The Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta (FKNK) is disappointed to announce that it has been denied air-time on the national TV stations of PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) Malta for its long-running TV series “Mid-DURA.” Since 1994, the FKNK has successfully aired over 75 episodes of “Mid-DURA” on two local TV stations, covering a broad range of topics including culture, traditions, EU relations, ethics, nature conservation, education, legislation, sustainability, and game culinary practices. These professionally produced programs have never raised any concerns with the Malta Broadcasting Authority.
However, in a recent development, FKNK’s request to purchase air-time for the 2024-2025 schedule on PBS was refused by the responsible official, who quoted the irrational reason that hunting and trapping are controversial subjects that could potentially “upset” well-known anti-hunting NGOs, when BirdLife Malta name cropped-up. The FKNK therefore asks whether the responsible Ministry is aware of this bias at PBS.
The FKNK strongly opposes this decision, viewing it as an unjust restriction on free speech and an unjustified barrier to the spreading of educational content on Maltese culture and conservation. The Federation calls on PBS to reconsider its stance and to allow “Mid-DURA” to continue its tradition of providing valuable information to the public.
The FKNK which is determined not to be ignored, nor ‘taken-for-granted’ by anybody any longer, stands firm in its commitment to advocate for the fair and equal treatment of its members and will continue to seek justice in the face of these ongoing challenges. Therefore, the FKNK will see to right this injustice towards hunters and trappers and in this course will employ every legal means and resources at its disposal.
FKNK FACTS:
The FKNK is by far the largest NGO in the Maltese society with over 10,000 adult members, and continuously works towards these members benefit to maintain the traditional socio-cultural passions of hunting and trapping.
In 2014 the FKNK filed the largest ever Petition collected in less than six months on the Maltese islands, which was comprised of 104,293 physical signatures. The Petition was presented in the local Parliament in order to safeguard the legal interests, rights and privileges of hunters and trappers. The FKNK has recently revived this Petition which outcome is thus pending at present.
The FKNK is the only organisation that has triumphed in the first ever held local national direct Abrogative Referendum in 2015, which victory ensured the continuation of the traditional passion of spring hunting. This, notwithstanding that the referendum was held in concurrence with the elections of over half the islands Local Councils, and the opposition of the local Green Political Party, 12 ENGOs of varying sizes (from less than 10 to, at most, 2,700 members), another coalition of 12–14 animal welfare NGOs, the Catholic Church’s Malta Archbishop, the 3 local newspapers that are published in the English language and a local renowned retired Judge (ironically a Judge of the European Court of Human Rights – 1998 – 2004), supported by 6 local lawyers. All these besides the financial and other support of several entities and personalities hailing from the UK, led by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the legendary band Queen guitarist, Brian May, to BBC’s Packham.
Moreover, BirdLife Malta pathetic Injunction Court Cases, which they have consecutively filed in the last three years, in their recent feeble strives to abolish spring hunting, have all been rejected by the Court.
Annually, hunters and trappers contribute hundreds of thousands euro in just licences fees in order to have the right to practice their legitimate activities. Other organisations’ members’ licences/permits’ contributions, if any, come nowhere near what hunters and trappers pay towards Malta’s Treasury.
Without fail, hunters and trappers donate substantially to every philanthropic collection, be it ‘Strina’, ‘Dar tal-Providenza’ and all others, with the last donation made to ‘Puttinu Cares’ amounting to €90,000. On the other hand, notwithstanding the granted hundreds of thousands euro on an annual basis by the Maltese authorities to other anti-hunting NGOs, apart from the several public closed-up areas on which these have been contracted management domain, why is it that one never hears about anti-hunting NGOs similar donations? One can already bet that their ‘humble’ response would be that they do not ‘boast’ about their donations!
PBS Treatment:
For goodness sake, the FKNK wanted to buy air-time and did not request to be paid to broadcast its programme, as is not unknown within the PBS operations.
The PBS, rightly so, transmits several and varied debatable programmes on a daily basis concerning issues that deal with culture, traditions and customs, EU relationship, ethics, nature conservation and education, legislation, sustainability, fishing and cookery. During his regular broadcasts on PBS Stations, the BirdLife Malta President promotes his belief that Vegans cook and consume healthy foods. Conversely, no PBS counter-transmissions have been aired by farmers who earn their living by raising cows and other farm animals for eventual meat, milk and other by-products human consumption, and against who’s ‘existence’ the BirdLife Malta President has thus been known to campaign.
So why is the FKNK being unfairly denied transmissions that deal with the same issues including promotion of the acquisition of the best and healthiest game-meat provided by nature without man’s interference, its preparation and consumption which is closely connected to cultures and traditions, since human existence. Game meat that is characterised by its high protein content and biological worth, with negligible unsaturated fat acid and forming part of the food of the future.
As already stated above, the FKNK will not tolerate any longer such prejudicial, discriminating and imbalanced treatment.
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