Hunting and Politics - In the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region there must be a wave of panic from an impending Ebola epidemic or Zika-type viral meningitis, pending the idiosyncrasy manifested by the members of the Regional Council to take on the role of the Department responsible for hunting activities .
A position once coveted and held by high-level politicians who have made history. One of them is the President, Attorney Antonio Comelli (among other things in the history for the conduct of the post-earthquake), with the precious support of the “ad hoc” Manager, Dr. Franco Lenardi. The memory of his successor, the Honorable Adriano Biasutti, is also due for having always given a voice to hunters and for having promulgated and enforced the regional law 14/87 on selection hunting. The combination of hunting and agriculture has always been excellent in the legislative and implementation history of the Region; unfortunately, after Dr. Lenardi's retirement, the council's support office has always gone into free fall.
The competent councilor, among other things, after a "pink" period (not pink, but pink only because it was directed at women, like "limbo", so to speak), was dribbled between one party and another, less and less appetite, indeed inappetito, until the present darkness.
This emptiness of "power" (or "will") represents a void of principles and solidity of action, it is a symptom and prodrome to the decadence of the environment: because if the hunting activity goes adrift, it suffers from it. environment, wildlife, biodiversity and the economy. Hunting is necessary, it is not a pastime; based on management and tradition, as well as an economic sector that ensures a large number of jobs. And even if the hunters have decreased in number (by age, bureaucratic fetters, increasing costs and associative lack of love), they always constitute a category of highly respected citizens, who do not deserve (and must no longer bear) to be pilloried for every smallest negative event and never mentioned for the positive events of which they are protagonists.
Above all, they do not deserve the indifference and detachment that politicians, regional and otherwise, show towards them today. While it would be the task of politicians - both on a regional, national and European level - to represent and defend the hunting sector: hunters represent a real category of environmentalists, real (unique?) Volunteers in the protection of nature, a category rich in traditions and skills. , linked to the territory and the survival of local realities. A category, on the other hand, thrown into the background of contemporary society, due to pseudo-environmentalist itches and pseudo-animal rights sensitivities.
Given this situation (further unbearable), in my opinion, first of all, it is necessary to prepare an offensive, to counteract the disinformation that has thrown mud on the category. This is also what the Intergroup “Sustainable hunting, biodiversity and rural activities in the European Parliament” maintains; this is what hunting associations should implement, especially in Italy, which, on the other hand, continuing the strategy in vogue today, will end up with members just sufficient to maintain the seats of power! Today, then, we have the honorable Michl Ebner at the top of the FACE, former President of the Intergroup, South Tyrolean hunter of excellent preparation and ability; the shock force of seven million European hunters (and their entourage) should guarantee a change in the current negative situation, if only by riding on the great economic factor represented by hunting.
And instead the politicians are slipping away, despite the merits and appreciation recognized and expressed in the camera caritatis.
In the offensive to recover the image and the recognition of the full right of hunting as a primary component of society, collaboration with the agricultural sector must be taken care of. However, it should come out of the shell of simple economic calculation. Especially considering that the "countryside", like the "mountain", are a periphery to the city, which certainly does not have hunting and agriculture in the top of its thoughts; but it represents the main reservoir for electoral purposes. From this it follows that rural areas (and mountain areas in particular) need greater protection: environmental protection, consideration for human activities, profitability. Three points that, combined with the cultural aspect, can guarantee the future of hunting
Criticism shouldn't worry us; reacting to disinformation yes: we know that contemporary society criticizes everything and hunting is no exception! Even in the European Parliament, which should, thanks to the establishment of the Intergroup, put the hunt for the shelter of political factions, there are contradictions that are noticed every day in the life of the country. The declarations of principle, the good intentions from which one starts, in general, at the time of practical implementation collide, unfortunately, with the electoral needs and sometimes with the directives of the party.
Faced with this situation, it seems that hunters, either by age or by tiredness, but above all by the inertia of hunting associations, tend more to protect the acquired than to pursue novelty. We will have to find the strength to get out of the impasse and be able to be recognized as primary components of society.
Good luck!