With the upcoming referendum to be held on 11th April, there has been an overwhelming reaction on the debate about Spring Hunting to be or not to be abolished. After watching Xarabank’s latest episode regarding the topic (yes I know, my Friday nights are extremely wild-roar), I felt that the debate was interesting and that some people did have valid points, yet I believe that many of us are missing the point of this referendum and why it is so important to voice out one’s opinion.
There are many other important things going on globally right now, the news constantly blasting out death, wars, violence, fear, threat and anger into our lives. So why do we make such a fuss when it comes to this referendum? Have we blown this topic out of proportion? Yes, I do agree that outside our tiny island there are much more important issues to be dealt with, yet I still believe that we forget just how important our environment is and that the outcome of this referendum will have either a positive or a negative impact on our natural environment.
Hunting is not making things any better.
This is referendum is established purely with the environment at heart. It has nothing to do with politics, religious beliefs, or economic importance. This is a referendum concerning solely natural conservation. This referendum is about the birds that migrate from Africa to Northern Europe so as to procreate and bring new life into this world; new life that is increasingly becoming scarce. Why is it that hunters must shoot down birds, be it protected or not, during such an important season? The birds that make this journey are the strongest, as they survive the coldness of the winter, so why, then, must we kill these birds and not give them the chance to breed? Over the years, populations of various bird species have changed drastically, due to various reasons such as climate change, pesticides and deforestation. Hunting is not making things any better. To go back to the reason why I am writing this article, Xarabank reflected upon what “we” deserve and what “we” have the right to do and why “we” deserve to have this right. What about the birds we are shooting? Why must it always be about man and his greed?
Maltese hunters feel they are being attacked and are having their right/privilege (call it what you want) of hunting taken away from them. The FKNK reflect upon how these hunters have so many rules and regulations put upon them already, which many of them follow and obey. Yet evidently, not all of these hunters follow these regulations, and instead, they target and shoot endangered birds as a hobby and sport. The Maltese have become irritated and frustrated over the past few years, a result of which this upcoming referendum is to be held. Others argue that the referendum is killing one of Malta’s finest “traditions”. Traditions change over time. It’s a fact. Maltese bizilla is a dying craft, yet no one is rioting over the fact that we are enweaving such traditional threads (pun intended). Bill Oddie, a wildlife expert from the UK and also CEO of the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS), had visited Malta and commented upon the idea of hunting seen as a tradition; “At some stage in history, one has to judge what is no longer appropriate or wise and change it”. Preach it, Bill.
People argue that we have a right to enjoy the countryside, to which I agree. I love nature and all that comes with it, while I believe that animals have the right to feel safe in their own habitat. This is about the conservation of wild species, NOT the people. This referendum is an important verdict that will have a direct impact on our environment. If the public does not vote no, this “tradition” will die out, due to the fact that birds will die out. Nature is beautiful and I wish that the future will be able to experience the harmony, tranquillity, happiness and inspiration that Nature and her creatures have to offer. People have theories that our future is to bring chaos, destruction and madness. I fear that one day, we will wake up to the sound of car engines, people’s voices, alarms buzzing, the whistling coffee machines and so called everyday life – but not the sound of birds singing. This, in my eyes, is a true dystopia.
