Hunting spoils long-awaited outing

Mr Johnny Xerri

Apr 21st 2011, 23:19

Dear Ms Boissevain,

With all due respect if you are disappointed, your disappointment should be directed at your child's teacher.

Her teacher could easily have changes the venue to any of the (stand to be corrected) 40 no hunting zones in Malta. Buskett, Simar, Ghadira nature reserve, Chadwick lakes, Kenedy groove, Girgenti, Xorb l-ghagin, ta Qali, Commino, are a few suggestions. Alternatively the date could have been shifted to any date outside the 13th to 30th April and postponing instead of canceling.

However, the wise teacher believed that dragging a child into the hunting matter, and dissapointing the child...would be a better move...as it would spread more venom against hunting...

How petty is the anti hunting lobby to dissappoint a child...far different than FKNK sub committe KRPE (the sub committe responable for edcuation and public relations) who volontarily organised an outing for kids who were taken to view the Mdina Natural history museum and Verdala Palace...

Instead of brain washing kids and dissapointing them in order to reach their goals...KRPE educate children...not on hunting...but on culture and history...because KRPE believe in educating kids on anythong but hunting...the educated mind is then free to make value judgements in an educated, logical and tolerant manner.

Kids are tomorrows adults, do not drag them into your wars...wars that do not belong to them...let them grow up and make up their own minds without brainwashing and dissappointing them.

Mr J. Borg

Apr 18th 2011, 20:34

Ms. Boissevain,

We are all so unsocial and so uncultured that we cannot comprehend the virtues required to kill birds in a National Park.

And when speaking about Majjistral, this is equivalent to the parking slot adjacent a national park abroad - so much for comparison with other Natura 2000 sites abroad.

Ultimately I do not blame hunters ...... but the spineless politicians who continue to suck onto hunters' votes, in the belief that level headed voters will cast their votes on the basis of other considerations beyond hunting.

It is thus overdue that all those who are fed up with being deprived from a healthy spring outing with their kids - even on PUBLIC land and moreover a supposedly National Park - send a message to both the PN and PL where it is felt.

I am sure that an AD-PN or AD-PL coalition government, will not allow hunting in a National Park!

Ms Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Apr 18th 2011, 19:41

Lietje Bonello Boissevain, maybe the school could have taken the children to the Ghadira Nature Reserve! But of course not, this is closed during weekdays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Madam, the Maltese Hunters have just 13 days to enjoy their traditional Spring Hunting Season. Does this bother you so much?! How egoistic! Is it only your daughter who has rights?! Please do teach her to respect the rights of others!

Mr mario salnitro

Apr 18th 2011, 14:02

Next time tell them to go to Ta Qali!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miskiena.

Mr Anthony Formosa

Apr 18th 2011, 10:55

Dear Lietje, Our hunting season was spoiled for the past 3 years and all of us were extremely surprised to that when we were promised otherwise. However many hunters had no option but to spent thousands of Euros to hunt in another EU country. I'm very sorry for your daughter to miss her outing, but what if that day happened to be very bad weather, would you send her anyway? would you write on the TOM that God spoiled her outing? No it's not unfair if she has other places to go free of charge.

Mr Joe Camilleri

Apr 18th 2011, 10:48

Then what about us, this year we had our long-awaited season (although far from what was promissed). We had to fork out an extra €50 just for a couple of hours hunting.
We had been deprived of it for four consecutive years, and what was unjustfully lost was lost for ever.

So let us not make a mountain out of a molehill, when you can easily enjoy it during the rest of the year

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Apr 18th 2011, 10:16

Dear Lietje.

Just to let you know, the Majjestral Park is a Natura 2000 site where hunting is officially allowed. I hope you are aware that hunting is not excluded in Natura 2000 sites.

In its European guidance document on hunting under the “Birds” Directive http://www.facenatura2000.net/hunting.htm the European Union underlines that :

“Hunting is only one of the many potential uses of NATURA 2000 sites, alongside uses such as agriculture, fisheries and other forms of recreation. There is no general presumption against hunting in NATURA 2000 areas under the nature directives."

Considering 15 days hunting within the limits of a legal derogation is currently in practice, your child's teacher could have easily changed the venue and opted for one of the many areas were hunting is forbidden. Places such as Buskett, Girgenti, Xorb l-ghagin and Comino come to mind. However there are several other areas where with a bit of foresight your child and you would not have been disappointed.

There are several months when hunting is forbidden. As a non hunter I hope you do not expect to be given preference over whoever has a right to enjoy his free time within the law. Whether it's walking, hunting, cycling or whatever, there is always a time and place for one to enjoy whatever he likes doing best. It all boils down to tolerating one another and accepting fact.

Hope this quells your disappointment and also that it might serve to spur your child's teacher into using common sense next time he or she plan another walk

Take care.

Mark

Mr Philip Galea

Apr 18th 2011, 09:23

If I remember correctly, hunting in Majjistral Nature and History Park is allowed only till 9.00.am.