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I would like to thank Minister Louis Galea, the Ministry of Education and particularly the whole staff at the Education Division's Department of Student Services and International Relations, for the excellent work they are doing in raising animal awareness among school children.
I, together with several other representatives of animal protection organisations, had the pleasure of witnessing first-hand the excellent animal awareness day activities in primary schools on October 4. In a very limited time, the schoolchildren, assisted by the staff at their schools, managed to raise excellent poetry recitals, plays and songs on animal awareness, care and respect. I am convinced that today's public schools are sowing the seeds for a more compassionate future, and for this I thank them.
On October 5, I also had the pleasure of being invited to a children's photographic exhibition and a soiree of drama, singing, dancing and literature on the animal awareness theme at St James Cavalier. The programme was professionally executed and through artistic means, sent a message of hope for a better world in which all creation is respected and treated with care and dignity. A big thank you goes to all the organisers and participants. “Turning words into action” were the words of one of the songs played to a slideshow of animal cruelty and animal care. If only more people listen and really turn words into action!
I hate to end this letter with a pessimistic tone, but alas, it was quite ironic to listen to the poem “Nature Trail” by Benjamin Zephaniah, which describes the pleasures and beauty of having gardens full of all kinds of animals, when in Malta, we have private consortiums contracted by the government which are making cats “disappear” from public gardens. It is a real pity that these people were not invited to this wonderful programme. But I'm confident that minister George Pullicino will read this letter and see to this matter immediately, thus turning words into action.
Kenneth Cassar
Animal Rights Malta
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