Please thank the Malta Independent

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Please thank the Malta Independent newspaper for its article, below:

at < tmid >

 

Sending a simple note of " Thanks for the June 27th article,

`Complacency Or Just Pure Ignorance?' by David Conlin - Germany " is

enough.

 

To read the full article .

< http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/lettersview.asp?id=346 >

 

Web posted on June 27, 2001 at 9:00:00 AM CET The Malta Independent

Complacency or just pure ignorance?

 

Some weeks ago you kindly published a letter from me on behalf of the

Eurobirder group, protesting against the continued barbaric and

outdated practices of bird trapping and shooting on your islands.

 

In April this year we also addressed the President of Malta, the Prime

Minister and the heads of ministries and departments concerned or most

closely affected. The response has been, to say the least,

disappointing.

 

Whereas the matter continues to be of increasing interest to

environmentalists (in the broadest sense) and ordinary people outside

your islands, especially in the European Community, your elected and

appointed representatives are either complacent or wish to ignore the

problem entirely. Be assured, the problem will not go away.

 

Our first half-page reply was from the police commissioner, who assured

us that the law was being implemented, and offenders brought to

justice, wherever possible. I know from first-hand reports that the

police are trying to get to grips with the problem; but the ALE is a

small, under-equipped unit, which is stretched to the utmost. As we

pointed out to the commissioner, this is one field where practical

assistance from the EU would be beneficial. One could do worse than

take advice from the British police whose establishment of a network of

Wildlife Liaison Officers, although far from complete, has done much to

disrupt organised and spontaneous wildlife crime.

 

The Home Affairs Ministry sent us a holding reply. We are still waiting

for a statement of their position.

 

Much better was the response from the Environment Protection

Department. Following an initial telephone contact from the assistant

to the director, we received a very comprehensive and detailed letter.

Unfortunately it completely missed the point. We were at first charged

with being ill-informed. Apart from the considerable research which we

carried out before committing ourselves to the campaign, we also sought

contact with organisations and private individuals on Malta; as well as

with foreign " witnesses " to the bloody spectacles which regularly appal

many visitors.

 

As to the question of priorities, other environmental issues being more

important to the health and well-being of Maltese citizens, and

therefore more in need of funding, we agree wholeheartedly.

 

Declaring hunting and trapping completely unlawful and anti-social is a

no-cost measure which, we believe, a majority of citizens would support

(are there any female hunters for example?). It would be one burden

(and a " hot potato " ) less for the department. Instead, the Maltese

politicians hang on to an outdated conception of the voters' wishes,

deter more and more tourists from contributing their dollars and euros

to your economy and cause irreparable and lasting damage to the image

of your country abroad.

 

Replies from the President's Office, the Prime Minister, the Ministers

for Foreign Affairs and for Tourism, and the Malta Tourism Authority

have to date not been received. I doubt that we will now be honoured

with a reply.

 

It is sad that justified foreign interest in this matter should be

treated with such provincial indifference.

 

David Conlin

(On behalf of over 200 European birders and supporters from four other

continents.)

 

Germany