Update – In a meeting with the SHout supporters and campaigners, SHout spokespersons outlined “why this positive campaign will lead to change” and insisted that “the campaign ends when the last vote is cast this Saturday, the 11th of April.”

Mark Sultana:

“This has been a positive campaign for all of us. It has proven to us that the Maltese and Gozitan public are convinced about our arguments. Because they share our arguments and have long believed in what we have been saying.

We have said nothing new to them. On the contrary we have simply reinforced what they have long believed.

Today, everyone knows what the countryside can offer. Today everyone knows what the hunters have to offer.

This has been a positive campaign, for the very simple reason that all we have said is positive.

It is positive to say that we want to preserve our countryside.

It is positive to insist that we want to save our breeding birds.

It is positive to say that we want protect those birds that migrate over Malta to breed.

It is positive to believe that Malta will be a better place without the killing of birds and the arrogance of those who believe time stood still.

It is positive to be part of this experience which is all about making this country better and giving a gift to the Maltese people.

We have been in this together, against all odds. Because change does not come easy.

This is a tribute to decades of sharing the view that nature should be protected not destroyed. That killing simply for pleasure has no place in today’s society.

And it is because we are positive that we believe that Maltese and Gozitans will go to the polls on Saturday and make change happen.

On Sunday, we will embrace change, but none of us will be taking a seat in parliament, none of us will be getting a medal.

On the contrary this beautiful Island of ours will on the other hand be welcoming this change. We are going to make this country a more beautiful place where wildlife, birds and the countryside are appreciated not destroyed and killed.”

Moira Delia:

“We are positive, not negative. Because we do not kill birds for fun.

We are positive, not negative because we do not shoot down birds when they are on their way to breed.

We are positive, not negative, because we believe that birds should be enjoyed by everyone.

We are positive not negative, because we do not justify our actions by arguing that we uphold traditions.

We are positive not negative, because it is not true that other pastimes will be eradicated.

We are positive not negative, because we know that most Maltese and Gozitans want to live in a country which is not associated with the destruction of nature and killing of birds.

We are positive, not negative, because we have nothing personal to gain from this campaign. We are not merchants of shotguns, cartridges or gunpowder. We are not politicians.

We are positive, not negative, because the young generation share our dream, because Maltese men and women share our dream, because elderly people share our dream and because children deserve a better country.

We are positive, because we have a dream to live in a country where spring is equivalent to a celebration of nature not a ritual of death and killing.”

Saviour Balzan:

“This campaign was a very special campaign. It brought together people of different opinions, and different outlooks from different walks of life.

We shared a dream and we know we are on the right side of history.

Change is about to happen. Believe it will happen.

Normal folk, families, environmentalists, Labourites, Nationalists, Greens, NGO’s have all made it happen by coming together.

It happened because of a movement of people joined forces to form Shout.

It happened because 43,000 Maltese and Gozitans petitioned to call for an abrogative referendum.

The referendum is a democratic right that we have exercised. It is not true that we want to abrogate other pastimes. This is because this referendum is about stopping a so-called sport that is based on the premise that killing is fun.

The scare-mongering that we wanted to ban other pastimes is lie and also because it is not possible to abrogate such hobbies.

After next Sunday we will not be campaigning, instead we will be enjoying the countryside and the birds.

For once Spring in Malta and Gozo will be a season to be happy and not to be sad.

For once Spring will be associated with a beautiful Island not a cruel place where birds are gunned down.

We should be very proud of doing the right thing. Of being positive, of wanting to give Spring back to the Maltese Islands, of giving a life to birds and of giving a gift to the Maltese people.”

Mark Sultana:

“On the 11 April, let us exercise our democratic right and vote NO. Continue to encourage others to do the same. The campaign ends when the last vote is cast at 10pm on the 11 April.”

Update:

In a statement released today, the final day of active campaigning before the spring hunting referendum, SHout thanked the thousands of Maltese and Gozitans who have indicated that they will vote NO on Saturday.

Spring Hunting Out spokespersons Mark Sultana, Moira Delia and Saviour Balzan declared, “Next Saturday, 11th April, we encourage all Maltese and Gozitans to cast their vote and to vote NO for birds, for our countryside and for our future generations. If this referendum is won by the hunters, they will be occupying the countryside again with their shotguns on Tuesday.”

“We would like to thank the thousands of people who have indicated that they will vote NO. We would also like to thank the organisations and associations that backed the SHout campaign; the animal welfare NGOs, the student organisations, the Archbishop, the Jesuit priests, athletes, musicians, artists and the theatre community.”

They added, “we would like to thank the hundreds of Maltese and Gozitans who have collected their votes from Naxxar. It is a very significant number.

“We would like to thank the three independent newspapers, The Sunday Times, The Independent and MaltaToday for supporting this campaign. This was an unprecedented step that was never before experienced,” they said.

“We also take note of the political maturity of many members of parliament from both sides who opted not to take sides in this referendum.”

The SHout spokespersons stated, “on Saturday 11th April, thousands of Maltese and Gozitans will be voting for change in our country’s first abrogative referendum. The referendum was called for by the people, and this issue is now for the people to decide. Voters have been empowered to speak out and make their voice heard, to make an important decision for the future of our country.”

“A decision which is guided by a fundamental principle. That one does not kill for pleasure, one does not shoot birds in Spring and one does not selfishly occupy the countryside.”

“They will be voting to send a very clear message that a sizeable number of the electorate want this country to be a modern country where our countryside is preserved and where birds are protected.

“We have experienced a campaign which has been between two camps, one that is looking backwards and wants to uphold habits which are destructive and negative, and one that is looking forwards, to create a positive future.

“There is a lot at stake in this referendum. It is a reflection on whether we are going to give a priority to environmental issues,” The SHout spokespersons concluded.

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