April 2013 - Issue 40
www.vida.com.mt
Travel special
Springtime fashion New season trends
- page 34
Ready, aim, fire! Assessing Malta’s gun laws
- page 24
The never-ending journey
Fighting for human rights abroad
- page20
WIN! Historical expressions
Valuing good food
Splendid Seychelles
A seasoned ceramist
BOOKS, BEAUTY TREATMENTS, A HOT-STONE MASSAGE & MORE
editorial There is little, I believe, that is more enriching, educational and eye-opening than travelling to different places, experiencing new cultures and reminding yourself what a miracle the world we live in truly is. Venturing out of the confines of our, at times, stifling island, goes a long way towards broadening our horizons as individuals and plays a part in making the most of our time on this earth – an earth that can be equally beautiful as it can be terrifying. Now that the political uproar caused by the election is behind us, it’s time to make plans. With every passing day, the promise of summer looms nearer, and whether that prospect excites you as much as it does me or not, it remains the peak season for holidaying. Whether you’re planning a trekking trip in a far away land or something more low key and closer to home, we all need a holiday once in a while to relieve ourselves of the stresses of daily life. If you’re after a relaxing exotic break, I cannot recommend the Seychelles islands, which I visited courtesy of SMSMondial, Emirates Airlines and the Seychelles Tourism Board, enough. If pristine beaches and fine white sand are your idea of paradise, you can look no further. Travelling of course, is not only limited to leisure. This is perfectly exemplified in Andrew Galea Debono’s moving chronicles of his experiences as a human rights activist in countries like India and Africa. His work in far-flung places and remote villages is permeated with a duality of wonder and horror that he calls “the very best and worst of humanity”. Other, non-travel features in this issue include David Vella’s special report on gun laws in Malta. Following last December’s Connecticut school shooting, he assesses the situation locally and attempts to answer the all-important question: are we really safe?
vida.com.mt Issue 40 - April 2013 VIDA Magazine is a monthly lifestyle magazine distributed to households in Malta and Gozo. It aims to empower the people to lead a better, healthier and happier life. Publisher
Focused Knowledge Ltd Pitkali Road, Attard ATD 2214 Malta, Europe Tel: (+356) 2339 2403 Fax: (+356) 2141 9089 Editor Sarah Micallef editor@vida.com.mt Layout & Design Alexia Baldacchino Kevin Abela studio@vida.com.mt Advertising Tel: (+356) 2339 2231 sales@vida.com.mt
Enjoy the issue.
Sarah Micallef
It is understood that all material supplied by agents (printed or otherwise) to promote their products is supplied with all necessary permissions for reproduction. Whilst great care and attention has been taken by the editorial team to ensure accuracy of text, advertising and other published matter, we disclaim all responsibility for any omissions and errors. The editor and publisher do not necessarily agree with views expressed in articles, adverts, letters, or other content appearing in this publication.
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VIDA next month – Environment special
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April 2013 Issue 40 vida.com.mt
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Contents Post haste Insomnia My thing Helping children in need You are what you eat The nightmare of packing A little piece of heaven The road less travelled Armed and loaded Apps 2.0 Street style The celebrity and high street collaboration Open to interpretation In historical terms Street photography competition winners Top five butt and leg exercises Anterior knee pain Planning the perfect kitchen Back on track for 2013 How to tell if your pet is sick April at the movies Events this month The love of books No Greek Tragedy Competitions World’s best theme parks
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Updates Letters
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Not for Profit Youth Alive Foundation
The Top 10
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letters
Your say Election aftermath
STAR LETTER
Dear Editor,
Dear Editor, I’d like to share my awful shopping experience with VIDA readers. First of all, I have to confess that I am an incorrigible shopaholic. Every single day I dream about buying something. As soon as I buy a dress I start searching for the matching shoes, after buying shoes I realise I need a new handbag, a new pair of jeans requires a new top and a jacket, and so on and so forth. This time I was hunting around for a handbag, and when finally, after several hours of searching, I found the perfect one, I grabbed it, paid and left the shop feeling extremely happy. To my horror however, when I arrived home and looked at it closely, I found a small tag inside the bag saying that the material of the handbag contains chemicals that could cause cancer! Needless to say, the next day I returned to the shop and gave it back, but not before spending the evening looking asquint at my wardrobe where I had locked it, wondering if the chemicals had already had any effect or not. Dear readers, check all the tags of the things you buy carefully in order to avoid such problems – no one wants to carry a ticking time-bomb! Tatiana Aquilina
Making strides in forensics Dear Editor,
people
Solving crimes, one step at a time Together with a team at Strathclyde University in Scotland, Dr Kevin Farrugia undertook a research project focusing on the recovery, enhancement and lifting of footwear impressions from fabric at crime scenes. This project was a breakthrough for the forensic science community. Jane Vella meets Dr Kevin Farrugia, to learn more about his work and passion for forensic science and the use of science for the benefit of the court and the law.
Reading through your last issue online, I was really intrigued by Jane Vella’s interview with Dr Kevin Farrugia. Forensic science has always greatly interested me (and not just because of CSI!) and it is remarkable to note that a Maltese man is making such an impact within the field. Well done Dr Farrugia, may this not be the last time your name appears on a major scientific journal. D
r Farrugia admits that his PhD experience and project is the research he is most proud of. “It takes a long term commitment – it tests your sanity and I asked the question ‘Why am I doing this?’ many times. But in the end, the hard work paid off,” he says. “My research topic was actually given to me, I had no choice. I was sceptical about enhancement of shoeprints as a topic and my preference would have been analysis of drugs or fire accelerants. However after a few months I started to enjoy the research topic and I got really motivated,” he explains. The forensic community has accepted that the work was robust and that the methods are valid. Being published in a scientific journal is no easy feat, as your work needs to be reviewed by other scientists before publication. “My research showed that it is possible to get suitable enhancement and recovery even from a problematic surface such as fabric.”
Dr Farrugia also had the opportunity to present his findings during an FBI conference. “This was another amazing experience – it was organised by the FBI and the National Institute of Justice in the USA. I was able to meet other experts in the field, people whose names I had previously come across in journal papers.”
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The use of a reagent called luminol that reacts with blood to give off blue light. Before the application of this chemical, nothing could be seen.
"Shows like CSI make people think that forensics is glamorous. It is not – it is dirty and takes a lot of time and effort"
vida.com.mt Issue 39 March 2013
Maria Muscat Mosta
Now that the dust has settled on last month’s General Election, it is time for the newly elected Government to start looking towards the future, and focusing on the implementation of all that was promised during the electoral campaign. I find it difficult to understand the faith displayed by the vast amounts of people that went out to celebrate the Labour Party’s victory. In Malta, it seems we will take any possible excuse to hit the streets and party, and this is what I suspect happened (and always happens). General Elections are made to seem like some sporting championship; with all the revelry one often finds when a supported team wins a prestigious cup. I am not against car-cading and playing the fool as such – after all, I will be the first to let off a few fireworks from the roof when my bills are drastically reduced and my children are given free tablets. Till then, I’m not holding my breath, and I’m certainly a little more cautious about my celebrations. Jeremy Attard
Beware the potholes Dear Editor, I know a lot has been written about the state of Malta’s roads, but on reading Joe Anastasi’s entertaining article ‘Motoring a la Maltaise’ last month, I couldn’t help but be reminded. What’s more, a few weeks ago, my car had to undergo one more in a series of trips to the mechanic due to wear and tear, largely because of the dreadful state of our roads. This time, it was the radiator that needed to be replaced. It had a large crack in it from which radiator fluid was leaking – the result, according to the mechanic, of hitting a particularly hefty pothole. I have large potholes on my normal routes memorised so as to be able to avoid them, but one can’t always avoid every bump – there are just so many of them! And what of the new ones that regularly appear after a storm, often unseen because they are filled with water? Who is responsible for this? How much money do I have to fork out in taxes and mechanic’s bills before the state of Malta’s roads resembles anything remotely close to what is required by European standards? C. Mangion
• What’s your idea? • What would you recommend? • What’s bugging you?
Share your views with the nation
Send your letters, questions to the experts and suggestions to The Editor, VIDA Magazine, Pitkali Road, Attard, ATD 2214, or by email on yoursay@vida.com.mt
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updates Not for profit
Maltese voluntary organisations
Youth Alive Foundation
It all began… in 1996 as a youth group within Sacro Cuor parish in Sliema. The group underwent profound preparation and formation based on Franciscan spirituality until 2007, when the group was established as a foundation, with its centre Dar Frate Jacoba situated in Marsascala. Our mission is… the formation of youth through active participation in the wider community, based on the Word of God and Franciscan Spirituality. This is achieved by offering youth with various social needs an environment in which they can live as full a life as possible; promoting the development of self-help and cooperation; providing the opportunity to assist people with various social problems; making youth aware that every human being is created in the likeness of God and must be treated thus; providing an open community experience for both lay and religious, with the aim of renewing one’ s own spiritual quest and vocation; offering opportunities for counselling, spiritual direction, lectio divina, spirituality courses, retreats and pilgrimages; and doing anything that is conducive or ancillary to the attainment of the aims of the Foundation. Our enemies are... the lack of simplicity: we try to simplify and adapt ourselves to the reality of the moment, without expecting to have anything beyond our reach; expecting an immediate change of attitude in our youths just for the sake of it; identifying our residents with their limitations; expecting to achieve more than one is capable of achieving; lack of understanding, apathy and indifference. We have… an old farmhouse where the Dar Frate Jacoba residing community practice permaculture. The concept of permaculture is considered condusive in creating the environment in which the principle aims of the Foundation are reached. This will be of benefit to it and all those that have direct experience with it, and also implements a mentality that is in favour of the environment and the sustainable use of its resources. Our greatest achievements are… people who have sought our services and have been a success. Youths that were labelled as social cases have managed to reintegrate into society and live a complete life. This is the same for volunteers and families who have found support and spiritual direction. Our current projects include… an extension of a new residence catering for 16 youths, which we applied for in 2010 due to high demand and limited placements. The project consists of a basement, a semi-basement and another floor with 11 bedrooms. All this has been approved by MEPA and will cost more than €200,000. Anyone interested in joining our cause is encouraged to register his or her pledge with the Foundation. T: 2099 5249 W: www.youth-alive.net
E: youthalivefoundation@gmail.com Know of a local voluntary organisation that could use the recognition? Contact the editor on editor@vida.com.mt
The top 10
Last year, millions of reviewers voted for the 25 best destinations in the world, via the world’s largest travel site, Trip Advisor. Here are the ones that made it into the top 10. How many are you familiar with? Or better yet, how many have you been to? Do you agree?
1. London, United Kingdom London is a true cosmopolitan city. Major places of interest include the Tower of London and the British Museum. Also consider a ferry ride along the River Thames and a bird’s eye view from the London Eye on clear days. 2. New York City, New York Who hasn’t been dazzled by the bright lights of New York City on television? Experiencing the city first hand is a different ball game. Places of interest include the Empire State Building, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park. 3. Rome, Italy Rome ranks due to its vast history, evident in aweinspiring historical sites like the Colosseum and magnificent mix of classical art and architecture. When there, make sure you factor in a visit to Trevi Fountain and the Roman Curia. 4. Paris, France The city of love comes as no surprise. The major sites have become common knowledge, so it’s easy to imagine the exhilaration when seeing the famed Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame in person. 5. San Francisco, California If it’s just half as beautiful as Scott McKenzie’s popular song, San Francisco is surely worth a visit. Take no notice of the fog and be sure to explore Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, the Ferry Building Marketplace and Mission District.
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6. Marrakech, Morocco Marrakech provides a sensory overload, but smell is perhaps the most lingering sensation. Breathe in the thick aroma of spices as you wind through Medina, visiting Ali Ben Youssef Medersa and Maison de la Photographie as you go. 7. Istanbul, Turkey Due to its position between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a melting pot of cultures. Places of interest in this vibrant city include the Hagia Sophia Museum/Church (Ayasofya) and the Sultanahmet District. 8. Barcelona, Spain Barcelona’s uniquely contrasting medieval buildings and Anton Gaudi’s fantastical architecture is inspiring, and your itinerary wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Church of the Sacred Family, Guell Park and Montserrat. 9. Siem Reap, Cambodia Touristic Siem Reap is popular with travellers mainly due to its proximity with Angkor Archaeological Park. Visitors should factor in a trip to Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple and Ta Prohm. 10. Berlin, Germany Berlin is another city in which history seamlessly meets modernity. From Baroque palaces to WWII-related sites, the city is teeming with things to do and places to see. Don’t miss the Pergamon Museum, Berlin Wall and Gendarmenmarkt.
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column Shouting from the Hili Top
You may have seen him on stage, heard him on the radio, or laughed at his lack of colour-coordination (he’s the one walking down the street with the orange shorts and pink shirt). He is loud, hairy, controversial and… well… different! He is Steve Hili and he is writing for VIDA.
Post haste
I have just received a letter. Not an email, or an sms. A letter! A real, bona fide letter! It all happened so suddenly. I was trying to think of something cool and intelligent yet succinct to write on my Facebook wall (I eventually went for: Q - What is orange and flies through space? A - A super carrot), when all of a sudden I heard one of my favourite sounds – the letterbox flap! I shot up from my desk like Usain Bolt (if Usain Bolt had been sitting at a desk writing a gag about a carrot in space and then suddenly heard the letterbox flap) and ran downstairs. Half way down the stairs I started to slow down. I was having a reality check. Not about the joke of course, I was well aware that it was genius – but about the situation. You see, even though the postman (and this is not just an assumption – he is a man, I know because I asked him) does cause me copious amounts of jumping-up-from-my-desk excitement at least a few times a month, I am in fact most of the time disappointed by him. It is not his fault of course (and I know this, although it does not stop me sulking at him on occasion) but I rarely find anything exciting in my letterbox. Okay, there is this incredible magazine that I receive once a month that always has these hilarious articles written by a dreadlocked dude, but apart from that... not much. Bills, leaflets proclaiming great deals on beach gear (in November) and the occasional bank statement drenched in tears (after I have read it), and... well that’s about it. Except for election time that is, when he brings me daily pictures of the candidates in my district... I put together an album.
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This time however, something was different. It was an envelope. Addressed to me. And the words on the front were (get this!) written, not typed! Oh my! This had to be a letter. Someone had actually taken the time to write to me. And not just in the lets-get-this-done-quick manner of the twenty first century. Noooo. This person took his (or her) time. This person bought a stamp. They had invested in our communication. I was obviously important enough for this person to shun modern technology and use the tried and trusted method – a system of well-trained professionals – to get this essential message to me. What a moment. I was determined to enjoy it. I felt the envelope. I examined the postmark. I even sniffed the stamp (although even by my standards, that felt a bit weird). I made myself a cup of tea (herbal of course, I didn’t want to go too crazy) and sat down. Then I stood up, got a knife from the drawer and sat down again. I slid the knife underneath the exquisite triangle at the back of the envelope and slowly, deliberately, opened it. Inside was a folded piece of paper. I pulled it out. I unfolded it. It was indeed a letter. It informed me that I needed to renew my DVD store membership, and asked if I could please give them an email address for future correspondence. Wow. The power of the post. There is, I feel, little else to add.
health
Insomnia Types of insomnia • Short term insomnia – a temporary form of insomnia which practically everyone experiences at some point in their life, for instance, the night before an exam, dealing with the loss of a loved one or experiencing financial or personal problems. Once the trouble is resolved, insomnia generally disappears. • Primary insomnia – lack of sleep that is not related to any health problems. • Secondary insomnia – due to underlying health conditions such as depression, bipolar disease, anxiety or psychotic disorders, heartburn, sleep apnea, arthritis, respiratory diseases such as asthma and restless leg syndrome amongst others. Naps or inconsistent sleep schedules also often lead to insomnia. Insomnia also differs in how frequently it occurs and how long it lasts: • Acute insomnia lasts from one night to a few weeks. There can also be periods between episodes of insomnia when one has no sleeping difficulties. • Chronic insomnia occurs at least three nights a week for a month or longer. When to seek treatment
What is insomnia? Insomnia occurs when one finds it difficult to fall asleep, wakes up several times during the night or earlier than desired in the morning and is unable to get back to sleep. Who is at risk? Insomnia tends to occur more in women than in men. Those more at risk include pregnant women, the elderly, women during menopause, travellers, shift workers, young adult students and alcoholics.
One has to seek treatment when insomnia interferes with dayto-day activities and their ability to function. The underlying situation, medical condition or psychological problem needs to be tackled first. Did you know? • Avoiding caffeine in tea and coffee and nicotine and alcohol late in the day will help you sleep better. • Regular exercise helps you sleep, but avoid exercising close to bedtime, as it may stimulate you and make it hard to fall asleep. • The normal amount of sleep varies; school-aged children and teenagers need about 10-11 hours per night, while adults (over 18 years of age) need about 7-9 hours per night.
Symptoms of insomnia • tiredness and lack of energy • irritability • poor social interaction • lack of concentration • memory problems • motor incoordination
References: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/insomnia-symptoms-and-causes?page=1 http://www.emedicinehealth.com/insomnia/article_em.htm http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/how-many-hours-of-sleep-are-enough/AN01487 http://library.thinkquest.org/25553/english/difficult/insomnia/index.shtml All viewed on 11th February, 2013
Text Reviewed by: Dr Joseph R Saliba FRCPsyc
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real life
My thing Diana Castillo’s love of Barbies, unlike most, didn’t cease as she grew from girl to woman. The proud owner of a handsome collection of dolls, she reveals just how special they are to her.
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’ve always been a Barbie freak. From the moment I received my first Barbie (and it was from the collection called ‘My First Barbie’) for my sixth birthday, I was intrigued. How fascinating it was to have a miniature fashion model to dress up and act out all of my princess fantasies with! Of course, things got a bit more complicated when Barbie was introduced to Ken, and Ken was subsequently introduced to another three Barbies, which lead to numerous fits of jealousy and fights between themselves – just like in mum’s soap operas. I’m now 38, a family woman with no want for silly dolls, unless of course, they are Barbies. Yes, I am indeed still a Barbie freak. I still have my first Barbie, as well as Ken and his girlfriends on the side. They have pulled-out hair and visible root holes, nail polish on their lips, biro on their eyes, hair which is, if not cut in spikes in original punkstyle, burnt at the ends with hours of non-stop brushing and pulling with rubber bands, and chewed feet and hands. When I was young, my grandmother and mother alike used to spend hours knitting and sewing, creating new outfits for Barbie’s enjoyment (and mine). However, I always wanted to take my collection a step further. With the advent of the Internet, I learnt about Barbie Collectibles – an assortment of Barbie reproductions, artists’ collections, designer sets, pop culture references and my favourite, fantasy collections. I went nuts!
I became six years old again, scouring the entire website, drooling over the elaborate costumes and beautiful faces, until I made a wish list of over 30. One by one, I bought them all. Today, I am the proud owner of a varied collection of Barbies which features the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Cher, Betty Boop, Marie Antoinette, a few national costumes, reproductions, plenty of fantasy, and even a bride. However, my greatest achievement within my collection is finding the very expensive and very elusive Pink Splendor, which is my ultimate favourite. I keep her tenderly packaged in her box – I’m afraid to even touch her, as she is so precious! One day, I know I will have to display her, if only because my daughter keeps begging me to! Like all collections, mine takes time, patience and of course, money. In fact, some of the Barbie Collectibles I own are worth ten times as much as they cost when I first bought them! Sometimes, when my family is hard up on money, I get a fleeting thought of selling a couple of them, but whenever I walk past the display, I seem to feel sixty eyes looking at me, some imploring, some angry, until I have to dispel the thought from my head – then they’re all smiles again! I can never sell them. You see, every single Barbie I own is a treasure to me. A little slice of nostalgic heaven, right here in my house.
Do you, or someone you know, have a treasured ‘thing’? Send us your suggestion to My Thing, VIDA Magazine, Pitkali Road, Attard, ATD 2214 or by email to yoursay@vida.com.mt for a chance to showcase the item that means most to you – we’d love to hear about it!
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special feature
Helping children in need E
ric* and Maria* have been married for 10 years, and have three children, Miguel* eight, Elisa* six and Chris* two years old. Coping with three children is difficult both in terms of general parenting as well as financially. In fact, Maria chose to stay home to look after their children. Recently, Eric fell ill and had to stop working. This affected the family in a very negative way, as they had no other source of income to rely on or any other form of support from their respective families. Their three children, though still young, started experiencing distress due to the family’s situation. Miguel was having problems at school and was finding it difficult to keep up with other children his age. Elisa was exhibiting very challenging behaviour, with which her parents could no longer cope. After using up all of their savings and becoming dependent on social benefits, they struggled to buy essential items for their children such as educational material, uniforms, clothes and even food and nappies for Chris. Eric and Maria referred to A ġenzija Appoġġ for further assistance, and Miguel and Elisa started receiving the support of Appoġġ social workers. Amongst various interventions with the family, their social worker referred them to the Appoġġ Children’s Fund. The Children’s Fund provides assistance in situations where children need material support immediately, which their carers are unable to cater for. This is particularly so in situations where children require food, clothing, medication, uniforms, books, payment for a school outing or project, sportswear, urgent visits to a medical consultant or any specialised treatment. With the aid of the Children’s Fund, the social workers helped Eric and Maria’s family buy necessities like food, nappies and educational material. Moreover, Miguel had always wished to practise football, but his family couldn’t afford to buy the required clothing, so the Children’s Fund accepted to help in this regard as well. Today, Miguel is still practising football, which his parents describe as being very fruitful. Eric is gradually recovering from his illness, and after attending a training course he has managed to find a part-time job that is appropriate for his condition. This has eased some of the financial difficulties the family was facing. Thanks to the Children’s Fund and Aġenzija Appoġġ, things are looking up for the family.
About the Appoġġ Children’s Fund The Appoġġ Children’s Fund helps various children like Miguel, Elisa and Chris. This service reaches vulnerable children who are benefiting from any service offered by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (of which Aġenzija Appoġġ is part of, together with Aġenzija Sapport and Aġenzija Sedqa). The Appoġġ Children’s Fund started 10 years ago on a voluntary basis by a group of workers from Aġenzija Appoġġ. A number of employees from Aġenzija Appoġġ have voluntarily formed a Fundraising Committee, and together they organise various fundraising activities to support this fund. These activities vary from cake sales, car wash marathons, and activities for families and staff members, amongst others. Other funds are collected through donations provided by private organisations and members of the general public, to help children in need. Appoġġ Children’s Fund is now also accepting donations from persons/entities celebrating an event, such as weddings, for which small gifts are provided for the guests in return. For more information about the Children’s Fund one can visit www.appogg.gov.mt. Persons and companies interested in helping the Appoġġ Children’s Fund by volunteering to support it in its initiatives or organising fundraising events, may call the Agency on 2295 9000. Donations can also be made through a bank transfer to the HSBC account 089059745003.
Upcoming events Come meet us and give your donation during our April events! We will be organising a car wash on Sunday April 21st near Mosta’s Parish Church between 08:00 and 13:00. Another activity will be organised at Daniel’s Shopping Complex in Ħamrun on Saturday April 27th between 13:00 and 20:00. See you there! *Names have been changed
Article provided by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services
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people
You are what you eat I
t’s all about “good, clean and fair food for all.” ‘Good’ means a fresh and flavoursome seasonal diet that satisfies the senses. Clean refers to food production and consumption that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health, whilst fair means reasonable prices for consumers and honest conditions and pay for small-scale producers. Jane Vella meets Slow Food Movement (Malta) member Caroline Navarro, to learn more about this organisation with supporters in 150 countries around the world, who are linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their community and the environment.
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people A non-profit member-supported association, Slow Food was founded in 1989 to counter the rise of fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. “We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to the pleasure of good food and consequently, the responsibility to protect the heritage of food, tradition and culture that make this pleasure possible,” says Caroline. “The Movement believes in the concept of neo-gastronomy – recognition of the strong connection between plate, planet, people and culture.” Caroline explains that the various initiatives organised by the Movement have been well received by both adults and children with participation being high, especially during food preparation events. “School children have been a main focus for us as we are conscious of the growing obesity rate and realise how important it is to have a healthy younger generation. Children can in turn teach their parents about making healthier food choices, which could be a very effective way of changing a nation’s eating habits,” she says. “Slow Food’s target is to teach those who are interested to respect healthy, seasonal and traditional foods. This is one way of preserving our food heritage,” adds Caroline. “I believe the Maltese people are slowly becoming more conscious about where their food comes from and many are trying to go back to basics.” In Malta, the Slow Food Movement has only been around since 2009, however in this short time it has held a number of activities to promote its "Kitchen gardens beliefs. “Slow Food was formally launched with a Nineteenth Century Peasant Meal at in schools and the Institute of Tourism Studies in Pembroke. public spaces The menu was prepared by the Convivium should definitely be Leader Prof Carmel Cassar.”
encouraged"
Caroline explains that as Head of Activities, she has organised Terra Madre Day at the MCAST Agribusiness Institute held last year, and also participated in the MCAST Agribusiness Open Weekend. “Slow Food Malta’s presence during the Open Weekend celebrations was very successful, primarily in creating good relations between the institute and the movement, as both hold similar philosophies about food, how it is grown, animal welfare, food education and essentially a better planet,” she says. “At this event we also worked towards reviving the traditional Black Maltese chicken through a dish my colleague Ilaria De Luca and I prepared.” During Terra Madre Day, MCAST staff and students were invited to enjoy a hearty vegetable soup followed by ‘Frejjeġ tat-Tarja’. “The focus of this event was to teach students about the value of traditional recipes and therefore to revive this simple dish that has over the years lost its popularity to more complicated and less healthy dishes,” explains Caroline.
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people Terra Madre Day has been organised by Slow Food Malta since 2009. It is the most important day for the movement, as over 1,000 events take place in 120 countries. In Malta, it has been held at the Institute for Tourism Studies in Pembroke, the Verdala International School and Maria Regina School for Boys. Particular topics were covered at each Terra Madre Day, including the value and appreciation of olive oil, Maltese winter food and sweets, and Mediterranean herbs. I ask Caroline what more can be done to increase food education and promote healthy food choices. “A stronger presence in schools could be the way forward. By having food education as part of the curriculum, youngsters could have the opportunity to grow their own vegetables and learn to cook and enjoy them. Kitchen gardens in schools and public spaces should definitely be encouraged. Another plan for the future is to work closer with producers to restore a better link between the pleasure of good food and a commitment to the community "Activities in the and the environment.”
pipeline include bread-making from Sicilian wheat"
The movement is also working to strengthen its links with other entities. It is linked with the Institute of Tourism Travel and Culture at the University of Malta as well as a new Mediterranean Culinary Culture Programme, chaired by Prof Cassar, which has recently been set up. Slow Food Movement Malta has participated in international fairs such as the Salone Del Gusto. “As many as 1000 exhibitors promoting their products from 100 countries come together in one of the largest international organic food fairs in the world taking place in Torino, Italy in October,” says Caroline. “Activities consist of cooking demonstrations, tastings, debates and discussions on food education worldwide. We are at present working towards attracting our local producers to participate in this fair.” Activities in the pipeline include bread-making from Sicilian wheat, once the weather gets a little warmer. “The idea behind the event is to use Sicilian flour that we once used before the British settled and imported bread flour from elsewhere,” explains Caroline. The event will include an introduction on the grain and bread-making, a walk through the olive groves followed by a demonstration on bread-making and a tasting. One will be able to compare a loaf of nowadays with a loaf made from Sicilian durum wheat as was customary until the early British period. Those interested in learning more about the Slow Food Movement can look up their page on Facebook.
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The nightmare of packing Your travel beauty essentials
Diandra Mattei is a London trained makeup artist and beauty therapist with 10 years of experience. She has worked on local and foreign projects and with various publications.
P
acking our bags for a holiday is always a headache for us women. We want to make sure we have everything with us, but always complain about not having enough space. In reality though, we generally come back home to realise we haven’t used a quarter of the things we packed and oh-so-needed. Preparation is key when it comes to great holiday planning, but you want to pack the least amount of things possible, especially with the weight restrictions on many airlines. My first piece of advice is to try to squeeze in some beauty treatments a couple of days before leaving. With a little clever planning, you can save less time grooming and have more time to have fun when you’re away. Start off with a Gelish or Orly Gel FX manicure and pedicure, which consist of gel-based nail polish, cured under a UV light. This lasts up to three weeks for a manicure and two months for a pedicure. I’d consider this essential when travelling, as you wouldn’t need to pack any nail polish or remover – you’re all set to go. Make sure you visit your beauty therapist for eyebrow shaping beforehand too. Get groomed and you won’t have to worry about those little stray hairs. If you’re going to be in a hot climate, consider getting your eyelashes tinted. This lasts up to six weeks and you won’t need to worry about applying mascara. If you plan on keeping your makeup in your hand luggage, remember not to carry liquids that exceed 100ml as they will be confiscated – customs just won’t understand how you cannot live without them! After everything is packed, have a safe flight, kick back and relax… you deserve it!
Your travel makeup bag Foundation. Having a flawless complexion is always important to me, so a compact foundation is the first product I chuck into my makeup case. I like using compact foundation as it’s easy to apply with a sponge and ready to use when you’re on the go. Bronzer. You can never go wrong with bronzer. Having a sun kissed glow is just enough, especially when you’re busy sipping cocktails at the beach. Waterproof eyeliner and mascara. These are easily applied once and will last all day. Lipstick. It would be great to be able to match your lipstick with each outfit, but taking a neutral colour for a daytime look and a brighter colour for the evening is more than enough. You can also find long lasting lipsticks and lipgloss (2-in-1). Toiletries. After a long day we need to cleanse and moisturise, and most brands now come in travel sizes. Alternatively, you can also buy refill travel-size bottles from a pharmacy and fill them with your own cleanser, shampoo and conditioner (most hotels cater for that but we always prefer our own, don’t we?).
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travel
A lit tle piece of heaven
Welcome to the Seychelles by Sarah Micallef
A
quick Google search of the Seychelles islands will undoubtedly conjure up beautiful images of endless beaches destined for desktop screensavers everywhere. Upon my visit to the islands courtesy of SMSMondial, Emirates Airlines and the Seychelles Tourism Board however, I discovered just how much more the Seychelles truly has to offer. From nature trails into the awe-inspiring landscape that is rightly treated as a national treasure, to tasty local delicacies and the island’s characteristic Coco de Mer fruit (around which lies many a tale) – the Seychelles islands are more than ad campaign-worthy turquoise blue waters and fine white sand. Stepping off the plane in Mahé, into what must be the smallest airport I’ve ever been to, the humidity is the first thing to hit. Temperatures in the Seychelles never veer lower than 24°C, which is great news for warm weather lovers like me. The locals, known as Seychellois, are friendly, knowledgeable and understandably proud of their home. My travel companions and I were treated like royalty throughout our stay, often welcomed with a chilled towelette and refreshing lemongrass tea that became an instant favourite among the party. During our visit toward the end of January, the locals were busy with carnival preparations for the upcoming Carnival de Victoria, held in their capital city. The yearly event is quite a spectacle, and should definitely be factored in if you’re planning to travel toward the beginning of the year. The main activities that attract holiday makers to the Seychelles range from destination weddings and honeymoons, diving and snorkelling trips, spa retreats and golfing tours to conferences – and looking at my surroundings while travelling around Mahé (the largest of the islands), it’s easy to see why.
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"It was here that I experienced swimming alongside a large sea turtle – one of the many that swim up to the Seychelles shores to lay their eggs" Being largely uninhabited up until the mid 1700s, the vast majority of the Seychelles islands is still made up of virgin land that is protected by law. One of our guides, Maxwell, displayed just how seriously the locals take the wellbeing of their natural landscape, explaining that in order to chop down just one tree, permission must be acquired from the local authorities. This permission is generally only granted if the tree in question is posing some sort of hazard to its surroundings. In this way, the lush vegetation that sweeps across vast planes of the islands remains intact, maintaining the Seychelles’ place as one of the major biodiversity hotspots on the planet. About half the size of Malta and with a population of just 80,000 (that’s less than a quarter of ours), Mahé is the largest of the Seychelles islands, and is where we stayed for the first few days of our trip. My companions and I stayed at a different resort every evening, which enabled us to get a true feel of what the islands have to offer. One of my favourites was the Constance Ephélia – a sprawling five star hotel set across two beautiful beaches and made up of junior and deluxe suites and family, beach, spa and hillside villas. Here, as I sat by our villa’s private pool with a glass of champagne in hand, I experienced a sense of luxury the like of which I had not previously experienced, and am not likely to experience again in a hurry. The second phase of our trip had us waking up early to board the Cat Cocos ferry to Praslin – the second largest island in the Seychelles. During our short stay in Praslin, we got in touch with nature via a visit to UNESCO World Heritage Site Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve. Within this 19.5 ha area of palm forest which remains largely unchanged since prehistoric times, we were able to see a great deal of typical Coco de Mer palms and fruit – the likeness of which having been recreated everywhere from key chain souveneirs to the ferry’s carpet!
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travel
Having mustered up quite an appetite during our nature trekking, we set off for lunch at a quaint restaurant on one of Praslin’s beautiful beaches for a taste of local food. Traditional cuisine of the Seychelles comprises mostly of curries and grilled fish, often accompanied by the fluffiest long grain rice and (ideally) an expertly mixed cocktail. On this occasion, we kept to tradition, but visiting a new place calls for being a little adventurous too, so whereas I didn’t get the opportunity to sample fruit bat (another local specialty), I did manage to taste a flavourful shark fin stew on my visit. Amid jokes that if I ever were to get attacked by a shark it would be out of revenge, the stew proved very tasty, with the meat having a similar consistency to octopus. We concluded our stay in the Seychelles islands with a day trip to the island of La Digue, which, though small, possesses a distinct kind of character and charm that will leave you wanting more. It is recommended that you see La Digue by bicycle or opentop truck – we opted for the latter. We spent most of the day being shown around the island by our wonderfully helpful guide Rondy, who led us through a thicket to one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever laid eyes upon. Mostly deserted and only accessible on foot from whence we came, the Petit Anse is ranked among the world’s best beaches, and rightly so. It was here that I experienced swimming alongside a large sea turtle – one of the many that swim up to the Seychelles shores to lay their eggs. The experience is up there in my list of treasured memories. As our time in the Seychelles drew to an end, I made a mental note to visit again, at least once in my lifetime. The Seychelles islands are the perfect place to relax and unwind, boasting an air of exclusivity that is difficult to emulate. What’s more, as is often the case with smaller islands, the Seychellois seem to run on ‘island time’ – an endearing quality that means five minutes could mean absolutely anything. This would be impossible at home, but if you’re looking to escape your daily routine, kick your timetable to the curb and lose yourself in another world, I recommend visiting the Seychelles – another world, truly a little piece of heaven.
Seychelles fact file • The Republic of Seychelles spans an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some 1,500 kilometres east of mainland Africa. • Pirates occasionally used the islands until the French took control in 1756 when Captain Nicholas Morphey laid a Stone of Possession. The islands were named after Jean Moreau de Séchelles, Louis XV’s Minister of Finance. • French and English are the official languages of the Seychelles, along with Seychellois Creole, which is primarily based upon French. • According to the 2002 census, most Seychellois are Christians: 82.3% are Roman Catholic, 6.4% are Anglican, and 4.5% are of other Christian denominations. • The Seychelles is home to about 75 endemic plant species. Particularly well known is the Coco de Mer, a species of palm that grows only on the islands of Praslin and neighbouring Curieuse. The Coco de Mer is nicknamed the ‘love nut’ because of the shape of its fruit, which, with the husk removed, presents a double coconut resembling a woman's buttocks. • The main natural resources of the Seychelles are fish, copra, cinnamon, coconuts, salt and iron.
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Stopover in Dubai Before heading home, we had a quick stopover in Dubai, which I would recommend if you can afford to postpone going home a little bit longer. Travelling to the Seychelles with Emirates means going through the cosmopolitan metropolis that is Dubai, and once there, it’s certainly worth staying a couple of days. Take a trip to the top of the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world, and if you have the guts, look down. Visit the Dubai Mall for the ultimate shopping experience and learn about Dubai’s history by taking a trip down to the creek to visit the spice and gold souks.
For more information about the Seychelles, contact SMSMondial on 21232211 or visit one of their branches in Valletta, Hamrun, Paola, Birkirkara, Sliema and Rabat (Gozo).
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travel
The road less travelled Sacrificing the comforts of home to really make a difference by Andrew Galea Debono LLD MA (Human Rights and Project Management)
"I saw the very worst of India and yet fell in love with the spirit with which people faced life and death, the way they smiled even when they had nothing and the thousands of years of history that you can still feel a connection to."
J
oseph Conrad once wrote that there is nothing more futile than a mere adventurer. I read this when I was barely 20 years old on a cargo ship crossing the Baltic Sea from Helsinki to Gdansk, and it struck me. I was at an age when I was starting to discover what I really wanted to do in life. Being right in the middle of an adventure for the sake of it, this quote got me thinking. It may have been destiny that got this book in my hands on a ship full of truck drivers who could not speak a word of English. One of these truck drivers would eventually drive me across Poland and into the Czech Republic, leaving me in Prague at dawn, saying good bye and disappearing from my life as so many people crossing my path during my travels have done. Travelling leaves many wonderful memories and teaches important lessons, but since learning and growing are an essential part of the travel, I realised that I wanted to do more than see things. I wanted to interact with my surroundings and make a difference.
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Bird's eye view of an Indian family
travel A couple of years later, after working as a waiter in the US for a few months, I found myself in a frozen South Dakota, where I met three Native Americans. “I am from a family of warriors,” one of them told me. “When I went to fight in the Vietnam War, all they asked me to do was put dead bodies into body bags,” he said – words of a warrior whose dignity had been shattered by marginalisation. Some of the lands these people lived on had little access to electricity, making life difficult in such freezing temperatures. They had long resorted to alcohol to forget the life they were forced to live. It shocked me to see this within one of the world’s most powerful countries. After eventually making my way across the USA and ending up in Florida, I became friends with a homeless man, who had abandoned society by choice. One day he told me: “We live in Paradise but we haven’t figured it out yet”. It was apt that he happened to be not too far from the grave of Ernest Hemmingway in Key West, he who wrote that the world is a wonderful place worth fighting for. Some time later, when writing the thesis for my law course, and whilst most people quoted famous authors and fancy sources, I quoted my homeless friend and dedicated the thesis to ‘the lost warriors in South Dakota’. They had taught me a lot, and I wanted to use my profession to make a difference for people like them. But how? Another year and another chance encounter, this time in Sweden where I was specialising in international law, would provide the answer – a beautiful French girl of Moroccan origin who stole my heart and opened my eyes. She too had grown up marginalised, not accepted both by the French society she was born into nor the traditional Moroccan society she had left behind. Her dream was to specialise in human rights and defend the rights of people who were going through the same experiences. Thanks to her, I found a branch of the law that made sense to me. After specialising in human rights, I wanted to find a cause which I could dedicate myself to, and realised that the biggest challenge at the time was in Malta itself. Working with refugees in detention, I got to meet people from far off places and learn about their countries, traditions and troubles. These men and women were forgotten by the world, and society did not look well upon those who helped them. I had a choice: work that was popular or work that meant something to me. I chose the latter and never regretted it, depsite the difficulties that came with it. Through this work, I met good people going through a tough time and recalled the marginalised Native Americans I had met years before. By working with conviciton and integrity, I earned the respect of my colleagues, the authorities and, most importantly, the refugees themselves. Despite remaining in Malta, I felt like I was experiencing a different world every day. A country is not just land but also its people, and through my interaction with persons from all over Africa, I learned about countries like Sudan, Mali and Algeria. I never imagined that I would visit these places myself, but I eventually did. Still, a series of coincidences led me to work in India before going to Africa. Many people travel to India, but few see the India I saw. My experience there started a trend which permeated the rest of my career – that of wonder and horror co-existing in the same place; the very best and worst of humanity. Whilst in the beginning the horrors were overwhelming, in time I learnt to look at the beauty in the world to balance it out and justify trying to make a difference. I will never forget travelling on a rickshaw with a local man in the State of Gujarat. We were passing through an area of green hills, tranquility and natural beauty. He pointed to a spot and told me: “That is where my brother was killed. They put car tyres around him and burned him alive”. At the time, I was working with families of victims of brutal communal violence which saw over 2,000 Muslims massacred in a predominantly Hindu State. I saw the very worst of India and yet fell in love with the spirit with which people faced life and death, the way they smiled even when they had nothing and the thousands of years of history that you can still feel a connection to in magical places like Varanasi. Horror and beauty also struck me when entering south Sudan before it split into two countries, floating up the River Nile from Uganda on a tiny boat along with a few people, goats and a motorcycle. The nature surrounding us took my breath away until we came face-to-face with some very young men with machine guns once we crossed into Sudanese terroritory. This was a rebel-controlled part of the country
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travel and people were returning home after being in exile for years. Little huts called tukuls were sprouting all over the place and hope was starting to spring again. What was once a land full of wild animals was now strangely lifeless. Like the humans, they had fled to avoid getting killed by gun fire in the civil war. Very few had come back. You could still see the ruins of what was once the town hall, but the image I will never forget was a human skull half buried in the dirt – a terrible reminder of what war leaves behind. On the other hand there was the locals’ enthusiasm to rebuild their country, the hope of the children, and the building of schools, even if classes were given under trees for shade. There was talk of using the International Criminal Court for punishing war criminals, but my local colleagues told me that this made no sense in their culture – sending the guilty to some far off land to be judged by a person disconnected from their society was not justice that made any sense to them. There is a wonderful logic to this that is hard to fault.
Colombian Refugee Family
"What was once a land full of wild animals was now strangely lifeless. Like the humans, they had fled to avoid getting killed by gun fire in the civil war." I currently live in the Ecuadorian part of the Amazon jungle, close to the border with Colombia. The first time I came to Latin America in 2007, something struck me within the harsh realities of violence and displacement in Colombia. Despite witnessing the suffering of people forced to flee their homes in what is the biggest invisible war of our time, I fell in love with the country and its people. Colombia is one of the most stunning countries in the world. It has an intensity that few countries match and Colombian people have a spirit that I find inspiring. When the chance came to pack my bags and move to the Colombian border, I knew I needed to come back here. I was in south Algeria at the time, doing research on the situation of refugees stuck near the border with Mali. The winds of war were blowing from Northern Mali and it was only a matter of time till the conflict escalated. Many who had already been forced to flee their countries to look for safety in Algeria knew they might need to run away once again. The town of Tamanrasset was tough enough as it was without a war nearby. When in a place like Tamanrasset, in the heart of the Sahara desert and close to the border with Mali and Niger, you experience many emotions. The first is awe. I had been to the Sahara before and long been in love with its beauty, but never had I seen a place like this. High desert-mountains, extinct volcanoes and wild camels roaming freely – it feels like another planet, or a dream. But then you also pass military check points and camps, and witness the fear in the eyes of sub-Saharan migrants heading north hoping for a better life but afraid of what may lie ahead. The desert has killed and buried many people to be forgotten forever. It is hard to say whether nature or man is the biggest threat here. A few weeks later, whilst packing my bags for Ecuador, I found an old diary in which I had written a list of things I wished to do in the future. Working in Ecuador was one of them, apparently. When clearing out my backpack to start packing, I found just one thing at the bottom – a little coin from Ecuador from the last time I had been there in 2007. Since then, I had been all around the world... and yet there it was: this little coin, as if telling me that it was my destiny to return. Once again I ended up working in border towns and settlements so small and devoid of infrastructure that you can’t even define them as villages, like La Providencia within the Amazon jungle, along the San Miguel River. To
Marching for women's rights in the Amazon
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get there, you must drive off-road for three hours and canoe up the river for a further three. At times, the river is low due to the drought that has struck in recent times. When it’s too low, you must get out of the canoe and push whilst knee high in water and mud. All around are trees and birds. In the distance you can get a glimpse of the Andes Mountains. But you cannot take photos here. On the Colombian side of the river, amongst the thick vegetation, many eyes are watching. Members of the guerrilla group FARC and other illegal groups hide here and cultivate the coca plant (from which the drug is extracted). No one comes here unless they live or work here, and very few do. In this part of the world, you generally mind your own business unless you want to die. The guerrillas act very much like the Mafia or Camorra in Italy, only even more violent. If they once had political ideals, they seem long gone.
Travelling up the River Nile
A few more miles into the jungle on foot is La Providencia – a community of about 15 families of Afro-Colombians who were and forced to flee their country. The minority group of African descent in Colombia, once brought over for slavery, is one of the most persecuted groups in the country. These families fled with nothing, crossed the river and settled on the other side, hoping that being in Ecuador would save their lives. Fifteen years later, you can see semblance of a community. A few wooden structures, plantations of crops for self-consumption and a school built of stone with the support of a number of organisations. They still have no water or electricity, living too far from anywhere to get access. They get water from the nearby river and the rain they collect. Last year, Angelina Jolie visited them and actually landed by helicopter. The community has no clue who she was or what she wanted, but they still talk about her today... about the day that skinny gringo woman from the movies came down from the sky to visit them. Not much has changed in their lives since. Nevertheless, the little school, a government-provided teacher and a number of agricultural projects are helping them cope with life in the middle of nowhere.
"I ended up working in border towns and settlements so small and devoid of infrastructure that you can’t even define them as villages, like La Providencia within the Amazon jungle, along the San Miguel River. To get there, you must drive off-road for three hours and canoe up the river for a further three."
Sahara Desert in South Algeria
The path I chose was never the easiest or more obvious one, but I can’t imagine living life in any other way. In places like this, danger can come in all forms and comfort becomes a distant memory. Here, mosquitos can kill. Water can kill. There are snakes and wild animals, and illness is common. The sweltering heat is oppressive. And then of course, there are fellow human beings: armed bandits, guerrillas, paramilitaries. People say it’s their dream to come and work in a place like this – but many run back with their tail between their legs. There are also those who get used to living on the border between heaven and hell. Once you really open your eyes to the world as it really is, it’s hard to go back to any other life. Waiting for a Boat along the River Nile
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special report
Armed and loaded Firearms in Malta
D
ecember’s school tragedy in Connecticut, when a gunman shot dead 20 children and six teachers before killing himself, forced the United States to reflect on its lax gun laws. In Malta, we have over 85,000 registered arms. Do Maltese firearm regulations offer peace of mind? David Vella talks firearms regulations with Stephen A. Petroni, President of the Association of Maltese Arms Collectors and Shooters (AMACS) and Chairman of the Foundation for European Societies of Arms Collectors.
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special report Movies and the media portray guns as deadly weapons that give violent power to individuals with ill intentions. Firearms however, are also the pastime of many collectors, the essential tool of thousands of hunters as well as the equipment for many athletes who compete in sport shooting competitions. The best ever Olympic Games result by a Maltese athlete was in fact achieved in a sport shooting competition. Striking a balance between cutting down abuse, which can lead to tragic consequences, and facilitating the development of sport shooting and other acceptable uses of firearms is a delicate matter. Figures issued in Parliament in 2010 indicate that there are as many as 85,000 different arms in the Maltese Islands. Over 11,600 individuals are licenced to carry firearms outside their homes for hunting or target shooting purposes. With such figures in a country of 417,000 residents, One may easily draw the wrong conclusion that it’s not very difficult to obtain a firearm in Malta. Can firearms be bought over the counter, just like any other product? “Absolutely not,” maintains Stephen A. Petroni, a leading expert on weapons ownership and legislation. He explains that before approaching a vendor to acquire a weapon, one must first obtain a Target Shooter Licence or a Collector Licence. Then, the Police must transfer the firearm to the applicant’s name before it is physically collected from the seller.
"A hundred firearms in the possession of a trustworthy licensee is not a problem; one firearm in the hands of an unlicensed person represents a potential threat"
Obtaining a licence is a lengthy process. “The first step is enrollment in one of the licensed shooting or collectors’ clubs. The prospective applicant must attend a firearms safety course and assessment. The club will issue a Letter of Recommendation once it determines that the applicant qualifies to own a firearm. An application that includes this recommendation must then be submitted to the Police, and the applicant will then be called to an interview by the Government’s Weapons Board. The latter will assess the individual and give its recommendation to the Police. The Commissioner of Police has the final say.” The process may take up to six months depending on the probation period applied by the various clubs. At AMACS, new members are only green lighted for a licence once the association is entirely satisfied with their credentials, Mr Petroni adds. This normally requires a probation period of three months.
Are official figures of registered firearms indicative of the actual number available in Malta? “These figures include air guns, deactivated guns and pre-1900 arms as well as harpoons that are no longer subject to a licence. They are not firearms and they should be taken out of the equation. Once that is done, the per capita gun ownership figures are comparable to the EU average. However, do not lose sight of the fundamental principle in our law: ownership is based on the prior recognition and licensing of citizens as collectors or sports shooters. There is absolutely no parallel with the situation in the use where firearm ownership is a right rather than a privilege. A hundred firearms in the possession of a trustworthy licensee is not a problem; one firearm in the hands of an unlicensed person represents a potential threat.” So what can be done to rein in unlicensed gun owners? Should there be some sort of amnesty, to encourage owners of unregistered weapons to come forward and regularise themselves? Mr Petroni replies that such initiatives can only take place when the Police have sufficient resources and a supporting IT infrastructure to handle them. “Alternatively Malta can launch an ongoing programme aimed at bona fide owners who would like to come forward and register firearms that have remained off the radar.” Mr Petroni warns that excessively stringent regulations may not necessarily lead to a decrease in crimes involving firearms. “The notion that tighter control will cut down on the criminal use of firearms is absurd – illicit trade and ownership of firearms bear no links to licensed collectors and sport shooters. Criminals cannot be bothered with regulations and the firearms they use will understandably be obtained via unauthorised sources and unregistered. Facts and figures show that countries that adopted very harsh or prohibitory laws have only succeeded in victimising bona fide gun owners at the taxpayer’s expense whilst illicit arms traffic got a boost.” The current firearms legislation in Malta, the Arms Act2005 and the Arms Licensing Regulations, have been in force since 2006. They specify how licences are issued and how weapons should be registered. “Through these regulations, licensees are also obliged to ensure that no one other than they have access to their registered firearms. Schedule I and Schedule II firearms must be kept under lock and key and ammunition must be stored separately. Observance of these regulations helps to ensure that registered firearms do not fall into the wrong hands.” In March, Government introduced some changes to these regulations to facilitate the development of shooting sports. “These changes represent a natural evolution of the laws. The Weapons Board, which brings together Police and Army officials and representatives of related NGOs, proposed a number of refinements and concepts that now pave the way for Government to put Malta on the international sport
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special report shooting map. In fact the new administration is offered a unique opportunity to hit the ground running with its plan to have a National Shooting Range and exploit it to its maximum potential to attract sports tourism. This is only possible because one of these recent changes allows unlicensed shooters, local or foreign, to visit the range and practise target shooting under constant supervision after attending a compulsory briefing. Moreover, this possibility acts as a safety valve for persons who wish to experience sports shooting but do not wish to own a firearm and keep it at home with all the attendant security.” “Another important change is that individuals who are in a possession of both a Collector Licence A and a Target Shooter A may now use any Schedule II firearm they possess at the range. This allows licensees better use of their existing resources while granting them the possibility of experiencing various types of firearms including historical ones,” Mr Petroni further explains. AMACS aims to continue promoting the proper use of firearms among its members and the general public. “We guide aspiring target shooters through the process so that they may practise their sports safely and responsibly,” Mr Petroni says, “AMACS also promotes the academic collection of historic and vintage firearms and organises lectures and discussions. Above all we do our utmost to instill a deep-rooted sense of responsibility.”
“one of these recent changes allows unlicensed shooters, local or foreign, to visit the range and practise target shooting under constant supervision"
Knives and harpoons Until a few weeks ago, harpoon-fishing enthusiasts required a licence to own a harpoon. In fact, there are over 6,800 licensed harpoons in Malta that further inflate ownership figures. Similarly, anyone found in possession of large knives not registered in the same way as a firearm was also deemed to be breaking the law. The latest changes to the Weapons Act introduced last month remove these two obligations, meaning that no official permit is required to purchase these weapons. Mr Petroni explains that “harpoons and edged weapons such as knives are excluded from the EU Arms Directive and Malta was not obliged to include them in the Arms Act of 2005. However they found their way in as baggage of the former Arms Ordinance. Even kitchen cutlery was not spared. However in time the Police realised that they were a distraction from their core duties in keeping firearms records in order.”
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technology
Apps 2.0 by Rachel Agius
L
et’s be honest – smartphones are excellent boredom busters. If you’re waiting in a long queue or at a bus stop, there is no better way to wile away the minutes than the fast, portable and ever-present device you’ve come to depend on perhaps a little too much. And although you’ve convinced your employer to finance your phone so you could ‘keep up with work emails’, you secretly wanted it to play Angry Birds on at the office. Here are a few just-for-fun apps to keep you entertained and up to speed.
Games Angry Birds – Those pesky porcine thieves have been drawing avian retribution since 2009. The addictive physics-based game has seen several incarnations, including a Star Wars themed edition and one about the animated film Rio. The best part is that the developers regularly release new levels so the game is constantly evolving. It’s no wonder that this game has topped charts almost since its release. (Available for iPhone, iPad and Android; prices vary) Clash of Clans – This free game combines strategy, action and teamwork. Build a town, collect resources, and train troops so they can defend your land and attack others in search of loot and trophies. It involves a cooperative element as members of your clan show their support by donating troops to your cause. A great game with long-term playability, excellent animation and constant updates. (Available for iPhone and iPad; free)
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Words with Friends – Kind of like one-on-one Scrabble, this game was first developed as an application on Facebook. Its popularity lead to it being made into an app and has been a popular puzzler ever since. Aim for the highest score and the longest word to win against friends or random opponents. The prize? Self-respect and bragging rights. And maybe the discovery of a new word or two. (Available for iPhone, iPad and Android; free) 94 seconds – A fast-paced trivia game lasting, you guessed it, 94 seconds. You are given a letter of the alphabet and a category and you must come up with a verb or noun that begins with that letter, in that category. Sounds simple? It is. Maddeningly so. And with a handy timer ticking away your allotted time, it is terribly infuriating when you find you cannot think of a fruit whose name begins with A. (Available for iPhone, iPad and Android; free) Draw Something – This app quickly reveals who in your friends list has hidden artistic talents, and those who would do well to never draw anything ever again. You’re given one word, which you must draw in order for your partner to guess it. Like Pictionary for the electronic age, many a masterpiece has been archived on the Internet, making you marvel at how gifted others are and at how terrible your stickman turned out. Again. (Available for iPhone, iPad and Android; free)
technology Creativity
Fitness Instagram – Hailed as the hipster’s Facebook, Instagram lets you upload pictures and edit them using filters and fancy blur techniques. It also lets you share to other platforms like Facebook and Twitter and has the option to geotag your images. A must-have for the budding photographer, whether you’re a hipster or not. (Available for iPhone, iPad and Android; free)
Diptic – Some things are meant to go together: pen and paper, ham and cheese, popcorn and butter. This app lets you bring images together to form a sort of collage. It has a variety of different frames to choose from and lets you customise everything from the width of the borders to the brightness and contrast of each image. It also has built-in sharing capabilities so you can display your creation far and wide. (Available for iPhone, iPad and Android; €0.89c and €0.76c respectively) Gifboom – A picture is worth a thousand words but sometimes, you have more to say. This app lets you capture a small segment of video footage and edit it into a .gif, a looping animation. You can reverse the images, slow them down or speed them up, and then share across platforms. A whole new way to capture that crazy thing your cat did. (Available for iPhone, iPad and Android; free) PuddingCamera – The major downside to photography going mobile is the lens limitation. You cannot simply change out a new lens when you want a different effect. This app is the solution. You can choose from a number of different lens effects such as fisheye and panorama as well as several film effects for a new and interesting image every time. (Available for iPhone, iPad and Android; free) Action Movie – Who hasn’t occasionally dreamt of directing nuclear missiles at the interminable line of cars at rush hour? Or over the cubicle wall, at that colleague that won’t stop talking? Now you can! With a little movie magic, this app will turn any video clip into a special effects tour de force. Choose from car smashes, missile attacks and even rock slides to make your videos a blockbuster. (Available for iPhone, iPad and Android; free)
Runkeeper – A great app that will work with any type of exercise activity, even at the gym. Keep track of your time, distance and routes, share them with friends and teammates, and set goals for yourself. It also has a handy setting that lets you listen to progress notifications, such as kilometer or time intervals, even when you’re listening to music – useful if you’d like to know when you’ve broken your own record or hit a milestone while on the move. (Available for iPhone, iPad and Android; free) Gympact – We’re way out of January now and gym attendance has probably taken a nosedive, despite the New Year’s resolutions. This app will give you a reason to get off your couch and onto the cardio machines. You pledge an amount of money (yes, real money!) and if you miss out on gym visits, you lose that money. If you do make it to the treadmill, you win money from others who haven’t been as active. It takes into account both indoor and outdoor exercise and boasts a 90% success rate of targets reached among its users. (Available for iPhone, iPad and Android; free) Moves – Our phones are marvelous pieces of technology. This app puts to use the iPhone’s gyroscope, accelerometer and GPS capabilities to use, essentially turning an expensive, highly sophisticated machine into a pedometer. Despite the simplification, this app is both easy to use and motivating. It tells you how much you’ve exercised in the past week or month and even knows when you’re cycling or using motorised transport. It can help you visualise your daily physical activity, plan exercise sessions and see how far you are from the 10,000 steps a day ideal. (Available for iPhone and iPad; free)
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fashion
Street Style VIDA’s street style hunt this month yielded some fabulous winter warmers that kept their wearers warm and stylish all at the same time. Check out these street stylers’ pick of trendy coats and jackets.
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Jasmin Fahrenbruch, 26, Germany Scarf Galeries Lafayette Coat Morgan Bag Shop in Sweden Trousers Tally Weil Boots Shop in Sweden
Emeline Clement, 20, Belgium Scarf Six Jacket Esprit Bag Desigual Jeans Mim’s Shoes Shop in Belgium
Marie Neguiral, 21, France Jacket Sud Express Bag Comptoir des Cotonniers Jeans Zara Shoes Bocage
Mario Seoane, 31, Spain Jacket Matrix T-shirt Don't remember Jeans Pull & Bear Shoes Treton
Grazyna Gowin, 32, Poland Jacket Vero Moda Bag Ecological company Jeans Zara Boots Venezia
Christina Garcia Perez, 23, Spain Sunglasses Gucci Jacket Zara Bag & boots Zara Jeans Salsa
vida.com.mt Issue 40 April 2013
fashion
Neon Slowly getting over the fact that neon still somewhat reminds me of highlighted study notes at exam time, neon (thankfully) also screams summer rave parties and glow-in-the-dark paint. A pop of neon in your outfit will brighten up any day.
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3 1: River Island 2: Asos 3: Marc Jacobs
Label we Nana Kokaev Ok, so I’m bound to like this because it’s retro – sue me. Brazilian label Nana Kokaev’s fall 2013 collection really caught my eye this month, and not just because of the fluffy beehive and retro eyeliner flick… oh yeah, and there’s those chunky, drawn on eyebrows. Anyway, the clothes themselves made an equally lasting impression, thanks to a number of beautiful repetitive prints and clean lines – top marks!
vida.com.mt Issue 40 April 2013
The celebrity and hig
Ever since b on supermo Kate Moss f street giant celebrities l Rihanna len (in varying street collec street collab natural pro with celebr
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Fashion F
From a shop see why tea be benefici personal st as much as fans are bou emulate the possible. Fo celebrity co to publicity collections clearly insp and feature of a mixing materials fr Rihanna’s co I had the pl a recent trip pieces with that we hav with the sta
fashion
Fairground
Safari by Sarah Micallef
Have you ever longed to drive along the Serengeti in an open-top jeep, among lions, tigers and elephants? If you’ve got jungle fever, there’s only one thing for it (save actually going) – the urban explorer trend. Think khaki, animal print and palm fronds, all in the name of camouflage!
gh street collaboration
brand owner Phillip Green signed odel and household name for a collaboration with high t Topshop in 2007, we have seen like Kelly Brook, Lily Allen and nd their style and creative hand degrees, to be sure) to high ctions. Is the celebrity and high boration just the next step of a gression in a society obsessed rity?
p’s point of view, it is easy to aming up with a celebrity would ial. With celebrities dictating yle and fashion trends (almost) fashion houses themselves, their und to jump at the chance to eir look in the most direct way or the brand, little can match ollaboration when it comes y and promotion. Kate Moss’ for Topshop, for example, were pired by the model’s own style, ed pieces that were the result g and matching of shapes and rom her wardrobe. Similarly, ollection for River Island, which leasure of seeing first hand on p, features a number of jersey h the 90s-cum-modern aesthetic ve so readily come to associate ar.
What many in the fashion world remain somewhat sceptical about when it comes to the celebrity collaboration however, is just how much the stars themselves are involved in the design process. In an industry as difficult to break into as fashion, the press coverage and (instant?) success of a collection tied to a celebrity can seem unfair to the hardworking yet unknown designer. Indeed, the trend for a high street store to assign the design of a new collection to a celebrity may cause fashion designers to lose out on work. With some celebrity and high street collaborations proving to be unworthy of the hype surrounding them (Anna della Russo for H&M and the Kardashian Kollection for Sears (US) and Dorothy Perkins (UK) failed to meet expectations), the recipe for success may lie in the appropriate balance of inspiration and design. A successful collaborative collection should, at least in my view, allow the shop’s designers to do the designing for the most part (it is, after all, their job), rather than the celebs themselves, while allowing them to be inspired by the personal style of the celebrity collaborator. The celebrity in question would then be involved in nipping, tucking and final edits, allowing them to put their money-making stamp on it all.
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1: Boohoo 2: Kardashian Kollection @ Dorothy Perkins 3: River Island
Celebs Ombre hair Despite its technical name being Balayage, many know the hair colour trend that’s making its way to everyone’s tresses as Ombre. Featuring lighter tips and naturally coloured, darker roots, I first noticed the style being sported by fashion bloggers and emulated by every(wo)man, and now it would appear it’s reached the celebs too. Hooray for not needing to touch up your roots! Drew Barrymore
Jamie Chung
Jessica Biel
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Creative director: Sarah Micallef Focused Knowledge T: 2339 2403 Photography: Jacob Sammut Carabez Pearl Works, info@pearl-works.com Hair: Lara Steer, D Salon T: 2137 1245, dsalonmalta@gmail.com Makeup: Diandra Mattei using Givenchy T: 7982 8414 Model: Elena Said @ Supernovamodel.com
Jumper Topshop Skirt Miss Selfridge
Top, collar & shoes New Look Jeans Mango Glasses Model’s own
Playsuit Topshop Necklace Mango
Shirt Topshop Jeans Miss Selfridge Necklace Mango
Shirt New Look Dress & ring Mango
Full collection available from the outlets below  A.Agius, Melita Street, Valletta FM Jewellers, Republic Street, Valletta Pulsar, Republic Street, Valletta Vascas, 21st September Avenue, Naxxar
Trade Enquiries
MaxiQuartz SPL 325, Zabbar Road, Fgura T: 2180 6661 - M: 7920 7632 E: mandyc@onvol.net
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interview
Open to interpretation
Following his recent exhibition Fusion, Sarah Micallef sits down with ceramic artist Paul Haber, who has had his work displayed in the windows of London's presigious Harrods, to talk inspiration, creative process and why touch is as important as sight when it comes to his sculptures.
T
he art of ceramics was relatively unheard of locally in the 60s, when Paul Haber started working as a primary school teacher. He recalls how he first discovered it, through a short course delivered by a couple of lecturers from London. “At that time it was practically unknown. I was in my 20s and very interested, so I went to study at the Camberwell College of Arts in London.� When he returned to Malta, Paul taught pottery at a secondary school before going on to study at the Liceo Artistico in Rome and Perugia. After that, he continued to teach pottery until he won a scholarship for a degree course in ceramics at Central Saint Martins, with a foundation at Hornsey College of Arts.
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interview After working with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation researching local clay for a couple of years, he went on to start his own business, Alka Ceramics. “I started exporting high quality crafts to the US via an agent who approached me because he liked my artistic work. After about 17 years of exporting practically all our production to the States, my agent retired and I turned to the local market.” Due to the industrial side of Alka Ceramics, Paul is able to work on his artistic pieces at leisure, he explains. “I consider myself lucky because I don’t have to depend on artistic commissions to make a living – that is what the industrial side of Alka Ceramics is for. When it comes to my artistic work, I can express myself without any concern about whether it is going to be sold, or whether it is even going to be liked. In that way it is relaxing and satisfying.” When working on sculptures for exhibitions or commissions, Paul gets a lot of his inspiration from nature, which is certainly in no short supply where his jealousy-inducing studio is located, right on a hill face in Mtaħleb. He goes on to describe his creative process, stating, “the process is simple. I work with various types of clay, depending on what I want to do and the effect I want to achieve. I first model the clay, then give it the first firing, which is called the ‘biscuit’ firing, followed by glazing, a second firing, and sometimes even a third or fourth firing using enamels or precious metals.” Paul sometimes also leaves his work unglazed or semi-glazed, depending on the effect he’s after. “I give a lot of importance to texture,” he explains, “in fact, I like for people not to just look at, but touch the work also. Feeling it gives you a more intimate experience of the piece.” Indeed, a few years ago, Paul held an exhibition of 15 large pieces outdoors, on the street just as you enter Valletta. “People thought I was crazy because I didn’t want any sort of protection for the pieces,” he says. “The Valletta Local Council expressed concern when I first approached them with the idea, but I said I rather have one broken and have the exhibition enjoyed and appreciated than surrounding the pieces with protection so that nobody can touch or get near them. They were there for one month, and every piece survived.” I ask how he decides which pieces to group together for an exhibition. “I generally don’t work with the idea of doing something specifically for an exhibition. I just make a sculpture for myself, and when I have enough, I exhibit them." When asked about what he considers to be the high point in his artistic career so far, Paul cites his retrospective at Bank of Valletta last year. “It was a great exhibition showing pieces which I myself haven’t seen for over thirty years. I had to collect pieces from people who had bought them whenever they were originally made. In this way, one could see my artistic development over the years.” Before that, Paul had another exhibition at the Council of Europe, which featured around 60 sculptures and was inaugurated by the secretary general of the Council of Europe. In addition, he also had 10 pieces exhibited in the windows of Harrods in London last April: “It was fantastic seeing my work being exposed to so many people. Daily visitors to Harrods can reach 45,000, and my work was also visible to people walking along the busy street.”
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interview Fusion, Paul’s most recent exhibition, was the last exhibition to be held at the Museum of Fine Arts’ current location before it moves to the Auberge d’Italie. Paul believes that the move will be a good one, as he feels the previous location was limited. I go on to ask about the choice of name, Fusion. “I called it Fusion because the work within it displayed a fusion of ideas, clays, and glazes,” Paul tells me, “being abstract, I never give the sculptures themselves a title – I leave it to the individual to form his or her own interpretation. I don’t want to impose my personal interpretation on anyone else.” With the exhibition now closed, Paul’s upcoming projects include holding exhibitions in Paris and London where he can display his new pieces, as well as continuing to work on his artistic output.
"I like for people not to just look at, but touch the work also. Feeling it gives you a more intimate experience of the piece.”
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photography
Street photography competition
Winner
In the VIDA January issue, Andrew Galea Debono’s photography lesson on street photography highlighted the basics in achieving an interesting street style shot. Lee Darmanin’s winning shot on the right captures an interesting moment featuring a subject that is out of the ordinary.
Runners up
Stefanie Mercieca
Lee Darmanin The winner of the photography competition wins 2 large 45cm x 33cm print of their favourite photo in a high gloss finish provided by
Paulina Pawlowska
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Palmyra Building, Naxxar Road, BirkirkaraBKR 9046 T: 21497 335 | 2148 2734
Nature photography competition There’s still time to submit your entries for last month’s nature photography competition. For a chance to win, send your street shots to snap@vida.com.mt or by post to Photography Competition, VIDA Magazine, Pitkali Road, Attard, ATD2214. The deadline for this competition is May 20th.
culture
In historical terms by Martin Morana
H
istory has many an interesting lesson in store for us through events and situations that characterised centuries gone by. Such historical episodes have not just been documented in our schoolbooks however – some have also impacted our language, generation by generation. These historical landmarks are often recalled in everyday parlance. Well, maybe not exactly every day, but they are stored in our minds to be used when needed. Indeed, there are instances when we tend to seek the wise words of our elders – those who know better, from experience. Often, phrases, idioms, proverbs, adjectives and sayings are referred to us. These may be in the form of ancedotes or analogies, and sometimes would serve as role models for future actions and plans. Here is a short selection of such phrases and idioms that we use. These wise quotes are taken from myths, legends and ethnic histories, as well as from observations of past societies.
"Giving a laconic reply" To give a laconic reply means to be terse, abrupt and almost rude in the way one addresses his or her listeners. This adjective was first used in English literature in the late 16th century. The word ‘laconic’ is derived from the name of the Greek mountainous region of Lakonikos, of which Sparta was the capital. The term refers to the hearsay that the Spartans – unlike most Greeks – had an uncommunicative character by nature. In fact, even their speeches were brief in comparison. Similarly, to lead a ‘Spartan’ way of life means to live in a very frugal manner, shorn of any luxuries and comforts.
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culture "Adhering to the Macchiavellian Principle" Nicolò Macchiavelli (1469–1527) was an Italian statesman and writer living under the Republic of Florence when the Medicis returned to power in 1512. In 1513, in the vain hope of regaining office, he wrote The Prince, a political manual describing the ruthless pragmatism of an idealised sovereign, and dedicated it to Lorenzo de Medici. When referring to the term Macchiavellian Principle, one is referring to the implication that the end justifies the means – not that Macchiavelli himself agreed to such principles.
"Meeting your Waterloo" A term that refers to the final and irrevocable defeat of a once mighty power. The Battle of Waterloo, which took place on June, 18th, 1815, proved to be the decisive battle of the Napoleonic wars (1803–1815). Following his departure from exile in Elba, Napoleon fought his last battle, 19 kilometres south of Brussels, against the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard von Blucher leading the Allied armies. In this battle, Bonaparte was defeated and forced to abdicate for the second time. In so doing he conceded his final defeat.
"Losing the Battle of the Bulge" This expression refers jokingly to a person’s weight gain and thus failing to keep in good shape. The historic Battle of the Bulge (also known as the Ardennes Counter Offensive), took place between December 16th 1944 and January 25th 1945. This was a major German offensive launched through the densely forested Ardennes mountains of Wallonia on the Western front. The description given refers to the way the Allied front line bulged inward due to the success of the Wehrmacht, as was reported in the contemporary press, and termed ‘the Battle of the Bulge’.
"From here to Timbuktù" Timbuktù is a town situated in the centre of Mali, in west Africa. Throughout the 19th century, the region of Timbuktù remained elusive to many European explorers of Africa. Indeed, it gained a notoriety and an aura of mystery as a fabled region where abundant gold bullions were to be found. It was only in 1893 that Mali and Timbuktù were taken over as a colony by the French. In later years, this place was referred to by the British as a location that remained distant and outlandish to the collective mind. Thus, the term ‘from here to Timbuktù’ refers to the fact that somebody or something may not be found in known geographical terms.
"Behaving in a zealous manner" The term zealous, which refers to a person who is over enthusiastic in his deeds, was first applied from the Greek word 'zeloun' which refers to a fanatical enthusiast to a cause. This term was referred to a Jewish faction, which during the Roman rule of Palestine was considered to be ultra Jewish in its beliefs. After their revolt of AD 66-73, the Zealots were annihilated by the Romans at their last stand on Mount Masada. One of the Christ’s Apostles was identifiable by his nickname as Simon the Zealot.
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"Letting in a Trojan horse" This may be a reference to a person, or with the evolution of computer science, a device, intent on destroying their opponent from within. It may be used as a warning that one has to pay attention when accepting an agreement or friendship, sincere as it may seem, as it may turn out to be a ploy. Homer recounts the mythological battle of Troy in his Iliad. This came about following the abduction of Helen of Sparta, wife of Menelaus, by Paris, son of the King of Troy. After a 10 year long war that was waged without any marked victory from either side, a plan was hatched whereby the Greek fleet would feign departure from Troy, and a ‘gift’ in the form of a hollow wooden horse with soldiers hidden inside its belly would be left behind for the Trojans to accept and let into their city. In the dead of night, the Greek soldiers emerged from their hiding place and overpowered the guards at the gate. A related saying is ‘Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.’ The term Trojan is also used nowadays to identifty certain malware programmes that attack the computer system.
culture "Walking to Canossa" This expression is used in various languages to show by an analogy that even the mighty can be humiliated, or as we say nowadays, made to eat humble pie. When, during his papacy, Gregory VII attempted to enact reforms to the investiture process of bishops in Christian Europe, he was met by strong resistance from the German Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV. Henry insisted that he reserved the traditionally established right of previous Holy Roman Emperors to "invest" bishops and clergymen within his kingdom. Henry renounced Gregory as pope; in return, Gregory excommunicated and deposed Henry, in the Lenten synod of 1076, in Rome. He stated furthermore that, were Henry not to recant by one year from that day, the excommunication would become permanent and irrevocable. In order for Henry to be pardoned and regain his crown he was to do penance, and thus Henry was made to cross the Alps barefoot into Italy to reach the town of Canossa, near Parma, where the Pope was staying. He waited there for three days outside the Pope’s castle until summoned. Henry was humiliated in no uncertain terms, in front of his subjects and proved beyond doubt the precedence that the Pope claimed was his.
"Crossing the Rubicon" The idiom ‘to cross the Rubicon’ means to pass a point of no return. This phrase refers to the supposed historic crossing of Julius Caesar’s army of the river Rubicon in 49 BC. The Rubicon was an 80-kilometre river that ran across the Emilia Romagna region, from the Appenines to the Adriatic Sea. In those times, it was prohibited for Roman military commanders to cross this river with their armed legions when returning home from battle. Marching any further south than the Rubicon river while still armed was a sign of insurrection and thus seen as a threat to the Republican government of Rome. Once Julius Caesar shifted his army from Ravenna where he was based beyond this line, he was proving beyond doubt his intentions to confront his rival Pompey and immerse Rome into a civil war.
"Achieving a Pyrrhic victory" Pyrrhus was an ambitious king who ruled the city-state Epirus, Greece, in 297-272 BC. Through many battles he managed to restore the strength of his kingdom and campaigned against the Romans in support of the Greek colonies in Italy. He won several battles, but during the course of such, his losses were immense, so that later historians took them as the prime example to term a victory that sustained heavy losses as 'Pyrrhic’.
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April 2013 Issue 40 vida.com.mt
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health
Top five butt and leg exercises by Richard Geres
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If you’re after developing seriously tight glutes and legs, you have to include these five favourite exercises of mine in your lower body routine. Besides developing buns of steel, these exercises will tone and tighten your quadriceps and hamstrings for the complete package. Before commencing these exercises, make sure to perform a thorough warm-up. If you are a beginner, you can perform 5-10 minutes of cardio, and then follow this up with some dynamic mobility exercises, focusing on the hip region, the quadriceps, lower back and hamstrings. The amount of additional weight resistance you use to perform these exercises depends entirely on your level of strength. You may start without any additional weight, as your bodyweight will provide more than sufficient resistance for any beginner. Never sacrifice good form for weight. Initially work on good technique and develop full range of motion on all exercises. Once you have mastered these basics you can add more weight. 1. Squats The squat is the premier movement to develop the legs (quadriceps and hamstrings) and buttock muscles (gluteus maximus). We do squats everyday while sitting down and getting off a chair or the toilet. It is a very safe and effective movement, provided you use correct technique. Here’s how to do it correctly: From an upright standing position, bend your knees while pushing your butt backwards. Your
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upper body leans forwards without your back rounding. The lower back is slightly arched and the chest is high. Look straight ahead, not down. Bring your arms forward for balance. Continue to bend your knees and hips until your thighs are almost parallel to the floor. Advanced individuals can go lower, lowering their hip joint below the height of the knee joint. Make sure the heels remain planted on the ground at all times. Return to an upright position and repeat. 2. Bulgarian split squats This is a great exercise to maximise the load on your legs while minimising loading of the lower back. As a beginner you can use just your bodyweight. If you are more advanced, you can use a barbell, dumbbells or kettlebells as additional resistance. Stand about one metre in front of a bench. Then, place your left foot on the bench behind you so that only your instep is on it. Slowly lower your body so that your right knee bends 90 degrees and your left knee comes close to touching the floor. Your torso should remain upright while your right lower leg is perpendicular to the floor. Push yourself back to the original starting position as quickly as you are capable. Repeat until you are fatigued, then switch feet so that your right foot rests on the bench while your left leg does the work. 3. Reverse lunge Step back with the right leg while bending the left knee. Plant the right forefoot far back on the floor. Lower your body by flexing the knee and hip of the left leg until the knee of the right leg is almost in contact with the floor. Return to the original
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standing position by extending the left knee and hip. Repeat the movement with your other leg, alternating between sides. Keep your torso upright during each lunge; flexible hip flexors are important. The forward knee should point in the same direction as the foot throughout movement. A long lunge emphasises gluteus maximus; a short lunge emphasises the quadriceps. 4. Side lunge This exercise works not only the quadriceps but also targets the inner and outer thighs, hips and glutes. For these reasons the side lunge is an excellent lower body exercise to compliment the lower body mass building exercises like the squat and lunges. Stand with your feet parallel facing forward and hip-width apart. Step out to the right side with the right foot. Push hips back and bend the right knee while leaning forward with a straight back. The left knee should remain fairly straight. Bring your arms forward for balance. Hold the tension in the right leg, then while exhaling, raise your body straight up and return to starting position. Perform 10-20 repetitions. Repeat on the left side. 5. Bridges Lie on the floor, facing up, knees bent, hands by your side. Then drive your hips up, until your body forms a straight line from knee to shoulder. Squeeze your buttocks, then lower your body towards the floor again, without touching it. Try this 20-50 times per session.
Richard Geres is an internationally-certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Specialist focused on weight-loss and functional fitness. He can be contacted for seminars and individual consultations through his website: www.richardgeres.com Turn to page 63 for a chance to win a Hot-Stone massage courtesy of Richard Geres and the Apollo Spa at the Corinthia Hotel!
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health
Anterior knee pain Anterior knee pain is often referred to as patellofemoral syndrome or chondromalacia patellae (literally meaning soft cartilage under the kneecap). This common condition refers to pain often located at the front, or just behind the kneecap. The pain usually comes on when going down stairs, walking downhill or when sitting for prolonged periods of time, such as when you go to see a film at a cinema. It has also been called moviegoer’s knee, and causes the person affected the need to stretch their legs to ease the pain. Chondromalacia patellae occurs when the tissue, known as cartilage, on the back of the kneecap (patella) begins to get worn out and broken down due to rubbing against the thigh bone (femur) that lies underneath the knee cap. This rubbing results in an irritated cartilage, which is the main cause of the pain reported. If this is not corrected, it often gives rise to persistent and painful osteoarthritis of the kneecap in the long term. What causes this cartilage breakdown to occur? It is quite simple – the kneecap usually sits on the front of your knee joint, and as you bend and straighten your knee, the patella glides up and down. The movement of the patella is controlled by your thigh muscles (quadriceps) and the patellar tendon, which attaches the kneecap to the shin bone. Pain begins when the kneecap does not move properly into its correct position and starts to rub on different parts of the thigh bone underneath, causing cartilage irritation.
To correct the problem, analysis of the cause is essential, in order to tailor treatment. Possible solutions may include: • Adapting the way exercise is done • Specific exercises directed towards stretching and strengthening muscles around the knee joint • Losing weight (if overweight) • Insoles in shoes to correct flat feet • Taping the knee cap to re-align it into its correct position • Wearing the appropriate sports shoes Surgery is rarely required for this type of problem, as the pain will be expected to subside with a change in exercise patterns and with the adequate exercise regime for rehabilitation. It is also documented that few people actually benefit from surgery, so it is not as popular. by Dr Danica Bonello Spiteri MD MRCP (UK) MSc SEM Specialist Registrar in Sports & Exercise Medicine, Leeds, UK. E: danica_spiteri@hotmail.com
Femur
Quadriceps tendon
Patella
This can happen for a variety of reasons: • The kneecap is in an abnormal position • Tight or weak muscles around the thighs • Flat feet • Participating in activities that stress the kneecap • Increased weight
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Tibia
Damage to articular surfaces
homes
Interior Design
Planning the perfect kitchen S
ome call it the heart of the home and others refer to it as the place in which the entire home’s hustle and bustle takes place. It is true that the kitchen is one of the most important areas in our homes, so it needs to fulfill all of our prerequisites. In order to achieve this, good planning is a must, not a luxury. Beauty and functionality come at a price, and good design needs ample planning at an early stage. Most kitchens nowadays form part of an open plan set up, so one needs to carefully plan the amount of space to allow. This space needs to be balanced out between the dining and living area. Besides this, you need to decide on the priority of the appliances required as well as thinking ahead of the needs you might require should your family expand. For instance, a dishwasher may seem like a luxury to a first time buyer, or a double fridge freezer may outweigh the priority of more storage. Oven or ranges might be of more importance for some families who love to entertain more than others, as well as other accessories such as wine fridges and built-in coffee machines that are relatively new and becoming more in demand.
Once the appliances are carefully planned out, it’s time to consider storage. Storage needs to be divided between pots, pans and utensils and foodstuffs. Again, these need to be carefully planned so as to make the kitchen’s ergonomics work properly. When planning your storage layout, it is important to see that foodstuffs are not preserved exactly next to the oven due to the change in temperature, and glasses and plates are ideally placed in top units to avoid needing to bend down constantly. Ideally, pots and pans should be stored in drawers and not cupboards, as they allow for keeping them more organised while not stressing your back. Last but not least, all of the above needs to have a functional power layout. A kitchen and its appliances need an intact power plan to follow. You can’t have a built-in appliance with its power supply behind or on top of it, as this makes it next to impossible to isolate for regular cleaning purposes. Lighting needs to be planned on a separate and independent level, as it is of optimum importance within a kitchen. Indeed, lighting in a kitchen needs to bring out the actual colours of the kitchen material itself, give the correct colour to the different foods we display and also provide sufficient light for our tasks in the kitchen.
Olivia Ann Calleja is a lighting and interior designer who has worked on numerous projects locally, handling lighting and interior design services for residential and commercial units. She studied Lighting Design at University College in London and at the Institute of Lighting Engineers in Birmingham, and Interior Design at KLC School of Design in Chelsea.
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motoring
The poster for this year's Racalmuto Time Attack championship
Back on track for 2013 Young Zach Zammit, winner of the 2013 ICC championship, also won round one of the 2013 championship at Ġnejna
by Joe Anastasi
If you think 2012 was a busy year for Maltese motorsport, then fasten your seatbelts as 2013 is going to be a blinder. The ASMK kicked off with their regular programme of ‘Off Road’ racing for cars and motorcycles in January, and later announced that they had signed a contract with the Government for the building of a bigger motorsport facility in Ta' Qali. ASMK, under the presidency of veteran Frans Deguara have been around for some years now, and I cannot but admire their modus operandi. The Island Car Club also got off to a good start with the first in an eight-hill climb programme sponsored by Grimaldi Lines. Grimaldi have supported Motorsport Team Malta drivers in Sicily for some years with great success, Speaking of which, the first young Maltese driver to win a hill climb in Sicily in recent years; Zach Zammit at Cesaro in 2008, also won the first round of the ICC championship at Ġnejna a few weeks ago. The Malta Drag Racing Association has also published it’s calendar of five events, the last of which in November will be an international meeting set to be “bigger and better than last year’s” according to club secretary Jason Camilleri. The motorsport situation in Sicily this year is somewhat strange. With difficulties surrounding the hill climb and slalom scene, it is looking likely that the Autodromo Valle dei Templi at Racalmuto will be hosting the bulk of this year’s Sicilian motor racing. In fact, the circuit is booked solid every weekend this year, and Motorsport Team Malta will be present on at least 14 of those weekends. The Racalmuto Time Attack championship has got off to an excellent start, with a bigger and better entry than usual, despite
Available from John Bull Tel: 21571025, 99448738
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us only being able to field two cars at this event. As if to prove a point, these two cars won their respective classes with the fastest and second fastest times of the day. Nicky Xerxen broke his own personal best lap time, dipping into one minute five seconds, and Josef Calleja knocked almost two seconds off his previous best to finish second overall. The next round takes place on April 7th and it looks like we will be having a bumper entry from Malta – I have already reserved the whole hotel at the track. One week later, on April 14th, the Campionato Siciliano di Velocita in Pista gets under way. This is the first of six rounds and Motorsport Team Malta will be well represented in this important championship where Maltese drivers have competed in every round of every championship since the very first in 2009 with great success. For 2013, the Autodromo Valle Dei Templi and John Bull Motorsport Promotions will be getting together to promote the first Racalmuto Historic Festival. This will be a two-day event for old cars and motorcycles which will include an autojumble, a concour d’elegance, an open track day on Saturday, and a competitive Time Attack on Sunday. It should be fun even if it’s going to be a busy weekend personally. The four-day tour starts on the Friday of Sette Gugno, so I need to pull my socks up as I plan to have my 1964 Mini Cooper S ready to take part in the car events, and my 1948 HRD motorcycle to enjoy a few laps of the superb 2.4 kilometre circuit in the beautiful valley of the temples too. I’ve been taking the boys racing at Racalmuto since 2009 and have only ever managed half a dozen laps with my son Joshua’s single seater race car that first year, so it’s about time I get a bit of fun myself too, before it’s too late.
Joe Anastasi started competing in local Motorsport in 1964 with a Mini Cooper S. Apart from participating in and winning a number of local championships, Joe also took part in numerous races in Sicily, including the famous Targa Florio, winning on seven occasions. Now retired, Joe helps Malta's young drivers to compete in Motorsport events in Sicily, where they have been very successful.
pets
How to tell if your pet is sick Our pets are not able to tell us when they’re not feeling well and what’s wrong with them, so we have to pay attention for signs of illness in their body language. We must acknowledge that they are in need of medical attention and that their ailment has to be diagnosed and treated accordingly. In order to help you recognise if your pet is unwell, here are 10 telltale signs that will prepare you for the unexpected yet often unavoidable experience of having a sick pet. 1. Behavioural changes. These usually include unwillingness to take part in well-loved games and spending more time in their basket. Your pet may also want to be left alone altogether. This lethargic behaviour is a direct sign of fever. Unexplained aggressive behaviour in a normally docile animal is often a sign of pain and the animal will scratch or nip when the painful area is touched. 2. Change in appetite. A change in the amount of food consumed is often indicative of a medical condition. Appetite can increase or decrease depending on the disease. An obvious sign would be the food bowl being left either completely untouched or its contents not entirely consumed as would normally occur. A sudden increase in appetite could also be a sign of sickness. 3. Increase in water consumption. A sudden increase in water consumption might be difficult to notice, but is usually accompanied by an increase in urination which is more easily
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detected. An increase in urine production is commonly accompanied by a sudden onset of soiling inside the house, especially at night. Unfortunately, this is usually quite serious and any suspicion of increased urine production should not be taken lightly. 4. Diarrhoea. Diarrhoea occurs when the consistency or the amount and frequency of stool deposits changes or increases. The most common reasons are changes in diet, a contraction of an infectious disease and/or other gastrointestinal or other organ problems. Seek medical help if diarrhoea persists for longer than 48 hours due to possible dehydration and further complications. You should also be aware of the deadly viral disease in puppies, namely Parvo Virus, which manifests itself in foul smelling diarrhoea and repeated vomiting. Vaccinating puppies as early as six weeks of age can prevent this contagious disease.
pets 5. Vomiting. This could be indicative of many conditions, so your pet should be taken to a vet as soon as possible, especially if it is taking place continuously and your pet is not replacing lost fluids. 6. Difficult breathing. Coughing, shallow breathing or rapid breaths may alert a pet owner to the onset of allergies, respiratory conditions or conditions linked with the circulatory system and the heart. Coughing in dogs and sneezing in cats should always make one suspicious. Due to heart disease, coughing is very common in older dogs, but certain pure breed dogs and cats may also develop it at a young age due to genetic predispositions.
9. Seizures. One of the most common causes of seizures in cats and dogs that are allowed to roam freely in Malta is the intake of a poison used to kill slugs. This poison is emerald in colour and as it tastes sweet, animals easily lap it up. They then start convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Another common cause for seizures is epilepsy, which can affect pets at any age.
10. Other signs. Pet owners could also observe (a) watery eyes and a sudden change in the colour and the size of the eyeball, indicating diseases of the eye which are usually very painful; (b) ear scratching and head shaking due to wild oat seeds getting stuck in dogs’ ears in the spring. In addition, non-neutered female dogs usually come on heat every six to nine months. This is 7. Scratching and loss of fur. Our Mediterranean climate is accompanied by a reddish discharge which lasts about a paradise for fleas, ticks and other nasty critters. These 10 -12 days. As dogs get older it is common that the can spread disease, and cause itching and fur loss. "one in every uterus gets sick and we observe an increase in the They could also multiply, and it is common that three pets over discharge that comes suddenly, out of season and is after appearing on your pet, unless precautions are foul smelling. This is a very serious disease that can taken, they could also infest the home. Feeding the age of 10 will kill the dog within days if the uterus is not removed. your pet table scraps can also cause excessive develop some itching and scratching. type of cancerous These are the most common signs of illnesses that can alert pet owners to seek veterinary medical 8. Lumps and bumps. These are usually either condition." help. An illness may be as simple as a common cold or infectious or cancerous. As your pet gets older, the much more complex. In either case, your veterinarian will chances of it contracting cancer are quite high. Statistics be able to diagnose whatever your pet has by performing a show that one in every three pets over the age of 10 will medical examination and the necessary tests. develop some type of cancerous condition. It is recommended that any lumps or bumps be examined thoroughly by your vet and if found to be cancerous removed without delay. By Dr Trevor Zammit, DVM, Chief Veterinary Surgeon at Ċentru San Franġisk Animal Hospital in Ta' Qali.
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cinema www.MarksMovieMarks.com – Release dates are subject to change. All films released locally by KRS Film Distributors Ltd.
Film of the month
April at the movies
by Mark Camilleri
Oblivion Stoker This looks odd but beautiful, and is endowed with a wonderfully gothic, chic look. The stoker in question is a peculiar uncle (Matthew Goode, Watchmen) who comes to live with India (Mia Wasikowska, Alice in Wonderland) and her mother Evelyn (Nicole Kidman, The Others). Critical response has been good so far, although I’d be inclined to see it just based on the poster.
O
blivion hasn’t been released anywhere yet, so it’s hard to gauge whether it lives up to expectations or not. Expectations are understandably high, however, since it looks like a smart, futuristic action thriller and it stars Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman. Set 60 years in the future, the postapocalyptic backdrop is apparently the result of a huge war that resulted in the destruction of most of our planet. Although the war was won, everyone had to be evacuated. All that remains is a few individuals who keep the planet secure and maintain all the drones. So it’s a sort of Wall-E-type scenario, although instead of a cute little robot we have Tom Cruise looking serious despite his tight white outfit. Of course, things are not all as they seem, and shortly before his shift on earth is about to end, he uncovers an
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underground community of humans, led by a grungy-looking Morgan Freeman. They try to enlighten him, and he starts to question the political manoeuvres behind the current situation, and whether all is as it seems on desolate planet Earth. The film is the second directorial effort by Joseph Kosinski, who was at the helm of Tron: Legacy, and it is based on the graphic novel he wrote. To help him polish the screenplay, they roped in Michael Arndt, who was previously slightly famous for writing Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3, but who is currently the man entrusted with the behemoth task of writing Star Wars: Episode VII. The film also stars Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace), Melissa Leo (The Fighter) and Zoë Bell (Death Proof ).
Safe Haven Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook, My Sister’s Keeper) has a solid reputation for writing moving human dramas, and Lasse Hallström (Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Chocolat) has an equally solid reputation for directing moving human dramas. So here they are, together again (after Dear John a few years ago). Julianne Hough, who made the move from dancing to acting when she starred in the remake of Footloose, stars as a woman escaping an abusive husband, who finds solace in a small town, where she meets a widower with two children (Josh Duhamel, Life As We Know It). Based on past experience, I’d suggest you bring tissues.
cinema G.I. Joe: Retaliation Back in 2009, the G.I. Joe action-figure range made it onto the big screen, in an action-packed film subtitled The Rise of Cobra. The team is now back for more, and the Cobra adversaries are still around. In order to prevent world domination, the good guys rope in the original G.I. Joe himself – General Joseph Colton, portrayed by Bruce Willis. Some of the previous cast also return – Channing Tatum (Dear John) and Jonathan Pryce (Evita) in particular, and the show is further muscled up by the addition of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (The Scorpion King).
Side Effects No prizes for guessing what this film is about. Rooney Mara (The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) stars as a vulnerable young woman under psychiatric care following an apparent suicide attempt. Channing Tatum (Magic Mike) stars as her husband, and Jude Law (Closer) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (Traffic) star as two psychiatrists involved in her care. This might be seen as just another thriller, but for some it might hit quite close to home, as it explores the high and lows that drug treatment can bring. The film is directed by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean’s Eleven).
Cloud Atlas This is definitely the release I’m most interested in this month. The film has all the makings of an epic, but was less-thanenthusiastically received across the Atlantic. It is the difficult adaptation of the multi-award winning novel from 2004 by David Mitchell (not the comedian). The book follows six separate stories, which are eventually shown to be related to each other in various ways, despite being set in various corners of the globe and often many centuries apart. This must have made it a bit of a nightmare to bring to the screen, but the task was undertaken by Lana and Andy Wachowski (The Matrix Trilogy) and Tom Tykwer (Perfume, Run Lola Run). Tykwer is one of those rare directors who also composes music for his films, and here he teamed up with Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek to compose what was undoubtedly one of the best and most beautiful film scores to come out of 2012. The film also boasts a stellar cast, with Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving and Susan Sarandon, amongst others, portraying multiple roles in the various story segments. Despite all this, it failed to make huge waves at the US box-office, although the general impression is that those few who did enjoy it, think it’s a masterpiece. Let’s see what Europe thinks.
Welcome to the Punch This British crime thriller stars Mark Strong (Zero Dark Thirty) and James McAvoy (Atonement) as a criminal and a detective respectively, with the latter finally getting a chance to end his long manhunt and arrest the former during a stay in London. The screenplay was receiving praise even before the film was made, and this will hopefully be smarter than it is loud or explosive.
The Host The Twilight saga is over, and there are diverging opinions on whether it is missed or not. For the fans, author Stephenie Meyer’s other works are also getting the big screen treatment, and will presumably be aimed at the same demographic. Rising star Saoirse Ronan (Hanna, Atonement) stars in this sci-fi thriller, with the hosts in question being us earthlings, and the parasites being mind-controlling aliens.
Parker Another week, another Jason Statham action film. Tentative reasons why this should be any better than the rest: a) Directed by Taylor Hackford (Ray, The Devil’s Advocate, An Officer and a Gentleman), b) Also stars Jennifer Lopez, c) Is being promoted as a sort of noir film, probably hoping that audiences will see the poster and the Lopez credit and think of Out of Sight. Well, there’s only one way to find out.
Past perfect
Home movie gems from the past few decades that may need some dusting but never get old.
Being John Malkovich (1999) This odd but wonderful gem was the big screen debut of two of the most original minds in filmmaking – writer Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze. To even come up with the concept of this film is impressive enough, but to bring it to the screen in a way that is understandable, funny, emotional and highly entertaining is the stuff of genius. John Malkovich (Dangerous Liaisons, Empire of the Sun) stars as himself, of course. The film centres around a puppeteer (an untidy-looking and pitiable John Cusack, who is excellent here), who discovers a doorway in his office which is actually a portal into the mind of Malkovich. Anyone can slide in, and be Malkovich for around ten seconds. With time and experience, he uses his puppeteering skills to gain more control over the actor, but others also want a piece of the action. The film also stars a nearly unrecognisable Cameron Diaz and the ever-sultry Catherine Keener, and is a joy to watch again and again.
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calendar
Events
Exhibitions in April
Amitex Exhibition
MFCC - Ta’ Qali
Dates & Times: April 18th - 18:00 to 22:00 April 19th - 18:00 to 22:00 April 20th - 18:00 to 22:30 April 21th - 10:00 to 13:00 April 21th - 15:00 to 21:00 www.mfcc.com.mt
Theatre
Culture & History
Saturday 6th The LOL Stand-up Comedy Show - Dolmen Resort Hotel - Qawra 20:30 - www.laughoutloud.com.mt
“tiers of truths.. extended “
What the Funk! 3 - Live 70’s Music Concert In Aid of Puttinu Cares Buskett Roadhouse - Buskett - 21:00 - www.ticketline.com.mt
Artitude Gallery - Sliema Dates & Times April 4th to 24th 2013 Monday to Saturday 10:0013:00 and 16:00-19:00 or by appointment www.christinexart.com
Malta International Music Competition Finals - Palazzo La Salle - Valletta - 10:00 - www.vfimf. com
Mamma Mia - MCC - Valletta - 20:00 - www.mcc.com.mt Detail from Ridi Pagliaccio
MYO in Concert - Sir Temi Zammit Hall - University of Malta - 19:30 www.maltaorchestra.com
The Malta Artisan Fair
Malta Artisan Fair - Phoenicia Hotel - Valletta - 10:00 www.maltaartisanmarkets.com
April 6th & 7th – 10:00
40th International Cat Show - Savoy Arcades - Valletta - 10:30 www.maltacatshows.com
Phoenicia Ballroom - Valletta
Today, the Malta Artisan Fairs are the market place in Malta with a difference. Always set in beautiful locations, each fair provides a unique experience. Visitors can expect artisan food, high quality handmade jewellery, arts and crafts and a unique family-friendly experience. If you are an upcoming artist, are looking for an ‘outlet’ for your expression or know of others who would like a place to showcase their talent email us on: manager@maltaartisanmarkets.com. www.maltaartisanmarkets.com
Music from Lady Flora’s Notebook Villa Bologna - Attard April 17th – 20:00 The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Ġukulari Ensemble will feature Maltese Airs from the notebook of Lady Flora Hastings, daughter of the Governor of Malta (1824-26). The event will highlight another facet of Malta’s musical legacy, which has been discovered and researched by musicologist Anna Borg Cardona and will be performed by the Ġukulari Ensemble. The concert is being organised by Barocco Foundation. Tickets for Music from Lady Flora’s Notebook are on sale from Barocco Foundation at €20. Tickets to this exclusive event are very limited; interested persons are asked to book early to avoid disappointment. M: 7968 0952 E: bookings@baroccomalta.com
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Eco Gozo Ultra 55k - Nadur - 08:00 www: hellfiretri.moonfruit.com
Fifa Women’s World Cup Preliminary Round - Malta vs Luxemburg - Ta' Qali National Stadium - 13:30 - www.mfa.com.mt
Lunchtime Recital - Manoel Theatre - Valletta - 12:30 www.teatrumanoel.com.mt Medieval Mdina Festival 2013 Mdina - 11:00 www.mdinacouncil.com Sunday 7th Blood Donation Mobile Unit Next to Għargħur Parish Church - Għargħur - 08:30 to 13:00 T: 2206 6209 In Guardia Parade - Vittoriosa 11:00 - E:birgu.lc@gov.mt
Malta Artisan Fair - Phoenicia Hotel - Valletta - 10:00 www.maltaartisanmarkets.com Met Opera Matinee: Parsifal - St James Cavalier - Valletta - 13:00 - www.sjcav.org Medieval Mdina Festival 2013 Mdina - 11:00 www.mdinacouncil.com
32nd Edition Scale Model Exhibition - Malta Maritime Museum - Vittoriosa Waterfront - 09:00 www.ipmsmalta.com Monday 8th Toi Toi 022 - Manoel Theatre Valletta - 12:00 E: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
Clubbing
Music
Tuesday 9th Fifa Women’s World Cup Preliminary Round - Latvia vs Malta - Ta’ Qali National Stadium - 16:00 www.mfa.com.mt
Line Dancing - Mġarr Parish - Mġarr - 19:00 - T: 2157 2578 Thursday 11th Line Dancing - Sala Parrokjali San Ġuzepp Ħaddiem - Birkirkara 19:00 - T: 2141 5522 Friday 12th The Garden Party - Marsa Sports Club - Marsa - 19:30 E:danielgalea@icloud.com
Line Dancing - Parish Centre Papa Ġwanni Pawlu II - Attard - 19:30 T: 2143 4949 Saturday 13th The Medieval Puppet Show And Crafts Workshop - Palazzo de Piro - Mdina - 11:30 E: events@xarapalace.com.mt
Mediaval Mdina - Corte Capitanali - Misraħ il-Kunsill - Mdina E: mdina.lc@gov.mt Sunday 14th Feast of St Publius - Floriana T: 2124 7106
Blood Donation Mobile Unit Next to Iklin Parish Church - Ninu Cremona Sqaure - Iklin - 08:30 to 13:00 - T: 2206 6209
The Medieval Puppet Show And Crafts Workshop - Palazzo de Piro - Mdina - 11:30 E: events@xarapalace.com.mt
Mediaval Mdina - Corte Capitanali - Misraħ il-Kunsill - Mdina E: mdina.lc@gov.mt In Guardia Parade - Vittoriosa 11:00 - www.visitmalta.com
Met Opera Matinee - Francesca da Rimini - St James Cavalier - Valletta - 14:00 - www.sjcav.org Irjieħ Siekta - Centru Parrokjali Xewkija - Gozo - 19:00 www.teatrugovanni.org/tg Monday 15th George Cross Award Commemoration - St George’s Square - Valletta - 19:30 www.visitmalta.com Tuesday 16th Line Dancing - Mġarr Parish - Mġarr - 19:00 - T: 2157 2578
The VIDA team does its utmost to publish the most updated information in these pages. We cannot, however, take any responsibility for details omitted or changed by third parties after going to print.
To include your events in this page email all details to events@vida.com.mt or call 2339 2236 by April 15th.
calendar
April
this month Fund Raising
Blood Drive
Kids & Family
Wednesday 17th Music From Lady Flora’s Notebook - Villa Bologna - Attard - 20:00 E: bookings@baroccomalta.com Thursday 18th Line Dancing - Sala Parrokjali San Ġuzepp Ħaddiem - Birkirkara 19:00 - T: 2141 5522 Friday 19th Line Dancing - Parish Centre Papa Ġwanni Pawlu II - Attard - 19:30 T: 2143 4949 Saturday 20th Icarus at the Edge of Time - MCC 18:30 - www.mcc.com.mt Irjieħ Siekta - Centru Parrokjali Xewkija - Gozo - 19:30 www.teatrugovanni.org/tg
2013
Fairs
Others
400 Years of Composers & Conductors - Teatru Manoel Valletta - 19:30 www.maltaorchestra.com
Line Dancing - Parish Centre Papa Ġwanni Pawlu II - Attard - 19:30 T: 2143 4949 Saturday 27th Met Opera Matinee 2013 - Gulio Cesare - St James Cavalier - Valletta - 18:00 - www.sjcav.org Sunday 28th Blood Donation Mobile Unit - Next to St Joseph the Worker Parish Church - B’Kara - 08:30 to 13:00 T: 2206 6209 Malta International Fireworks Festival - Mellieħa - 21:00 www.maltafireworksfestival.com In Guardia Parade - Vittoriosa 11:00 - www.visitmalta.com
Edible Flowers - Piscopo Gardens - Burmarrad - 09:00 www.piscopogardens.com Sunday 21st Blood Donation Mobile Unit - Next to Qawra Parish Church - Qawra 08:30 to 13:00 - T: 2206 6209
Cosmic Toi Toi 628 - Manoel Theatre - Valletta - 10:30 E: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt Edible Flowers - Piscopo Gardens - Burmarrad - 09:00 www.piscopogardens.com
Met Opera Matinee 2013 - Gulio Cesare - St James Cavalier - Valletta - 14:00 - www.sjcav.org 2013 Gozo Half Marathon - Xagħra Square - Gozo - 09:30 www.gozomarathon.org Frott il-Bidwi Mġarri - Żebbiegħ - Mġarr - 8:30 to 19:00 E: mgrfcs@maltanet.net
Patches Market - Magazino Hall Valletta Waterfront - 11:30 www.patchesmarket.com Monday 29th
Tuesday 23rd Feast of St George - Qormi T: 2149 2997
Line Dancing - Mġarr Parish - Mġarr - 19:00 - T: 2157 2578 Thursday 25th Line Dancing - Sala Parrokjali San Ġuzepp Ħaddiem - Birkirkara 19:00 - T: 2141 5522 Friday 26th Malta International Fireworks Festival - Marsaxlokk - 21:00 www.maltafireworksfestival.com
Music and Visual Arts Workshops - St James Cavalier - Valletta www.sjcav.org
Mid-Dinja tat-Teatru - Manoel Theatre - Valletta - 20:00 E: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt Tuesday 30th Malta International Fireworks Festival - Valletta Grand Harbour 21:00 - www.maltafireworksfestival.com Music and Visual Arts Workshops - St James Cavalier - Valletta www.sjcav.org
Blood Donation Centre in Guardamangia opens 7 days a week from 08:00 till 18:00.
Blood saves lives.
More information may be obtained from: www.blood.gov.mt E: nbts@gov.mt T: 220 66 209 M: 79 307 307
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books
The love of books
Maltese must reads Strada Stretta George Cini, Allied Publications
Be they printed with the care of the craftsman, lavishing love over the feel of the paper and skill into the engraving of the hard case binding; be they in the form of throwaway paperbacks, colourful and at times even garish so they can stand out on the seller's bookshelf; or be they in electronic text, as changeable as soft clay, converted to the likes of the reader... they are all books, and as such, wonderful. They contain the world seen through millions of eyes and felt through a multitude of hearts. They convey wisdom and laughter, knowledge and fun, and they can even be the best companions we can hope for. Try them if you haven't yet. Cherish them if you have, and make sure you are never without a book to read.
News from bookland
Thumbs up! The voluntary organisation Book Box has successfully launched the first Book Box at Qormi. The idea behind this project is to spread the love for books and reading. There are plans for the opening of more Book Boxes around Malta and Gozo in the near future. The Qormi Local Council was the first to take on board this project and there are various other Local Councils that are also interested in this initiative. The NGO Book Box appeals to the general public to make good use of the Book Box, both in terms of book exchanging as well as taking care of the actual structure of the Box. For more information about this project, visit the Book Box website, www.bookbox.com.mt or visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/bookboxlibrary.
The books page in VIDA is coordinated by the National Book Council. Check out this page for information from the world of books and reading! www.ktieb.org.mt
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The author recreates life in the heyday of Strait Street, up to the early 1970s the city's red-light district, and known to generations of British servicemen as The Gut. This he does through a series of interviews with surviving denizens of that demimonde – musicians, entertainers, barmaids, seamstresses, prostitutes, policemen, owners of bars and lodging houses – who recall the carefree but also often violent atmosphere and some of the more outstanding and outlandish protagonists long since dead.
Il-Poeżiji Oliver Friggieri, Malta University Press
Ġan Anton Vassallo was an eminent figure in the history of Maltese literature. His most well known work is probably IlGifen Tork. This book is a very important contribution to the history of Maltese literature, as it is the first comprehensive anthology of his poetry in Maltese to be published.
The Maltese Legal System Volume 1 David Joseph Attard,
Malta University Press Finally, a published reference explaining all there is to know about the Maltese legal system. Not only does this publication appeal to the legal profession but, more importantly, it offers an opportunity to any citizen to achieve a better understanding of the Laws of Malta, court procedures and legal jargon.
Saying it as it is Saviour Balzan, Choppy Books
In volume 1 of Saying it as it is, Saviour Balzan tells the story of his journey from being an active environmentalist, to becoming a teacher, a politician, a journalist and finally, the owner of a media house. In his uncouth and abrasive style, he speaks frankly about the thankless job of being an investigative reporter and what running a media house truly entails.
eating & drinking
No Greek Tragedy V
alletta is the new centre of the universe for grown up entertainment. Bars are popping up down alleys, shops are getting more chic, the theatre schedules are back to back and the smart set are going there without the prime minister's name on an invitation. The rejuvenation of the capital city over the last couple of years and its being presented with the prestigious European City of Culture for 2018 are being recognised and rewarded with patronage of all types from cruisers to cruise liners. I have my favourite haunts, having a coffee with my cobbler, popping into a not meant to be vintage treasure trove or the market to pick up an accessory or two, wasting time at The National Library and meeting friends for lunch. There are places you go for atmosphere, others for the wine list, some to bump into people you know, and others to not bump into anyone. Wood lined, basement based, places with a view and places to see faces, and now there is Elia. Elia popped up without warning. No launch party, no glamour, no advertising and no Facebook campaign. I didn't know
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Elia, 73 Merchant Street, Valletta Tel: 2768 9525
about it till one fine day, I balsamic vinegar - and surely, it would was early to meet a friend kind of be the right thing to do? (who soon called saying she was running late) Elia is run by a Greek family. "while I said I just for an art expo and The food is homely and a wanted a drink, saw the distinctive welcome diversion from the the food cabinets cappuccino coloured normal menus that are on doorways open wide, offer. The meze was my first tempted me to with a chalked board order, and the waiter, who by ask for a menu." shyly tucked inside. now reminded me of Manuel I liked the look of the from Faulty Towers – not because place so I popped my head of the character's haphazard nature, in to ask if they were open. A but due to his mannerisms and voice, cute waiter waved me inside and while seemed to think this would be enough. I said I just wanted a drink, the food Yet, knowing upon entry that this was cabinets tempted me to ask for a menu. definitely worth doing a review on, I just had to order another plate. The meze I went up the ‘garigor’, and stopped to was filling though, and this, with a bottle take a picture of the walls. Elia means of wine and crusty bread, would have olive in Greek, and their logo of black sufficed on a normal evening. Stuffed olives on a branch, is painted sporadically peppers, rice filled vine leaves, dips, on the curved walls. feta and more. On the menu are kofte, grilled meats, salads and today's specials, The setting is reminiscent of a taverna, meatballs in a spicy sauce. The magic though unfortunately they didn't have word. Spicy. These came with slightly Greek olive oil on the gorgeous glassover roasted (but fabulous) potatoes and top tables, which was a disappointment. salad. The meatballs were juicy and not Not that it is better than our local from a freezer. With a Coke, the meal variety of course, but it must be better cost under €20. I was so glad my friend than the manufactured fat that so many was late as had she not been, I may have restaurants seem to have in those twin missed out on reaching out for the Elia cradles with an even more offensive branch of hospitality.
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WIN! What is the name of the main character in Lee Child's bestselling series of novels?
Winners! The Nail Lounge: Mary Zehlicke - Mellieħa Agenda Book Shop: Connie Zammit - Lija Richard Geres Personal Training: Elaine Grech - San Ġwann Palmyra: Lee Darmanin Star letter : Tatiana Aquilina
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only for kids
World’s best theme parks
Luna Park, Melbourne: Luna Park is a historic amusement park dating back to 1912. Remaining historic features of the park include the iconic Mr Moon face entry and towers, the Scenic Railway (the oldest continuouslyoperating roller coaster in the world), and the carousel.
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Walt Disney World Resort, Florida: Almost 50 million people visit Walt Disney World Resort, a massive theme park outside of Orlando, on a yearly basis. It is made up of four theme parks, two water parks, 24 themed resorts, two spas and fitness centres, five golf courses, and other recreational and entertainment venues.
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Everland, Yongin, South Korea: Everland is South Korea's largest theme park. In 2011, 6.6 million people visited the park, ranking it 13th in the world for amusement park attendance. One of its main attractions is the T Express, which is the first wooden roller coaster and the largest of any kind in South Korea.
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Pacific Park, Santa Monica: Of the many amusement, theme and water parks to be found in LA, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier is a classic. The park looks directly out on the Pacific Ocean and has a total of thirteen rides, including the world's only solar powered Ferris wheel.
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Disneyland, California: Open since 1955, Disneyland is the only theme park to be designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. 15 million people visit the park each year, which has eight themed ‘lands’ including Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.
Wet’n'Wild Water World, Gold Coast: Wet’n'Wild Water World in Queensland is Australia’s most popular and the world’s eighth most popular water park. Main attractions include the Kamikaze, Tornado and Blackhole.
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Whether you’re a daredevil with a need for speed or just love trying out new things and having fun, theme parks are fun for the whole family. This month we take a look at a few of the best amusement parks around the world. You may be familiar with a few of these, or better yet, have visited them, and as for the others, perhaps it’s time to start saving up your pocket money!
Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi: Ferrari World is a Ferrari themed amusement park comprising four theme parks and two water parks, with the central park being the largest indoor amusement park in the world. The park is also known for the Formula Rossa – the world’s fastest roller coaster.
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Find 10 things related to theme parks in the grid and send us the solution by post. The correct answers will enter a draw to win the Nesquik Hamper.
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Roller coaster Rides Water park Slide Bumping cars Ferris wheel Carousel Railway Entertainment Resort
Another chance to win!
Send us a drawing related to theme parks to be in with another chance of winning the hamper made up of Nesquik products! Aaron Cassar, 6 is the winner of last month's competition.
WIN!
Win a hamper made up of Nesquik products!
Send your entries, together with your name, surname, age and contact details (address, telephone number, email address), to: Kids Competition, VIDA Magazine, Pitkali Road, Attard, ATD 2214 by no later than Monday April 15th.
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