[WATCH] ‘Voting no will bring about a positive change’

Vote NO to make Malta a better place - SHout campaign

SHout spokesperson Mark Sultana toasted Spring Hunting Out’s positive campaign at a rally in Valletta, which he said had proven the public’s conviction with the campaign to abrogate the derogation from the spring hunting ban.

“We have said nothing new to them, we simply reinforced what they have long believed and today everyone knows what the countryside and hunters can offer,” Sultana said. 

“It’s 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, and that we insist that we want to save our breeding birds,” Sultana said.

“It is positive to say that we want protect those birds that migrate over Malta to breed and to believe that Malta will be a better place without the killing of birds and the arrogance of those who believe time stood still.”

Sultana said the campaign was all about making the country a better place and giving a gift to the Maltese people.

“We have been in this together, against all odds, because change does not come easy,” Sultana said, describing the referendum as a tribute to decades of nature protection and belief that the killing of birds for pleasure had no place in today’s society.

Sultana said that while voters wukk be going to the polls with a view for change, none of the campaigners would be taking a seat in parliament.

“None of us will be getting a medal. On the contrary, this beautiful island of ours will 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,” Sultana reiterated.

SHout spokesperson Moira Delia and Saviour Balzan said the campaign had brought together people of different opinions, and 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,” Balzan said.

He said the referendum was brought into being by 43,000 Maltese and Gozitans petitioning 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 referendum is about stopping a so-called sport that is based on the premise that killing is fun. The scaremongering that we wanted to ban other pastimes is a lie.”

Balzan also said that after Sunday’s result, it will be the No camp that will also 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, and it will be associated with a beautiful island not a cruel place where birds are gunned down,” Balzan added.

“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.”