Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/392875
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2014 37 THIS WEEK Like many birds, the Turtle Dove migrates. In spring and summer the European population nests across the continent, after which it ies way down across sea and desert to spend the winter south of the Sahara. But the Turtle Dove (M: Gamiema) has a big problem. Despite its gentle nature, this diminutive dove with the mournful purr rouses the bloodlust in ten thousand Maltese men – and many thousands more around the Mediterranean – and has them all reaching wildly for their weapons and ocking to the countryside in their SUVs and pickups, to gun them all down, to the last bird if possible. These men's eorts, combined with the eects of intensive agriculture and widespread use of pesticides and herbicides, have slashed European Turtle Dove numbers by more than half in recent decades, a fact that local hunter bodies ignore, choosing to quote global gures instead. In the face of this decline they still insist on killing Turtle Doves even in spring when the birds are on their way to nest and hopefully multiply. How the killing of a declining species can be described as sustainable hunting dees all reason. 424. TURTLE DOVE GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 326: FLAT BEER? – Sprinkle the leftover beer over your compost pile and then turn it over – it's said to give the micro-organisms a real boost. Bees are facing numerous threats. We already know enough to do something to help, even if some issues might need more research to be fully understood. Known causes of bees' decline include things that affect us too – changes in land use, habitat loss, building projects, disease, pesticides, farming practices, pollution, invasive non-native plant and animal species, and climate change. The outlook for bees right now is quite bleak – and their drop in numbers all over the world is a sign of the plight of the natural world as a whole. Across society, we often undervalue nature and what it does for us. Governments often put business and growth before protecting or enhancing the natural environment. The truth is, if we want an economy that provides for everyone's needs in the long term, we need to reverse damage to the environment around us. Our politicians need to understand the importance of protecting the natural world – and protecting bees as key players in it. Bee problems Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us www.foemalta.org. You can also support us by sending a blank SMS donation on 50618070 (€4.66) or 50619223 (€11.65). Text Victor Falzon Photo Ray Galea MADC opens the new season with The Great Big Radio Show THE MADC proudly presents 'The Great Big Radio Show!' at The Ma- noel Theatre from 17 October di- rected by Polly March as its opening production of the new season. Set in 1933 New York, 'The Great Big Radio Show!' is America's top rated variety programme due to go out live on radio at 8pm. But the star has not arrived! The Bandleader and his P. A. have to find a singer to take her place. So off they head to the studio caf- eteria in the hopes of finding a one from another show. There they find America's Singing Sweetheart, who tries to help out. Enter Freckles Murray, a jobless singer and violinist who went to audi- tion in a rather shady speakeasy, but was so alarmed that she snatched up her fiddle case and ran as the recep- tionist suggests she could cover for a missing waitress in the cafeteria. She is persuaded to sing live on ra- dio and perhaps also play her violin. That's how stars were made, then. Meanwhile, the producer has been desperately keeping the show live on air. Plagued by ulcers and all, this anxiety is not helping. A breakdown looms...as the main sponsor decides to stay on and watch the show. Could things get worse? Oh, yes. Now enter the Gangsters, two bad guys in search of their missing machine gun which, of course, is in the violin case that Freckles Murray snatched up by mistake. They've got to get it back and breathless chases ensue. Meanwhile, enter Olga Schaden- freude, the mega-star who outshines Marlene Deitrich and Greta Garbo. She too agrees to sing on the show! All is well! Or is it? The well known story of boy meets girl, loses girl, finds girl (times four) moves at breakneck speed until the final happy ending...of course! The Great Big Radio Show! fea- tures Alan Montarnaro, Joseph Zammit, Katja Bruneis, Katherine Brown, Michael Mangion, Justin Mamo, Alex Gatesey Lewis, Luke Saydon, Nicola Azzopardi, Mariele Zammit and Andre Mangion. Choreography by Alison Bird, and the Vocal Coach is Cathy Law- lor. You'll come away humming the tunes and tapping your way up the aisle! Winner of the prestigious Viv- ian Ellis Award and The Quest for a British Musical, 'The Great Big Radio Show!' is an enchanting and affectionate pastiche of the great musical comedies of the 1930s. It premiered at The Watermill Theatre and later played at The Bridewell, in London. There will be a revival in London next year. Book and lyrics are by Philip Glassborow, with dance arrange- ments by David Rhind Tutt, and Ge- offrey Thomas. The show at the Manoel Thea- tre: 17, 18, 19 & 24, 25, 26 October 8.00pm Book online at www.teatrumanoel. com.mt, by emailing bookings@te- atrumanoel.com.mt or calling on 2124 6389 Tickets: Euro 16 & 20 on 1st week- end - Euro 20 & 24 on 2nd weekend.