Main parties mum on animal NGO proposals
The two main political parties are making no promises to animal rights campaigners yet, but Alternattiva Demokratika says it is “totally in synch” with the goals of animal rights’ NGOs.
The Animal Rights Coalition recently sent a paper to the political parties with 19 action points for inclusion in the electoral manifestos. The paper called for an end to animal circuses, zoos and the importation of exotic and dangerous animals. The group also called for the hunting season to be brought to an end as soon as illegalities occur.
The Sunday Times contacted the three political parties for their reaction to the proposals but the two big parties replied vaguely.
The Nationalist Party replied curtly by saying: “The proposals will be considered by the group in charge of drawing up the manifesto.” It did not specify who formed part of this group, even when asked.
The Labour Party replied with a similarly generic quote from Gino Cauchi, spokesman on animal welfare, who said the party was discussing these topics with NGOs.
“Most of the proposals for the animal welfare sector listed in the Animal Rights Coalition’s proposals have already been the subject of discussions held between the Labour Party and animal welfare NGOs in separate meetings.”
But AD chairman Michael Briguglio placed his party firmly behind the Animal Rights Coalition’s proposals.
“We agree with what they said about animal circuses, zoos and exotic animals. In fact, most of these points are already in our manifesto. We are also the only party in favour of the abolition of hunting in spring, in line with the Birds Directive,” Dr Briguglio said.
He pointed out that hunting would probably be the most contentious issue for the big political parties.
“We agree that if there are infringements, proper action needs to be taken, but the other parties are not so keen. The Government’s level of enforcement has been poor, while the Labour Party has MEP John Attard Montalto constantly backing the hunters’ federation,” he said.
Dr Briguglio added that his party’s manifesto would have a specific chapter on animal rights and animal welfare and AD would be “amending” its manifesto to include those points raised by the Animal Rights Coalition which were not yet included.
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Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Nov 19th 2012, 09:37
Keith Perry, could you please stop avoiding the real question and maybe give an answer to what is being actually asked! Just because such unjustified action was taken in the past, should this make it reasonable? If blanket punishment is introduced, then it should be introduced for ALL ILLEGALITIES!
Peter Murray
Nov 18th 2012, 21:11
they may make all the promises in the world -as usually is the case immediately pre-election-However,it is fulfilling them is what counts -just check out Obama if any further proof is neeed.
Rosalind Agius
Nov 18th 2012, 15:38
Cattle living in terrible conditions, pets abandoned like trash in the streets, birds shot down from the skies, horses slave in carriages in the terrible heat, animal circuses brought to our shores - and the two 'main parties mum on Animal NGO proposal'. Is this how they are responding? Why this apathy?
Spineless parties that are are too cowardly to take a stand because they could loose votes.
Maria Williams
Nov 18th 2012, 20:18
Rosalind, that is why it is important that animal lovers forget about old loyalties and voting patterns if necessary, and make their votes count in favour of animals. Tell any canvasser/candidate that comes to your door that you will only vote for those who show respect for animal rights. Only if enough people do this, will things change - as you say they are afraid of losing votes.
fleur cilia buckett
Nov 22nd 2012, 12:30
very nicely said Rosalind ! its appauling ! Malta being such a small country it should be heaven on earth for these animals - far from it!
John Zammit
Nov 18th 2012, 14:29
It's easy for Alternative to promise every thing to every body as they are surly not going to be in Government But the other two will have to weight all the consequence
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Nov 18th 2012, 13:52
Do these NGO's really expect the two main Political Parties to take them seriously?! "The group also called for the hunting season to be brought to an end as soon as illegalities occur."???!!! Do they also call on these Political Parties to ban DRIVERS, PRIESTS, MINISTERS and, ALL CITIZENS for that matter, once illegalities occur?!!
keith perry
Nov 18th 2012, 17:37
Oh dear Madam!!!! for the information of those not aware the above sentence was written into the goverments statement on action regarding illegalities to be taken when they re introduced trapping of birds - This action was taken before by a previous Maltese government during a shooting season, so basically all the NGOs are asking is for enforcement of current government policy statement!
Mr Joe Camilleri
Nov 18th 2012, 12:06
3) "hunting would probably be the most contentious issue for the big political parties" why worry, aren't you always harping that the majority is against hunting. Or is this another blown up balloon!!!
No wonder you never and WILL NEVER make it to parliament.
By the way, Dr Briguglio birds travel NORTH in spring.
Andre` Vella
Nov 19th 2012, 08:28
No one is contesting the direction birds travel, in that case Mr. Joe Camilleri you should go North, and see what the Northern countries think about senseless hunters like yourself.
Only hunters base their behaviour on their obsession, and both PN and PL parties pander to the hunting lobby with the promise they will not abolish hunting. AD can change that once and for all!
Mr Joe Camilleri
Nov 18th 2012, 12:02
1) "The group....hunting season to be brought to an end as soon as illegalities occur." very good a collective punishment. Very much in line with the EU.
2)" We are .... the abolition of hunting in spring, in line with the Birds Directive,” for thr nth time, the Birds Directive ALLOWS SPRING HUNTING.
Andre` Vella
Nov 19th 2012, 08:22
Actually it is the derogation Malta got that it left the door ajar for sustainable hunting. However sustainable hunting is a fallacy in itself and hunting should be abolished once and for all.
Mr Joe Camilleri
Nov 19th 2012, 11:44
@ Andre` Vella
Derogation or not Spring hunting is allowed and those who say otherwise are saying a fallacy.
"sustainable hunting .............for all. " Who are you to say this!!! do you have more data then the EU itself>
Victor Borg
Nov 18th 2012, 11:13
"The group also called for the hunting season to be brought to an end as soon as illegalities occur." If this point would be adopted, then there would no longer be hunting because illegal hunting is the norm. It happens every day in dozens of cases throughout the islands.
Maria Williams
Nov 18th 2012, 20:31
What a great thought!No longer being woken up abruptly two hours before dawn by shots! And then forced to listen to shots throughout the day, knowing that every shot could mean the moment when a beautiful gracefully flying creature is reduced to a mess of bloody feathers plummeting out of the sky,& that's the 'luckier' ones who die outright & not just wounded & forced to suffer a lingering death!
Alfred J. McEwen
Nov 18th 2012, 10:23
Gunning down helpless birds is a coward`s passtime the images seen on MTV showing a dead heron made me vomit.
keith perry
Nov 18th 2012, 09:43
NP and LP ; saying something but meaning nothing.
"An election is coming. Universal peace is declared, and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry." ~George Eliot, Felix Holt, Chapter 5
"Politicians and diapers should be changed frequently and all for the same reason." ~José Maria de Eça de Queiroz, Portuguese
anthony sultana
Nov 18th 2012, 09:40
We want a government that have full respect toward nature, nature and politics should not mix.We are talking about life here, taking somebody's life for the vote ,that's discusting.AD ideoligy is far ahead of the two old parties that we have at the moment.
Please choose the reason of your report below: