IS MALTA VIABLE?
JUNE 18, 2017
Young people debate the issue
Introduction The earth is burning up, right before our very eyes. You might not see or smell it, but facts don’t lie. Scientists at the Nobel-decorated IPCC say they are 95 per cent certain that mankind is the dominant cause of global warming. World temperatures are hitting record highs once every three years. The earth’s biomass is being depleted at rates far faster than it can be replaced. Young people - those who have the most at stake - have been at the forefront of efforts to drive home the importance of these warnings and the need to act on them now. They have attended international conferences, held protests in capitals across the globe and mobilised voters to push for sustainability concerns to be prioritised on the political agenda. And last April, a group of young people from 17 different countries met in Gozo to find ways of better focusing attention on these issues. The following eight pages stem from that conversation. They include data revealing how - and why - Malta must ask itself some tough questions about our unsustainable way of life. Malta’s ecological footprint for food consumption is among the Mediterranean’s biggest; it takes 7.3 Maltas to sustain the country’s current level of development. This resource also goes beyond the cold, hard numbers and makes an argument for a values-based analysis of sustainable development. While economic growth is an indicator of development, it is not a panacea, nor is it the sole factor to take into account when measuring societal progress. Our planet does not run on GDP figures.
We have gone from a world where problems were generally communal to one in which my actions here in Malta can leave an impact on the other end of the globe. The personal is now global, and the global has become personal. If we are to succeed in tackling these global problems, we must be willing and able to better understand the neighbours we share them with. Migration is a good example locally: the issue prompts strong
views and harsh words, but how many of those views have their basis in fact, and how many are grounded in fear? Do you know how many foreigners live in Malta, and where most of them come from? So how can a citizen living in an islandnation barely 300km2 big take action and bring about meaningful change? The task appears daunting, and there is no doubting its difficulty. But there are things you can do, starting today.
This resource ends with a collection of such ideas, intended to inspire and encourage. We are not all world leaders, but as parents, children, spouses, work colleagues and friends, we possess a level of influence no amount of power or money can buy. Think big, act small.
Bertrand Borg The Times of Malta
Young people - our activists of today and leaders of tomorrow The United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals is an essential roadmap, which was agreed upon by all world leaders. Agenda 2030 aims to ensure a sustainable future for our world and all its inhabitants. Each and every young person has a key role to play, helping to achieve these Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals are not only a guide for governments and policymakers. They speak, directly and powerfully, to young people. There is a need for young people to get involved, and it is the responsibility of our authorities to encourage an ongoing and structured process of democratic participation, in which young people can feel safe to take a leading role. There are 1.2 billion young people in the world today, which is over 14% of the global population. We must do more to ensure that the voices of young people are heard. I truly believe that the ex-
periences, concerns, and aspirations of young people have so much to teach us. Young people should be empowered to be the activists of today so that they will be the leaders of tomorrow. As the leaders of tomorrow, our young people must urge the international authority to uphold an effective rights-based approach, so that they will be able to strengthen our democratic ideals. I appeal to the international community, so that the democratic ideals of participation, inclusion, and the celebration of diversity, will not remain mere words in many circumstances. The phenomena of migration and climate change, for example, are not isolated from each other. Many migrants are forced to leave their homes either due to the impact of climate change itself, or because of conflicts which arise as a result of resource scarcity.
Meanwhile, extremes of climate change are the direct result of human activity and our continued reliance on an unsustainable status quo, which privileges the few at the expense of the many. Therefore, we cannot forget that the first, and most important, of the Sustainable Development Goals is the eradication of poverty. People living in a state of poverty or precarity, wherever it occurs, cannot enjoy their rights or the wellbeing which is their due. For this reason, we must work together to promote the importance of universal Human Rights. Unless each and every human being and community has equitable access to their rights, we can never call them truly universal. If our rights are not universal, then none of us can say that we live in the fullness of our democracies, our dignity and our freedom.
PHOTO: JASON BORG/DOI
I again urge the international community to enhance its work, to promote participation of young people, and to build stronger synergies among governments, the private sector, and civil society. In this way, we shall have a better chance of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals more effectively. We must acknowledge that the voices of our young people are an essential part of our strategies for the future.
I am so very proud of all the young people who have participated in the E4C Project youth camp, held in Gozo in April of this year, and all the people in our islands who are working to make Malta and the world a better, more sustainable, and more peaceful place.
Her Excellency, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca President of Malta
JUNE 18, 2017
A central challenge At first glance, this seems like a stupid question. Clearly Malta is viable, its economy proves that; politically, culturally and socially the country motors along. Standards of living are rising for the majority, poverty has significantly declined and though inequality is rising rapidly, recent surveys suggest that people feel the country is ‘doing well’. But when questions of Malta’s ecological viability are seriously discussed (as distinct from the dismissals of environmental concerns as not being ‘real’), problems emerge – problems which suggest that perhaps the single biggest challenge facing the country in the years ahead is environmental. Malta currently needs the total ecological resources and services of 7.3 Maltas to meet its citizens’ demand on nature for food, fibre, timber, housing, urban infrastructure, and to deal with its carbon emissions. These issues become more important in an age of increasing climate change. Malta is already feeling the impact of climate change as farmers across our islands will readily admit. If all the world’s citizens were to live as a typical Maltese resident doestoday, it would require 2.6 planets. Malta is not unique in this regard as already the inhabitants of planet earth are ‘overshooting’ our ecological budget annually (this is now happening each year in early August – August 2, 2017). Malta’s ecological deficit amounted to – 3.8 global hectares in 2013 (a global hectare represents the average productivity of all biologically productive areas - measured in hectares - on earth in a given year. Mediterranean countries in general currently use 2.5
times more ecological resources and services than their ecosystems can renew. No country in the region can provide all the natural resources and services that its population demands by solely relying on its own biocapacity. Countries such as Malta can run such an ecological deficit by responding to demand through importing huge amounts of goods; through liquidating its own ecological assets (through, for example overfishing) and/or emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. At 61 per cent, Malta has one of the highest ‘external biocapacity dependence through trade levels’ in the world – by comparison, that of France is 16 per cent, of Greece 32 per cent and Italy 47 per cent. This is only possible if economic circumstances in Malta (and the realities of international trade) allow it. This makes Malta highly vulnerable to outside ‘shocks’ and to the capacity of others’ biocapacity. As a clear majority of countries worldwide now have ecological deficits, the situation in the longer term makes Malta and indeed the planet extremely vulnerable. For example, recent studies of countries in the Mediterranean suggest that a simple 10 per cent increase in commodity prices would result in a major hit to Malta’s GDP and trade balance. Depending solely on global trade is not a solution overall as some ecosystem services – including clean air and water, dealing with extreme climate events such as floods or droughts, and the recreational uses of nature – simply cannot be imported.
In 1961, our planet could supply 37 per cent more resources and services than humanity demanded. Since then, the global ecological deficit - the amount by which humanity’s demand has exceeded nature’s budget - has widened massively. In 2016, the demands of the world’s people (primarily in the developed world) amounted to 64 per cent more than what nature can regenerate. This leads to overfishing, the over-harvesting of forests and to emitting more carbon dioxide than our ecosystems can absorb. In the long term, if we do not change many of our bad habits (overconsumption, waste, inefficiencies, food habits, pollution etc.), the results will challenge us severely. To continue to think and act as if everything we do is a purely personal matter with no great consequences for others and the planet is to deliberately avoid the issues immediately in our face. We are rapidly reaching the limits of our economic model in ecological terms – to ignore this and to continue regardless will have significant impact on ourselves and, more importantly, on our children and grandchildren. Currently Malta appears to be viable – whether this remains the case is an issue for all of us.
H O W MAN Y C O U N T R I E S AR E R E Q U I R ED to meet the demand of its citizens... Malta
7.3
Japan
4.7
Switzerland 4.3 Italy
4.3
UK
4.0
Spain
2.5
USA
2.3
World
1.7
Source: Global Footprint Network National Footprint Accounts 2017
M A LTA D E F I C I T
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
BIOCAPACIT Y
6.0
5.0
GLOBAL HECTARES PER CAPITAA
2 The Sunday Times of Malta
}
4.0
3.0
2 .0
1.0
0.0 1961
1966
197 1
1976
1981
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011
Malta’s Biocapacity Deficit equals 3.8
2013
Colm Regan, 80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World.
About SKOP The National Platform of Maltese NGDOs was set up in October 2000 with the aim of bringing together all NGOs operating in the sector of international development cooperation and humanitarian aid. The vision of SKOP is to work towards a just world where basic needs are met, where people are empowered, and where there is equity in the management and distribution of resources and where human rights are respected. SKOP aims: • to promote the just interests of the peoples of the South in key areas of Maltese and European policy; • to promote the achievement of the United Nations’ target of 0.7 per cent of GNP for Maltese official development aid; • to promote, through development and global education, an understand-
ing of the causes and a commitment to correcting, the effects of social and economic inequalities; • to provide a forum for member organisations to allow them to consult, cooperate, share information, ideas and experiences; • to represent Maltese NGDOs with relevant authorities both in Malta and abroad.
SKOP’s Presidency Project – E4C: Educating for Change This project aims to promote development education and raise awareness on the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The project has a number of aims: • Strengthening dialogue with the government on international development • Undertaking a national report on the SDGs to include policy recommendations produced for Malta • Increasing discussion and debate on the agenda with all relevant structures and organisations in Malta, governmental and non-governmental • Strengthening the role of civil society and SKOP’s capacity in particular • Engaging local authorities in the agenda
• Increasing public awareness of the agenda and the issues involved • Directly involving young people The overarching thematic focus is the implementation and translation of SDGs into action at national and regional level with a specific focus on migration and climate change in the Euro– Mediterranean region. Malta has over the past decades played a crucial role in bridging the divide between the Global North and South, in which forced migration is both to be understood as a consequence of failed development and as an inevitable reality challenging both asylum seekers and the European southern shores’ populations, including that of Malta.
Roderick Agius Secretary General of SKOP
JUNE 18, 2017
The Sunday Times of Malta 3
WHAT’S AT STAKE: describing a bigger picture During our workshop and conference, we discussed and debated a number of ‘bigger issues’ that were at stake in discussions of matters such as climate change and migration. Given the diverse backgrounds we all came from across the Mediterranean, we wanted to place issues such as these in our own contexts and situations. The ideas and debates below capture some of our discussions. Issues such as climate change and migration are, by definition, global issues – they affect us all wherever we live and can only be tackled effectively together. They are common challenges requiring common solutions – no country or region can ‘go it alone’ in responding to them.
Too many responses to issues such as these are based on looking at symptoms rather than root causes – this will lead to failure in resolving the challenges we face.
These issues have strong intergenerational dimensions – their impact will last long after us.
Because we are all part of an ecosystem, we recognise how elements in that system are inter-related; these elements go well beyond human beings into a larger ecosystem.
Based on evidence from our own countries, we can see the impact of the issues such as water scarcity and quality, changing sea levels, pollution of different types and seasonal changes.
We recognise that for our generation perhaps more than for previous generations the ‘personal is global and the global is personal’ – our common humanity unites us and our common inhumanity divides us.
How we frame and understand issues such as migration and climate change is important – all too often they are poorly presented and hence poorly understood.
We understand that values are important – the gap between what we say and what we do about such values is far too wide – this has major consequences and fosters cynicism among young people as to what can be done and what needs to be done.
Education plays a key role and not just the education of ‘young people’, adults need educating. All too often the focus is on what young people need to learn as if adults do not.
The Sustainable Development Goals agenda is useful at two important levels – it can inspire and promote operational plans related to key world issues and it can become a basis for holding governments and international structures accountable.
4 The Sunday Times of Malta
JUNE 18, 2017
Youth: ‘Co
“Why should youth be involved in such matters? Well, because we can go ahead and not do anything about climate change right now but we can be rest assured that in the future, our families and us are 100% the bearers of the consequences of our present apathy. That is why, because sitting down on a burning chair won’t put the fire out.”
A statement on climate change and migratio
Aimee Chetcuti – Malta
People believe that only NGOs and policy makers have to deal with problems related to climate change and migration. But they’re wrong. Each citizen (like me, like you!) can make a difference with simple actions, words, ideas.Do you want to?
Andrea Di Giulio – Italy
“Climate change and migration are just two of the challenges that we are currently facing at global level. To face these challenges and to achieve a more sustainable future for all, we need as citizens to be active, make informed choices, and put pressure on decision makers for more sustainable and forward-thinking policymaking at local, as well as at European and global level.”
We, as young people from 17 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean regionhaving discussed issues related to climate change and migration, demand thatour voices are effectively heard. As a result of mutual learning and experiencesharing we insist that real and meaningful opportunities are created for oureffective participation in the challenges that we all face together. We are seldom adequately consulted, we are frequently overlooked and remainwithout proper representation at local, national and international levels. As aresult, our voices remain unheard despite the relevance and immediacy of theissues for us. We restate our right to be involved in these pressing issues and tobe a part of their resolution – our creativity, energy, ideas and solutions mustbecome an ongoing part of society’s responses to these challenges. We believe that these issues involve us all regardless of age, race, gender orcreed as their impact is both widespread and their consequences potentially lifechanging. This challenge is not just one for governments but for all society and for each and every one of us. Our principles
Annagrace Messa Greece
‘Many would say that the life on earth would come to the end one day, either with divine intervention or just thanks to the sun that is getting bigger. But I think we should stop speeding up the process. Our generation is maybe the last one that that can determine the colour of our future, that is why I am hoping for bright tones.’
Bozina Stesevic Montenegro
We recognise that issues such as these are global in nature surpassing nationaland regional borders. They ultimately challenge our common humanity as wellas our common heritage. Addressing these issues requires imminent andeffective action – this is clear. Piecemeal responses that do not address rootcauses will be ineffective. Continued denial and refusal to engage with issues such as migration andclimate change undermine our collective responsibility and the necessity forsustainable solutions not only for us, but also for generations yet to come.
“What is happening today is affecting all of us, we can’t escape! No running away we are involved! Climate change is caused by us and it’s also a threat for us. Climate change is affecting not only the environment but also the stability of people who became refugees because they didn’t find a clean environment in their home countries.”
‘Climate change and migration are two interlocked problems, action taken in one would impact and may eventually solve the other. Our generation is faced with the unique opportunity to be involved in finding the answer to such subjects, which are affecting our future. We have the courage and the power to face any challenge that face us, armed by our creativity and ideas.’
Rabeb Aloui Tunisia
Nour Ben Said – Libya
Some key issues Based on our own national and current experiences, the impacts of climate change include, for example increased desertification, water insecurity, loss of biodiver-
sity, pollution of various types, increased average temperatures and salinisation. We are also witnessing a significant increase in the numbers ofinternational climate refugees. The challenges posed in the search for rights-basedand hu-
“Algeria is one of the countries most exposed to global warming, however, the first signs of the economic crisis start to appear. These threats aren’t unique to Algeria, which suggests that future migrations could reach this country and the Maghreb area, what is happening at the moment. I think, the actions taken place in Algeria aren’t sufficient, they don’t follow the same speed of crisis development. We should ensure that migrants have to integrate society, knowing that they are paying consequences for which they aren’t responsible, We should take more concrete actions and consolidate the regional and international partnerships.”
H
JUNE 18, 2017
ount us in!’
n (by workshop participants collectively) translated into effective action in which each and every one of us has a stake as well as a responsibility. At the outset, awareness raising and education are pivotal not simply for young people but also crucially for adults. This needs to include educational initiatives in society at large from schools to places of worship to trade unions tocommunity and women’s organisations as well as political structures. However,the personal dimension remains a priority. Working individually as well ascollectively is necessary. Change is normal and ongoing and all can and must make a difference.Reshaping and re-modelling our futures with the necessary everyday changes isa key part of such change. Issues such as energy saving, challenging waste andrecycling can be more effective than we think. As we have seen even a simplehashtag can make a difference! Climate change, poverty as well as conflict lead to both voluntary andinvoluntary migration. As individuals and communities, we need to work torealise the basic dignity, rights and common humanity of migrants as well astheir integration in our societies. There must be an end to discrimination at all levels. All structures, institutions and communities within our societies have arole in this especially our media. Conclusion
mane migration policies are obvious and their human dimensions immediate. Apart from migration, another central challenge is that posed by our continued overconsumption and its impact on people and
Hadjer Neggaz - Algeria
planet. Neither people or planet can support such consumption. Points for action It is vital that the principles and challenges highlighted above are
“The Mediterranean region is part of the areas of the planet that are predicted to be adversely affected by climate change and migration. As young world citizens, it is up to us to prevent the serious consequences of global warming and inevitable migration. Not only for us, but for the future generations to come.”
Eleni Anastasiou – Cyprus
“Climate change and migration are not only environmental threat but also social, economic, and political. It affects everyone and touch upon almost every aspect of daily life. It’s our role together and not only politicians to come up with solutions to deal with such dilemmas. You or I might be the next victim of these problems, so we should start now.”
Mina Raouf - Egypt
“Climate Change and Migration are a REALITY. A reality YOU and I are living in. They are happening NOW, while you are reading this... I want a better today and tomorrow for myself and for you. I want a better today and tomorrow for my family and for yours. I want a better today and tomorrow for our brothers and sisters across the globe. Help me educate...Help me make a change. You and I are the key. We CAN make a difference!”
Lisa Camilleri – Malta
As young people, we restate our right to be involved; ignoring the voice andrights of young people is ultimately counter-productive. Our ideas, energy,commitment and solutions are available. We demand that they be used.We have a right to be involved - we want you to hear and really listen, so that together we can effectively act.
‘It is going to be better eventually. Humanity has been there before. We have seen how it works. A seemingly irresolvable problem emerges; it has catastrophic consequences; someone steps up and grabs the bull by the horns; a new standard of wellness is set; we adapt to it; there follows a happy plateau for a while; we hit another wall. Examples are countless. In the not so distant past, there was the Berlin Wall, there was Segregation of Races, there were no women in the decision-making; there was no clear defition of the Human Rights. Migration and Climate Change are the big obstacles lying ahead of us in the XXI century. We can silently go by and delegate the bill to the next generation, or we chose to take our share of responsibility and the credit that comes with it. Do your share! Take your credit!’
The Sunday Times of Malta 5
We’re all aware of the multiple problems that we face on a daily basis. We also tend to call others, to action, but this rarely works in the way we want it to. This is why I decided to start doing something myself. I started cycling, reducing meat and fish consumption and learning more about. This path has only offered lessons and solutions.
James Gabarretta – Malta
“We, youth and citizens, must put our energies, skills and innovative abilities in common to tackle together the fight against climate change and the struggle for better policies on migration.”
Marion BeauchampLevet – France Vladimir Banushi – Albania
6 The Sunday Times of Malta
JUNE 18, 2017
Migration – perspectives, issues, realities Youth migration: a view from Bangladesh
PHOTO: DARRIN ZAMMIT LUPI
‘From a Bangladeshi perspective (and, by implication other developing world perspectives), the crucial point is that the issue of youth migration is profoundly centred in Europe and its neighbouring regions’
Anas Ansar, global youth activist on migration and development.
Population movement is now global with different implications for sending and receiving countries and in this movement, large scale youth migration has become a key trend. Such youth migration is both voluntary and forced. Young migrants now represent 12 per cent of the total migrant population and the proportion is higher in developing countries than in developed countries. So, in any serious discussion of migration and youth migration, developing countries and their realities and challenges must be at the core of the agenda. The reality is all too often that they are not and this significantly hinders and limits an effective response. Western responses consistently fail to recognise the diversity, complexity, and intensity of the issues surrounding youth mobility worldwide. There has been much talk and many creative initiatives but it seems the discussion on youth and migration has turned into a conversation between Europe and the Middle East, and thus, other parts of the globe and their concerns and challenges are missing to a large extent. This is conspicuous
in major global summits and discussions on migration and youth in recent years. Although such discussions and initiatives are presented as ‘universal’, the reality, is that they are confined within certain regions and are dominated by concerns around ‘protection and empowerment’as defined by developed countries. As a result, the majority of time and resources are being invested in issues that pose challenges to the destination countries, predominantly in Europe. More and more, youth migration is treated as a ‘problem to be solved’ rather than as an opportunity to be explored in the context of the potential energy and creativity inherent in youth. More importantly, the whole idea of empowering youth in the name of sustainable development (an idea frequently cited by leaders of the developed) nations comes in for the sharpest criticism when the issues of prolonged war and conflict in many countries are ignored or set aside. In order toeffectively address the challenges and to bring about necessary change and in order to
Migration – a view from Malta ‘Therefore, in a world where inequalities are increasing exponentially, migration is both necessary and desirable, if it is well managed, not controlled. If managed properly migration is an important a tool for development and poverty reduction.’ Public discussion on migration tends to view the issue solely in negative terms, yet history tells us (and Malta’s own history shows us) that human mobility has existed down the centuries. Much of the recent research has highlighted the many links link between migration and human development. There is hardly a family in Malta today that does have a family member living in another country. Migration is routinely driven by human need and human resilience; it is not merely the result of conflict and war. Maltese people are well aware of the drive and instinct to look for better opportunity in times of uncertainty or poverty. Today, there are many factors that push people to migrant including poverty, lack of economic opportunities and employment for youth, bad governance, lack of basic human rights, to name but a few. Very often when people on the street talk about migrants they immediately think of Africans, but the largest groups of migrants in Malta are not African as the charts and data on this page highlight. In fact, my recent experience on migration in
realise the potential of young people across the globe, it is vital to take the issues beyond Europe. We need to take a serious look at the reality that drives young people in South Asia, Latin America or the Middle East and Africa to undertake migration. It is vital that the causes of forced migration are recognised and addressed; real and sustained opportunities for youth across a wide range of issues (such as education, employment, health, security etc.) are pivotal rather than solely ‘preventing migration and protecting territories’. From a Bangladeshi perspective (and, by implication other developing world perspectives), the cru-
cial point is that the issue of youth migration is profoundly centred in Europe and its neighbouring regions. Despite the fact that the issue is global, we have failed to globalize our responses through hearing local voices and addressing local needs rather than simply those of Europe. Migration is but one such need (and by no means the most important ‘one’) for young people in the developing world which is the Majority World. Nevertheless, protecting migrants requires a genuine shift in the political approach taken by the policy makers in developed countries. The claim that we are protecting and empowering devel-
NON-MALTESE LIVING IN MALTA (based on 2011 Census) Nationality United Kingdom Somalia Italy Bulgaria Germany Russia Eritrea Serbia Sweden Libya Others Total Non-Maltese Population
Population 6615 1041 950 850 745 603 548 541 449 403 12745 20302
% of Total Non-Maltese Population 33% 5% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 37% 100%
PERCENTAGE OF FOREIGNERS IN THE MALTESE POPULATION 2015 Total Population Total Foreign Population % Foreign Population
2015 434403 2 30923 7.12
2010 414989 19139 4.61
2005 404999 12151 3.0
Increase on 2005 figure 29404 18764 2.37
(Source: Government of Malta, National Statistics Office 2016)
Malta is that EU nationals particularly Italians and Spaniards are among the largest recent migrant groups in Malta. The biggest challenge facing non-EU migrants is the lack of effective integration policies and measures. Most non-EU migrants are exposed to labour market
exploitation and marginalisation from mainstream society and everyday life. Although, education and health services in Malta are mostly free in theory, most migrants are unable to access proper education and health services due to many institutional barriers. For instance, many
oping countries (placing emphasis on human beings) without having effective investment in the potential of youth while also continuing to prolonged war and conflict in, for example many parts of the Middle East rings hollow and cynical. Therefore, in pursuit of an orderly, inclusive and sustainable future for young people worldwide, it is crucial that we look far beyond the limited shores of Europe and begin to effectively acknowledge the realities of developing countries. It is time to challenge the false promises of European development policy and practice and their impact on and consequences for young people.
migrants in Malta are not employed with the necessary permits because employers often do want to incur extra costs. Therefore, most migrants are forced to work in the informal sector thus making them vulnerable to abuse and the risk of poverty and social exclusion. Despite, the difficulties that migrants face, they are resilient and are important contributors to many of the most important sectors of the Maltese economy. Let us imagine what would happen to the construction industry, the hospitality sector and the cleaning and recycling businesses if migrants were to strike for a week. Not only does the Maltese economy benefit enormously from migrants, so too do their countries of origin through the remittances they send home (another reality Maltese people know well). Today, remittances to developing countries have overtaken by more than double overseas development aid. Remittances go to the education of children, payment of medical bills, and the day to day upkeep of families in the absence of employment and social services in the countries of migrant origin. Therefore, in a world where inequalities are increasing exponentially, migration is both necessary and desirable, if it is well managed, not controlled. If managed properly migration is an important a tool for development and poverty reduction. Ahmed Bugre, Director, Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants (FSM), Malta.
JUNE 18, 2017
Giving young migrants a voice Globally, refugee youth are rarely consulted and continue to be overlooked in important decision-making processes which directly affect them leaving their energies and talents unnoticed and untapped. Having worked with a youth refugee-led organisation Spark 15, it became clear that young refugees want the same things all young people do: to be consulted, to be listened to, to contribute, and to be part of solutions. Between October 2015 and June 2016, UNHCR and the Women’s Refugee Commissions consulted with 1,267 young refugees in 22 different countries where young refugees analysed the causes and the impact of the difficulties they face. Although the dynamics of displacement are different regionally, the challenges that they identified are remarkably consistent. These consultations were held in Gozo in October 2015 with 15 young refugees, most of which were at the time students attending MCAST (the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology). Ranging from the ages of 18 to 25, they came from a number of different countries including Eritrea, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan and Libya. Following the workshop, the young refugees took the decision to officially come together as
a group to advocate on behalf of other young refugees, while also encouraging them to become active participants and agents of inclusive societies. ‘We found that we all faced common challenges. Following the consultation, we stayed in contact and decided that together it would be possible to do something great. We named ourselves Spark 15 because we are a small idea that became big’explains Spark 15’s President Hourie Tafech, a 25-year old woman from Palestine. Since then, UNHCR Malta has continued to work with Spark 15 and funded a video which highlights the daily challenges that young refugee communities in Malta face. Last year, UNHCR Malta supported two Spark 15 members to attend the UNHCR – Annual Consultations with NGOs in Geneva, where the opening speech of the Consultation was given by Spark 15 President Hourie Tafech. This year, UNHCR will once again support one of Spark 15’s members to attend the Annual Consultation. Spark 15 membersare a testament to the untapped energy, resilience, dedication that lies within young refugees around the world.
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#heroes4SDGs: a ‘glocal’ youth campaign for social justice #heroes4SDGs is a social media campaign targeting young people, both in Malta and internationally,launched by the Maltese NGO Kopin (VO/0200) to promote the Sustainable Development Goals in an interactive and innovative way. In providing information about the SDGs in youth adapted friendly through social media channels, #heroes4SDGs invites young people to learn about, reflect upon and promote local activism in support of the SDGs. They are also encouraged to take photos of themselves and their friends symbolically taking actionand post them on the Facebook page of the project - www.facebook.com/heroes4SDGs/ -, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #heroes4SDGs to spread the campaign further. The core message of the campaign is simple: our everyday actions can and do make a difference in realising a fairer and more sustainable world. We need to act together and stand together for a fairer world, where social justice isn’t just a buzzword, but a tangible reality, everywhere.We need to come together, today more than ever, to make our voices heard as a strong, united society.We need heroes. Join us. #heroes4SDGs is financed thanks to the Sub-Granting Scheme of SKOP's E4C project, funded by the EU and Malta's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sarah Mallia, Public Information Assistant, UNHCR Malta.
MIGR A NT P OPUL A TIONS Non-Maltese Living in Malta (2011 Malta Census)
www.unhcr..org.mt/char ts/
8,000
POPULATION
6,000
4,000
2 ,000
0
United Kingdom
Somalia
Italy
Bulgaria
Germany
Russia
Eritrea
Serbia
Sweden
Libya
(Source: How can Mediterranean societies thrive in an era of decreasing resources? Global Footprint Network, 2016)
Our 80:20 world
Over 80 per cent of the world’s population now lives in the developing world. By 2016 the richest 20 per cent of the world’s people shared between them over 94 per cent of the entire wealth of the planet
‘I don’t want my daughter to be like me. If you are educated you will have knowledge, and you will choose what’s best for you. It is more important than money. I know that a person who is educated sees the light, not the darkness.’ Yeshi, an Oromi woman, Ethiopia, 2016 ‘The reality is that Africa is being drained of resources by the rest of the world. It is losing far more each year than it is receiving. While $134 billion flows into the continent each year… $192 billion is taken out.’ Honest Accounts? The True Story of Africa’s Billion Dollar Losses, 2014 ‘In recent years, we have become more aware that we cannot have life to the full on a plundered, polluted and ailing planet. While climate change is a technical, scientific and economic issue, it is also a moral one.’ The Cry of the Earth, Irish Catholic Bishop’s Conference, 2014 Just three quotes that illustrate three key issues explored in the publication 80:20 Development in an Unequal World from which many of the graphics, cartoon and illustrations used in this supplement come. The book, published by NGO 80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World and the New Internationalist provides a comprehensive introduction to the many key chal-
lenges the world faces today. It reviews issues such as poverty and wealth worldwide, environment and climate change, migration, women’s rights, the current international economic and financial system, human rights, aid and much more. 80:20 is written by a group of international authors
including two from Malta. Now in its seventh edition, 80:20 Development in an Unequal World has been used widely internationally and has been popular for its use of cartoons, graphics, photography, case studies, statistical analysis and concise and accessible language. Each of its 15 chapters
contains a basic overview of a key issue, data related to the topic, case studies, summaries and a basic set of references for additional reading. The book is widely used by students and teachers, youth and adult educators, journalists and NGO personnel. Former Minister for External Affairs and International Development in the Scottish Government had this to say of 80:20: ‘As soon as I got to my ministerial position I was told I had to read this. I must say that those who read 80:20 Development in an Unequal World will find it a real eye-opener.’ 80-20 Development in an Unequal World, 7th Edition (2016) edited by Tony Daly, Ciara Regan and Colm Regan. 80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World and the New Internationalist, Bray and Oxford, and costs €21.95. Available from SKOP Malta (contact: info@skopmalta.org). For additional information see www.ethicalshop.org or email ciara@8020.ie
8 The Sunday Times of Malta
JUNE 18, 2017
But what can I do? When faced with issues such as world poverty, climate change and human rights, the most frequently asked question is: what can I do? The issues seem so huge and the contribution of one person so small that most of us feel powerless. Added to this is the fact that many people see individuals and groups who work for a better world as, at best, naïve but more likely as foolish and unrealistic – ‘they don’t live in the real world’. And yet, most of us know people who do make a difference – individuals who take time to care for others, to support those suffering or in need or simply to be good citizens. And all of us know individuals around the world who have made a huge difference by simply being ‘good people’. In my life, I think of those who campaigned and won against the evils of apartheid, those who struggled and won peace in Northern Ireland, those who fought for many years against dictatorships in Central and South America and who succeeded, those who campaigned against land mines (and achieved their goal) and those who campaigned for women’s literacy (illiteracy among women down to 30 per cent from 44 per cent in 1990). I can think of very many examples worldwide and so too can you. Each of us is a member of a family, a community, a trade union, a sports club or a church (to name but a few); each of us is a consumer, a waste producer, a meat eater; a person who has a huge web of relationships locally, nationally and internationally. And, in those relationships, each of us makes choices every single day. What we say, what we do, what we buy, what we drive, what we support (or don’t support), what we ‘stand for’ express the choices we make. We can fool ourselves that we live in a bubble where our choices only affect us
or we can live in the ‘real world’ where we know our choices affect others and the planet on which we live – a planet we will all pass on to our children. When I am asked the question ‘what can I do?’ I simply invite people to think of the many roles and relationships they have in life and then consider what is the right (and the wrong) thing to do in such roles and relationships. Every one of us already ‘does a lot’ – what we seldom do though is to adequately reflect on what we do (and say) and ask fundamental questions about how this might affect others or the planet. Like it or not, those of us who live in Malta or other parts of Europe are among the world’s most privileged people. And, sadly, all too often we are among the world’s most selfish people. Yet, each one of us has to power to use our skills, experiences and choices to make the world a better place for all – for ourselves, our children, the world’s poor and powerless and, of course, for the planet itself. Colm Regan, 80:20 Ireland (based on the arguments and ideas of FairShare International, see http://www.fairshareinternational.org)
Malta – climate change and migration Let’s face it. Malta, at the centre of the Mediterranean, has always been at the forefront of migration. It is a geographical inevitability. An inescapable part of who we are, and what we have been in the past. Do you doubt that? Just look at your surname. We can rant. We can oppose migration. We can say we are too small or we don’t want them here. Fact is, whether we like it or not, by an accident of geography we are bound to be on the to and fros of the paths of human migration. A brief look at our history shows you millennia of this phenomenon – of waves of people from all directions happening on our little archipelago, be it by chance, or intent. From the Abelas to the Zammits, migrants pepper our past, manifest in our genetics, our culture, and our world view. In the latter half of the second decade of the 21st century, migration is set to increase. With an increasing world population (which has tripled since the 1930s), vast movements of people and fast socioeconomic and political changes occurring in every direction, we cannot keep pretending that Malta is a centre of the Universe in its own right. Our history denies that. Our geography laughs at such a statement. Our genetic heritage contradicts it. We are, in effect, the fruit of migration – and the changes of the past will certainly continue in the future. After all, we’ve had our fair share of migration to the far sides of the world FROM Malta. Just saying. Climate change is occurring and inevitably will lead to an even larger degree of displacement worldwide as climatic conditions render previously habitable zones increasingly difficult to survive on. Our neighbours to the south will experience a maelstrom of not just conflict and difficult socioeconomic realities, but a land that cannot provide. The inevitable result of that experience is obvious – migration. Environmental Migration will increase to involve hundreds of millions of people by the end of the century. This will place Malta square in the middle of one of the largest move-
ments in human history. Should we react by closing ourselves off, denying our role as within a global framework and fiercely defend these few islands? Or should we rather embrace the inevitability of it all, and partner with countries and insist on managing an upcoming humanitarian crisis, which already is quite dire in its own respect? How long shall we deny that we are part of this world, and pretend that these 316km2 that make our home are somehow separate from the vast changes that humanity is experiencing in the 21st century? The reality is – whether we like it or not, this is our future – and it is high time we respect, accept and prepare for it. With sea levels set to rise (even if we were to stop all carbon emissions today due to latency in the global system) this will lead to further instability as coastal infrastructure worldwide is disrupted and communities face an existential threat. And extreme weather events will displace millions in the coming decades. Shouldn’t we offer our humanity as a reply to this crisis, rather than let it overwhelm us through resisting the inevitable? John Paul Cauchi, SKOP E4C Manager.
In collaboration with
This publication has been developed in the context of the project “E4C – Educating for Change: Capitalising on the EU Presidency in Malta to raise awareness on Agenda 2030”, which is being implemented by SKOP - the National Platform of Maltese Development NGOs (MT Registration Number: VO/0366). The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of SKOP and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or those of the Maltese Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The project is co-financed by the European Union and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Malta.
Editorial Team: Lisa Camilleri, John Paul Cauchi, Danika Formosa, James Gabarretta, Adelaide Grixti, Dominik Kalweit and Colm Regan. Special thanks to Karl O’Sullivan of Pixelpress, Ireland and Dylan Creane for their graphics and to Martyn Turner for his cartoons.