Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/490723
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 5 APRIL 2015 3 News 'A referendum for a better future for Malta' SPRING Hunting Out (SHout) spokespersons were in Valletta yes- terday, one week ahead of the his- toric spring hunting referendum, to encourage people to vote 'No' next Saturday. SHout spokesperson Mark Sultana highlighted the importance of the referendum for Maltese democracy. "This is our third national refer- endum in 11 years, but the first that is taking place because over 41,000 Maltese and Gozitans have called for it by signing a petition to remove an existing law. They have done this be- cause they know that together, we can bring about change," Sultana said. In order for the referendum to be successful over 50% of voters must turn out to vote on the day. "This referendum is all about cre- ating a better future for our coun- try, for nature, for our future gen- erations. We are encouraged by the large number of people who have expressed their intention to go out and vote in the referendum, and the thousands who have collected their voting documents in recent days. Anyone who has yet to do so must now collect their vote from Naxxar, and not from Valletta." Sultana emphasised the importance of a 'No' vote for birds because Malta remains the only country in Europe to kill turtle doves and quails on their migration north to breed. "At Easter time our thoughts turn to new life and to new growth. The birds passing over Malta are on their way north to breed, to lay eggs and raise their young. Let's not forget that 190,000 eggs are never laid each year due to spring hunting in Malta. "We have the chance now to pro- tect these birds, and to protect our countryside. We can promise you one thing – that if spring hunting is banned, we will see more birds living and breeding here on our islands. In 2008 and 2009, when spring hunt- ing was suspended, we saw beautiful birds return to raise their young here – swallows, swifts, kestrels and bee- eaters." SHout spokesperson Moira Delia commented on the importance of a 'No' vote for Maltese families and what a countryside without spring hunting would be like. "Everyone knows what the reality of spring hunting is like. It is horrible, cruel and retrograde. For the sake of future generations, it is very impor- tant that we all vote 'No'. "This referendum is happening so that people can change our coun- try themselves. A 'No' vote will stop hunters from killing breeding birds, and stop the massacre of migrating and protected birds. A 'No' vote will give the countryside back to the Mal- tese and Gozitans, and it will finally bring Malta in line with the rest of Europe," Delia said. Sultana said IVA's claims that spring hunting was tolerated in other EU countries was untrue. "Malta is different because it allows the killing of migrating birds in spring." SHout spokesperson Saviour Balzan said that there had been a lot of scare- mongering about the threat to other hobbies. "I make special reference to band clubs, fireworks enthusiasts, fishing enthusiasts, traditional gun hobbyists, racing pigeon fanciers. It is simply untrue that they will be next. The referendum law has been with us for decades and what is happen- ing today is because of what hunting has done to breeding birds in spring, nothing less and nothing more," he said. As the campaign enters its final week, Balzan thanked both Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and PN leader Simon Busuttil for the position they have taken. "They decided as leaders to leave the voters free to vote as they wished. This showed political maturity." Sultana also said that hunters were ready to fight a successful 'No' vote. "This is an incredible declaration and we understand that none of the politi- cal leaders agree with this statement. We urge you all, take this opportunity to make a positive decision for the fu- ture of birds, our countryside and our country. Next Saturday, vote 'no'." SHout campaigners say 11 April spring hunting referendum is all about creating 'a better future for our country, for nature, for our future generations' MATTHEW VELLA THE IVA movement campaigning for spring hunting has targeted a lo- cal organic agriculture organisation in a bid to curry favour with voters for the upcoming 11 April referen- dum to abrogate the spring hunting season. IVA spokespersons Darren Carua- na and Nyal Xuereb claimed that the Gaia Foundation, which runs the Elysium Complex in Ghajn Tuffieha and has been a caretaker of the sur- rounding environment, was "hiding an obscene abuse of environmental law". The two hunters said they want- ed action to be taken against Gaia Foundation, in which they alleged that indigenous trees had been cut down, when these were protected by law. The two hunters demanded MEPA investigate the tree felling, saying they would present photo- graphic evidence of the 'destruc- tion'. However, Gaia Foundation CEO Rudolph Ragonesi revealed that the pruning of trees was carried out with the necessary MEPA permits. "The law does not preclude the pruning of trees as long as such permits are obtained. The prun- ing referred to in such mudslinging was necessary to prevent the carob tree from damaging and destroying the highly protected Sandarac gum trees, which are Malta's national tree, situated under the branches that were pruned, and which were being choked." The Gaia Foundation is currently managing three sites that fall within the Natura 2000 Network, Ghajn Tuffieha, Ramla, Gozo, and Majjis- tral Park. Natura 2000 is a network of European natural heritage sites that are managed in accordance with Eu- ropean laws, policies and guidelines. The movement carries out organic agriculture, beach clean-ups, and acts as an environmental caretaker for the vast area of beaches. "This mud-slinging by the Yes campaign is a clear sign of desper- ately trying to clutch at straws in or- der to influence the vote on spring hunting. Such attempts usually have the opposite effect," Ragonesi said, calling upon the electorate to focus on the real spring hunting issues and to vote to abolish spring hunt- ing, something that their own chil- dren will thank them for. Caruana and Xuereb said that hunters had been thrust in a nega- tive light by those campaigning against the derogation from the EU ban on spring hunting, while "making an enormous effort to keep under wraps the foreign people em- ployed with them to run the cam- paign against hunting." While chiming in that the 'No' campaign was replete with "iro- nies", it was only in 2010 that three hunters were ordered to carry out 300 hours' community service after pleading guilty to destroying 104 trees from the Foresta 2000 park. Hunters manipulate tree pruning in mud-slinging stunt 'Simply untrue that band clubs, fireworks enthusiasts, fishing enthusiasts, traditional gun hobbyists, racing pigeon fanciers will be targeted with referenda' SHout spokespersons (from left) Saviour Balzan, Mark Sultana and Moira Delia in Valletta yesterday Members of Gaia Foundation carrying out agricultural and beach cleaning work