Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/478858
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 MARCH 2015 9 News TIM DIACONO SHOUT campaign coordinator Romina Tolu was yesterday verbally harassed by a hunter while she was waiting for a SHout press conference to commence outside St Helen's Ba- silica, Birkirkara. MaltaToday is informed that the hunter, an elderly man, approached Tolu, accused her of wanting to abol- ish his hobby, and asked her where the "English woman" was. A MaltaToday photographer, who was also awaiting the press confer- ence, stepped in between them. As he raised his mobile phone, the enraged hunter warned him not to record a word that he was saying and raised his fist threateningly. SHout said that hunters then grabbed campaign flyers and set them on fire. Addressing the press conference, SHout campaigner Mark Sultana called on the public to keep media reports and their own past experi- ences in mind when voting in the upcoming referendum. "The hunters are currently wearing a mask to conceal the truth, that ille- gal hunting occurs during the spring hunting season and that hunters act aggressively whenever things don't go their way," he said. He repeated judge emeritus Gio- vanni Bonello's recent condemna- tion of the Yes campaign as one that is based on misinformation. "The Yes campaign's insistence that other hobbies can get banned by future referenda is a myth and a lie," Sultana said. The SHout campaign, Sultana add- ed, was a positive one. "We are calling for a positive change – in favour of an improved environment that birds can fly over without any problems, and in favour of a countryside that everyone can enjoy." Ebba von Fersen Balzan In loving memory of artist Ebba von Fersen Balzan, who passed away aged 50 on the 16, March, 2008. Born in Darmstadt, Germany and who lived in Naxxar, Malta. Her memory lives on in her works and her paintings. Fondly remembered by Saviour Balzan, Antoinette and Ray Balzan, Mariella and Alan Dimech and niece and nephew Matthew and Francesca. Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund The Managing Authority for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 in Malta, the Planning and Priorities Co-ordination Department (PPCD) within the Ministry or European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto (MEAIM), would like to announce that it will shortly be launching a call for project proposals to be undertaken by Public Entities under the following Priority Axes and Investment Priorities: 1. Priority Axis 3– 'Enhancing Malta's competitiveness through investment in SMEs' ! Investment Priority (IP) 3d – Supporting the capacity of SMEs to grow in regional, national and international markets, and to engage in innovation processes. 2. Priority Axis 4 – 'Shifting towards a low-carbon economy' ! Investment Priority (IP) 4a – Promoting the production and distribution of energy derived from renewable sources. 3. Priority Axis 5 – 'Protecting our environment - investing in natural and cultural assets' ! Investment Priority (IP) 6c – Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage. 4. Priority Axis 11 – ' Investing in TEN-T infrastructure' ! Investment Priority (IP) 7(i) – Supporting a multimodal Single European Transport Area by investing in the TEN-T. Note: Only investments submitted by Public Administration and targeting the Upgrading of the TEN-T Road Network will be considered for the purpose of this call. The actual launch of the call, together with details of the related Information Session, will be published in the coming weeks and will be available on our webpage: www.eufunds.gov.mt. The related Application Form and relevant documentation (including the list of eligible actions) will be made available through the same link once the call is launched. In the meantime, background documents and further information may be obtained from www.eufunds.gov.mt or from PPCD's Online Helpdesk: info.ppcd@gov.mt. This notice should be considered as a pre-announcement to allow interested applicants additional time to prepare projects. Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Investing in Competitiveness for a Better Quality of Life Advert part-financed by the European Union European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Co-financing rate: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds Investing in your future Hunter harasses SHout activist ahead of press conference ed Kingdom is in no way related to spring hunting in Malta. "Our spring hunting derogation for quail and turtledove was cal- culated in terms of the bird popu- lations in the countries-of-origin of the birds that fly over Malta," Sciriha said. "In those countries-of- origin, such as France, turtledove populations have either remained stable or increased." Grima argued that the question on whether Malta has a "right" to apply a spring hunting referendum has already been decided at a Euro- pean level. "The European Court of Justice have already discussed this issue at length, and agreed that too few turtledove and quail fly over Malta during autumn, for autumn hunt- ing to be considered a proper alter- native to spring hunting," she said. "Besides, the derogation includes hunting bag restrictions and sur- veillance by the European Commis- sion." She dismissed concerns that the illegal hunting of protected species is widespread amongst hunters. "Should all doctors be punished if one doctor breaks the law?" she questioned. Kathleen Grima denied that the illegal hunting of protected species is widespread Hunters are wearing a mask to conceal the truth Those attending a SHout activity were told to keep past experiences in mind, when voting