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
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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