A sad story

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The Malta Times   09.05.2001 Author: A. Couto, Paris, France.

A sad story

 

It was 6.20 a.m. on April 4. I was sipping my coffee watching a

magnificent scene from the terrace. Not more than 100 metres towards

the valley from Melliha Road in Malta I could count 20 night herons

alighting among a cluster of carob trees.

 

Before I had time to fetch my binoculars the morning stillness was

shattered with a barrage of gunfire. Most of the 20 were killed without

moving in the tree.

 

The night heron is exceptional from other birds in that when there is a

flock the survivors keep circling round their fallen comrades. So the

killing went on for the next two or three minutes with only one

remaining, and it flew away to tell the sad tale.

 

Two young men, probably from the village, picked up the 19 shattered

bodies and made a hasty retreat from an area where shooting is not

allowed. They will be hailed as heroes. Some do not know any better.

 

Something needs to be done by the ones who know: the politicians.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thanks for all the continuing support and the continuous stream of new

members for 'PROACT MALTA' (now over 140 signatures) and the 'PROACT

TEAM' (78 permanent members). The proact protest campaign against the

biannual bird slaughter in Malta.

Please now go to < http://proaction.tripod.com/malta/ >

 

Malta is a country composed of three small islands in the middle of the

Mediterranean, 100 kilometers south of Sicily. Malta has one of the

world's highest number of hunters per capita, who shoot and kill any

bird that flies. These hunters have eradicated local bird populations

and are significantly depleting regional bird populations.

 

Therefore we are asking you to support the safeguard of the millions of

migratory birds of Europe and Africa, by e-mailing this message to as

many people as you can, environmental associations and mailing-lists.

Let's make ourselves heard, so as to counter the blatant arrogance of

the minority party of hunters, who seem to be holding our politicians

in their power. Let's support the cause of nature conservation and

sustainable development!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The message (to be completed with your name and hometown) is to be

e-mailed to: cimu

 

                       The Prime Minister of Malta

                       Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami

                       Office of the Prime Minister

                       Auberge de Castille

                       Valetta CMR 02

                       Malta

 

Dear Prime Minister Adami,

 

Your New Year's speech to the Diplomatic Corps in Malta this year

contained little substantial in the context of the natural environment

on your islands.

 

You were however critical of international failings in this field, one

cause of disappointment being the failure of the November Climate

Conference in the Hague to reach a successful conclusion.

 

In your address you did however state that " ..with increasing

globalisation it becomes less possible to opt out of critical areas of

collective responsibility " and " the safeguarding of the global

environment for present and future generations is certainly one such

area. "

 

Whilst your concern for global environmental issues is praiseworthy,

Malta's record on its own islands is very below par. The year 2000

annual report by the EU Delegation on progress to membership states:

 

" Since the last regular report, Malta has made very little progress in

the area of environment.

 

No legislative progress can be reported concerning nature protection.

 

Malta is .. a party to the Bern Convention .. but has a reservation and

exception under the convention in relation to the hunting season.

 

With regard to nature protection, most of the Community legislation has

to be transposed, in particular the wild birds and the habitat

directives. "

 

Thanks to better and swifter means of communication, particularly the

internet, the biannual slaughter of migratory birds, as well as the

trapping and caging of naturally free species, reaches a wide audience.

To most of us this is an affront and a depletion of our joint European

natural resources; and not just an internal matter for Malta alone. The

ideals of " collective responsibility " and " safeguarding of our

environment for future generations " rings rather hollow in this

context.

 

Apart from the obvious long-term environmental consequences and losses

for Malta and the rest of Europe, the Government and people of Malta

should seriously consider the effect of the negative image projected by

the barbaric behaviour of a minority and the economic and

representation penalties that will inevitably follow. In the

increasingly popular - and lucrative - field of Ecotourism Malta has

acquired a bad name; and the inevitable sanctions will be self-imposed.

 

Until a responsible environmental policy is implemented we will also

discourage anyone in our domestic or business circle from planning a

holiday in Malta. On the other hand we hope that active birdwatchers

and environmentalists will travel to Malta during the migration season.

Perhaps the presence of foreign environmentalists will have a salutary

effect on the illegal hunters; provided the authorities ensure that no

danger to life or limb ensues.

 

Dear Mr. Adami, we appeal to you to use the authority of your office to

influence those in executive positions to stamp out practices which

have no place in a modern, environmentally aware, society. We will

monitor the situation closely and will hope for great and swift

improvements in this important 'benchmark' aspect of your government

policy.

 

I remain,

 

Yours sincerely,

 

please sign here

(to be completed with your name and hometown)

 

 

                       Email: cimu