Editorial

Nobody said it would be easy

It’s not always easy to be an optimist. If we look at the state of Planet Earth it is seriously threatened by the one dominant species, a species which has trebled in my lifetime, and, as a member recently said to me, “What amazes me is that the majority of people don’t seem to care what happens.”

This simple truth emphasises how important is the small minority who do care, people like the staff and workers of LIPU, and all the other similar organisations in different countries. Even more important are the sustaining members of these organisations – it is they who provide the moral and financial support without which LIPU and the others would simply wither away.

I am often asked why LIPU has members in this country – the RSPB for example doesn’t have a branch in Italy – and I have no simple answer, but I reply that it says much for our members that they will support a conservation cause in another country. So, in this edition of the Ali which carries our appeal I salute you all, and thank you sincerely for the support you have given to the birds in Italy.

Finally, may I commend to you the most ambitious appeal target we have set ourselves this year. Details of the LIPU projects we have agreed to support are in this edition of the Ali and, as you know, we launch just one appeal in the year. Please support it with the same generosity as you have in the past – my sincere thanks to you all.

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Contents

• Birds Directive – 40 years on
• Bee-eaters – a special migrant
• Thousands of thrushes freed
• Annual appeal

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