Ariadne Massa
Reformed ex-hunter says the shooting should stop
Shotgun in hand, Carmel Cilia crouched in the bushes and cautioned his dog to stand still as he whistled softly to lure the mistle thrush bird into his trap.
The bird answered the call, and suddenly Mr Cilia, a hunter for 47 years, saw it two metres ahead, hopping towards him, and its beauty transfixed him.
"It was like the conversion of St Paul. I couldn't get myself to shoot at the mistle thrush. I put the gun in its pouch and that was it," he said, brushing his hands to stress he has not shot a bird since that October day in 1994.
Mr Cilia, 62, said he was born with the hunting gene programmed in his genome; his cousins, uncles, brother and father were all enthusiastic hunters. Today, he is a nature lover who breeds wild collard doves in his garden and feels remorse when he recalls how many birds he shot.
He spends hours in his large garden in Mellieħa nurturing the birds, or simply sitting on a stone at night watching the moon cast a silver sheen on the rocks.
Mr Cilia compares the hunters' pastime to an addiction. "It's like smoking or gambling. I know of men who are on tranquilisers because they cannot go out hunting. It's probably an instinct we inherited from our forefathers," he said.
Basking in the winter sunshine at Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta, Mr Cilia's weather-beaten face exposes the years he spent outdoors chasing birds.
In his heyday, he was one of the first members of FKNK and president of the Victoria Shooting Club for 12 years. He was one of those who pushed to use l-Aħrax and Miżieb in Mellieħa as land for hunting.
But even then, he knew hunting would have to stop one day, and when the Malta Ornithological Society (MOS, which later changed its name to Birdlife Malta) had started lobbying against them he had argued on numerous platforms to phase out this 'sport'.
"My idea was to stop hunting over a few years and we would have started encouraging hunters not to instil the passion in their children. That way it would have died a natural death. But nobody wanted to listen to me."
He shakes his head in exasperation that "the cursed vote" stops political parties from taking the drastic measures necessary to bring about change.
"We didn't need the EU to tell us what to do, we should have done it ourselves," he added.
Asked if hunters could be trusted to self-regulate their pastime, a proposal put forward by the hunting lobby, Mr Cilia said that while some were capable of doing so, several others succumbed to temptation.
"If I were still a hunter, I too would have probably caved in and found it difficult to regulate myself."
Delving into the way the sport has developed over the years, Mr Cilia said by the age of eight he was already out in the countryside with his father absorbing every manoeuvre and learning to be patient to lure in the catch.
"In those days they used to shoot at everything. Before the war my uncle would receive an order from the neighbours for their dinner or requests to embalm the birds. It was normal practice," he said.
He points out that several years ago, workers did not have as many days off as they did today so they were restricted to three so-called hunting seasons - during the feast of St George in April, and twice in May during saints' feasts.
"Today the number of hunters increased so more birds are shot. But Malta has become increasingly more built up, which means there are fewer birds. The scarcer they are the more hunters crave the need to shoot," he says.
"Everyone is on leave, and some shoot anything that moves. The other day I was in Gozo and saw these hunters shooting at swallows. Their excuse was there was nothing to shoot at, but it is just not done.
"I would never dare write a single word against hunters, but today I pity them for they do not know what they're doing."
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Mario Tabone
Mar 27th 2010, 13:57
@M Cardona.....
As my recent contributions were discussions with Mark Mifsud Bonnici and Johnny Xerri I really don't know what your point might be except that maybe you are acting as their mentor (not that it does them any good reading what you wrote) however feel free to put your own views forward.
Thank you also for putting me on a par with Mr Finch and Mr Falzon as I consider them both persons who at least speak for themselves and know how to put their views across , unlike your good self of course !!!!
Mario Tabone
Mar 27th 2010, 10:45
Submitted for the information of those who persist in referring to incidents in other countries as an excuse for their pleasure in slaughtering wildlife.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1261044/Slaughter-swans-As-carcasses-pile-crude-camps-built-river-banks-residents-frightened-visit-park-Peterborough.html
As you can see this is unfortunately a case which has nothing to do with British people breaking the hunting laws as suggested by Mark Mifsud Bonnici.
That is why the practice of using other countries as an excuse to try and make ones own points credible must stop.
We have to concentrate on our own laws and requirements in preserving our own wildlife in Malta.
Whatever the final outcome you can never please everybody all the time however good sense must prevail and the sensless slaughter of birds on our islands must stop.
P. Camilleri
Mar 23rd 2010, 11:48
@MARK MIFSUD BONNICI - stating that hunting is acceptable to the majority of people is your first big mistake. Your second big mistake is stating that those against hunting, including myself, are intollerable fools. Look at the mirror and speak to yourself!
M. Cardona
Mar 23rd 2010, 10:58
@ Mario Tabone
with your recent contributions (if they may be so called) you are almost at par with V Falzon and C Finch. Some had the good sense not to take the bait on this one. I know I missed a couple of others from the SELECT HANDFUL of SELECTED perdition preachers and for that no disrespect meant I apologise profusely!
Those with a pinch of salt (I repeat) did NOT take the bait on this one. The others ARE the SELECT FEW for whose opinions (or rather the orchestrated opinion) this article was intended as the spring board!
;-)
Mr Cilia has every right to keep on contributing to the genetic muddling of the local collared/barbary doves crosses! And whoever praises such an intitiative has really not the slightest idea of species conservation!
@ C Finch
You are VERY Christian indeed! Thanks for all your moral imperatives, now I know what a real "christian" is all about!
Johnny Xerri
Mar 22nd 2010, 21:32
@ Albert Scerri & R Curmi,
Firstly its Xerri not Scerri. Your surname is Maltese and its written as Scerri, mine is Gozitan and its written as Xerri.
@ Albert Scerri,
Seems that when faced with facts you and your ilk retaliate and throw tantrums.
So its perfectly arguable and debatable to use moral believes and that birds and wildlife should be preserved and yet you don't feel its moral if fish or farm animals are brought into the equation. Again I ask:
1. Are fish not living creatures, who would love to live their free life swimming in shoals from one country to the other?
2. Are farm animals guilty of being born in a farm?
Come one you antis envisage your self and dipict an image that makes one believe that the next Pope in line would be one of your ilk. But then when it comes to consuming meat and meat products that are either farmed or fished the morality vanishes.
Makes me wonder if you should have a crash course on consistency.
Hunting should only be regualted on sustinability issues as regulated by the EU Birds Directive. Thus a season within the Directive is perfectly legitimate
Mario Tabone
Mar 22nd 2010, 21:30
@Mark Mifsud Bonnici
How very childish of you to make such comments. Throwing the teddy out of your pram will not help your cause at all.
My ideology Mark is that blasting birds out of the sky for your own fun is wrong. I think you will find that I am in the majority saying that.
Last but not least, when you grow up and are able to argue your corner constructively as most grown ups do , then you should try and get me and others like me to trust you and your views. Alas with your attitude of blaming everybody else in every country you can think of and your persistence in childish mud slinging all you are doing is giving a bad name to your fellow hunters.
As far as my intolerance (your words not mine) to the continued massacre of our wildlife, well get used to it cause you aint seen nothing yet.
Johnny Xerri
Mar 22nd 2010, 21:13
@ Mario Tabone.
I do sing from the same book as Mr Misfud Bonnici since we both speak from the book of life. The book of life which is backed by facts, not moral believes, not feelings, not prejudice but simple facts:
1. That hunting is practiced world-wide.
2. That we were guaranteed on an official website (MIC), through newsletters, therough mass meetings and through an electoral manifesto that hunting seasons would not change/
Moreover I do ridicule people like Mr Cilia simply because they are not credible.
He felt petty for a gamebird, but then admits that if he was still a hunter he would not be able to restrain himself to only hunt game. So one one hand he says that it is near impossible to self regulate and on the otherhand he says that he stopped out of pity. Who shall we believe the Mr Cilia who regulated himself, or the Mr Cilia who says that he would not be able to self regulate?
And who are you exactly to say that I am wrong?
Hunting gamebirds in a sustainable manner can never be wrong, otherwise it would be banned world-wide. Unless everyone is wrong except you
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Mar 22nd 2010, 14:39
Mario Tabone( the hunter hater)
Look at yourself in the mirror and repeat all you have just said.
What makes you think your ideology is correct?
If I was defending anything illegal then you would have every right to condemn me. But far from it, I am defending hunting that is acceptable to a majority of people that dwarfs the few intolerant fools that object to it.
It is so acceptable that, Hunting is regulated by EU rules and regulations. Whether you like it or not is your own problem.
The last person I expect to trust me is your sort. so don't even bother. In fact your intolerance only strengthens my argument.
M.Gatt
Mar 23rd 2010, 12:27
the intolerant fools that object to it.
Who wouldn't object to killing wildlife except hunters with a passion for killing.
Mario Tabone
Mar 22nd 2010, 10:51
@Mark Mifsud Bonnici and Johnny Xerri
It is obvious that you two sing from the same song book. As soon as anybody expresses their opinion you both start going on about other countries and their rights and wrongs.
When people like Mr Cilia speak out and vindicate what everyone else has been stating all along you try and ridicule them.
Why don't you admit once and for all that what you do is wrong,period, no ifs or buts.
The majority of Maltese want to preserve our countryside and our wildlife.
You two are doing a great disservice to your own fraternity of hunters because people can see what your ideology is from the constant pathetic contributions you both make in this newspaper and elsewhere. Stop making excuses and admit that you are wrong and then we will have a starting point for proper deliberation.
Until that happens nobody will ever trust what you say as we all know Maltese hunters and their ways from way back in time.
j.cutajar
Mar 22nd 2010, 08:31
A reformed hunter & they start foaming at the mouth.
How naive of hunters to even begin to believe that anyone in his right senses can ever take them seriously, your reputation, if you ever had one ... speaks for itself.
A leopard never changes it's spots.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Mar 22nd 2010, 08:02
Jason Borg.
I would be happy to do so whenever you want. I can assure you I have nothing to be ashamed of, on the contrary I will do so with great pleasure.
Which pictures would you prefer to see, hunting in South Africa, Argentina, Great Britain,Italy, France, Ireland, Egypt or the ones in Malta.
Do you honestly think anyone apart from a few fools objects to legal hunting? That is your problem Mr. Borg, your intolerance of something acceptable to the majority and totally legal makes your argument totally unacceptable.
Johnny Xerri
Mar 21st 2010, 22:07
@ V Falzon,
I know all about the tuna saga, and its not that type of fishing that I was refering to. Its the fishing done as a sport on most of our jetties and rocky areas.
The bluefin tuna trade ended up not being banned, because of the money it generates.
Just like spring hunting in the EU. Hunting holidays are advertised in the UK, Scotland, Spain and other EU member states. Yet it is only Malta that is being targeted. When will RSPB target spring hunting in the UK and other member states?
Its funny when countries in the EU hunt 365 days a year by classifying birds as pests.
In Malta its an inocent bird, yet its a pest in the EU
@ Albert Scerri,
Baffles me how an anti says 'Another thing, bringing fishing into this argument is totally beside the point'
Maybe fish are not innocent enough to be kept out of our plates? Maybe they are guilt of eating the bait. Or maybe they are guilty of entering the basket (nassa). Maybe they are too dangerous to be left in the wild. I mean a 6 inch vopa could eat you up.
Albert Scerri
Mar 22nd 2010, 20:17
@Johnny Scerri Seems you do not know how to argue so as the Maltese would say ' Is-skiet risposta'. So here goes.....
Johnny Xerri
Mar 21st 2010, 21:41
@ Chris Finch,
I prefer to believe that my God is wise enough to judge the person who kills game and consumes it, in the way that he will judge the person who makes others do the dirty work. If you believe that by buying meat from a butcher you are not responsable for the kill, you are more naive then I ever thought, or more twisted then I ever believed possible.
@ Albert Xerri,
Your fruit & veg polluted with hunters lead. As I mentined, the lead is not toxic by EU standards. It is not pure lead but an alloy which oxidises. It is actually mixed with copper and zinc to create an inert metal that oxidisis before reaching deep enough in the soil to contaninate the soil and water table. Besides the lead from acid rain causing much more damage is often ignored. Maybe we enjoy driving too much!!
@ R Curmi,
If you witnessed such illegalities so often then why don't you report them. You say that if hunters leave you hobby alone you would leave them alone. Hunters do leave your hobby alone, its poachers that don't. But you prefer targeting hunters rather than poachers
Chris Finch
Mar 22nd 2010, 10:15
It seems you are missing my point. Indeed those who consume meat are responsible for that animal's death. HOWEVER, my point is about the fact that you derive pleasure from taking life. This is the distinction that you will have to answer for.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Mar 21st 2010, 20:26
Judging from the photograph of Mr. Cilia he seems to have lots of visions.
Wonder what he's pointing at in the picture. A white pigeon with a halo perhaps?
Jason Borg
Mar 21st 2010, 21:59
Well, Mr. Mifsud Bonnici - maybe you would like to show us some pictures of birds which you have pointed at and killed with your shotgun.
r sammut
Mar 21st 2010, 19:21
Another saint in the making, at 62 year Mr Cilia has had 47 years of hunting under his belt! Starting at much younger than 15, it took a while for this gentleman to have this change of mind!
Why is he now portraying the sport as something bad? He fails to admit the happy memories when out hunting. Why impose his new mind set on others? "My idea was to stop hunting over a few years and we would have started encouraging hunters not to instil the passion in their children. That way it would have died a natural death. But nobody wanted to listen to me."??? Good that nobody is heeding this advice!
What other ‘passion’ is to be instilled in children? Will it be smoking or gambling, or drugs? Hunting passion keeps many kids occupied looking forward. Keep them off the road away from illicit activities. This activity has provided means to increase many a family bondage between parents/aunts, uncles/grandparents and siblings. A fact grossly underestimated (and undermined) by today’s society.
Christian Sciberras
Mar 21st 2010, 21:27
Well, they could always read a book, watch some TV, collect rocks, play hide'n'seek, collect stamps, play some PC game, some football shots...
I'm probably not the right person to say this (hehe) but there's a whole world out there.
You can't summarize life into BIRDS+GUNS.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Mar 21st 2010, 19:11
The more so called hunters that "see the light" and convert, the better.
Who needs hunters that proclaim ""If I were still a hunter, I too would have probably caved in and found it difficult to regulate myself."
Thank God Mr.Cilia no longer hunts, if ever he really did. These are the sort of people hunters want to get rid of anyway.
joe muscat
Mar 21st 2010, 18:44
Sur Cilia issa trid li l kacca tieqaf, fi zmienek kontu tisparaw fuq kollox, jew issa ma tridx tohrog aktar ghal kacca u tippretendi li kulhadd jaghmal bhalek, hallina sur Cilia , jekk ma tridx tohrog inti tohrogx imma halli lil haddiehor fil-liberta li jiddeciedi u ma nahsibx li inti ghandek dritt tghidli x naghllem lil uliedi, iva jien ferhan u kburi li ibni hu dilettent tal-kacca.
Kburi li jien kaccatur li nobdi l-ligi.
A.Damato
Mar 21st 2010, 18:38
Always taking sensational and emotional stories such as this one appearing on STOM with a pinch of salt !!!
r curmi
Mar 21st 2010, 16:59
@Johnny Scerri
While u can teach your son as you please, u should know the difference between the teacher eating ham sandwich and the general distaste towards hunting and hunters. The arguments never boil down to birds hunted for the pot but the usual hunters hunting for more then just the pot. Your usual claims that poaching in malta is way less then it really is makes me feel that u are just playing nice so to get attention off you. Just have a look at the FKNK forum read between the lines and you will find where the poacher is.
You might have a degree but the vast majority of the hunters DO NOT and they def dont hunt with a smile or friendly attitude.
Then you try pass us the ones against illegal hunting as the evil ones. As Mr Cilia claims and as everyone has seen its more then just the pot birds that get shot. Its in your blood tokill whatever. And then u expect me after o leave you alone. If you dont leave my hobby alone how do you expect to leave yours alone? leave protected birds alone and I will leave you alone
Albert Scerri
Mar 21st 2010, 16:44
@Johnny Xerri
QTE : 6.Hunting does not pollute, since the 'lead' used originates from the EU and meets EU standards with regards to toxin levels. UNQTE
Lead is lead is lead. It IS repeat IS toxic and it ends up in our daily fresh vegetables. So there goes your argument in favour of vegeterians !!
Johnny Xerri
Mar 21st 2010, 16:27
@ Wilfred L Camilleri,
Have you got any facts to show that gamebirds are not eaten?
If quail and turtledoves are not eaten by hunters, as you say, then why are they served in restaurants, bars and 5 star hotels. Sorry to disappoint you but gamebirds are eaten just as much as the fish caught by fisherman.
However, the antis only want to impose their version, i.e. game birds are not eaten, that the hunters land is not private land or that no hunter has private land, that it is unsustainable, that it is dangerous, that it is reducing economic returns from fields, that it is polluting the environment, its immoral, and loads of other crap.
Well sorry to disappoint you but:
1.Gamebirds are eaten.
2.Hunters do own private land.
3.Hunting is sustainable as in any other country.
4.Hunting is not dangerous with only a few injuries and hardly any fatalities.
5.Hunting does not reduce economic return from fields since agriculture and hunting environments are similiar.
6.Hunting does not pollute, since the 'lead' used originates from the EU and meets EU standards with regards to toxin levels.
7.It is moral since it is highly accepted to eat animal meat.
Chris Finch
Mar 21st 2010, 20:27
You say in no.7 that what you do is moral because it is acceptable to eat meat. In that case shoot at targets and buy your quail and dove from a butcher. Unless you derive some pleasure from the kill? In which case this is very unchristian, ergo morally wrong!
But you don't have to reply to me, you and all those that enjoy the taking of life will one day have to answer to a much higher authority as to why you killed these creatures for fun.
Edward Camilleri
Mar 21st 2010, 15:57
Well done Mr. Cilia. I hope others can see the light of day and realise what they are doing to the remaining bird population as you have done. I seriously doubt how many go out in the early morning to shoot only on game birds.
Albert Scerri
Mar 21st 2010, 15:22
@Johnny Xerri
Actually I do keep myself up-to-date, and I have seen with my own eyes 'hunters' shooting from the top of a cliff at birds which are out at sea. Definitely not for the pot. Also I've witnessed others shooting at overhead swallows while sitting comfortably on a rubble wall. Again not for the pot. Another thing, bringing fishing into this argument is totally beside the point.
V Falzon
Mar 21st 2010, 15:11
@ Johnny Xerri :
Dear Mr Xerri, well done for releasing the smaller fish!
But as for your comment on "nobody challenging unsustainable fishing", Jeez man what do you call the raging battle for the bluefin tuna?! A battle which the bluefin has sadly lost.
Wilfred L Camilleri
Mar 21st 2010, 13:58
Shooting and killing birds just for fun or sport is uncivilized. The majority of birds shot down are killed and are not used for food. This is a disgusting hobby. People who love shooting should practice target shooting and Trap shooting. There is absolutely no excuse for killing a beautiful living creature just for the fun of it! And for those who would retort with the question: "Do you eat meat?" let me say that yes I do, but I don't condone the killing of animals just for fun or because it is my hobby.
Johnny Xerri
Mar 21st 2010, 13:43
@ Albert Scerri,
Inform yourself before commenting. Game hunting involves shooting at gamebirds that are destined for the pot. Why would a hunter have a dog and retrieves his gamebirds if he would not cook them.
On the otherhand as an amature fisherman, I release many small bream (Kahli, sargi, xilep..) . Many other I fish along side do not do so and when I told them why I release the smaller ones they just shrug their shoulder and say 'whats not good for the pot is good for the cat'. Yet nobody challanges this unsustainable practice. Aren't fish living creatures?
@ RCurmi,
So the hunters in question had a good look at you? Did they actually harm you?
Whenever I am in my hunting gear and stop to buy a packet of cigarettes (or whatever) people stare, at times passing snide remarks. I even heard one saying 'and God forbide he holds an MA Degree, God knows how he obtained it, coz everybody knows they are just hamali'
Worst of all I had to explain to a 6 year old that his father (thats me) is no more an evil killer than his teacher who had a ham sandwich.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Mar 21st 2010, 13:33
Does Mr. Cilia know what he is talking about?
Shotgun in hand, Carmel Cilia crouched in the bushes and cautioned his dog to stand still as he whistled softly ( NO CALLS FOR MISTLE THRUSHES EXIST. ALSO, MISTLE THRUSUHES DO NOT WHISTLE) to lure the mistle thrush bird into his trap. ( APART FROM THE FACT THAT A MISTLE THRUSH IS A RARITY TO MALTA, WAS HE TRAPPING OR SHOOTING)
The bird answered the call( AS DID MR. CILIA IN THIS REVELATION) and suddenly Mr Cilia, a hunter for 47 years, saw it two metres ahead, hopping towards him, and its beauty transfixed him. (WOW, AND WHY NOT ALL THE ONES THAT HOPPED BEFORE HIM PREVIOUSLY?)
"It was like the conversion of St Paul. I couldn't get myself to shoot at the mistle thrush. (AT TWO METRES DISTANCE IT'S NOT SURPRISING!!!)
If Mr. Cilia decided to convert to what ever he now considers himself to be, then all the best of luck. But please do not insult the intelligence of other people that might differ by writing all this nonsense that anyone with the slightest knowledge about hunting can only laugh at.
Albert Scerri
Mar 21st 2010, 13:15
@Johnny Xerri/martin pisani
He's not forcing anyone to give up anything. He's simply expressing his opinion. As for being a veggie, killing/eating for sustenance is one thing, killing and probably not even eating the shot bird is quite another.
@Joe Camilleri
By your reasoning Not being a hunter is extremist but then again being a hunter is also extremist.
V Falzon
Mar 21st 2010, 12:40
@ Joe Camilleri "you fell to BLM's trap and letting yourself being part of an extremist propaganda"
So to you, a person who learns that birds are nicer alive than dead is clearly part of a scheming plot hell-bent on extermination! How's that for warped logic?
r curmi
Mar 21st 2010, 12:26
Funny that FKNK and ilk do their best to with words say they are good hunters and only shoot for the pot and this guy comes along and sets us back to what reality really is. Have to admit FKNK the other day almost had me convinced that there is hope and that its true that good hunters outnumber the bad ones but who am I fooling?
Just this morning I was praticising my hobby and was on a cliff with my camera and tripod waiting for birds to pass. 2 obvouis hunters walked by with their dogs just for a stroll on a sunny sunday morning. If looks could kill then that would have been one of them chioce when he saw me.
Now why do I have to live in fear that a hunter disagrees with my clean hobby and shoots at me and my like? Hunters are far from reformed but yet they are still violent.
The goverment should impose tougher laws and more security else will boil in poaching for humans eventually.
As for Mr Cilia seeing hunters shooting swallows the other day thats poaching at a protected species in a closed season
Joseph Lia
Mar 21st 2010, 12:19
Good on you Mr Cilia, the more I read these manipulated letters the more I can see behind the BLM agenda. So Mr Cilia decided to give up his passion after 40 odd years, whatever the reason, what does it have to do or relate to 'reform', 'saw the light' and therefore now Mr Cilia will not be labelled 'Neanderthal'?!
More of the same from BLM and the antis please, which obviously this NEWS item on the STOM is part of their agenda! Personally I would add that all Noisy Petards, uncontrolled building, pesticides, extortion, high prices and pollution also should STOP. I too was a member of the Malta Ornithological Society (MOS) but preferred to continue my forefathers tradition that of trapping instead.....oh my, how Neanderthal of me!!!
Joe Camilleri
Mar 21st 2010, 11:48
In your time, you used to shoot everything, nowadays we shoot only on game birds, which are sustainable.
Sorry to see that you fell to BLM's trap and letting yourself being part of an extremist propaganda to abolish a world wide accepted hobby.
martin pisani
Mar 21st 2010, 11:40
but today I pity them for they do not know what they're doing."?????? (bible)
Excuse me sir but who are you to pity me?
Now totally the opposite to you I was a member of Birdlife international (YOC) once, I opted to leave it however.
I breed birds also, I love caring for them, I love watching them fledge, I recognize the parents,brothers and sisters of the birds I have bred but please dont take pity on me for I love what I do and I enjoy a good hunt also.
Yes it is nice that you felt the urge to stop hunting and you did just that but the way your words have been expressed in the write up makes me wonder if they are all true to the words you said.
And as the the title of the passage...REFORMED EX-HUNTER, please get serious...are you saying that all hunters need to abandon wrong or evil ways of life or conduct just because you disagree with game or blood sports???
Johnny Xerri
Mar 21st 2010, 11:19
If Mr. Cilia believes that he should not hunt then so be it. Nobody is forcing anyone to hunt.
However, as long as the activity is sutainable then nobody should force anyone to stop.
I for one believe that practising the Christian Religion is the only way one can live a peaceful life and save his soul. I CAN PREACH IT, LIVE IT, AND ENCOURGAE OTHERS TO LIVE IT. BUT I CANNOT FORCE OTHERS TO LIVE IT.
Same goes for hunting. If people believe that birds should not be hunted, then so be it. They will not hunt and they may for all their hearts content encourage others not to hunt. However, they cannot impose on others not to hunt.
Obviously my reference goes to sustainable hunting, NOT TO POACHING OR UNSUSTAINABLE HUNTING.
I do respect Mr Cilia for his choice. He choose not to hunt anymore and thats fine. But I also hope he is a vegitarian, for it would be pretty hypocretical not to feel guilty eating meat and meat products whilst feeling the guilt of hunting.
However, I will never respect extrimists who deem fit to shove their believes on all and sundry.
Jack Eason
Mar 21st 2010, 11:00
With age comes wisdom, compassion and a sense of right and wrong. It is a shame that he didn't feel this way when he was younger. But despite that, I applaud his decision. Well done sir.