described the situation as "mayhem and anarchy".
Tension among the hunting community is running high as the European Court of Justice deliberates on whether to issue interim measures banning spring hunting until a case initiated by the European Commission against the government over the spring season is heard.
Pending the initial ruling, the government has said it will not decide on whether it will open this year's season - which, going by last year's date, should have started this week.
Hunters' federation PRO Joe Perici Calascione confirmed when contacted that a number of hunters had gone out hunting, commenting on the cruel irony that migration started early now that the season was closed.
"Our position on illegal hunting of protected birds is very clear.
"We condemn it but at this stage I will not comment nor condemn those who are going out hunting, even if it is true," he said, insisting that the banning of spring hunting on quail and turtle dove would be a grave injustice to hunters. "Before we joined the EU we agreed to restrict hunting of quail and turtle dove in spring as long as we retained the season.
"We were given two guarantees to this effect, one before the EU referendum and the other before the 2003 election by the then prime minister Eddie Fenech Adami.
"So now, I'm sorry we cannot accept that this tradition that we all grew up in is taken away from us."
Over the weekend, four men aged between 17 and 25 were arraigned for forwarding anonymous messages calling on hunters to meet on Sunday for a violent protest.
The police pre-empted the demonstration, due to have been held on the same day of the arraignments, warning that it would be illegal to take part in such an activity. Nobody turned up.
BirdLife Malta highlighted the level of illegal hunting activity it says is going on.
"So far, over the last two days our teams in different locations have counted more than 1,050 shots," BLM conservation manager André Raine said. "Delimara was a particularly bad area, with 486 shots counted over a four-hour period on Monday morning alone."
The observations made so far suggest that it is not simply a handful of poachers breaking the law but rather that there are a good number of hunters actively shooting in the countryside "as if this is simply another open season," Mr Raine said.
"How can the government claim that they can control spring hunting when they have absolutely no control over illegal hunting?"
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Correction: The government did not get an agreement with the EU on hunting. The government SAID it got an agreement. One word makes the whole difference. If this is not the case, prove it. I have challenged anyone to provide an EU document where the EU guaranteed spring hunting. I'm still waiting.
As for eating non-human animals, no, we should not. You will find reasons for this on my blog www.animalrightsmalta.blogspot.com
As for slander, you probably were not speaking about my blog, but just in case you were, you may leave a comment on the blog to let me know.
I am not a hunter though I have several 'outdoor' hobbies, and not one of them is so heartfelt as to cause all this commotion about!
The Nationalist party and then Govt did get the agreement with the EU regarding hunting, it is the European court (a higher institution) which is blocking!!! How was the Govt supposed to defend that and secondly it is thanks to birdlife that it has reached this level of national dilemma!!!
Personally I am against hunting and while this is my opinion I can not say that the solution to bird numbers is to ban hunting in general! Extremism is wrong, control, legislation and common sense should always prevail!
Though what I feel is even worse is the fact that this hunting issue has been blown out of proportion to the point where we now have people linking hunting to abortion!!! For heavens sake!!!
I hate extremism on either end of the stick, I ask bird life whether they have ever had a piece of roast chicken (mmmm) and that is a BIRD are we supposed to stop eating chicken, eggs, etc... and on the other hand I ask the hunters to go back to recent history late 17th century to be exact when a fairly common bird was made extinct - the dodo!!!
Either way what is needed are proper measures so that it is controlled this coupled with a clamp down on the illegal hunting!! We live in Malta people, everyone knows everyone or can get to know them, is it possible that the blatant disregard to rules will make everyone suffer. These illegal hunters need to be stopped!!!
Freedom is a very fragile thing and unfortunately we take it for granted, then when it is taken away we realise what we had and did not look after it - lets not all be DODO's and start making some sense. Name calling, and writing posts in blogs that verge on slander is not the solution!!
Mr.Dion Borg playing with figures of speech will get us nowhere. Let's concentrate on facts and eliminate any personal black characteristics from your behalf. It would be more comfortable to discuss if you will not act as if hunters are some sort of monsters. If such brainwashing is incurable let's just relax and get on with this total statal parody!!!!
Moreover it is peculiar what veggies are doing (or rather not doing) that needs toleration!
If veggies are to be 'tolerated' , I just wonder what term we should use for hunters!
Could you pls tell me what type of birds did you hear singing in the morning besides sparrows, some pigeons and maybe a cockerel or two? Or did you hear some canaries or budgies? Pls stop trying to make people with litle knowledge about birds think that Malta will be full of birds without hunting. How many turtle doves remained from the thousands that flew over Malta?? how many honey buzzard from the 7 I saw 2 days ago are still here?? NONE!!! and not cos they are dead but cos they continued their migration route to Europe as here is just a passage route. So for goodness sake be realistic in your posts.
P.S the most 2 common permanent birds in Malta are the sparrow and the blue rock thrush and hunters don't shoot them for sure.
You ask me to learn some "values about tolerance". You will appreciate that all I am doing is voicing my own opinion. I have never burned or destroyed any cars, uprooted any trees, shot people in the face, defaced monuments and temples, etc. So please, don't try to teach me tolerance.
You say that I don't try to seek a balance. Well, in questions of morality and violation of rights, seeking a "balance" is immoral and unjust. Would you suggest that human rights campaigners should seek a balance, and, for instance, should allow women to be beaten up only once a week instead of every day? No, dear Mr Spagnol. There should be no compromise on murder.
You say that I work "for the damage of people" around me. How so? I only explain my views with rational arguments. If my arguments don't make sense, they will have no effect, and so I harm no one. If, on the other hand, my arguments make sense, then that means that I am right, and this would make the claim that I am "damaging people" nonsense. After all, if it is established that theft is wrong (for instance), it is useless and illogical of thieves to complain that people campaigning against theft are "damaging them".
Finally you say that "extremists" like me must think about my positions, as they are being considered by "fools". So much the better. The greatest fool is the one who does not even wish to learn.
As for rejecting Birdlife's "lie" about there being no proper alternative to spring hunting, yes, honesty is always the best policy. That said, being the "extremist" that I supposedly am, I will admit that I could be wrong, and stand to be corrected if that is the case.
You have just admitted your purposes of banning hunting and your incapability to control or bear your extremism. I suggest to you that before condemning people due to their native traditions, you should learn some values about tolerance. Please make a favour for the Maltese society and try to resist your obstinate opinions about cultural traditions, part of the social life of quite a large number of Maltese. You don't even try to seek a balance; instead you work for the damage of people around you. Extremists like you must think about their positions as they are being considered by fools, even by the true bird-lovers.
As you may quote modern mentalities you must seek to discover the beauty in the recreation of others and the satisfaction derived from respecting other citizens. After all, thanks for rejecting Birdlife's lie about there isn't an alternative hunting period for spring hunting!
You can't believe how I can wish everyone to go vegetarian (actually vegan would be better). What's the problem with that?
You mention dental formation, which is best suited for omnivores (choice) and not carnivores. But anyway, this is besides the point. Men are generally stronger than women, but that is no reason to subdue women to men. Just because one can, does not mean one should. Unfortunately I doubt that you will understand, and I would guess I am wasting my time with you.
You can laugh at "veggies" all you like, that is if you would laugh at people like Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Coretta Scott King, Jean Jacques Russeau,
Mohandas Gandhi, Plutarch, Pythagoras, Ralph Waldo Emerson...need I go on?
You say you see it impossible to go on without devouring meat products. That only goes to show that you have no idea on vegetarianism or the world outside your small circle.
Regarding there being no alternative to spring hunting, you might wish to note that this is actually why I support a ban on spring hunting. If there was an alternative, which would make the same amount of birds get killed anyway (in another season), I would not support the ban, since it would be no ban at all. Of course, I know that this is not the way the EU thinks, but again, you will by now (hopefully) have noted that the EU is not pro-animal rights.
You say that those like me should reveal our agenda of prohibiting hunting. My agenda is no secret. There is nothing for me to reveal. You say that this is against social tolerance. I say that this is for the protection of each individual non-human animal. No, unnecessary violence and killing of sentient beings should not be tolerated. Of course, I only state my case by legal means. The rest is up to those who read what I write.
As for your last sentence, being: "It sounds unfamiliar how you are working against the killing of breeding parents and then would tolerate the shooting of the newborns!!!", I'm sorry to say that you are either speaking nonsense, or else are intentionally lying about me or misrepresenting what I say. Where have I claimed that we should tolerate the "shooting of newborns"?
First of all I can't believe how a person like you wish to turn all the people into vegetarians. You can't even accept that even the dental formation of the human is created in such way to consume meat. I must not enter the discussion of veggies since although I may laugh at them I prefer to tolerate them. In some way or another I admire vegetarian friends as I see it impossible to go on without devouring meat products.
The leading argument that you don't seem to accept is here Mr.Cassar - the fact that there is no alternative solution for Spring hunting. Those like you should reveal their agenda of prohibiting hunting and as you surely may know, this is against social tolerance. It sounds unfamiliar how you are working against the killing of breeding parents and then would tolerate the shooting of the newborns!!!
1. The reason why the EU wants to ban spring hunting in Malta is not my concern. That's up to you to fight against. I personally think that yours is a lost cause, but if you want to think otherwise, suit yourself.
2. You say that my mention of bull-fighting makes my article irrelevant. Which article exactly? And how so? So the EU subsidizes bull-fighting. This actually proves my claim that the EU does not care about animal rights. Where am I being contradictory. I would suggest you read what I write before replying.
3. I don't particularly "love" non-human animals. I only respect and defend their rights. But as a person of my integrity I cannot disassociate myself from the reality of EU membership with all its positive and negative aspects. Should I also disassociate myself from my family and friends as well, since, realistically speaking, I cannot expect all of them to live their lives without killing (or having killed) any animals. My family and friends are not all vegan. Being the realistic person that I am, I will continue speaking up for animal rights without disassociating myself from anyone. Is the EU hypocritical? On some issues, it certainly is, but so are most humans. To name one example, most people claim to love animals, and yet have them unnecessarily killed to be eaten. Should I befriend only vegans then? I think not, and in any case, this is none of anyone's business.
4. The reality, and one reality you cannot deny, is that hunting necessarily kills birds. You are free to campaign against abortion if you like. If the EU is hypocritical in this case (which is debatable), that does not mean that I am. If you think I am, I challenge you to explain how so.
The global fact is that the EU is safeguarding birds killed by yes, a mean of sustainable hunting, while pushing the murder of innocent babies destined to be born. Although turtle doves will be going to breed after migration they will never be the same as the the aborted baby denied from living. As long as spring hunting is sustainable it should be completely supported. We have to stop avoiding facts and face reality. Everyting is written on black and white.
Reagarding the issue raised by Fabian Borg, he is surely expressing his lack of knowledge about what a hunter thinks. It is true that many "hunters" prefer the party before their hobby but before starting to generalise one have to see what are the true interest of such individual. I recall Dr.Gonzi's speech about not the hobby but employment. But those claiming to be hunters and still have chosen PN, surely did not express their faith in the party but only their desire to see their party govern. In a way, I may be tempted to feel pleased for what happened to them but when I continuosly meet Nationalist hunters who admit of not voting my mind turns back to realty.
Believe me, those true hunters and trappers have thought about it many times what shall they do with their vote. Those who acted well for the benefit of their hobby are the majority. Unfortunately at this stage this same majority is suffering with the obstinate, close-minded rest. So it is unnecessary at this point to generalise hunters and trappers in the same bundle.
Dear R. Spagnol, I'm not interested in "praising" the EU, who, among other things, even tolerates bull-fighting. But if you haven't noticed yet, the EU is not interested in saving the lives of birds for their own sake. It is only interested in the issue for environmental reasons. So your comment on abortion is irrelevant. Once again, the EU does not care at all about non-human animals' right to life. It is only interested in safeguarding species as common property. This has nothing to do with animal rights. I don't know how to say this more clearly. The EU does not care at all about animal rights (how's this for "praising" the EU?). It's only a lucky coincidence (for me) that banning spring hunting for conservation reasons also means sparing individual birds' lives.
I would ask the Nationaist exponent you know:
`How many hunters and trappers were called in the last hours on March 8 and re-assured that PN will fight for their cause and encouraged them to vote ? `
`How many voting documents were handed in by presumably Nationalist supporters to Nationalist exponents (unused votes) ? `
`How many hard core PN supporters who also happen to be hunters are still hoping for the government to take them out of this mess and would never vote Labour ?`
I guess he will know the answers too since he appears to know it all......
The fact that no party openly manifested the stopping of spring hunting was not a deciding factor in the election. Hunters from various parts of Malta have their political beliefs which are unalterable. This does not mean that they love their party more than hunting but they believe that their party can safeguard the tradition in a just manner without twisting facts and deceiving tactics.
You may be right but your reply confirmed to all those reading that Maltese people still don't know what had been negotiated. It could also be a lie or a misinterpreation by the PN but still the EU must explain its stands of supporting abortion and then pick up on traditional hunting. You are talented at praising the EU but still you don't recognise that its sole intentions is to get hunting a pastime for those wealthy!
Never mind, it is useless to try and discuss the disadvantages of the EU. Coming back to the hunting issue, the prime minister and the president should honour what they promised/lied about. Even if the decision is not in their own hands, they should make an effort to safeguard the Maltese cultural traditions. But instead they aim against the true responsable hunters who sincerely love their hobby. I understand your position about this issue but you may be mature about this issue and understand that hunting is not just shooting and killing. For hunters, their hobby is part of living and I can't bear how many of those against them are mocking their situation. This clearly shows that such people, even writing here, are enjoying themselves with the suffering of other Maltese people. You might say that hunters enjoy themselves with killing but you have to be one of them to feel what really means this hobby. Messages of this type, such of those by David Borg Cardona are a shame on Maltese democracy and tolerance.
Finally I would like to reply those quoting "drinking your medicine". FKNK made it rather clear of who should not be in government in order to maintain the hunters' rights. Many members obeyed but apparently these were not enough. Eventually the true hunters who love their hobby appropriately are suffering with those pushing the parties more than their important hobbies. I would be more happier if anybody of you commented on how certain hunters are still going on breaking the law without being caught.
To make it better for you how much this is not being considered as a matter of loving birds, I shall quote a Nationalist exponent which I heard about this week. He said:
"The problem is not as big as it might seem - the majority of hunters are mlp followers!"
J.Pace - In life you get used to certain thorns.. you then become immune to their sting !! ( oops sorry double exclamation marks, I'll surley get reprimanded for using them by our walking English grammar guru )
Andrew BC, I didn't realise that your well put words can be described 'as vehement attacks'. You must be quite a thorn in someone's side. Make that two - one of them seems to carry your family name.
'hunting and trapping described as a hobby which wasn't doing any harm to anybody.' - you must be joking right? I cannot list all the 'harm' that hunting, especially, can have on many issues because there isn't enough space to write but like J Azzopardi said it is enough to live in an area where lead pellets come down like rain in my terrace, not only continuously startling my 9 month old when they strike against the glass door, but also have to be looked for with a magnifying lens and removed one by one in fear that my curious 9 month old will find one and obviously put it in her mouth!
You'd be surprised, David. I've been regularly writing on hunting since 1995. Perhaps it's a strange coincidence that my first published letter, which goes back to 10th May 1995, was a letter in reply to Sylvana Borg Darmanin's own letter in reply to Andrew Borg-Cardona ( http://www.animalrightsmalta.com/letters1995.html ).
Dear Sylvana and all pro-hunters, the situation you are into now is all your own fault. You knew that the PN lied to you on several occasions and you still voted PN. Now you have to drink your own medicine.
If you are frustrated to stay inside and not hunting I may suggest you start a course in "Granutell". It may slightly relax your frustrations.
To all FALSE Nature Lovers like V. Pace, I don't recall him to write anything about illegal developments like that of JPO in Mistra. This country's laws (or enforcements) have many ways many measures, strong with the weak and weak with the strong. What happened to the illegal supermarket case? What happened to the JPO case? Where are the "Par Idejn Sodi"? (mmm maybe 'Sodi' with the hunters and 'Rotob' with JPO and alikes).
That's Europe, folks - quick to stamp on the smallest member state - strong with the weak, weak with the strong. Sound familiar??
Thanks for linking to my blog. You will appreciate that I am all for truth, and yes, the Nationalist government has on several occasions repeated that spring hunting is to be retained.
That said, since we became EU members, the final say in the matter does not rest with the Maltese government or any other political party. The final say rests in the hands of the European Court of Justice.
You will appreciate that, in all my anti-hunting letters and articles, I consistently and truthfully claimed that the matter is out of our hands now that we have become EU members.
Politicians should not make promises they know they cannot keep, and those who believe them without checking the facts do so at their own risk.
Who was that government lead by people very-well-known against hunting? Who was Prime Minister when people against hunting were sent to the EU to represent the hunting lobby? All this is also confirmed by quotes from newspapers showing personalities boasting that if it was not for them spring hunting is still allowed!
True respectable persons in the legal profession would undoubtedly be expected to comment on the actual facts, i.e. on documentation sent to hunters by the then Prime Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Environment and MIC assuring them that Spring Hunting is to stay. I challenge Dr ABC for an honest opinion on these documents. All other personal attacks will be superfluous and thus ignored.
NO I AM NOT ASHAMED TO SPEAK AND DEFEND THE TRUTH. SHAME ON YOU FOR TWISTING THINGS TO YOUR LIKING!!
I am sorry Mr Gatt, this is not a derogation, it simply states a scientific study is required. So now you know why all the fuss. This fuss should have started in Spring 2005 and not Spring 2008. Anyway let us all wait for the ECJ now. Time will tell us who is right.
The father is worried that instead of hunting, his son may take on other activities and i quote 'corrupt football or drugs!'
1. In internet lingo, we call people who intentionally post off-topic comments "trolls". Look it up. I have not expressed any opinion on abortion on this page, and I won't, since I am not a troll.
2. I never did, and don't intend to, enter private land and "invade" private property. So your comment on this in my regard is just a silly allegation, besides being completely off topic.
3. Now how about your own view on illegal hunting for a change.
http://animalrightsmalta.blogspot.com/2007/05/on-simon-busuttils-defence-of-spring.html
This was one of the links that critices Simon Busuttil for such statement. There were other more reportages about this quote by other newspapers, Birdlife Malta and AD.
I feel very sorry and a little bit ashamed at the well-known fact that lots of people argument against hunting when they still don’t recognise a flying bird and its song. Instead of excavating new facts and evidence we have people amongst us who tend to tell stupid lies. The pity is that the public out there could not establish the true facts about this cultural tradition. At this present moment I have remembered for example one of the many lies being told about the 50 000 000 birds killed in Malta or else about the bottle-neck migration route. Furthermore Maltese people should be aware that that these campaigns against other local citizens like themselves is being pushed over beyond the limits by several foreigners who, ironically as it may sound, are not concerned about the environmental hazards in their countries and instead come and dictate issues in our islands.
No German would convince me that he will be safeguarding the German migration. Malta is not the only country in the EU bolstering spring hunting and trapping. Maltese conservationists are not second-class citizens. The Government have to protect them like each and every government around Europe.
"Also, the Ornis Committee needs to finalise the collection of data, which will allow for scientifically defined hunting seasons".
This is the whole basis of the argument, facts, not the emotional, sensationalist and exaggerated campaign of misinformation against hunting in Spring. For the taking of quail and turtle dove - something that has been taking place for centuries - Autumn is simply not an alternative, given the meagre migration we experience. And our Spring take falls well within the parameters allowed for by the Birds Directive. Last Monday saw a strong passage of turtle doves, further proof that this is a prolific, non-threatened species, so much so that, like the common quail, it is listed as being a "Least Concern" species by birding orgisations themselves.
The transitional agreement you refer to regards trapping for finches until 2008.
And anyway, why oh why all this fuss NOW?? Malta was aware of this derogation, the MIC was aware of it, the Government was aware of it, the Public was aware of it etc. and ALL voted for it as part of a negotiated package. Certainly Birdlife & Co were aware of it. as they held a press conference way back then bemoaning the concession achieved, and expressing hope that the Government would ensure hunters would only take quail and turtle dove in Spring! Now it's a rabid barrage of slick publicity, expeditions and other sensationalist photo opportunities, carefully timed to have maximum impact.
Mr. Mallia, I hope this post makes you take a step back and have a think. The EU is trashing a special arrangement. Besides what it means to thousands and thousands of your fellow citizens, as a passionate pastime and as a livelihood, what's to stop the EU trashing others?
This is WRONG. The country should unite in sticking to the deal of allowing Spring Hunting to continue, as agreed and enforced as it should be, not the pathetic, resource-starved way we are accustomed to. The country should understand that the great majority of hunters simply want to hunt in peace, within the law, as promised. No more, no less.
Can you please enlighten us with the verse (song) of the turtle dove ?
As you may have heard from the news , surely not from your window, the migration on Monday was consisting of Turtle Doves which is Malta`s main game bird and migrates mostly in spring.
For you information the Turtle Dove only calls (generates a verse) while sitting and not during flight. This happens mostly during May when males are courting females. So what were you hearing before the gunshots exactly ??
If this does not satisfies you well, I suggest the Maltese people to hear again the recordings where the present president assures us for many times that spring hunting will commence. Besided it was Birdlife Malta who a few months ago felt offendd when Simon Busuttil re-confirmed that the spring season '08 was surely going to be opened!!
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/pdf/key_documents/2003/cmr_mt_final_en.pdf
This is malta preparation of membership, page 41. There it says this:
As regards to protection of birds, a TRANSITIONAL arrangement with intermediate targets have been agreed. Until 2008 Malta will be allowed to use clap-nets to capture seven finch species in order to establish a captive breeding system.
So there you go. No SPECIAL arrangement about spring hunting is mentioned here and nowhere else from the eu institutions. I challenge you to find me something about spring hunting derogation coming from eu documents.
I repeat, wanna see the letter? Black on white. Up front. No kidding.
Do you condone such behaviour? Yes please parlamentarians of both sides, stick your guns, and do not retract back from the current situation. Hope more and more irresponsible hunters are brought to book, arraingned and fined.
You should go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080416/opinion/live-and-let-live
Please don't split hairs. It's the same party in Government today. Should you want a copy of this letter, I'd be happy to give you one. Imagine if YOU received something similar, guaranteeing something close to your heart. How would YOU feel now? Honestly?
Walks in the country side are allowed but not on private property, so stay off our land. They belong to us and not to the public because we paid a lot of money for these lands like everyone else paid a lot of money for their homes.
Well, dear Dr. Borg Cardona, we live on a tiny tiny island 17 miles by 9. The ALE, the police and the army have the resources, the legal authority and the mandate to control illegal hunting. It is certainly not my job to do so, and quite frankly, please point your fingers elsewhere. I resent your blanket accusations and consider them biased, generalist and unfair to thousands of Maltese and Gozitan citizens like myself who obeyed the FKNK's directives and stayed at home. Perhaps if you took the time to get properly informed about today's reality you MIGHT be able to see both sides of the fence (I am NOT talking about illegal hunting here).
On a different note, I seem to recall you being an active defender of the tobacco industry. I guess a minimal bag of turtle doves and quail is more important to you nowadays that the health and wellbeing of human beings. Two weights, two measures??
I challenge anyone to provide a written guarantee from the EU that Malta will retain spring hunting, no matter what.
How ironic hatred for fellow Maltese brethren who practice their inbred passion and yet utter silence and disregard for things which are so much more serious!
What about us citizens who try and enjoy the country by going for walks.....and what about my ever frightened dogs when they hear the boom boom of shotguns?
Well I guess we don`t count cause WE DO NOT KILL BIRDS!!!!!!!
Law-abiding hunters and their hunting dogs are stuck at home in a frustrating situation. They had been assured by MIC, the then Prime Minister Fenech Adami and the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Environment that the Spring Hunting Season is to stand and that the EU has understood and accepted this.
I challenge anyone to come up with facts against the above which are printed black on white.
On the other hand, I urge the Prime Minister to stick to what was agreed and open the Spring Hunting Season. The assurances hunters have were not written by a Mr. Nobody but by respectable individuals who should be accountable for what they wrote!!