The role of an environmental non-government organisation in political change : case study on the Malta Ornithological Society

Abstract

This study looks into the role of environmental non-government organisations in political change. It classifies the different types of environment non-government organisations in two different categories: a political classification and a classification by environmental concern. The local environment non-government organisations have been categorised within the first classification. It then looks at a specific environment non-government organisation - The Malta Ornithological Society. which is classified as an environmental pressure group. The study shows that the role of an environment pressure group is to inspire the need to change within the different levels of the social structure. and thus achieve political change. In this case study, the history of MOS is divided in three main sections. The first concerns the period from 1962 to 1970. It shows the different atmosphere within which the first ornithologists had to work in. During this period ornithologists frequently used stuffed birds to put forward a conservational message and also made attempts to educate and work with hunters themselves. The second section treats the 70s and 80s. This section is dominated by the struggle towards the 1980 regulations. and the violence that swept in the 80s. The third section looks into the 90s. Like the previous section it is dominated by the campaigns leading to the 1993 regulations and the violence that characterised these times. There is a final section on the MOS education efforts which shows the development of the MOS education policy across the years.