122,000 Europeans sign petition against Malta spring hunting

Mario Tabone

Mar 26th 2010, 20:22

For crying out loud !!!! Whatever next !!!
According to some of these hunters they are now not shooting these birds as a hobby. Nor are they doing it because they don't care about wildlife, or because they are selfish blood thirsty gun toting cowboys . They are doing this for food !!!!
Certain hunters who speak on behalf of others still persist that because hunting is allowed in other countries then it is ok to happen in Malta. When atrocities come to light then they blame poachers or anybody else for that matter.
Anybody who expresses their opinion against hunting is an extremist or a hunter hater.
According to them BLM is causing untold damage to these islands by highlighting this waste of life and needless eradication of protected wildlife.
Well, all they have to do is abide by the will of the decent majority and BLM would not have to publicise these atrocities. This is not about hunger and killing for food. It is about a sadistic hobby enjoyed by these few who are unwilling to change their ways for the better of all the community.

charlie mizzi from gozo qala

Mar 26th 2010, 12:03

Hi, I think if people breed the birds that they like to trap or shoot there will be more birds available. There will be no need to shoot birds.
I breed quails, poultry,doves and pheasants. If I want to ;when it is duck or quail season; there is plenty to hunt, as long as you have a licence.
Other European countries are allowed to hunt and trap birds to eat . therefore the Maltese who traditionally follow through with this cultural life form have a right to exist.
If meat in Malta is cheaper and easy to buy .then the Maltese would not need to hunt.

charlie mizzi from gozo qala

Mar 26th 2010, 11:52

Hi, I think if people breed the birds that they like to trap or shoot there will be more birds available. There will be no need to shoot birds.
I breed quails, poultry,doves and pheasants. If I want to ;when it is duck or quail season; there is plenty to hunt, as long as you have a licence.
Other European countries are allowed to hunt and trap birds to eat . therefore the Maltese who traditionally follow through with this cultural life form have a right to exist.
If meat in Malta is cheaper and easy to buy .then the Maltese would not need to hunt.

Kenneth Cassar

Mar 26th 2010, 06:58

@ R Xerri:

You can never understand what theft/murder/rape/etc is, because you have never been with thieves/murderers/rapists stealing/murdering/raping. It is easy for you to speak from behind your computer.

I hope you get my point. You can be opposed to something even though you have never experienced it, because you know of its harmful effects (to yourself or others - and by others I include non-human animals).

As for hunters/animal farmers, yes, in a way animal farms (as I already said) are worse than hunting since they involve more suffering. I think I made this point sufficiently clear.

C. Agius

Mar 25th 2010, 22:04

I am not a hunter or a trapper and they don't enjoy any special sympathy from me, but BLM are doing so much harm to Malta, and I think they really must be stopped. Mr government I repeat an earlier suggestion, do not fund them any further and please withdraw or decline your endorsement for any future EU funds they request. That is the only way this handful of "my way or the highway" get the message, since it hurts their POCKETS!

I don't like it when protected birds are shot, but "game" is hunted all over the world so what I can't understand is why they foment so much venom against Malta only? If I'm not mistaken, its only about the "gamima and summina" and the ECJ has already said they can hunt. So why all this fuss? And by the way if they really loved the birds as much as they claim, they wouldn't parade those three birds and subject them to any further stress. BLM, I used to empathise re- illegal shooting but now you are going way too far and have become extremists yourselves.

R. Xerri

Mar 25th 2010, 14:52

@ Kenneth Cassar
"I don't eat meat, so I oppose any unnecessary killing." So you and other who think like you should be more angry with the farmers then with hunters. Ask your supermarkets, butchers, fisheries, etc... how many fish and meat they throw away because it is not sold on time and is then no longer fresh or no longer good to be eaten. And to the restaurants that serve huge portions and then throw the rest away (ofcouse you cannot serve it again but at least serve smaller portions to avoid waist)

I DO NOT support ILLEGAL Hunting. I only support the hunting for food - be it birds, rabbits, fish, etc... You eat what you hunt you are not a criminal you are just chosing what you want to eat, like you do in restaurants.

R. Xerri

Mar 25th 2010, 14:44

@ Kenneth Cassar and Alex Ellul
You can never understand because you do not want 2 understand what hunting really is. It is easy for you 2 speak from behind your computers. Have you ever been with hunters, hunting? If yes, you do not want to understand what it means. If no, please do so and you will know what it menas. I am an EX BLM supporter, been fed all the lies and followed them in their actions against hunters not for the love of birds. But i wanted to see what it really meant to be a hunter and to see why hunters made a fuss about BLM's actions. So i went with a Hunter to her field where we sat quietly behind some rocks waiting to catch a bird that could be eaten. Hours passed and i got tired, so i went the next day and the next until she caught 1. It was then that i realised that it is not a hobby. You do not sit in front of your tv 2day to see a football match starting next week, don't you. watching football is a hobby, you do it in your free time.

Kenneth Cassar

Mar 25th 2010, 14:32

Addiction: "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

R Xerri

Mar 25th 2010, 14:28

For all the Europeans who signed the petition, why don't you sighn petitions for your own countries? Oh! Sorry, your countries can trap birds with glue instead of selecting the ones you would like to catch you just glue them all. Wood pigeon and crows are pests in your countries so you can shoot them all year round even when they are mating and taking care of their nests, you're right there is no cruelty in doing this! And Bull Fights are just a fun way for bulls to die, it is in their nature to be drugged and killed so thousands can see them die in agony and you also pay money to see this... hmmm. Great! WELL DONE all of you, You are leading by example and that's the way it should be.

And to all those who have a doubt on the birds found dead by BLM under rocks and in bushes. YES they where frozen in their freezers beause BLM can have illegally caught birds in their property without having a permission from MEPA and without anyone taking record on the birds they own.

Alex Ellul

Mar 25th 2010, 14:27

@R Scerri: "Doctors claim that more & more hunters & trappers are bound 2 d use of anti depressants because of d closed season - some even committed suicide. Do you think this is right?"
You are really scraping the bottom of the barrel here. Suppose I am depressed by gunshot blasts, blasts that commence from before dawn till late in the morning, sometimes the whole day till after sundown, suppose I get proof that these effect me psychologically and I have to be put on drugs, anti-depressants with the risk of committing suicide, would that give me the right to ask the authorities to ban hunting? All else you wrote collapses.

Kenneth Cassar

Mar 25th 2010, 14:19

@ R Xerri:

Regarding hunting not being a hobby, the way you describe it hunting seems more like an addiction than a "way of life".

Alex Ellul

Mar 25th 2010, 14:18

@C Borg: You admit of being fooled for the EU referendum. That was followed by two elections. Were you also fooled there? So you are continuously falling for scams? mmmmm. Doesn't sound nice for one's intelligence.
@R Xerri: Your (ILL)logic beggars belief. Farm animals are farmed at the farmers' expense, risks, and hard work, while you want to shoot down birds for free, birds that do not even belong to you at all. You just spend a few cents for a polluting, poisonous lead cartridge and hey presto dinner is ready. Cavemen used to knock women on their head and take them as their wives thousands of years ago. We have moved a lot since then, at least many of us have.

Kenneth Cassar

Mar 25th 2010, 14:16

@ R Xerri:

You do have a point. Actually, animals whose bodies people buy at supermarkets would have suffered more than hunted animals. Then again, I don't eat meat, so I oppose any unnecessary killing.

R Xerri

Mar 25th 2010, 14:14

What about all of those sports fans - you and I pay money to see the football matches on tv or live because we have this passion for football, we do all it takes to see our favourite team playing. So will all the hunters and trappers do - they will do anything so that they can live their passion. It is not a matter of killing birds but a matter of being hunting for the food you will eat. Like fishermen catch fish and make some species go extinct - why doesn't anybody say anything to them but only to hunters?

I disagree with the illegal hunting of birds of prey so that you can make them as an ornament on your wall unit and i will report any person that i will see doing this. THEY ARE NOT HUNTERS, hunters hunt the food they will eat not to put them on their wall units.

R Xerri

Mar 25th 2010, 14:03

@ j. cutajar
Do you think that eating that Strawberry was like eating the strawberry grown in the old days? does it have the same taste? i think it tastes more like water than like strawberries. But at least they don't feel the pain, unlike the animals grown in farms. 200 chickens in a small area is cruelty however and feeding them food to make them grow twice the size in a week!!

You are not vegiterian so you eat meat - but this is not cruelty right?! you have the right to eat Meats but not to kill them??! I love eating quail and turtle dove but not the ones found in supermarkets as they have no taste, am i a criminal if i hunt for my food?? Or are only male hunters the ones unter attack here? If you enjoy eating the frozen food please leave thse like me who like to eat their freshly caught birds in peace. You have the right to have an opinion but so do I and Hunters and Trappers alike.

R Xerri

Mar 25th 2010, 13:28

Part 2
And then why doesn't our PM do the same? Spring Hunting & Trapping has always been a tradition & a part of our CULTURE. Claudio Baglioni sang our Maltese song "l-Ahhar Bidwi f'Wied il-Ghasel" where it mentions our spring hunting for quail & turtle dove. Doctors claim that more & more hunters & trappers are bound 2 d use of anti depressants because of d closed season - some even committed suicide. Do you think this is right?? Will you be under depression if anyone stopped your hobby?? i suppose not coz you'll find another hobby. that is why hunting is not a hobby but a part of your life. STOP BEING FOOLED BY BLM, they have no where 2 turn 2 anymore, they lied to all of US!

Malta is not in the migration route of birds. No millions pass from Malta and No millions can be caught. Hunters spend hunting season from morning till dawn waiting for birds to catch & eat, in a whole season they are lucky if they manage to catch 4. Some pass a whole season waiting without even seeing any.

R Xerri

Mar 25th 2010, 13:13

Those of you commenting that are not Vegiterians do not have the right to speak or write regarding Hunting! Please note that if you eat red meat, white meat, sea food, etc... you are killing animals so that you can fill your mouths with the juicy and succulent meat that was once a living animal.

Hunting is not a sport, hunting is not a hobby but it is a part of life that you are born with - like you cannot decide to be born with blonde hair you cannot decide to be born with the passion for hunting. After all humans have always been hunters. What about the food we feed our chickens and pigs amongst other animals, to make them grow larger and larger so that we can have more meat and ake more profit?? they end us growing more than their normal sizes in a short time instead of allowing them to grow at their natural rate, isn't this cruelty too.

Why is hunting and trapping LEGAL in most of EU countires and in Malta not?? The Spanish government stood up for his country and people to keep doing the Bull Fights because it is Spains Tradition.

C.Borg

Mar 25th 2010, 09:05

@ Mr Alex Grech,

For me PL and PN, it doesn't matter. It's only the hunting issue that matters, and I think, even when talking to my friends, that where and when the hunting issue is taken into consideration by any party, we will do what is the best for us. Unfortunately some of us where fooled with the letters sent by MIC and the PM before the referendum and thus they voted PN. But now I can assure you that will not be fooled again.

Do you think that there aren't any PL followers at BLM.!!

Kenneth Cassar

Mar 25th 2010, 08:50

Dear Sylvana Zarb Darmanin,

Elections are not just about hunting. Ask Lino Farrugia.

stephen muscat

Mar 24th 2010, 22:27

proset u keep it up ,kull ma jaghddi min fuq malta huwa taghna

Audrey Costa

Mar 24th 2010, 22:18

I am personally against bird hunting, but I am outraged at the fact that foreigners are urging the Maltese to stop this hunting while in their own country abortion is perfectly legal!! where are their priorities??????????? At least in Malta we respect human life!!

Alex Ellul

Mar 24th 2010, 21:51

C. Borg: So, as I have been suspecting all along, the PL IS the hunters' party. 17000 x 5 = 85000

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Mar 24th 2010, 19:25

J Cutajar, you should ask AD and Edward Demicoli where their declaration against hunting got them!!

Mr C Borg, I must add that besides the hunters and their families there are many other Maltese citizens who are not bothered with hunting. Actually there are those who will not accept that the EU hunters are any superior to the Maltese hunters!

Johnny Xerri

Mar 24th 2010, 19:03

@ Mario Tabone,

Parole parole parole....You are very ggod at quoting percentages, sums, majorities, and what not but when it comes to facts you and your majority dry up.

Not only were you not able to elect a greeny, but you needed a woorld-wide petition to get a sum just equal to 1/4 of Malta's population.

Now I have a question to ask you, PL clearly support hunters (with candidates promising their support before and after elections), if PN opens the season who will you vote? AD?

Then why didn't you antis vote AD as a protest since PN opened the 2004-2007 seasons?

You have to choose mate, if its AD and have the environemnt 'protected' or PL & PN with hunting included. You cannot expect PN not to honour a democratic obligation and that you choose which parts of the manifesto are honoured.

By the way you claim majority, but with what can you uphold your claim? Have you got any facts?

A referendum that needed hunters to pass?

An elected party that needed hunters to get their seat?

If hunters are in such a minority then why steal their vote back in 2003?

C. Borg

Mar 24th 2010, 17:12

At Alex Ellul,

Please note that the 17,000 hunters have wives and also voting children or parents. So you have to multiply that by at least 4. i.e. which party wish that have at least 68K votes in favour.... Just see the EU votes and you can come to a conclusion.

FKNK told us to vote to 3/4 MLP candidates who had in agenda our passion and guess what, 3 are in parlament and the other waiting to be......

I think we are good in maths....

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Mar 24th 2010, 13:14

R Muscat, be assured that you are the one who has stooped so low when you used insultive language towards all hunters! I suggest you first be brave enough to disclose your full name, then try to present factual arguments. Replies to your comment indeed show how lowerly and baseless your comments are. You lack factual comments so much that you have even resorted to trying to ridicule an individual regarding typing errors. If I had to do the same, I would ridicule you for not even being capable to spell my name correctly! Meanwhile, I expect that you start showing some respect both towards close acquaintances as well as towards the many educated law-abiding hunters! Shame and Shame on you!

Mario Tabone

Mar 24th 2010, 13:07

@Mark mifsud Bonnici : ''How about a referendum on whether the involvement of Birdlife is needed? ''
''ANYONE FOR A REFERENDUM TO STOP BIRDLIFE FROM OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE BEING DONE TO HUNTERS? ''
These were your words not mine. It seems you are getting so embroiled in trying to justify your argument that you have lost your way completely.
@Paul Camilleri : You mention 'My Attacks' as you call them on Mark. Let me make it clear, I don't attack anybody. I just put my opinion and try to have a decent argument. Unlike Mark himself who addressed me as Mario Tabone (hunter hater) I am not so pathetic and childish.
@Johnny Xerri : Let me tell you that I don't care who crucifies whom in the election. If you think that I write against the slaughter of wildlife because I vote conservative then you are wrong. I do so because what you advocate is wrong. The killing for fun of birds is wrong...that is what concerns me period. As for you quoting politics and percentages it just does not wash cause I am not interested.
MALTA IS AGAINST THE SLAUGHTER OF WILDLIFE WETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT

N Abela

Mar 24th 2010, 12:12

Ban all kind of hunting any time of the year!! its not a sport..its just a barbaric act made by men who think they r men just cos they kill poor innocent birds!

Alex Ellul

Mar 24th 2010, 11:40

Paul A. Camilleri: My wish is that you continue voting PL while the birds keep on being protected by proper legislation introduced by the PN. I will keep on voting to that party which, warts and all, best protects the environment . You have to keep in mind that the 15,000 hunter votes are a fraction of the non-hunters' votes. It's very simple arithmetic. But then arithmetic has never been the of hunters' forte, except for counting dead birds.

Paul A. Camilleri

Mar 24th 2010, 11:02

@ Mario Tabone
With regards to your attacks on Mark Mifsud Bonici, the irk about all that you have said about voting for an Independent, I would like to remind you, that 15,000 votes that belong to the hunters and trappers have always made a big impact on the General Election results. Speaking for myself, I did not vote for P.N. and will never vote for them as long as these musical chairs carry on. It seems that you have a personal grudge against Mr, Bonici as you seem to try and ridicule every paragragh he writes. You call us cronies, I call you waste of time and grossly illiterate on the subject. Proof of your wrong Math ( electing an Independent) I quickly remind you, that former MEP CANDIDATES that spoke against hunting and trapping, were the first to be eliminated. I come from a PN family grassroot family and sticking to the past of voting for the party that my parents did, is today null and void. Next election the votes that belong to my family will be directed in favour of the P.L.

Alex Ellul

Mar 24th 2010, 10:11

@Johnny Xerri: As I had told you before, under another news item, we don't vote for the fringes, we vote mainstream, that's why the PN has been in power for so many years, because they have always tried to do one better than the MLP in protecting the birds. And I am sure that the PN will measure well the feeling of the silent majority, those who don't go out shooting birds. Of course there are many other political issues upon which our vote may sway, but the convergence between the two mainstream parties is so close that hunting and the environment could easily be the winning, or losing ticket of a political party. Hunters have lost a lot during these PN years, but the PN has been elected, one term after another, since 1987, with a two-year sabbatical between 1996 and 1998,thank to the fiscal cash register. If the PN becomes at par with the PL on hunting then it will surely lose a lot of votes and in Malta, a thousand votes matter a lot, as was the case last election.

Kenneth Cassar

Mar 24th 2010, 07:50

Just some points of clarification:

1. Limited Spring hunting may be opened this year. However, it is not illegal to oppose it, protest or sign petitions against it. To oppose a regulation is not the same as breaking it.

2. It is not illegal to hand over protected birds to the police.

3. The EU referendum was not about hunting. If it was, and it passed, pro-hunters or hunters should not worry about a specific hunting referendum.

That said, I understand that some people will still not get it.

lgalea

Mar 24th 2010, 07:36

EU GRANT 2008 BIRDLIFE MALTA ASSOCIATION*BLM Malta (MSD 12 TA XBIEX) €157.897,00 Subject of grant or contract:CHANGING CULTURAL ATTITUDES TO TRAPPING IN ORDER TO FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BIRDS DIRECTIVE

THERE'S MONEY TO BE MADE IN THE BUSINESS.

Lawrence Attard

Mar 24th 2010, 06:59

Hunters can shout all they want that they are against illegal hunting of protected species...words mean nothing without action. Can the hunting associations tell us how many illegal poachers they have reported to the police, by name? Hunters frequent same habitats - they, not ALE, Birdlide or CABS, are in the best position to witness poaching and more importantly, report it. Is there an issue with making an example of law breakers? Its an 'Only in Malta' joke to have Marshalls chosen by the hunters themselves. Im sure they will be bringing in poachers by the dozen...

As for all the noise about numbers, anyone who thinks the majority of the island is in favour of spring hunting is living in a fantasy. It may be silent compared to hunters' outspokenness, but its a majority. Hunters, do you honestly believe the people enjoy the inconvenience, noise, danger, and harm to tourism that your pastime imposes on our country? Do you think we wish to eat and drink the lead you pump into our water table and crops? The country should have a referendum rather than have the fickleness of politics decide this issue.

Trevor Zahra

Mar 24th 2010, 06:46

Dear Mr. Salnitro,

Mr. Muscat may have to brush up his knowledge on birds but I do suggest you brush up on your history. The term of the maltese Falcon was used in the film from a historical fact dating back to Charles V of Spain in the year 1530 where the King gave Malta to the Knights Hospitaliers as a base in exchange for a single Maltese Falcon which was due to be delivered to the King's Representative - Thye Viceroy of Sicily, on All Sould Day of each year.
Reference - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Hospitaller

albert caruana

Mar 24th 2010, 06:21

122000/5000000000 is not exantly an overwhelming majority is it? the maltese falcon is not only a magnificent sailing yacht but also the symbolic rent for the island which the order of St John had to pay.
birdl life and nfkk apart, an end to this eternal issue could be based on the instinctive human greed. Seeing that agrotourism is the rage, could it not be be very lucrative for the owners of the xaghri to built cottages and rent out the fields to bird watchers and nature tourists... with perimeter-defence systems to keep intruders out ;-)))

Johnny Xerri

Mar 23rd 2010, 23:27

@ Mario Tabone,
Your comment is way too banal:
‘What we need now is a pledge by Maltese voters that unless the government stops this slaughter our vote in the next general elections will go to someone who is prepared to do so.......maybe even an indipendent candidate from within’
It’s what game theorists such as the great John Nash call non credible threat. If both parties agree on such a stand then one defaults and includes hunting in its manifesto the other will lose the votes. If PN opt for such a move PL will crucify them on their un-kept manifesto, and thus PN will lose votes. PL thus knows that PN will never out rightly speak in favour of a ban, so they (PL) will never speak in favour of a ban.
Besides, an experiment was held during the last MEP election, with PN candidates; Edward Demicoli (who so venomously spoke against hunting) and Alan Deidun (prioritised in favour of the environment), only just managing to garnish 2 pence worth of votes.
What about Alternativa Democratica? Not even one elected member in its 20 political odd years.
The antis are lightly put ‘Kanoni bla krema’

R Muscat

Mar 23rd 2010, 23:24

@ Mario Salnitro
It would be better if you study your history.
The Maltese Falcon was a sub species of the peregrine falcon that used to breed in Malta and was much sought after by falconers in Medieval Europe so much so that the islands were leased to the Knights by the Emperor of Spain in exchange for 2 Maltese Falcons per year.
The last breeding pair was was shot as recently as the 80s by someone with no civic pride and ignorant in Maltese history and Maltese Fauna as yourself.
As to who shot the birds, well it does not take Sherlock Holmes to know who the culprits are.

Johnny Xerri

Mar 23rd 2010, 23:08

@ R Muscat,

Since you made such an issue I will obligingly reply to your humble corrections.

Firstly may you please excuse me for my typos/errors? I was very impolite to write in hurry and subject you to such errors. Hopefully these errors will not have such a dramatic impact on the forthcoming years that God will provide you with. If you cannot find it in your heart to forget this unfortunate event please at least accept my apologies and forgive me.

However, I think that not being able to respond to the gist and contents of my comment with anything sensible (rather than ‘What ?????) you chose to crucify me on my typos/errors. Instead of challenging my analogy of solving the illegal by banning the legal, you chose to crucify me on my typos and not on the argument. Rather pathetic/pitiable

I would gladly take up some English lessons especially since I will be hunting in the UK during next May. However, being a very busy MA graduate I find it rather pointless to revamp and improve my skills at this point, considering that my humble knowledge has got me this far in my studies and career.

Gary Bonnici

Mar 23rd 2010, 22:55

@ Mr R.Muscat

For your information, the MALTESE FALCON NEVER EXISTED and is only a name of a movie. If there is any bird that is associated with the Maltese Falcon, it's nothing else except the Peregrine Falcon which quite a common falcon.

mario salnitro

Mar 23rd 2010, 22:00

First Mr R.Muscat the Maltese falcon never existed but the name was used only in a film.
Better study your birds better.
Another thing where did bird life get the birds???
Who shot them???
A lot of unanswered questions>??
Come on birdlife do you need a Turk to do your dirty work.

R Muscat

Mar 23rd 2010, 21:33

@ Johnny Xerri if you want to write here, then I suggest you go for some lessons in the English language.
"BLM fairytail "(it's fairytale)
" Do you or any anti deem it correct that my democratic rights of the 2003 election and referendum are trempled on by some foriegner? " (it's trampled and foreigner)

"You cannot solve the drug abuse by banning alcohol/tabacco
You cannot solve sex abuse by banning consensual sex.
You cannot solve illegal hunting by banning legal hunting"

WHAT ?????

r sammut

Mar 23rd 2010, 21:28

Just10 people gather for such a demonstration out of thousands and thousands of signatories?

Thinking that BirdLife people declare themselves as the ultra bird lovers! Then, they put injured birds through all the stress and hassle, rough handling them through the demonstration… to prove their point? What point? That poachers do not have closed seasons? Shame BLM, shame indeed! How come the police took no notice of this?

@Mario Tabone
And just thinking of the many thousands deceived into signing the petition, considering the exaggeration tactics of BirdLife Malta!!!

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Mar 23rd 2010, 21:25

MarioTabone
It gives me great pleasure to know that you read each and every one of my comments.

As for the light at the end of your tunnel I'm afraid no such thing is possible since you would have to remove your blindfold before seeing any light. Your bias shrouds your sense of reason and brings out the extremist in you.

If you cannot differentiate between what is legally accepted hunting and the despicable act of Bird Crime do you expect to gain recognition other then from fellow exyremists?

Hunting is legally recognized in the EU and subsequently regulated to within acceptable norms. If you expect a democratic government to harbour you wish for a referendum then dream on.

What definitely confirms the stupidity of your suggestion is Governments honouring a pre referendum promise. This promise now has ECJ backing and you expect Government to put the issue to a referendum?

You find my suggestion idiotic and consider me to be unfit to talk on behalf of hunters.

Apart from not mentioning on whose behalf you are talking can you for once talk some sense.

D. Farrugia

Mar 23rd 2010, 21:20

It would have made more sense if BLM brought rehabilitated birds ready for release to be released during the protest as a symbolic gesture rather than exposing injured birds during a protest. Then stress kicks in and the bird dies, claiming that it had to be euthanised due to extensive injuries, when it could have been properly rehabilitated and released. Don't take me wrong, shooting/killing protected birds or any other species for that matter is one of the things I hate most. But would you take an injured dog to a protest to voice your concern about road kills?? So why take an injured bird? These birds need a quiet place for rehabilitation to take its course. Not dragged along a protest. True, these birds should not have been shot in the first place but for crying out loud do we have to make these creatures suffer even more???

Johnny Xerri

Mar 23rd 2010, 21:08

@ R Muscat,

Well when I was working abroad wealthy entrepreneurs who said that they would like to expand their business in Malta were afraid to do so because they feared that if the goverment could be incited by the locals to break a democratic obligation on a simple thing as hunting, then how could they risk their investment.

One of them told me these exact words:

' I am neither in favour nor against hunting, and I don't give a monkeys about the issue. If the government was elected with a hunting ban on the manifesto and actually enforced it, then no problem. But if a government was elected to continue hunting, and for whatever reason could not deliver then there is a problem. Just as it happened with hunting it could happen with other laws. Laws concerning taxation or any other aspect. How can I trust a country in which people vote for one thing and get delivered another. How can I trust a country in which people incite the goverment to break obligations.'

@ M.Gatt

Cant you even read? I said that you cannot solve illegal stuff by banning legal stuff.

Sylvana Zarb Drmanin

Mar 23rd 2010, 21:06

To all those crying to sign the petition, you do not convince me at all! This petition has been circulated to the extent that even I (a renowned pro-hunting individual) have received it!

Mario Tabone, M Gatt and others, being insultive will not win you an argument! Insults are only used by losers!

M Gatt, you surely belong with BLM!! The 122,000 signatures have become 200,000!! Remember BLM's millions! "Yep absolutely nobody shares their warped way of thinking". Sorry to disappoint you but there are many like myself who are not hunters yet defend the Maltese hunters' rights. Who exactly gave you the right to include me in your non-factual argument?

M Farrugia, true enough, "Il-paraguni odjuzi"! Mr Lino Farrugia had garnered 0.73% of the Maltese votes as compared to the farcical 0.01% signing this petition!

R Muscat Baron, are you sure it was not you who gave them this impression?! And Romaine, I know of "highly educated people" who are law-abiding hunters. In fact, they are incapable of stooping so low as to give insultive descriptions of their co-citizens while damaging their country in the process!!!

marco meli

Mar 23rd 2010, 20:51

@alex ellul
hypocrisy???? are you nutts??? do you know what the maltese law says? so are birdlife members vets now???? come on!!! they just breached the LAW . PUNTO E BASTA

R Muscat

Mar 23rd 2010, 19:50

Prosit BLM keep up the good work and stop the massacre.
For those who think that the thousands who signed the petition are nobodys who the government should ignore.
When I worked in Switzerland an Obstetrician and a Radiologist both highly paid professionals and highly educated people, told me that they would like to visit Malta particularly to see the megalitic temples, but were put off by friends who told them that our countryside is taken over by a bunch of macho barbarians dressed like RAMBO, who are rude to foreigners and shoot at anything that flies!!!
EMBARASSING
They were also aware that a national icon that is internationally known, the Maltese Falcon had been blasted into extinction.

Jos Farrugia

Mar 23rd 2010, 19:41

@M. Cassar. I hate being polemic on such a sensitive subject but if tourism is dwingling is because they cannot enjoy to the full our countryside when they are in Malta. I know for sure that a considerable number of tourists come to Malta purposely for walks in our countryside, but they have been insulted by arrognat poachers. The first step we need to take is to control the poachers.

m.farrugia

Mar 23rd 2010, 19:35

@dennis zammit. Dan ir-rizultat fakkarni fin-numru ta voti li kien gab Farrugia il-president tal-Ghaqda meta hareg ghal elezzjoni tal-Ewropa. Dak iz-zmien il-kaccaturi kienu jghidu li minbarra l-eluf kbar ta membri fl-Ghaqda hemm ukoll il-familjari taghhom li jghtu l-appoġġ. Il-paraguni odjuzi.

George Cremona

Mar 23rd 2010, 19:16

Yes illegal hunting should be condemned by all and those committing it should be prosecuted and heavily penalised. I think that we all agree on this including the hunters' Associations.
But on the other hand hunting in itself is not illegal. As far as I know there is no total ban on hunting in Europe or in any other continent. After all, the case of limited spring hunting is being treated by the European Commission and/or the European Court of Justice. So why is it Birdlife and its foreign allies campaigning against Malta? Haven't they the patience to wait and be democratic enough to accept the outcome of such high esteemed institutions? That foreigner would have done a greater service to his credibility and beliefs if he had stayed at home campaigning against illegal hunting that takes place in his country than wasting his time interfering in our internal affairs.

Johnny Xerri

Mar 23rd 2010, 18:59

@ R Curmi,

As a hunter have never said that illegal hunting/poaching/target shooting, call it what may, does not exist. IT DOES.

However, I do not accept the BLM fairytail that illegal hunting is rampant.

Moreover, I will never accept that law abiding hunters, get punished for the crimes of others.

I have my fileds at Busket limits, and police, CABS and Birdwatchers are there most of the day from early morning till late at night. And in 10 years I have been hunting, for birds and rabbits, never was I booked for one single violation. From all the laws governing hunting in 10 years the police have never questioned me on one. Do you or any anti deem it correct that my democratic rights of the 2003 election and referendum are trempled on by some foriegner? The same foriegner that does not oppose to spring hunting in the rest of the EU?

People have got to realise that hunters and poachers are not the same.

You cannot solve the drug abuse by banning alcohol/tabacco
You cannot solve sex abuse by banning consensual sex.
You cannot solve illegal hunting by banning legal hunting.

D. Farrugia

Mar 23rd 2010, 18:57

The majority voted in favour of EU membership whilst knowing that "spring hunting and trapping of finches will continue" http://www.meusac.gov.mt/Portals/FME/Documents/AGGSE13e_Hunting.pdf . Trapping of finches has already been banned. So, I propose a referendum on whether we want spring hunting, but while at it let's also have a referendum on whether we want to get out of EU !!!!!!!!!!

laurence schembri

Mar 23rd 2010, 18:51

Some hunters are their own worst enemies.

Ml.Schembri

Mar 23rd 2010, 18:49

Birds are part of the ecological system and should be protected not hunted,no matter what season it is.(FULL STOP)

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Mar 23rd 2010, 18:49

C Hanzel, if the half-a-dozen foreigners had to be Maltese, it would still remain half-a-dozen!!

To all those suggesting a referendum, this has already been held for EU Accession when hunters were assured of the continuance of hunting!

R Curmi, you should be aware that it is illegal to have a protected bird in your possession whether you are a hunter or a blm member! Nobody is above the law! I have always condemned poaching and all other illegalities coming from all sectors. I only asked Mr Mangion for solid proof for his exaggerated statement. (remember the millions?!) Don't blame me after all the non-factual statements coming from BLM and their disrespect of undertakings!

One can see from the video that Mr Temuge has avoided the question regarding the ECJ Ruling. Mr Tolga Temuge, we, readers await your reply!!

M.Gatt

Mar 23rd 2010, 18:21

I don’t expect hunters to understand that killing wildlife is wrong, that’s way ahead of their time & might be asking too much of them, but I couldn’t help noticing how childish they are becoming in their arguments. They see 200,000 signatures as nothing, yet what do they have to show by way of support in favor of hunting? Nothing…Yep absolutely nobody shares their warped way of thinking & now such is the extent of their totally losing the plot that they suddenly declare the majority is in favor of killing birds, one day they parrot about wanting to be like their European counterparts & next they tell us European opinion doesn’t count. One of them even went as far as saying we should ban sex not to cause rapes. Hunting is not a hobby or a pass time, it’s an addiction to killing animals & they can’t do without it , they have to kill, nothing more nothing less. I’m detecting serious withdrawal symptoms among the hunters similar a vampire starved for blood.

mark sultana

Mar 23rd 2010, 18:13

Dear Prime Minister
Abolish Spring Hunting, not because the eu imposes it, not because you will get our country heavily fined, not because it will help with law enforcement, but do it for the real reason which is - birds flying towards their nesting grounds to breed should not be killed. That is the main value which no hunter can argue against without expressing the egoistic nature of the hunting activity.
keep it up birdlife and thank you.

Ruth Chircop

Mar 23rd 2010, 18:11

Currently I am not in Malta. So please put the petition online. I want to sign it!!!!!

Mario Tabone

Mar 23rd 2010, 17:45

As sure as anything Mark Mifsud Bonnici never lets me down ........out comes another idiotic comment'
''How about a referendum on whether the involvement of Birdlife is needed? ''
''ANYONE FOR A REFERENDUM TO STOP BIRDLIFE FROM OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE BEING DONE TO HUNTERS? ''

Has this man got any idea what referendums are for ? Does he think this is some sort of a game ?

It does really make one wonder how any society can allow anybody like this to speak on their behalf. No wonder there is no light at the end of the tunnel !!!!

Andrew Gatt

Mar 23rd 2010, 17:40

@ Jason Borg..........read my previous posts on previous topics and incidents. My stance on illegal shooting of species that are protected all year round is clear and consistent. And even before you ask, the only birds I stuff go in the oven and no, I have NEVER shot a protected bird.

So you know what to do with the fig you mentioned. Have fun.

kevin francica

Mar 23rd 2010, 17:22

Besides the fact that the possession of a protected bird is illegal and Police are duty bound to take action, I feel that it is highly unethical of Birdlife to parade an injured wild bird to gain cheap publicity instead of taking it to the competent authorities so that it will be given the proper care.
In my opinion, given the high publicity and lobbying both locally and especially abroad, 122,000 signatures is a miserable figure as much as the number of people making the protest. Poaching and the opening of the spring season are entirely different issues.

r curmi

Mar 23rd 2010, 17:16

What petiton? I didnt see any petition.

Anyway I doubt would have signed it. not really against spring hunting compared to the spring massacre of anything with feathers. Give me against illegal hunting and there I shall be.

As for the hunters complaining about the 3 birds whilst I agree with most its not a place to take them due to stress but please hunters stop being hypocrital and acting angels. How many of you should we raid home and arrest you for all the illegal birds in your cabinet?
For those hunters who do not own such a cabinet, hats off guys but dont feed me the bull like Sylvana zarb whatever claims that no illegal hunting exists or no illegal shots are heard every day. get out of the bozza you find yourself in Sylvana and you will hear them shots.

E. Azzopardi

Mar 23rd 2010, 17:10

It is now irrelevant how many people signed against it. It is now for the EU to decide. If it is decided in favour of spring hunting and we do not abide by the strict rules ( and in my personal opinion we WILL NOT - I am not alone) then the heavy fines start coming. I suppose in the current situation that is the last thing we need.
Perhaps then the FKNK can fork out the money itself. They have never suggested this, did they? I wonder why.

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Mar 23rd 2010, 16:36

How about a referendum on whether the involvement of Birdlife is needed?

With 122,000 signatures coming from all over Europe and beyond it would be worth discovering how many of these are actually Maltese?

ANYONE FOR A REFERENDUM TO STOP BIRDLIFE FROM OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE BEING DONE TO HUNTERS?

Chris Galea

Mar 23rd 2010, 16:23

Are they really bird lovers ???? god knows through what hell those three injured wild birds went through !- they should have been left under a vet's supervision, not taken to valletta for a "protest " !

Claire Busuttil

Mar 23rd 2010, 16:18

Sewwa ghamlu!!

G.Pisani

Mar 23rd 2010, 16:08

BLM fight for a referendum!, I am sure you will win it.

D.Caruana

Mar 23rd 2010, 15:54

seems like Birdlife's tactics are backfiring. Iz zejt dejjem jitla f'wicc l-ilma.

I urge the police to locate and apprehand the persons that were holding these protected birds while walking through the streets of Valletta!. Had I done this I would be saluthered by now! These people have NO right to treat animals like that!!!

122,000 signatures, 10 protesters! simply insignifacant and all this from the same birdlife who a day before the ECJ verdict declared in a joint statement with FACE that they would abide by the eventual verdict.
THE SAME BIRDLIFE THAT REFUSED TO TAKE PART IN A STUDY ABOUT BIRD MIGRATION AND THE SAME BIRDLIFE THAT REFUSED TO TAKE PART IN THE MARSHALLS ORGANISATION!!!!!!!!!!!
All this because these were proposed by FKNK.
SHAME

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Mar 23rd 2010, 15:54

it seems difficult to get people to sign this petition against spring hunting.

A PETITION THAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATED BY BIRDLIFE MALTA AROUND ALL THE BIRDING SITES ON THE INTERNET FOR MONTHS MANAGES TO PERSUADE 122,000 PEOPLE TO SIGN.

IS IT THAT DIFFICULT TO FIND PEOPLE THAT OPPOSE SPRING HUNTING?

SOME FOOLS CLAIM THAT THESE SORT ARE A MAJORITY.

THE SAYING "EMPTY VESSELS MAKE MOST SOUND" COULDN'T BE MORE PRECISE.

J.Bonnici

Mar 23rd 2010, 15:45

Now the hunters can't say that Birdlife got the birds from the freezer, unless they are mechanized stuffed birds.

Alex Ellul

Mar 23rd 2010, 15:44

@Marco Meli: You may find the meaning of the word hypocrisy in the dictionary. Do you arrest a nurse for taking care of an injured person after being shot at by a faceless criminal?

As R Vella rightly commented, let us have a referendum on this issue and settle it once and for all.

Andrew Gatt

Mar 23rd 2010, 15:38

Last year a totally one-sided, completely biased anti-hunting video called "Birds, Bins and Bullets" was released.

Wonder what they'll call this one. May I suggest "Babes, Boneheads and Bull****" ???!

M. Cardona

Mar 23rd 2010, 15:33

This campaign was launched by Birdlife International thus the global and not the European population has to be taken into consideration. As of today that's estimated at 6,810,100,000 people
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population

That equates to 0.00179%. So long for the majority against spring hunting.

Isn't it illegal for any member of the public to have a protected bird in their possession?? Or are BLM members no longer members of the general public and above all rules of the land?
Ok so now anyone can illegally keep a bird of prey and if he gets caught with it he will simply say that he's taking it to the nearest police station.

Birdlife Malta don't you think those birds were stressed enough already? Love of birds bla bla bla whatever! Keep digging further and further down. I'm sure you read the comments below and I KNOW they are not to your liking! Am awaiting today's designates now!

In the meantime enjoy my little special dedication

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C14uIQXyaXE

Anthony Briffa

Mar 23rd 2010, 15:25

I don't support the killing of birds but if there is a way legal way to allow a limited season let the hunters have it. I don't think these people are serious when they present such a petition which represents only 2.4% of the EU population. This is similar to FAA's petition , which was signed by 1,200 individuals.

R Vella

Mar 23rd 2010, 15:19

Why dont we call a referendum on this hot issue and end it once and for us. Since all parties are afraid to take a decision since the decision carries alot of votes.. send it back to us, the citizens, and we will democratically decide if we want hunting or not.

marco meli

Mar 23rd 2010, 15:14

WHERE are the ALE??????? tHERE ARE 3 PROTECTED BIRDS in their possesion!!!!!! Hello!!!!!! They have no authority to keep these birds and therfore they are breaching the LAW!!!!!!!!!

Jesmond Micallef

Mar 23rd 2010, 15:03

I am all for nature and most especially birds. I tend to think that when it comes to the protection of animals, whether in human form or otherwise, concern should also be given to military might. More precisely, nuclear weapons, which deductive logic tends to suggest they are there to be used. So please, peace and nature loving europeans of the human form, start to petition your governments to start removing such devices of mass schizophrenia !!! Furthermore, please also petition your own governments as to why military equipment spending is on the rise, in this current economic scenario !!! I find this pretty intreguing to say the very least.

R. Orland

Mar 23rd 2010, 14:59

a dozen of people, half of which are not Maltese!

c. hansel

Mar 23rd 2010, 14:57

let me know where I can participate I want to sign too. This has to end this mindless killing of birds.

victor vella

Mar 23rd 2010, 14:42

ISNT THAT A PROTECTED BIRD IN HER HANDS?

Mario Farrugia

Mar 23rd 2010, 14:34

Mr. Temuge would do very well if he had to go and address his own country's problems (i.e. Turkey), particularly those concerning human rights, rather than come here to our country and preach to us what is wrong and what is right. Be it a hunting issue or any other issue, I find it disgusting that a person coming from a country which is not even a Member State of the European Union has the gall and cheek to come here and preach to us about European rights!! Even more pitiful and shameful is, in my opinion, the willingness of fellow Maltese citizens to let themselves be led by a foreigner who points out the straw in people's eyes whilst ignoring the wooden beam in his own eye. To all you local Birdlife members - where is your national pride?!?!

Mario Tabone

Mar 23rd 2010, 14:30

Waiting for the usual comments from Mark Mifsud Bonnici and his cronies !!!!!
122,000 people signed this petition. Think how many more there are who never got the chance to do so.
What we need now is a pledge by Maltese voters that unless the government stops this slaughter our vote in the next general elections will go to someone who is prepared to do so.......maybe even an indipendent candidate from within .

Joseph Desira

Mar 23rd 2010, 14:24

Only 122,000 signed the petition? Europe's population is 831 million!!

N Xuereb

Mar 23rd 2010, 14:12

In the Times on-line poll earlier this year, those who agreed with opening of the limited Spring hunting for Turtle Dove and Quail where around 35%, that's 140,000 of the Maltese population. Those 122,000 who signed this petition are only 2% of the EU population. The number is insignificant.

S Vella

Mar 23rd 2010, 14:11

Mr Telmuge
If you are truly against illegal hunting, then it is about time that you make the necessary move so that the government opens the Spring hunting season under control with the help of Marshals, and invite over CABS so that poachers will be caught and punished! ALL HUNTERS are against poachers and we want to hunt Turtle Doves and Quails so stop making campaigns with Birds of prey.
How democratic you are to say that politicians should not listen to minorities....Who are you to decide so? The Gays are minority so they should have no rights according to you and politicians should not listen to them....How rude and anti democratic you are!
The ECJ gave its verdict and you BLM said you were going to respect the verdict...How credible you are, just shut up and let the PM do his work and apply for a derogation because we Maltese hunters are not 2nd class EU citizens like you want us to be.
Yes in European countries hunting is practised in Spring! STOP LYING. In the UK hunting is practised 365days a year for example!
We depend on the migration and that is when we want to hunt!!

J Tabone

Mar 23rd 2010, 14:03

While I condemn any hunting (except for eating), I simply cannot understand Bird life Malta. Taking 3 poor birds to the protest?? I love animals in general and i wouldnt take an animal to a protest. Today, Im starting to doubt whether birdlife has birds at heart, or are protesting on other matters.

stephen grech

Mar 23rd 2010, 14:01

On this article I want to make 3 points: first out of 500 milion people across Europe only 122,000 people signed this petition; second "The group of about 10 carried placards" this number shows us the vast majority of maltese people which birdlife claim that are against spring hunting and hunting in general; third and final comment -"Those taking part also carried three birds, a Common Kestrel and two Marsh Harriers" Isn't it against the law to keep or handle these birds so how come these people carried them through the streets of Valletta? Or are some people above the law?!

lgalea

Mar 23rd 2010, 13:57

I am no hunter or trapper, but the hunters and trappers must be given what they were promised before the referendum because the eu knew what they were being promised and did not say that it was not true or possible, so they conspired to deceive the hunters, trappers and the rest of the Maltese citizens. That is another reason why Malta can pull out of the eu whenever it wants because the consent of thew Maltese citizens was obtained by deceit. Have a look at http://www.cnimalta.org/dik.html

As for the foreigners they know where to shove their petition. They have NO right to interfere in our internal affairs and should first put their house in order.

M cassar

Mar 23rd 2010, 13:53

No wonder tourism is doing so bad..with birdlife wrecking our image...now I am in favour of nature...but the smear campaign of Malta by them has got to stop..Malta is not just about hunters..there are a lot of other people who survive on tourism.

Paul Spiteri

Mar 23rd 2010, 13:51

We elected the government here in Malta to decide on the best he can for all the country, not for a petition that foreigners here in Malta would like, I think that in all EU states there is no illegal hunting going on, come on don't just see the small rock in your eyes because Malta is tiny lets what all over europe is happening.

Peter mangion

Mar 23rd 2010, 13:49

Malta does not care what these foreigners say. The European Court of Justice has decided that spring hunting can be exercised - even if I am against such hunting, myself. Now that Birdlife has decided to go it alone, it alsone has to bear all the negative consequences which will arise out of its irresponsible actions. Utopia is in the moon not here on earth.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Mar 23rd 2010, 13:37

122,000 out of the many millions of EU citizens!!

The ECJ and the European Commission have confirmed that Spring Hunting may be opened in Malta in a legal manner. So do those signing the petition believe they are above the law? Please stop acting childish and respect the undertaking signed regarding the ECJ ruling!

As for those individuals carrying protected birds, I believe that this is illegal! The Police were duty-bound to enforce the law!

I urge Mr Mangion to substantiate his statement that "there had been various episodes of protected birds being shot over the past weeks". And solid proof please, Sir!

Finally, I urge the Prime Minister to announce the dates for the opening of the Spring Hunting Season. The Maltese law-abiding hunters have a right to enjoy this Season. Dr Gonzi, start expecting all sorts of tactics from BLM and Co. I am sure you have got used to this. The Maltese hunters, their families and many others are waiting to see you implement what you have promised all along!

Clint Camilleri

Mar 23rd 2010, 13:36

First of all no other country has any right to tell us what to do. We are independent and not some colonial state.

Second 122k is nothing compared to the 825million ... in fact this petition is only 0.015%.

NOT EVEN 0.1% OF EUROPE HAS SIGNED IT

Joe Camilleri

Mar 23rd 2010, 13:36

Also Mr Mangion, what does Spring Hunting have to do with Illegal Hunting.

Poachers do not need a season, in fact the hunting season is closed .

S Sammut

Mar 23rd 2010, 13:35

This is the voice of the nation Mr PM!
How much would sign in favour of the spring hunting. 15,000 + their families? let's a test?! shall we?

Joe Camilleri

Mar 23rd 2010, 13:32

If there was something illegal,
1) it was this FLOP of a demonstration as they did not have a permit to hold one.
2) the illegal possesion of protected birds.

122,000 from ALL OVER EUROPE. and they say that the magiority of the maltese are against hunting.

KOLLU GHALXEJN !!! KOLLU GHALXEJN !!!

Paul Sammut

Mar 23rd 2010, 13:28

Well a similar petition against bull fighting in Spain was signed by millions of people from around the globe and nothing have been done yet.

Dennis Zammit

Mar 23rd 2010, 13:26

What is 122,000 over a EU population of 500,000,000?

The amount is not even the equivalent to a majority of the Maltese population !!!

This is all Bird Life Malta and Europe wide can reach ??