The politics of hunting
http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/opinionview.asp?id=823
18/10/02
Michael Briguglio:- Public Relations Officer,
Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party
www.alternattiva.org.mt
The hunting and trapping lobby is once again being given disproportionate
importance by the Nationalist and Labour parties. Both parties are
interpreting the deal struck with the EU in a way that suits their partisan
interests.
Nobody needs any more convincing about the rampant abuse by hunters and
trappers. A walk in the countryside, a news report, a letter by a tourist in
the press, is all that is needed to confirm that the hunting and trapping
lobby has disproportionate power.
Both traditional political parties do their utmost to appease this lobby.
Both ignore the fact that a Planning Authority survey revealed that 60 per
cent of Maltese and Gozitans want effective enforcement against hunting.
Both ignore the fact that hunting and trapping are causing much harm to
Malta?s tourist industry.
And both are completely ignoring the fact that Malta?s soil and consequently
the water table are polluted with lead coming from pellets. Lead is very
toxic, and the fact that our countryside is absorbing tons of it, should
ring alarm bells. Scientific studies show that those exposed to even low
levels of lead may have learning disabilities, behavioural abnormalities and
it can cause damage to the kidneys.
The Nationalists have remained loyal to their electoral promise to hunters.
The legal age for possession of firearms has been lowered, and hunters are
now permitted to shoot from secondary roads. On the other hand, Labour is
doing its utmost to depict itself as the natural choice for hunters and
trappers. This is the same party that is now riding the bandwagon by stating
that the environment has become Malta?s most important issue ? a perfect
example of greenwash.
It is only Alternattiva Demokratika that is demanding
concrete action against widespread illegal hunting. Our commitment is
enshrined in our electoral manifesto. We are the only political party that
wants hunting to be abolished in spring, in line with the EU Birds Directive
and the Berne Convention. Therefore, we do not agree with the deal that the
government has struck with the EU.
The Greens are fully supporting calls by the majority of Maltese and
Gozitans as well as civil society organisations such as Birdlife, World
Animal Conscience, International Animal Rescue and SOS Animals who are
demanding the strengthening of the Administrative Law Enforcement so hunting
can be curbed.
AD is also the only political party that is demanding the immediate
demolition of all illegal structures built by hunters and trappers in our
countryside. The recent destruction of garigue in il-Qortin tal-Magun in
Gozo is a prime example of how hunters and trappers are occupying the
countryside, to the detriment of all other Maltese and Gozitan citizens.
It is obvious that the hunting and trapping issue is political. The choice
is clear. If you don?t want Malta to be held at ransom by the hunting and
trapping lobby, if you are fed up with cushy compromises that give it
disproportionate power, if you want to enjoy the countryside, if you want a
breath of fresh air ? use your vote.
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ALTERNATTIVA DEMOKRATIKA - THE GREEN PARTY
Nifs Gdid, Nifs Nadif
*******************************************
MANIFEST GDID B'445 PROPOSTA
www.alternattiva.org.mt/manifesto.html
*******************************************
For more information: http://www.alternattiva.org.mt
http://alternattiva.cjb.net
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