[WATCH] Maltese youth take an active stand on spring hunting referendum

Young voters say "We are the future of our country, and we want to be a more responsible generation"

 

Young activists speak out against spring hunting (Photo Ray Attard)
Young activists speak out against spring hunting (Photo Ray Attard)
Maltese youth take an active stand on spring hunting referendum

Young Maltese voters gathered together at Valletta City Gate to show their support for a ‘no’ vote in the spring hunting referendum on April 11th.

They urged other young people not to be indifferent about the referendum, as this is their chance to vote for a better and greener Malta in future. For some of those gathered the upcoming referendum will be their first time voting. “I am happy to live in a democratic country where I’m given a vote to make decisions,” said Gozitan student Beppe Galea.

“We are discussing an issue which is not just about hunters vs. bird watchers. I am not a bird watcher, but I am concerned about spring hunting, as it makes no sense whatsoever,” Beppe Galea told the press.

“Other countries in the EU are making great efforts in conservation, including conservation projects to protect Turtle Doves,” Bernice Saliba, a Youth 4 the Environment activist added. “Meanwhile, we are doing nothing to protect them. Even worse, we are delivering the final blow and soon there will be no chance to make up for these mistakes.”

Miss Saliba said that those born in 90’s were brought up to respect the environment, and were taught about climate change and species extinction. “Me and my friends and other youth are the future of our country, next economically active citizens, next decision makers. And we want to be a more responsible generation.” She expressed her views that we should stop thinking about environmental problems as something beyond our shores, while ignoring problems at home.

Steve Zammit Lupi argued that the youth taking a stand against spring hunting is not about forgetting Maltese traditions because he thinks that hunting has changed for the worse. He showed the media an electronic sound device that attracts quail during night to be shoot in the morning. Such bird callers are illegal to use and far from anything ‘traditional’ although they are widely used all across the countryside.

The young activist also expressed concerns that next generation might experience “a stage where we have nothing to protect anymore.” He showed a picture of the last passenger pigeon named Martha, who died in captivity in 1914. There were several billions of these pigeons in the 19th century, but they were hunted for sport and food, just like quail and turtle dove are claimed to be in today’s Malta.

“We know that on April 11th there is no choice really, for sustainability, for birds, for our environment we have to vote no,” said Bernice Saliba.

The group of about 30 young people largely consisted of students and activists from different youth organizations such as Youth 4 the Environment (Y4TE), Greenhouse Malta and BirdLife Falko, as well as their friends.