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.

[RandyMarsh]

Not really, the question was not " what do you think of this" it was why would you holiday in Malta.

Is the killing of birds the only thing that Malta offers?

[emmie]

randy
no its not, i have been there and Gozo which are very beautiful islands. Its a sad thing that people need to kill birds in this way, let's hope Chris Packham can do some good.

[anneasquith]

No. Randy. They have monkeys .

[ummmm]

We eat live mussels, live oysters and boil live lobsters.

That's all ok.

I love Malta.

[tamborine]

Keep out of kidnapping Portugal

[New Judge]

You're right about the oysters and lobsters, but I've never known anyone to eat live mussels, ummm. I've certainly never eaten them live.

[ummmm]

NJ...you cook them first. Open/broken means they're dead. Otherwise they're alive....and very very tasty

[gness]

No all, Ummmm.....and it's not quite the same as killing and injuring thousands of endangered birds just for the fun of it...

[New Judge]

Sorry, ummm, I misunderstood. I thought you were saying they were eaten raw and live.

[ummmm]

Gness...the last two years I've been to Malta...but I'm not a bird watcher.

[gness]

I've never been, Ummmm....because of their cruelty to birds record......I just find their attitude sickening...but I know there are some folk there trying to change that.....I hope they succeed.....but I'll still always avoid Malta....x

[ummmm]

I never knew this. I would have been vocal if I did. Malta is still a lovely country. You have to go there to change things.

[ToraToraTora]

541t3 h0le, end of.

[jambutty]

I agree with you a-d and more power to Chris Packham's elbow - good man.

[jambutty]

Sorry 's-d' not 'a-d'.

[gness]

Well, I have now watched the video of CP being ordered away from the area where birds are being illegally shot.

If this attitude is typical of the Maltese people it's another reason not to visit.

They say they are only killing the birds they are allowed to kill....and how sick is that anyway.....but see CP cradling the birds on the don't kill list....the birds who have been shot for "fun".

[mazie]

Does anyone know why they do it. Is it for food?

[gness]

No, Mazie......I have heard one or two over the last few months try to justify it by saying it's for food...it's not.

It's a tradition.....the folk...mostly men.....get together and have a merry time killing as many birds as they can.......any bird....not just the birds they have been given permission by the government to kill.....who eats a kestrel for instance.....

It's a sort of party.....out at night with torches to flush and kill as many ground nesters as they can.....wound some and leave them to die slowly.....then back for a laugh, drinks and merriment...it is just tradition.....a sick tradition, Mazie....so sad........x

[mazie]

Oh My.....I really don't understand that at all...It's not even a challenge, like looking a tiger in the eye. What an absolute crying shame...:o(

[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.....

As I said.....bad things happen in lots of countries....UK included.....but you can't use those atrocities as a get out to visit Malta......stay away and let their tourist board know why.....I do..... :-)