Birdwatchers return to look out for illegal hunting and trapping

Johnny Xerri

Sep 1st 2010, 16:34

Well sustainability is like a bank account.

There is the capital i.e. the birds
There is the interest i.e. the offspring
There is the spending i.e. the hunting
There is with-holding tax i.e. the natiural mortality rate

When do bank account holders normally do? Just hoard away like crazy?
While saving is good, sometimes they enjoy part of the interest.

Now hunting sustainably is he same.

There is a stock of birds. Every year they produce offspring. If a certain percentage is killed, that amounts to less than the reproductive rate and less than the normal mortality rate, then the population will not be threatened and the activity may go on for years to come without effecting the population.

If we go by the laws and regualtion issued by the EU, then we are well within the sustainable framework, and so we are not damaging the environment. This is as simple as it gets.

Obviously in real life its much more complicated. Actaully I have been conducting a study on this with an environmental scientist, using economics my profession and science, to mathematically and scientifically, come up with a growth function (just like in monetary economics) that explains this.

Andrew Gat

Aug 31st 2010, 16:08

A Azzopardi, it was far more than simply "saying so". Leters SIGNED by EFA sent to each individual hunter and trapper, umpteen statements by MIC, dozens of declarations by MIC officials and Guenther Verheugen no less caught on tape by Xarabank.

As we now realise, all these solemn declarations were not worth a cup of spit.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 31st 2010, 18:10

I will never think its time to give up on what EFA said, wrote and declared. If you are happy to give up on broken declarations I surely am not. Especially when the most important vote in most probably Malta's history was taken. Such a vote has shaped our future not for one or two legislations but forever. Given that I was not decieved and EFA did not issue those guarantees, I might have still have choosen a yes vote, fully aware of my sacrifice. However, I will never sacrifice anything that was officially declared to me. Times change. You are right. However, please name me a country that has banned hunting. Your love for nature means that I cannot destroy it for you, but that does not mean that I cannot use it sustainably. YOur extremism thank God has no place in EU legislation, since the brids directive is based on sustainable use of nature and not on some warped vision of yet another treehuging extremist. Your extrimism does not even allow you to enjoy over 30 bird sanctuaries during both the open and closed season. How extrimist and pityfully sad can one get!!!

S Vella

Aug 31st 2010, 21:47

@ AAzzopardi
WHAT?
ARE you joking? We forget what EFA said or better still gave us a guarantee? You must be joking. If I was instead of EFA i wouldnt have the credibility to face the Maltese people.
If he didnt p the referendum for romise what he did the referendum for joining the EU would not have passed and all his political agenda would have been a collapse!!

AAzzopardi

Aug 31st 2010, 14:45

Frankly speaking I don't see a reason why CABS personnel should be armed. Their duties are to report any misbehaviour or illegalities so no need to be armed if it stopped there - in an ideal world that is....

This would become a problem if CABS do their job and film illegalities and certain hunters feel offended and use their gun (which yes, it's licenced) to threaten CABS as to why they are filming.

I am sure you'll agree that these things can easily happen especially since hunters are upset about this whole saga. And let's face it, some of the hunters aren't very well aquainted when it comes to diplomacy, and won't think twice before doing some sort of stupidity. We have had that in the past and am sure won't be the last.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 31st 2010, 12:52

Of course you have a right to sound your opinion.
What baffles me is why you brought in the issue of setting up a business within the hunting debate. Sort of 'You continue hunting I will not set up my business'.

What baffles me is the way you mentioned tourism within the hunting debate. Sort of 'You continue hunting and tourists will not come over'

What baffles me is that when I asked you where tourists will visit since each and every country allowes hunting, you avoided to answer.

What baffles me is how you are astonished that hunting is allowed in Malta, when it is also allowed allover the world. Not one country has banned hunting, and then your astonished that it is allowed in Malta.

What would astinish me in reality would be if Malta had to ban hunting, since we would be the first country in the world to do so, despite having the hunting issue supposidly sealed through a referendum and election manifesto.

Ironically hunting will not effect your decision to live in Malta, but it does effect my decision to settle in the UK or Ireland, since they have the most hunter friendly laws!!!

Paul Wickham

Aug 31st 2010, 13:32

Hi Johnny,

Well it was not my intention to avoid your questions, and I cannot deal with them in only 200 words. I reply to the easy ones.

Malta is so small with so little indigenous wildlife, that hunting seems to me environmentally unsound. A personal opinion that I am prepared to debate with you in person over a Chisk on my next trip out. it is after all a complex issue. :-)

I mentioned my future plans to show that my interest in affairs Maltese were more than just that of a tourist

Eco tourism is on the rise, and interest in the environment drives more and more travel. So that is where I'm coming from there.

I at no point said hunting should be banned, I would far rather see people making a personal decision to give up what is I see as an archaic and no longer relevant pastime.

Your right, hunting is not banned here, it is on the land I live on, and many other places i.e. wildlife sanctuaries all over the world. Is there such a thing on Malta?.

Paul

Peter Vella

Aug 31st 2010, 16:32

Johnny, I have friends in the UK who would not visit Malta since they are bird lovers and hate the hunting culture. So yes, there are people out there who seek to holiday 'ethically' regardless of Paul's statement or not. How many foreign hunters has the local hunting season attracted? How many has it repelled? Chances are that the hunting season is doing more damage to the economy than expected. In conclusion can Malta's eco system afford the extent of metal poisioning through scattered pellets. Has a study ever been conducted between the high levels of cancer and the amount of disused pellets absorbed in our soil? Think this next time you buy some vegetables for your and your children's sake! This is not hunting but a disproportinate savaging of nature on a wide 'legal' scale.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 31st 2010, 18:29

Paul I happen to like Cisk so I would not find any problem in have a discussion over a pint or two. Most of the hunting here takes place on private land since most public land is off limits due to either bird sanctuaries, or distance from roads/residential areas. That would leave plenty of room for eco-tourism. Actually we have a whole 4 Islands dedicated as hunting free zones and over 30 areas in which hunting is prohibated. Again I will explain, our lack of wildlife is caused by our dry environment, lacking fresh water supplies. It is also originating from habitat loss, since the major vallies in Malta have been degenerated not by hunters, but by people who wanted to build their house close to nature. Obviously nobody acknowledges this harm. One needs only mention; Wied Incita, Mosta Valley, Marsalforn (Gozo), Ramla Hamra Gozo, and at present 70 apartments are being built in Zebbug Gozo at Saghtria right in the ridge where the Blue Rock Thrush and wild rabbit use to frequently breed.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 31st 2010, 18:30

Peter, please note that your friends in the UK should be the last to comment since hunting in the UK takes place 24x7x52. Yes thats right, their is not close season for; woodpigeons (woodies), Canada Geese, magpies, crows, rabbits, squirels, hares, some species of deer, seagulls. Mr. Wickham might confirm this, since he seems honest enough. What might be interesting is to know where on earth your friends go to then, since hunting is practiced world-wide. Maybe Commino, since its the only region I know of in which hunting is banned. As for your pollution issue, I hunt over my olive groves, and I sell them as organic, since I only use certified organic pesticides and fertilisers. In order to be oble to sell them as organic they are tested for toxins. I was assured that lead would show up in such tests. However, although the land has been used for hunitng for over 100 years (was used by my great grand father and grand father for hunting), my olives always passed the test. And so does all my veg. Is that enough for you? Whats your next anti hunting issue that needs to be tackled?

Peter Vella

Aug 31st 2010, 19:24

Johnny, in answer to your question - 'What is the next anti hunting issue that needs to be tackled?' - first one please since you have failed to allay my concerns. I would start by providing evidence of proper scientific inquiry through a representative soil section of the Maltese ecosystem NOT your olive groove! The first premise is thus logically flawed leaving my first concern unsatisifed. Perhaps you could point me in the direction of robust scientific research in this regard? Thank you. Last, but not least, with reference to my UK friends their holiday destination is irrelevant. The point is they have chosen not to come to Malta due to hunting. And yes, they may holiday in places were hunting is affected. Frankly, I do not care. What I care about is that they have chosen not to holiday in Malta for the noted reason. Is this right? Is this wrong? Who knows? The point remains. They have avoided Malta for the noted reason. And yes, I can ask them the question on your behalf if you're keen on an answer. Thank you.

Peter Vella

Aug 31st 2010, 20:29

Interesting read - http://lqma.ifas.ufl.edu/Publication/MA-00-R.pdf. Lead contamination in Florida soil is a 'serious problem'. Then again these are scientists what do they know?

Johnny Xerri

Aug 31st 2010, 23:58

If they avoided Malta soley due to hunting, then I' sorry to point out that they and you are not credible at all since hunting is practiced all over the world, so they would find no alternative place to visit.

Secondly, if hunting has taken place over the same fields for over 100 years and yet all crops, including grapes and olives manage to be lead free and pass the organic test, then for me it is proof enough that the lead contamination is simply your fantasy.

Sorry Peter but the link you posted is a dead end. The site does not open. However, I ask, if lead is so damgerous as you make it out to be, why has the EU not issued regulations on hunting cartridges, especially when one considers the millions of shots taken by the 17 million EU hunters? Moreover a cars release much more lead then any hunter's shotgun, yet does anyone bat an eyelid?

However, even if proved that lead is polluting the environment, one can always use a non toxic cartridge such as tungston, bismuth, copper plated lead, chrom platted lead, steel, heavy shot, + other varieties.

Paul Wickham

Sep 1st 2010, 14:13

Hi Johnny,

Well while I am heartened to hear some areas of Malta are designated bird sanctuaries. I cant help thinking that birds are hardly likely to remain in these small areas exclusively...But hey, it's a start :-) I would also like to say (not to you but some others) I am as far from a tree hugging hippy as it is possible to be. But in my advancing years, I have realized that the human impact on our environment is unsustainable. I very much take your point about the building of holiday accommodation in beauty spots and would be the first to acknowledge the damage this is doing both here and there.

The hunting issue in the UK is also mired in the class struggle, so made more complex than simple environmental issues.

Well I shall retire gracefully from this discussion. Feeling are powerful on both sides of the debate. But I have enjoyed our discourse. Maybe we will meet again on another thread. So until then, or the possibility of us meeting over that pint.

Respectfully yours

Paul

Johnny Xerri

Aug 31st 2010, 11:51

Not only in the past, not only present, not only in the future, people will:

1. Drive recklessly
2. Steal
3. Kill
4. Rape
5. Blackmail
6. Bribe
7. Corrupt
8. Steal votes
9. Abuse children
10. Write false info about others
11. Abuse from sick leave
12. Avaid taxes
13. Smuggle drugs
14. Use drugs
15. Drink Drive
16. ++++++ other crimes

Will you you preach to members of your society against these activities?
Or is it just illegal hunting that you will preach about?

If hunting were the only crime of the country, then I would gladly let government confiscate my gun even if I did no wrong doing, in the hope that the police, army and courts would be dismanttled and so I would say some taxes.

Like the Brits said in their fox hunting campaign:

Corruption or hunting
Health or hunting
Education or hunting
Drugs or hunting

GonziPn is going to the dogs and in order to hang on to something and deviate peoples attention he lets hunting become an issue.

Hunting is practiced world-wide, poaching takes place world-wide, but nowhere in the world is hunting abhored as it is in Malta.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 31st 2010, 11:37

It is not an issue of governments having no guts.

It is simply an issue that if sustainable, hunting should not be banned. Same like in fishing and same as forestry activties like logging.

Likely the birds directive and international law is based on sustainability and not on some treehugers prinicples of what should and should not be allowed.

Andrew Gatt

Aug 30th 2010, 21:02

Paul, Ireland is not only blessed with an abundance of resident game but also benefits from migratory species. A much, much, larger country with the undisturbed habitats and countryside so lacking in Malta.

We have NO resident gamebirds (the only EU country!) and rely entirely on migratory species, about 350 in all, of which just 32 are legal quarry and may be hunted in line with the Birds Directive. There is little countryside, hardly any undisturbed habitat except the coastal cliffs (home to healthy seabird populations which are protected in any case), and no above-ground water sources.

What may be common in Ireland is rare in Malta NOT because of hunting pressures but simply because of Malta's unique location (150km from the nearest flyway) and the lack of habitat. Hysterical claims of "millions", false statements that birds will breed if hunting stops are simply tear-jerking fantasies concocted and spread by abolitionists who seek to raise funding and further their own agendas.

Consider this: The traditional Spring hunting season for quail and turtle dove has effectively not taken place for 3 years. Result? Zilch breeding beyond a few pairs as usual.

Hope this gives you a bit more background.

George Micallef

Aug 30th 2010, 21:47

Paul Wickham preach your sermon in your own country. We don't need your sermon.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 31st 2010, 07:41

Dear Paul Wickham,

I cannot fail to ask you, what has tourism got to do with hunting? If tourists do not come to Malta because of hunting, then where will they visit since hunting is practiced all over the world? Obviously I stand to be corrected and await your provision of a list of hunting free countries that tourists might visit instead of Malta.

You can surely set up a business in Malta. Hunters will not deny you from this. Considering your banning attitude towards hunting, I ask you, is it by any chance that your business will specialise in providing hunting trips? It would come hand to provide trips to countries were hunting is allowed all year round like say Ireland, if hunting is banned in Malta.
Malta not only lacks birds, but also lacks; fresh water supply, food supply, countryside, habitat, climate, and geographical location that Ireland has. It would be naïve to claim that no birds are present because of hunters, when all know the limited gamebags that we harvest. Moreover, hunting has been banned for 3 consecutive spring seasons, however, none of the migrating birds stopped to breed on this barren rock.

S Vella

Aug 31st 2010, 14:21

MR WICKHAM
I THOUGHT YOU HEARED ABOUT HUNTING IN MALTA FROM WHAT YOU WROTE...
http://www.banfoxhuntingcrueltyireland.com/
http://www.gohuntingireland.com/#
http://www.celticfieldsports.com/
http://www.google.com.mt/imgres?

Peter Vella

Aug 31st 2010, 16:36

S Vella ... two wrongs don't make a right. What is happening in Ireland is wrong. What is happening in Malta is wrong. Full stop to this logic and pointless links!

S Vella

Aug 31st 2010, 21:29

@PeterVella
And who decides that hunting is wrong Mr Vella?
if you dont like hunting it doesnt mean its wrong. Tollerance?? I am sure that in different societies difernt people have diferent likings, hobbies opinions etc and to learn to live in a society of human beings you have to be TOLLERANT espcially towars minorities who have a right just like everyone else

Paul Wickham

Sep 1st 2010, 21:04

My, some of you are very confrontational.

Links to Irish hunting web sites are meaningless here.

1, Ireland's land mass is many many time that of Malta
2, Ireland has thousands of square miles of almost uninhabited countryside
3, I disagree with hunting here too.

The idea of people with guns getting so angry just because I express the fact that I disprove of hunting is...interesting. I have not said it should be banned, that is pointless, and would simply drive the pastime underground.

I appreciate those pro hunters that have entered the debate with the intention to educate me to some of the differences between our two countries (I was aware of most) To those who simply dismissed me........Meh!

r sammut

Aug 30th 2010, 21:33

@M.Debono
As you reference ‘the lumberjack case’ concerns just three individuals, not all 12000 or so registered hunters! If there were a few rotten apples you be the first to discard the whole harvest!

Andrew Gatt

Aug 30th 2010, 16:09

Lick, lick, lick..............what an insult to the loyal and hardworking members of the Police force.

And they want to ban ALL hunting. See my comment below and check it out on CABS's website - if you dare read the truth, that is!

D Demajo

Aug 30th 2010, 16:02

Le Johnny m'ghandhomx ghalfejn juzaw materjal barrani ....
Hawn Malta jsibu kemm iridu u aghar minn hekk ukoll.... taf daqsi int

Xi trid tipprova billi gibt ir-ritratti ta' barra? Kulhadd jaf li kullimkien isiru l-abbuzi. Id-differenza hi li barra hemm min jikkontrolla, u Malta m'hawnx. Allura ikollhom jigu l-barranin jekk mhux kapaci ahna nrazznu il-hmieg Malti. Jalla kull min jabbuza u JOQTOL bla ebda hsieb jinqabad u jiehu dak li haqqu.

Salvinu Vella

Aug 30th 2010, 16:28

D Demajo kieku hemm min jikkontrolla kieku ma jkunx hemm ritratti ta' abbużi.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 31st 2010, 07:13

Are you sure of when you said "Le Johnny m'ghandhomx ghalfejn juzaw materjal barrani ....
Hawn Malta jsibu kemm iridu u aghar minn hekk ukoll.... taf daqsi int" for I not only differ in tought buthave the proof. Dear readers just follow this link to see how extrimists stop at nothing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKTvz-2pkpc

Are you sure of your argument when you said "Xi trid tipprova billi gibt ir-ritratti ta' barra? Kulhadd jaf li kullimkien isiru l-abbuzi. Id-differenza hi li barra hemm min jikkontrolla, u Malta m'hawnx. Allura ikollhom jigu l-barranin jekk mhux kapaci ahna nrazznu il-hmieg Malti. Jalla kull min jabbuza u JOQTOL bla ebda hsieb jinqabad u jiehu dak li haqqu."

If they control illegalities than how is that these pictures were taken in foreign countries just last season? Yes illegalities happen on a world wide scale, however, it is just in Malta that they are used to justify a ban.

I only agree with you on one point, i.e. that poachers should be caught and prosecuted.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 30th 2010, 16:39

Why need a body guard?
If they enter your private land just take a pic. That is what I usually do.

When hunting they occasionaly took photos of me. When I asked them why, they said jsut in case we need some evidence of who uses this hide. I just got my mobile and took a very close up photo of them and their rented cars number plates. They got really angry and demanded that I delete these. I'm sorry, I might need then as evidence should my photos be used incorrectly or should you just have violated my privacy.

Apart from that you have a right to phone the police if they enter private land. You also have the right to prosecute. So photos come in handy just in case they leave before the ploice come.

If they are commiting damage you have the right to protect your property as stated in the constitution of Malta (consitution of Malta chapter 4 article 33 sub-article 2a).

So I would advice cabs to stay off private land coz we have a right to prosecute angainst intruders and also a right to defend our property untill police come

Andrew Gatt

Aug 30th 2010, 15:28

Robert, I would kindly ask you to read my comment further down. CABS have a clearly stated abolitionist agends.

Robert Caruana

Aug 30th 2010, 16:26

Even if they may have an abolitionist agenda, they cannot stop law abiding hunters from carrying out their pastime and as long as they do not break any local laws they have every right to come here and stay here for as long as they like since they are EU citizens. Of course irrespective of any abolitionist agenda they may have, CABS members cannot and will not stop hunting in Malta but at the same time whether they like it or not Maltese hunters and trappers will have to accept the presence of CABS members among us. It is as simple as that.

Paul Camilleri

Aug 30th 2010, 16:31

Robert Caruana yes caruana, they can be prevented from entering on grounds of public security because they will be breaching public security with their actions. What are the police waiting for? Maltese citizens have always lived with hunting and trapping and no foreigner is going to stop it whether they like it or not.

Jesmond Micallef

Aug 30th 2010, 19:23

Well said Dennis Zammit !!

s vella

Aug 30th 2010, 14:16

Chek the data Protection Law, and if they inrude your privacy and u have the right to sue them just go ahead and teach them a lesson. Good luck my friend

D Sant

Aug 30th 2010, 14:21

Martin Pisani,
No-one can enlighten you since you do not have any blog.
Yours is just a comment and no-one is gonna read your blog as it does not exist.
Regards.

A.Vella

Aug 30th 2010, 14:37

Simple answer to a Simple question
They won`t film or take pictures of you unless you kill a protected species...So don`t worry at all

Johnny Xerri

Aug 30th 2010, 15:32

Wrong they will film you for any reason they feel like.

I was doing nothing wrong but they took some pics of myself last year. I simple unloaded my gun locked it in my car, put the dogs on a leash and confronted them peacefully.

I asked them to indicate why they took a pic since I was legally practicing my hobby and had commited no crime. Their reply was, just in case we need some evidence of who was in this hide should a crime be commiteed.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 30th 2010, 15:35

by the way dear A Vella,

Not even law enforcement agents can photograph without first advicing of this, that is why all speed cameras have to have prior warning signs, and that is why cctv have to have warning signs.

Can you enlighten us to what hobby you have, I might just come and photgraph you just in case you commit a crime!!!

c. hansel

Aug 30th 2010, 12:28

yea right in "their" country there is no illegal hunting. Also please be reminded Malta is an EU member so technically there is no theirs or ours...... and what does it matter to you if some ppl care about the environment as from your comment you dont seem to.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 30th 2010, 12:31

Wake up to the 21st century. Malta cannot continue living as if it were cut off from the rest of Europe and the rest of the world. One world, one village - ever heard of this maxim? Look it up: will do you good.

Chris Finch

Aug 30th 2010, 12:55

Why should they kick them out? The government hasn't got the guts to do what the majority of us want i.e. ban hunting.
The islands would be much better off without it.

J Mallia

Aug 30th 2010, 13:15

And what make you think this is our "internal affair" ?? Erf ibbottiljat !! :)

Johnny Xerri

Aug 30th 2010, 14:30

lol Malta cannot remain in neolitic times, and practice hunting as practiced in all EU countries, but we can have poepel who would as admitted by themselves on this same online newspaper take the law into their own hands.

Again I ask how would you have thought the warden a lesson. Let me remind you of your comment shall I:

'If I had been the LSA, I would not need MUT's condemnation and the Police to investigate. I would have taught that warden a lesson in good manners, myself.'

Johnny Xerri

Aug 30th 2010, 14:38

C Hansel, are you sure of your words? Are you sure that in 'their countries their are no illegalities to monitor

http://www.komitee.de/en/index.php?raptors
http://www.komitee.de/en/index.php?redkite
http://www.komitee.de/en/index.php?massacre_dueren

Malta joined the EU with the guarantee that spring hunting & autumn hunting would continue as is (not with poaching, not with illegalities, but with proper legal hunting)

It seems that the only bird species that is striving is the anti-hunting parrot species

T Camilleri

Aug 30th 2010, 16:41

c. hansel we do not care a hoot whether we are in the EU or not. This is OUR COUNTRY and they shall not interfere in our affairs. We do not need or want these crap foreigners.

Sergio Vassallo

Aug 30th 2010, 16:42

Franco Farrugia one world one village? That's what you think.

Jacob Sammut

Aug 30th 2010, 16:44

If you don't like hunting too bad Chris Finch, because we've been hunting and we shall continue hunting and are not going to be stopped by these foreigners.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 30th 2010, 17:26

@ Sergio Vassallo - Leave that cave of yours and come out to the 21st century! It's very interesting. If you think that I am the only one to think that, you're living in another world, cut off from world education. Probably only using the Internet to leave comments here.

Sergio Vassallo

Aug 30th 2010, 18:42

Franco Farrugia you can rest assured that NO ONE is going to impose one world one village upon us.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 31st 2010, 07:25

@ Franco Farrugia,
If we really lived in one world one village we would be hunting right now since hunting is practiced on a world wide scale.
Please name me a country that is so modern, so 21st century, that has banned hunting.

C Mallia

Aug 30th 2010, 12:40

Qed jirfsulek il-kallijiet hux S. Vella.

CABS have every right to come to Malta and other EU countries to report illegal activities. Those who ridicule or are against this are supporting illegalities themselves.

barry hayes

Aug 30th 2010, 13:50

Your are only trying to redicule our Authorities and police.


perhaps that is what is needed

C Vassallo

Aug 30th 2010, 14:17

S Vella,
Jekk m'ghandekx il-faham miblul, m'ghandekx ghalfejn titkellem hekk ghax lilek mhux se jtuk l-ebda fastidju.

S Vella

Aug 30th 2010, 15:33

@C Mallia u C Vassallo
Ghal informazzjoni tieghek lili ma qed jirfsuli ebda kallu ghax ghal grazzja t'Alla jien dejjem obdejt osservajt il ligijiet, anki meta ma qbiltx maghom u nistiedenek meta trid u fejn trid niltaqghu u nurik il kondotta tieghi,li ma hi mcappsa b'ebda reat la relatat mal-kacca u l-anqas mod iehor! Pero li kif ikun ha jiftah l-istagun jergaw jaqalaw il-kwistjoni qed tkun ta provokazzjoni ghalina kaccaturi. Dawn imisshom jaraw xinhu jigri go pajjizhom qabel jigu jippretendu li jikkoregu lielna! Jaraw it-tibna f'ghajn haddiehor u ma jarawx it-travu li ghandhom f'ghajnejhom. Ghax ma tithajjarx tmur inti go pajjizhom u tigbdilhom l-ispaga fuq l-irregolaritajiet taghom...taf kemm jaghtu kasek!!
@ Berry Hayes
They should remain here all year round then because irregularities happen every day starting from our same government....I hope you read about the scandal of the powerstaion and the fine we may face of 400 milion!! Anti hunting bodies use to scare the Maltese citizens of the fines we may have to pay if the government opens the hunting season in Spring....were are the hypocrates who kept their mouths shut now? is it not from their taxes now that we have to pay these fines??

Steve Zammit

Aug 30th 2010, 18:27

@S.Vella Are you the same guy that 7 hours ago wrote ''I am NOT A HUNTER NOT A BIRD TRAPPER:'' and now in the above comment you contardict yourself by writing ''jien dejjem obdejt osservajt il ligijiet, anki meta ma qbiltx maghom'' and further on you write ''il-kwistjoni qed tkun ta provokazzjoni ghalina kaccaturi.'' Before you write and put your fingers to your keyboard, please decide if you are a hunter or not!

S Vella

Aug 31st 2010, 09:05

@ STEVE ZAMMIT
For your information NO I AM NOT THE SAME S VELLA who in previous comments wrote that he is not a hunter nor bird Trapper. I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I AM A HUNTER AND ABIDE BY THE LAWS EVEN WHEN I DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM.
It does not make sense to write that I am not a hunter or trapper and then write: ''jien dejjem obdejt osservajt il ligijiet, anki meta ma qbiltx maghom'' and ''il-kwistjoni qed tkun ta provokazzjoni ghalina kaccaturi.'' SO I ADVICE YOU TO MAKE SIMPLE CALCULATIONS AND REASONING BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR FINGERS ON THE KEYBOARD.
So many people with the same initials does not mean that they are the same person.....Do not jump to conclusions because you may make a fool of yourself.

Steve Zammit

Aug 31st 2010, 11:16

@S.Vella

''So many people with the same initials does not mean that they are the same person.....Do not jump to conclusions because you may make a fool of yourself. ''

Thanks for your reply Mr.S Vella, just to inform you that I am no fool! But please do you give me any blame for thinking that you where the same S.Vella that wrote the first comment???Before you comment, make sure that no one else has the same inatials as yours, as you will only mix up people, especially if you have different views!

I openly tell you sorry for my error in assuming it was you.

S Vella

Aug 31st 2010, 12:36

@ Steve Zammit
I had no intention in mixing up people altough it seems that you are the only one who got mixed up from your writing, but I am glad I cleared it out for you. I cannot change my initals because I have been writing on these bloggs for quite some time and always used the same initials and cannot change my name.
The only blame I give you is that I wrote clearly that I am a hunter while the other person with the same initials indcated straight away that he is no hunter or trapper so I thought that would distinguish us, but never mind my friend and I accept your appology :)

Steve Zammit

Aug 31st 2010, 15:42

Thanks for your reply Mr.Vella and for clarifying . I must admit, discussing hunting is no straightward discussion, and we do including me firstly get mixed up! Now autumn migration has already kicked off...if you ever want to meet so we can have a chat in our countryside:),...feel free to send me an email, and we can plan from there stevezl25@hotmail.com

S Vella

Aug 31st 2010, 21:35

@Steve Zammit
you are more than welcome Mr. Zammit, maybe one day we can meet in the countryside and I invite you to experince yourself what a hunting day is like and I am sure you will realise that we hunters are not all as described and given the impression of, an you can appreciate our passion much more.

walter camilleri

Aug 30th 2010, 12:07

a) Whoever said anything about Foreign Policemen or security guards? These are local security guards.
b) If you are legal, why are you upset about CABS? They are working in your interest to legalise your hobby.
c) Do you read newspapers about hunters having been tipped off by crooked policement who have now been caught? Congratulations, Mr.Police Commissioner!

C Mallia

Aug 30th 2010, 12:44

I would like you to mention one incident where CABS have been charged on doing something illegal in all the years they have now come here!!

Just one Mr Fenech Azzopardi?!!

If you want I can mention numerous illegalities done by poachers over the years

patrick zammit

Aug 30th 2010, 12:51

"Security guards in itself is already a provocation and an invitation for confrontation"

HFA

Do you feel the same at Mater Day Hospital where almost every door has its own security guard?

A.Charles

Aug 30th 2010, 12:17

Mr. Finch, you are 100% right.

patrick zammit

Aug 30th 2010, 12:47

M Dei Hospital also has security gaurds.

S Vella

Aug 30th 2010, 13:49

one of the reasons i said that we don't need foreign spies let alone security guards is because I know and have full faith of ALE under tha able hands of Inspector MIRUZZI whom has had the gutz to prosecute against an alleged officer who took bribes, and transferred others. I have worked shoulder to shoulder with Inspector Miruzzi ( on sea patrols) and know his integrity and abilities. I am sure that the ALE will work much better without these spies and their security guards trying to tell our law enforcement officers what to do.
As for me knowing hunter Buzz words, no I don't know them and i can assure you I am fully against illegal hunting and illegalities, but I strongly believe that foreigners should wash their dirty linen in their countries and we wash our dirty linen here, And with all respect to everyone, who wants to stop our illegal hunting, people from bulgaria; the most corrupt country in Europe?
Come on my friend let us be Maltese and stop being Yes Sir people. We are capable of dealing with our problems as we have better mentality and education more than most European Countries.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 30th 2010, 13:57

Please refer to my reply to R Caruana, who asked your same question.

If they can to observe illegalities only it would not be a problem. But they come to also disturb legal hunters.

Secondly, will these guards be unarmed?

Jason Borg

Aug 30th 2010, 11:12

Jaqaw qed jirfsulek xi kallu?

S Vella

Aug 30th 2010, 11:21

A Sultana. why don't u try and go to their respective countries to protect their birds? their birda are your birds too.. If you do you have to pay cos their Government will not give you a free holiday, and mind you as soon as you are noticed spying on their hunters you will be massacred and kicked out of the country

D Borg

Aug 30th 2010, 12:05

S Vella I'm sure that they do the same in their respective countries but there, unlike Malta, the mentality regarding bird hunting is one of evolved humans and not of neanderthals like that of the majority of Maltese hunters. Maybe like yours... who knows.
And quote you "and mind you as soon as you are noticed spying on their hunters you will be massacred and kicked out of the country" unquote .......... yeah right .... if the hunters were Maltese maybe .....
Foreign Birdwatchers WELCOME we need your presence here since we never managed to curb the incessant and rampant abuse by the Maltese hunters. Good luck may you do a good job and bring to court as many criminals as possible.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 30th 2010, 14:35

D Borg are you sure of your words? Are you sure that 'unlike Malta, the mentality regarding bird hunting is one of evolved humans and not of neanderthals like that of the majority of Maltese hunters.

http://www.komitee.de/en/index.php?raptors
http://www.komitee.de/en/index.php?redkite
http://www.komitee.de/en/index.php?massacre_dueren

It seems that the only bird species that is striving is the anti-hunting parrot species

D Borg

Aug 30th 2010, 16:21

Johnny Xerri
Of course I'm sure of what I'm saying.
By showing some pictures of foreign illegally caught game, does not prove anything. Everybody knows that illegal hunting exists everywhere? So what? Two wrongs don't make a right and a thousand wrongs don't make a right. Killing for fun is wrong. Killing to survive is not. The thing is we need monitoring here cause illegal hunting is very very very rampant and the Maltese authorities aren't equipped enough to do the job, unfortunately. And half of them are illegal hunters too.
One thing I'm sure of too Johnny.... that the "thousands of law-abiding Maltese hunters" are just ghosts and shadows in some people's minds. Imagination.
Imagine this. You're hunting legally. A large beautiful but protected bird flies over you within shooting range. You don't shoot it because it is protected. Then it flies maybe 200 metres away and you see it being blasted out of the sky by another hunter.
Now tell me, what will you do the next time this happens?
Hehe, there was only one Jesus Christ my friend. You know what I mean, and you know it's true.

Johnny Xerri

Aug 31st 2010, 07:21

@ D Borg

By showing these pictures I did not say that 2 wrongs = 1 right. I simply pointed out that illegalities are not restricted to Malta. Yet it is only in Malta that we get a cry for a ban!!!

Then you proceed with cliaming that the thuosands of law-abiding hunters is our imagination. However, you then imagin a senario in which you imply that I am a poacher or would target protected species when I see poachers do so. How presumptous and imaginative is that? You don't even know me and yet you tarnish me, based on your imagination.

I expect an appology, for you had no right to include me in your imaginative case and tarnish me. For your info year in year out cabs have been no more than 20 meters from my hide, and in 10 yearas of hunting never was I cautioned or booked.

Jason Borg

Aug 30th 2010, 11:20

How many of them have been booked for entering private property? NIL
How many of them have been booked for using violence? NIL
How many of them have been booked for vandalising tree? NIL
How many of them have been booked for shooting at protected species? NIL

Ask the same questions about hunters and the numbers will soar.
Who is the victim of all this (apart from the birds and the trees)? THE THOUSANDS OF LAW ABIDING HUNTERS.
Who will benefit from these surveillance teams (apart from the birds and the trees)? THE THOUSANDS OF LAW ABIDING HUNTERS.

marco meli

Aug 30th 2010, 13:01

"the number will soar" !!!! its true my friend because birdlife always multiply the numbers by hundreds , tousands and millions! Didn't you ask yourself, with all the enviorment falling to pieces, villas being built in valleys, concrete buildings every where, why these people come over to protect a few hundreds(not millions) birds??? not to mention the fact that these few hundred birds represent a fraction of what is being shoot illegally in germany that is!!!! Maybe my assumption is that more germans are after developed farmhouses in the country side, hence less hunters, more land to develop!!!

Johnny Xerri

Aug 30th 2010, 13:53

The thousands of law abiding hunters will not benefit, for the reasons I gave to R Caruana, and also because any illegalities will not serve to clamp down on poachers but will serve as ammunition for the anits whose only scope and vision is a total ban.

Sometimes I wonder who is really better, of the hunter of the criminal.
As a hunter I have never shot at a protected species and yet I suffered from cearly closure of seasons and afternoon bans. So I did not shot during the open season and did not shoot during the bans. Poachers shot during the open seasons and during the bans.

Yet nobody wants to clamp doen on poaching, and instead the clamp is being tightened around legal hunting

Johnny Xerri

Aug 30th 2010, 13:41

If they keep their distance & do not provoke I would not be bothered. But they do not come to monitor migration and illegalities. They also come to hinder legal hunters.

I have a hide under a ridge that is perfectly legal. It is not in a reserve, it is the stipulated distance from the road and everything is in order. Most of my fields happen to fall in the no hunting zone becuase either they are close to the road, or else they are in a bird sanctuary. So I have no option but to hunt from this hide.

What do cabs do? They stay on the road right above me and turtle doves simply deviate in the last 50 meters (just outside my reach). I stopped for a chat, and asked them if they had any problem with legal hunting and the way I was hunting (since I never break the law). They claimed that they were not bothered with legal hunters and that I was as clean as can be. So I gently asked them if they could move around 50meters to any side and not stay above my hide

Cont...

Johnny Xerri

Aug 30th 2010, 13:48

I explained to them that they would have the same view as this was a ridge, and that it would not effect them. It would however, mean a lot to me as they were giving away my legal game.

Their reply was 'of course we could' then they started laughing and said 'but we will not'

Then I told them you just said that you are not against legal hunting and you take pleasure in disturbing me?

Their reply was 'you can hunt, we are on the ridge and not in your field, our disturbance is not intended'

So they were taking pleasure in disturbing me, fully aware that if I gave in to the provokation and entered MY OTHER FIELDS I would be filmed for entering a bird sanctuary (because the bird sanctuary happens to be on MY LAND.

Why didn't they move and film from above the bird sanctaury?
Why did they have to disturb me, when they themselves state that they are not against legal hunting?

Its because they hope and what to be attacked so that they shed more bad light on hunters.

J.Agius

Aug 30th 2010, 11:41

Like you I am not a hunter nor a bird trapper.I agree they should stay & watch whatever is illegal in their country.Not just miruzzi is doing good job in the ALE but 99.9 % from Commisioner Rizzo A/c Brincat inspector Miruzzi & the police of Ale do a great job.
Foreign interference should stop.Should be sent back as illegal immigrants!! Or else
Mr.Rizzo & A/c Brincat & rest of ALE stay watching football at home & let them do your work!!
I am sure you deserve a Break!!!!

Carmelo Briffa

Aug 30th 2010, 11:59

Prsit siehbi jien bhalek mhux KACCATUR, imma dan il kwalita ta ksuhat u ndhil mill barranin qed idejjaqni bil kbir ghax fuq kollox jien demm MALTI. Qatt ma naccetta ndhil ta'barrani gewwa MALTA .
Karmnu.

G.Pisani

Aug 30th 2010, 11:59

Like you I am not a hunter, I am sorry to say this but I have no confidence in our police when it come to the environment . Well done CABS and BLM.

PS if you are not a hunter than you should not worry about CABS... but I really doubt in what you really are.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 30th 2010, 12:29

First, we don't know who you are, what you are and what your vested interests are.
Second, what do we have to lose, with foreign experts in our country to monitor what is actually a controversial issue? If everything is going according to 'law', we have nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to hide. Or, do we?
Experience is showing that the ALE ... let's say that they are not enough to monitor the situation. Yes, we do need them.
These monitors do not need permits to come and monitor the situation. You call it spying. I call it monitoring.
Mr Pisani is right. You see, there ARE sensible and level-minded citizens in our country.

M.Bezzina

Aug 30th 2010, 13:08

For the gov its good that these people come here so he dont need to pay ALE overtime!!They probably rent a hotel room, spend a couple a beers just like a normal tourist!!