Using Schools To Greenwash Bird Killing Is Deplorable, BirdLife Malta Says On Controversial Hunting Exhibition
Using schools to greenwash the killing of birds is deplorable, BirdLife Malta said this morning, adding that the world needs a future that respects nature, not one that kills it.
This comes as the saga concerning a local hunting exhibition continues after multiple entities reacted to the Kaċċaturi San Ubertu’s exhibition being held in Maltese and Gozitan schools, financed by the Gozo Ministry and approved by the Education Ministry.
“It is indeed a shame and embarrassing that Minister for Education Clifton Grima is allowing the use of our schools with our children, to try and help in greenwashing the reality of hunting in Malta,” BirdLife Malta said.
“Hunting is not beneficial to the common good of our country. It is simply performed for the enjoyment and benefit of those that kill the bird. There are no conservation efforts in Malta that need hunting,” it continued.
“There is no need for one person to kill a bird in order to plant a tree or build a rubble wall. The act of hunting in Malta is immoral, irrespective of whether you do it in the company of a dog while building a rubble wall, or even planting trees.”
It continued to say that within a developed European country like ours, there is no need for any rational justification for hunting.
“These are only greenwashing tactics to lessen the image of the real consequence of hunting – birds shot dead.”
School children, enjoying nature at Malta's Nature Reserves
On Saturday, the Office of the Commissioner for Children, expressed its concern that hunting exhibitions in school “may inadvertently promote the use of firearms amongst school-aged children”.
“The Office is aware of the fact that hunting is a legitimate Maltese pastime that should only be accessible to adults.”
Responding to this, BirdLife Malta fully applauded the sentiments and concerns expressed by the Commissioner “on the fact that after all hunting is also done through firearms, and directly or indirectly, this can send the wrong message to children”.
The Malta Union of Teachers also said that it does not approve of the hunting exhibition in local schools, adding that it has always condemned any killing of living species and its promotion in schools.
“The union has always supported the work carried out to conserve nature and living species and urges educators to pursue with their teaching in schools to show the real effects of hunting,” it said.
“The fact that the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) is also against such an exhibition is encouraging as we are asking all educators to refrain from accepting this exhibition in their schools,” BirdLife Malta continued.
It expressed its hope that the education administrators within the Ministry and Department of Education “understand our arguments along with those of all the people who have spoken out”.
“We urge all educators across the nation to stand up against this exhibition and declare their position. Finally, we urge the hunting lobbies to put their efforts in educating and controlling their members, first and foremost.”
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