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from The Malta Independent, December 04, 2001
Hunting down unfavourable material
I would like to reply to a recent letter written around the third press release from The Federation for Hunting and Conservation
in Malta.
The article said that The Federation for Hunting and Conservation stated that the anti-hunting material
which seems to be distributed by foreign sources, especially by members of the European Union, will certainly influence the
vote of local sportsmen at the polls. He also said the federation had already sent several messages to newspapers asking them
to refrain from publishing this anti-hunting material.
Along with many thousands of other people around Europe, I
spend some time reading the on-line newspapers from various parts of the world. I am interested in all forms of wildlife conservation
work. The recent letters published in your newspaper about the plight of wild birds in Malta are typical of many articles
published in many other countries where legislation for the protection of wild and domestic animals either does not exist
or the rule of law is flouted.
There are two points that I would like to make. Wildlife in the form of migrant birds
passing through Malta is a resource shared by many other countries in Europe. I spend time and money improving the habitat
and trying to increase the bird numbers that have for some species fallen to the point where their continued existence is
threatened. What I and many others conservationists would like to see is for the government in Malta to give additional protection
to this shared resource.
My second point is that I find it disturbing that a group such as The Federation for Hunting
and Conservation want to silence anyone who they perceive as being in opposition to their aims. When Mr Farrugia said the
federation had already sent several messages to newspapers asking them to refrain from publishing this anti-hunting material,
he was starting a dangerous precedent in asking them not to publish.
A precedent against the independence and freedom
of speech of the people and press in Malta. What I find most distasteful is the veiled threat from Mr Farrugia against the
politicians in Malta who will be making the much-needed legislation changes.
The Federation for Hunting and Conservation
said that "the anti-hunting material which seems to be distributed by foreign sources, especially by members of the European
Union, will certainly influence the vote of local sportsmen at the polls." I am sure that the politicians in Malta will
see the motives of Mr Farrugia and The Federation for Hunting and Conservation for what they are.
Maybe Mr Farrugia,
it is time for a name change to The Federation for Hunting, leaving out the Conservation part.
Michael Fitzgibbons
Barnsley, England
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