LETTER FOR BIRDS OF EUROPE AND AFRICA

[Guest guest]

Malta Tourist Action

Saving the migratory birds of Europe and Africa

 

<malta

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http://homepage.mac.com/davidcam/awareness <<

click here for more information, photos and video

about the dire state of these migratory birds.

 

Malta is a country composed of three small islands in

the middle of the Mediterranean, 100 kilometers

south of Sicily. Malta has one of the world's highest

number of hunters per capita, who shoot and kill any

bird that flies. These hunters have eradicated local

bird populations and are significantly depleting

regional bird populations. Each year, 3 million birds

are shot or trapped on Malta while migrating between

Africa and Europe in the spring and autumn, leading

to a gradual decline of these beloved European birds

that traditionally seek refuge in Malta.

 

The Maltese hunters have all but destroyed the

country's namesake, the Maltese falcon. In 1982,

hunters on the island of Ghawdex shot the last pair of

nesting Maltese falcons, also known as peregrine

falcons. Every year the hunters also trap millions of

wild songbirds that die needlessly shortly after being

caged.

 

Politically, these hunters have won the upper hand

through bullying tactics. They are organized and have

intimidated political parties, governments and

environmentalists. Since 1994, successive

governments have relaxed the hunting laws to a point

that enforcement no longer exist.

 

A battle has begun in Malta against the government

and hunters bent on the destruction of these

migratory bird populations for mindless fun. As a bird

lover and potential tourist to Malta, we ask you to help

shift the government's focus from the birds

destruction to their part in a successful new economy

for Malta, ecotourism.

 

The tourist industry supports 40% of the Maltese

economy and it is the largest industry in Malta.

Without the tourist trade, the Maltese economy will not

survive. We want you to tell the Maltese government to

stop the violent, unnecessary hunting of migratory

birds through official legislation, and establish laws

protecting all migratory birds. We also want the

Maltese government see the wisdom of protecting

these birds for the ecosystem, as well as the people

of Malta by promoting their presence to tourists who

will come specifically to see them.

 

The people of the world cannot remain silent. Malta

does not have the right to obliterate these species of

birds from the earth. We must speak for the migratory

birds that have been abused, tortured and murdered

by the Maltese hunters and government. I hope this

action letter inspires you to do something. If you take

one step, if you tell one person about these birds,

write one letter you will make an important

contribution!

 

We ask you to keep the pressure on the Maltese

government and expose its cruelty in the international

court of public opinion. Please email this Malta

Tourist Action letter to your email address list, and

print, sign and mail one from yourself to the Prime

Minister of Malta. The more letters the Prime Minister

receives, the more likely it is that he will do

something. That is all we are asking. Those who

have already sent letters to the Prime Minister have

received responses, so these letters have an

impact. If you prefer, please compose one yourself.

 

Please email any comments or suggestions to

malta. Please do not email your letters

to the Maltese Prime Minister to this email address.

Please print, sign and mail them directly to his office

in Malta.

 

Thank you for your support of this important project.

 

Sincerely,

 

David Camilleri ={^-.-^}=

 

LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER

Mail this letter to the address below, there is no need

for a zip or post code. Postage is regular air mail to

Europe.

 

________CUT, PASTE AND PRINT FROM HERE___________

Prime Minister Fenech Adami

Office of the Prime Minister

Auberge de Castille

Valletta,

Malta.

 

Dear Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami:

 

 

I appreciate your administration's strong commitment to

protecting the Maltese island's natural heritage. Your

leadership is essential because Malta and Ghawdex lost

their spectacular landscapes to the bird hunters and

trappers. The Maltese Islands can be a natural refuge of

wilderness, home to an abundant wildlife of countless

migratory birds, but you have to act now.

 

The bird hunters and trappers want to keep killing

millions of these migratory birds for " sports " and for

collecting trophies. The display cases in the living rooms

and the tiny little cages in dark garages are filled with

stuffed and captive birds, but the islands are turned into

a lifeless big rock and there are no varieties of birds

flying in the open, big, blue sky.

 

So the hunters disregard the right to a healthy

environment for the Maltese as well as for the Africans

and Europeans. The right to a healthy environment is

fundamental, it is a human right. Then also the defense of

the migratory birds is an aspect of the human rights.

 

If I visit Malta as a tourist, I will encourage these

hunters to keep on killing and caging these birds through

my support of the tourist industry. I don't want to

promote this kind of cruelty. And I don't want to be

endangered by hunters who are allowed to shoot directly

from secondary roads and villages in your densely

populated country. However, if you promote ecotourism by

fully protecting these birds, you will attract more

tourists than ever.

 

We urge you to exercise the power of your office to

protect these migratory birds that we love so much, by

designating the Maltese Archipelago a natural refuge and

to abolish and prosecute hunting and trapping.

 

Sincerely,

 

(Your Signature, Name and Address)

 

 

 

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