In your leading article yesterday you draw attention to the plight of a few wild animals that are being kept in confined quarters and perform in circuses for the amusement of people.  You opine that because a sizable part of the population is against this practice it should be forbidden. 

While your stance is understandable, I wonder why you are not at the same time drawing attention to the plight of thousands of wild birds that are trapped in Malta and are kept in extremely confined quarters to sing for the enjoyment of people.  Or to the thousands of birds that are being shot for amusement of a few thousand hunters, even though a sizable part of the population is against these practices.  Is it because there are no Maltese circus owners so political courage is not required for action?

  
Simon Oosterman

Floriana

Editor’s note: Rest assured, the stance is the same. There just has to be time and editorial space for different arguments to be made.