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.

[dannyk13]

You have to include several European countries in your condemnation.

[goodgoalie]

Not just Malta - Cyprus, too:
https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/03/the-cruel-criminal-industry-that-thrives-around-britains-cypriot-bases/

[emmie]

because its a beautiful place, with vibrant cultures and plenty to see. I didn't know about the birds being killed until i saw the piece on the Matthew Wright show this morning. Greece by the way, loved by millions does the same, perhaps Chris Packham can go there and see what he can do.

[sunny-dave]

The specific problem with Malta is that some of the hunting is legal - they have an exemption from the relevant European legislation - which then gives the brave hunters an excuse to be out with shotguns murdering rare birds 'by mistake'.

[youngmafbog]

I would go.

Different cultures have different practices around the world. If you dont go somewhere because you have raving green ideas you are going to be a bit stuck for your hols.

2 weeks down the local spoons for you then is it?

[sunny-dave]

Just because other countries allow the illegal hunting on a 'nod and a wink' basis doesn't let Malta off the hook - the corruption there is endemic - Packham was lucky to have indisputable evidence and a strong minded judge.

[dannyk13]

As already posted it is quite common in most European countries especially if there are Ortolans present which is considered a delicacy.

[sunny-dave]

So shooting Marsh Harriers is OK, danny?

[emmie]

it is barbaric, but many countries do it, if you really thought about where to holiday, going on those practices we wouldn't go anywhere.

[hc4361]

Avoid Spain because of the bullfighting; France, Italy, Greece, Egypt and Cyprus because of the bird shooting.

Turkey, Burma, Saudi, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, Cuba are no go because of their lack of human rights.

Avoid Australia and New Zealand because of the green issues of long haul flights. Don't go to the USA because of Trump.

I think I'll go to Ilfracombe

[dannyk13]

Dave, I did not say that I agree with this practice.I was just pointing out that Malta is not the only place it occurs.

[goodgoalie]

I don't think being sickened by the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of songbirds as having 'raving green ideas'. Maybe, youngmafbog, you are in favour of say, FGM, as a 'different practice'?

[sunny-dave]

Sorry danny - I didn't mean to have a go at you personally - it's just heartbreaking to hear of the slaughter of rare species in the name of 'sport'.

And Cyprus and Greece have been off my holiday list for a while too.

[hc4361]

Before criticising other countries let's get the UK in order first. The badger cull, for example

[gness]

Good for Mr Packham.......the more bad publicity Malta gets and the more its tourist industry is damaged the happier I'll be......

I've never been to Malta because I really don't want to holiday with folk who get excited about getting together at night to shoot ground nesting Harriers.......that really is sick....

Of course other countries have bad "customs".....CP can't fight them all.....but he'll make a difference here and if he saves just one bird....that's good!

[New Judge]

I can't go to Ilfracombe because it is too far from where I live (carbon emissions and all that jazz) and the railway line beyond Barnstaple was closed in 1970.

Really, dave, you would be hard pressed to find anywhere abroad, particularly in warmer climes, which did not engage in some sort of distasteful practice. It seems Malta has certain exemptions from some normal EU rules (the one you highlight being among them and on what basis I cannot imagine). I'm not too fond of hunting, shooting and fishing. The idea that humans, having long since lost the need to hunt animals for food, should somehow feel proud that they can outwit an animal using guns or fishing tackle bemuses me. But each to their own. I daresay there are practices undertaken in the UK which foreign visitors are none too keen on. But they still come.

[goodgoalie]

'Each to their own' - NJ, so you think this disgusting practice is okay, then? What about slavery, FGM; maybe bring back foot-binding?

[emmie]

i don't think NJ is saying he approves, but we do have our own faults where birds, animals are concerned. Our track record on badger culling isn't good, the slaughter of animals for food by halal methods in my opinion is reprehensible.

[gness]

Sometimes you'll read or see something and think...what is wrong with this world.....with some people....how can we treat each other in this way...

Then, because you have a passion for birds and it hurts to see them being persecuted for "fun", you are classed as having raving green ideas...

It's then you know what is wrong in our world..... :-(

[New Judge]

"NJ, so you think this disgusting practice is okay, then?"

I didn't say that. I made no mention of the individual practice.

We're all different and things that some Johnny Foreigners get up to do not meet with our approval. But we've no right to impose our standards of other sovereign nations. The idea that some supra-national set of ideals trumps individual nations' discretion to do as they think fit is fraught with danger. Not least because the "set of ideals" does not meet with everybody's approval.

If something troubles me that much about a nation I won't go there. But I am suggesting that one's choice of places to visit would be severely restricted if you refused to go anywhere when you did not approve of all their practices. Strangely enough I don't approve of Coarse fishing which means I ought to live somewhere else other than England. But I can't protect all the world's wildlife from all the world's humans and living in England (or visiting it if I lived elsewhere) does not mean I approve of fishing. And me not living here will not stop it any more than dave refusing to visit Malta will stop their bird slaughter.