Students today launched their campaign at the University of Malta, to ensure that all students have access to the information they need to make an informed vote in the referendum on the 11th of April, saying, “We are all ambassadors for the environment.”

“We encourage university students to look into the facts, and not to be fooled by slick campaigns which are only out there to confuse the public,” said Celine Talbot, a first year student.

She reminded that the real issues in the referendum are birds and sustainability, not the EU, derogations or rights. The young activist urged students to vote “No,” so that they would never have to live in a place where there are no birds left to protect. “Hunters talk about balance, and indeed, a real balance would mean not shooting migratory birds on their way to raise their young.”

Student Nicholas Debono reminded the crowd that Malta is famous as a country where voter turnout is high. “It is important that we too, as students, make our voices heard and use our vote on April the 11th,” he said.

“We are lucky to live in a country where we are allowed to have a referendum, an invaluable and powerful tool we have in this democratic country. We are now being given the opportunity to make this important decision and we hope that Malta makes the right one – to stop spring hunting.”

Many organisations within the university have already shown their support for the ‘No’ vote, but SHout ambassador swimmer Edward Caruana Dingli, who is also a student, said that all students can show that they want to protect the environment, “I have joined the Spring Hunting Out campaign as an ambassador, but in reality we are all ambassadors. When we put on our t-shirts, when we write that we are voting ‘NO’ on facebook, when we discuss this with our friends; we are all giving a voice to the birds.”

Event organisers said that they want to ensure that all students have access to the information they need to make an informed decision about their vote in the upcoming referendum, and are inviting questions and discussion from those who have not followed the debate so far.

Today marked their official launch of the ‘No’ Campaign directed towards the youth. From 25th – 27th March students will be organising some information sessions and events on campus.

A number of university organisations helped with collecting signatures for referendum to happen, including Y4TE, Greenhouse Malta and S-cubed. Other student organisations including JEF Malta, SDM and ASA have also officially backed a ‘no’ vote on the 11th of April,

The University Students’ Council, KSU, recently released an official statement saying that the current situation is untenable and necessary measures had to be taken in name of species conservation, not to antagonise hunters. “Sustainability outweighs hunting,” they stated.

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