[WATCH] 'Democracy loses if Yes vote wins' - SHout

SHout B'Kara

SHout spokesperson Moira Delia said that the referendum was not merely about birds, but that it was about people being empowered to decide for themselves.

“We need to understand that this is a unique chance for the Maltese and Gozitans to decide for themselves. The biggest test for democracy is the referendum, if we lose this referendum, it is democracy that loses,” she said speaking at a SHout campaign event in Birkirkara today.

Delia said that many voters needed to pick up the vote and many people who needed to decide.

“The younger people are on our side but they must go out and vote,” she said.

Delia reminded everyone that both prime minister Joseph Muscat and opposition leader Simon Busuttil  had given everyone the right to decide for themselves, in no uncertain terms.

She added that birds stand little chance of survival in Malta's countryside as they are greeted by the highest concentration of hunters in the world.

"Malta is the most densely populated country in Europe, and has the highest concentration of hunters anywhere in the world with a staggering 65 hunters per square kilometre of the countryside," she said.

"What chance do birds stand of being able to make it through our islands safely?"

Delia pointed out that the footprint of our countryside in Malta had diminished over the years, due to intense development encroaching onto natural areas.

“The countryside now covers less than one fifth of the islands, leaving less and less space available for birds and nature to flourish, and for people to enjoy,”

"Our countryside is not what it used to be; our rural areas are much smaller than they once were, and there are more people than before.”

“There is the additional pressure of 10,000 hunters with guns during the spring months, greeting migrating birds looking for a safe place to rest and feed, before they can continue on their long journey north to build their nests and lay eggs.”

Delia added that the challenges facing birds were incredible;

“They are travelling thousands of miles across oceans and deserts, battling wind and weather just to get back and raise their young. We should be offering them protection and a safe place to rest, not shooting them on their way to breed,” she reiterated.

Delia urged the residents of Birkirkara, who will not be voting in Local Council Elections, to go out and vote in the referendum. She added that those who had not received a vote, should collect their voting documents and make their mark on April 11.

"Malta has changed, and it's now time for us to change. I encourage everyone to vote 'no' on April 11th, to protect birds in spring. Every vote is important.  In 15 days’ time we will have the chance to change all this," Delia said.