Sunday, February 2, 2003
< Hunters' sheer arrogance >
by Ms Annalise Falzon, Tarxien.
It was an appalling experience to witness the sheer arrogance of men whose
aggressive nature was all too evident during a Xarabank programme on hunting
and
the EU.
The absurd situation which has been created around this senseless hobby was
highlighted in some instances of the programme which at times was too much
to
bear for anyone with some respect towards life: on being shown pictures of
shot
and wounded birds, one of the hunters present asked for proof that they were
to
blame for that! Well, any other explanation eludes me.
The other highlight was nothing less than a reminder of the Government's
(and
the Opposition's) manoeuvres, bending over backwards to try and please the
hunting lobby - an expert in blackmailing techniques. Only the Green Party
stood
up for the public's right to enjoyment of open spaces and birds.
More drama came along when another hunter shamelessly claimed that hunters
are
doing hard work to save our environment. I find this hard to believe... are
we
supposed to forget how Mnajdra temples were going to be blown up for the
sake of
nothing more than a bloodsport?
Endless times during walks in the countryside I have encountered these
"conservationists" shooting away at defenceless creatures, threatening with
foul
language anyone who happens to be close and almost driving over people while
in
a rush to reach a vantage point to shoot "protected" marsh harriers. The
explanation for such reckless driving? "Nintilef meta nara ghasfur" (I lose
control when I see a bird). The words of a truly conscientious being, no
doubt.
For those who witnessed the masacres of hundreds of marsh harriers last
year, it
will not be easy to forget the sheer madness of it all, with hunters running
taking over everywhere and with the deafening noise of shooting going on for
hours until after sunset - true to the words seen on a car sticker: "If it
flies, shoot it". Let us not forget when one hunter actually shot at an
officer
and tried to patch it up by saying he thought he was a tourist... surely an
added bonus for the attraction of eco-tourists!
This type of people are always having their way and were still not happy
with
having a year out of which only nine days when no hunting or trapping was
allowed. The new hunting regulations now allow trapping throughout February
-
which was previously closed season.
The little land which is not a building site at present is fast turning into
interminable trapping sites and hunting areas. And the only birds we will be
able to hear will be the (illegal) bird recordings used so widely in the
countryside.
___________________________________________
This article may also be viewed at
http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=118608
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