| Animal rights - the responsibilities Although we have gone a long way in promoting a culture of compassion towards non-human animals in Malta, we still have a long way to go. Of course, praise is certainly due to the Maltese animal protection organisations, who work endlessly for the promotion of animal rights and also directly by rescuing and caring for and homing stray animals. Worth a mention is the fact that these organisations do their work with very few unpaid volunteers and with limited funds, which are donated directly by the public. Praise is also due to the Education Division within the Ministry of Education, which is doing excellent work in collaborating with local animal protection organisations in teaching children (the adults of tomorrow) to love and respect non-human animals, which is a novelty to Malta, and should be supported and encouraged. Recognition is also due to the local newspapers for supporting and giving importance to animal rights issues, and supporting local animal protection groups. A week does not pass by without some news item, letter or feature on non-human animal protection issues. Thanks also goes to the local television and radio stations, for putting up programmes which advocate or discuss animal rights issues and concerns. However, work still needs to be done in the following areas: Considering Malta's small population, and considering that non-human animal protection organisations in Malta depend totally on donations by the public, people need to get the message through that animal protection societies cannot do much unless people who can afford to give donations or to do voluntary work, do so. Also, since funds collected through donations are very limited considering the workload of these societies, perhaps the government should actively participate in the funding of these organisations. Animal welfare societies work in reducing a problem which if not tackled by them, would end up on the government's doorstep. The least the government could do is to assist them. Much more work could be done, and much less non-human animals would suffer, if the government plays a more active role in the funding of the excellent work being done free of charge by these organisations. But the question is...does the government care? Also, the government urgently needs to provide a clear and coherent policy with regards to animal rights. It is well known that a few ministers and members of parliament on the government's side are supporters of non-human animal protection issues, but unlike the Malta Labour Party and Alternattiva Demokratika, who have both included animal rights in their political manifestos, the Nationalist government has until now failed to provide a common policy and work plan with regards to non-human animal protection. An Animal Welfare Council has been set up, but apparently this council will be focusing more on regulating animal protection organisations than enforcing animal protection legislation. It must be noted that demanding stricter standards of non-human animal protection organisations without offering financial help will mean that some organisations will have to close down, which will in turn mean less people to care for abandoned animals. Membership in the European Union will do no difference to our local animal welfare problems unless either animal welfare is included in the EU constitution, or else, the government takes it upon itself to do something about it. The government acknowledges that the EU will not work miracles, and that it's up to us to work hard to make EU membership a success. The same applies to animal welfare. |
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