The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I'm sure you are all interested in this appalling topic and know that Chris Packham recently spent a week there filming the shameful behaviour of Maltese "hunters". Chris' exploits are on YouTube if you care to search. On his return he secured a parliamentary debate through the good offices of John Randall, MP for Uxbridge. JR is a longstanding British birder and has supported many conservation issues in the UK. Please have a look at the debate at this link. It is encouraging that this topic attracted much cross party support.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publi ... 208/#c1208

Here's hoping this is the start of something effective,

Phil

Absolutely support this campaign, have done for years but somehow, letters are sent, replies; kind, understanding, 'sympathetic' replies and then life goes on. Somehow we need to bang the drum louder, we need a plan 'B' but.... Let's hope Chris is at last the man to do it.

Just wonder if people actually boycott going to Malta on holiday, Twitter users use the #maltamassacar tag, sadly the one way to make governments act is hit them in the pocket. Concerted campaigning, negative publicity do work.

Andrew

A friend who has connections with Malta says that the balance of political parties is such that any party that choses to support European law and attempt to ban the carnage would be doomed to political defeat. Imagine any political party attempting to ban fishing here. 2 million anglers could easily decide the next election.
Shooting everything that moves is what they do and there can be no domestic political will to ban it. The attempted imposition of something they don't like by a load of interfering foreigners would be as popular there as it is here.
Over the last 15 years I have written to Maltese authorities 3 times, somewhat forcefully, on the matter and had no replies. If there is a sudden increase in criticism the sheer numbers of complaints must have some effect whereas a handful of individual troublemakers are easily ignored. If that is coupled with a statement to the effect that you will not visit the vile place or buy any of their products, better still. It would also help spread the message by criticising family and friends for having the poor taste to go there and show no sympathy if they had a rotten holiday because of what they saw.
A variety of views about what we as individuals can do have been expressed here. Attempting to damage their holiday and export trade may make the Maltese consider their position. Expecting a political solution without meaningful threats is naïve. However, reading what other people have done, agreeing with the sentiments expressed and then not doing anything ourselves amounts to voting for the opposition. So write a letter to some Maltese authority and your voice will be added to the increasing number and they may start to listen.

Shooting is done in the UK in season, but pheasants, ducks, geese not bloomin nightingales. Big man with big gun shooting tiny songbird, a stranger would think it is some kind of Spike Milligan joke, who would have thought such a thing was real ! Let them have their shooting but educate them.

See this link for the current opinions in Malta:
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/natio ... 2uohHlwaax

Phil

Happens here too - people now being given licences to kill pine martens!

http://www.thejournal.ie/pine-marten-killed-1437932-May2014/

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It doesn't say what the "ongoing persistent problem" was?

Having been to Malta and witnessed the slaughter, I know how much needs to be done. As stated elsewhere, attitudes there are completely entrenched, so all we can do is keep plugging away. I will give this campaign all the support I can.

Andrew

How about organising a one day Protest outside the Maltese Embassy and offices of Air Malta, in London, this Summer? It could be a Lincolnshire Bird Club initiative, but I am sure other groups would get involved.