Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/567101
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2015 This Week 41 On 6 September 1965 – fifty years ago to the day – a man set up a fine- mesh net in a field at Xagħra in Gozo. His intention was to catch birds. Nothing special there, considering that people had been netting birds in Malta since probably the earliest human settlers. This, however, was no trapper but a licensed bird ringer from the British Trust for Ornithology, and in that field he was giving the first demonstration ringing session to the first Maltese trainee ringer. The birds they caught were not thrown in a cage and taken home. What they did instead was carefully place a minuscule, almost weightless aluminium ring on one of the birds' legs, take some notes, then set the birds free. That first ringing session began a longterm scientific study through which BirdLife Malta (which coordinates all bird ringing in Malta) has learned many secrets about the birds that live in or visit our Islands. The beauty of it is that we are now using this knowledge to achieve better bird protection. 470. A SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 373: SIGN THE PETITION – HTTP://STOP-TTIP.ORG Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate Text and photo Victor Falzon Assassin's Creed commences shooting in Malta The cinematic adaptation of the popular video game will star prolific actor Michael Fassbender THE Malta Film Commission has confirmed that Assassin's Creed has commenced shooting in Malta. Assassin's Creed stars Acad- emy Award nominee Michael Fassbender (X-Men: Days of Future Past, 12 Years a Slave) and Academy Award® winner Marion Cotillard (The Dark Knight Rises, La Vie en Rose). The film is directed by Justin Kurzel (Snowtown, Macbeth) and produced by New Regency, Ubisoft Motion Pictures, DMC Films and Kennedy/Marshall, with 20th Century Fox distrib- uting. Assassin's Creed opens in the- atres worldwide on 21 Decem- ber, 2016. The story is about a revolu- tionary technology that un- locks genetic memories. Callum Lynch (Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is de- scended from a mysterious se- cret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppres- sive and powerful Templar or- ganisation in the present day. Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis, who is also re- sponsible for the film industry, said that this is the 8th major production this year. "It shows that the strategy adopted by the government is reaping benefits and ensuring consistency with back to back projects," Zammit Lewis said. "This is the fastest growing economic niche in the Maltese economy and we are working hard to keep the momentum." Film Commissioner Engelbert Grech said that it's a great feat for the country to attract such a massive production. "Malta has truly become a key film location. Assassin's Creed chose Malta following discus- sion with the Malta Film Com- mission and will benefit from incentives offered to produc- tions filming in Malta," Grech said. Official promotional shot of Michael Fassbender in Assassin's Creed The Assassin's Creed set in Merchants' Street, Valletta