Trapping of songbirds now forbidden

Could we inform the people of Malta that the trapping of birds became illegal as of January 1, in accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Accession?

Anyone who is aware of any persons who are continuing to trap birds should report it to the police.

Why not ask your local police force to check at the markets with the vendors, and suppliers of imported songbirds, to ensure they have legitimate paperwork to prove legal importation?

Until we can shame all those people out of keeping any songbird in a tiny cage, this cruel practice will continue. These people should be ostracised by their neighbours. If neighbours keep a songbird, why not get a commitment from them that they will never replace it, when it drops off its tiny perch?

Offer to buy them a CD of canary or finch birdsong.

Or is the thrill of listening to a tiny captive creature in a tiny cage, singing about its distress, where they get their kicks from?

Can it really be plain ignorance, that God doesn't want us to keep any of his/her beautiful creatures in a cage for life, and then go to church every Sunday?

Do they honestly think that God approves of their cruelty, or that of the trappers?

One day they will find out.

It is never too late to ask for God's forgiveness, but it has to be accompanied by a commitment, never to do it again.