Tuesday, 10th February 2009 - 11:55CET
BirdLife insists MEPA committed to anti-trapping campaign
A BirdLife anti-trapping billboard which was vandalised last week.
BirdLifeMalta insisted today that MEPA had, in writing, made a commitment to support the EU LIFE + Project to the tune of €30,000 over two years.
The society was reacting to a denial of such a commitment made by MEPA last week after the Hunters’ Federation had asked how BirdLife literature on the project indicated MEPA’s involvement.
BirdLife President Joseph Mangion, speaking at a press conference this morning, said the MEPA commitment was made on an official, duly signed, form last July and the society expected the authority and the government to respect it.
He said that in the wake of the MEPA denial he had a meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister and although a reply was expected yesterday, none had been forthcoming.
The EU LIFE + Project consists of an information campaign about bird tapping and its consequences on bird migration.
MEPA said last week it had not involved itself in the project because BirdLife had not involved other key players such as the hunters. But Mr Mangion said that as part of the project, individual trappers and trappers’ groups would be involved in activities, such as awareness meetings, from April.
He said that although Malta had agreed with the EU to phase out bird trapping by the end of 2008, the relevant legal notice had not been issued by the government, hence the need for the campaign.
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Comments
WASTE OF MONEY
WASTE OF TIME
KILLING OUR TRUE TRADITIONS
MORE CONFLICT AND PRESSURE ON HUNTERS...
BIRDLIFE STOPPPP THIS ATTITUDE..!!!
Kind Regards
Edmike Cassar
How about publishing your salaries so that everyone would know why you are so outspoken in your criticism against the hunters and trappers?
I am not hunter or trapper, but I cannot bear this hypocrisy and squandering of money that could be used to alleviate human suffering.
Like any other project that comes with the EU blessings have a look at this web-site.
http://www.europe.bg/en/htmls/page.php?id=17795&category=223
That`s how our taxes are given out,all with the EU blessings as you said.
The Life + programme has specific aims and goals, like any other project which come with the EU blessing. The EU does not allocate money for projects which are not well defined within their budget, scope, methodology and tangible results. Each project application is granted within its own merits and after they are granted, they are monitored in detail and followed up accordingly. You cannot take money allocated to a project and put them onto another project as you seem to conclude.
Most people commenting here is calling this project names, simply because it has been granted to birdlife and especially because they are already brainwashed and stubborn about practicing trapping at all costs, when its been known for years that this must end by 2008 and an alternative found. If an alternative as not been found, it certainly is not the fault of Birdlife.
That is exactly my point.
The Life + programme is a fund which finances environmental projects.
This project competed with others such as the reinstatement of "Il-Maghluq" in Marsascala - a unique salt march unlike any other in the Mediterranean where mullet breed. It has been crying out for help way before it turned into the swamp that it is today.
How a brainwashing campaign was chosen over a project which everyone could appreciate and see is beyond me.
But coming to think of it, the Marsacala Business Community cannot pull the strings in Brussels and Birdlife can.
I don t know if MEPA really made a commitment to help birdlife launch this campian it would be absured how can MEPA a govermant insitution help birdlife to stop trapping when the same govermant made a commitment to all trapper before the EU referendum that trapping would continue to the full even AFTER 2008..even in MARCH.
Kind Regards
Edmike Cassar
This is simply RIDICULOUS !!
If trapping has been phased out at the end of 2008, then trapping has become illegal, so what's the use of informing trappers about their consequencies on bird migration?... when they shall not be able to trap birds anymore???
Meanwhile, I am sure that ALL trappers know that trapping has stopped since their trapping licence renewal has been rejected by the authorities.
So what is Birdlife Malta after.....................easy money?................or is it that even Birdlife acknowledge that Maltese bird trappers are being discriminised BOTH by the EU (trapping occurs in other EU countries but is now forbidden in Malta) and the Maltese Government (Govt. guaranteed in WRITING that trapping and spring hunting shall be safeguarded)????
although trapping was supposed to end by the end of 2008 - the legal notice is still wrapped up by GonziPN
Maybe it would have been better if BirdLife exposed this reluctant position that GonziPN is juggling itself on!
"individual trappers and trappers’ groups would be involved in activities" like what, colour painting griedel. and they already know that the trappers are not going to attend these 'activities'. so it is easy money.
I am eager to know what fairy tales birdlife is going to tell to the trappers what are the consequences on bird migration when everybody knows that Malta is not situated in any migratory path
"Malta had agreed with the EU to phase out bird trapping by the end of 2008" malta also agreed to keep spring hunting.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090204/local/hunters-hit-out-at-government-involvement-in-birdlife-campaign
In answer, apparently there is a written document which birdlife has, supporting this, pictured here:
http://www.birdlifemalta.org/view.aspx?id=155
@Carmel Camilleri
Normally funds are granted from the EU for specific causes after EU procedures and assessments are made. If birdlife manages to get them, then its good for true environmental protection on these islands.
Ridiculous figures, claims of millions, the myth that Malta is some Garden of Eden for birds, the manipulation of the guillible public, brainwashing of schoolchildren, the lies of their extremist supporters and allied organizations...........sack 'em all!!
How ironic, too! So Birdlife expect the Government to honour a signed form in order to pour public funds down the drain, and not to honour all the umpteen promises, letters, commitments and declarations made guaranteeing Spring Hunting and Trapping!
Iz-zejt dejjem jitla f'wicc l-ilma.
If you want to support such and other initiatives do it out of your own pockets, not from the peoples money.
Thanks .
Thank you.
Birdlife is now adding insult to injury by expecting public funds for the same futile campaign.
Joseph Mangion should get real, get a life and start living it.
In the meantime, thumbs up to MEPA.