Spring Hunting Out campaign launched today with support of Maltese names from TV, radio, sport, fashion and music.

Maltese TV Presenter and animal activist Moira Delia, Journalist Saviour Balzan and former BirdLife Malta President Joseph Mangion today launched the ‘SHout – Spring Hunting Out’ campaign in Valletta, describing it as a “movement for a better Malta.”

Speaking to a packed hall in St James Cavalier, Campaign Coordinator Romina Tolu unveiled the campaign name, website and social media pages. “Over the next three months, we will be providing voters with all the information they need to make the decision to vote ‘no’ on 11 April, to end spring hunting and make Malta better,” said Ms Tolu.

Joseph Mangion explained that Malta is the only country in the EU to allow recreational hunting of migrating birds in spring, adding that it makes “no sense” to kill birds that are on their way north to lay eggs and raise their young. Furthermore, he added that “We would all see and hear many more birds in Malta if we stop spring hunting, making Malta a better place to live.”

Moira Delia, said that hunters stop people from enjoying the countryside in spring, the best time of year. “Enjoying the countryside is important for our health, it makes us feel happy and relaxed. We all have a right to enjoy a walk with our families without the fear of gunshot or intimidation. It’s your countryside too.”

Saviour Balzan then countered the hunters’ threats that “your hobbies will be next,” describing their claims as “complete nonsense”.

“A referendum such as this can only abolish existing laws. There is specific law which permits spring hunting, this referendum allows the people to vote to have it removed. An abrogate referendum cannot be applied to other things, since there are no laws allowing fireworks, festas, horse racing and other activities. There are only laws controlling them. A referendum on these matters is impossible,” he said.

“Hunters will still be allowed to hunt for five months in autumn that is from September until December, they are trying to deceive you by claiming their rights are being eroded,” Balzan added.

He urged the crowd to “let us break with the past and with this cycle of hunters’ bullying, intimidation and frightening the people, once and for all. It’s time to vote ‘no’, SHOUT to get spring hunting out.”

Fashion stylist Carina Camilleri, cartoonist Seb Tanti Burlo, musician Renzo Spiteri, radio DJ Frank Zammit, nosnow/noalps frontman Nick Morales and other joined Balzan, Delia and Mangion on stage one by one to declare their intention to vote ‘no’ on the 11th of April.

Photo: SHout ambassadors and supporters gather outside the launch – Photo by Holly Forsyth

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