If the No campaign sees the killing of birds a problem, then they should have proposed a referendum to abolish hunting in Malta.

I am still in perfect sync with what he said.

Let’s say perhaps he does have a bit more political experience than yourself.

“I’m personally against hunting” but “I am personally against the No campaign.”

This would be typical Orwellian Doublethink, unless of course, ciccio means that he disagrees with the way the No campaign is being conducted, but will vote NO anyway, in accordance with his first statement.

So we wait until they are in danger of extinction before we act? I don’t think so.

Yes, they are listed in the “least concern” category, but perhaps you’ll notice that the list is found in the RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES (apologies for the caps, but this cannot be stressed enough).

So let me explain this to you, if it needs explaining.

There you have a red list (red generally signifies alarm) of threatened species, and turtle dove and quail are perhaps near or at the bottom of the list.

Any person who comprehends the English language will understand that they still remain threatened species (in a red list, none the less).

Hmm, could easily backfire, especially if they reckon they’re well shot of their husband.

That’s nature.

Men don’t crochet and women don’t hunt.

Since then, things have evolved. Women don’t just take care of the den.

In this day and age, it is absolutely necessary for women to work and bring home the bacon as much as (if not more than) the men.

Now I am sure that women have as many hobbies as men have. So why is it that only most of the women I know give up their hobbies to care for their husbands, partners, boyfriends, kids, extended family etc?

If women were to hunt, how many men would accept: ‘Isma sahib tieghi, issa zmien il-kacca. Jiena sejra nispara ghal xi gammiema jew xi summiena. Hu hsieb l-ikel, l-art, il-platti, u meta nigi ara li l-platt ikun shun. U tinsix il-homework tat-tfal. Il-lejla, ghandi five-aside ma’ tax-xoghol. Narak xi l-hdax u nofs ta. Ara li jkun lest it-te.’

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS THE LIFE MOST OF THE HUNTERS’ WIVES, PARTNERS, GIRLFRIENDS, ETC. LIVE.

Now, I am sure that most of the hunters’ wives, partners, girlfriends, etc. love their husbands, partners, boyfriends, etc. and can’t stand being left alone for all that time. So I have no doubt that, with a bit of persuasion, they would vote against spring hunting, so that their husbands, partners, boyfriends, etc., would spend more quality time with their, wives, partners, girlfriends, kids, etc.

THE NO CAMPAIGN SHOULD TAKE NOTE AND TARGET THIS SECTION OF THE POPULATION.

No. He got that article published because of who he is, not what he says (he talks bilge and writes bilge). He should enjoy his money and shut up. Malta has enough columnists. We don’t need another rich conniving bastard sharing his views.

But where does the argument that turtle dove and quail need “to reach sustainable numbers” come from?

In The Commission vs Malta, the ECJ noted that:

“Finally, it is not apparent from the documents in the case that the population of the two species of bird hunted is below a satisfactory level. It is apparent, in particular, from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species that the species in question are listed in the ‘least concern’ category.”

The IUCN is the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

http://www.iucnredlist.org/

Are we saying that the ECJ was negligent in its study of the case?

Well said – some people think they have a right to ruin everything for others. Just because they hold a gun in their hands and shoot at every blinking thing that moves doesn’t make them men.