Ministry of Tourism

The following text will be sent as email/letter/telefax as appropriate from Proact and the Eurobirders. Those registered with the PROACT team, or who inform me separately, will have their names and country appended to the letter.

To join the PROACT team click on the arctic tern below.

For those wishing just to support the MALTA campaign with their signature send a mail to:

For individualist hardliners I have included addresses and numbers below. Cut, paste and send ..... but please send a copy to Malta@David-Conlin.de.

The Minister for Tourism
Dr. Michael A. Refalo
Ministry for Tourism,
Palazzo Spinola,
St. Julians - CMR 02Malta

Dear Dr. Refalo,

Your Ministry will be aware that Malta's reputation as a holiday destination has been considerably tarnished by the barbaric behaviour of a minority of your fellow citizens; namely those who call themselves hunters, and who twice a year participate in a bloody slaughter of Europe's migratory birds.

Malta's image as a friendly island reputation is receiving increasing international publicity and not only in environmental circles. We, as birders, ornithologists and nature lovers, cannot recommend unreservedly a visit to, or holiday in Malta, until a stop is put to these practices, including the trapping and caging of song birds, by the introduction and enforcement of appropriate legislation. In this context we refer you to the wild birds and habitat directives of the European Union and the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. The EU directives have yet to be transposed a prerequisite for your prospective membership; your country is party to the latter; but with reservations and exceptions in relation to the hunting season.

Until significant progress is made in this direction we feel obliged to inform all of our personal and professional contacts, who might otherwise consider visiting your island, of this sad state of affairs. In a global society with increasing environmental awareness and sensibility they will draw their own conclusions. We, on the other hand, will actively encourage fellow birders and ornithologists to migrate to Malta, in particular during the wild bird passage seasons in Spring and Autumn. We rely on your ministry, as well as the responsible organs of the Maltese government, to ensure the safety of such visitors at all times.

We are confident that you, and all sensible citizens of your islands, will strive to restore and present an image of Malta which is unspoilt by the outdated and cruel pastimes of a small minority. In this endeavour you are assured of our encouragement and active support. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to visit and enjoy the natural beauties of your country; and leave behind our visiting card - 'This tourist is a Eurobirder'.

Yours sincerely,


David Conlin

and concerned Eurobirders, ornithologists and others, representing the following countries:


Austria, Australia, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America, Wales

ADDRESS/CONTACT

Fon: +356 383847/8
Fax: +356 383834

MAIL TO MINISTRY OF TOURISM

LINKS:

TOURISTS AND CONSUMERS

CORPORATE AND TRADE