All eight students that spoke at a KSU meeting this afternoon took a stand against spring hunting.

The assembly was organised by the students’ council which last year expressed itself against spring hunting and in favour or the upcoming referendum.

It made an open call to students and university associations to present arguments in favour or against spring hunting, in a bid to help fellow pupils take an informed decision when they go to the polling booths on April 11.

The council’s social policy commission itself will later on this month vote on the issue so that it can take a stand.

This afternoon the common argument brought up against spring hunting was that killing birds in spring, at a time when they are on their way to breed was not sustainable.

Lucia Farrugia, from the Science Students’ Society argued that although shooting down birds was not the primary reason for their decline, as pesticide was also killing birds off, other animals that breed in spring were also losing out.

Sound pollution disturbed other species from breeding, and this evident when spring hunting was stopped for a while. The population of other animals – not just birds – went up, she added.

Another argument brought up by Alexander Hili was that 10,000 people – the number of registered hunters – seemed to be controlling parliament elected to represent 423,00 people.

“The hunters’ lobby group is bullying everyone into submission,” he insisted, asking why some politicians were sitting on the fence.