The Voice of the Maltese No. 140

The Voice of the Maltese (driven by the voice of its readers )

Issue 140

o on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e

The Ta’ Kenuna Tower at Nadur, Gozo (see page 5)

November 8, 2016

2 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday November 8, 2016

Malta one of world’s greatest places for youths to grow up in

M

alta has been named one with Germany in the lead, closely of the greatest places in the followed by Denmark and Ausworld to grow up in. A new tralia. study found that Malta is the fifth Dr. Joseph Muscat, the Prime Minbest country in the Commonwealth ister of Malta and Chair-in-Office of to be a young person. It also ranks the Commonwealth said that the 20th in the world in the 2016 Global former British Empire is now home Youth Development Index (YDI). to one-third of the global youth popThe Commonwealth is home to ulation, and that in the Commonone-third of the global youth popu- wealth Family of Nations more than lation 60 per cent of citizens are now The YDI, developed by the Com- young people. “Youth by definition monwealth Secretariat, is a compos- is that period in a person’s life when ite index of 18 indicators that childhood is left behind and the collectively measure progress on formative years between the age of youth development in 183 coun- 15 and 29 stretch ahead,” he said. tries, including 49 of the 53 ComHe added:“Young people see what l o w monwealth countries. Australia is around them in a fresh light and ing young people to topped the list among the Common- itch to improve what is their inheri- participate in the nation’s political, wealth countries followed by tance – they are bubbly and full of economic and social life.”

Britain, New Zealand and Canada inspiring ideas, and they have a He explained that health and wellThe index is a comprehensive strong voice and the ability to make being are also factors that weigh measure across five doheavily in youth developmains that are critical to Five domains ment, and that world leadyouth development - educaers need to focus more on of theYDI promoting mental and sextion, health and well-being, Education employment, political parEducation ual health, as well as eduticipation and civic particication and nutrition. pation. It builds on an “Besides encouraging a earlier version created by healthy lifestyle, sport and the Commonwealth in physical activities also pro2013. mote teamwork, responsiPolitical Health and It informs policy-makers bility and intercultural Participation Wel-being about young people's needs learning – all providing Youth and opportunities, indicatsound bases for young peoDevelopment ing areas of success and ple’s roles in the future,” he where attention and investsaid. ment is needed. It also acts He believes that the onas a data advocacy tool, going global economic highlighting the imporslowdown hinders young tance of gathering statistics people from entering the on key youth indicators in labour market, and that Employment Civic order to achieve the Susthis barrier must be reduced and Participation tainable Development as youth unemployment Opportunity Goals. simply exacerbates this ecoThe YDI is guided by the nomic slowdown.

Commonwealth definition He believes that the onof youth as people between the ages a huge difference worldwide. going global economic slowdown of 15 and 29, while recognising that “It is therefore important that hinders young people from entering some countries and international young people are empowered and the labour market, and that this institutions define youth differently. given the opportunity to reach their barrier must be reduced as youth The Commonwealth is home to full potential. Such a goal can only unemployment simply exacerbates one-third of the global youth popu- be achieved through investing in this economic slowdown. lation. Over the past five years, their skills, harnessing their energy, “During the Commonwealth youth development in the Com- encouraging their ambitions, and Heads of Government Meeting held monwealth has registered larger providing opportunities to further in Malta in November 2015, the gains than the global average. Col- their education and participation in young people of the Commonlectively, there was a five per cent their local – and by default often the wealth recommitted themselves to increase in the average YDI score of global – economy”. the values and principles enshrined Commonwealth countries between He went on to say; “Youth develop- in the Commonwealth Charter and 2010 and 2015. ment can be achieved even in low the Commonwealth Youth Council The majority of countries ranked in income countries by providing qual- Constitution – it is up to us to help the top 20 globally are in Europe, ity education and training and al- them achieve this goal!” he said.

The Voice of the Maltese 3

Tuesday November 8, 2016

Another service offered by The Voice of the Maltese providing legal information to our readers

Family Law and Property Settlements:

How is the Property Divided?

by PaulSant

O

ver the course of a relationship, parties often spend years accumulating, selling, reinvesting and simply using up various types of property. Property is commonly jointly owned, or legally owned by one party but financially or non-financially contributed to by the other party.

In some circumstances, one party has fulfilled the role of homemaker and/or parent, enabling the other party to engage in employment. Overtime, it becomes harder and harder to identify and separate each party’s contributions to the current wealth of the parties.

If one were to turn to the legislation, they would find that the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) is a paradoxical source of simultaneous clarity and confusion.

Section 79 of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) enables the Courts to make any order “it considers appropriate” in altering the interests of the parties to matrimonial property.

Section 79(4) prescribes minimum compulsory factors that the Court must take into account when deciding what kind of property orders to make.

The relevant factors are these: a) any financial contribution made directly or indirectly by or on behalf of a party to the acquisition, conservation or improvement of any of the property of the parties; and b) a non-financial contribution made directly or indirectly by or on behalf of a party to the acquisition, conservation or improvement of any of the property of the parties; and c) a contribution to the welfare of the

family, including any contribution made in the capacity of homemaker or parent; and d) the effect of any proposed order upon the earning capacity of either party to the marriage; and e) the matters referred to in subsection 75(2) (also known as the “future needs” factors); and f) any existing or eligible child support assessments.

The “future needs” factors include: a) the age and state of health of each of the parties; b) the income, property and financial resources of each of the parties; c) the physical and mental capacity of each of the parties for appropriate gainful employment; d) whether either party has the care or control of a child of the marriage who has not attained the age of 18 years; e) the responsibilities of either party to support any other person; f) a standard of living that in all the circumstances is reasonable; g) the duration of the marriage and the extent to which it has affected the earning capacity of a party; h) the need to protect a party who wishes to continue that party's role as a parent; and i) any fact or circumstance which, in the opinion of the court, the justice of the case requires to be taken into account.

Ultimately, the weight given to the parties’ contributions and any future needs factors (if present) is a matter for judicial discretion. But, have you ever wondered how Courts, and lawyers alike, arrive at the final result? What is the correct way of approaching a property settlement?

PAUL SANT (SOLICITOR)

PARTNER AT LONGTONLEGAL For All Your Legal Needs Incl.:

Family Law, Property & Construction Law, Conveyancing, Corporate & Commercial Law, Criminal Law, Immigration Law, Wills & Contested Estates Level 4, 370 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Parramatta by appointment Ph: 02 8355 9999 (Reception) & 02 8015 7923 (Robin) Email: paul.sant@longtonlegal.com.au www.longtonlegal.com.au Maltese Spoken

4 Step Approach In most cases, the generally accepted method of establishing a party’s entitlements following the breakdown of a relationship is by adopting the following four step approach: 1. Identify the value the net property of the parties.

2. Consider the financial, non-financial and homemaker and/or parenting contributions of the parties (see the section 79(4) factors outlined above).

3. Consider the ‘future needs’ factors.

4. Consider whether the proposed division of property is ‘just and equitable’.

However, the High Court recently provided a sage reminder to all practitioners, that there is an initial hurdle that must be considered prior to engaging in the tried and tested 4 step approach.

Parties must first establish that it is in fact ‘just and equitable’ to make any order at all that would alter the parties’ interest in their property.

The phrase ‘just and equitable’ is not exhaustively defined, but it instead suggests a conclusion that is arrived at after considering a range of factors, which often contradict each other.

Global or Asset-by-Asset Approach?

Having established the 4-step approach, its practical application is not immediately obvious. There are two potential approaches to the application of the process: 1. The global approach, which involves an expression of the parties’ entitlements by way of a proportion of the cumulative net asset value of all of the parties’ property.

2. The asset-by-asset approach, which requires separate determinations of the parties’ interests in individual items of property.

Both approaches are valid if the circumstances of the case render that approach appropriate. There is no binding principle which dictates the manner in which the Courts discretion is to be exercised.

Ultimately, it is a complex endeavour in which the relevant facts and circumstances of each case are to be considered and a just and equitable outcome reached in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost to each of the parties.

The law in this area is complicated, and you should seek the advice of an experienced family law practitioner in relation to how the law would apply to your circumstances.

We have provided you with an overview of the topic above but you should consult a professional for advice specific to your circumstances.

4 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday November 8, 2016

The Voice is mentioned in the Senate Estimates

T

he Voice of the Maltese in Australia featured prominently in a confrontation during the Australian Senate Estimates between Senator Sam Destyari and Michael Obeid CEO of Station, Special Broadcasting Services (SBS).

Mr.Obeid referred to the article in The Voice of the October 11, 2016 raising concerns regarding the potential for cutting 20 different language programmes as part of the funding cuts by the Federal Government to SBS. Mr. Obeid said, “Firstly, I would say there is no proposal to cut programmes. The article that you are referring to is mere speculation. I do not want to add any more to it because it is just speculation”.

He continued: “As you know, we have had numerous discussions in this committee about our funding in previous times. At the moment there are no plans to do that but, as you know, there is an outstanding problem with our funding that the government is looking at later this year. I think that was mentioned earlier today, but there is no plan at the moment.”

To a question by Senator Dastyari regarding the current review process, Mr. Obeid replied that every four or five years, with the Census data they initiate a review to have a look at the demographics of Australia. What new language groups are growing and what new migrant groups need their services for the next four or five years.

Senator Dastyari, trying to elicit a clearer reply asked the SBS CEO “I note a concern of some of these communities. I understand the objective of making sure you are relevant, but size does not necessarily equate to either need or perhaps a reflection on the reliance on these services. I do not

Another successful event by ‘Past Pupils, Friends of Don Bosco’ he 29th Annual Dinner Dance T organised by the Maltese Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco

Senator Sam Destyari know of the consultation process or your decision-making process. I am just slightly concerned with the way that you described it at the start.”

Finally, Mr. Obeid stated what to the Maltese is regarded as most important, that is, that the SBS’ decision is based on a lot more than size. It is based on a complicated formula that takes into consideration a whole range of things that goes into the methodology that they use.

SBS looks at things like aging, proficiency in English, for example, economic circumstances, recent arrivals and all of those sorts of things. Together with the size of the community they are all balanced and weighted, depending on different levels of importance.

Explaining the needs of those communities that has not had any new migration for 30 40 years, Mr. Obeid agreed that these communities have very different needs with an aging population.

(NSW) was another huge success. In a full house at the Mandavilla Function Centre at Horsley Park NSW, this annual family event was again not only enjoyable and entertaining, but perhaps one of the few occasions where all proceeding are directed to the Salesian Missions in Southern Sudan, Ethiopia, etc.

Joe Apap provided the entertainment for the evening. With his unique music, he generates this event as a very family atmosphere suitable for the people attending.

Tony Aloisi of Kemps Creek won first prize donated by Breakaway Travel of Blacktown in the guessing competition. Josephine Apap of Castle Hill won second prize, and Lydia Aloisi of Kemps Creek won third.

Meanwhile, the Maltese Past Pupils of Don Bosco (NSW) will hold its annual general meeting at Wentworthville Leagues Club at 10.30 am on Sunday November 27.

Below: A section of the crowd that attended the successful Maltese Past Pupils and Friends of ‘Don Bosco’ Annual Dinner Dance

Tuesday November 8, 2016

The Voice of the Maltese 5

The Ta’ Kenuna Tower at Nadur, Gozo O

n the cliffs near Nadur on the island of Malta’s sister island, Gozo, there is a semaphore tower known by the locals as It-Torri ta' Kenuna (The Ta' Kenuna Tower), that was built by the British in 1848, as one of three semaphore towers in Malta. The tower, which was restored in 2005, currently houses a beacon to warn ships of their proximity to land, as well as a number of communication antennas.

It-Torri ta' Kenuna was built on a hill 130 metres above sea level in order to be able to pass on signals to ships and other posts via a telegraphy link between the two main Maltese islands, and to communicate with identical towers built at G˙arg˙ur and G˙axaq on the island of Malta.

The semaphore telegraph system was invented in 1792. It is attributed to the French Chappe brothers, Claude and Ignace who while at different schools devised a pole with mechanical arms to maintain contact.

Following the French revolution, Claude the eldest of the two, lost his religious benefices and on November 2, 1789 he was forced to return to his native Brulon.

Here, along with his siblings he decided to set up shop to work on telegraphs.

The British military authorities began to consider installing such a system in Malta in the early 1840s. Initially, it was planned that such stations would be established on the bell towers and domes of the island's churches, but the religious authorities rejected the proposal.

Due to this, in 1848 new semaphore towers were constructed at Nadur on Gozo, and G˙arg˙ur and G˙axaq on the main island of Malta. Further stations were established at the Governor's Palace in Valletta, Selmun Palace near Mellie˙a, and the Giordan Lighthouse near G˙asri, Gozo.

The Royal Engineers manned each station. The semaphore system became obsolete with the introduction of the electrical telegraph, and The Ta' Kenuna Tower ceased functioning in 1883.

Thanks to sponsorship from Maltacom (now G0), in 2005, the Nadur Local Council made restoration works on the tower, and a beacon to warn ships of their proximity to land, as well as a number of communication antennas were installed on its roof. In order to preserve

Another shot at the Ta’ Kenuna Tower from another angle to the one by Joanne Mohr on the front page

the historic fabric of the original structure, the modern additions were mounted on the surface of the tower.

View from garden around tower.

A small botanical garden that contains a number endemic plants - native to the Maltese Islands - was also created around the tower. It has become very popular with the people of Nadur and all who visit the site.

Visitors to the Tower can request permission to climb to the top of the covered roof to take in a wonderful panoramic view of Gozo, Comino and parts of Malta.

Architecture It-Torri ta’ Kenuna and those at G˙arg˙ur and G˙axaq, consisting of three floors, each containing a single room, that are linked together. They have a spiral staircase leading to the roof. The signalling equipment, made up of a wooden pole with three movable arms, is located on the tower's roof.

View from the garden surrounding the Kenuna Tower at Nadur, of parts of Gozo, Comino and parts of Malta

6 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday November 8, 2016

L-Opra ‘I Martiri’ ta’ Carmelo Pace 50 sen’ilu K

waΩi 50 sen’ilu, fl-14 ta’ Ottubru tal-1967, il-bibien tat-Teatru Manoel fet˙u g˙al dik li, fil-fehma tieg˙i, kellha tkun l-a˙jar opra ta’ Carmelo Pace, ‘I Martiri’, opra fi tliet atti b’librett tan-Nutar Vincenzo Maria Pellegrini. Jien flimkien ma’ nofs il-KaΩin tal-Banda 12th May ta’ ÓaΩ-Ûebbu© konna preΩenti fuq il-palk g˙al din din l-opra patrijottika. Kienet l-opra tag˙na ΩÛebbu©in g˙ax l-istorja ddur fuq il-patrijott Ûebbu©i Dun Mikiel Xerri.

PeterPaulCiantar Niftakar qisu l-biera˙ lis-Surmast Pace, fid-dar tig˙u fi Triq San Duminku tas-Sliema, jg˙idli li n-Nutar Vincenzo Maria Pellegrini kien ©ej il-kaΩin biex il- ©bidt l-attenzjoni ta’ madwari u sikktuni. Ma stajtx nieqaf u kumpanija teatrali tal-kaΩin, ‘Zebbug Dramatic Company’, ˙ri©t fuq il-palk tal-Manoel inΩomm Ωaqqi bid-da˙k. Wara ltg˙inu fil-produzzjoni tal-opra ©dida tieg˙u ‘I Martiri’. Dak- ku©in tieg˙i Noel li kien fil-platea u qalli, “Rajtek tid˙ak u inhar ta’ Ωag˙Ωug˙ fl-aqwa tal-eΩamijiet li kont kwaΩi ma fhimt ΩΩomm Ωaqqek.” Ridt l-art tiblag˙ni! xejn, imma xorta mort u ltqajt g˙all-ewwel darba man-Nutar Din l-opra ta’ Carmelo Pace turi l-˙ila muΩikali tal-kompoΩiPellegrini. Kien akkumpanjat minn Maria Pisani li wara sirt tur. Turi wkoll l-im˙abba kbira li kellu lejn il-muΩika. Minn naf li kienet it-tifla tal-famuΩ pittur Ûebbu©i Lazzru Pisani. Jid- flusu stess kien jag˙mel tajjeb g˙al dawn ir-rappreΩentazzjoniher li s-Sinjorina Pisani kienet l-id il-leminija tan-Nutar. jiet operistiçi. ‘I Martiri’ turi l-kollaborazzjoni perfetta li kien Tlajna fis-sala ta’ fuq tal-kaΩin u fl-introduzzjoni n-Nutar hemm bejn is-Surmast Pace u l-librettista n-Nutar Vincenzo qalilna li kienet se tittella’ l-opra ‘l ©dida ta’ Pace ‘I Martiri’ u Maria Pellegrini. li g˙all-ewwel att tal-opra kellu f’mo˙˙u xena kbira. Kien jixNiftakar is-sbu˙ija muΩikali tal-Preghiera li ttemm it-tieni att. tieq u jin˙tie© ilL-udjenza mill-ewIx-xena tal-a˙˙ar att li turi Pjazza San Ìor© partiçipazzjoni wel g˙arfet il-kobor l-Belt, impittra minn Emvin Cremona tag˙na fil-purçismuΩikali tag˙ha sjoni tat-tie©. b’applawsi kbar.

T˙ajjarna, tajna Niftakar ukoll ilisimna (qalulna li muΩika ta’ swied ilriduhom g˙al fuq qalb fil-mument il-programm) u altal-fuçillazzjoni ta’ lura min˙abba li Dun Mikiel Xerri u konna ˙afna bdejna s˙abu f’Misra˙ San l-provi fuq il-palk Ìor© il-Belt, u ltas-sala tal-Iskola le˙en ˙elu u qawwi Primarja ta’ ÓaΩtas-sopran Hilda Ûebbu© u fl-a˙˙ar Mallia Tabone; ilg˙all-provi ©enerali vuçi ta’ Pio Zammit bil-kostumi fit-Teat(baxx profound); u ru Manoel. dak ta’ Joe Fenech Niftakar lin-Nutar fil-parti ta’ Dun MiPellegrini jg˙idli kiel (baritonu u ˙afna snin wara (g˙ax bqajt insegwih kwaΩi sal-a˙˙ar) kemm attur). ˙tie©lu xog˙ol g˙al dik il-produzzjoni, l-aktar g˙all-purçissjoni F’din l-istess produzzjoni niftakarni niltaqa’ g˙all-ewwel biex isib kostumi xierqa (hawn jirringrazzja lil Maria Pisani) u darba mat-Tenur Lino Gatt. Kien hemm ukoll it-Tenur Ankemm da˙al fid-dettall tag˙ha. Qalli wkoll li kienet l-aqwa drew Sapiano u sie˙bu l-baxx Joe Vella Bondin fl-aqwa produzzjoni teatrali tieg˙u. Kien sa˙ansitra ssellef baldakkin tag˙hom. Fuq kollox g˙adni qed nara dik l-ener©ija qawwija mill-Knisja tal-Karmnu tal-Belt sabiex jg˙atti lill-g˙arajjes g˙at- li wera fil-pit is-Surmast Joseph Sammut jidderie©i l-opra. tie©.

Din l-opra baqg˙et fi ˙sibijieti … impressjonatni tant li meta Il-©urnata waslet. Is-Surmast Pace kien liebes libsa sewda, xi snin wara Georgette Caffari, il-kollaboratriçi tas-Surmast iΩda wiççu kien isfar lellux u emozzjonat g˙all-a˙˙ar idur u Pace qaltli se jer©a’ jtella’ ‘I Martiri’, ˙taftha fil-kelma u tlabtha jag˙ti l-a˙˙ar ordnijiet bejn il-kwinti lill-kantanti qabel tibda biex inkun wie˙ed mill-kantanti s˙ab Dun Mikiel. Aççettawni r-rappreΩentazzjoni. u sej˙uli biex immur g˙all-provi … u bdejna nitg˙allmu blIs-Surmast Anton Muscat Azzopardi bilkemm kien joqg˙od amment dik il-pa©na tant g˙al qalbi: Preghiera dei congiurati. fis-su©©eritura, filwaqt li n-Nutar Pellegrini kien jifli lill-par- Mort xi darbtejn jew tlieta g˙all-provi imma g˙al xi ra©uni ltiçipanti b’g˙ajnejn ta’ seqer iwissina noqog˙du attenti g˙ax opra ma ttelleg˙tx.

Kellhom jg˙addu 22 sena, biex fl-1989 din l-opra g˙al se jattendu l-og˙la awtoritajiet.

Il-˙in wasal u daqqet l-a˙˙ar qanpiena. It-teatru tefa’ d-dawl darb’o˙ra ©iet ippreΩentata mill-©did fit-Teatru Manoel, flu l-palk xeg˙el b˙al ˙u©©ie©a, filwaqt li s-siparju tal-Manoel okkaΩjoni tal-25 sena ta’ Malta Indipendenti, bi produzzjoni ta’ Joe Friggieri. Dakinhar kont spettatur fil-platea mimli nostal©ija. beda jinfeta˙ bil-mod il-mod.

Fl-a˙˙ar tal-opra, waqt l-applawsi finali, is-Surmast Carmelo Il-‘Marsellaise’ Pace u l-librettista Vincenzo Maria Pellegrini, din id-darba L-opra tifta˙ bl-Innu FrançiΩ, il-‘Marsellaise’ li jitkanta fuq il- xwej˙in u b’passi tqal tilg˙u fuq il-palk; l-applawsi rduppjaw. palk mill-©emg˙a tal-poplu Malti. F’dik ir-rappreΩentazzjoni Wara r-rappreΩentazzjoni tlajt fuq il-palk nifra˙ lil min ˙a l-parti tal-poplu kienet f’idejn il-Kor ‘Melitensis’. Wara kien sehem. F’mument minnhom staqsejt g˙aliex ma tpo©©ewx iximiss li nibdew ˙er©in a˙na b’dik l-imbierka purçissjoni tal- xeni mpittra apposta mill-pittur famuΩ Emvin Cremona g˙arg˙arajjes ta˙t il-baldakkin. rappreΩentazzjoni ta’ din l-opra (1967). G˙idtilhom li qatt EΩatt f’dak il-˙in u fi skiet perfett, nisma’ lil xi ˙add minn bejn f’˙ajti ma kont rajt xenarju ta’ Misra˙ San Ìor© hekk sabi˙ il-kwinti jg˙id b’le˙en o˙xon u bi djalett Ûebbu©i, “Hekk b˙alma kien pittru Cremona. sewwa … f’jumejn il-Maltin tg˙allmu l-Innu FrançiΩ u llum lXi ˙add minn ta˙t l-ilsien qalli li ma sabuhomx u x’aktarx li Innu Malti g˙adna ma nafuhx sewwa.” Infqajt f’da˙ka tant li nsterqu!!

The Voice of the Maltese 7

Tuesday November 8, 2016 Il-President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca (fin-nofs) u Michelle Muscat, il-mara tal-Prim Ministru (lemin), ma’ w˙ud li ˙adu sehem fl-attivita` tal-Óadd.

Eluf jie˙du sehem fis-Solidarity Fun Run b’riΩq il-Community Chest Fund Sezzjoni mill-folla mi©bura fi Pjazza San Ìor© fit-tmiem il-Fun Run tal-President

Malta twiegeb g˙as-sej˙a tal-President

F

’atmosfera ta’ festa, g˙at-tmien sena wara l-o˙ra l-Óadd li g˙adda, 6 ta’ Novembru, ©iet organizzata l-hekk mag˙rufa b˙ala l-President’s Solidarity Fun Run b’riΩq ilFondazzjoni tal-Community Chest Fund, l-attivita’ ta’ kull sena li Malta kollha tkun qed tistenna f’dawn iΩ-Ωmienijiet.

Anke din id-darba l-©irja, li saret avveniment nazzjonali, ©ibdet lejha lparteçipazzjoni ta’ eluf kbar ta’ nies ta’ kull kulur politiku u minn kull strata tal-˙ajja minn Malta u G˙awdex. Fit-tmiem tag˙ha l-aktar minn 15,000 parteçipant li rrendew mal€200,000, urew is-sodisfazzjon li kienu parti mill-attivita`.

Malta tassew wie©bet g˙as-sej˙a talPresident u ma kienx jonqos li fi tmiemha, l-Eççellenza Tag˙ha Marie Louise Coleiro Preca stess dehret emozzjonata ˙afna u çertament entuΩjaΩmata b’dak li se˙˙ fl-attivita’ organizzata bit-tema, “One Nation,

One Heartbeat”.

Mhux ta’ b’xejn li fit-tmiem, g˙al aktar minn darba l-President tenniet : Viva l-popl Malti; Viva l-poplu G˙awdxi”.

B˙al dejjem, l-attivita’ kellha wkoll l-appo©© tal-mexxejja politiçi ewlenin, mhux biss billi l-Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat u l-Mexxej talOppoΩizzjoni Simon Busuttil ˙e©©ew il-parteçipazzjoni, iΩda billi kemm huma – il-Prim Ministru g˙al ftit min˙abba li kellu jsiefer – u g˙add kbir ta’ membri Parlamentari minn kull na˙a tal-Kamra tar-RappreΩentanti, wkoll ˙adu sehem. Çertament li wie˙ed jaf ukoll issuççess tal-Fun Run anke lilhom, imma wkoll lil ˙afna o˙rajn, fosthom aΩjendi, li ta˙t it-tmexxija tal-President, stinkaw biex isse˙˙ bil-g˙an li ti©i mg˙ejjuna din l-istituzzjoni g˙allkarita’, li ©iet imwaqqfa biex tg˙in organizzazzjonijiet filantropiçi, u aktar

Tel (02) 9622 7799 blacktown@breakawaytravel.com.au

www.breakawaytravel.com.au

A proud sponsor of The Voice of the Maltese

Breakaway Travel 94 corner of Main & Campbell Streets, Blacktown NSW ...... for all your travel needs. website: www.breakawaytravel.com.au

Announces: Two Fund Raising Tours 2017 organised by The Friends of Providence House NSW Tour 1: 12-night cruise from Syd – NZ – SYD departing 1st February 2017.

Tour 2: 16-day Fly/Tour/Cruise. Departing 25th May 2017.

Touring Venice, Florence, Rome with a Mediterranean Cruise and tour finishing in Malta.

For more information call Jim Borg on 96367767/0418825591 Karen or Noel at Breakaway Travel on 9622 8899

is proudly sponsored by Breakaway Travel, Blacktown

minhekk, li tg˙in ukoll individwi li jkunu jin˙tie©u l-g˙ajnuna.

M’g˙andux jonqos li min˙abba li lPresident hija l-perçimes fost li tixpruna lill-pubbliku Malti ˙alli jinsa d-differenzi u jie˙u sehem g˙all-istess g˙an, hi wkoll flimkien ma’ Ωew©ha sSur Edgar Preca ˙adet sehem fil-mixja mil-Palazz ta’ Sant’ Anton sa Misra˙ San Ìorg, fil-kapitali Maltija Valletta.

Il-President sej˙iltilha: “Manifestazzjoni ta’ g˙aqda”, u sostniet li temmen li l-poplu Malti jrid din l-attivita’ b˙ala turija ta’ “g˙aqda g˙as-solidarjeta’ ta’ bejnietna”.

Kienet kburija li g˙al darb’o˙ra din il-©irja/mixja kienet ta’ suççess, g˙ax permezz tal-flus mi©bura l-fond jista’ jikber u aktar nies fil-bΩonn jistg˙u ji©u mg˙ejjuna.

Ta’ min jg˙id li l-Community Chest Fund (CCF) tipprovdi mhux biss g˙ajnuna fi flus imma wkoll materjal u appo©© professjonali lil dawk li jkunu qed jesperjenzaw diffikultajiet min˙abba mard kroniku, b˙all-kançer li fost kollox ikollhom bΩonn il-finanzi biex i˙allsu g˙all-kura barra l-pajjiΩ.

Permezz ta’ kumitat appsta, Il-CCF ukoll jag˙ti appo©© lil persuni b’diΩabilita’, lil nies fil-bΩonn u organizzazzjonijiet mhux governattivi (NGOs) li jgawdu mill-Fond g˙all-G˙aqdiet Volontarji.

Biex tag˙mel dan kollu l-CCF tistrie˙ fuq il-©eneroΩita` tal-pubbliku in©enerali u ta’ xi kumpaniji tan-negozju Intant, fl-attivita’ ta’ din is-sena dawk li ˙adu sehem fil-©irja bdewha, mnn erba’ postijiet. Mis-Saqqajja firRabat sal-belt, distanza ta’ 11.3Km, f’mixja mill-Pjazza ta’ Ra˙al Ìdid (5.35Km), minn ˙dejn l-Universita’ ta’ Malta (4.69Km), u minn Santa Venera (4.49Km).

Is-sabi˙ tag˙ha ntla˙aq meta lparteçipanti minn kull post tat-tluq iltaqg˙u flimkien il-Bombi fil-Furjana g˙all-final, u r˙ewlha lejn il-belt fejn f’indirizz qasir il-President esprimiet lentuΩjaΩmu tag˙ha g˙as-suççess u tat ˙ajr lil dawk kollha li ˙adu sehem.

8 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday November 8, 2016

Have your say/Xi trid tghid?

Your letters/ L-ittri tag˙kom ...

Inhumane

Paul Mercieca, Southern Cross, WA writes:

I

The Voice of the Maltese on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e o

is is a bi-lingual (in English and Maltese) fortnightly online publication specifically targeting all Maltese living abroad with emphasis on the Australian scene. is online magazine is sent via email by request.

Subscription is free.

Editors: Malta: Joseph Cutajar Australia: Lawrence Dimech: MOM, OAM, JP email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com Letters for publication in The Voice either in Maltese or English should be e-mailed to: maltesevoice@gmail.com.

Now you can also join us on facebook: https://www.facebook. com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese

would ever be so grateful to the Australian authorities that way back in the early 50s welcomed my dad, then in his teens, and his family to this wonderful country. Now I am raising my kids to also love this country.

However, I cannot but condemn the current administration’s attitude towards others who like my family are today seeking to make a better life for themselves on this continent.

The proposed bill by the Turnbull government that proposes a lifetime ban on any asylum seeker who tries to reach Australia by sea is inhumane to say the least.

I agree wholeheartedly that refugees need and deserve protection and respect. These people risk their lives to reach our shores in order to escape the conflicts in their countries and hoping to start afresh in Australia. I sincerely hope that the government comes to its senses and changes its attitude towards them.

A˙jar meta konna ag˙ar?

Carmel. Borg minn Castle Hill NSW jikteb: ul˙add jaf li Malta g˙andha ˙amest jiem nazzjonali. In-nazzjon Ωg˙ir imma fejn jid˙lu l-festi ˙alli g˙alina l-Maltin.

Il-Gvern Laburista xorta baqa’ jiççelebra Jum l-Indipendenza b˙ala l-Jum Ewlieni almenu fejn jid˙lu r-rappreΩentanti ta’ Malta barra minn Malta. Fi zmien l-Gvern Nazzjonalista kienet issir çelebrazzjoni f’Canberra u anki kienu ji©u mistiedna nies Maltin prominenti minn kull Stat g˙ax il-Konslijiet Generali f’Melbourne u Sydney qatt ma jaqsmu dan il-jum mal-komunita` anzi jag˙lqu l-bibien tag˙hom, g˙ax festa f’Malta.

F’Canberra jidher li ç-çelebrazzjoni saret biss g˙al dawk li jg˙ixu f’dan it-territorju Ωg˙ir.

Kemm konna ahjar meta konna ag˙ar?

K

While visiting Malta Stay at: The Diplomat Hotel, 173 Tower Road Sliema

Email: sales@diplomat.com.mt Tel: (00356) 23497000

The US Presidential election

God forbid!

Joe Cassar from Beverly Hills, NSW writes:

y the time this letter is published, the B United Stats would be at the end of its presidential campaign and close to voting in

its 45th President. After what many describe as being a dirty campaign, they Americans have this choice to make that could even affect the whole world.

The US is very important and I am sure many have heard the phrase that whenever the US sneezes most of the world catches a cold. There’s not much to choose from between the two candidates, but one is much worse than the other. However, whoever is elected he/she would be the people’s choice.

For somebody like me who has been following the circus (as that is what it was), I would say that if the outcome weren’t that serious, it would have been laughable.

For all the stupidity of some of our politicians in Australia I would say that we should thank God that our electoral campaigns do not in any way resemble the run-up to the Presidential election in America. I dread ever seeing any of our politicians act the way Trump has been acting for one.

So thank God for small mercies. Our politicians cannot ever be compared with those in what is supposed to be the world’s best democracy (!!) God forbid we ever have anybody like that.

The Voice saret istituzzjoni valida

Mario Griscti minn Ta’ Xbiex, jikteb: ilwaqt li niΩΩikhom ˙ajr ta’ The Voice of the Maltese, ˙ar©a numru 139 irrid ng˙id xi ˙a©a dwar is-s˙aba sewda bit-tra©edja kbira li kellna fl-ajruport ta’ Malta fl-24 ta’ Ottubru, li rrappurtajtu tant tajjeb fil-magazine.

Qisu li x-xahar ta’ Ottubru m’g˙andux grazzja mal-avjazzjoni f’pajjiΩna. F’Ottubru ta’ 41 sen’ilu, fl-1975, kien ikkraxxja fuq ÓaΩ-Ûabbar il-Vulcan, li minbarra li kka©una l-mewt ta’ mara mil-lokal, kienu wkoll mietu nies tas-servizzi IngliΩi.

Minbarra r-rapport dwar l-a˙˙ar tra©edja, f’The Voice re©a’ kien hemm xalata ta’ tag˙rif, divertiment, tag˙lim, a˙barijiet politiko-soçjali u grammatika. Ma jonqosx l-isport u l-avviΩi komunitarji.

M’hux g˙ax f’wiççkom (fis-sens g˙ax qed nikteb lilkom) imma The Voice of the Maltese fil-fehma tieg˙i saret istituzzjoni ta’ validita’, koerenza u komunikabbilta’.

Il-Bambin iΩomm idejh fuqkom.

F

The Voice of the Maltese 9

Tuesday November 8, 2016

Novembru – Xahar li jfakkarna fil-mejtin tag˙na

N

insabu fix-xahar ta’ Novembru u bla trid is-su©©ett idur dwar l-erwie˙ tal-Purgatorju. A˙na ma niftakrux f’dawn ˙utna u qrabatna matul dan il-˙dax-il xahar tas-sena biss, imma matul dan iΩ-Ωmien xi ˙a©a timbuttana biex in˙alluhom iktar jid˙lu f’˙ajjitna.

F’Malta u G˙awdex ix-xahar ta’ Novembru huwa g˙aΩiΩ ˙afna g˙ax ifakkarna f’dawk li ˙allew dan il-Wied tad-Dmug˙ u g˙addew g˙al ˙ajja a˙jar. Fil-fatt ix-xahar jifta˙ b’jumejn g˙eΩieΩ ˙afna g˙alina l-insara: il-festa tal-Qaddisin Kollha u eΩatt l-g˙ada, iljum dedikat lill-erwie˙ mejtin kollha.

Matul dawn il-jumejn u tul il-bqija tal-jiem li ji©u wara, niesna g˙andhom id-drawwa qaddisa li jΩuru ç-çimiterji mferrxa mal-GΩejjer Maltin. Wara forsi ©img˙at u xhur ta’ telqa ˙afna mil-lapidi ta’ fuq l-oqbra jie˙du ˙asla u tindifa, filwaqt li bukketti ta’ ward ikkulurit u xemg˙a tixg˙el iΩejnu loqbra tal-mejtin.

Isir ˙afna talb u xi demg˙a ma tonqosx. Ikollna wkoll s-Sajf ta’ San Martin li j˙ajjar lil ˙afna jmorru xi passi©©ata fin-nofs ta’ nhari fil-kampanja li issa tkun la˙qet ˙adet xi bexxa xita, waqt li Ωjara liç-çimiterju ma tonqosx.

Tista’ tg˙id li kull parroçça g˙andha ç-Çimiterju tag˙ha li dejjem tara li jinΩamm fi stat tajjeb.

Nemmen li niesna g˙andhom post speçjali f’qalbom g˙aç-çimiterji tag˙na. Óafna huma dawk li jag˙mlu l-almu tag˙hom biex ikollhom ilqabar tag˙hom g˙alkemm mhux dejjem façli li tixtri wie˙ed, apparti l-fatt li lanqas m’huma b’xejn!

Malta, Australia at JESC 2016 November 20 in Valletta

or the second time F in three years, Malta is set to host

the Junior Eurovision Song Contest on November 20.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Malta, the 14th edition of the event, with the participation of young singers from 17 countries is taking place at Christina Magrin the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.

The event, to be organised by PBS, in collaboration with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), is anticipated to demonstrate the remarkable talent that each of the participating countries has to offer. Among the participating nations, will be three that were absent from last year’s contest. They are, Cyprus, Israel who last took part in 2012, and Poland whose participation will be their first for 10 years.

Australia, to be represented by 12-year-old Alexa Curtis who will sing Sound of Silence, will be participating for the second time running. The other countries taking part with Malta will be, Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, F. Y. R. Macedonia, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine.

Malta won the right to organise the event by virtue of Destiny Chukunyere’s victory in last year’s event. This year Malta will be represented by Christina Magri, 13, with the song Parachute, music by Kosivar Florent Boshnajku and lyrics by Matt Muxu Mercieca. the opening of the festival will be on November 14 at Manoel Theatre

Veru li x˙in tmut mhux se j˙alluk f’nofs ta’ triq, imma ˙a©a sabi˙a li membri tal-familja jkunu mi©bura f’qabar wie˙ed b’lapida li tfakkar lil dawk li jΩuru ç-çimiterju b’mod speçjali f ix-Xahar tal-Erwie˙.

Novembru da˙al anke fil-Letteratura. Fil-fatt xtaqt nag˙laq din ir-riflessjoni b’poeΩija qasira li kiteb il-poeta G˙awdxi mwieled fix-Xag˙ra, l-kapuççin Patri Mattew Sultana meta darba fost l-o˙rajn fettillu jmur iΩur içÇimiterju ta’ l-Addolorata: ‘D˙alt fil-maqbar t’Ommna Mnikkta Mort biex nitlob g˙al kul˙add; Qrajt il-kitba ta’ fuq l-oqbra – W er©ajt ˙ri©t; ma tlabt g˙al ˙add!

G˙al min titlob! Matul ˙ajtu Kul˙add kien qaddis, kif qrajt; ˙ri©t ng˙id wa˙di: ‘Mela jiena g˙ax brikkun, ng˙ix sallum bqajt!’

JoeMAttard

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Perspettiva

Tuesday November 8, 2016 A version of this series in English may be found in the author's blog at: http://ivancauchi.blogs pot.com

kitba ta’

IVAN CAUCHI

P.S. nor come to see koalas, ever!

L

e, m'iniex nitkellem dwar il-foresti tropikali, subtropikali jew Alpini talAwstralja. Lanqas dwar ilpaesa©© Malti wara l-ewwel xita.

Il-gvern Awstraljan g˙adu kif ˙abbar li se jipprova jg˙addi le©islazzjoni sabiex l-ebda persuna li tkun waslet bil-ba˙ar biex tfittex l-aΩil min-nofs tas-sena 2013, ma tit˙alla tid˙ol l-Awstralja, g˙all-ebda ra©uni.1 Issa m'g˙adniex nitkellmu dwar li persuni li jitqiesu refu©jati li jkunu ©ew bil-ba˙ar, u li jittie˙du biex ji©u pproçessati f'Nauru u Manus Island tal-PNG ma jit˙allewx ji©u biex joqog˙du hawnhekk. Dan kien pass iebes li kien ˙a gvern Laburista fl-2013, li kien re©a' lura mid-deçiΩjoni politika, u r-riskju, li fl-2008 ine˙˙i r-restrizzjonijiet li kienu fis-se˙˙ ftit snin qabel fl-ipproçessar talapplikazzjonijiet g˙all-aΩil, ming˙ajr ma kien hemm alternattiva ta' kif se ji©u pproçessati.

Dik id-deçiΩjoni tal-2008 kienet sempliçement prematura, imma wasslet biex t˙ajjar g˙exieren ta' eluf ta' refu©jati biex ifittxu laΩil hawnhekk, u lil ˙afna mijiet ta' nies, iktar minn elf, biex jispiççaw jg˙erqu fiΩ-Ωaqq ratba imma ras iebsa tal-ba˙ar.

Id-deçiΩjoni tal-2013 jien ukoll aççettajt li kienet neçessarja (ara The Voice Nru. 80) b˙ala deterrent. B˙al ma nafu, il-gvern ta' koalizzjoni preΩenti, dak Liberali-Nazzjonali, ilu jifta˙ar li m'g˙adhomx ji©u rifu©jati bil-ba˙ar u waqfu dawk il-mijiet ta' mwiet f'dawn in-na˙iet tad-dinja (mhux l-istess jista' jing˙ad, diΩgrazzjatament, g˙all-in˙awi ta' Malta).

Imm’issa l-gvern qed jg˙id li mhux biss ir-rifu©jati li jkunu ©ew bil-ba˙ar ma jit˙allewx ji©u joqog˙du hawnhekk, imma qed jipproponi li ma jkunux jistg˙u ji©u l-Awstralja g˙all-ebda ra©uni.

Ma jistg˙ux ji©u btala.

Ma jistg˙ux ji©u g˙al Ωmien qasir biex jiltaqg˙u mal-familjari tag˙hom.

Lanqas jistg˙u ji©u fuq negozju, jew biex joqog˙du ma' Ωwie©hom Awstraljan.

Lanqas jekk ilhom li telqu minn Nauru u Manus Island g˙al xi pajjiΩ ie˙or li laqag˙hom, u ilhom hemm g˙axar snin, g˙oxrin sena.

atte©©jament b˙al dan: A˙dar.

X'inhu l-bΩonn li nkomplu nΩidu l-˙ruxija ma' min jinsab tant filbΩonn, 'il bog˙od minn pajjiΩu, sfurzat i˙arbat lil ˙ajtu u dik ta' familtu, u li qed ja˙rab ilpersekuzzjoni? Il-gvern ilu jifta˙ar kemm irnexxilu jwaqqaf iddg˙ajjes bir-rifu©jati ©ejjin l-Awstralja, allura g˙alfejn hemm bΩonn inkomplu nΩidu d-doΩa ta' kefrija?

Mhux ta' b'xejn li l-partit One Nation ta' Pauline Hanson, dak li snin ilu kien ibeΩΩa' bl-immigranti Asjatiçi u issa bl-immigranti Musulmani, ˙are© jg˙id prosit lill-gvern. Kummentaturi politiçi qed jg˙idu li l-Koalizzjoni Liberali-Nazzjonali qed tipprova ter©a' ti©bed lejha partitarji li fl-a˙˙ar elezzjoni vvutaw g˙al One Nation.

Dan jista' jkun. Jien madankollu niffavorixxi teorija o˙ra.

Il-Prim Ministru Turnbull ftit ©img˙at ilu ˙abbar li se jΩid l-ammont ta' rifu©jati li jie˙u fis-sena minn 13,750 g˙al 18,750. Bla dubju dan huwa pass poΩittiv (fil-fehma tieg˙i). Dan iççara dikjarazzjoni li kienet saret mill-predeçessur tieg˙u Tony Abbott ta' Ωieda g˙al dak l-ammont, imma li ma kienx çar jekk din kinetx Ωieda ta' darba jew ta' kull sena.

Turnbull iddikjara wkoll li parti minn din iΩ-Ωieda se ti©i minn rifu©jati mill-Costa Rica.2 Dan il-pass narah intenzjonat biex iserra˙ ras dawk fil-partit tieg˙u, u l-kwaΩi nofs il-poplu Awstraljan li huma kontra l-immigrazzjoni mill-Musulmani3, g˙ax millCosta Rica nies Insara tistenna.

It-teorija tieg˙i hi li Turnbull xorta g˙andu oppoΩizzjoni interna g˙al din iΩ-Ωieda u ried ikompli jben©ilha b'miΩura ˙arxa li tappella g˙al dawk il-votanti tal-partit tieg˙u li fil-fatt jissimpatizzaw mal-politika ta' One Nation.

Hi x'inhi, il-kumment tieg˙i hu l-istess. Jidher li hemm nies filgvern li huma m˙allsa biex jivvintaw miΩuri sadisti li ji©u applikati lil min huwa vulnerabbli, kemm jista' jkun 'il bog˙od minn xtutna u minn g˙ajnejna. U r-rappreΩentanti tag˙na ji©u quddiem it-televiΩjoni, u b'wiççhom minn quddiem ikantaw fuq l-g˙aqal u t-tjubija tat-tmexxija tag˙hom.

Xi ˙dura!

Xi ˙dura!

QATT. Qed nigdeb, g˙ax qed jipproponu eççezzjoni wa˙da, fejn il-ministru jista' juΩa d-diskrezzjoni tieg˙u u juΩa l-˙niena tieg˙u, li minna g˙andu biex ibig˙, meta xi kaΩ irattablu qalbu. J'Alla tmissek ix-xorti.

A˙na l-Maltin g˙andna a©©ettiv li joqg˙od g˙al min juri

Referenzi 1. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/30/asylumseekers-face-lifetime-ban-on-entering-australia-if-they-arrive-by-boat, retrieved 1/11/2016 2. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-21/un-refugee-summit-australia-intake-upped-to-19,000-per-year/7863712, retrieved 1/11/2016 3. http://www.essentialvision.com.au/ban-on-muslim-immigration, retrieved 1/11/2016

Tuesday November 8, 2016

The Voice of the Maltese 11

Banning HFCs: Too Late and Too Slow T

he chief sour- by GwynneDyer ce of new problems is solutions to old problems.

The ammonia that we used in domestic fridges as a coolant in the early 20th century was poisonous if it leaked, so in the 1930s we replaced it with chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which you can breathe all day without harm. Problem solved.

Unfortunately, it turned out that CFCs, when they leaked, eventually rose into the stratosphere where they began destroying ozone.

The ozone layer is the only thing protecting us from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation, so countries responded quickly in the 1980s when scientists discovered a spreading “ozone hole” over the Antarctic.

In only a few years the world’s nations negotiated the Montreal Protocol of 1987, which mandated the elimination of CFCs from all industrial processes by 1996. The deadline was met, and the latest projection is that the ozone layer will recover to 1980 levels between 2050 and 2070. Problem solved.

Unfortunately, the CFCs were replaced in most fridges and air-conditioning units by hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). They don’t hurt the ozone, but they are very powerful warming agents – 10,000 times more powerful than the same volume of carbon dioxide – when they escape into the atmosphere.

Global warming was not seen as an urgent threat in the 1980s, so the negotiators were not much concerned by that. If the warming turned out to be a major problem, it could be dealt with later. But it did turn out to be a major problem, and later is now.

The rapid industrialisation of the warmer parts of the world (India, China, Brazil, etc.) has led to an explosion of demand for air conditioning and other cooling technologies. Accor-ding to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, about 1.6 billion new air condi- tioning units will be switched on worldwide by 2050.

HFC leakage from air conditioners alone will raise the global average temperature by half a degree Celsius by mid-century.

When all the world’s governments are pledged to stop the warming before it reaches plus 2 degrees C, and we are already well past plus one degree C. An extra half a degree is a lot.

So we needed another miracle like the Montreal Protocol – and now we have it.

On October 15, in Kigali in Rwanda, almost 200 countries signed an agreement to curb the use of HFCs being used. US Secretary of State John Kerry called it “the single most important step we could take at this moment to limit the warming of our planet.”

Well, yes it is, but

you are probably noticing a pattern in all this.

It’s not so much that we keep getting it wrong.

It’s the time it takes to put it right: a century so far, and we’ll still be at it for at least another 30 years before all the HFCs are out of the system.

When you read the fine print of the Kigali Amendment, it turns out that the United States (the second-biggest HFC polluter), the European Union, and some other rich countries will have to achieve their first 10 percent cut in HFC production by 2019 – but the schedule for further cuts is not clearly defined, apart from the fact that they must be down by 85 percent by 2036. (That’s twenty years from now.)

The majority of the world’s countries – including China, the biggest polluter – will only have to freeze their production level in 2024. (At the moment, their production of HFCs is going up by an average of 16 percent a year, which means it could almost triple by 2024.)

The first 10 percent cut by these countries is only due in 2029, and it will be 10 percent of whatever they are producing five years from now – possibly double the current amount. They will then make further cuts in 2030-2045, getting production of HFCs down by 85 percent by the latter date (three decades from now).

India, Pakistan and most of the Middle Eastern countries don’t even have to freeze production until 2028, and their target date for getting to 85 percent cuts in production is 2047. At a rough guess, global HFC production will peak some time in the late 2020s, and will be back down to the current level by the mid2030s.

Don’t get angry. Countries don’t know how to negotiate any other way: nobody gives anything away if they don’t absolutely have to. But if you want to despair, go right ahead. The pace of the political process does not remotely match the speed with which the threat is growing.

We have to do much better than this if we are to avoid crashing through the plus-two-degree limit and tumbling into runaway warming.

We are not ready to make those deals yet, but when we finally are we will have one small consolation.

This deal has been far easier to make because it is an amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, not a whole new treaty.

The more treaties we have on climate matters now, however imperfect they may be, the faster we will be able to move when we finally do take fright. *Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries. From time to time he also contributes to The Voice of the Maltese.

12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday November 8, 2016

Roundup of News About Malta

Esplora: Malta’s new unique attraction

M

alta has an added attraction to the many it already had, as Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on October 28 officially inaugurated Esplora, Malta’s National Interactive Science Centre, a unique new attraction in the beautifully restored plaza in front of the historic Villa Bighi in Kalkara as school children ran around excited at the numerous attractions.

Many managed to gain entry when the Centre opened its doors to the public, but due to strong winds activities had to be cancelled for Health and Safety.

However, the public was again given the chance to explore Esplora on November 1 when it began normal operations welcoming visitors. Visitors had a chance to tour the state of the art interactive science centre and were able to enthuse about science, as they were encouraged to engage with its exhibits.

The first Science Centre in Malta, constructed at a cost of €26 million, is a hands-on experience designed to make science appealing and relevant to all, houses 250 state of the art exhibits spread over 22,000 square meters of exhibition space making it one of the largest Science Centres in Europe.

A visit to the exhibits area generally takes three to four hours and over. This is the place where kids are in their element and where adults forget their age and become kids again.

So now not only locals, but also visitors to the island have another attraction to look forward to.

The Esplora Interactive Science Centre is open six days a week - Tuesday to Sunday, (so excluding Mondays) including public holidays. For opening times and attendance fees one should go to: esplora.org.mt.

Govt. announces breakthrough in tourism from China

P

rime Minister Joseph Muscat announced a breakthrough in Chinese tourism. Speaking in Parliament he said the Government has signed agreements with Bank of China and China International Travel Services through which by 2018, 10,000 Chinese visitors would visit Malta, and that by 2010, the amount would increase to 50,000.

Hotels and Restaurants Association president Mr Tony Zahra hailed it as “great news” that is in line with the strategy recommended by MHRA “that Malta should be focusing to further develop new source markets and to enhance the quality of tourists that choose to visit our country.”

He said that attracting Chinese tourists to Malta was a step in the right direction and that the tourist industry must now also gear the product for this new market.

‘a leading nautical €310 million raised Malta tourism destination’ through IIP scheme T

B

y the end of September Malta has raised more than €310 million from the Individual Investor Programme (IIP) scheme through which foreigners can obtain Maltese citizenship against a financial contribution. Another €44 million had been injected into the Maltese economy through the purchase of property by the applicants.

This was revealed by Justice Minister Owen Bonnici in Parliament at the end of the discussion on the 2017 budget estimates for the ministry of justice, culture and local government. He added that a further €24 million worth of property rent has also been invested so far by the applicants.

ourism Dr Edward Zammit Lewis said that as a touristic destination, and potentially as a home for yachtsmen, Malta might consider itself privileged to possess and display the dual nature of a Mediterranean island destination along with a rich and vibrant urban dimension.

Addressing the prize-giving ceremony for the 37th Rolex Middle Sea Race the Minister added that Malta offers a safe haven for yachtsmen from all over the world, and that its reputation as a nautical destination has been greatly enhanced by the continuous development of its yacht marinas as well as the related ancillary activities provided to the yachting and nautical community in general.

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Tuesday November 8, 2016

Roundup of News About Malta

‘Malta committed to work to build today, the future we want for the Mediterranean of tomorrow’

I

n his concluding remarks at the two-day Anna Lindh Foundation (AFL) Med Forum 2016 that was held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta with the participation of around 600 participants from 42 countries from various organisations hailing from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr George W. Vella described the occasion a defining day in Malta’s preparation of its first Presidency of the European Council.

He Minister George Vella in his meeting with Mme Elizabeth Guigou pointed out that the Forum was sending a powerful message to Europe, the Mediterranean, and the n the sidelines of talks with lion in the world’s largest hangar wider world, that there are alternatives to the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat for the painting of aircraft at Safi. and Slovakian PM Robert Fico The company that has been allo- extremist discourse doabout the EU Council presidency to cated the hangar by Malta Enter- minating the global polbe held in Malta and the drawing up prise is employing 80 workers. It itics, media and our of a common agenda, Dutch Prime commenced operations on its first personal lives.

He said that since the Minister Mark Rutte joined the task at the new hangar that can acMaltese premier in inaugurating the commodate the Airbus A380, outset of Malta’s partAviation Cosmetics company from which is world’s largest double- nership on this landmark Med Forum shared with Holland that has invested €15 mil- decker aircraft, on Monday. the Anna Lindh Foundation, two core concepts were underlined.

Firstly, that the Forum Salvatores, who has highly praised Italian film director Gabriele Salvatores, famous for a number of films, the local workforce in the film in- should not be a one off including Mediterraneo, which won dustry, especially their profession- event, but a process to the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in alism and high level of expertise, catalyse collaboration 1992 is in Malta to shoot scenes for has also shown expressed an inter- among the main actors his new film, “The Invisible Boy est in shooting a full feature film in of the region at this crit2”. He is shooting these scenes at the Maltese Islands, with a story fo- ical time for regional cooperation, and secondly, cusing on the islands themselves.

Mdina.

New €15m Dutch investment O

Oscar-winning film director filming in Malta

that the Forum legacy should centre on a fundamental shift in how relations between Europe and its Mediterranean Neighbourhood, with people-to-people at its core, should be reactivated.

Minister Vella said that Malta is absolutely committed to assuming its historic contribution as a bridge and a catalyst in the Mediterranean, that Malta can build bridges and spur and convince people on both sides to cross them.

“Against all the unprecedented challenges and difficulties the Mediterranean is facing, there is an alternative narrative to be built, and we are committed to working with you over the coming years to build today the future we want for the Mediterranean of tomorrow”.

Meanwhile, during a meeting with Minister Dr George W. Vella on the margins of the Mediterranean Forum, the President of the Anna Lindh Foundation, Madame Elizabeth Guigou praised Malta’s leading and exemplary role in the Mediterranean and said that she strongly welcomed Malta’s active engagement in keeping the Mediterranean high on the EU agenda.

Madame Guigou expressed her support for Malta’s upcoming EU Presidency in the first half of 2017.

Government, Chamber of Commerce establish T Education Malta Foundation

he provision of private educational services in Malta has over the past years grown dramatically. Education is now being considered as a potentially new economic service growth area in line with the already varied economic services activities, contributing to Malta’s economy and job creation.

This has led to the establishment of the Education Malta Foundation, a not-for-profit entity whose objective is to promote the internationalisation of education in Malta and to attract foreign educational entities to establish a presence in Malta.

It will join other national agencies that form part of the European Union Commission, Directorate General for Education and Culture to promote European higher education under the Study in Europe project.

This sector was also identified by the Malta Chamber in its Economic Vision for Malta 2014-2020 as one of the 11 sectors to contribute to Malta’s economic growth during the set period, and following the Government’s endorsement of the Chamber’s Economic Vision, through the Ministry for Education and Employment, the two entities, initiated discussions in 2015 on the establishment of an entity to promote investment in this sector.

The newly launched foundation will primarily harness this economic

potential and provide a structure to promote investment and support to stakeholders in this sector” At the launch of the foundation, Anton Borg, president of the Malta Chamber said that Education Malta follows in the Mnister Bartolo (sec right) at Economic Vision of the lanch of Education Malta the Chamber for Malta that promotes the cooperation between Government and the private sector in a way that best capitalises on the strategic strengths of each.

Minister for Education and Employment, Evarist Bartolo said that Malta was seeing substantial interest from international educational entities seeking to establish in Malta to attract foreign students to study locally.

14 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday November 8, 2016

Ûieda fil-paga minima: l-iva jew le F ’dawn l-a˙˙ar jiem spikkat il-kwistjoni dwar il-paga minima. F’Malta din il-paga hija ta’ €168.01 fil-©img˙a g˙al dawk ta’ 18-il sena jew aktar, €161.23 ta’ 17-il sena, u €158.39 g˙al dawk t’inqas minn 17-il sena.

G˙alkemm din il-kwistjoni taΩ-Ωieda fil-paga minima ilha sejra, ing˙atat spinta dan l-a˙˙ar meta diversi g˙aqdiet u entitajiet ing˙aqdu flimkien ta˙t il-kappa ta' 'Kampanja Paga Minima Diçenti' u proponew li l-paga minima f'pajjiΩna tiΩdied b'10.5%.

Dawn l-g˙aqdiet qalu li din iΩ-Ωieda trid issir fuq tliet snin, bilpaga tiΩdied 3.5% kull sena, minbarra l-a©©ustamenti tal-g˙oli tal-˙ajja.

G˙alkemm din kwistjoni ta˙raq, ftit wara li dawn l-g˙aqdiet g˙amlu konferenza stampa biex iniedu l-kampanja tag˙hom, ilmexxej tal-Partit Nazzjonalista, kien pront g˙amel tweet fejn qal li kien jaqbel ma’ dawn l-g˙aqdiet u li l-paga minima kellha tiΩdied.

Aktar tard Simon Busuttil sa˙ansitra stqarr li t-talba ta’ 10.5% li g˙amlu dawn l-g˙aqdiet kienet ra©jonevoli.

Min-na˙a tieg˙u l-Prim Ministru kien aktar kawt u filwaqt li fa˙˙ar lil dan il-moviment favur iΩ-Ωieda fil-paga minima ˙e©©e© li dawk kollha li nvoluti biex jiddiskutu din il-materja bittrankwillita’ ˙alli meta ting˙ata Ω-Ωieda jkun jaqbel mag˙ha kul˙add.

G˙alkemm sakemm wera l-fehma tieg˙u l-Kap tal-OppoΩizzjoni, ˙add mill-g˙aqdiet li ja˙dmu m’g˙amlu xi stqarrija, malli l-Prim Ministru tkellem favur ta˙didiet biex dil-paga tiΩdied,

dawn l-g˙aqdiet mill-ewwel wissew li Ωieda fil-paga minima, “jista' jkollha konsegwenzi serji fuq il-kompetittività ta' pajjiΩna u l-potenzjal tal-esportazzjoni tal-pajjiΩ, jista' fil-fatt jkun ta' dannu g˙all-baΩi tal-ekonomija.”

Dawn sa˙qu li t-tattiçi tal-partiti politiçi li jitkellmu ming˙ajr ma jkunu g˙adhom saru d-diskussjonijiet neçessarji dwar is-su©©ett huma tattiçi li jaraw sa mne˙irhom, irresponsabbli u inaççettabbli.

Fil-fatt, temmew billi appellaw lill-imsie˙ba kollha ˙alli ma jkunux parti minn dan il-log˙ob politiku li jista’ jkun ta' riskju fuq il-˙addiema u l-iΩvilupp soçjali u ekonomiku tal-pajjiΩ.

Attwalment il-kwistjoni tal-paga minima ilha g˙addejja b’kull Gvern ja˙sibha darbtejn malli ji©i ffaççjat bil-possibilta’ li din ilmiΩura tista’ tolqot sew l-ekonomija tal-pajjiΩ.

Dan mhux g˙ax il-pajjiΩ ma jifla˙x g˙al Ωieda b˙al din, iΩda g˙ax Ωieda jista’ jkollha effett fuq is-saffi l-o˙ra wkoll, bir-riΩultat li jkunu jridu jiΩdiedu il-pagi kollha... li Ωgur li jag˙mel pressjoni qawwija fuq min i˙addem u aktar u aktar dawk li jesportaw. Dan min˙abba li Ωieda fil-paga, tfisser Ωieda fuq kemm ji©i l-prezz talprodott, u jekk il-prodott ji©i g˙oli ΩΩejjed, ikun hemm diffikulta` biex ji©i esportat.

Ag˙ar minn hekk, dawn iΩ-Ωidiet mhux biss jg˙ollu l-prodotti fis-suq lokali, iΩda wkoll is-servizzi... u dan jista’ wkoll jirriΩulta li kull Ωieda li ting˙ata malajr tittikel, u dawk li llum qed isibuha diffiçli jΩommu f’wiçç l-ilma, xorta jibqg˙u jissieltu biex ikollhom ˙ajja diçenti.

Allura m’g˙andhomx jing˙ataw Ωidiet?

Mistenni jinqabΩu Ω-2m. turist fl-2017

inbarra t-turiΩmu li tista’ ti©©enera lM presidenza tal-UE li se jkollha Malta fl-ewwel sitt xhur tas-sena d-die˙la, grazzi

Xena mill-maltemp li ˙akem lil Malta Ritratt: DOI

Raddilna lura dak li tajnih

S

fortunatament jekk ikunu ˙dejn ilba˙ar (kultant anke jekk ma jkunux), g˙add ta’ Maltin ma ja˙sbuhiex darbtejn biex jitfg˙u fil-ba˙ar dak li jkunu jridu je˙ilsu minnu.

Donnu li l-ba˙ar xebg˙a minn din is-sitwazzjoni, g˙ax fil-maltempa qawwija li ˙akmet lill-GΩejjer Maltin fl-a˙˙ar tmiem il-©img˙a ta’ Ottubru, meta Malta kienet qed iddur g˙all-˙in tax-xitwa u norqdu sieg˙a aktar, dan raddilna lura dak l-imbarrazz kollu li g˙abbejnih bih fis-snin li g˙addew.

Tant li huwa stmat li mit-toroq u x-xtut

f’dik li hi alka, in©abru tunellati ta’ skart li l-ba˙ar tellg˙a l-art waqt din il-maltempata.

Attwalment in©abru aktar minnn177 tunellata ta’ skart mit-triqat fil-jumejn ta’ wara l-maltempata, g˙alkemm dan ma kienx kollu mill-ba˙ar.

Dan minbarra l-˙sara kbir li saret lil xi toroq u anke stabbilmenti, l-aktar f’lukanda f’San Ìor©, ir-Radisson Blu li tant da˙lilha ilma f’xi sezzjonjiet li kienet qisha xeni mit-Titanic.

Tg˙id g˙ad nitg˙allmu li post l-iskart m’hux il-ba˙ar?

g˙al swieq ©odda, fl-2017 Malta qed t˙ejji biex tilqa’ aktar minn Ωew© miljun turist.

Il-Minisru tat-TuriΩmu, Edward Zammit Lewis qal dan kemm fil-Parlament meta kien qed jitkellem dwar il-vot tal-ministeru tieg˙u fil-ba©it, u wkoll fil-ftu˙ tal-fiera tatti©ijet. Semma li bejn Jannar u Ottubru ta’ din is-sena 884 koppja barranija g˙aΩlet lil Malta biex tirre©istra iΩ-Ωwie© tag˙ha, ji©ifieri Ωieda ta’ 6 fil-mija mqabbel massena l-o˙ra, u dan minkejja li g˙ad baqa’ ftit inqas minn xahrejn g˙al tmiem is-sena.

IΩ-Ωieda ©iet irre©istrata kienet ta’ koppji mill-Ìrmanja, il-Polonja, l-Ungerija, il-pajjiΩi Skandinavi, l-Italja u anke l-Ìappun.

Is-sena l-o˙ra s-suq tat-turiΩmu rre©istra Ωieda ta’ sitta fil-mija, filwaqt li l-g˙add ta’ l-passi©©ieri bil-cruise liners dawn Ωdied minn 460,000 fl-2013 g˙al 700,000.

Il-Ministru qal ukoll li f’G˙awdex hemm ˙ames applikazzjonijiet biex jinfet˙u lukandi, u li minbarra s-settur taΩ-Ωwi©ijiet minn barranin, f’Malta sejjer tajjeb ukoll issettur tat-turiΩmu sportiv, tant li matul is-sena Ωaru Malta 16-il tim barrani biex juΩaw lil Malta g˙at-ta˙ri© li b’kollox qattg˙u f’Malta 9,000 lejl. Fl-2017 l-g˙add jitla’g˙al 15,000.

(Ara wkoll pa©na 12)

The Voice of the Maltese 15

Tuesday November 8, 2016

F’20 sena l-popolazzjoni Noqog˙du attenti!

Maltija Ωdiedet b’56,271 W

B

la dubju ©raw ˙afna affarijiet f’dawn l-a˙˙ar snin. Rajna ˙afna avvenimenti sbie˙ u koro˙ madwarna u barra minn xtutna... avvenimenti li qrajna ˙afna dwarhom. IΩda xi ˙a©a li ftit li xejn naqraw dwarha hija l-popolazzjoni.

Propju fl-a˙˙ar jiem, wara li fil-Parlament il-Ministru tal-finanzi l-Profs Edward Scicluna ta diversi figuri dwar il-popolazzjoni Maltija, g˙al ftit ilmidja kollha ffukat dwar il-popolazzjoni tal-GΩejjer Maltin.

L-aktar li laqg˙at il-g˙ajn kien li f’dawn l-a˙˙ar 20 sena l-popolazzjoni Maltija Ωdiedet b’56,271... Ωieda sostanzjali meta tqis li r-rata tat-twelid hija baxxa.

Filwaqt li fl-1995 il-popolazzjoni fil-Gzejjer Maltin kienet tammonta g˙al 378,132 - ta’ Malta 349,106 u t’G˙awdex 29,026 sal-a˙˙ar tas-sena li g˙addiet telg˙et g˙al 434,403. F’Malta l-popolazzjoni telg˙et g˙al 402,720 filwaqt li dik t’G˙awdex kienet ta’ 31,683.

Min-na˙a l-o˙ra f’l-a˙˙ar g˙axar snin mietu 52,539 persuna. Bejn l-2006 u l2015 ir-rata medja tal-imwiet kienet ta’ 5,250 kull sena.

L-ag˙ar toroq l-inqas inçidenti

ara st˙arri© li sar mill-Kummissjoni W Ewropea rriΩulta li t-toroq Maltin huma ˙Ωiena.. kwaΩi l-ag˙ar li hawn flEwropa. Warajna hemm biss it-toroq tarRumanija. Imma o˙ro© il-g˙a©eb mill-istess st˙arri© ˙are© ukoll li t-toroq tag˙na huma l-aktar siguri (safe) fl-Unjoni Ewropeja billi g˙andna l-inqas rata ta' mwiet u nçidenti fit-toroq tag˙na.

Tg˙id hemm xi rabta bejn l-istat tat-toroq u s-sigurta’? Jista’ jkun, g˙ax il-veloçita’ hija wa˙da mill-iktar ra©unijiet li jwasslu g˙ad-disgrazzji, u f’toroq im˙arrbta wie˙ed ma tantx jista’ jsuq b’velocita’ qawwija!!!!

aqt attivita politika mill-Partit Nazzjonalista, kandidat ©did g˙all-elezzjoni ©enerali li ©ejja qal hekk: “Il-Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat huwa likbar tra©edja li laqtet lil Malta mill-pesta tal-1813 ‘l hawn” Jekk se nbdew inlissnu kliem b˙al dan meta g˙adna xi sena u nofs bog˙od mill-elezzjoni, x’se jing˙ad meta nkunu fl-aqwa tal-kampanja elettorali?

Ma jkunx a˙jar li nippruvaw nikkontrollaw ilsienna milli nissugraw li nwaqqg˙u l-politika f’livell baxx kif ©ara f’çerti pajjiΩi?

Kliem barra minn loku ma jag˙mel xejn ©ie˙ li minn jg˙idu.

... u f’G˙awdex

L

a semmejna l-mod xejn dekoruΩ li tkellem xi ˙add, tajjeb li nikkummentaw ukoll dwar fuljett li qed jitqassam f’G˙awdex.

Il-fuljett, bl-isem ‘Le˙en G˙awdex’ (stampa fuq) xejn ma jag˙mel ©ie˙ lil ©urnal bl-istess isem li kien ji©i ppubblikat snin ilu f’G˙awdex. Donnu li l-iskop tieg˙u hu li jer©a’ jqajjem kwistjonijiet li issa tniΩΩlu fl-istorja, u waqfu hemm.

Hekk dan il-fuljett isostni li l-interdett politiku li kien ing˙ata fis-sittinijiet ©ab snin ta’ glorja. Skont dan il©urnal, permezz talinterdett ippospona d-divorzju b’50 sena.

Dan il-fuljett li qed

Leo’s Rentals Vehicle Rentals Leo’s Vehicle Guaranteed cheapest rates All vehicles in NRMA road Service

Low holding Deposit Discount for weekly rentals Shuttle service to the Airport

Phone: 9622 2208 Mob: 0418 405 271 102 Kildare Rd Blacktown NSW 2148

jitqassam fid-djar G˙awdxin jikkundanna kull att çivili li g˙amel dan il-Gvern. Jo˙ro© qatta bla ˙abel kontra l-mina proposta bejn Malta u G˙awdex, u jsostni li Malta hija mmexxija minn maΩunerija li tfittex biss lavvanz finanzjari tag˙ha.

U biex donnu jipprova jibbilançja l-affarijiet, jo˙ro© jattakka mhux lill-Partit Nazzjonalista, iΩda lill-Mexxej tieg˙u, Simon Busuttil. Billi fost kollox ippubblika li Busuttil mhuwiex kap, imma tapp li ma jirnexxielux jitla’ f’wiçç l-ilma.

Ma nafux min qed jo˙ro© dan il-fuljett, u probabbli mhux façli li tkun taf min qed jo˙or©u. Li hu Ωgur li kitbiet b˙al dawn xejn ma jag˙mlu ©ie˙ lill-©urnaliΩmu (sic ©urnliΩmu?) Malti.

DeçiΩi 1,840 kaΩ ta' divorzju

ra kemm kien jitmas˙an aktar minn jo˙ro© dan il-fuljett li semmejna kieku kellu f’idejh il-figuri ta’ kemm il-divorzju sar filA GΩejjer Maltin f’dawn l-a˙˙ar ˙ames snin.

Fil-fatt fil-˙ames snin li g˙addew il-Qrati Maltin iddeçidew 1,840 kaΩ ta' divorzju. L-ikbar ammont ta' kaΩijiet ©ew deçiΩi mill-Qrati f'Malta, b'total ta' 1,775, filwaqt li l-Qorti t’G˙awdex iddeçidiet 65 kaΩ. B˙ala medja qed ikun hemm 350 kaΩ ta' divorzju kull sena.

Ta' min ifakkar li d-divorzju da˙al f'pajjiΩna fil-bidu t'Ottubru tal2011 wara li l-ma©©oranza tal-poplu vvutat favur tieg˙u f'referendum apposta li kien sar f'Mejju tal-istess sena.

16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday November 8, 2016

A quick glimpse at Australia

When the Cardinal George Pell questioned again census crashed C

T

he Australian Bureau of Statistics has been in damage control since its website crashed on Census night in August, destroying its plans for a move to a predominantly digital rather than paper-based census that had been intended to save $100 million.

About 15,000 casual "field officers" then had to pick up the pieces, distributing and collecting millions of old-fashioned paper Census forms in an effort that eventually got the survey's completion rate up above 95 percent.

Most of these field workers who rescued the 2016 Census after the online meltdown debacle, are owed up to $30 million in wages and out of pocket expenses.

The head of the Bureau of Statistics David Kalisch apologised last week for poor judgment and testing the patience of Australians during the 2016 census, and revealed that the failure of the digital system cost taxpayers $30 million.

Following the census debacle, the Prime Minister commissioned a report to determine “which heads will roll and when.” Millions of Australians were unable to complete the census on census night as the result of the shutdown was locked out of the site for two days.

IBM was contracted to defend the census sites against attacks. It is believed that IBM had offered to pay the extra cost ABS incurred as a result of the outrage estimated by ABS to be $300 million.

ardinal George Pell, Pope Francis’s top financial adviser and one of his most trusted aides, has long been dogged by allegations he mishandled cases of clergy abuse when he was archbishop of Melbourne and later Sydney. In recent months, Cardinal Pell has faced accusations of child abuse himself when he was a young priest in the 1970s.

“Three members of Victoria police travelled to Rome where Cardinal George Pell voluntarily participated in an interview regarding allegations of sexual assault “As a result of the interview, further investigations are continuing. We are not prepared to comment further at this time,” a police spokesman said.

The allegations involve two men, now in their 40s, who say Cardinal Pell touched them inappropriately at a swimming pool in the late 1970s. Separately, a man told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that he saw Cardinal Pell exposing himself to three young boys in a surf club changing room in the late 1980s. Cardinal Pell was at the time a senior priest in Melbourne.

“The Cardinal repeats his previous rejection of all and every allegation of sexual abuse and will continue to cooperate with Victoria Police until the investigation is finalised,”

Cardinal George Pell

Cardinal Pell’s office said in a statement.

In August, Pope Francis declined to address the accusations against Cardinal Pell, saying he wanted to wait until the investigation was complete before commenting. “We must wait for justice and not make judgments ahead of time,” the Pope said in response to an Associated Press reporter aboard the papal plane.

People have a right to be bigots

oalition MPs Tony Abbott, Tim Wilson, C Eric Abetz and Dean Smith – who have recommended a parliamentary committee look at the controversial section of the act – were delighted with Malcolm Turnbull's comments that debate about change to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act is "reasonable."

The Prime Minister has previously ruled out any changes to section 18C, but recently he said his government would consider the proposal put forward.

Section 18C makes it unlawful to offend, in-

sult, humiliate or intimidate a person or people on the basis of race, colour and national or ethnic origin. As prime minister, Mr Abbott promised in 2013 to amend the act to remove "offend, insult or humiliate," but dumped that plan amid a massive backlash.

However, conservative and libertarian senators have been pushing a plan to amend it to remove "offend" or "insult."

Asked if the existing laws were working effectively, Mr. Turnbull said some controversial applications had been brought to the Human Rights Commission, including the one against Leak and Queensland University students over access to campus facilities.

"What I am saying is this is a very legitimate area of discussion," he said. “The question mark has always been over the use of the words 'insult' and 'offend.'” Mr. Turnbull stressed the government would not allow any tolerance for hate speech or language promoting racial hated.

During previous debates about this issue the attorney general, George Brandis, has declared “People have the right to be bigots you know,” Brandis said in answer to a question by the Indigenous ex-Labor Senator Nova Peris. “In this country, people have rights to say things that other people find offensive or bigoted.

The Voice of the Maltese 17

Tuesday November 8, 2016

A quick glimpse at Australia

Australian life expectancy high

ale life expectancy M reached 80.4 years in 2015, with the figure for fe-

Senate in chaos

uestions over the eligibility of two Q crossbench senators, Bob Day of Family First and Rod Culleton of One Nation have plunged the nation’s upper house in chaos and forced the Federal Government to refer both cases to the High Court for adjudications.

Day may have had a conflict of interest re unorthodox office arrangement; Culleton over a criminal conviction recorded against him at the time of the election.

males rising to 84.5 years, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The bureau’s director of demography Beidar Chos said that between 2013-2015, the estimated combined life expectancy at birth estimate was 82.4 years.

“This was 11.9 years higher than the world average of 70.5 years in 20102015,” he added.

The ACT is leading the way with the highest life expectancy for both genders – 81.2 years for men and 85.3 years for women.

The Northern Territory recorded the lowest life expectancy of 75.7 years for males

and 78.5 years for females.

South Australians’ life expectancy has also continued to increase and sits just below the national average for both males and females. Australia beats similar advanced-economy countries such as Canada, New Zealand, the UK and US. The ABS itself says the figures it quotes for life expectancies at birth are the average number of years that a group of newborn babies would be expected to live "if current death rates remain unchanged."

Professor Peter McDonald from the University of Melbourne said a rule of thumb was that improvements over an 85 or 81year life would add another four years.

That means a typical newborn girl might live to 88 and a typical boy to 85 unless improvements stop or accelerate.

The race that stops the nation

he Melbourne Cup is Australia's most T prestigious annual thoroughbred horse race. It is a 3,200-metre race for three-yearolds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races. Conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse as part of the spring carnival in Melbourne, the event that starts at 3p.m. is held on the first Tuesday in November and is known locally as "the race that stops a nation."

The Melbourne Cup has a long tradition with the first race held in 1861 over two miles (3.219 km) but was shortened to 3,200 meters (1.988 miles) in 1972 when Australia adopted the metric system. This reduced the distance by 18.688 meters (61.312 ft), and Rain Lover's 1968 race record of 3:19.1 was accordingly adjusted to 3:17.9. The present record holder is the 1990 winner Kingston Rule with a time of 3:16.3.

Melbourne Cup day is a public holiday for all working within metropolitan Melbourne and some parts of regional Victoria, but not for some country Victorian cities and towns that hold their spring carnivals. For Federal Public Servants it is also observed as a holiday in the entire state of Victoria, and from 2007 to 2009 also in the Australian Capital Territory known as Family and Community Day replacing Picnic Day The Melbourne Cup captures the public's imagination to the extent that people whether at work, home, school, or out and about usually stop to watch or listen to the great race. Many people from outside of Melbourne take a half or full day off work to celebrate the occasion. Many people feel that the day should be a national public hol-

iday as Sick leave is said to increase on the day and productivity wanes.

As early as 1865, Cup day was a half-holiday in Melbourne for public servants and bank officials. Various businesses also closed at lunchtime.

It had taken some years for the purpose of the declared holiday was acknowledged in the Victoria Government Gazette. The Gazette of 31 October 1873[60] announced that the following Thursday (Cup Day) be observed as a bank and Jockey Kerrin McEvoy and owner Lloyd civil (public) service hold Williams celebrate Melbourne Cup win More than 97,000 people were at Flemington to watch Almandin win the Cup McEvoy, trainer Robert Hickmott, and 2016 in a thrilling finish for jockey Kerrin owner Lloyd Williams.

18 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday November 8, 2016

Il-George Cross Falcons Club ta’ Cringila jag˙laq 65 sena I

l-George Cross Falcons Club ta Cringila, subborg ta’ Wollongong hu wie˙ed mill-eqdem klabbijiet tal-Maltin fi NSW. Jaf il-bidu tieg˙u f’Ìunju tal-1951, imma dak iΩ-Ωmien, il-ftit ir©iel li kienu ltaqg˙u g˙allewwel darba ma kellhom l-ebda ˙sieb li jifurmaw klabb. Sempliçement ing˙aqdu biex ikunu jistg˙u jixtru lfjuri ˙alli meta ji©i l-patri minn Port Kembla nhar ta' Óadd ikunu jistg˙u jΩejnu is-sala li kien kemm f'Warrawong li kienet tintuΩa g˙all-okkaΩjonijiet soçjali s-Sibt u titnaddaf u tintuΩa wkoll il-Hadd g˙all-quddiesa g˙allMaltin.

Dik il-˙abta l-Maltin emigranti li kienu ji©u Wollongong aktarx li kienu ji©u joqog˙du fi Cringila, Warrawong jew f’Port Kembla.

L-G˙aqda, kif kienu jsibuha dik il˙abta, ©iet stabbilita fl-10 ta' Ìunju tal-1951 fis-sala tal-Kunsill ta' Wollongong fi Cringila. Kienet immexxija minn Baskal Mizzi ta' Port Kembla.

F’din l-ewwel laqg˙a ©ie ffurmat lewwel kumitat li kien deçiΩ li jo˙or©u xelin fil-gimg˙a kull wie˙ed ˙alli jixtru l-fjuri.

Ftit snin wara dawn il-membri tal-kumitat ukoll kellhom sehem fix-xiri tassala fejn il-lum tinsab il-parroçça ta' Warrawong, San Frangisk ta’ Assisi.

G˙alkemm dik is-sala m’g˙adiex teΩisti, il-klabb tal-George Cross jinsab direttament quddiema fejn kienet hi.

Kien hawn li nhar il-Óadd 23 ta’ Ottubru li g˙adda l-kumitat tal-George Cross Falcons Club iççelebra l-65 sena mit-twaqqif tieg˙u.

G˙al din l-okkaΩjoni l-Maltin talIllawarra attendew bi ˙©arhom, u˙ud

permezz ta’ Ωew© mini buses minn Western Sydney.

Fost il-mistednin tal-unur kien hemm il-Lord Mayor ta’ Wollongong, Councillor Gordon Brabrady, u l-First Counsellor, Dr. Joseph Pirotta mill-Kummissjoni G˙olja Maltija, flimkien mas-sinjura tieg˙u, li rrappreΩenta lill-Kummissarju G˙oli g˙al Malta lillEççellenza tieg˙u Charles Muscat, li ma setax jattendi.

It-tifkira bdiet filg˙odu bid-diskors g˙all-okkaΩjoni, filwaqt li lOur Lady Queen of Joe Magro, Peter Micallef fin-nofs, u George Bartolo jaqsmu Peace Maltese Band l-kejk tal-okkaΩjoni flimkien mal-president Louis Parnis allegrat lil kul˙add bil-marçijiet u Il-kumitat immexxi mill-president daqq ie˙or popolari. Barra dan, kien Louis Parnis ˙adem bil-kbir biex din lhemm grupp ta’ ir©iel u nisa li taw okkaΩjoni tirnexxi u ˙aqqu kull tif˙ir.

M’g˙andux jonqos li b˙al wirja biΩ-Ωifna trdizzjonali, il-Maltija.

Kienet tassew okkaΩjoni Maltija, u f’okkaΩjonijiet b˙al din, inqasam mal-˙in beda ©ej bil-kbir l-ikel, dak ukoll il-kejk. Hawnhekk Louis Parmis tradizzjonali Malti, b˙all-pastizzi u l- stieden lil Joe Magro u George Bartolo, qassatat, u ikel ie˙or, kollox b’xejn, Ωew© membri g˙al g˙omorhom, u lil biex wie˙ed seta’ jqatta’ erba’ sieg˙at Peter Micallef, membru li ˙adem ˙afna fil-bini tal-klabb, biex jaqsmu lta’ divertiment li jibqa’ jiftakar.

Min˙abba t-tibdil li sar fil-klabb kejk.

Ta’ min isemmi li mill-24 membru minn ©ewwa dan l-a˙˙ar li g˙amlu wie˙ed spazzjuΩ u attraenti, kul˙add originali g˙al g˙omorhom, ˙amsa seta’ jgawdi l-okkaΩjoni fil-kumdita`. biss g˙adhom ˙ajjin.

Sezzjoni mill-folla li attendiet iççelebrazzjoni fil-klabb fi Cringila

The Voice of the Maltese 19

Tuesday November 8, 2016

Tag˙rif dwar il-kitba Maltija

A

ktar regoli u tag˙rif uffiçjali dwar kif wie˙ed g˙andu jikteb ilMalti, ma˙ru© mill-Kummissjoni fi ˙dan l-Akkademja tal-Malti.

IS-SITTA U TLETIN REGOLA Il-vokali i wara g˙ tinstema’ b˙al ei inkella ai: imma g˙andha tinkiteb i.

Ara: mig˙ei, mig˙ai, g˙eid, g˙aid, drieg˙ei, drig˙ai, ng˙eir, ng˙air, jg˙eib, tg˙eid, beΩΩig˙ai, xg˙eir li g˙andhom jinkitbu mieg˙i, g˙id, drieg˙i, ng˙ir, jg˙ib, tg˙id, beΩΩieg˙i, xg˙ir.

IS-SEBGÓA U TLETIN REGOLA Il-vokali u wara l-konsonanti h u g˙, tinstema’ b˙al ou jew eu: imma g˙andha tinkiteb u.

Ara: ˙out, ˙eut, g˙oum, g˙eum, belg˙ou, semg˙ou, g˙ouda, g˙euda, tieg˙ou, mieg˙ou, qattg˙ou, li g˙andhom jinkitbu ˙ut, g˙um, belg˙u, semg˙u, g˙uda, tieg˙u, mieg˙u, qattg˙u.

G˙alhekk ji©i li fuq il-kitba ta’: Rix, Ωir, bik, fik nibnu wkoll ri˙, riq, bih, fih.

Dlik, fqir, kbir nibnu wkoll qlig˙, qtig˙, smig˙, xi˙, rqiq. Óafif, ˙anin, g˙alik nibnu wkoll sabi˙, qatig˙, g˙alih.

Fur, sur nibnu wkoll suq (verb), suq (nom), ©u˙, ru˙. Ìid, sid nibnu wkoll g˙id (verb), g˙in, g˙ix, g˙îd (nom).

Dud, duda nibnu wkoll g˙ud, Lhud, ˙ut, ˙uta, g˙uda.

Lbies, lbiesi, lbiesu nibnu wkoll drieg˙, drieg˙i, drieg˙u.

Qatel, qatlu nibnu wkoll bala(g˙), belg˙u. Ìibed, ©ibdu nibnu wkoll sama(g˙), semg˙u.

IT-TMIENJA U TLETIN REGOLA Il-vokali u fi kliem ta’ sillaba wa˙da, jew meta ta˙bat fl-a˙˙ar taqsima ta’ kliem ta’ iΩjed minn sillaba wa˙da, qatt ma jkollha warajha konsonanti mtennija jew iΩjed minn konsonanti wa˙da.

G˙alhekk: but, ˙ut, xhud, sellum, ©ibjun, sabuh, qatluh T.ç. To˙ro© minn din ir-regola: (1) il-kelma kull. (2)

2nd Concert of MCI season November 20

f any of our readers happen to be in Malta on Novem20, they would do well to attend the second concert Itheber Malta Cultural Institute would be presenting on that

day at the Ballroom of the Imperial Hotel, in Rudolphe Street, Sliema.

The Concert would be featuring the University of Malta Junior College Orchestra under the Direction of Maestro Manoel Pirotta. The programme will include classical, chamber and modern music for solo voices, guitar, flute, pianoforte and Orchestra. Mezzo-Soprano Marie Therese Vassallo, singer and guitarist Mario Debono, flutist Andrew Debono and pianist Jean-Marc Fabri will be the soloists.

The evening will also include a dance presentation by the Brigitte Gauci Borda School of Ballet.

The MCI November Exhibition will feature works of Maltese artist Lina Treble.

Everybody is invited to attend. The concert starts at 7.00 p.m. A small donation at the door, to help cover some of the expenses of the evening, will be appreciated.

More information MCI Director: 21338923; Mob: 99800409, or by email to maltacultinst@gmail.com

l-û fi qwiel imse˙bin mal-ma u mag˙qudin malpronom h u mal-kelma x (xejn) fittarf, b˙alma ng˙idu: ma sabuhx (ma sabu-h-x).

L-ittri j u W b˙ala konsonanti fil-kitba Maltija Fil-kitba Maltija, l-ittri j u w g˙alkemm g˙andhom il-le˙en ta’ vokali u jie˙du wkoll is-sura ta’ vokali, isarrfu daqs konsonanti..

T.ç. L-ittra a tista’ wkoll tidher flok konsonanti (flG˙arbi l-konsonanti alif): imma billi dlonk tbiddel le˙inha fl-erba’ vokali l-o˙ra ta’ e, i, o, u — eΩ. er˙i, ismar, i©bor, o˙ro©, uri, kif ukoll ta’ ie: bieb, ©ieb, sie˙ flok bâb, ©âb, sâb, nistg˙u nqisuha b˙ala l-iktar dg˙ajfa fost it-tlieta.

Aktar regoli fil-˙ar©a li jmiss.

20 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday November 8, 2016

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s Óamrun Association Ltd ABN: 22 080 314 156 Se jorganizzaw

Carols by Candlelight is-Sibt 10 ta’ Diçembru fil-5.00pm Jie˙u sehem il-Kor tal-G˙aqda Kulturali ta’ NSW b’g˙anjiet tal-Milied bil-Malti u l-IngliΩ Ikun hemm ukoll Il-Priedka tat-Tifel u x-Xena tan-Nattivita` mit-tfal.

Ikun preΩenti wkoll Santa Claus li jqassam ir-rigali lit-tfal.

Se tkun lejla ta divertiment g˙all familja kollha

Ejjew u gibu r-rigali g˙at-tfal tag˙kom Tag˙rif: George Zahra: 0407 434 651, jew il-klabb: 9838 1111

IL-MALTESE BOWLERS SOCIAL GROUP TA’ NSW •Jistiednu nisa u r©iel Maltin li j˙obbu l-lawn bowls biex jing˙aqdu mag˙hom, jie˙du sehem fil-log˙ob u jag˙mlu ˙bieb ©odda.

• Jilqg˙u wkoll lil dawk li jixtiequ jitg˙allmu jilag˙bu dan l-isport. Dawn jing˙ataw lezzjonijiet b’xejn.

• Jilag˙bu log˙ba lawn bowls darba fixxahar fir-Rosehill Bowling Club u klabbs o˙ra.

• G˙al aktar tag˙rif çemplu lis-segretarju, Tony Pace-Feraud (0400 376 607) jew email lil: maltesebowlersnsw@hotmail.com Nhar il-Óadd 13 ta Novembru se ti©i msej˙a l-laqq˙a Generali Annwali fir-Rosehill Bowling club.

Tinteressak il-kitba u trid tippubblika?

Q

arrejja li j˙ossu li g˙andhom talent g˙all-kitba, l-aktar bl-Ilsien Malti, imma mhux biss, jew li jkunu jridu li kitbiet tag˙hom ji©u ppublikati f’The Voice of the Maltese, qed ji©u m˙e©©a jibag˙tu l-kitbiet tag˙hom f’dan l-indirizz tal-email: maltesevoice@gmail.com

T

Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc. Invitation for celebrations marking Fr. Claude Borg’s 65 years of priesthood

he Maltese Community Council of NSW is offering its support in organising Fr. Claude Borg MSSP’s celebration of 65 years to the priesthood, a milestone in his pastoral care towards Maltese migrants in Australia.

The Cardinal and the current Bishop of Parramatta will be invited to the celebration, a concelebrated Mass at Horsley Park Parish Church on Sunday Dec. 11 at 11.30 am. Fr Claude was the first Maltese parish priest at Horsley Park in the sixties.

After Mass, there will be light refreshments at the Marion Hall. One is kindly asked to bring a plate to share on this joyous occasion.

This is a formal invitation for associations to promote and lend their support in making this milestone, in Fr Claude’s priestly career, a memorial occasion.

More details: John Beale: 0416 449 816 or email john@korenbeale.com

Printed copies of The Voice of The Maltese to a number of inquiries, we wish to inform readers Ihardofn response The Voice of the Maltese magazine that we can now supply copies in colour of the magazine to our readers who requst

it, at a price. Therefore, anybody interested in acquiring copies of the (printed) magazine is kindly requested to get in touch with us personally or by email to: maltesevoice@gmail.com.

The magazine can also be delivered by post at a price to any state in Australia. As the cost of postage varies from state to state, one is kindly requested to get in touch with us to work out the details.

THE CITTADINI Present direct from Malta:

Mary Rose Mallia and Renato

COMEDY with The Cittadini Sydney Show: Sunday on November 20 at La Valette Centre, Blacktown at 2.00 p.m.

Donation: $22.00 Children U/12: $10.00 For Tickets: Monica: 9896 0712 or 0414 859 386; Doris: 9636 2295

Tajjeb tkun taf

L

-g˙aqdiet tal-Maltin li jkunu jridu jag˙mlu xi avviΩi u/jew li jirreklamaw f’The Voice of the Maltese huma m˙e©©a biex jg˙arrfu littmexxija ta’ The Voice bix-xewqa tag˙hom minn kmeni. Barra minhekk, jekk ikunu iridu jibag˙tu xi materjal g˙all-pubblikazzjoni jin˙tie© jag˙mlu dan mil-inqas ©img˙a qabel il-pubblikazzjoni.

Tuesday November 8, 2016

The Voice of the Maltese 21

C mmunity N ews Co ommunity ew s MALTESE CULTURAL ASSOCIATION of NSW

IS HOLDING A SOCIAL NIGHT On Saturday November 19 at St Peter Chanel Parish Hall Venue: 848, Ballarat Rd., Deer Park, Victoria Time : 6:30pm to 11.30 p.m.

Music Entertainment provided by :

The D.J. “Star Light Music” ADULTS : $10 Donation B.Y.O. food and drink FOR ENQUIRIES CALL: Bill DeGuara: 9366 9956; Frank Mintoff: 9363 5325; Doris Bonello: 9745 9934; Joe Attard: 9361 1396; Frank Galea:

The Maltese Cultural Association will be commemorating Mass for our deceased members on Thursday November 10 at 7.00 pm, at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Old Prospect Rd Greystanes.

Everybody is requested to attend this religious event to remember our departed members whose work for the community is still and always will be in our memory.

Refreshments will afterwards be served at Saint George Preca Hall.

For more info phone Mary Ramundi on 9688 1432

La Valette Social Centre Serata kbira ta’ G˙ana Il-ÓADD 13 ta’ Novembru (fl-4 pm)

Lejla organizzata minn Saver Bonanno.

Jie˙du sehem, l-g˙annej minn Malta Çensu l-Bukku miΩ-Ûejtun u l-aqwa g˙annejja u kitarristi minn Sydney.

D˙ul $10 kull persuna. Biljetti mill-bieb.

Il-klabb jifta˙ fit-3 p.m. Bar u kçina miftu˙in. Kul˙add mistieden.

Ejjew u ©ibu lil ˙biebkom.

Ghal tag˙rif çemplu l-klabb 9622 5847 Meetingjewevery last0413426167 Tuesday of Month lil Saver: A special group for men.

Meetings at 10 am TOUR TO ORANGE CHERRY PICKING BUS at The Maltese6:Resource leaves Black6.am: BusCentre December TUESDAY

Meet friends and enjoy Maltese food.

Greystanes.

Leaves a.m.: 6.30 Centre; town expense West). at own 59b Franklin Street, Mays (Parramatta RSLHill Orange Lunch at Club.376 or 744 320432 Frances: 0412 ForInformation: more information: Emanuel 0409

MALTESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF NSW A Division of the Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc.

Learn Maltese!

Friday 11th November 2016 - At Hobsons Bay Altona.

For bookings please ring: Chev. Joseph Attard: 0400 357 001 Saturday 12th November 2016 Venue: Melrose Receptions, Melrose Drive, Tullamarine (Carrick Room) Time: 6.30pm till late Music: DJ “Dominic” Meal: 3-Course plus Beer, Wine and Soft Drinks Cost: $55 per person Sunday 13 th November 2016 Including 1 hour Sketch by “The Cittadini” from Sydney Venue: St Martin’s Deporres, Military Road, Avondale Heights Time: 5.30pm till late Music: DJ “Starlight Johnny” Cost: $22 per person Food and drinks can be bought at the hall.

To book your tickets for Saturday and Sunday, please ring: Victor: 0412 991 325, Mary: 9370 5164, Joe: 9311 8968 or Reno: 0412 990 664

Classes are available for students from six years to adults at all levels of ability in the Maltese language.

We have trained and experienced teachers qualified in language teaching and with Maltese study credentials.

Learn the Maltese language, the culture, lifestyle, cuisine, traditions and about the amazing history of the island.

Teachers urgently needed. Paid positions

For more information and enquiries Phone 9601 2189 Or email: malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com Supported by the Minister of Education and Training and the NSW Community Languages Schools Programme.

Member of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools of NSW; Member of the Federation of Maltese Language Schools of Australia; Supported by 16 Maltese associations affiliated with the MCC of NSW. The Maltese Language School of NSW is a Not-For-Profit organisation.

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday November 8, 2016

Community News Tune In to Radio and Television

Maltese Radio Programmes MELBOURNE, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on www.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5pm, Fridays 5pm, Saturdays 10am.; Last Wednesday each month at 1pm.

MELBOURNE on 98.9 North West FM, every Friday 6.00 - 7.00p.m. and Mondays (from November 14) 7.00 to 8.00pm. Presenter Emmanuel Brincat.

MELBOURNE: STEREO 974 (93180930): 97.4FM Wed (Maltese Magazine) & Thursday (Mer˙ba): 6.00pm to 8.00 pm Co-ordinator – Ray Anastasi In SYDNEY, listen to the MCC radio programmes on 2GLF FM 89.3. Thursdays 2p.m. to 4p.m. Martese Caruana presents Golden Mix. Available on demand. Follow same procedure as for MCC programmes, except select programe in reference.

In BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Programme on 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 8.15am; Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in to link: www.unclesamdj.com Listen to John Borg & Ronnie Borg every Saturday at 1.00 p.m. on RADIO 2RRR 88.5FM or on the Internet www2rrr.org.au ON DeMAND

The SBS MALTESE NEWS

Isma’ l-programm tar-radju bilMalti mill-Kunsill Malti ta’ NSW minn fuq l-istazzjon 2GLF 89.3FM. Jista’ wkoll jinstema’ On Demand minn fuq l-Internet www.893fm.com.au (On Demand >Ethnic >Maltese Council 11am) Il-programm tal-Óadd 11.00 am: l-a˙˙ar a˙barijiet minn Malta, muΩika, tag˙rif, kultura, avviΩi u su©©etti ta’ interess.

On SBS Radio Day Time Analogue and Digital Friday: 12:00-13:00 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 Saturday: 14:00-15:00: 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 To tune into digital radio you need a receiver or device with a DAB+ chip. Tuning in is by station name not frequency. Digital radio can also be heard via digital TV. SBS Radio 2 is on Channel 38.

The radio programmes can be accessed online (live or catch up) at sbs.com.au/maltese and via mobile phone, using the SBS Radio app. For television news from Malta - SBS 2 TV on Thursdays and Sundays at 8am.

VIVA MALTA on COAST FM 96.3 Community Radio in Gosford Central NSW. Aired on Thursdays every fortnight from 6 pm -7 pm.

Presenter: Nathalie Gatt.

Web streaming on: www.coastfm.org.au.

Maltese Down Under TV

Screens on Melbourne’s C31 (channel 44) Sundays @4pm; Mondays at 2p.m.; Tuesdays @2.30 pm. Others in Australia/the World can watch via live stream on: www.c31.org.au/series/1313 or the c31 app.

Also on demand: www.c31.org.au/series/1313

L-A˙barijiet on SBS TV twice a week nationwide Sunday at 8.00 am on SBS2 (Chan. 32); Thursdays at 8.00 am on SBS2

Day Care Maltese Groups meetings in NSW

Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Tuesday of the Month.

Group meets in Parish Hall, cnr of Stella Street & The Boulevard, Fairfield Heights.

Maltese Seniors Central Coast

Have to contact our Welfare Officer for an appointment. For all information and referral matters call Censina Cefai: 02 439 000 12 or 0414 267 652

Daceyville Maltese Seniors

Meets on the last Wednesday of the month in the Meeting Room One, No. 3 General Bridges Crescent, Daceyville.

Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips Join us and make new friends.

Merrylands Social Maltese Seniors Meets every second Friday of the month; Miller Room, Memorial Avenue Merrylands from 10.30am to 12.30 am

Llandilo Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the Llandilo Community Hall, Seventh Avenue, from 11am to 1 pm.

Maltese of Bankstown

Group meet 3rd Wednesday of the month at New BCRG offices 15 Kitchner Parade, Bankstown NSW (opposite RSL Club).

Every other 3rd Thursday they have an outing. For enquiries call Sam 9534 2357

L-a˙barijiet tal-PBS (Malta) kemm bil-Malti u wkoll bl-IngliΩ G˙alkemm il-PBS ta’ Malta tforni lillSBS fl-Awstralja bis-servizz tag˙ha, ilqarrejja m˙e©©a wkoll biex x’˙in iridu jid˙lu fil-website:www.tvm.com.mt u jsegwu l-a˙barijiet ta’ Malta, bil-Malti u bl-IngliΩ.

Il-website hi a©©ornata l-˙in kollu bil©rajjiet li jkunu qed ise˙˙u dak il-˙in.

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Saturday November 12

The Big Fete-Fiera Dinner Dance Sunday 4 December:

St Nicholas Feast For more information: Joe Fenech 0412 009 957 or PRO Emm. Vella 045 677 064

Meeting every last Tuesday of the Month A special group for men.

Meetings at 10 am at The Maltese Resource Centre Meet friends and enjoy Maltese food.

59b Franklin Street, Mays Hill (Parramatta West).

For more information: Emanuel 0409 744 376

Greystanes Maltese Seniors Meets on the second Monday of each month at the George Preca Centre of OLQP Church, 198 Old Prospect Road, Greystanes from 10 am to 12 noon

The Sutherland & St George Maltese Group Meets every First Wednesday of the Month from 10:00am-1:00pm. Meetings/Get Togethers are interesting, informative & entertaining, so come Join us and make new Friends For more information contact our Coordinator: Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02) 9501 5525 – mobile 0421 662 298.

*(All Groups are co-ordinated by The Maltese Community Council of NSW) with a sponsorship from Multicultural NSW. Please contact the MCC Welfare Officer: Marisa Previtera JP on 0414 863 123. The MCC offices are at 59b Franklin Street (corner with Young St) Parramatta West NSW (next to West Parramatta Primary School).

Tuesday November 8, 2016

The Voice of the Maltese 23

Sports on two pages Heading a football causes impairment of brain function

Study by the University of Stirling: MagdalenaIetswaart

(Cognitive Neuroscientist and Associate Professor)

AngusHunter

(Reader in Exercise Physiology)

ThomasDi Virgilio

(PhD student in Psychology, Health and Exercise Sciences)

H

eading a football may look effortless but many scientists have suspected it might actually harm the player’s brain. There could be real consequences – we know that brain injury is linked to an increased risk of dementia, for example. However, it has proven surprisingly difficult to find out the true impact of football heading, partly because mild brain injury is notoriously difficult to detect.

Now our new research, published in EBioMedicine, suggests that just a single session of heading practice results in temporary impairment in memory and a disruption of the normal balance of chemicals in the brain.

We must now investigate whether these effects remain temporary after repeated football heading exposure and what the long-term consequences on brain health are.

Much of what we know about the brain is based on research on the mature brain, but the human brain is not fully developed until our early twenties. The frontal lobes are especially late to mature. This part of the brain, which absorbs the impact of the ball, is home to uniquely human qualities such as impulse control and conscious planning.

In the teenage years brain chemicals are in a state of flux and the brain is very sensitive in lots of ways. A massive process of reorganisation of connections takes place before the brain calms down in its mature state.

The experiment A typical football practice drill involves many repetitions heading the ball. So what happens to the brain when these head impacts are repeated over and over again – particularly when done from a young age?

To find out, we used a sensitive research technique from our basic neuroscience lab to conduct our study.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation uses a coil held over a person’s head to generate a brief magnetic pulse stimulating a small area of the brain. This, together with electrodes placed over the muscle, can be used to measure neural signals from the brain to the muscle.

From this we can work out the level of “inhibitory chemicals” in the brain. These can interrupt or block certain brain activity and potentially make muscles more difficult to control, for example.

In particular we look at the brain signalling chemical called GABA, which is the most powerful inhibitor in the brain’s motor system. If there is more inhibition in the brain it means that the normal brain che-mistry

is changed after Cristiano Ronaldo jumps to head hitting the ball the ball. Heading a football seems with the head. to release the inhibitory brain chemical, studey found We asked a group of football players to head a ball 20 times, fired from a ball machine to simulate the pace and power of a corner kick. Before and after the heading sessions, we tested players’ brain inhibition measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation, and players’ cognitive function such as memory. W monitored these same levels again the next day, the day after that, and two weeks after the heading session in the lab.

We found that football heading resulted in immeTherefore the research we have done is diate and measurable changes in brain function. Increased inhibition in the brain just a first step on the journey of finding out was detected after just a single session of what is the true impact of football heading. heading. Memory test performance was Should we let kids play football?

So what does this mean for players of the also reduced by between 41 and 67%.

The good news is that these changes in beautiful game? If there is more inhibition brain function were transient, with effects in the brain immediately after heading the ball, this could affect control of the muscles normalising within 24 hours.

The bad news is that we do not know that may impair performance and expose whether there is an accumulative effect the player to greater injury risk – something when this biochemical disruption is re- that has previously been reported in people peated over and over again through weekly who have had a concussion.

It is also important to realise that there are heading practice drills, or what the longterm consequences of heading on brain no known safe levels of football heading. health are. This is why further research is One header is unlikely to give you brain damage, but how many headers do? At needed.

Now that we know that heading a football what levels of exposure do we enter the changes the biochemistry of the brain, at grey zone?

It is perhaps a bit like alcohol, there are least temporary, we would like to visualise the effects of heading by using a brain no known safe limits for alcohol consumption. Disrupting the brain chemistry during scanner.

In a brain scanner we can see how micro- brain development until late adolescence damage to brain structure and brain con- may warrant extra caution. Hopefully, furnections relates to changes in the ther research can shed some more light on biochemistry of the brain. This would give long-term health implications. us a much better idea of what goes on in the (originally published by brain as a result of heading the ball.

24 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday November 8, 2016

Sports on two pages

RUGBY: Malta registers two wins to lead group alta’s national rugby team registered its biggest-ever win M in 16 years in the latest Rugby European Championship matches. In La Vella with perfect conditions underfoot and blue skies above, Malta ran in eight tries to beat hosts Andorra 6315 in the opening game of the Conference 1 South season which doubles as a Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifier.

Malta followed that up in the second match with another convincing 31-3 victory over Cyprus in wintry conditions at the Hibernians Stadium in Malta.

These last two strong showings moved Malta up five places in the World Rugby Rankings in the process – from 49th to 44th in the world and strengthened Malta’s status as one of the leading favourites to challenge for promotion along with Croatia in a pool also comprising Israel.

Malta currently leads the group and plays the decisive final two matches in April next year. With consistency, chances are that Malta could win promotion.

Malta’s defeat in Lithuania under investigation

M

alta’s 2-0 Group F FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifier defeat against Lithuania at the LFF Stadium in Vilnius on October 11 is under investigation by the International Football Federation, FIFA on suspicion of match rigging. The match had been closely monitored after the game had attracted a surprising amount of irregular betting patterns.

The game was scoreless at half time but Lithuania scored twice in the final 14 minutes to clinch a 2-0 win at the LFF Stadium in Vilnius last Tuesday.

It had been reported that in an unprecedented move, prior to kick off a FIFA official visited the dressing rooms of both teams and the match officials separately before kick off them that the match might be fixed.

According to a UK daily newspaper, betting syndicates staked vast sums of money before kick-off and during the game on Malta to lose by two or more goals. A source who alerted the newspaper to the potential fix said big changes in the pre-match odds were picked up by FIFA’s early-warning system and a red alert created, prompting an inquiry currently underway by FIFA. Minutes before kick-off FIFA had alerted both teams and the referee that the betting patterns had been noted. But the match was allowed to go ahead.

Meanwhile, locally, although it does not have sufficient information to reach any conclusions the Malta Football Association, MFA has requested the police to probe the claims and has therefore handed over all the documents on the betting patterns surrounding the match in Vilnius to the police.

Malta next hosts Slovenia at the National Stadium at Ta’ Qali on November 11. Thus far Malta has lost all its three Group F matches.

Hibs close in on Balzan; Birkirkara slip to fourth alzan and Birkirkara kept dropping points Valletta also dropB at the upper reaches of the league ladder ped points in a 1-1 and their failure to win any of their last two draw against evergames, having figured in draws, has allowed Hibernians, 1-0 penalty-goal victors over Birkirkara and 2-1 winners over Tarxien to close in on Balzan to within a point.

Birkirkara’s failures had even worse results for them as with Valletta’s 11th Day 3-0 win over Hamrun Spartans, both Hibs and Valletta leapfrogged over them relegating them to fourth.

On Day 10 against Tarxien Balzan avoided defeat by the skin of their teeth. They eventually came from 2-0 down and a man short to level matters with a goal two minutes into added time.

In the same weekend the most awaited match between Hibernians and Birkirkara was decided with an inexRESULTS – DAY 11 1-1 istent penalty-goal Balzan v Sliema W. Birkirkara v Floriana 1-1 decision that went Valletta v Hamrun S. 3-0 Hibernians’ way.

Hibernians v Tarxien 2-1 The Paolites then St Andrews v Gzira U 1-0 Pembroke v Mosta 3-0 followed that win with a 2-1 success DAY 10 neighbours Balzan v Tarxien R. 2-2 over Hibernians v Birkirkara 1-0 Tarxien.

Valletta v St Andrews 0-0 Before the win agFloriana v Gzira 1-0 Sliema v Mosta 1-1 ainst Hamrun deHamrun S. v Pembroke 2-1 fending champions

Standing P W Balzan 11 7 Hibernians 11 7 Valletta 11 6 Birkirkara 11 6 Floriana 11 5 Sliema W 11 5 Hamrun S. 11 4 St Andrews 11 4 Tarxien R. 11 2 Gzira U 11 2 Mosta 11 2 Pembroke 11 2

D L Pts 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 1 4 3 2 1

1 2 3 2 3 4 5 6 5 6 8 8

24 23 21 20 18 17 14 13 10 9 8 7

improving St Andrews. The latter also beat Gzira.

Mosta held Sliema Wanderers 1-1 to stop their fourmatch winning streak. But then the Blues completely recovered by holding leaders Balzan.

Italian yacht wins 37 Middle Sea Race

T

he 37th Edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race that started from the Grand Harbour on October 22 with an extremely varied fleet of 107 boats from 25 countries, wrapped up with the prize-giving ceremony in the presence of crews at the Royal Malta Yacht Club that was presided by the Minister for Tourism Edward Zammit Lewis and the Parliamentary Secretary for Research Innovation Youth and Sport Mr. Chris Agius. This year’s edition was won on corrected time by Italian yacht Mascalzone Latino in 3days 3hrs 8m 3s.

Sydney FC open up five-point lead over nearest challengers

ydney FC keep sailing on.

After just five matches, they S have already opened a fivepoint lead over the two teams following them Perrth Glory and Brisbane Roar, 15 to 10.

Against Melbourne Victory Sydney FC delighted the home crowd thanks to David Carney’s feat of producing a stunning

two-goal cameo - including a late winner - to fire them to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday. This success came on top of the previous round’s 20 away win at Newcastle.

Perth could only draw 2-2 at home while Brisbane beat Melbourne City 1-0.

RESULTS – DAY 5 Sydney FC v Melbourne V Brisbane v Melbourne C Perth G. v W. Sydney Adelaide v Central Coast Wellington v Newcastle J DAY 4 Newcastle J v Sydney FC Melbourne C v Adelaide Brisbane v Perth G. W. Sydney v Central Coast Melbourne V v Wellington

2-1 1-0 2-2 1-2 2-0 0-2 2-1 2-1 1-1 2-0