51% vote in favor of EU derogation

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

Despite consistent pleas to stop the massacre of migratory birds during the spring season in Malta, only 49% of the electorate voted against this activity in a referendum on the islands yesterday.

Despite consistent pleas to stop the massacre of migratory birds during the spring season in Malta, only 49% of the electorate voted against this activity in a referendum on the islands yesterday. This means that the season will open for a few weeks again next Tuesday, April 14, 2015. The will of the majority has been a key sentiment by Maltese and Gozitans in determining their democratic rights, but now the emphasis will surely be on ensuring the laws and derogation clauses are upheld by the hunters.

One of the problems with hunting today in Malta and Gozo has not only been the fact that it is simply a blood sport without any real reason or rationale, but also the fact that vast areas of the ever decreasing rural environment are closed off for this sport to the public. Ramblers, Hikers, nature lovers and eco tourists find it difficult to plan out interesting walks because of these restrictions on public land.

There is an alternative, on a number of occasions, organizations such as BirdLife Malta and the Malta Geographical Society have suggested that bird lovers and hunters share their knowledge of the different species of wildlife as part of an eco-tourism experience instead of having to overcome constant force fields and strife with each other.

Malta and Gozo now need to make sure that while the will of the majority is upheld, the laws governing the derogation by the EU and the civil laws on access to public land are also upheld and that strict enforcement is maintained. This is one challenge that we will all have to overcome if we are to ensure the idyllic islands in the Mediterranean maintain their attractiveness for the cultural tourist during the spring and mild winter periods.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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