Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1464865
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 APRIL 2022 OPINION 11 otherwise, of Spring hunting, as a matter of principle. No, what we are looking at now is an actual, full-blown, environ- mental emergency. There is, at the end of it all, a bird species that is threatened with possible EXTINCTION, no less – OK, not imminently, perhaps; but… well, that's the whole point, isn't it? If we are criminally irresponsi- ble enough to even think of per- mitting the hunting of a vulner- able bird, at any time at all (but especially, during its breeding season)… what are we actually doing, if not hastening its even- tual demise? By adding to all the pressures already faced by this species – and wildlife in gener- al – which, for the record, also include Climate Change… itself one of Miriam Dalli's other self- avowed 'priorities'? There is, I am sorry to say, no other way to describe this de- cision, than… 'eco-cidal' (and yes, I am aware that the word doesn't actually exist. But then again, that's probably because the very concept is too unthink- able to even be named at all…) And from that point of view, alone: Miriam Dalli has a lit- tle explaining to do, don't you think? She is, after all, Malta's 'Environment Minister'… and therefore – unlike Gozo Min- ister Clint Camilleri (who also signed the legal notice, in his capacity as the minister respon- sible for hunting) - the protec- tion of wildlife happens to be her own, direct political respon- sibility. At the very least, then, I would say that she now owes us a proper, scientific explanation – along the lines as the IUCN's, above – as to why she feels it is 'sustainable' (or even remotely justifiable) to permit the whole- sale slaughter of a bird that is effectively ENDANGERED… and even then, at the most cru- cial stage of its life-cycle. While I'm at it: she also ow- es the European Commission a justification for what is ef- fectively a clear, emphatic breach of European law. It is not enough to simply claim 'the right to derogate' (as every Mal- tese government has done, ever since we joined the EU in 2004). No, Miriam Dalli also has to tell us specifically how a 'spring hunting season for turtle-dove' – under any circumstances: still less, those of today - ac- tually conforms with the legal requirements for such deroga- tions, as listed under Article 9 of the Birds Directive. Is it "in the interests of public health and safety", for instance? Or "air safety"? Or "to prevent serious damage to crops, live- stock, forests, fisheries and wa- ter"? (Note: I won't even bother with "for the protection of flo- ra and fauna", because, erm… there wouldn't be any point, would there?) But of course, Miriam Dalli needn't bother actually replying to any of that. We all know what the 'justification' really amounts to, in the end. It has nothing to do with 'the environment'… and everything to do with a greedy, pre-election scramble for votes, by a party that was heading to- wards an enormous victory an- yway. And… well, that's the whole cause of my disappointment, right there. It is not so much that our newly-appointed En- vironment Minister – who had shown so much promise, too! - has chosen to kick-start her new career by committing what can only be described as a 'crime against wildlife'… … it's also that – in so doing – she signalled that she will simply carry on, where all her failed predecessors had left off. Just like Aaron Farrugia, before her… and Jose Herrera before him… and pretty much every Environment Minister we've ever had (under both admin- istrations)… she will simply cave in to all the powerful lob- by-groups - including, but not limited to, hunters and trappers – that have had successive Mal- tese governments eating out of their hands, like frightened sparrows, for decades… And if that's the case: well, Robert Abela might just as well have buried the environment portfolio in one of the usual 'unimportant' ministries… and assigned it to any old political 'newbie'. After all, it doesn't take very much 'experience', or 'capability', to simply retain the status quo... If we are criminally irresponsible enough to even think of permitting the hunting of a vulnerable bird, at any time at all (but especially, during its breeding season)… what are we actually doing, if not hastening its eventual demise? PHOTO: ARON TANTI