Many thanks to everyone who has signe so far. The tally stands at 12338 signatures so far and is still growing.
I've also been informed that the people of Lesvos are organising themselves in order to save their beautiful island from Development, Hunting, Motor Crossing and (now) Airplane Shows.
The first petition is to save Kalloni:
Edit: English version now available:
http://www.naftilosendrasi.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=99999999
I've asked the owners of the website for an English version. I'll attempt a modest translation later on. (too tired atm).
I'm sure you are all interested.
Cheers!
Dimitris
Oh and here's the full translated text of the petition futured in
this thread:
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To: Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food and Ministry of Land and Urban planning and Environment
REQUEST TO STOP HUNTING IN THE GREEK TERRITORY FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS
THE ANIMALS AFTER THE FIRES
Tens of thousands of animals are in danger because of the big fires which destroyed the Greek forests. Scientists and environmental organizations protest for the danger some species face, like the brown bears, the hares, zackals, partridges, the wild boars and the rare turtle of the pineforest of Strofilia, the lake Kaiafa.
The specialists emphasize that after the big fires at Parnitha, Penteli, Achaia, Grammo but also after the last ones at Taigeto and Parnona, the animals are threatened now by the uncontrolled hunting, stress, the lack of refuges and food and the disruption of the ecological system.
Especially, regarding the rare turtle of the pineforest of Strofilia, the forester Dr. Nikos Georgiadis from the environmental organization WWF reports that “ because of their slow movement, the native turtle of forest, which is extremely rare, as well as the lining turtle will not be able to escape from fires. The same is possible to have happened with the careta careta at the beach of Kaiafa.
Among the animals which are also in danger is the brown bear. The fire at Grammos affected the communication path between the greek brown bear population and the rest of them in the Balkans and there is fear that the population will be at risk if measures are not taken. The fires at Parnona and Taigeto provoked damage in the areas where their small population reside and there is danger that less and less of them will survive in both areas.
After the fires in Aigialeia, Parnitha, Penteli, Taigeto and Parnona, partridges, wild boars, hares and other species considered as game, seek refuge in the neighbor forests. In case they are hunted, there will be a dramatic decrease of their population. The danger is even bigger in the already burned forests. The female brown bear for example, gives birth every 2 to 3 years, in the middle of winter (January-February, 1-2 and rarely three little ones). A female bear is able to reproduce after the age of 4-5 years old. As far as the female wild boars are concerned, they are able to reproduce at the age of 12 months, while the male ones after the 18-24 months.
It is worthwhile to note also that due to continuous grabbing of the current and past burned forest land to turn them to building plot, animals and birds move further and further in the Greek land.
Despite all the above though, according to environmental organizations’ witnesses, thousands of hunters have gathered in the areas where the animals have found refuge and shoot indiscriminately and uncontrollably.
HUNTING
It is worthwhile noting that hunting is an activity which is not related anymore, at least in the developed countries, with the direct biological needs of humans and of course it is not a sport, since the concept of sport means participation of both members.
On the contrary, it is an activity which perpetuates the ecological human-centered image of man- as the master of nature, affects the forest ecological system’s health and because of the break of the food chain, promotes the increase of rodent population, having put a price on the natural predators as damaging, pollutes nature with the lead and the plastic of the cartridges and is responsible for a number of fires which destroy the greek forests.
And of course, it is extremely important to note that many of the injured animals and birds, die slowly for hours and days.
THE HUNTING PERIOD
The hunting period should start, after the dependence of the newly born birds ends and should end before the beginning of the spring migration of birds and the beginning of the reproduction period
SPRING MIGRATION
The migrating birds which stay in Africa during winter, in order to return to the areas where they make their nests, they have to cross two big natural obstacles: the desert of Sahara and the Mediterranean sea. During their journey, they have few opportunities for provision and arrive exhausted from their flight at the middle migration stations and have immediate need for rest and food supply
REPRODUCTION PERIOD
The protection of animals during reproduction is an obvious need. The murder of birds or their disturbance, while they make their nest, have immediate consequences on their population
NOISE
The noise is equally important for the two above periods. With hunting, time and space, needed for birds in order to feed themselves, are reduced. Instead the birds spend their energy needlessly with continuous flying. We can say that the shooting noise is more destructive than the actual shooting.
FOR ALL THE ABOVE REASONS AND MUCH MORE WE ASK:
TO STOP HUNTING IN ALL GREEK TERRITORY FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 5 YEARS, for nature’s relief.
During that period we ask:
- The already National Parks and marshlands to be protected, as well as new to be created
- To vote a new and modern law on hunting, which can see the ecological dimension of the problem, to guarantee all citizens’ right on nature and its fauna and to consider the murder of rare species and the illegal hunting as crime.
- To create a new protection group for the protection of the Greek fauna aiming at the elimination of illegal hunting, all days of the week, a group independent of hunters, forest guardians and hunting organizations.
After 5 years, we ask:
- To prohibit the general permissions which allow to urban hunters to massively exterminate animals and birds to big distances from the urban areas and the local permissions to be given after strict examinations.
- To allow hunting only in specific areas
- To strictly forbid hunting for all species, from February 1st to October 15th, as well as during the periods of bad weather.
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