Peter Zammit, Birkirkara
Lament for a lost lifestyle
Hunting has been part of my life ever since I can remember. Weekends at school for me meant shooting with my father and grandfather and our family pet dog that lived to seeing me in my 20s.
My grandfather has long since passed away, leaving me with fond memories of how he managed to lure quail into our lands and how, being an excellent shot, each one the dog flushed was an additional one for our traditional meal of game at the end of the season.
Nowadays, until the recent suspension of spring hunting, I called for my aged father on every day of the season, and together with my teenage son and our dogs we participated in what for us was the height of our dreams, the annual hunt of turtle doves and quail in spring.
Our land is located in the north eastern part of Malta. This area and all those on the eastern part of Malta are not frequented by dove and quail in autumn; consequently I have never even considered hunting in autumn.
In fact hunting for me and my ancestors was always practised during the spring season.
After two years of anxiety awaiting the outcome of a court ruling that could have meant the end of our lifestyle, the court ruled that, as expected, considering the paucity of game and the unique conditions of Malta, hunting in spring could continue.
Our dreams of practising what we love doing most were soon shattered by the Prime Minister's proposals for a derogation. Our family outings out hunting were going to end up becoming a national lottery, whereby the few winners were to be awarded the right to hunt.
Gone are the days when together with my father and son we could enjoy hunting.
Gone are the friends we met annually when out shooting, the camaraderie of the shooting fraternity, an integral part of our social life vanished in one fell swoop thanks to the whims of an inconsiderate Prime Minister.
Hunting is not just the act of procuring game. For my family and many others it has always been an integral part of our life, a reason to enjoy our family and children in doing what we consider right and enjoyable.
How Malta's Prime Minister can consider the segregation of hunters and the banning of hunting on Sundays as a solution to our only chance to hunt is beyond the limits of anyone's intelligence. One would have thought that the reason why Malta was taken to the European Court was to limit hunting for the benefit of birds. What Lawrence Gonzi is now suggesting, expecting us to believe that it has the Commission's approval, ends up in being a totally antisocial measure that has no relation to bird protection but only a detrimental effect upon our lifestyles.
All I can conclude is that Dr Gonzi's actions show a true misunderstanding of hunting and hunters, a sector of society that according to his whims can be discriminated against at leisure. The fact that he ignored the recommendations of Malta's hunting experts on the Ornis committee that recognised the needs of Malta's hunters and decided to personally discuss and meddle in spring hunting matters during tacit meetings with the Commission, makes him personally responsible for these insensitive and vile anti-social measures that affect me, my family and all the thousands of families of Malta's hunting fraternity.
How can Dr Gonzi keep a smile on his face?
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Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
May 5th 2010, 13:04
J Cutajar, just let us have ONE example where pro-hunting individuals have tried to deprive anyone of his chosen hobby while trying to impose another hobby!! J Cutajar, it appears that you enjoy seeing your surname (as you prefer to hide your name) uploaded on this blog to the extent that oftertimes you comment just for the purpose of commenting!!!
j grech
May 5th 2010, 01:25
@ mr zammit,
i sympathise with you for the loss of your cultural hobby, and i do feel that too many people worry about the foreign visitors reaction to bird hunting, well i am from the UK but a resident of malta and feel ashamed when british people complain, my answer to them is in britain we have deer hunting, fox hunting, grouse hunting, pheasant hunting and so on all legal, yes we have illegal hunters just like malta as well, and just about every nationality that visits malta has some form of hunting in their respective countries if they are honest enough to admit it. what malta must understand is that most birds dissappear from the island because of over development not through hunting, i fear it is mainly the maltese that are against this hobby more than the foreigner, surely bird hunting is less harming than kids shooting each other out of boredom and the frustrations and stress of life that is happening more frequently in other countries?
Roger Sapiano
May 4th 2010, 19:57
I sympathise with Mr.Zammit. because he reflects a great number of honest Maltese family men who have lived this tradition since childhood.
Unless one has gone hunting for turtledoves or quail, one cannot even start to imagine what it is all about. It is not just the actual very few seconds (that takes great shooting mastership that make it happen...) it is the actual waking up early in the morning to go to one's own fields, collecting a handful of beans"FUL" with a coffee Thermos and a freshly baked leaf, and meeting fellow hunters , the freshness of the morning...having to stay alert for any hunt and at the same time discussing childhood memories with fellow friends...and honestly 95% of the times one returns home without having even seen a turtledove but that is not what it is all about. Those people that think they are clever enough to ridicule people such as Mr.Zammit are ding so at their on anchestors. But anyway you will never understand what I am talking about
J. Borg
May 4th 2010, 21:59
You can do all you said ...... but just take off the shotgun from the "experience"
If as you say in 95% of the cases it would be useless - than is it worth for the other 5% that this hunting saga is being prolonged for so long?
Norbert Farrugia
May 5th 2010, 10:25
Well Said Mr Sapiano - Not even one hunter expects you to understand this. An most importantly I AM NOT HERE TO PROVOKE ANYONE. UNLIKE MOST ANTI-HUNTING WRITERS
adrian aquilina
May 4th 2010, 19:54
people once lamented the fact they couldnt have slaves and servants anymore,that women were allowed to have rights,bla bla.thankfully our morals and understanding evolvesbut not everyone evolves to the same extent.there was a time animals were thought to not be sentient,to feel no pain and nature was not so important,oh and the earth was flat and the sun revolved around the earth.but we know better now and our morals are ever changing,mainly for the better.we know birds feel fear,pain and die leaving young,a partner.we know birds are important to nature.we know nature has its own way of culling,even with human animals.we know we do not own wildlife,we know eating meat is unhealthy,that animals suffer greatly in abatoirs.so "hunters" are a minority world wide and generaly from less educated places.its hard to change habits,even bad ones,but more often it is the right thing morally and for the protection of nature..the other major problem is hunters do not know how to behave and follow the law here and make more problems for themselves.you get angry because mp's lie to you or do not give you what you want,well join the rest of the world.but we dont act like spoilt kids
Johnny Xerri
May 4th 2010, 21:53
What struck me most...'so "hunters" are a minority world wide and generaly from less educated places'
Are you aware that all the EU member states allow hunting?
Are you aware that most EU member states allow hunting allyear round by convinienty classifying some birds and mammals as pests?
So which are exactly the countries that are so eductaed that they do not allow hunting?
The US? No they allow hunting/
The Asian countries? No they allow hunting.
The EU member states? No they allow hunting.
So who are these educted countries that do not allow hunting?
Ahhh yes there is no hunting on Commino, St Paul's Island and Filfla. That explains why these places are contending for the Noble prize 2010 as the most educated 'country'
JF Grech
May 5th 2010, 07:55
Although it is a bit difficult to follow the train of thought here; to suggest that hunters are less from less educated regions is rather odd. I am in full agreement with the changes made to restrict hunting on the island; the island has changed considerably in terms of population and has very limited green space for such purposes. Hardly big game hunting for the purpose of consumption I think most agree that everyone is happy to hear the birds singing again, to enjoy country walks without ducking and to have bullying individuals put in their place. However, having grown up with the hunting of large game in Canada that put food on the table I do take offense to the suggestion that it is the practice of the uneducated. Rules were followed, seasons respected and numbers of game to be shot limited. The problem in Malta is that people show little respect for others, for nature and for the rule of law.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
May 4th 2010, 18:32
A Montebello, you were here presented with a detailed description of a LAW-ABIDING HUNTER and yet all you could write was to ask Mr Zammit to take up a new hobby!! How presumptuous of you! NOBODY has a right to dictate to others what their hobby should be. Your comment has indeed shown your extremist views which are after depriving hunters of their LEGAL pastime!!
Andy Towler, could you kindly substantiate your statement that "hunters kill because they enjoy killing."? Far from what you state, Mr Zammit describes how hunters spend their time in the countryside, meeting friends, etc. Keep on dreaming about your "total ban". The day will come when our hunters will enjoy what is rightfully theirs AND foreigner's dreams will become nightmares!
J.cutajar
May 5th 2010, 09:23
''NOBODY has a right to dictate to others what their hobby should be.''
Except hunters
Rosalind Agius
May 4th 2010, 17:44
Mr Zammit, how about trying bird watching instead of bird killing? Birds want to live as much as you and your family wants to live.
Johnny Xerri
May 4th 2010, 21:44
May I add that farmed animals and wild fish want to live just as much as you, your family and the birds you want to protect.
How come you did not mention them?
Maybe because you dont eat wild birds but eat the farmed animals and fish?
Maybe as long as you are supplied with your farmed pound of flesh, you couldn't care less for those who wanted to provide themselves with fresh organic game meat?
I hope that at least you are a vegitarian.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
May 4th 2010, 13:34
Ramon Casha
In the past it was legal to hunt birds
in the present it is legal to hunt birds
The future, we leave that to the experts who scientifically prove hunting is sustainable and certainly not to your biased opinion.
Times Change. indeed they do it's about time you changed too. Not that it matters, mind you.
Impertinence will never cease to exist.
Ramon Casha
May 4th 2010, 11:45
In the past, people could go spear fishing using scuba tanks.
In the past, children could buy dangerous handheld fireworks at festas.
In the past, it was legal to use explosives to catch fish.
Times change.
M. Cardona
May 4th 2010, 15:51
In the past deception, half-truths and outright lies were taken for what they were worth. In a politically correct era, we call these a manipulated public perception.
In the present an NGO and its net-worked allies dictate policies, enforcement, thwart perceptions and foment mis-conceptions and figures attain chewing-gum elasticity .
In the present, the hunting issue smokescreens so many issues.
Let's hope you're correct in that, "times change".
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
May 4th 2010, 11:44
Hunting ultimately leads to the killing of birds that are evaluated as being huntable based on scientific studies of the species concerned. Such studies are carried out by the likes of Birdlife International.
Being wild species, such evaluations are necessary in order to ensure the sustainability of hunting.
In the case of bred animals, kept in confinement until suitable for the kill, such animals do not need to be evaluated, once bred for that purpose, ensuring some are left to keep a "slaughter" stock healthy, suffices for the purpose of feeding most of those that consider hunting despicable.
So would anyone that enjoys a meal of chicken, lamb, veal or any other meat please explain why I should not enjoy a meal of quail or woodcock that I personally hunted and killed? I am only, after all, harvesting what are scientifically proven to be sustainable birds
You may argue that hunting is unnecessary, well we all have another option namely to all become vegetarian. But then again POOR VEGETABLES!!
If your objection, derives from pity for birds, then what differs when other animals are slaughtered for you to eat by others. Is this not killing?
A.Attard
May 4th 2010, 12:38
'' then what differs when other animals are slaughtered for you to eat by others''.
What differs is the perverted sick pleasure a hunter derives from killing such animals & feeling good about it too.
J. Borg
May 4th 2010, 14:15
I'm vegetarian – it is pertinent to point out that a vegetarian (or preferably vegan) diet involves far less consumption of plants – than that which a carnivorous diet indirectly demands – not to mention incomparable depletion of water resources.
All-things-being-equal one may agree that it is a lesser “evil” to kill wild-birds than to artificially breed fowl in captivity in awful conditions – without-going-into-the-demerits-of-how-the-killing-is-carried-out.
However Malta’s countryside is so limited that hunting invariably entails that the rest of non-hunting community and their families (and tourists) are precluded from enjoying valuable time in a peaceful and safe environment, and appreciating birds (shotgun blasts do not attract birds) . Likewise shots during unearthly hours are let just say a nuisance to many.
Secondly, whilst admittedly farmers are shortsightedly polluting fields with chemicals, we cannot afford to further contaminate fields with lead pellets.
Thirdly, and currently more crucially, raw film footage has proved time and again that a number of hunters kill protected birds – and keep on getting away with it – as other hunters turn a blind eye.
Thus Mr.Zammit is encouraged to spend valuable time with his family (&dog) in the countryside…without his shotgun – for everyone’s benefit!
Charles Gauci
May 4th 2010, 21:01
Hunting for whatever reason is always killing. Killing for the thrill of it is simply disgusting. It's simply pathetic seeing a big man killing a Quail or a Sky Lark (smaller than the palm of a hand). Hunting (i.e. killing) these birds may be legal but it is surely not ethical. Remember that abortion, which you hunters are so much against (as I am), is also legal in most countries, but it is still the killing of the innocent and legal as it may be, is certainly not ethical.
Johnny Xerri
May 4th 2010, 21:17
@ A Attard,
My employer assess my work conduct through a performance management system. Funnily enough part of this performance management system deals with my job satisfaction, ease at work, and basically if I am happy at my work place. This is done because my employer believes(which is backed by work psycology theorists)that a happy worker is a more productive worker.
I hope that they don't conduct such a system at the slaughter house, otherwise we will either result as employing people who are not enjoying their work place and thus working in as though in a 'slave' condition work place. Or else they would be risking the sack because according to you they would be to enjoying the kill 'too much' by your standards.
Strange enough an amature angler just like a hunter enjoyes 'killing' fish for food. However, nobody bats an eyelid. How come? Maybe fish are 'too stupid' to notice that they are being pulled out of the sea literaly from their throat?
@ J Borg,
If the land is so scare and people want so mch to access it they why last Sunday hardly any body was at Buskett? Yet I could hardly park at Bugibba?
Johnny Xerri
May 4th 2010, 21:37
@ J Borg,
If Malta has limited open spaces then we all have to adjust to this.
Malta has over 30 hunting free zones, plus 12 hunting free beaches (even in winter when nobody swims), plus 50 meters from main roads, 200 meters from buildings.
Hunting can thus only be practiced in private land and a limited amount of public land (since most public land falls in the no-hunting zones).
If anything the balance is allready in favour of the people who want to enjoy the countryside without hunters.
Secondly, lead from hunting cartridges is not pure lead. It is an alloy that oxidises, that brakes down into harmless particles that by the time it reaches the root level soil or water table.
I have planted olive trees, veg and strawberries on my hunting land, and I have shot an average of 150 shots a year for the last 10years (mostly trushes, starlings, skylarks and turtle doves, which are all eaten) and God knows what my ancestors shot. Yet the olive oil, veg and strawberries from this land, notwithstanding all the lead pollution you percieve still result as organic (i.e. free from pesticides, artificial fertillisers, and toxic pollution) when tested.
Andy Towler
May 4th 2010, 11:19
"For my family and many others it has always been an integral part of our life, a reason to enjoy our family and children in doing what we consider right and enjoyable."
There you have it - a full and frank admission that hunters kill because they enjoy killing.
Roll on a total ban.
Mario Mifsud
May 4th 2010, 11:08
Mr. Zammit .....may I congratulate you on a well written and articulate letter. I think you adequately expressed the social and underpinning cultural elements of your activity. You made it sound idyllic and the loss of it, a pity. However you refrain from calling a spade a spade .... you not once use the word 'kill' ...which is the essence of your activities. I was particularly imressed by the use of your sentence 'procuring fowl' ....as a means of describing your hobby.
a montebello
May 4th 2010, 10:13
Mr Zammit,
There are a million other lifestyles you can adopt for you and your family's enjoyment that do not involve disturbing the peace and blasting little birds out of the sky at the expense of MY family's enjoyment.
Try bird watching...
Johann Cutajar
May 4th 2010, 11:21
How pathetic Montebello, typical of the "I'm fine, **** Jack" kind of attitude!!
And for your information, while out hunting we used to practice bird watching too.... hunting turtle doves and quail for the pot doesn't mean firing any other flying creature. I for one, and the majority of the local hunting community, do enjoy the presence of non-huntable birds, even creating habitat for such creatures, for our families and YOUR family to enjoy.
Charles Gauci
May 4th 2010, 20:53
How altruistic Johann Cutajar! How nice of you to let others enjoy your land! A far cry from what your self-labelled 'law-abiding' hunters have been saying!