Many readers of this blog have contacted their MEPs about the Malta Massacre. Thank you all! I will keep coming back to this subject over the next three weeks leading up to the EU elections (and quite probably, beyond).
Roger Helmer is one of ‘my’ MEPs in the East Midlands, and I’ve been sent this strange response from him in reply to enquiries about what he might do about the massacre of spring migrants on Malta – basically he goes off on a rant about windfarms and the RSPB, as follows:
Thank you for writing to me about the shooting of songbirds in Malta for sport. We in UKIP share your concern, and I (or “One of our MEPs”) have raised the matter several times with the Commission, without any satisfactory answer. This is a good illustration of the ineffectiveness of European Institutions in delivering solutions to problems that concern citizens.
I may say, however, that I consider the proliferation of wind turbines to be an even greater threat to birds and bats. I would draw your attention to an article which appeared recently in The Spectator, by an academic researcher, arguing that the average turbine kills between 110 and 330 birds a year, and between 200 and 670 bats. http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/8807761/wind-farms-vs-wildlife/ The carnage in Spain alone (where the research was conducted) is estimated at between six million and eighteen million birds and bats a year.
Because of the height of turbines, it is likely that they disproportionately affect rare birds, migratory birds and raptors — those we can least afford to lose.
In this context I am very concerned about the policies of the RSPB. Of course they stress the importance of environmental assessments when siting turbines, but they are clearly in favour, and indeed have reportedly applied to erect their own wind turbines. http://www.spectator.co.uk/columnists/james-delingpole/9018031/the-rspb-is-fighting-for-wind-turbines-the-birds-can-fend-for-themselves/ They also oppose shale gas (which could reduce the demand for turbines). Yet while wind farms are killing literally millions of birds, I am not aware of any bird that has died because of shale gas. This shows a strange sense of priorities at our largest bird charity.
The RSPB is also making hundreds of thousands of pounds a year from deals with power companies promoting “green energy” and wind turbines: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2305197/RSPB-makes-killing–windfarm-giants-turbines-accused-destroying-rare-birds.html
I commend your concern about the shooting of songbirds in Malta, and I shall continue to raise the issue where it is appropriate to do so. But I would urge you also to bear in mind the arguably greater threat to birds from “green” energy.
Mr Helmer and his party won’t be getting my vote on 22 May.
Mr Helmer’s colleague, also one of ‘my’ UKIP MEPs, Derek Clark, replied as follows:
Thank you for your message but there is nothing I can do. Just before I became an MEP in 2004 the EU issued a directive to put a stop to shooting down birds of passage. This mostly happens along the Mediterranean coast as the birds fly North in Spring. The Directive has been almost totally ignored.
You see, in the countries where this occurs it’s usually young men in their teens who shoot down these birds. It is a rite of passage into manhood and it is therefore a cultural thing. Result, families encourage it, as does the local community so there is no report to the local Police who stay indoors anyway. No written report or complaint means that it never took place at all.
All of which simply illustrates the complete uselessness of the EU, and why we are still a member I do not understand.
Mr Clark, and his party, won’t be getting my vote on 22 May either.
I was slightly more impressed by this response from UKIP MEP, Stuart Agnew, who represents the East of England (but I can’t vote for him and I certainly shall not be voting for his party):
Thank you for your email on the hunting of birds in Malta.
This is an issue of which we have been aware throughout my five year term as an MEP. The scenario of the UK following EU directives to the letter and beyond, while other countries ignore them, is all too familiar and is another good reason for us to depart the EU as soon as possible. It is quite simply outrageous that UK taxpayers are net financial contributors to the Maltese economy and are, therefore, supporting a government that allows this cruel form of hunting to go on.
On several occasions, we have written to the diplomatic representatives of the Maltese Government, in London. They have not been particularly helpful, either denying that the situation is as bad as is being described by campaigners against the hunting or not replying at all. It is our belief that continued publicity, supported by public protests are the best solution to this problem. If there are regular protests outside the Maltese embassy and widespread broadcast media coverage, coupled with lots of people publicly saying that they will not take holidays in Malta, then there is bound to be a change in attitude by the Maltese Government.
As you may know, UKIP MEPs are elected on a platform of withdrawal from the EU and, as such, are against the principle of unelected officials at the European Commission having the power to interfere in the affairs of the member states. However, this is such an important issue that our MEPs will want to continue with efforts to pressure the Maltese Government to properly address the matter, when the new Parliament reconvenes in July, after next month’s European Election. It is currently in pre-election recess. This may involve lobbying of Maltese MEPs.
Well it’s perfectly clear what the UKIP line is then, isn’t it? Isn’t it? It’s…ummmm…it’s…no, don’t tell me…I can work it out…it’s…not as important as the RSPB supporting windfarms and it’s all to do with young men and UKIP will keep addressing the matter. Or something like that. What a shower!
Nigel Farage was unfairly criticised for ducking standing as a candidate for Newark – he has a lot of cats to herd.
[registration_form]
Hello Mark,
I am no fan of UKIP but can you explain what you consider to be so strange about Roger Helmer’s response? The EU commission does as he says appear to have been completely ineffective on this issue and after ten years of EU “investigations” and meetings the only real hope of a resolution to the Spring Hunting issue seems to me to be a referendum amongst the Maltese people banning it. The EU its Birds Directive have made themselves irrelevant.
Equally the Spectator article referenced by Roger reads credibly – penned by an Oxford University lecturer in human and biological sciences, he quotes research by Birdlife and others documenting enormous losses of birds caused by wind turbines across Europe. Since the concern about the Malta Spring Hunt (and indeed all around the Med) is about its impact on European bird populations this turbine issue seems related and pertinent in his response. The RSPB bashing is undoubtedly a reaction to the perceived wilful ignoring of this problem that you seem to have joined in with.
I don’t know yet where I stand on turbines, but rather than just dismiss such concerns, perhaps you could explain and support your position with some references/data?
Hugh
– if the EU Commission is ineffective then it requires MEPs to make it more effective
– if Malta were not in the EU then we really would be powerless to influence it
– Mr Helmer’s response is hardly one to the issue of spring hunting is it?
– massive windfarms on migration hotspots are a different kettle of fish from those that I can see from my house right now
– Clive Hambler http://www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/about/people/mr-clive-hambler
What is UKIP’s contribution to stopping the deliberate slaughter of migrants on Malta? That was the question posed.
Mark,
– From what I can gather MEPs seem unable to make the EU commission more effective because of a collective unwillingness to award meaningful punative capacities to the commission for fear they might then be targeted at their own nations. A tragedy of the commons perhaps? Ineffective certainly.
– If Malta were not in the EU we could still subject it to economic pressures for what they’re worth (Obama’s a fan anyway). I cannot see that Malta’s membership within the EU is making it any more malleable to our concerns at present.
– Mr Helmer’s response seems pertinent to a general concern about bird populations although clearly he has an axe to grind. He could I suppose equally have expressed concerns about modern farming methods and their effect on bird populations, or perhaps even domestic cats. But he chose to talk about wind turbines and it seems to me a fair and related issue to raise .
– Do you then agree that some wind farms are bad? Could/should there be more guidelines about what sites might be suitable?
– The link you post makes Clive Hambler look like a reliable source to me, encouraging me to take his concerns about wind farms seriously.
Mr Helmer claims to have written to the EU commission to raise concerns about Spring Hunting and Mr Agnew says he has written to representatives of the Maltese Government. Doesn’t that answer your question about UKIP’s contribution to stopping the slaughter?
Hugh – will UKIP MEPs sign up to the Birdlife Malta letter to Potocnic?
I am tempted to wander off onto a completely different subject as that seems acceptable to you…
You must keep re-reading what I wrote. I wrote that I was more impressed by Stuart Agnew’s approach – his seems to be in contrast to Roger Helmer’s to me.
Badly sited windfarms are certainly bad – that’s why when I was at the RSPB we opposed something like 5-10% of windfarm applications – and won several cases and got many others changed. This shouldn’t be news to you. And is mentioned in other comments on this post already.
Will UKIP MEPs sign up to the Birdlife letter (http://www.birdlifemalta.org/media/press/hunting/view.aspx?id=514)? I don’t know. But imagine every single MEP signed it… What could/would Potocnic do anyway? I’m not clear on that at all.
My hope is that the Maltese people sort this out. There seems to be some appetite for this and you can read about it plus donate to the referendum campaign here: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/lifestyle/environment/38373/coalition_expresses_its_appreciation_for_antihunting_supporters
UKIP are more or less absentionist in the European Parliament.
In changing the subject when asked about Malta, Helmer is in a sense being honest in that voting for him is not a way to get things done in Europe.
UKIP’s stance on green issues could be described as hapless at best.
Have you ever thought about leading the Green Party Mark?
Most sympathetic and thoughtful replies were from Andrew Duff (Lib Dem East of England) and Richard Howitt, Labour. Belated responses from Stuart Agnew (same as yours) and Conservative Geoffrey Van Orden, both making sympathetic noises. Is this cause for hope? Cross-party consensus?
Mark, I have read the responses to your letter and conclude that all three have attempted to do something about enforcing the EU directive on the matter, and all three admit that they have not succeeded. So what answer were you expecting or hoping for?
All three responses are perfectly reasonable and consistent – including Helmer’s.
But Helmer has thrown it back at you to some extent, by pointing out that there might be a far bigger problem, in terms of numbers of birds and bats being killed, by wind turbines. And there he has got you because you are an enthusiastic supporter of wind turbines (because you think they are going to save the planet) and the RSPB are equally enthusiastic (because they make money out of them).
Helmer is simply asking you and the RSPB for some consistency in the matter.
Yesterday I asked you , via twitter, why it is that only now, decades after the Maltese slaughter has been known to be a problem, are there suddenly a lot of well known birders jumping up and down about it, getting arrested, and so on. All this activity is with the best of intentions and I support it. But I am curious to know why it has taken so long. What kept you?
I will try to put this as delicately as I can, but I do sometimes think that you allow your political enthusiasms to crowd out your common-sense. Roger Helmer has pointed out the need for consistent thinking on the matter, as well as consistent long term pressure on Malta. The fact that he happens to be a UKIP MEP should not, surely, prevent you from supporting his work on this matter.
David – what is Roger Helmer’s work on the question of the slaughter of migrants on Malta? I saw no answer in his answer.
David – my political allegiance (not very strong) are displayed in this blog and on this website – so that any reader can weigh up whether they think that what i write is politically biased. That’s why I am open about being Labour Party member.
Would this be you? http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2008/08/david-eyles-why-2.html
Another reply –
Dear Mr Miles
Thank you for your email raising concerns regarding the illegal wild bird hunting currently taking place in Malta and the resulting contravention of the European Wild Birds Directive by the Maltese Government during the spring hunting season.
I very much share these concerns, as I do on any such matter relating to cruelty to wildlife. I understand there to have been a huge rise in the illegal hunting of birds in Malta over the past few years, and many of these birds are at their most vulnerable as Malta is an important half way point for birds migrating between Europe and Africa.
In light of this I have made contact with my Conservative colleague, Jacqueline Foster MEP, who is the Vice President of the Animal Welfare Parliamentary Intergroup in the European Parliament, and asked her to intervene on behalf of the Conservatives and raise the matter with the European Commission.
Like me, Mrs Foster takes this issue very seriously and is continuing to express her opposition to the actions of the Maltese authorities and their non-compliance with the EU Birds Directive (2009/147/EC).
Following the number of emails and letters from concerned constituents received by myself and other MEPs, Mrs Foster has been in contact with both Maltese MEPs, as well as the EU Commissioner for Environment, calling for this illegal practice to cease straight away.
Thankfully, through strong media coverage and correspondence from concerned constituents, such as yourself, other MEPs have been made aware of the issue and there is now increasing pressure on the Maltese Government to act immediately.
Please be assured that we will maintain this pressure until we see an end to this slaughter and of course ensure that your Cuckoo is able to return in one piece!
Yours sincerely
Sajjad Karim
He says that he has “raised the matter several times with the Commission without any satisfactory answer”. Seems fair enough to me.
You don’t give the political colour of the two others (other than the fact that you won’t be voting for them), but the flavour of their responses is much the same as Helmer’s. Seems like everyone has been aware of the problem, has tried, and then hit a brick wall of Commission and Maltese intransigence. What else can they do?
David – read the blog again. All three MEPs in it are UKIP MEPs (I do say that Stewart Agnew is UKIP and I do say that Derek Clark is one of Mr Helmer’s ‘colleagues’ though I see that that might not be completely clear (so I’ll go back and make it clearer right now)).
I’d love to see Mr Helmer’s letter to the EU Commission – is that how he raised it with them?
See this evening’s blog for an example of a Party’s MEPs taking a more active stance on this subject on behalf of their constituents and their own beliefs.
Beg your pardon Mark, I have just re-read the blog. So, all are UKIP and all are consistent. Your blog is headed “UKIP Muddle”. But what is muddled about their efforts and their responses to you? Again, their responses all seemed to be consistent. Which, as Helmer and I have pointed out, is more than we can say for the RSPB’s (or yours for that matter).
I would like to see you put aside all your political prejudices, all your allegiances to the RSPB and their policies, and apply some real objective critical thinking to three problems (and their possible solutions) which you have written about or have come up on your blog recently:
1. Illegal destruction of Hen Harriers on grouse moors in the UK.
2. Slaughter of spring migrants in Malta.
3. Unintended destruction of birds and bats by wind turbines in the UK and elsewhere.
The first two are problems which have been with us for a long time and the third is a problem caused by the unintended consequences of new technology.
As someone who considers himself to be a countryman and conservationist, as well as someone who has spent 20 years in the civil engineering industry, I have opinions on all of these things which are taken from a very broad perspective.
When reading your blog, I can see the influences of your life also informing your opinions, but which (forgive me Mark) I think have narrowed your view to the point where you have had to put each opinion into a hermetically sealed box in order to contain their mutual contradictions.
So there’s my little challenge. Are you up for it?
David – this blog is for me to write what I want – I don’t take commissions, thank you. It’s also for you to take it or leave it.
This is you is it? http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2008/08/david-eyles-why-2.html
But, in brief: Hen Harriers are killed illegally and that illegal killing has a massive impact on their English and UK population levels. I don’t think people should break the law for the rather selfish interest of making money out of shooting grouse Do you?
Spring hunting on Malta is arguably totally illegal under the Birds Directive but in any case since many of the species shot are wholly protected it should not happen. The timing of Spring hunting, and its unregulated nature, is likely to have some impact on European bird populations although I would be surprised if it were that large because most Europeans have moved past the ‘slaughtering of spring migrants in the name of sport’ point. Malta joined the EU knowing the rules of the EU so i think they should stick to those rules.
Wind turbines can kill lots of birds and bats – but rarely do. The reason they rarely do is that we have a planning system that puts them in what we think and believe are the right places rather than the wrong places. Wind turbines at the very southern tip of Spain, a migration hotspot, were badly sited (and very very numerous). That was a mistake. the wind turbines I can see from my house in rural Northants are almost certainly not having an impact on my local birds (I only say ‘almost certainly not’ because I haven’t studied them at all).
And no, the three UKIP MEPs are not consistent at all. They are all over the place.
Mark, Thank you finding that link. I had almost forgotten that pair of articles, but it is fair to say that my reading of the Magna Carta has informed much of my politics in recent years. Despite its apparent disorderly collection of clauses, that document was revolutionary. It laid the groundwork for a completely different way of lawmaking for this country, from that extant on continental Europe at the time. The echoes are still with us today.
I understand and respect your unwillingness to engage in the dialogue I have suggested, but think it’s a pity because I think you would be surprised at the level of agreement between us.
Nevertheless:
Illegal shooting of Hen Harriers on UK moorland should not happen, whether for sport or money. The only way to stop it is to gain the active support and consent of the grouse moor owners. This will take time and a lot of diplomacy. THe RSPB are not the organisation to do this. Neither will more laws be effective, as it seems the existing ones are ineffective. It will take time.
The problem in Malta will not stop with laws being enacted in Brussels, but only with the active consent of the people of Malta. This will take time.
I am surprised at your confidence in the planners’ ability to predict flight paths of birds and bats, both on migration and locally, and then dictate accordingly. My experience of planners is that they cannot stop building on floodplains which are mapped and obvious, never mind something as nebulous as flight paths. Huge offshore arrays are an even bigger problem in this respect. This applies especially when it is foggy and the migrating birds come down to sea level. The London Array is slap bang in the middle of a migration route for eastern migrants coming up the Thames Estuary. This new technology is likely to be with us for while. But for this and for other reasons, I believe that building of more of these things should stop now.
You have stated that the UKIP responses are all over the place, and yet I have read them again and can find no source of inconsistency in their comments, all of which seem to be rooted in the real world. You have not said why they are “all over the place” merely that they are. That is mere polemic, not rational argument.
Hope you had a good time at Cheltenham,
David.
David
We don’t usually try to chat up drug peddlers to stop their illegal activity – why do we have to win over grouse moor managers to stick to a 60-year-old piece of legislation?
The Maltese signed up to a set of laws – they should stick to their side of the agreement if they want my taxes. A deal is a deal.
I don’t have complete confidence in planners – but the system is there to protect wildlife from badly sited wind farms. We need to make the system work as well as possible. But then, maybe it would be better to pass planning regulations and not enforce them – like with Hen Harriers. Or Spring shooting on Malta. We do need renewable energy sources (or to use less energy – probably both) and so there is going to be some environmental damage – almost inevitably (as with all developments). We do not need to shoot grouse in the north of England or shoot Montagu’s Harriers on Malta.
“We don’t usually try to chat up drug peddlers to stop their illegal activity – why do we have to win over grouse moor managers to stick to a 60-year-old piece of legislation?”
Good point Mark, I agree. However, last night whilst reading British Wildlife, I noted that in your excellent column you declared that the following policy would win your vote:
‘Offer a reward of £100,000 to any landowner in England who has succesfully nesting Hen Harriers during the term of the next government’
Are you also in favour of paying drug peddlers not to peddle drugs ?
Seems to me that it’s not just UKIP that are in a muddle! 🙂
GWS – are you suggesting that all grouse moor managers are breaking the law and killing Hen Harriers? I was assuming that some needed a bit more of an incentive to put in protection measures. Maybe United utilities, the RSPB and the Forestry Commission would get the money? I also don’t think this measure would cost the taxpayer very much – if anything.
All of us getting steamed up about this probably is a waste of effort.
A thread on RSPB forum on “The Maltese Massacre”managed to attract 3 views in 6 days.This at a time the rspb brags it has 1.1 million members.
Obviously there is very little enthusiasm for this problem.
Doubt if anything will stop this illegal killing in the short term,hopefully over a long period the local opinion will counter it.
If the will was there in EU parliament it would stop immediately if they were told no contributions if any killing continues.
It is obvious the general public have very little interest in conservation.
Dennis – are you on Twitter or Facebook? Your view may be a bit blinkered. Maybe the RSPB website isn’t the best place to find the people who are interested?
Don’t do it, Dennis!
F C,thank you,will certainly leave those alone.
Mark.That fact is at least correct and surely the forum should be against the Malta killing.
There would certainly be lots of comments on things of very little importance.In fact there is even a forum on “Weekly chat non Osprey topics”.weeks total 177 comments.
You may not see it as relevant but think in this case you should expect rspb forum members to be at least as concerned as anyone.
If they are not concerned who should be.
It is run by the Royal Society Protection Of Birds and some of the top bods in rspb make a big fuss about we need to give money abroad as birds are worldwide.
Dennis – I admit you have a point…
Dennis, I accept you have a point but the RSPB Forum is not a forum for RSPB members, it is a forum for anyone who might be interested. Not all on there are members and there are certainly not a million subscribers more like a couple of hundred with most interested in the birds they have seen, or ospreys, with political (small p) points getting fewer comments. As you know I visit that forum in the same way as you but I have never seen that entry and have searched for it and still can’t find it.
Would you like to see a renewable energy solution that hasn’t killed a single bird?
http://igg.me/at/solarroadways
Give land owners £100,000 for each successful nest! Most of them already get that and more from the public without even having to have a Hen Harrier on their land. It is called High level Stewardship!
Private mail sent to Bob on how to get information,it is correct but Bob’s estimate of members on the forum is probably way off as just the group “Loch Garten Ospreys has 881 members and majority of them do not overlap other groups and while anyone can join the forum think it likely that most are subscribers.
Latest MEP reply, in case you are still collecting them
Hilary
Thank you for your email. I too am concerned about the killing of migratory birds in Malta and indeed in other European countries. In fact very recently I submitted a written question to the European Commission regarding the killing of songbirds in Cyprus.
Please find attached the written question I submitted. Since the Commission had already received similar questions from colleagues they sent the same reply they had sent already to others. Please find my question and the Commission’s reply attached. I have since replied to the Commission highlighting my concerns with reference to the situation in Malta. However, as you will see from the original reply from the Commission, the enforcement of the provisions of the Birds Directive is a Member State responsibility. As such, I would advise that you also write to the Maltese High Commissioner to raise your concerns. The address to write to is:
His Excellency Mr. Norman Hamilton
High Commissioner for Malta
Malta High Commission
Malta House
36-38 Piccadilly
London
W1J 0LE
I will continue to take an interest in this issue should I be re-elected after the European election on 22nd May. I hope you find this information useful.
Kind regards,
Emma McClarkin
Miss Emma McClarkin MEP
Conservative Member for the East Midlands
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +32 (0)2 284 7684
Fax: +32 (0)2 284 9684
Website: http://www.emmamcclarkin.com
—–Original Message—–
From: HILARY MCKAY [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 28 April 2014 23:11
To: MCCLARKIN Emma
Subject: Letter from your constituent HILARY MCKAY