PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Put an end to the murder of millions of migratory songbirds in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus
  1. Signatures
    737 out of 800,000
    Petitioning
    1. Minister of Defence (Liam Fox)
  2. Created By
    Rodney Compton
    London, United Kingdom
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

This report hit the UK headlines a few days ago: The level of songbird trapping in Cyprus this autumn has increased alarmingly. With an estimated 1.4 million birds caught this autumn, the RSPB believes that more must be done to bring this slaughter to a halt. It also stated that much of the detestable practice took place on the UK airfield. What it did not say, was that this practice had been going on under the noses of the protectors of Cyprus, the British, (a nation of animal lovers) for at least fifty years. The birds end up in jars and are fed to the mindless tourists, that are there for the sun and to soak up the ethnic charm of the island.

Over the time the British have been in Cyprus and have turned a blind eye, the number of songbirds migrating successfully has dropped to an alarmingly low rate. Now the birds have also to contend with large areas of European agricultural wasteland smothered in pesticide, which in itself is a severe deterrent to successful migration.

Migratory birds, and other animals developed their capacity to follow the seasons and migrate over millions of years, even the dinosaurs did it. Are humans as a species going to continue to put self interest even before these beautiful animals we are supposed to love.

picture by author

The military base is in UK control and this practice can be stopped.

Recent Signatures

Stop the use of the UK air base on Cyprus for killing migratory songbirds

Dear Minister

I respect your work in promoting the interests of our armed forces, but this is something you should be aware of as a potential issue that could be raised by the opposition and your own members.

You may, or may not be aware that the detestable practice of eating songbirds died out in Britain at the beginning of the last century, since when the majority of British birds are now protected. However, the practice continues today at our behest, on the UK airbase on Cyprus.

The RSPB and BTO estimate that this autumn alone, 1.4 million birds were captured and killed.
We have little or no control over the Cypriots themselves, who carry out this detestable practice, but to allow it to continue on British protected territory, is a travesty of everything this country stands for and is surely against European law.

If you can do something about it, please do.

[Your name]

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