Spring is a long-awaited time of the year because, after a long dark winter, everyone yearns for some good weather with plenty of light and warm sunshine. The whole of nature awakens, with the countryside bursting with life: blossoming colourful flowers, the fragrant smell of early buds, emerging bees and ladybirds and the occasional sighting of a migrating bird. Sadly, this period only lasts a short time before we are greeted with our hot summer and everyone heads to the seaside to cool down.

With today's fast changing technologies, a lot of youngsters are turning to virtual tools for their entertainment, little realising what they are missing out on. Lifestyle changes seem to be the latest expression, although I suspect that not everyone promotes good health as completely natural and free of charge.

Fortunately, however, there is an ever-increasing number of bikers, campers, ramblers, walkers, runners, birdwatchers and dog-walkers who have discovered that the great outdoors gives health and sanity to the whole being at a very affordable price. This is very commendable to the well-being of our citizens.

However, this week I learnt that when these enthusiasts try to escape our busy roads and head for the country lanes, they are regularly confronted by bristled hunters who have claimed our countryside and who do not want to be caught red-handed in their illegal activities. They do not shoot only protected birds: they shoot warning shots to scare away the faint-hearted. They get both verbally and physically abusive - and do not let anyone deny this because we have it on video. I have been hearing plenty of testimonials to confirm this and now I have experienced it myself.

The latest testimonial is from Andrew Warrington, president of the Malta Rock Climbing Club. He showed us a video of a sign on a cliff face privatising the face and prohibiting climbing. He also showed us how expensive climbing anchors used to aid climbing had been vandalised and rendered unusable and dangerous. These climbing anchors were part-financed by the Malta Tourism Authority, which had recognised the potential of such a sport as a prospective sport venue for niche tourism.

Mr Warrington related how a foreign climber had taken it upon himself to attach these anchors to several climbs, only to be physically beaten by a hunter. The climber was so shaken that he packed up and never returned. Ironically, last Tuesday we saw FKNK and the recently founded Malta Climbing Association signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to the effect that they will be seeking to resolve issues where their interests overlap and will be working together on conservation.

I hope that this MOU will still be valid regardless of whether the result of the referendum is 'Yes' or 'No'.

Finally, I would like to enquire why we need an MOU to enjoy our countryside and why all other minority outdoor sport enthusiasts need permission from hunters to practice their sport: hunting - the only blood "sport" that opposes conservation by killing breeding birds.

This arrogance sets my heart racing. NO, hunting is not a sport of the minority - it is a blatant bullying by a number of hooligans who are plentiful enough to hold to ransom our two major political parties. This is a democratic country and we deserve better. To put an end to this and to liberalise our country, vote 'No' to spring hunting. We all deserve to enjoy the countryside in spring and the sighting of migrating, breeding birds should not be the privilege of the hunters. We should all be happily welcoming these heroes on their long journey home and shooting them with a camera - not a gun.

Rita Brincat

Rabat