Web posted on January 31, 2002 at 09:00:00 CET
Killing of swans damaging to eco-tourism
Staff Reporter
A committee charged with promoting eco-tourism to Malta has said that
illegal hunting could damage the tourism industry. The Co-ordinating
Committee on Eco-tourism Year 2002 was set up jointly by the Tourism
Minister and the Environment Minister.
In a statement on Tuesday the committee said: "The recent horrific shooting
of mute swans at St Thomas? Bay on 20 January, which has left the majority
of Maltese seething with anger, is the culmination of a series of damaging
incidents to the tourism industry."
Furthermore the committee said it ?views with dismay the effects of illegal
hunting on our valued tourism industry?.
The co-ordinating committee has urged the authorities to ?redouble their
efforts by applying the existing law on illegal hunting more rigorously and
to take all the steps necessary to reduce the adverse effects of hunting and
trapping, including the harassment of tourists by hunters and trappers on
public property, on Malta?s tourism industry?."
These actions are incompatible with the needs of a vital part of Malta?s
economy and run contrary to the whole spirit of eco-tourism which seeks to
respect nature in all its manifestations,? concluded the statement.
http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/newsview.asp?id=6808
Web posted on January 31, 2002 at 09:00:00 CET
Stupid hunters need educating
What a terrible story about the stupid, unthinking shooting of Mute Swans in
St Thomas? Bay.
These men should be punished to the full extent of the law and an education
programme should be implemented throughout Malta to try and prevent such
stupid actions occurring in the future.
I have read of many other unnecessary shootings of birds in Malta and I
think it is time that the government took action by increasing penalties and
educating people about the damage that is being caused to the environment
and the bad publicity that will surely affect tourism and the economy of
your country.
Doug Holly
Berri, Australia
http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/lettersview.asp?id=1611
Web posted on January 31, 2002 at 09:00:00 CET
Outlaw this cruel ?sport?
Whilst the killing of the swans appears to have received a degree of
publicity both here in the UK and in Malta, the general public in Malta
should be aware that this is the tip of a rather large iceberg.
Killing of birds of all types takes place across your islands in a number of
barbaric and cruel ways in the name of ?sport?.
The Maltese government must recognise and act upon this outdated relic by
legislating against it and providing the police with a mandate, materials
and manpower to curb these sick practices.
Until then, there will be many like me who will avoid Malta as a holiday
destination.
Alan Tilmouth
Northumberland, England
http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/lettersview.asp?id=1612
Web posted on January 31, 2002 at 09:00:00 CET
Stop animal cruelty
It was truly sad to hear about the brutal killing of the swans. What
happened is shameful and the authorities should make sure that those
responsible are punished. I just hope that our courts will see that justice
is done. Such a crime needs a punishment more severe than a mere fine.
It is good that many organisations have condemned this barbaric act, but we
need action not words; what are we going to do about animal cruelty in
Malta?
We are reaching a point where animal cruelty in Malta is becoming
intolerable.
Angelo Micallef
Marsaxlokk, Malta
http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/lettersview.asp?id=1614
Web posted on January 31, 2002 at 09:00:00 CET
Draconian measures needed to stop hunting
When will you, the people and government of Malta, do something about the
tragic and very public slaying of Mute Swans in front of innocent children
and tourists.
My disgust at the barbaric extent to which hunters in Malta will go knows no
bounds. This is a particularly brutal and unnecessary killing that requires
severe penalties, including custodial sentences for illegal hunting and
trapping.
The people and government of Malta seem to be ignoring the fact that the
police need to be ordered to tackle the continuing problem of this barbaric
and outmoded so-called ?sport?.
Such bad publicity will hit tourism long and hard, the only remedy to this
will be to be seen on the international public stage applying Draconian
measures to control all firearms. I have not visited Malta for many years
and have no intention of doing so while such events take place.
Malta is considered to be a pariah for anyone who cares about animal welfare
and conservation. The newspaper, radio, Internet and television coverage
throughout Europe of this barbaric act has done even more damage to the
already tarnished image that Malta has gained over the last few years.
When the birds have all gone, what will the bloodlust of these thugs turn to
next ? sheep, goats, dogs, cats, people?
Heaven forbid that Malta ever experiences the attacks on children that
happen in societies where guns are available to almost everyone.
It is time for the Maltese government to do what we did in the United
Kingdom and confiscate all non-essential automatic firearms and handguns.
Michael Fitzgibbons
Sheffield, UK
http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/lettersview.asp?id=1616
Web posted on January 31, 2002 at 09:00:00 CET
Bird killers are damaging the country
I really must write and express my anger and disappointment at the continued
killing of wild birds in Malta. This has culminated in the recent events in
which Mute Swans and rare Red-breasted Geese were brutally and unnecessary
killed.
You must do all you can to stir your readers and the ?silent majority? in
Malta to demand urgent action on enforcement of the law. These actions will
have a bad effect on tourism. I for one will not consider visiting until
things have greatly improved, and I will make sure friends and relatives
also know of the presently disgraceful situation.
How this affects Malta?s application to join the EU I hesitate to guess, but
it suggests your enforcement of EU obligations in this area will be
negligible.
Peter Reed
York, UK
http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/lettersview.asp?id=1617
Web posted on January 30, 2002 at 09:00:00 CET
Stop the bullying
I was terribly shocked when I watched the news and saw pictures of Mute
Swans all covered in blood. In fact they had been shot in cold blood, yes in
cold blood, because these swans were doing no harm.
I can imagine what those people who were enjoying a sunny afternoon at the
bay felt when they saw beautiful, graceful swans flying over and then
resting in the water. Their enjoyment did not last long, as the majestic
swans were reduced to a heap of feathered carcasses smeared with blood. All
this for the enjoyment of barbarians, terrorists, cowboys, bullies; many
names fit them, except for human.
Are these the values of Maltese people? I hope not; in fact I do not think
so. The majority of Maltese people abhor these cruel and barbaric acts. I
thank those people who reported this massacre to the police, and also to the
police and the Armed Forces for their quick action.
But now what? Of course any accused has a lawyer and asks for bail, as is
their right, although that right was not given to the swans, but what then?
Will they be given a suspended sentence, or a Lm10 or Lm20 fine, before the
whole thing is forgotten?
When are our politicians going to join forces and provide tough penalties
for such acts of cruelty? They should also see that these penalties are
handed down to whoever committed these atrocities.
I think it is time to at least try and stop this bullying. I will not
pretend that the two main political parties have the same ideals, God forbid
that they did, but I do expect both parties to agree that law and order is
respected, and when need be harsh penalties dished out. I am not talking
about parking tickets here, but about bullying.
Recently we heard about a number of people attacking police inside a police
car; we heard of a person who went into a government school and beat the
headmaster; and now we have cowboys driving a speedboat into a bay full of
people, with guns in their hands, and shooting beautiful birds who were only
resting.
The birds were giving pleasure to those watching them, but the so-called
sportsmen had different ways of enjoying themselves; by pulling the trigger
of a shotgun.
Is this not bullying? If the authorities agree that it is, let us not wait
any longer. We should get together and act now before something more tragic
occurs.
Joseph Muscat
Mosta, Malta.
Click on the link to read the full article
http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/lettersview.asp?id=1609
Web posted on January 30, 2002 at 09:00:00 CET
Swan massacre
Animal rights activists condemn the swan massacre as a merciless and
unnecessary killing of innocent life. Environmentalists condemn the swan
massacre as a killing of a protected species.
Law abiders condemn the swan massacre as the downright breaking of a law,
unashamedly performed in front of dozens of onlookers.
Those who care about the safety of their children condemn the swan massacre
for the danger these ?men? posed to their children by shooting close to
them. Those who care about the tourism industry condemn the swan massacre as
a huge stain on Malta?s image abroad.
Yet this is not the first time this has happened, and it will happen again,
unless the present laws are urgently revised and tougher penalties are
imposed for such and other cases of animal cruelty.
If this is not done as soon as possible, more animals will be killed, more
people will be put in danger, and more tourists will boycott Malta as their
holiday destination. If animal rights are not a major concern of many
Maltese politicians, tourism should be, since it is one of the major
industries in Malta.
Let the government be reminded that nowadays news travels fast, and people
from all over the world know what happens in Malta at a touch of a computer
keyboard button.
The present laws are no deterrent. Less talk...tougher penalties!
Kenneth Cassar
Marsascala
Click on the link to read the full article
http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/lettersview.asp?id=1606
==================================================
david camilleri
Please now go to < http://proaction.tripod.com/malta/ >
Why don't you join < http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Eurobirder > and
< http://proaction.tripod.com/team/
< http://www.MaltaTouristAction.org
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