Malta - Why Would Anyone Holiday There?

[sunny-dave]

Springwatch's Chris Packham cleared of Malta assault charge :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39652901

The routine (officially condoned) slaughter of wild birds should make this 'holiday island' a pariah amongst civilised people - more power to CP's elbow in continuing to expose the vile practice.

[-Talbot-]

gness
Me neither, Mazie....I've known about it for years and done what little I could to campaign against it....and to persuade folk to not contribute to the Maltese tourist industry.....that's a little damaging to them...so the fewer of us who visit Malta the better.....





So how come (I don't think you have) you haven't started a thread in all your time on AB letting us know about this?

[mazie]

I'm not likely to go, called in once on a cruise. I heard about this a couple of years ago and am still struggling to understand the mentality. These are endangered birds, so why are the powers that be globally not doing something?

[gness]

You mean you didn't already know, Talbot?

[ladybirder]

I thought everybody would know about this. It's been written about in the papers many times over years. They also use nets strung between trees to catch the songbirds in. Breaks my heart. Disgusting that when CP called the police for help they turned on him instead of helping. I think the only way it will stop is if their tourist industry is brought to a halt.

[gness]

Lots has been done, Mazie....or at least tried to be done.....the Maltese government and the Maltese are pretty good at spinning things.....
Giving the Maltese the right to shoot certain birds was one way......and of course who can prove that they haven't "accidentally" shot a harrier, a kestrel a swift if you are not on the shoot with them.....

But I think things may change before long.....the organisation SHout is doing fantastic work in reclaiming killing hotspots......I think...well I hope that with international help SHout will go a long way to bringing an end to this sickening killing.....x

[Arksided]

Not having read the whole thread, truth is you'd have to find me kicking and screaming to go back to Malta... most folk are lovely but never again for me.

[gness]

LB.....you'd be amazed at how many folk are unaware of what goes on in Malta.....
I have a close friend who worked there many years ago......she now visits often and was a little miffed when I gave my reasons for not going with her......I won't contribute to their tourist industry at all.....a small protest that they won't notice....but if we all had the guts and caring to do it they'd soon sit up....I would love to see an end to the Maltese tourist industry until they stop this killing....

Yes they string up nets to catch songbirds...for fun?.....god knows why but they don't need to eat them, do they.....

Did you see the video of CP being removed by the police, LB?.....Long way to go if the police are on the side of the folk with fun guns....x

[gness]

Why, Ark...if you can say....not a holiday romance gone wrong I hope?.... ;-)

[Arksided]

For me it was a fortnight in hell... I was with a lovestruck mate... who never stopped complaining. and a family who took it out on me. Nobody recognising I was seriously Ill the first week. I slept outside with the lizzards and cockroaches... much better company.

[237SJ]

Really though, if you think that terrible things go on in Malta, then go to India.

[gness]

Yikes, Ark!...Though it sounds rather like a holiday I had in France many years ago....lizards and cockroaches would have been better company than two of the folk who were with me....:-(

I have, 237....I travelled with MrG through his business and saw many things I wish I hadn't....but it doesn't make what happens in Malta any more acceptable...one step at a time....x

[douglas9401]

Lucky that chickens make such an ugly noise or we'd be eating gruel of a Sunday like every other.

Let's just call it diversity and accept what 'other people' do.

[Arksided]

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger... right?

[gness]

Don't be daft, Douglas.....surely even you know that we don't go around shooting chickens for fun, leaving them to rot on nets....and then partying to gloat about how many we've killed....or maybe you think we do.

And do you really accept everything that other people do....everything????

[gness]

I suppose it does, Ark...although I came close to death when I fainted into a bowl of soup......well I think I fainted...or maybe I just couldn't take any more.... ;-)

[douglas9401]

Is Gness SP1814 or do they just go to the same selective school of outrage.

No persons of color or creed were disrespected in this post.

[Arksided]

Death by soup... had a little chortle oops sorryXx but here you are to tell the story. I don't want to hijack the thread though with near death Experiences.

[gness]

I used to think you were just a wee bit cranky and to be forgiven for that, Douglas.....but I was wrong, wasn't I......:-)

[douglas9401]

No Gness, you were on the money but nobody's all things to all men, no matter what is projected.

[ummmm]

My niece and nephew are half Maltese so I doubt I'll ever stop going.

If we all stopped going to countries who are cruel to animals then we'd be very limited.