From The Universe dated July 4 1986
Prince Philip on Sunday urged Italian hunters to think of St Francis
before blasting away at birds.
On a television talk show watched by 10 million people, the Duke of
Edinburgh said he was more worried about acid rain than Chernobyl
fall-out. But worst of all was uncontrolled hunting in Italy.
"I am particularly thinking of birds - migratory birds which come to
the same spot after flights of up to 12,500 miles. Isn't St Francis the
patron saint of Italy?"
Abolitionists say hunters fire 500 million shots during the
seven-month open season.
NB 'The Independent' newspaper contained a report on December 20,
1996 which examined Prince Phillip's role, as President of the Worldwide
Fund for Nature and stated: "Figures compiled from press reports by the
anti-bloodsports lobby suggest that in Britain alone he has shot deer,
rabbit, hare, wild duck, snipe, woodcock, teal, pigeon and partridge,
and pheasant numbering at least 30,000."
Reproduced with thanks
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