Malta is Europe's capital for killing of birds

[Guest guest]

Wednesday, January 23, 2002

 

< Europe's capital for killing of birds >

 

by Dennis Hanson, Birmingham, UK.

 

It was with horror and disgust that I read about the abominable antics of

those

responsible for the massacre of the swans.

 

Let's all be honest in calling a spade a spade, the accepted motto of any

Maltese government is " Lost votes are worth more than a few feathered

friends " .

 

And then there is the EU itself. If the power base in Brussels had one ounce

of

dignity, they would lay it on the line in no uncertain terms.

 

While Malta is Europe's capital for the slaughtering of migratory birds, its

membership application should be as dead as the swans of St Thomas Bay.

 

But as always, nothing will happen, the grumblings will go on for a few

days,

but in no time all will be forgotten, and life will go on as usual.

 

Malta is undertaking a concerted effort to attract more tourists to its

shores,

but someone forgot to inform the prospective clientele to read the small

print:

" Please excuse the hunters, stick to the towns... We accept no

responsibility

for the careless few who wander into the countryside... Do so at one's own

risk! "

 

This article may also be viewed at

http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=86607

 

=========================

 

Massacre of mute swans

 

I was absolutely horrified to hear about the massacre of mute swans in St

Thomas’ Bay, but not at all surprised. During my visit to Malta, I witnessed

many protected birds being blown out of the sky, although well away from the

tourist resorts.

This latest episode in the appalling onslaught that Malta’s wildlife faces,

underlines the fact that the ALE are woefully under-resourced. It is high

time that the Maltese Government also recognised this fact. Malta

desperately needs a well-resourced, well-equipped wildlife protection unit

within its police force, capable of bringing in extra trained officers

during the peak migration periods to protect all of our birds as they pass

through Malta.

Illegal hunting is unfortunately so widespread on Malta and on Gozo, that

this will require a substantial financial input from the government. If this

is not forthcoming, I fear that incidents such as that at St Thomas’ Bay

will have a severe effect on Malta’s tourist industry. Tourists will not

return if they witness such events on your islands.

 

Iain Robson

 

Northumberland, UK

 

http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/lettersview.asp?id=1558

 

==============================

 

What is the Church doing?

 

I refer to the story regarding the massacre of swans taking rest in one of

Malta’s bays.

As a regular visitor to Malta and being aware of how friendly and kind the

people are, I continue to be appalled by the way some people (men) in Malta

treat God’s beautiful defenceless creatures as objects for their own

pleasure.

What is the Church doing about this? Have they not heard of Saint Francis?

 

Mick Sleight

 

Doncaster, UK

 

http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/lettersview.asp?id=1561

 

=========================

 

Wednesday, January 23, 2002

 

< Well-coordinated action >

by Tina Hahl, Germany.

 

Congratulations to the police and Armed Forces of Malta on their

well-coordinated and successful action leading to the arrest of the three

poachers who ruthlessly and pointlessly killed the flock of eight mute swans

in

St Thomas Bay on Sunday afternoon.

 

These 'hunters' have not only brought disgrace upon the hunting

federation(s)

they belong to but also actively contributed to the endangering and

extinction

of the rare wildlife species of Europe.

 

So much more disgraceful, since the bird slaughterers did not even shrink

from

bluntly satisfying their lust in public by killing the majestic birds in

full

view of tourists, children and their co-nationals, who were enjoying this

rare

spectacle of nature on the Maltese islands that early Sunday afternoon, thus

deliberately endangering people's lives.

 

I sincerely hope that the Maltese courts will inflict the maximum fine on

the

scoundrels who seem to take ultimate pleasure in actively adding to the

extinction of the common wildlife heritage of Europe.

 

This article may also be viewed at

http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=86603

 

===========================================

david camilleri

ghawdex40

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

Why don't you join < Eurobirder > and

< http://proaction.tripod.com/team/

< http://www.MaltaTouristAction.org

 

 

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