Pro-hunting lobby donates blood: promotes 'equal balance for hobbies'

In a press statement issued after a media invite to an event where the The IVA, Bħala Maltin u Ewropej donated blood, they said that their campaign was built on balance and respect.

“We believe in an equal balance where hobbies that need to be practiced in the countryside would actually be allowed to do so without any restrictions,” the yes camp said.

The pro-hunting lobby said that May, which is the best period for migrating birds, is a time when the hunting season is closed.

“Hunters are also a part of the public, and we believe people should recognize that hunters should get to enjoy their hobby in spring however limited this season is,” the campaign said.

The campaign said that it had chosen the blood donation initiative because it was not interested in running a campaign where insults are the only things that make the news.

“Prejudices will not overcome our determination to run a positive campaign based on facts,” it said adding that they didn’t want a debate where the focus becomes attacks on people rather than the birds.

“We don’t want to create a rift between the people of this country,” the statement read claiming that the no camp was doing its utmost to create a stigma and incite fear in Maltese people.

They hit out at Shout spokesman Saviour Balzan accusing him of having used insulting adjectives against spring hunters.

While the ‘yes campaign’ said that it is educating children against stereotyping it accused the no camp of undermining hunters’ integrity.

“The yes camp believes this is not right both for hunters and other minorities in society. Our answer to these insults is continuing with positive initiatives such as the one we have today,” it said.

The statement said that IVA volunteers and their families continued to visit the blood bank and donate their blood throughout the day.