FIRST September 2022 by The Malta Independent

ISSUE 336 SEPTEMBER 2022 A CAPSULE OF THE WORLD “GRIEF IS THE PRICE WE PAY FOR LOVE.” HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II (1926-2022) “THERE IS A TIME FOR DEPARTURE EVEN WHEN THERE'S NO CERTAIN PLACE TO GO.” TENNESSEE WILLIAMS LONDON BRIDGE IS DOWN

“You were born with potential. You were born with goodness and trust. You were born with ideals and dreams. You were born with greatness. You were born with wings. You are not meant for crawling, so don't. You have wings. Learn to use them and fly.”

Rumi, 13th-century Persian

poet

“Do

“A photograph is the pause button on life.”

ON THE COVER: In memory of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022). Digital artwork © Sean Gabriel Ellul. The artwork incorporates the St. Edward's crown, orb, and ampulla, with the regional emblems for England (Tudor rose), Scotland (thistle), Northern Ireland (shamrocks), and Wales (daffodil). The source image is a photograph by Phillip Oliver Hobson, 1952, The Australian War Memorial, Australia. THIS PAGE: Photography Wolf Zimmermann.

source:

EDITORIAL CONTENT AND SALES MANAGER SEAN ELLUL SELLUL@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT DESIGNER CONRAD BONDIN CBONDIN@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PRODUCTION MANAGER ANDRE CAMILLERI ACAMILLERI@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PUBLISHER STANDARD PUBLICATIONS, STANDARD HOUSE, BIRKIKARA HILL, ST JULIAN’S. TEL: 003562134 5888,WEB: WWW.INDEPENDENT.COM.MT FACEBOOK FIRSTMAGAZINE INSTAGRAM FIRSTMAGAZINEMALTA PRINTER PRINT-IT. FIRST IS PUBLISHED AS A COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE WITH THE MALTA INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY AND IS NOT TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY. NO PART OF THE PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PRIOR AGREEMENT OF THE PUBLISHER. FIRST MAGAZINE SINCE 1993. ISSUE NUMBER 336. EDITORIAL 3

“If you knew yourself for even one moment, if you could just glimpse your most beautiful face, maybe you wouldn’t slumber so deeply in that house of clay. Why not move into your house of joy and shine into every crevice! For you are the secret Treasure-bearer, and always have been. Didn’t you know?”

c April

Ty Holland

you know what you are? You are a manuscript of a divine letter. You are a mirror reflecting a noble face. This universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want, you are already that.”

CONTENTS 640

Photograph: Chambertin Clos de Beze vineyard of Domaine Pierre Damoy, Tara Hunt.

LA DOLCE VITA. Florence. Inside Belmond’s Villa San Michele. Photograph© Belmond/Tyson Sadlo.a

10thWiNETHiSISchapterinthisissue 18 84

QUEEN ELIZABETH II SPECIAL. Photograph Queen Elizabeth II sits in a carriage during the Opening of Parliament, Queens royal procession, 1965. Annie Spratt.

ART. Michelangelo’s 3 Pietà. Cast of the Vatican Pietà by Michelangelo Buonarroti, by Ulderico Grispigni, Luciano Ermo, Ennio De Santis (formators), 1975, plaster. Vatican City, Vatican Museums (inv. 50661). Courtesy of the Vatican Museums.

EXCLUSIVE SERIES: THIS IS WINE. Gevrey-Chambertin for Beginners.

Why Pride is Important. Promoting LGBTIQ Equality.

5250 71 [ISSUE 336. SEPTEMBER 2022] CONTENTS CONTENTS

HOW TO ENJOY BURGUNDY REDS. The Case of Nuits St Georges.

Her Life in Pictures.

How to Enjoy Burgundy Reds. The Case of Nuits St Georges.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II

PRIDE

BEAUTY

Fresh Cooking with Mediterranean Culinary Academy.

ART

ALZHEIMER’S SPECIAL. World Alzheimer’s Month and Day –21st Sept. Photograph Gert Stockmans.

Florence and Belmond’s Villa San Michele.

LA DOLCE VITA

Long Term Benefits of Regular Exercise.

The Influence of the Camelia No1 de Chanel.

Michelangelo’s 3 Pietà.

Why Pride is Important. Photograph Raphael Renter.

Gifts of the Earth. Fresh Cooking with Mediterranean Culinary Academy. Photography MCA.

World Alzheimer’s Month and Day. 21st Sept.

THIS IS WINE

ALZHEIMER’S SPECIAL

ENVIRONMENT

GIFTS OF THE EARTH

HEALTH & FITNESS

32 60 5

The 10th Chapter in This is Wine: Its Storied Place and Taste. Gevrey-Chambertin for Beginners.

6 LA DOLCE VITA

A Room with a View

FLORENCE

Photography courtesy Belmond.

Florence is a city where the greatest artists of the Renaissance lived and worked –Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Fra Angelico. Raphaels and Titians line the walls of its galleries; its chapels and churches boast frescoes by Giotto, Masolino, Masaccio and Ghirlandaio. Florence is home to some of the most iconic artwork and sculpture of Western art. Michelangelo's iconic David, several dying slave sculptures, and one of his three Pieta can be found here. Grand buildings loom from every corner, the mighty Duomo, the churches of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella, and the Palazzo Vecchio and Pitti Palace. And high above Florence in the Fiesole hills, surrounded by ancient woodland and fanned by soft breezes scented with lemon, orange and rose, sits a former 15th-century monastery. This is Belmond Villa San Michele, an authentic microcosm of Florence itself, with a façade attributed to Michelangelo, a fresco of The Last Supper by Nicodemo Ferrucci, and a 16th-century loggia offering panoramic views over the city and the Chianti hills beyond. What more could you ask for?

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This page: Sunset at Villa San Michele. Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo.

Mark Twain

“This is the fairest picture on our planet, the most enchanting to look upon, the most satisfying to the eye and the spirit. To see the sun sink down, drowned on his pink and purple and golden floods, and overwhelm Florence with tides of color that make all the sharp lines dim and faint and turn the solid city to a city of dreams, is a sight to stir the coldest nature, and make a sympathetic one drunk with ecstasy.”

LA VITA

DOLCE

ust 8km from Florence Fiesole was once every bit as powerful as its neighbour. The richest and most powerful of Florentines, including the legendary Medicis, built their villas here. Fra Angelico, the artist and Dominican friar, was born and took his vows here. And it was from Montececeri Park in the Fiesole hills that Leonardo da Vinci first demonstrated his flying machine. At around the same time a community of Franciscan monks built a monastery on land adjacent to Montececeri Park, donated by the wealthy Florentine family called the Davanzatis. The family contributed to the monastery’s upkeep over the years, giving the monks woodlands, more buildings, and money. In 1600, it was renovated and enlarged by Giovanni di Bartolommeo Davanzati, who added the Michelangelo façade and the imposing loggia we see today.

The Davanzatis helped to fill the monastery with important paintings, sculptures and frescoes, including The Last Supper by Nicodemo Ferrucci, commissioned to decorate the friars’ not-so-humble refectory. While a number of these treasures were luckily kept intact after Napoleon dissolved the monastic orders in 1808, many were dispersed among Italy’s galleries and churches. The triptych attributed to Niccolò di Piero Gerini in the Galleria dell’Accademia and another above the high altar in Santa Trinità church both came from Belmond Villa San Michele.

In 1900, the monastery was bought by an American named Henry White Cannon, who landscaped the gardens, erected large greenhouses and restored the building according to the fashion of the day: wrought iron gates were added and a rust-coloured patina was applied to the walls. He also converted the courtyard into a Victorian winter garden with a roof of glass and iron.

Left: Villa San Michele. Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo. Bottom left: Verdant garden of a Garden Suite. Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo. Bottom right: Deluxe Suite. Photograph © Belmond/Mattia Aquila.

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LA VITA

DOLCE

This page: Admire the enchanting view of the Duomo while heading up to Villa San Michele. Photograph © Belmond/ Michael Adair.

uring the Second World War the villa was badly damaged and in 1950, its new owner, Lucien Tessier restored the 20 rooms on the first floor, while living on the second floor. To finance the substantial costs of the restoration work he opened part of the villa as a hotel. The just 20 years ago, in 1982, Orient-Express Hotels, now Belmond, bought Villa San Michele and the surrounding land and embarked upon comprehensive restoration of the buildings in cooperation with the Florence Fine Arts Authority.

The views from Belmond Villa San Michele are spectacular. Stretching across the Arno Valley and over Florence, it is a breathtaking panorama and feast for the senses. And while you can pick out the Duomo from the hotel reaching up from the rest of the cityscape, it only takes around 20 minutes to reach it, with the hotel’s complimentary shuttle, which runs regularly throughout the day. And that’s just the way most like it, spending a few hours exploring the city of the Medicis before retreating back to the bucolic paradise above, surrounded by lush gardens.

LA DOLCE VITA

Above left: Head to the woods and stop to admire the beautiful panorama of Florence below. Photograph © Belmond/ Michael Adair. Above right: The charming view of Fiesole. Photograph © Belmond/ Michael Adair. Below left: Verdant garden of a Garden Suite. Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo. Below right: Exterior Villa San Michele. Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo.

illa San Michele has recently enhanced itsoutdoor areas and the privileged position above the city in a unique way with two new projects offering an unequalled view of Florence. The Villa has taken on a multiyear conservative restoration project of the portion of the Parco Monumentale di Monte Ceceri which it owns (2.5 hectares) and the recovery and redevelopment of the inside routes originally built by the monks who lived there, to strengthen the sense of spirituality in contact with nature. The Villa’s woodland is dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci who, according to legend, experimented with his flying machine precisely from this mount in 1506.

Above: Special dining in the renovated winery. Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo. Below left: The panoramic pool is the place to relax after a day exploring the beauties of Florence. Photograph © Belmond/ Michael Adair. Below right: Set off to explore Florence on a Dior Vespa. Photograph © Belmond/ Michael Adair.

LA DOLCE VITA 12

A NEW POINT OF VIEW OVER THE CITY THE LEONARDO WOODLAND AND THE WINDOW BY LEANDRO ERLICH

MOB: 9989 6286 FACEBOOK GIO. BATTA DELIA 1901 Gio. Batta Delia ESTABLISHED 1901

To celebrate the unparalleled perspective on the Florentine landscape, the installation Window & Ladder by Argentinian conceptual artist Leandro Erlich,part of the MITICO project- a collaboration between Galleria Continua and Belmond. Set in the most panoramic location in the gardens of the Villa, this installation extending toward the skya window in the air accessible through a suspended ladder –allows you with a glance, to frame the landscape from various angles.

LA DOLCE VITA

Above: High above Florence in the Fiesole hills sits Villa San Michele surrounded by ancient woodland and fanned by soft breezes scented with lemon, orange and rose. Photograph © Belmond/ Mattia Aquila. Below: The historic Cloister of Villa San Michele. Photograph © Belmond/ Mattia Aquila.

n the new ring-shaped path, a small vegetable garden provides herbs, vegetables, and berries from a secret garden suspended over the city. Continuing on the path, there is a terrace equipped for yoga and meditation, overlooking the ancient chapel of Saint Francis, a place of peace where to reconnect body and spirit with the surrounding landscape before reaching the old cistern, which supplied the entire Convent of San Michele during the Renaissance era.

Top right: View of the historic cloister of Villa San Michele with light filtering from its iconic glass roof. Photograph © Belmond/ Mattia Aquila. Bottom right: Stretching across the Arno Valley and over Florence, the views from Belmond Villa San Michele are a spectacular feast for the senses. Photograph © Belmond/ Mattia Aquila.

LA DOLCE VITA

Right: The installation Window & Ladder by Argentinian conceptual artist Leandro Erlich. Extending toward the sky - a window in the air accessible through a suspended ladder –allows you with a glance, to frame the landscape from various angles. Photograph © Belmond/ Mattia Aquila. Below: The historical lobby. Photograph © Belmond/ Mattia Aquila.

ABOUT BELMOND: Belmond has been a pioneer of luxury travel for over 45 years with a portfolio of one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the world’s mostinspiring destinations. Since the acquisition of the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has continued to perpetuate the legendary art of travel. Its portfolio extends across 24 countries with properties that include the illustrious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train and Italian hideaways such as The Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina.

LA DOLCE VITA

Above: Villa San Michele's imposing facade. Photograph © Belmond/ Mattia Aquila.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II 18

first

1974. THIS

19 QUEEN ELIZABETH II QUEENOFMALTAOnApril21,1926PrincessElizabethwasborninMayfair,LondonasthefirstchildoftheDukeandDuchessofYork.Onher21stbirthdayin1947,PrincessElizabethwentontheradioandmadeapromisetoBritainanditsCommonwealthnations:Shepledgedthat“mywholelife,whetheritbeshortorlong,willbedevotedtoyourservice.”Overherverylonglife,QueenElizabethIIfulfilledthatvow.OnNovember20,1947shemarriedPhilip,DukeofEdinburgh,andjust5yearslater,onFebruary6,1952,ElizabethbecameheadoftheCommonwealthandQueenRegentat25yearsold.OnJune2,1953shewascrownedasQueenofEnglandandin2015shebecamethelongestreigningEnglishmonarchinhistory.ThisJuneQueenElizabethcelebrated70yearsonthethrone.ShediedThursday8thSeptemberat96atBalmoralCastle,herbelovedsummerhomeinScotland.

A LIFE IN PICTURES

In 1964 Queen Elizabeth II became Queen of Malta with the passage of the Malta Independence Act. She remained the head of state of Malta until the amendment of the Constitution of Malta on 13 December PAGE: Queen Elizabeth II opening the Maltese Parliament in 1967, making a speech from the throne in the palace at Valletta, with Prince Philip seated alongside her. This was her second state visit as Queen and the time an independent Malta would welcome the Queen. Photography courtesy DOI.

n 1964 Queen Elizabeth II became Queen of Malta with the passage of the Malta Independence Act, which transformed the British Crown Colony of Malta into the Independent State of Malta. The Queen's executive powers were delegated to and exercised by the Governor-General of Malta. She remained the head of state of Malta until the amendment of the Constitution of Malta on 13 December 1974, which abolished the monarchy and established the Republic of Malta and the office of President of Malta. Queen Elizabeth II officially visited the Crown Colony of Malta in May 1954 and the State of Malta in November 1967. Her 1967 visit was referenced in her Christmas Broadcast that year: "Today Malta is independent, with the Crown occupying the same position as it does in the other self-governing countries of which I am Queen. This is the opening of a new and challenging chapter for the people of Malta and they are entering it with determination and enthusiasm."

This page: Prince Charles and Princess Anne step ashore with Admiral Earl Mountbatten and Lady Edwina Mountbatten at Customs House, Grand Harbour, Malta. April 1954. Photograph AP, File Photo.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II

ueen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 was the first to be televised, and by 1957 she had decided that the new medium was a much better place for her annual Christmas message than the radio, where her grandfather George V had first created the annual tradition in 1932. It had instant visual appeal and impact. Years later the Queen would thrill audiences in an appearance with Bond, ending with a stunt double parachuting into the Olympic stadium on opening night 2012. Her last speaking TV role would be for the Platinum Jubilee in an unexpected tea date with Paddington Bear. His final words: "Happy Jubilee Ma'am. And thank you, for everything." The Queen replied modestly: "That's very kind."

THE TV QUEEN

22 QUEEN ELIZABETH II

This page: Queen Elizabeth II's first televised Christmas broadcast, December 25 1957. Photograph AP File Photo/Sidney Smart.

This issue is available in four denominations; 1oz-€100, 1/2oz-€50, 1/4oz-€25 and 1/10oz-€10. Melita coins are legal tender and classed as investment gold, and their price is based primarily on the spot price of gold on the international markets. These bullion coins are exempt from any Value Added Tax. Each coin is set in an individually numbered sealed card that certifies the coin within. MELITA Gold MALTA Weight Alloy Diameter Quality Face Value Thickness Edge Year of Issue 1oz 31.103g (1oz) Fine Gold 999.9 34mm Proof-like €100 1.78mm Milled 2022 1/2oz 15.55g (1/2oz) Fine Gold 999.9 27mm Proof-like €50 1.40mm Milled 2022 1/4oz 7.77g (1/4oz) Fine Gold 999.9 22mm Proof-like €25 1.06mm Milled 2022 1/10oz 3.110g (1/10oz) Fine Gold 999.9 16mm Proof-like €10 0.80mm Milled 2022 Real size illustrations www.lombardmalta.com • www.maltacoins.com Available online at www.maltacoins.com or Lombard Bank, 67, Republic Street, Valletta in collaboration with Gold

Queen Elizabeth II, on her Platinum Jubilee.

But in 1936, when she was 10, King Edward VIII abdicated to marry twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson, and Elizabeth’s father became King George VI. Her younger sister, Princess Margaret, recalled asking Elizabeth whether this meant that she would one day be queen. "Yes, I suppose it does,” Margaret quoted Elizabeth as saying. Like many of her generation, Elizabeth was shaped by World War II. She was barely in her teens when Britain went to war with Germany in 1939. While the king and queen stayed at Buckingham Palace during the Blitz and toured the bombed-out neighborhoods of London, Elizabeth and Margaret stayed for most of the war at Windsor Castle, west of the capital. Even there, 300 bombs fell in an adjacent park, and the princesses spent many nights in an underground shelter. Her first public broadcast, made in 1940 when she was 14, was a wartime message to children evacuated to the countryside or overseas. “We children at home are full of cheerfulness and courage,” she said with a blend of stoicism and hope that would echo throughout her reign. “We are trying to do all we can to help out gallant soldiers, sailors and airmen. And we are trying, too, to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well.”

FAMILY LIFE

“When it comes to how to mark seventy years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow. It really is a first. But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee. While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family.”

lizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in London in 1926, the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. Her father’s elder brother, Prince Edward, was first in line for the throne, to be followed by any children he had.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

This page: Queen Elizabeth II accompanied by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh wave to wellwishers as they ride in the State Gold Coach from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's Cathedral, in London for a service of thanksgiving to celebrate her Golden Jubilee. June 4, 2002. Photograph AP File Photo/Rebecca Naden.

Queen Elizabeth II, on her beloved Prince Philip.

This page: Queen Elizabeth II, centre left and Prince Philip, centre, are seated with their children, from left, Prince Charles, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne, at Buckingham Palace, in London, on the occasion of the royal couple's silver wedding anniversary. November 1972. Photograph AP, File Photo.

“His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation - were all irrepressible. That mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him.”

QUEEN ELIZABETH

n 1945, after months of urging her parents to let her do something for the war effort, the heir to the throne became Second Subaltern Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. She enthusiastically learned how to drive and service heavy vehicles. On the night the war ended in Europe, May 8, 1945, she and Margaret managed to mingle, unrecognized, with celebrating crowds in London - “swept along on a tide of happiness and relief,” as she told the BBC decades later. She described it as “one of the most memorable nights of my life.” Two years later, at Westminster Abbey in November 1947, she married Royal Navy officer Philip Mountbatten, a prince of Greece and Denmark whom she had first met in 1939 when she was 13 and he 18. Postwar Britain was experiencing austerity and rationing, and so street decorations were limited, and no public holiday was declared. But the bride was allowed 100 extra ration coupons for her trousseau. The marriage lasted more than 73 years, until Philip’s death last year at age 99. Source AP.

“In a little over a week’s time we will come together as a nation, as a Commonwealth and indeed a global community, to lay my beloved mother to rest. In our sorrow, let us remember and draw strength from the light of her example. On behalf of all my family, I can only offer the most sincere and heartfelt thanks for your condolences and support. They mean more to me than I can ever possibly express. And to my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you. Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May “flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest”.”

QUEEN ELIZABETH II

This page: Queen Elizabeth II arriving for an official state dinner in Berlin. June 2015. Photograph AP File Photo/Markus Schreiber.

“

From a broadcast by The Queen on her Coronation Day, 1953.

EXTRACTED FROM HIS MAJESTY THE KING’S ADDRESS TO THE NATION AND THE COMMONWEALTH.

“Therefore I am sure that this, my Coronation, is not the symbol of a power and a splendour that are gone but a declaration of our hopes for the future, and for the years I may, by God's Grace and Mercy, be given to reign and serve you as your Queen.”

“Alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the United Kingdom, in all the countries where The Queen was Head of State, in the Commonwealth and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than seventy years in which my Mother, as Queen, served the people of so many nations. In 1947, on her twentyfirst birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from Cape Town to the Commonwealth to devote her life, whether it be short or long, to the service of her peoples. That was more than a promise: it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life.”

speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow. Throughout her life, Her Majesty The Queen – my beloved Mother – was an inspiration and example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother; for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example. Queen Elizabeth's was a life well lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today."

MAY “FLIGHTS OF ANGELS SING THEE TO THY REST”.

our

Trade Finance - Corporate Banking - Real Estate Finance Factoring - Forfaiting - Treasury Services Your trade nance and corporate banking partner FIMBank plc is regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority and is listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. The Bank’s registered address is Mercury Tower, The Exchange Financial and Business Centre, Elia Zammit Street, St Julian’s STJ 3155, Malta. The Bank is licensed to undertake the business of banking in terms of the Banking Act 1994 (Cap. 371). Terms and conditions apply and are available on request. +356 2132 2100 info@fimbank.com www.fimbank.com

The value of a dependable banking partner goes beyond the delivery of financial solutions. We strive to provide a high-quality banking experience to customers, by building relationships and offering products and services designed to enable their business to achieve sustainable growth.

A PHOTOGRAPHIC

31 C

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Queen Elizabeth II

“Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.”

HER MAJESTY HISTORY 1926-TODAY

elebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with TASCHEN's definitive photographic story of her public and private life. Brimming with tradition, history, glamour, and culture, this book features international tours, state functions, royal weddings, and jubilees, and showcases the glorious royal photography of such luminaries as David Bailey, Yousuf Karsh, Harry Benson, Nick Knight, Patrick Lichfield and many others. Photography courtesy TASCHEN.

Composed

20-25 SEPTEMBER 2022 M ED ITERR AN E AN CONFER EN C E C ENT R E, VALLETTA TICKETS WWW. SHOWSHAPPENING.COM

Caravaggio the Musical – The Rise and Fall of a Tormented Genius’ is an original new musical which tells the tempestuous story of the Renaissance artist Michelangelo Merisi aka Caravaggio who achieved fame and notoriety for his chiaroscuro masterpieces and volatile personality. by Paul Abela, with Book and Lyrics by Joe Julian Farrugia, and directed by Malcolm Galea.

“I know of no single formula for success, but over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.”

Queen Elizabeth II

This page: The book is filled with lavish photography. Here, the newly crowned Queen at Buckingham Palace after the coronation. She is wearing the Imperial State Crown, set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 5 rubies and 272 pearls. In her right hand, she holds the Sovereign Sceptre, containing the 530-carat Cullinan Diamond. 2 June 1953, photographed by Cecil Beaton.

orn in 1926, married in 1947, crowned as Queen in 1953, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II carried out her duty for more than six decades. TASCHEN celebrates her remarkable royal story with Her Majesty, a definitive photographic collection of her public and privateBrimminglife. with history, tradition, glamour, and culture, the book is a treasure trove of images that span the Queen’s early years right through to her most recent state tours and ceremonies. Along the way, the book traces her coming of age during World War II; her marriage, motherhood, and coronation; her encounters with such icons of their age as the Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, and JFK; and her extensive international travels, covering every detail of her remarkable life.

33 QUEEN ELIZABETH II

QUEEN ELIZABETH II 34

“If I wore beige, nobody would know who I am.”

Queen Elizabeth II

ANNIE LEIBOVITZ was invited twice to photograph the Queen - in 2007 and in 2016. She was given just 25 minutes for the 2007 sitting, and was the first American photographer to be asked by the royal family to photograph the Queen. Speaking to Vogue Leibovitz recalled capturing the late Queen Elizabeth II. "It was her duty sitting for photographs - part of what she did. And she totally gave herself over to the process, to the photographer, or the artist or the painter, to use their creativity and their imagination."

This page: Queen Elizabeth II in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in 2007, photographed by Annie Leibovitz.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Queen Elizabeth II

This page: Access the spectacular royal palaces and infectious celebration of royal weddings and jubilees, the elegance of official portraits, and the tenderness and humor of informal and family moments. Here the Queen and her young family.

36 QUEEN ELIZABETH II

“If I am asked what I think about family life after 25 years of marriage, I can answer with equal simplicity and conviction, I am for it.”

HER MAJESTY. A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY 1926 -TODAY. REUEL GOLDEN (EDITOR), CHRISTOPHER WARWICK (AUTHOR), PUBLISHED BY TASCHEN. HARDCOVER, 25 X 34 CM, 368 PAGES, € 50.

As much a showcase of royal celebration Her Majesty brings together images by top-notch photographers, including Cecil Beaton, Studio Lisa, Dorothy Wilding, Karsh, Lord Snowdon, David Bailey, Patrick Lichfield, Wolfgang Tillmans, Rankin, and Annie Leibovitz.

he book allows access to the spectacular royal palaces and infectious celebration of royal weddings and jubilees, the elegance of official portraits, and the tenderness and humor of informal and family moments.

35, G. Calleja Street, Swatar MONDAY - THURSDAY - FRIDAY 9AM www.monsoonaccessorize.com.mt-5PM

BEAUTY 38

CHANEL’s high standards and its quest for perfection in cosmetic ingredients, all begin here, deep in the roots of the camellia. In their laboratories, CHANEL develop customized technologies to analyse, extract, filter, and concentrate plant molecules. Knowing how to identify them and draw out their quintessence is part of the unique expertise of the CHANEL phytochemists.

ith one half buried in a complex subterranean environment, and the other half immersed in the atmosphere, the biochemical intelligence of plants makes them incredibly adaptable. They appear to be a life form that carries both solutions and promises. Understanding this, CHANEL incorporates many clean and sustainable plant resources into the development of skincare that is adapted to our era, to what our skins are subjected to, and to our requirements for a better world.

N°1 DE CHANEL marks the very first time that this extract has been incorporated into CHANEL skincare products, which prevent and correct the appearance of the 5 signs of aging. Mademoiselle Chanel’s favorite flower is now at the heart of a beauty line. Photography CHANEL.

Enriched in red camellia extract that preserves the look of vitality, the REVITALIZING SERUM is the key skincare step in the N°1 DE CHANEL beauty ritual. It prevents and corrects the appearance of the five signs of ageing. Formulated with 95% ingredients of natural origin, 76% of which are derived from the camellia, its transparent gel texture with a refreshing effect is immediately absorbed by the skin. With continued use, it visibly reduces the appearance of wrinkles and pores, improves skin elasticity, and provides comfort and a radiant-looking complexion again.

With N°1 DE CHANEL, the House of CHANEL takes a holistic approach to beauty, paving the way for a new generation of anti-aging products that are effective, eco-responsible, and enjoyable, all at once. It benefits from the latest scientific advances in the different CHANEL Research realms of expertise: camellia science, the field of skin senescence, and the art of formulation. After 10 years of experimentation in the field of senescence in collaboration with the University of Vienna, CHANEL has brought to light the remarkable revitalizing benefits of red camellia flower extract.

AHEAD OF TIME, SENSORIALLY

39 BEAUTY

The Influence of the Camellia N° 1 DE CHANEL

RED CAMELLIA REVITALIZING SERUM

Chanel is distributed by Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd.

When the Roman Empire declined, it was up to monasteries and convents to preserve and utilize the know-how of vine growing and winemaking in a world that was much less politically and economically stable. Monks and nuns cleared the land, selected the best parcels for growing vines, and cordoned them off with small-lying walls for protection and further selection. This page: A statue sits contemplatively outside the medieval Château de Gevrey-Chambertin.

Photograph Christophe Finot.

“Fruit

THIS IS WINE

storied

The tenth chapter in This is wine: its place and taste. of the earth, work of human hands, blessed be God GEVREY-CHAMBERTINforever”FORBEGINNERS

BURGUNDY - COTE D’OR - COTE DE NUITS - GEVREY CHAMBERTIN

them off with small-lying walls for protection and further selection. Their influence remained in place until around the 17th century when taxes and the declining power of the church led to a new bourgeoisie class who continued in their hallowed footsteps. Things would take on a new course when the French revolution saw large landowners like the monasteries and nobility have most of their land confiscated and sold off by the state to a new breed of vine growers and winemakers on a much smaller scale. Napoleonic inheritance laws ensured that all land was divided equally between offspring resulting in even smaller parcels of vines. This led to the emergence of negociants or wine merchants who bought the produce of various small growers and made wine under their own domain.Chiefamong them Domaine Rousseau founded by Armand in the 1920s would see a small brokerage firm negotiating between vine growers and winemakers become one of the most influential domaines in Gevrey and indeed in Burgundy itself. Armand was one of the first domaines to bottle his own wine, market Burgundy wines abroad, especially in the States, and during the difficult war decades of the 20th century, knew well which vineyards had the right soils as he gradually acquired a portfolio of top names. Under his meticulous pursuit of quality, he ensured that anything coming out with his name was high calibre. Continuing in the family tradition the present director Eric follows the same traditional almost simple but perfectionistic mantra of winemaking that is the high standard for Burgundy. Focusing on old vines, crop yields are severely limited and grapes are entirely destemmed to allow for a faithful expression of each parcel of land; resulting in wines known for their great concentration but equally balanced elegance and purity. The result of all this is wine that in price acceleration has outperformed most other luxury goods or asset classes, especially in the last two decades, making some vintages unreachable except for a privileged few. A Rousseau Chambertin Grand cru that was about 100 euros twenty years ago now sells over the ten thousand mark. Never has there been such great wine and yet sadly at unaffordable prices allowing for a frothy market where wine made not as well also commands a heavy premium. Gevrey-Chambertin has a lot to offer but wearily.

In broad brushstrokes when the Roman Empire declined, it was up to monasteries and convents to preserve and utilize the knowhow of vine growing and winemaking in a world that was much less politically and economically stable. Monks and nuns cleared the land, selected the best parcels for growing vines, and cordoned

GEVREY

evrey-Chambertin is the largest appellation in the Cote de Nuits and has the greatest number of grand cru climats, a total of 9, and 26 premier crus, even if of varying repute, all set around a quaint medieval village strewed with short stone-walled vineyards and ancient ruins as far as the eye can see. Despite its ancient record, the modern era would just about begin in 630 A.D. when land that had been cultivated as a vineyard by Cistercian nuns was bestowed by the then Duke of Southern Burgundy, Algamaire, to the newly-founded Abbey of Beze as a means of sustenance, starting the makings of what today is the fabled Grand Cru of Beze-Chambertin. The fire of fame was stolen as the story goes when six hundred years later a peasant by the name of Bertin bought the field next to the abbey and planted a vineyard that became known as Champs de Bertin or Chambertin for short. A name that eclipsed that of its neighbour to the point that when a parish council was held in 1847 to discuss the fate of the village it was decreed that henceforth Gevrey would append the name of Chambertin to its own as a marketing ploy. This worked incredibly well as it set a precedent followed by a number of wineproducing villages at a pace where Burgundy fondly added another layer of sophistication or complication in having double-barrelled named villages as a norm.

Marketing strategies aside, Gevrey-Chambertin is not just a trailblazer in terms of its terroir but also unique in its style of winemaking. While the soils and climate are such that grapes grown here are destined to make powerful wine, it is rather the pedigree of vine growing and winemaking which throughout at least the last century has seen fluctuations in tandem with what we think of red Burgundy wine today. Possibly because it is the largest producer in the Cote de Nuits with a multitude of winemakers and the largest expanse of terroir from grand cru to village level of varying strengths; some producers have helped establish this appellation while others unfortunately have rested on the coat tails of fame regardless of the level of wine made. Certainly, within the stratosphere of revered winemakers, the Domaine Armand Rousseau holds the crown as what Gevrey-Chambertin has best to offer, where others have fallen short.

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Just before the turn of the first millennium or 1AD, the first signs of Roman plantations would see the lower valleys taken up by rows of vines that were destined for wine in a style peculiar to its own day. Romans grew their vines on more fertile valley plains, spiked their wines with various preserving spices and herbs, stored them in clay amphorae, and famously drank them watered down in a way which would be almost alien to us, however not to all. Napoleon throughout his reign as Emperor and years of military exploits would drink his wine watered and that had to be the glorious and towering Chambertin, albeit with the letter N embossed on the bottles. As far as historical pedigree goes no place has anchored itself more in red wine and yet despite its more glamorous neighbour, Vosne-Romanee, it has held its own in producing wine known for its deep strength and intense body, affectionately rough on the edges in the first years but soaringly powerful with good aging, writes Kris Bonavita.

ust about ten thousand years ago the last glaciers of Europe retreated to usher in the present warm era where vast forests covered most of the habitable land that we see as countryside today. Things were not always so icy or sunny, Europe has gone through fluctuating periods of ice ages and tropical extremes which belie the moderate continental and Mediterranean norms we have come to associate with European wellbeing. The crushing effect of the tremendous weight of glacier ice and the fluctuating temperatures were not without their advantages as they left behind a beneficial trail of high soft ridges and deep valleys strewed with pebbles, stones, and silts that form the varied slopes with shallow topsoil which are considered some of the best land for growing grapes. It would take thousands of years for this forest land to be gradually cleared and for craggy slopes to be broken into and civilized into the neat rows of vinegrowing eye-pleasing landscape that has been immortalized in countless paintings. And within that setting Gevrey-Chambertin is ground zero in year zero for the beginnings of winemaking in this part of the world.

Photograph Fred. C.

Gevrey-Chambertin is the largest appellation in the Cote de Nuits and has the greatest number of grand cru climats, a total of 9, and 26 premier crus, even if of varying repute, all set around a quaint medieval village strewed with short stone-walled vineyards and ancient ruins as far as the eye can see. Despite its ancient record, the modern era would just about begin in 630 A.D. when land that had been cultivated as a vineyard by Cistercian nuns was bestowed by the then Duke of Southern Burgundy, Algamaire, to the newly-founded Abbey of Beze as a means of sustenance, starting the makings of what today is the fabled Grand Cru of Beze-Chambertin. This page: Clos de Beze - beginning of autumn.

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ossibly the major turning point in winemaking in the recent past was the chemical revolution of the 1960s where vines were subject to pesticides and fertilizers in what was thought of as an easy way to increased yields at a huge expense to the health of the soil and vines and the quality of the wines. This all came to an abrupt reckoning in the 1976 Judgment of Paris where blind tasting by renowned French wine experts lauded Californian reds and whites to the detriment of both Burgundy and Bordeaux wines. Tradition had to make way for some healthy self-reckoning, which overall has led to better quality wine even if demand and prices have allowed some domaines to thrive regardless of quality. This has especially been the case since a boost in technological know-how in the 1980s has led to applications that have made winemaking consistently easier regardless of difficult vintages. Influential domains made efforts to bring down yields and produce deeper, more concentrated, and more complex wines. We could say that we live in the best of wine worlds and the worst in that never has there been such selection and quality even if somewhat overpriced but never has there also been a vaster range of cheaper wines produced in such an industrialized and chemically intensive scale. Organic and biodynamic methods have become closer to the norm but we are very far from it being a scrupulous and strict standard across all agronomic practices. Fortuitously Bordeaux and Burgundy winemakers, possibly because classified vineyards are such prime real estate, are at the forefront of this emergent green revolution.

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evrey-Chambertin is the most northerly appellation of the Cote De Nuits to have Grand Cru designated red wine climats and is the start of the Route de Grands Cru or golden route of top vineyards that work their way down the Cote D’ Or. The town itself is situated in the combe or dry valley of Lavaux a few kilometres south of Dijon and sits in between a stretch of vineyards on either side of its location. Splitting the high ridge the combe can be described as a deep ravine with steep slopes fanning out at its mouth into a narrow bank of shallower slopes where the town itself is located before opening up into the plateau. The top vineyards on these slopes are slightly awash with rocks and shallow mineral-rich soils on hard limestone before settling into deeper alluvial deposits on lower grounds.

Blunt Power, Multi-Faceted and Complex With Age GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN WINE CARD

more drinkable wines without much cellaring for better or for worse. And yet despite the general trend, the best and grandest wines are still those which require gracious aging to reach their dizzying and multi-faceted heights of perfection or other-worldly feel factor. Whilst most wines have a fruit-forward accessibility, Gevrey-Chambertin in particular is known for wines that are best left to age. We could say the second life of a wine begins in the bottle. As it ages in perfect conditions it will go through various phases of evolving flavours and complexity. Young wines tend to express more of the fruit range of aromas and flavours and more pronounced tannins, to fall into a lull where wood and spice tones and stronger structure may overcome the overall feel of the wine, only to reach a nice steep phase or window of perfection where tertiary and mineralized aromas, flavours and various component elements of a wine weld and meld to be fully integrated and expressive on a lofty plateau for a number of years, before a fading decline. The time capsule and window for all this depends on the quality and style of wine but is also intrinsically linked to the terroir and its capacity to produce wines of an aging calibre. This region is famed for its spectrum of wines that are accessible at varying phases of the aging process, in fact, only get better with time, and as such is what good red Burgundy is all about.

Winemaking styles have also adapted to reflect consumer demand for

Gevrey sets records on a number of fronts. With a thousand hectares of vinified land, it has the largest area in the Cote de Nuits that falls under its appellation. It also has the greatest quantity and proportion of vineyards designated grand cru and premier cru with 9 and 26 climates respectively taking up 40 percent of vinified land. Wines at this level are often pricey but of a high calibre. Surprisingly for Burgundy, the various vineyard classifications are geographically clearly designated rather than intermingled. The majority of the premier cru climats lie north of the

valley and medieval village with terroir that is predominantly a mix of limestone clay marls and red alluvial soils. Just southwest of the village the nine grand cru are situated in one row of shallow top soils overlying hard limestone. Some premier cru vineyards adjoin this esteemed group. Further east towards the plain the soils become deeper and more alluvial resulting in lighter less prestigious wines that fall under the Village appellation. Even if growers are allowed to label their wines under the village designation of Gevrey-Chambertin and even mention the vineyard or lieu-dit, the sheer quantity and variability make buying wine here a bit of a minefield and the region could possibly benefit from a stricter reclassification. In the meantime over and above choosing reputable winemakers when buying Gevrey even at Village level, bottles that specify the lieu-dit (over 60 vineyards have specific designations) can be differentiated according to terroir giving some indication of quality.

Château de Gevrey-Chambertin, surrounded by vineyards, is the oldest building on the Côtes de Nuits. Construction began in the 11th century and completed in the 13th century. It has been pillaged and rebuilt numerous times over its lifetime and under the ownership of the Abbaye de Cluny for many years. Owned privately from 1858, it was sold off in 2012 to the Chinese businessman Louis Ng. The vineyards are under the management of Eric Rousseau (from Domaine Armand Rousseau).

THIS IS WINE 44

Photograph Christophe Finot.

ach domaine has a certain style of winemaking that has a bearing on the wine made especially in the first years of drinking. Some boutique style domaines produce wines that are more seamlessly pure or rounded, others verge on the multi-layered rugged and explosive, but each has its own following. Some are based locally, such as Rousseau and the Trapets, others are centred elsewhere, such as Faiveley in Nuits St Georges and Louis Jadot in Beaune. With age, the true colours of a Gevrey come through to reveal the stronger character of terroir over and above wine style. This is especially the case for great vintages in contrast to more difficult years which produce wines that are best drunk young. The shallow clay and iron-rich soils overlying hard limestone subsoils, together with the combination of continental weather and south-east facing exposures, result in concentrated wines balanced with good acidity, intense flavours, and powerful tannins that often need graceful cellaring to be enjoyed fully. This

Deep Faceted Wines with a Welcoming Rusticity PINOT NOIR AT ITS MOST SOPHISTICATED

45 GEVREY CHAMBERTIN

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terms of soils, geology, and climate which allow them to flourish, however part of this formula requires that vines are also stressed by their environment to promote stronger growth and yield and more concentrated flavours and intensity of fruit. Scare resources in terms of water, nutrients and shallow soils over and above slightly hostile weather conditions are essential. And the varying latitudes and exposures of the landscape provide varying expressions of a grape variety which when blended together even from the same plot contribute levels of complexity and depth that are important components of good wine. Thus respectable domaines in Gevrey are at the forefront of harnessing this diversity in their choice of quality to produce wines which even at village level can result especially after aging in incredible and complex wines.

is especially true of the Grand cru wines, such as the gold standards of Clos de Beze and Chambertin, one being more aromatically pure, the other more complex respectively. What distinguishes Gevrey wines apart are their robust tannins and hearty gamey, even wild nature, even if not more so at good Village level, and sometimes pleasingly at the expense of elegance. Unique to Gevrey, some of the Premier Cru such as Clos St Jacques and Clos de Varoilles are more approachable at an earlier age than their Grand Cru counterparts, while the Grand Cru can need less aging than a Village level. Gevrey has a large number of producers making a vast quantity of wine so more than in other parts of the Cote de Nuits, domain name is a more reliable test of quality than the vineyard per se at all levels of classification from Grand cru to more reasonable price brackets.

of earth, mineral, spice, liquorice and chocolate are also sometimes present. This is the main reason why traditional wines need more aging, for the various facets to reach an integrated balance over and above the evolution and softening of strong tannins and better expression of terroir and flavour. The more fashionably made wines, intent for early drinking, bring out more of the soft red fruit and acidity perspective to cater for our new breed of impatient drinkers.

The climate of Gevrey is perhaps perfect for Pinot Noir with a marginally continental pattern with cool nights and warm days resulting in a perfect balance between acidity and full ripeness. The woodlands directly above the line of vineyards provide some protection against hail and inclement weather while the valley itself can be a source of cold fronts delaying ripening but aiding acidity levels. The south and east exposure of the classified vineyards as well as the poor soils result in small concentred grapes and powerful wines. In recent years, due to global warming, vintages have tended to reach each stage of maturity earlier, with grapes having higher sugar levels, resulting in higher alcohol. While the vines have adapted to the new weather patterns, despite the risk of more haphazard hails and frosts, the hotter summers will result in a different style of wine hitherto unknown. Spring frosts and heavy autumn hailstorms are the biggest threat in difficult vintage years. In the recent past, the best vintage years have been 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2010, 2009, and 2005. In close seconds with good overall balance are 2017, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2008. However popular and critic wine ratings should be consulted on individual bottles regardless of vintage, domain, and vineyard labeling.

inot Noir grown well in the right part of Gevrey can give expression to some of the most intense multilayered and even complex Pinot known possible. Wines are often the most fullbodied, dense and structured of Burgundies. In terms of aromas and flavours, the more traditionally styled wines start life with a dark fruit and berry dimension of black cherry, black currant, raspberry, even olive and a signature smoked meat or gamey vein. The best wines have an added layer of perfumed flowers, herbs and smoke, over and above intensity and strength that sometimes trumps polish but for a good cause. Soave textures

t the Grand Cru level, Clos de Beze and Chambertin are the most prestigious with the other seven sharing a border and fame in their trail. Premier Cru wines can be divided into two main groups over and above the sporadic outliers. North of the town in one contiguous group with good sun exposure lie one group known for their rich character, summing up the Gevrey character, and include all the Saint Jacques vineyards and Les Cazetiers. A second group south of the town lies deep in grand cru territory. Aux Combottes in this group is worthy of mention. The remaining 60 percent of over 500 hectares is designated Village and is problematically made up of a diverse range of land sprawling throughout the region with the greatest range of quality dictating that domaine name is more important than labeling when choosing what to drink.

In broad brushstrokes, the terroir of Village level vineyards of GevreyChambertin can be divided into three groups. Vineyards to the south of the village surrounding the grand cru climats, often at the base of the slopes, producing wines that are somewhat softer and more approachable at a younger age than their grand cru and premier cru neighbours, such as Aux Etelois and En Palud. Vineyards within and to the west of the village and neighbouring the northern commune of Brochon, starting from the edge of the valley and working their way along the hillside, producing wines that are more structured and powerful in need of some aging, such as En Chamos, Combe du Dessus and En Vosne. The third group of vineyards to the east of the village and beyond the railway tracks parallel to the Cote slopes, often lie on the deep-soiled alluvial plain which is not just too fertile for good wine, but lacks the limestone and mineral-rich shallow soils associated with good Burgundy. Wines from this neck of the woods often come without provenance of the specific vineyard since doing so would not add prestige to a more diluted style of wine.Assuch it is worth noting that grape varieties have comfort zones in

King of Burgundy

Domaines Albert Bichot is one of the oldest and largest owning a number of other domaines with vineyards throughout Burgundy. It originated as a merchant house, before buying over 100 hectares of grand cru and premier cru vines, known for its distinguishable high calibre wine-making hedonistic style.

lbert Bichot Gevrey Chambertin 2017 is dark crimson in colour. Dense lush aromas of chocolate, liquorice, mushrooms, wet earth and smoked wood accompany the ripe fruit on first opening. The smooth entry is racy ripe blackcurrants and wild griotte cherries with a mid-palate softness of fruit, wood and leaves wrapped up in a raspy vanilla finish. There is a touch of gravel minerality and gamey wild animal fur and musk cadence throughout the whole experience, while a candidly tart rhubarb and grenadine syrup theme throws the vintage and appellation in good light. Upon breathing toasted notes of bramble berries and coffee grind make their mark. Weightier mid-tones and a longer finish of morello cherries with a touch of embers further confirm Gevrey’s signature notes.

Domaines Albert Bichot Gevrey-Chambertin 2017

exclusively represented by Mirachem

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THIS

All in all this village-level wine has a concentration and structure above its mark, not least in having a ripeness, power and lift resembling more the stellar 2019 rather than the classically themed 2017. This is also true when it comes to the precision and connectivity of the wine showing that domaine is often far more important than classification. The palpable sense of fruit and ripe tannins with lift are typical of the alluvium soils plateau east of the village proper, where this comes from. A mix of the gravel floral cadence and red limestone and clay animalistic streak typical of Gevrey has a mineral intensity beyond what you would expect from this neck of the woods. As for 2017, this wine certainly throws the vintage in good light in its reappraisal of a refreshingly classical style with a good level of intensity already on its way to being open for business.

ouis Latour Gevrey-Chambertin Les Cazetiers 2012 is dark brooding scarlet. The initial bouquet is chocolate-covered Morello cherries with homespun baked apple pie spices of cinnamon and vanilla swiftly drifting into an intertwined confection of fruit, wood, spice and minerals. The entry is tart red cherries and berries upholding a wintry austerity only to charm with a mid-palate soft textured summary ripeness of medium plus bodied weight before a more autumnal powdery resinous smoked embers and preserved strawberries finish. There is a beautifully strung tense energy captured in the wine held together with an ethereal grace on all levels throughout the experience which says a lot about its sun-exposed top premier cru pedigree despite a turbulent vintage. 2012 had a wet cool spring slide into a hailstorm and rain-riddled summer only to be saved by an overly hot September. Concentrated small yields are the backbone of this wine with a racy classical theme underlying the hedonistic side to make this a half-and-half vintage with an abundance of both ripe and austere flavours now melded together in a symphony of colouristic hues adding a feather to its complex bottle cap.

Maison Louis Latour G-C Les Cazetiers 1er Cru 2012

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Upon further breathing, Gevrey’s quasi grand cru vineyard rears its beautiful head with wild animal hide, fur, musk, incense, ambergris, olive, and bunches of dark flowers attesting the griotte gravel scree, gamey red soils and marlish undergrowth. Cazetier is known for its masculine aromatics complementing St Jacques floral scents next door but to quote Lady Macbeth all the perfumes of Arabia are pretty much concocted in this brew. Gevrey-Chambertin is all about intensity, whether that be male or female, it is all about primeval musk and animalistic visceral scents of hunted wild prey or huntress in pursuit; part impassioned and enthralled angelic tones of lilies and violets; part timbered and deeply buried earthy baritone flavours and f earsomely pummelling textures. You could easily fall into the trap of genderising descriptors, but there is a seductive perfume that equally accompanies the blood, bones and viscerals of a wine like this. And it is captivating. For good reason.

GEVREY CHAMBERTIN

Supplier details: Cellar, Oratory Street, Naxxar 00356 00356

Frédéric Magnien is a fifth-generation winemaker hailing from Morey with a cutting-edge spirit using bio-dynamic methods and more neutral clay amphorae to highlight the purity of the fruit with a loyalty to the soils in an accented way. This cuvee comes from 60-year-old vines grown on gravel-rich soils in one walled climat Jeunes-Rois south of the Rue de Grand Cru at the northernmost edge of Gevrey bordering the commune of Brochon.

48 THIS IS WINE

by S. Rausi

Ltd

Supplier

The structure is there for this to age at will, 2018 is a big vintage with wines often larger than their bottle across the cru range and this certainly sports a structure and concentration which will develop into the dark baked spices Gevrey is famous for, but quite approachable already. The vanillin heart of this wine sports the appellation in good style with a purr to the tannins rather than a roar which I find differentiates Gevrey’s feline strength in contrast to Nuits’s similar bearings. The rich primary and weight of tertiaries, as opposed to secondary notes proper with an abundance of floral notes, speak of the gravel endowed lower mid-slope soils north of the village proper also common to some other climats along the edge of the combe and hillside and hugging the medieval village. Certainly one of the best-value village-level wines that I know of.

€50, exclusively represented Trading

details: S. Rausi Trading has a selection of Burgundy wines from Frédéric Magnien. S Rausi Trading Ltd, Empire Stadium Str, Gzira. Tel 00356 2131 6210. Web srausi.com/shop

rédéric Magnien Gevrey-Chambertin Jeunes-Rois 2018 is dark crimson in colour. The bouquet is smoked wild berries and tart griotte cherries with a tinge of meringue. Dry earth tone aromas oscillate between the gravel and brown clay soils. The entry is crushed berries leading to a beautiful complexion of more fruit and a dry medium-bodied mid-palate softness of tannins with a candy coasted finish typical of 2018. The wine is quite feisty and full of life with lots of body at this stage but the signature Gevrey notes are already there as are the base spices of nutmeg, pepper, and fenugreek. There are organic flavours and aromas with a wholesome depth that speak volumes of the bio-dynamic vine growing methods. Last but not least a heady sweet nose of white flora flowers that is a signature of the gravels of Gevrey makes its mark. The mignonette; a green whitish flower that dances between ambrosial lilies, vanilla blossoms, and violets is a staple of the gravels that grace some climats here. With good breathing more palatable but fleshier mid-tones of fruit and woods in the wet tobacco and cedar range and syrupy bands of dark chocolate-covered berries and leather for good measure enshrine the stellar ripe vintage but also deep-rooted old vines and pure but complex winemaking style.

Frédéric Magnien Gevrey-Chambertin Jeunes-Rois 2018

In some ways this is classic Jadot; reserved purity richly pleated and soberingly well poised. As with all Gevreys the key to the appellation’s appreciation amongst the huge diversity of vineyard climats and flavour profiles is identifying the type of terroir. The general feel of this wine, with its elegant aromatics, is upper slope marly soils with a dose of floral gravel scree. The secondary note finesse is typical of the domaine, the bold structure is 2015 in essence, but the highly wrought flavour profile of wild game and mushroom notes say a lot about bare rock verticals with brown clay and red iron-rich limestone soils reminding me of the vineyards hugging the grand/premier cru band slopes on either side of the village, and usually more approachable at a younger age. Overall the blend is coherent and complex enough to enjoy the appellation and vintage with enough precision to make this very good value for money.

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aison Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin 2015 is crimson red. Ebonized aromas with luscious textures speak loudly of a stellar vintage from the moment of opening; a touch of ripe strawberries, cranberries and red currants with fragrant florals in trail. The attack is flowery strawberries leading to a medium plus bodied feel of overarching primary fruit flavours rearing to go, with a secondary note finish in the beeswax, wet wool, French polish and dash of smoke sphere of influence. This needs time to open up but is already sporting a complexity and layered strength that reminds me of higher sanctioned wines. Upon breathing extremely aromatic flowers, leaves and stems play on classical themes, a highlight of the year and domaine style, with enough ripe fruit tones and tertiaries to remind you of the place and time this comes from. The start and finish have filled in nicely with the mid-texture tones smoothed out enough to give a general feeling of a wine that is more cohesive and has weightier bearing, without losing out on the ethereal integrity of a good Burgundy.

€46.73, exclusively represented by Attard and Co. Wines Supplier details: Attard & Co. Wines has a good range of Burgundy wines from Domaine Louis Jadot. Attard & Co. Wines, Canter House, P. Felicjan Bilocca Str., Marsa. Tel 00356 2123 7555 (Gozo 00356 2156 4570). Web attardcowines.comm

Domaine Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin 2015

familiar characteristics. Here is a brief guide to the various flavour profiles of each of the major geographic zones of Nuits Saint Georges as a template from which to enjoy and appreciate the various nuances the appellation offers, writes Kris Bonavita.

THIS IS WINE

HOW TO ENJOY BURGUNDY REDS THE CASE OF NUITS SAINT GEORGES

classical touch of light maceration. A number of climats hugging the village and lower down the 1re cru band fit this profile. Overall dry or wet years can accentuate these differences where stellar vintages blur these distinctions enough to realise that this is just a blunt truncation of signature profiles but it’s a start. Domaine is almost more important than classification and remains astoundingly fundamental.

lower slopes and combe edge (dry valley) give rise to deeper soils with a blend of alluvium and silty clays resulting in wines with a robust mid palate presence and tannic structure on the fruity side complemented by textured tertiaries/ less precise minerality and woodier spices. Domaine style here is essential in skilfully extracting either the more fashionable full phenolics of ripeness or going for a more

AS A WORD OF CAUTION: Most wines need a few hours of good breathing before giving up their secrets. Ideally, open a bottle, pour out half a glass to taste and enjoy, recork the bottle and keep in a cooler or fridge for three to five hours to allow the wine to open up from its deep sleep. Contrary to popular belief, the younger the wine the more likely it needs to breathe to reach a delectable and palatable level of complexity and weight. Older wines depending upon vintage need to be decanted and followed over the course of time in order to pick up when is best to drink. This applies to Burgundy Pinot Noirs more than to any other wine region.

he secret to appreciating Nuits Saints Georges is depth of soil. Burgundy red is a blend of Pinot Noir grapes grown on varying depths and types of soil with differing sun exposure. A harsh environment and a fussy grape translate into precisely distinct and complex peaks of aromas, flavours and textures to different parts of the palate.

The prism of good ageing has given this vintage a new lease of life from a lacklustre performance in the early drinking years to wines that have come through with enough complexity and character to be enjoyed now at an advantage to more stellar vintages needing more time in the cellar. 2011 was a very difficult year for vignerons in a part of the world already famous for temperamental weather. A warm spring climaxed into a severely hot early summer only to shift to an erratically cold and hailstorm-riddled July before the heat picked up again in August enough to see ripened berries with low levels of sugar and light tannins. This wine admirably sports a crystalline purity to the fruit balanced by a good dose of aromatics and minerality to revisit this classical vintage in the right domaine hands.

€48.91, exclusively represented by Charles Grech Ltd

dentifying the mineral profile of each climat (vineyard) is a matter of familiarity but there are overall traits:

Supplier details: Charles Grech has a vast selection of Burgundy wines. Charles Grech, Palazzo Ca' Brugnera, Valley Road, B'Kara. Tel: 00356 2144 4400 (Sliema 00356 2132 3731, Ibragg 00356 2137 8609, Ta' Xbiex Seafront 00356 2131 5064). Web charlesgrech.com

1The shallow soils on the upper rock slopes give rise to secondary flavours in the dry flowers, wood, stem and leaves dimension all the way through to subtle tertiary notes. The fruit is on the light side in the mid-palate but comes through in ripe aromas and smokeburnished tannins due to sunnier/windier/dryer dispositions. You can get a contrast between sweet ripe aromas and florals and stemier wood flavours in younger wine that need time to resolve into a mesmerising brew of mulled animal hide with sophisticated elegance. Premaux-Prissey falls into this ambit with the pink limestone giving a gamey savoury

Domaine Patriarche Nuits Saint Georges 2011 is beautiful crimson red in robe. The aromas are keenly resolved ripe red cherries, wood bark, and baked spice with a hint of coffee. The entry is more red stone fruit and berries filled in by a mid-palate lushness of brushed velvety tannins in the cola drop range leading to a sweet blackberry syrup and cinnamon finish. This is on its way to full maturity with a great complexion of well folded in flavours syncretised on the good acidity fruit side with a number of secondary flavours sporting the appellation’s lower slopes and valley depths typical of a village-level wine. There is concentration and density with wrapped up tannins still showing that this can cellar for longer quite comfortably.

BURGUNDY REDS

atriache founded in 1780 is a wine merchant and producer based in Beaune having a healthy portfolio of wines covering a good part of Burgundy. Here we taste their Nuits Saint Georges 2011, a village-level wine at an attractive price point, to illustrate this template.

more umami due to contrasting textures, but equally distinct woods and florals especially with older vines. The wines can be drunk on the young side but are built for cellaring and surprisingly peak earlier than village-level fare since the tannic resolution and syncretization have already happened in the vines themselves. The golden band of premier cru vines southwest of Nuits fit this profile; sporting their complexity instantly and can be identified by a rich mineral streak throughout but accentuated in the finish with enough mid-palate generosity to enjoy at various stages of cellaring. A small group of climats close to Vosne also fall into this ambit with a resonant finesse and aromatic structure (more tonka bean, cherry and girondelle than cassis and cola

After a few hours breathing rose petal notes emerge with more tobacco and cedar; a weightier attack of fleshed-out berries; and a mid palate intensity that sees you through to a longer finish of sweet but mouth-quenching acidity. More complex tertiary notes of roasted creamy hazelnuts, wet earth brown mushrooms, truffly undergrowth overriding the fruit and wood flavours sport the vintage in good light. While the wood tones, cola fizz and coffee grind attest the gravel, silt and clay soils.

fizz).3The

Domaine Patriarche Nuits Saint Georges 2011

edge.2The mid slopes with less shallow soils of brown clay, gravel and alluvial scree with limestone strata give rise to a balanced depth of rich aromas tied to related flavours in the mushroom tertiary, leathery secondary and fruity primary range. You get more generous berried fruit,

form of worship,

Judith B. Jones

demands attention, patience, and above all, a respect for the gifts of the earth. It

move from summer to autumn, and if you are entertaining, all can be prepared ahead. This collection of recipes also includes an olive oil cake recipe with almond flour and Amaretto in the mix, and finished with a lemon mascarpone frosting, crushed shortbread biscuits and lemon zest shavings Cooking and photography Mediterranean Culinary Academy. 52

GIFTS OF THE EARTH

way of giving thanks.”

FRESH HARVEST

“Cooking is a a

SEPTEMBER HARVEST

FRESH HARVEST 53

FRESH HARVEST 55 SERVES 2 - 3 2 medium to large zucchini, 1 cut into 1cm thick slices 1 40glemongrated Parmigiano 2-3Regianotablespoons Panko 6breadcrumbsblackolives (pitted), chopped into 4-6 pieces 2 sprigs of mint, finely extrasliced virgin olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed 1. Preheat oven to 180C. Season zucchini slices lightly with salt. In a large shallow bowl mix breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan, season with a pinch of salt and a few twists of freshly ground black pepper. 2. Coat zucchini slices well with mixture and arrange on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Top with a little extra mixture. 3. Bake until golden brown, roughly 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven. 4. Cut zucchini top and bottom off. Shave long ribbons from top to bottom with a rotary mandolin, vegetable spiral slicer, julienne peeler, or a vegetable peeler. Lay ribbons on top of each other. 5. Shave down to seed core and turn zucchini over to shave other side. Repeat on all sides and discard core. 6. Arrange stacked ribbons and carefully slice into thin strips with a sharp knife. 7. Make a vinaigrette by zesting half a lemon, add to a jar, squeeze half juice from lemon into jar, and add a pinch of salt and several twists of freshly ground black pepper. Top up with 3 times as much extra virgin olive oil as lemon juice. Close jar and shake to combine when ready to use.

9. Plate zucchini salad and top with zucchini fritters fresh from the oven.

These crunchy savoury fritters give a good contrast to the freshness and acidity of the shaved zucchini salad. The baked zucchini themselves make an excellent snack so you may want to make extras. If you have any leftover crumb from coating the zucchini, bake it separately on a lined baking sheet at 160C until it is golden brown and use it for a crunchy topping for pasta dishes.

8. Add olives and mint to the zucchini strips. Shake and add vinaigrette, one tablespoon at a time until zucchini is seasoned to your liking. Adding salt if necessary.

ZUCCHINISHAVEDFRITTERSPARMESANZUCCHINIONSALAD

overhang. Lay down baking paper and grease lightly with olive oil on both sides and nestle into cooking vessel.

10. Place tortilla into preheated oven for 20 minutes or until cooked through. Optionally switch oven setting to grill to crisp cheese on top.

11. Once nicely coloured allow to cool slightly before slicing and serving.

This dish can be served hot but is just as delicious served at room temperature –which means you can make it ahead. You can peel your potatoes if the skins' flavour and texture aren’t to your taste, but we recommend leaving the skins on for additional flavour and nutritional value.

REDONIONCARAMELISEDPOTATO,WITHTORTILLASPANISHROASTEDANDPEPPER

9. Carefully pour egg mixture over baking paper. Gently move ingredients with a spoon if necessary, to distribute evenly. Sprinkle with remainder of parmesan.

FRESH HARVEST SERVES2 - 3 6 eggs 1 large potato, chopped to bite sized cubes 1 onion, sliced thinly 1 red pepper, sliced thinly 40g parmesan, finely grated FOR THE SPICE MIX 1tbsp smoked paprika 1/2tsp crushed chili flakes pinch of saffron threads olive oil and salt to taste 1. Preheating oven to 180C. Line a rimmed baking sheet with baking paper. Season potato well with olive oil, salt and half of the paprika and chili from spice mix. 2. Place potatoes onto baking tray. Cook for 30 minutes or until lightly coloured and tender. 3. Place a sauté pan over medium heat and add some olive oil. Add onions and season with a pinch of salt. Allow to caramelise by cooking gently while stirring, up to 15 minutes. 4. Remove caramelised onions and turn up heat to medium-high. Add a splash of olive oil and once hot, add red peppers with a pinch of salt. Cook for 5 minutes or until lightly coloured and softened. 5. Add caramelised onions back to pan with the spice mix. Cook together for an additional five minutes. Remove and set aside with potatoes. 6. Add eggs to a large bowl, beat until homogenous with a pinch of salt. 7. Add cooked potato, onion and peppers to eggs with half of parmesan. 8. To cook tortilla, select an oven-proof frying pan with a metal handle without plastic, or a large enough pie pan that will hold mixture. Prepare a baking sheet to cover whole dish, including sides with some

FRESH HARVEST

1 clove garlic, minced 40g pumpkin seeds

200gremovedchickpeas, soaked overnight in water

1/2tsp turmeric

3. Reduce oven to 150C. In a bowl season kale lightly with salt and olive oil. Spread kale out onto a baking tray lined with baking paper, place into oven for 15-20 minutes or until kale is crisp but still green. Remove from tray and cool to room temperature.

1/2tsp bicarbonate of soda

2. Preheat oven to 200C with a baking tray inside to get hot. Pat off any moisture from pumpkin with paper towel and season liberally with olive oil and salt. Cut a sheet of baking paper that will fit baking tray. Once oven is preheated, quickly remove hot tray, line with baking paper, spread out seasoned pumpkin, return tray to oven immediately. Cook for 20 minutes and turn pumpkin over. Cook another 10 minutes or until nicely browned.

1/4 tsp chili powder extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and salt to taste

1. Place chickpeas and remaining water into a large pot, add a generous sprinkling of salt. Bring up to the boil and then reduce heat slightly to a low boil. Remove any scum that surfaces with a spoon or ladle and discard. Cook for an hour or until chickpeas are soft enough to squash between your fingers. You can also remove a few spoonfuls of chickpeas that are tender but not too soft before fully cooked and reserve them as garnish.

SERVES 2 - 3

4. Increase oven temperature to 160C. Season pumpkin seeds with a bit of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Place on lined baking tray used for kale chips and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.

1kg wedge pumpkin, diced into 1-inch cubes

5. Once chickpeas are cooked, strain but reserve liquid. Add chickpeas to a food processor or blender. Add about 100ml of cooking liquid, tahini, garlic, cumin, turmeric and chili powder, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add a few cubes of roast pumpkin and puree everything until smooth. Adding more pumpkin gives a more pronounced pumpkin flavour. Thin out with reserved cooking liquid and process hummus to consistency of a thick milkshake.

Classic hummus is enriched with a touch of roast pumpkin for this recipe. If you want to infuse the chickpeas with extra flavour you can cook them in stock or add additional hard herbs and spices to the cooking water.

ROAST PUMPKIN AND CRISPYHUMMUSPUMPKINWITHKALE

6 leaves curly kale, stems

1tsp cumin, ground

To soak chickpeas overnight, place into a large bowl or container, add 1/2tsp bicarbonate of soda and enough water until there appears to be twice as much water as chickpeas, to allow for absorption and doubling in size. If your kitchen is warm, store container in fridge instead.

2tbsp tahini

6. To serve, spoon a generous amount of hummus onto bottom of a plate, layer on roasted pumpkin, crispy kale, a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds, a few chickpeas and finish with a good drizzle of a quality extra virgin olive oil. Serve with crackers or bread to spoon up the hummus.

FRESH HARVEST 58 Recipes are from The Mediterranean Culinary Academy's collection developed by their chef instructors. For more recipes, or to book a cooking class visit www.mcamalta.com or email contact@mcamalta.com. Share your creations by tagging @mca_malta or sending MCA a photo on their socials. lemon zest shavings. For the frosting you can use cream cheese or mascarpone. Mascarpone or "Italian cream cheese" has a higher fat content than "American" cream cheese, and as such a much richer, creamier taste. OLIVE OIL CAKE WITH LEMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING BUTTERY LEMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING 50g cream cheese or mascarpone 100g butter, softened 300g icing sugar 1tsp vanilla essence 1-3tsp lemon juice zest from 1 lemon + extra to decorate crushed biscuits to decorate (we used shortbread) 1. Add butter to cream cheese, whisk in vanilla essence and mix with icing sugar to form a paste 2. Add lemon juice and zest slowly to desired consistency. 3. Once cake has cooled, cut in half, frost on both sides. Drizzle centre with crushed biscuits) and close. Frost top and sides, and drizzle top with crushed biscuits to decorate. Finish with lemon zest shavings. 1. ovenPreheatto180C. 2. Rub butter over base and sides of baking pan to coat evenly. 3. Line bottom of the pan with a round of baking paper and smooth to eliminate air bubbles. Coat paper with more butter. 4. Sprinkle sugar into pan and rotate to create an even coating along sides. Remove any excess. 5. Whisk flour, almond flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt and lemon zest in a bowl to combine and eliminate any lumps. 6. Stir together Amaretto, lemon juice and vanilla in a small bowl. 7. Beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl until mixture is thick, pale and falls off whisk in a slow, dissolving ribbon. 8. While still whisking, slowly stream in olive oil. 9. Sift in dry ingredients using a sieve in 3 additions, folding in slowly and adding half of amaretto mixture in between each addition of the dry. 10. Fold batter several times with a large rubber spatula, making sure to scrape bottom and sides of bowl. 11. Scrape batter into baking pan, smooth off top, and sprinkle with more sugar. 12. Place into oven and immediately reduce oven temperature to 160C. Bake until top is golden brown, centre is firm to touch and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Approximately 40-50 minutes. 13. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cake cool in pan for 15 minutes. 14. Run a thin knife around edges of cake and remove from pan. 15. Slide onto rack and let cool completely. SERVES 8 140g extra virgin olive oil 115g sugar, plus extra for dusting 125g cake flour 20g almond flour 4g baking powder 1g baking soda 3g lemon30ml5ml25mlsaltAmarettovanillaextractlemonjuicezestfrom1 lemon 2 large eggs butter as needed

/awareness əˈwɛːnəs/ knowledgenoun or perception of a situation or fact. “we need to raise public awareness of the issue” PRIDE 60 WHY IS IMPORTANT?PRIDE

Photography this page Raphael Renter.

“It takes no compromise to give people their rights ... it takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.”

61 PRIDE

Harvey Milk Gay Rights Activist and Politician 1930-1978

AWARENESS

The Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIGESC) Unit within the Human Rights Directorate is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Government’s LGBTIQ Equality Strategy and Action Plan 2018-2022. It collaborates with other Ministries and government entities to facilitate the process of mainstreaming LGBTIQ efforts in a range of sectors such as health, education, policing and migration among others. These are some of the initiatives that were undertaken over the past year.

LGBTIQPromotingEquality

PRIDE 62

63 PRIDE

he media has an important role to play in all societies in reporting, educating, entertaining as well as holding politicians and others to account and is an essential pillar in any democracy. The media in Malta has played a key role in raising awareness about LGBTIQ issues and in portraying personal

The TRANSFORM Project

Adressing Hate Speech and Hate Crime

ver the past two years, the SOGIGESC Unit in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry for Health; Ghent University Hospital and their Transgender Infopunt, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN), the Malta College of Family Doctors (MCFD), ILGAEurope, Transgender Europe and Steward Health Care were engaged in the implementation of the TRANSFORM Project. The project was cofunded through the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme. Project activities aimed at enhancing the capacity of a range of health practitioners to address the health needs of LGBTIQ patients in a sensitive manner that acknowledges the specific challenges often encountered by LGBTIQ persons in their everyday life which also impacts their health and wellbeing. The project also sought to raise awareness among LGBTIQ persons on sexual health, mental health and the services of the Gender Wellbeing Clinic. The activities over the past year focused on two main areas, the first being the provision of sensitivity training to around 300 reception staff working in healthcare settings in both Malta and Gozo. These personnel are often the first point of contact for patients accessing health services and how they are addressed can make a significant difference in their experience of the health system and their willingness to seek care when required. The second was an information and awareness campaign on social media mainly through the production of leaflets, online banners and animated videos. All resources of the project can be accessed through the website lgbtiq.gov.mt

ver the past decade, government has introduced a number of laws and practices aimed at advancing LGBTIQ equality including those relating to the recognition of same-sex couples and their families as well as those facilitating access to legal gender recognition for trans persons. In order to ensure that government services are inclusive of LGBTIQ persons, the SOGIGESC Unit sought to develop guidelines on the collection, use and amendment of name and/or gender information or gendered terminology in individual personal records or when communicating with service users. The Maltese Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex, Sexuality and Gender, therefore, aim to streamline approaches across all government services. Training on the guidelines to public administrators will also be made available through the Institute for the Public Service.

LGBTIQ Representation in the Media

he SOGIGESC Unit has implemented various initiatives over the years to address the increased risks that LGBTIQ Asylum Seekers often face of exclusion. Previous efforts have included the publication of

fforts to make sure that schools are safe places where all students feel they belong requires ongoing efforts. Over the course of the past year, the SOGIGESC Unit provided training to over 250 educators from four subject areas, namely Personal, Social and Career Development (PSCD), Ethics, Social Studies and Physical Education. The training aims to provide teachers with the tools they need to mainstream LGBTIQ issues in the curriculum, address LGBTIQ bullying and to feel confident in answering any questions that students may raise in the classroom regarding LGBTIQ-related issues. Books that promote respect for diversity and LGBTIQ Inclusion are disseminated in schools through the Aqra Kemm Tiflaħ Programme of the National Literacy Agency. It is estimated that over the past year these books have reached 1,600 kindergarten and primary school children.

All information on the work of the SOGIGESC Unit can be accessed through its website lgbtiq.gov.mt including reports and publications.

accounts of discrimination and resilience of LGBTIQ persons.More people in Maltese society are today accepting of LGBTIQ people because of the increased visibility and representation of LGBTIQ issues in the various media, helping to combat stigma and prejudice towards sexual and gender minorities. The SOGIGES Unit developed a media reference guide which was discussed with stakeholders coming from both the media sector as well as LGBTIQ civil society during a roundtable. Their feedback will be incorporated in the document which will be finalised and launched in the coming months.

n 2018 a number of police officers participated in the Training Against Hate Crimes for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE): Programme designed to improve police skills in recognising, understanding and investigating hate crimes. Implementation of the programme should improve police skills in preventing and responding to hate crimes, interacting effectively with victim communities, and building public confidence and cooperation with law enforcement agencies. TAHCLE is designed and implemented by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Since the train-the-trainer course was conducted close to 1,500 police officers have received the training through the Academy for the Disciplined Forces, 300 of which in the past year. Further training was also provided by the SOGIGESC unit to new recruits and those in line for promotions within the police force. Malta’s ambassador to Spain as well as the Head of the SOGIGESC Unit also shared the Maltese experience in combating hate crime with Spanish law enforcement officials on the invitation of the Madrid Commune.

Around 150 staff members benefitted from this training.

LGBTIQ GovernmentInclusiveServices

Recently the Head of the SOGIGESC Unit shared Malta's experience in combating hate crime with Spanish law enforcement officials on the invitation of the Madrid Commune.

Creating LGBTIQ Safe and Inclusive Schools

LGBTIQ Asylum Seekers

an information leaflet in various languages as well as posters and training for cultural mediators in partnership with UNHCR and AWAS. Over the past year, the collaboration with AWAS led to the delivery of 3 half-day training sessions with psycho-social professionals and senior staff and 6 two-hour sessions with support staff working in the open centres. The training aimed to ensure that AWAS staff were able to meet the needs of LGBTIQ asylum seekers and had a better understanding of the difficulties that LGBTIQ asylum seekers encounter not just in the countries of origin and transit countries but also on arrival in Malta.

series and over 250 episodes produced so far, none of the families feature same-sex parents. Children watching Peppa Pig are at an impressionable age, and excluding same-sex families will teach them that only families with either a single parent or two parents of different sexes are normal. This means that children of same-sex parents may feel alienated by Peppa Pig, and that other children may be more likely to bully them, simply through ignorance. Peppa Pig is not just for entertainment, children are inevitably learning from it too."

“I’m Penny Polar Bear. I live with my mummy and my other mummy. One mummy is a doctor and one mummy cooks spaghetti. I love spaghetti.”

Their teacher Madame Gazelle answers: "Lovely Penny." The end of the episode shows Penny's mothers arriving at school with other parents to pick up their Thischildren.isthe first time in its 18 years that the Peppa Pig series features a same-sex couple, and comes two years after a petition to introduce a same-sex couple on the show was started. The petition stated "Peppa Pig is one of the most popular TV shows for young children and has won numerous British Academy Children's Awards. The show features Peppa Pig and her family, and various families of other animals they are friends with. However despite there being six

Peppa Pig's First Same Sex Couple

Penny Polar Bear, Peppa Pig, Channel 5

his September, in an episode called Families broadcast on Channel 5 (Tuesday 6th September), the ever popular children's television show Peppa Pig introduced the show's first same sex couple. In the episode, Peppa Pig and her classmates Penny Polar Bear, Danny Dog, and Suzy Sheep are asked to draw pictures of their families to put up on the classroom wall. Penny's picture includes two female Polar Bears in dresses. “I’m Penny Polar Bear. I live with my mummy and my other mummy. One mummy is a doctor and one mummy cooks spaghetti. I love spaghetti.”

MAKING A SPLASH

“Don’t look around, the apartment’s still a mess! This wall was definitely the most complicated part of our new home but it was worth all the headaches to get it just right. It ended up being the first area we finished so we’ve literally been covering it in bubble wrap while we carry on working.

”

Rebecca & Abigail’s MasterpieceHome

T: 2166 8053 | info@sigmamalta.com | sigmamalta.com | SigmaMalta Sigma Coatings is a brand of

Rebecca & Abigail

LONG TERM BENEFITS OF REGULAR EXERCISE

We followed up with participants between 2004-06. During this time, some consented for their study responses to be linked with their Medicare data. Medicare is the major health insurance programme for American adults aged 65 years and older.

However, similar findings to ours have also been seen in other research, such as an Australian study which found that middleaged women who were active throughout their life had 40% lower healthcare costs over the three years that the study took place.

To ensure results were accurate, we only looked at respondents who were 65 years of age, as this is the age a person first qualifies for Medicare. We also adjusted our results to take into account other things that could influence the outcome, such as ethnicity, education, marital status, and whether a person smoked. This way we could be fairly certain that we were only looking at the effect of physical activity on healthcare costs. Based on our data, people were clustered into groups according to their exercise habits

HEALTH & FITNESS

Given that one in four adults worldwide don’t get enough exercise, large-scale efforts to improve physical activity – especially among adolescents and young adults – could help reduce healthcare costs and improve health later in life. Strategies such as working with people one on one, in small groups, or on a community level, to change their physical activity levels are all proven to work. This article first appeared on The Conversation.

Although the study’s respondents came from different parts of the US, it’s hard to say whether these results would be true for people in other parts of the world. And, as our study was based on self-reported information obtained from a survey, we can’t say whether activity levels caused lower healthcare costs. Also, we weren’t able to control for all factors that may have affected the results, such as whether a person developed an injury that limited their activity levels.

NEW RESEARCH

or our study, we drew on data from the National Cancer Institute’s study on diet and health, which looked at over half a million adults. As part of this study, adults in 1996 who were aged 50-71 were asked how physically active they were during this time in their life. They were also asked to estimate how much exercise they got in late adolescence and early and middle adulthood.

A LIFETIME OF ACTIVITY

Staying active throughout adulthood is linked to lower healthcare costs in later life. Exercise is good for your health at every age – and you can reap the benefits no matter how late in life you start. But our latest research has shown another benefit of being physically active throughout life. We found that in the US, people who were more physically active as teenagers and throughout adulthood had lower healthcare costs. These findings are especially relevant to people who live in countries without universal healthcare, such as the US. However, our findings apply indirectly to countries with universal healthcare (a social healthcare system) as a healthier population could result in lower costs for the healthcare system as a whole, writes Diarmuid Coughlan, Research Associate in Health Economics, Newcastle University. Photography Taylor Simpson.

throughout adulthood. We identified nine groups, which fell into four main categories: maintainers (36% of the group who maintained moderate to high activity throughout adulthood), decreasers (30.5% of the group who were active in early adulthood but became less active as they aged), and increasers (14.5% of the group who weren’t active in early adulthood but became more active throughout their lives). Around 18.5% of the group were consistently inactive throughout their lifetime.

e found that adults who maintained or increased their physical activity from adolescence throughout adulthood had lower average annual healthcare costs than adults who were consistently inactive over time - around 10% to 22% lower than those who were less active or inactive.Incontrast, adults who were active earlier in life but less active in middle age (decreasers), did not benefit from lower healthcare costs after age 65, despite being active earlier in life. In fact, their costs were akin to those who had

been consistently inactive all their life.

Smart Bubble People suffering from dementia are applicable for FULL GOVERNMENTBYSUBSIDYTHE info@connectedcare.mt +356 2142 4949connectedcare.com.mt Two-Way Communication & GPS Tracker Instant Fall Alert Can Be Connected with Family or 24x7 Call Center WITH LOCATIONTRACKER Terms and conditions apply.

Photography this page Joshua Hoehne.

ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA

In 2022, the campaign has a special focus on post-diagnosis support. Following recent developments and potential breakthroughs, in both dementia treatment and support, this highlights the importance of support for people living with dementia and families following a diagnosis.

KNOW DEMENTIA,KNOW ALZHEIMER’S ALZHEIMER’S MONTH

This year’s theme, ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s,’ continues on from the 2021 campaign, which focused on diagnosis, the warning signs of dementia, the continued effect of COVID-19 on the global dementia community and more.

WORLD

Information sourced from: Alzheimer's Disease International, www.alzint.org

takes place every September. The decision to introduce a full month around dementia awareness and advocacy was made so that Alzheimer and dementia associations around the world would be able to extend their awareness programmes beyond World Alzheimer’s Day, which is on 21st September.

Dr. Natali Edmonds, Dementia Care Training. Instagram dementia_careblazers

“You can still visit with someone who has dementia even if they don’t remember you or know your name. The point of visiting someone who has dementia isn’t for them to remember you or your name. The point is to create a moment of joy and connection. It doesn’t matter if they won’t remember the visit later. It matters that they are experiencing the visit in the moment. P.S. Them not “remembering” has nothing to do with how much they love you.”

Each September, people unite from all corners of the world to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia. Many people still wrongly believe that dementia is a normal ageing. This alone highlights how important public awareness campaigns, like World Alzheimer’s Month, are for changing perceptions and increasing existing public knowledge around dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

For more information: info@theimperialmalta.com The Imperial, Rudolph Street, Sliema, SLM 1279 | 2145 6440 | www.theimperial.com.mt A member of St George’s Care Limited – LIVE LIFE WITH US

OPEN ALSO FOR REHABILITATION AND SHORT STAYS

• a three-storey underground car park;

Ultimately, what we want is for our residents to live happy, healthy and independent lives with us. Our dedicated team is waiting to meet you so why not contact us today to make an appointment to come and view our beautiful home.

• a coffee shop;

• a hair and beauty salon; and

• an onsite convenience shop.

The Imperial offers an exclusive and professionally managed retirement opportunity located in the heart of Sliema. Experience the luxurious facilities, companionship of others, a multitude of activities and top class dining experience. You can maintain your daily routines and live independently but with the peace of mind that help is at hand should you require additional support. We will support and enable you to lead a full and active lifestyle.

Tastefully decorated in a traditional style, the home houses single rooms, double rooms and suites with 6,000 square meters of facilities including:

• a heated indoor hydrotherapy swimming pool;

RETIRE TO A LIFE OF LUXURY AND COMFORT IN THE HEART OF SLIEMA

GETTING THE CARE YOU DESERVE

• a state-of-the-art wellness centre;

At the Imperial we will support you and advise you in making the best decision for you or your loved one. Whether you are completely independent or require round-the-clock care, we will tailor your stay with us to your specific needs.

One percent of individuals at the age of 65 years have dementia. This figure increases to about 30 percent at the age of 80. Although infrequent, there have been cases of individuals with a much earlier onset. Unfortunately, there is no cure for dementia and the treatment that is currently available only aims to slow down the decline in cognitive function.

ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA

In 2020, slightly over 7,000 individuals in the Maltese Islands were living with dementia, a figure that is projected to almost double by the year 2050. This number does not include those individuals who act or will act as informal caregivers, who are mostly family members and who will experience most of the burden, whether physical, psychological, financial or otherwise. For every individual with dementia, there are at least three or four others who are indirectly affected by it, writes Prof. Charles Scerri, Department of Pathology at the University of Malta.

Facing Up to the Challenge

DEMENTIA

Approximately 70 percent of all dementia cases are of the Alzheimer's type (Alzheimer’s disease). Symptoms include memory impairment, difficulties in spatial orientation, changes in mood and personality, communication deficiencies, and functional losses in activities of daily living. As the disease progresses, brain function becomes more impaired and individuals will eventually become totally dependent on others. What causes the onset of the most common forms of dementia is unknown. It can strike at any age, however the most important non-modifiable risk factor is age: the older the individual gets, the greater the risk.

Photography this page Gert Stockmans.

ementia is a clinical term referring to a group of brain diseases that result in progressive deterioration of cognitive functions.

Photography this page Rod Long.

The number of initiatives that came out as part of the strategy implementation process are not few. Today, Malta can boast of a number of services specifically designed for people living with dementia and for who care for them. These include the availability of Memory Clinics for diagnosing dementia, a dedicated 24/7 Helpline (1771), the Dementia Intervention Team that assists individuals living with dementia in the community and four Dementia Activity Centres with two operating at night, just to mention a few.

The overarching aim of the National Dementia Strategy is that of enhancing the quality of life of individuals with dementia, their caregivers, and family members through a number of intervention streams. The latter include increasing awareness and understanding of dementia, strengthening dementia diagnosis and intervention as early diagnosis enhances the quality of life and limits institutionalization, workforce development, and improving dementia management and care through the development of community services that are reliable, flexible, and have a holistic approach that enables individuals living with dementia to remain active and independent for longer.

Malta also works in constant collaboration with its international partners in advocating the need of a global effort to face the challenge that dementia is posing on us now and in the future. Only through such an effort will we be able to put dementia as a top health and social care priority and offer hope to the millions of people affected by it worldwide.

Raising awareness about dementia is also an important priority. To this effect, a number of information booklets have been published and Malta was the first country to adopt the World Health Organisation iSupport programme which is an online training platform intended to enhance knowledge about dementia to formal and informal caregivers. The dedicated work of professionals and civil society working in the field is also recognised annually via the Dementia Awards initiative.

he medico-social consequences of dementia on the affected individual are enormous. With disease advancement, memory is progressively lost. Social contact ceases and the individual becomes isolated, often home-bound. The need for community care is therefore essential in any management plan for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. In terms of policy, Malta has made significant progress and is among the leading European countries in addressing the dementia challenge. The National Dementia Strategy, launched in April of 2015, was a step in the right direction.

ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA

For more information on Simblija Care Home and the specialist dementia care we offer, please visit www.simblijacarehome.com

ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA

First of all, it’s important to understand that dementia is not simply a natural process of ageing, nor does it necessarily run in the family. While dementia is not considered to be a disease in and of itself, it forms part of a collection of symptoms, which include Alzheimer’s, that result from damage to the brain. The symptoms will vary depending on which part of the brain has been damaged but will usually manifest in memory loss, personality changes, and sudden mood swings.

Other common signs of dementia include difficulty in concentrating and following conversations, difficulty in remembering certain words, difficulty in carrying out familiar daily tasks, and confusion in time and place. Typically, these symptoms start out relatively mild but will tend to become more severe over time.

Prior to entering Simblija, all residents undergo a thorough evaluation by our medical team. This helps us to better understand their full symptoms to determine what level of care is required. At Simblija, we offer tailored and holistic care plans that are designed around our residents’ individual needs. As part of our multidisciplinary approach, we carry out regular checks on all residents throughout their stay with us. This enables us to adjust care plans according to immediate needs and recent health developments.OurButterfly Memory Support Unit has been specially designed with dementia care in mind.

difficult to determine between general signs of old age and actual dementia.

Our structured environment empowers all our memory-impaired residents to thrive, feel safe, and maintain a fulfilling and dignified lifestyle. We welcome anyone considering professional dementia care for their loved one to reach out to us. Our highly qualified team can provide guidance, support, and assistance to ease you through this delicate transition while keeping your loved one’s best interests at the forefront of all decisions.

We ensure that wayfinding is made simple and intuitive throughout the ward thanks to special signage, pictures, and labels that clearly point residents to where they want to go. While rooms feature easily identifiable pictures and contrasting colours, which are designed to guide residents to whatever they may need, be it clothing, crockery, or food. Each resident is encouraged to place personal memorabilia and precious keepsakes in a special box outside their room. This ensures they can create positive bonds and emotional touchpoints that inspire a stronger sense of self every day.

Bringing Dignity to Dementia Care

t Simblija Care Home, we recognise that caring for a person with dementia requires a specialist understanding and approach. That’s why we have taken great consideration to introduce a range of measures and procedures within our home to safeguard all dementia patients entrusted in our care.

Caring for an elderly parent or relative can be stressful and emotionally distressing for anyone, especially when that loved one begins to show signs of dementia. Charmaine Montesin, General Manager at Simblija Care Home in Naxxar, discusses common dementia symptoms and how holistic, person-centred care can improve the quality of life for those suffering from dementia.

The ward’s one-floor layout is easy to navigate and provides residents with a safe space to gain confidence in their day-to-day routines.

Because dementia can have a drastic effect on the quality of life on the elderly, it’s crucial to reach out to a GP or medical professional as soon as you notice any legitimate signs that dementia is setting in. They will be able to determine whether someone can continue to live safely in their home as well as guide you on the best steps forward to ensure your loved one receives the right treatment and care for their needs.

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The ward provides a safe and welcoming environment for residents with brightly lit spaces and sensory interiors that stimulate memory and encourage independence.

meaning GIVING T: 2258 4200 | E: info@caremalta.com www.caremalta.com

TO LIFE

the patterns, etc. There are numerous ways how to improve the environment from the homely perspective and especially from the dementia perspective. Today, Alzheimer's is at the forefront of biomedical research and researchers are working to uncover as many possible aspects of the disease and dementia. The hope, not just ours as CareMalta Group, but worldwide, is this better understanding will lead to new treatments.

I have been in the care service industry for the past 17 years and over the years we have seen different realities evolve, amongst which dementia is definitely a reason why certain realities came into perspective. In light of the fact that we have new treatment modalities which prolong life they also tend to raise awareness and the incidence of identifying dementia.

Misconceptions Around Dementia

Being Dementia-Friendly

THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA BRINGS A HOLISTIC APPREHENSION

needs to be an element of trust between the caregiver and the person receiving care and their family. Because after all the aim of each and every facility is to create a homely environment for the residents. Whilst the home environment is always recommended, and we strive as much as possible to preserve the homeliness in all of our facilities, the homeliness would have its limitations or the enhancement of dementia-friendly measures, for example, colour coding, scheming, the way in which things are done,

person with dementia will need more care and support as their symptoms get worse over time. This may mean that a move into a care home can better meet their needs. When it comes to how a facility can contribute to the needs of that person one must identify the manifestations of one’s disease. CareMalta ascertains that the needs are identified, and attributed to the actual context of how symptoms can be contained and cared for, and in that regard, a care plan is set.

ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA

Sometimes the demands of caregiving can limit a caregiver's ability to take care of oneself. For this reason, our staff is trained through a sister company, Learning Works, and effectively specialised courses are designed and tailor-made to the needs that we have in all of our facilities that are built on modern schools of thought in relation to evidence-based practice.

For us at CareMalta Group, World Alzheimer's Day is very special, not only because we need to engage more when it comes to giving understanding and supporting people affected with Alzheimer’s disease and anything under the dementia umbrella, but this day means that we are thinking of the human person. Thinking and reflecting on this day, rather than celebrating this day, means that we are actually thinking about the actual needs of the people which brings about a holistic apprehension - the suffering, the needs, and the experiences, writes CareMalta Group COO Noel Borg. Portrait photography Martin Agius.

Training Our Staff to Understand the Challenges

Relationships between caregivers and those receiving care start off with the understanding of professional behaviour. We do have a particular model that is iCare, that we adopt - the language of care: Compassion, Engagement, and Professionalism. However, ICare is not a set of instructions and procedures. And because we believe that these pillars can mold this trust and relation, we believe that through this model we can embrace this build-up of a relationship should be present.There

The problem of stigma in relation to dementia relates more to the lack of education. Given that it is a newly emerging phenomenon, that basically goes down only a number of years, we have communities within the facilities that do not appreciate the implications and how people relate when they are diagnosed with dementia. Sometimes, care homes find difficulties not only to manage the manifestations of dementia itself but also to lead other people to accept, acknowledge and support the actual people who have dementia.

Stigma around dementia plays a significant role in the misconceptions around dementia and those who are most affected by it.

ENVIRONMENT 80 WHAT TREES DO URBAN LANDSCAPES

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION

WIND SPEEDS

ncreased urban vegetation can have varying effects on wind speeds. While a row of trees can block cooling breezes in the summer, they can also shield the house from cold winds in the winter. However, larger expanses of trees - such as in urban parkscan help increase local air circulation, generating cooling breezes that have a communitywide cooling effect.

E processesBothasthroughwhichtranspirationofincludesvapotranspirationtheevaporationwaterfromsoiland-theprocessbyplantsabsorbwatertheirrootsandreleaseitvaporthroughtheirleaves.oftheseliquid-to-gasuseheatfromthe

The vast majority of urban fabric is losing tree canopy, displaced by asphalt, concrete and large building footprints, but trees provide shade, and can reduce temperatures by as much as 11 to 25C. They also allow rain to penetrate into soil and retain water. As temperatures rise, liquid water in leaves and soils devours heat, transforming it into vapour. This transpiration and evaporation dramatically cools surrounding areas - one large tree can transpire 380 litres of water daily - the cooling equivalent of five standard air conditioners running 20 hours. Trees and vegetation help to cool buildings and neighbourhoods in a variety of ways - here is how urban vegetation works. Photography First Magazine.

surroundings and thus cool the air. A Berkeley Lab study found that large trees can transpire nearly 380 litres of water every day, which has the same cooling effect as 5 standard airconditioning units running for 20 hours.

Source: coolcalifornia.org and "Cities need to embrace green innovation now to cut heat deaths in the future", article by Alex Boston, Fellow, MJ Wosk Centre for Dialogue; Executive Director, Renewable Cities, Simon Fraser University (from an article which appeared on The Conversation).

81 ENVIRONMENT

SHADE EFFECT

haded areas are protected from direct sunlight, which reduces temperatures by 11 to 25C relative to peak temperatures in unshaded areas. Trees planted strategically around buildings and homes can significantly cool the indoor air. Shading windows, for example, is a very effective way to block direct sunlight from entering the building. A study in Davis, California found that cars parked in a shaded parking lot in the summer had interior air temperatures that were 25C cooler than cars parked in direct sunlight. Something as simple as vines covering a west-facing wall can shade the wall from direct sunlight, reducing the heat transferred into the house and indoor temperatures up to 20C in the summer.

ENVIRONMENT 82

WHY BUILDINGS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF AN ENERGY-EFFICIENTFUTURE

Buildings and their operational use are a critical piece of our transition to a lower-carbon future. They are where we live, where we rest, and where we work. Based on the Long-Term Renovation Study (LTRS) issued in 2021, buildings are in fact responsible for a large share of the world’s energy consumption and contribute towards emissions. It is a well-known fact that the energy sector is a contributor to climate change through the generation of emissions. In Malta, these emissions directly contribute to around 15% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are a key sector in our efforts towards a climate-neutral EU, writes the team at the Ministry for Environment, Energy and Enterprise.

our existing and future building stock through the deployment of the right technologies is the right way forward. This needs to make not just financial sense, but environmental, health, reputational and labourmarket sense too. This is why the quality of life of people very much depends on the space they are living in. The Government is incentivising the general public to invest more in energy efficiency measures. Ensuring that new buildings are more energy efficient and that existing buildings are decarbonised, is key to our efforts to combat climate change. It is therefore encouraged that there is uptake of these measures in a timely manner, to ensure an appropriate time for adjustment. Be the first to Activate Change!

Other grants which have been introduced are the air to water heat pumps which can provide efficient heating and cooling for your household. An air source heat pump transfers heat from the outside air to water, which heats your rooms via radiators or underfloor heating. It can also heat water stored in a hot water cylinder for your hot

SPACE HEATING AND COOLING

In residential buildings, most energy consumption goes to power the heating/cooling system. The primary approach to combating this is through insulation, particularly insulation of exposed walls and roofs. This is particularly important in the case of apartment blocks, where it is evident that lack of insulation is the poorest performing aspect. Over the past months, the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise has issued grants worth €500,000 to enable households to invest in better performance glazing and roof insulation. The grant has been fully taken up in a matter of weeks with a total of 499 beneficiaries benefitting from this scheme.

taps, and showers. This grant may also be adopted by multi-storey apartments which do not have access to a roof but would still like to invest in energy efficiency measures. The grant which has been once again launched this year has already attracted over 80 beneficiaries.

WATER HEATING

ONSITE RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION

LIGHTING AND APPLIANCES

83 ENVIRONMENT

Tariff scheme for households. The FIT is set at €0.15c committed for 20 years. This is amongst the most competitive FITs within Europe. The maximum capacity allocation for this scheme is 8MWp which if taken in its whole entirety would constitute a total of electricity consumed by nearly 2,900 households in a single year. During this year alone, to date, this scheme has been committed by 500 beneficiaries, with a government investment of €14M committed over 20 Decarbonisingyears.

Malta wants to remain ambitious in its energy targets and enhance energy efficiency. It remains determined to continue in its pathway towards climate neutrality and will continue to take action to reduce emissions, even from the power generation sector. Over the past weeks, the Government has introduced voluntary consumption reduction measures in all public buildings. This has been adopted so that the public sector leads by example. Public initiatives are essential to spearhead change however the Government has been promoting a number of incentive and grant programmes which play an essential role into making the building stock cleaner and smarter.

In a world where energy usage is so fundamental, improving building energy performance should not be considered as an option, but a fundamental obligation. A number of actions can be put into place to reduce the climate footprint of our homes. A number of strategies in this regard have been issued by the Government over the past years, these include the adoption of measures for sustainable energy use such as the Long Term Renovation Strategy (LTRS), the National Environment and Climate Plan (NECP), the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the Nearly-Zero Energy Buildings Plan for Malta (nZEB)

Lighting systems technically have a higher impact in an industrial setting, however, research performed by the National Statistics Office, implies that lighting is responsible for a significant portion of the energy footprint within the existing residential building stock. In fact, it contributes to approximately 30% of the total energy footprint. As a result, the choice of energy-efficient products especially in our homes can have a positive impact on energy consumption. This mostly applies when one is choosing their appliances based on their energy efficiency. Opting for smart solutions through automation such as presence and occupancy sensing coupled with high-efficiency appliances may result in being the best solution.

Water heating consumes the second highest proportion of domestic energy. Several solutions exist for water heating, which also conserve energy more effectively than the electric storage tank water heaters. Instant gas water heaters heat only the amount of water that is required, rather than continuously heating a full tank. Heat pumps use a vapour compression cycle to extract energy from a low-temperature source and transport it to a high-temperature reservoir. Solar Water Heaters are also a viable option, particularly flat plate solar water collectors. The investment of the government in grant schemes for energy efficiency measures in the domestic sector between 2013 and 2021 amounted to € 4M with 6,561 beneficiaries. The grant schemes provided grants for the purchase of solar water heaters, double glazing, and roof insulation, and as from 2018 also on heat pump water

Renewableheaters.energy

Further to glazing, roof or wall insulation, and introducing shading devices may also further support heat thermal transmission and minimise cooling operations.

production can also help in reducing climate footprint. One should first adopt a reduction in energy demand and then seek to opt for alternative renewable energy solutions. The Ministry for Environment, Energy and Enterprise has worked significantly in this area. Over the past years, incentives in relation to battery storage, hybrid inverters, and a combination of such technologies were introduced. The total number of beneficiaries at the end of 2021 for these nationally funded photovoltaic schemes was 2,311 and the total amount of grants paid to these beneficiaries was €6.3M.Thedemand for photovoltaic solutions in households coupled with battery storage systems has increased exponentially over the past year with a total committed investment of €2.4M over this year alone until the end of July. This constitutes to a total of electricity consumed by nearly 800 households in a single year from this scheme alone for households.

Apart from this grant, there is the Feed In

ne major source can be seen in residential buildings. Based on Eurostat, Malta’s residential sector in 2019 was responsible for 14.5% of the final energy consumption, which includes energy used for the building itself and appliances (compared to an EU average of 25%). It is proven that new buildings (built from 2015 onwards), consume on average 20% less energy than those built prior to this date. Having said this, retrofitting of buildings constitutes much less overall GHG emissions than the contribution of new buildings.

But what is factually being done?

LE TRE PIETÀ DI THE THREE NON VI SI PENSA QUANTO NO ONE THINKS OF HOW For the first time an exhibition at the Opera del Duomo Museum in Florence sets Michelangelo's three Pietàs together - the recently restored Bandini Pietà, housed at Florence's Opera del Duomo Museum, and casts of the Vatican Pietà and the Rondanini Pietà from the Vatican Museums’ collection. Photography courtesy Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence.

ART 84

true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection”

“The

Michelangelo Buonarroti

85 ART

Facing page: Cast of the Vatican Pietà by Michelangelo Buonarroti, by Ulderico Grispigni, Luciano Ermo, Ennio De Santis (formators), 1975, plaster. Vatican City, Vatican Museums (inv. 50661). Courtesy of the Vatican Museums. This page: Pietà dell’Opera del Duomo, also known as the Pietà Bandini, Michelangelo Buonarroti, c. 1547/1555, marble. Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florence. Courtesy Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, photograph Antonio Quattrone.

SANGUEMICHELANGELOPIETÀOFMICHELANGELOCOSTAMUCHBLOODITCOSTS

Michelangelo worked on Rondanini Pietà (left) until his final days, and the work was found in his studio after his death. The final result of a long journey of art and faith, the Rondanini Pietà is rather a prayer than a work of art, or better, it is the artistic demonstration of the fact that the man of faith has seen beyond actual appearances, that the hand is unable to return what the inner eye has been able to contemplate. We are in place of dreams - he often refers to his auroral inventions, paving the way for the artist’s imagination is the mystical vision of the Christian immersed in a nighttime reflection on the Only Begotten, on the passion, death and resurrection of Christ.

Jesus and Mary appear to be ghostly; the stone tends to become matter of light. The lifeless body of Christ appears to slide into the tomb and with the son, also the mother, whose humanity is as if entirely absorbed by the sentiment of love. A single destiny miraculously overwhelms mother and child in this mystical metamorphosis, the same Annunciation.momentexperiencedalreadyattheofthe

laced next to each other, the three Pietàs offer the chance to study the evolution of Michelangelo’s art as well as his spiritual maturation, from his early youth – when he sculpted his iconic work in Rome - now in the nave of St. Peter’s Basilica - to his later life, when as an old man, he carved the Pietàs that are today in Florence and the Rondanini Pietà in Milan.It is a journey of more than fifty years that leads from the ambition of a young man who carved his name on chest of the Virgin Mary in the Vatican version, to the personal identification of the elderly artist, who depicts himself in the figure of Nicodemus in the Opera del Duomo version. Many years after the Vatican Pietà, Michelangelo returned to sculpt the same subject. Michelangelo was now an old artist, increasingly concentrated on human destiny, on the death and resurrection of Christ; working in the throes of frequent depressive episodes. Close to his own death, Michelangelo meditated deeply on the Passion of Christ, understood from a coeval drawing of the Pietà, given to Vittoria Colonna, marchioness of Pescara, on which wrote a verse from Dante: “No one thinks of how much blood it costs.” (Paradiso XXIX, 91). The sublime result of this spiritual meditation was the execution of the Rondanini Pietà (above), which dates back to 1552 and 1553.

LE TRE PIETÀ DI MICHELANGELO, NON VI SI PENSA QUANTO SANGUE COSTA. MUSEO DELL’OPERA DEL DUOMO, PIAZZA DUOMO 9, FLORENCE, EXTENDED TO 3RD OCTOBER. NEXT AUTUMN THE THREE PLASTER CASTS OF THE ORIGINAL PIETÀ WILL BE EXHIBITED IN A NEWLY DESIGNED SPACE AT THE SALA DELLE CARIATIDI OF PALAZZO REALE IN MILAN.

This page: Cast of the Pietà Rondanini from the cast of 1875, before 1940, plaster. Vatican City, Vatican Museums (inv. 52478), formerly belonging to the collection of the sculptor Francesco Messina. Courtesy of the Vatican Museums.

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