Hunters' billboards call for retention of trapping

Simon Vella

Mar 2nd 2009, 10:35

@ T Mifsud I think it is you who should grow up!! What do you mean? that because we are not the majority we have no rights?? If in Netherlands they have coffee shops and Marhuana is legal, it was legal before they joined the EU, and they kept their tradition, even if its illegal in other member states. With hunting and trapping we were given a written guarantee before we joined EU from the highest Authorities of Malta, the Prime minister who today is the President EFA, that we continue hunting and trapping traditionally even in Spring for turtle dove and qualis. Were is the integrity and honesty of our politicians?? Since when the minority have no rights?? Do you know the meaning of democracy? So are you saying that gays have no rights because they are not the majority? for example... Grow up and learn to respect your brothern before you try to teach others. FKNK THANK YOU AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THE CITIZENS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHEN THEY ARE BETRAYED BY POLITICIANS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THERE TO SERVE US BECAUSE THEY WERE GIVEN OUR TRUST, IF THEY ARE NOT TRUSTWORTHY THEY RESIGN!

Mar Buhagiar

Feb 25th 2009, 08:36

First of all stop saying that if hunting and trapping are banned you will be free to go walking in the countryside. You will never be free to go roaming in privately owned land. hunter's and trapper's privately owned land. Bought with their own money. So get it out of your mind that you will ever ever enjoy our land!!!

Secondly. PLEASE GET REAL!!! How can you ever ever imagine that Malta will be like Egypt. In Egypt, there are resident birds all year round because there are water ways there. And where there is water there is life. In Malta what little water we have in winter(Ghadira Nature Reserve) when summer arrives it is almost drained to nothing. So where do you suppose king fishers and other water species have to go???

We have to be careful because our government broke his promise with hunters / trappers so who will give us a gurantee that he will not break his promise on other important issues??? That's what the billboard is all about apart from trapping!!!

Joe Camilleri

Feb 25th 2009, 07:15

@ C MALLIA
So now we have it from the horse's mouth. "It allows derogations under very specific conditions ". So it is true that in the EU, trapping is still practised contrary to what you and birdlife had been saying all the time whilst supplying the general public and the Ornis comitee with misinformation.

Isn't this a perfect 180deg U turn.

B Soler

Feb 25th 2009, 00:57

Mela let me put it in simple English

Fisherman = catch fish = EU regulates what fish, size of fish, when and what. If we over fish therefore no fish for us to eat. Fisherman eat and sell fish to live

Hunter aka Kaccatur = Hunt birds = What birds? Protected or not as long as I have a trophy and enjoy my hobby. If people are responsible when and what birds can be hunted then yes. Imma mhux rare species. Come on issa inkunu reajali u naqa sens. Jekk tabbuza heq x tassumi l EU twaqqaf.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Feb 24th 2009, 23:16

Some people suffer from acute inferiority complex. They seem to be happy that we Maltese citizens are being treated inferior to other EU citizens! Level-headed Maltese citizens will in no way accept such treatment.

Certain individuals' comments show that some cannot even distinguish between hunting and trapping let alone writing sensible comments. Furthermore, they cannot keep insisting that they want to abolish hunting and trapping in order to be able to enjoy the countryside. Hunting or not, private property will remain private and no one can trespass. This type of argument does not hold water because otherwise they will also be fighting the farmers to evacuate their land so that they will be able to enjoy the countryside more.

I am glad to see that Mr/Ms C Mallia has at long last saw the light and contrary to what he/she has been insisting on in other online comments, that trapping in other EU countries is illegal, has now come to realise that this traditional pastime is in fact practiced legally in other EU countries (see comment below). Derogation or not, LEGALITY is the issue.

KEEP UP YOUR GOOD WORK FKNK!

T Mifsud

Feb 24th 2009, 23:04

@All FKNK members who had to do with this billboard

Do we have to do exactly like other EU countrie? For example ....
Marjuana is sold in coffee shops in Netherlands but not here. Are we 2nd class citizens?

Yours is nothing but amateur PR. Grow up and heed what the majority is telling you!

Clifford John Williams

Feb 24th 2009, 21:18

F
or John Mathews who asks: " Trapping does not mean the death of birds, or does it? And for J Farrugia who says: "Trappers take good care of their birds, just see them taking care of these birds for hours on end"
Trappers are often shooters as well, as I can testify having all to often seen them shoot down what they can't, or don't want to catch.Don't believe me? Ask: how many trappers own shotguns?
Then try asking yourself; if suddenly snatched away from your natural environment,friends and relatives and your freedom was reduced to hopping from one leg to another in a cage no bigger than a shoebox , might you not consider that a death worse than death?

edward camilleri

Feb 24th 2009, 20:29

as Mr. A Sultana rightfully said, how come the birds displayed on the FKNK billboard not confined in cages? Maybe they are afraid of bad publicity?

Or maybe FKNK bird 'specialists' also know that birds are at their best when left and enjoyed free?

Tony Marsh

Feb 24th 2009, 19:47

I'm afraid the Maltese ARE second class citizens comparde to people in other European states as they are deprived of the right to walk in open spaces and countryside by trappers shooing them away from (now illegal) trapping zones and hunters who designate whole swathes of public land as "RTO" to be able to blast away unbothered by would-be ramblers. The second-class Maltese citizens have had enough of the rule of "hunters" and want their country back, please.

Jon Cardona

Feb 24th 2009, 19:35

The issue with hunting and trapping in Malta is that, as with everything else, we tend to over do it in a very large way. There are too many hunters and trappers who kill and trap anything that lives and moves. The general society has more than given enough time for hunters and trappers to rectify themselves, but they didn't. That's why there is no alternative to a total ban.

C Mallia

Feb 24th 2009, 19:07

The title of this billboard is total misinformation. The EU does NOT ALLOW trapping. It allows derogations under very specific conditions from the Birds Directive and for a very limited amount of time.

J. Borg

Feb 24th 2009, 18:57

2nd Class Citizens?
Of course we are.....
2nd Class in the EU - cause we are deprived on enjoying the sight & sounds of birds
2nd Class in MALTA - cause we are 'allowed' to venture in the countryside ONLY on Sundays afternoon.

T.gauci

Feb 24th 2009, 18:45

well i don't support hunting but i support freedom and freedom wins over everything. i hope Malta will not become a communist country, we have had enough censored stuff.

John Matthews

Feb 24th 2009, 18:45

In a lighter note, not to ridicule the pro or anti trappers, perhaps the birds can perch on the billboards

Joe Camilleri

Feb 24th 2009, 18:33

The usual anti trapping comments ,
1) "Malta is in the middle of the migration route" ,
2) "if trapping is banned linnets, finches etc will breed here"
Malta is more than 200Km to the west of the migration route and the birds that visit Malta is dependent on the weather conditions. In fact ornithologist including maltese, go to the south easterly part of Sicily to watch bird migration.

Spring trapping has been banned for years now and still none of these birds have nested here, neither in Ghadira, Simmar, Buskett etc..

So please do not compare us with Egypt and START TO STOP dreaming that birds will ever nest in our front/back gardens.

Terence Galea

Feb 24th 2009, 17:58

Like all of us, I also have a 'delizzju'. I am a drummer and I have a band. I wish we could have band practice in my room, however the neighbours get cross. Due to this me and my band are obliged to fork out rent for a garage in Marsa (we are students), where we are also tied down with the hours of the day we can use it. And we totally understand this arrangement...because unlike the hunters' lobby and their lot we believe that we have rights, but that we have to respect those of others.

mike pace

Feb 24th 2009, 17:37

Dear Hunters and Trappers you been sold by the Nationalist Government for long period of time just remember that incoming polls are around the door step and vote for the P.N. candidates are other coffin memory regarding your future hobby. - its time you do a good lobby before the judgment day - don;t be trap again beware of the wolf

Carima Achokwu

Feb 24th 2009, 17:29

Hunters' hobbies are taking everyone elses right to enjoy wild birds. All we see here in Malta are pidgeons and sparrows. I was amazed when I visited Egypt how near Kingfishers and other birds we don't usually see in Malta came near us. It was wonderful watching them dive for fish and hopping by. Their singing used to greet me every morning while I prepare to get out of bed. That is the beauty of these birds. Just give us a break and leave us enjoy these birds. What hobby is it killing such wonderful beings, that can be enjoyed by all, if you leave them live?????

jonathan tanti

Feb 24th 2009, 17:10

have ever anyone told you to stop your hobbies????????? this is what they are doing to us!!! so let us enjoy a little ourselves please. FKNK is putting up billboards as a revenge on birdlife.

marco meli

Feb 24th 2009, 17:00

dear all,
FKNK will not be allowed some 350,000 euros from the EU to erect these billboards like the birdlife have done! on the contrary of what have been stated, i didn't see any finches and linnets lately, imagine them nesting here as was stated by birdlife if trapping was stopped! with its campaign birdlife is forcing hunters / trappers to sell their land so that some contractor will speculate it!! come on , wake up people!!! use your brains!!!

Franco Farrugia

Feb 24th 2009, 16:59

I bet anything these billboards will not be in the least touched.
Of course not.
Quite unlike the fate of those billboards asking one and all to respect birds, and against bird-trapping.

John Debattista

Feb 24th 2009, 16:55

Attention to all trappers.Use your vote as a protest against E.U and you will get all the attention, there will be a time were you can stop the E.U from treating you Unfairly.

malcolm said

Feb 24th 2009, 16:48

@karl abela........"The countries listed on the billboard are not in the migration paths."??????
HELLOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! from which countries birds from holland and finland etc. pass to arrive in africa??? surely not from USA.
So its better to be informed first before writing nonsense.

a sultana

Feb 24th 2009, 16:38

how come the birds on the billboard are not shown stuck in cages? trapping is all about cages! no?

simon galea

Feb 24th 2009, 16:21

As far as I am concerned, Birdlife billboards were found to be provocative by FNKK, if wrong please correct me. Hence how come FNKK is now putting up billboards?!!!!!!

David Muscat

Feb 24th 2009, 16:20

Do FKNK and all the trapping campaigners thast the places were trapping is allawod is only because the birds in question may be considered pests in some circumstances i.e. it is a population control measure. Malta it is NOT the case

Karl Abela

Feb 24th 2009, 16:10

2nd rate EU citizens??? Because we are encouraged to enjoy birds in the open air??? Helllooo?????

Malta is strategically located in a place where migration takes place. Killing or trapping birds while they are migrating will seriously destabilize bird species. The countries listed on the billboard are not in the migration paths.

FKNK know the reason for the ban on trapping in Malta but politics and the anti EU stance seems to have gotten their better half of their conscience mind.

Kenneth Galea

Feb 24th 2009, 16:05

FKNK I am afraid the Matlese are second class citizens in the EU because we have a totally spineless government.
It is absurd to stop trapping which has been a passionate hobby for many centuries.
I am not a fan of trapping but to abolish it to please Brussels is outrageous. FKNK members I appeal to you to boycott the June European elections. Make sure you do NOT vote for any Nationalist candidate who betrayed Malta and sold it to the dogs!

Joe Galea

Feb 24th 2009, 16:01

The hunters should come up with the following slogan:

"EU ...mea culpa mea culpa"

They are so much gullible people that they swallowed the PN bait. Now they got what they deserve. Why do they keep complaining and protesting?

M. Cardona

Feb 24th 2009, 15:57

After so many pompous claims that the EU does not allow trapping, here's the irrefutable proof that trapping is LEGAL, and accepted after all in the 1st class countries within the EU. Who's been lying throughout??????

Thanks you EU Commission for treating us so subjectively and thank you so much more Birdlife Malta for making us SECOND CLASS citizens!

t grima

Feb 24th 2009, 15:55

Let me tell you who the second class citizens are: it is the silent majority and law abiding Maltese citizens who have had their land hijacked by the shooters and trappers.

A situation where we have witnessed large tracts of countryside made inaccessible to locals and visitors alike, where you are not even allowed to proceed and enjoy nature as you will risking life and limb amongst these rambos.

William Bonello

Feb 24th 2009, 15:53

I just hate hunting and am all in favour of birds flying free without any threat of having a barrel- full of lead shot into them. HOWEVER as a Maltese I feel ashamed that we are treated any differently from other EU countries. For fairness' sake, if the EU are to ban trapping, they should be consistent and ban it in every country. And if it is acceptable in other EU member-countries, no EU law should ban it from Malta. Anybody wishing to see Italian hunters and trappers enjoying their hobby can now tune in to the new cable channel Caccia e Pesca.

Ray Orland

Feb 24th 2009, 15:42

@ Paul Rodgers

Are you serious? Aren't the same migrating birds which pass all over Malta, that go to/come from these countries? In the European Union, doesn't every member country with enjoy the same rights? If trapping is permitted in other places within Europe, Maltese citizens should have every right to do the same!

It is one of Birdlife's fairytales that if, in Malta, trapping is banned all year round, the migrating birds will stay amongst our islands to nest....lies and more lies are fed daily to readers who are not so close to the nature habitat, and who easily beleive such stories...you see? spring trapping season lasted two years ago...where are the song birds that remained here in Malta?! The latter spring hunting season was left closed, where are all the turtle dove' chicks?!

HUNTING AND TRAPPING ARE OUR TRADITIONS - LEAVE US TO ENJOY THEM IN PEACE ON OUR PRIVATLY OWNED LAND

J Farrugia

Feb 24th 2009, 15:37

I agree wholeheartedly with these billboards. Trapping is not shooting at birds. And trappers take good care of their birds. Just see them taking care of these birds for hours on end. Yes I support trapping. A man needs to find some time for himself when he is engageing on a hobby such as bird trapping. And the EU should nevr interfre with these hobbies of ours, which are not hurting anyone. If they are hurting the buffons then more the better. Because they hurt us with their craziness. Leave the trappers alone. We are not second class fiddles of the EU. who cares about these men dressed in suits and ties?

Edwin Mifsud

Feb 24th 2009, 15:36

If the goverment has its way I will be able to go to the country and watch birds fly and sing.

This will upgrade many people's country walks from low cost economy class to first class V.I.P Platinum.

This blood sport should be banned worldwide. Same should be done with bullfighting in Spain.

Andrew Gatt

Feb 24th 2009, 15:34

Here goes J Borg again with his impeccable logic, clear thinking and constructive suggestions. How tiresome.

John Matthews

Feb 24th 2009, 15:33

Please forgive me if I have got it wrong but, as an Englishman, who has no idea of the hunting/trapping laws in Malta, the retention of trapping does not mean the death of birds, or does it? I am open to be put in my place.

D.Galea

Feb 24th 2009, 15:32

Ah, actually we are 2nd class citizens, Let's not get much big minded for the petty rock we are. At least every issue in which the EU is involved leads me to believe so, I don't know you but I don't mind, we will evolve someday hopefully.

J. Borg

Feb 24th 2009, 15:15

When
- the ratio between hunters/trappers and the surface area of these four European countries, will be anywhere near what we have been borne with in Malta, AND
- birds become as frequent and numerous in Malta, as in these countries,
THEN yes dear FKNK we may start to consider comparing.

J. Borg

Feb 24th 2009, 15:12

I bet my last Euro cent, that these billboard will be vandalised........

I still remember the GREEN graffiti on the Victoria Lines.

Paul rodgers

Feb 24th 2009, 15:09

Firstly, look at the size of italy, Spain, Austria & France.
Secondly, look at the size of Malta.
Finally, Trap a thousand birds in the larger countries and see if anyone notices the difference.
Trap a thousand birds in Malta..... if you can find and a thousand, that is.
That's the reason the EU wants it stopped!

ccachia

Feb 24th 2009, 14:48

There are many things that happen in other EU countries! Does it mean we should do them as well? Trapping of birds is not to be allowed in Malta! We love them free!