youth4environment@gmail.com www.y4teonline.info
through the lens nuclear fallout organics the honey bee metaphor
October 2011 issue No.2
editorial
With the ever increasing environmental change, we begin to feel more scared and more worried for our home. The contsant degradation of our ecosystems, habitats, and the animals that we share this earth with, has become our doing, and therefore our responsibility to fix. It is our right and our responsiblility to ensure the safety of the earth and to be able to sustain it. Y4TE is now in its second year of operation, and in the past we have succeeded to improve awareness amongst the students inside and out of university. We hope to continue with the same strive and passion that was so quickly recognised as a new organisation. With this second issue of our magazine we hope to continue increasing awareness amongst everyone and anyone so we can all fight for a better future for ourselves and our future generations. “If we wish to make a new world we have the material ready. The first one, too, was made out of chaos�. -Robert Quillen
alfred spiteri hili
history The very first activity in which Y4TE made its presence was the BBQ Beach Party in Ghadira which was held on the 2nd July 2010 and was organised along with ASA, UESA, IEEE, UMGS and MUFC. The role of Y4TE was to provide some of the food and to promote environmental awareness by clearly showing people how to have BBQ’s on the beach in a non-pollutive manner by separating waste accordingly and disposing of charcoal properly. Towards the end of the summer, between the 22nd and 24th September, a seminar in Gozo was organised by Y4TE with the focus being on the promotion of green technology. This served as the first event solely organised by Y4TE and its main activities included a debate on renewable energy, presentations regarding wild nature and renewable energy in Malta, scuba diving, and swimming activities. Following this seminar, the very first newsletter was published and was handed out to students during Fresher’s Week. During Fresher’s Week it was decided by the executives that Y4TE would adopt an animal from an endangered species, thus a poll was set up at the stand for students to vote which animal should be adopted. The options were the Vaquita, Bonobo or the Amur Leopard. The latter won the poll and through WWF, Y4TE successfully adopted an endangered animal. Between the 26th and 28th of November, with the collaboration of IASTE, a second seminar entitled ‘Roughing It’ was held at the Ghajn Tuffieha campsite. This involved a number of activities including a BBQ and pasta night, a visit to the GAIA foundation followed by a tour of the premises, a tour of the sewage treatment system at the Radisson Golden Sands hotel, and finally an abseiling activity. The first activity for 2011 was the Human Rights Week during which Y4TE sold natural, hand-made, non-animal-tested soap on behalf of Soap Cafe’ and also set up an organ donation campaign, for which a debate on Organ Donation was organised.
valid until 30th November 2011 10% Discount on presentation of this advert
Y4TE also set up a stand at the KSU Environmental Fair 2011, where again the animal-friendly soaps were being sold and at the same time, a campaign was set up in aid of those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. A demonstration of soap-making by Soap Cafe’ was also held at the stand. The closing of the Environmental fair saw the beginning of Y4TE’s biggest event organised to date – ‘Through the Lens – Sustainability from a different perspective’ which was held at the Bir Mula Heritage Museum in Bormla. The main event was a photography exhibition of compositions taken by students showing their interpretation of the 3 modes of sustainability, with many ancillary events also organised including talks by Arnold Cassola, Marco Cremona, and Terrance Duggan, a visit to the Turtle Rehabilitation centre at the San Lucian tower near Marsaxlokk, and a series of heritage trails and museum tours for both foreign and local students. This event was closed off by a Cuisine, Culture and Artisan Festival which saw several artisans set up stands to show traditional and non-traditional works and different types of food. Y4TE was awarded the Green Kokka award at the KSU Kokka Night 2011 for organising this event. The last event before this AGM was ‘Rabu For Japan’ – an initiative of Y4TE with the help of over 25 university organisations to raise money for the victims in Japan. This was held at Anvil Pub in Paceville and saw performances by local bands. A total of €300 was collected through this event and this was donated to Red Cross Japan. The success of Y4TE over the past year can be seen through the events described and our goal is to continue to organise more of these to reach out to all members of the public to promote respect and care for the environment, including the people, that surround us on both the local and international scale.
through the lens
sustainability from a different perspective... ...across the end of the earth The birth of an idea, based on one simple question – How do you, as someone who thinks differently to me, classify sustainability? Asking this simple question to a number of people will naturally heed numerous different answers, but what if these people could depict their answers instead of using words? Thus the idea for ‘Through the Lens’ was brought forth – what does your camera see? Youth For The Environment (Y4TE) along with the Tourism Studies Association (TSA), developed a scheme by which youths could answer the stated question in the form of a photograph or series of photographs which were then exhibited at the Bir Mula Heritage Museum in Bormla. However, simply placing a number of photographs in a room and calling it an event is not the style of Y4TE, so it was decided that whilst this would be the main scope of the event and the main attraction, a number of various activities would orbit around it. Held just after the KSU Environmental Fair 2011, the system of activities involved all sorts with one main common idea, sustainability in all three forms – cultural, social, and environmental. From talks about keeping 13th Century Art alive to preventing Malta from becoming a land of draught to actually visiting the fort which holds a turtle-rehabilitation unit in Marsaxlokk, the activities attracted minds of different interests and ways of thinking and united them with this idea. Other activities included the opening party for the exhibition itself, tours of the museum itself and the exhibit for tourism students (both foreign and local), children from the local school, as well as general visitors, and also heritage trails through the surrounding areas of the museum.
A huge event such as this required nothing less than a colossal closing activity, one which summarised all that was discussed throughout the previous two weeks and which attracted even more people to the little road where the museum is situated. Thus a Cuisine, Culture and Artisan Festival was organised which saw the participation of over 20 artisans setting up shop using wooden stands spread out along the tiny street, making it very welcoming indeed. Cafe’ Premier also participated in the event through their catering of traditional Maltese food and desserts along with drinks and honeys. The success of this event was evident as it saw over 250 people walking through, purchasing from the stands, and even participating in the ongoing museum and exhibit tours. Thanks to the help of John Vella, owner of the Bir Mula heritage house, for hosting these activities, and to Arnold Cassola, Marco Cremona, and Terrance Duggan for giving talks which attracted numerous people, ‘Through the Lens’ was a complete success and there are already plans for organising this again in Malta – only this time on a much larger scale! On the other hand, whilst discussions are ongoing for another local version of the event, this summer saw the photographs of the exhibit travelling to the opposite end of the earth all the way to Down Under. Daniel Buhagiar and his sister and fellow Y4TE executive, Nicole, travelled to Australia and thanks to the gracious Maltese-Australian community in Sydney, helped them organise ‘Through the Lens – Down Under’. The event was set up in one of the main halls and many TV as well as radio interviews were broadcast throughout the state. Due to the great pride of the Maltese community, the exhibit was a huge magnet in attracting those who were curious about anything related to their homeland, and also to those who were interested in the focus of the exhibit itself. In fact, a number of articles had been written and published describing these activities and one such article is shown below.
kurt cuschieri
through the lens
“L-MC ,F Zamm rank it kelmte għamel jn introdu ta’ zz lil Dan joni fejn fera ie ħ isforz s l u Nicole għ ie al jagħm wi li qedgħin llu sħabho flimkien ma’ m b’riż q l-am bjent.”
sit icole o r “P el, N i li Dan bkom na a u u sħ in tur tur fu għ qed ghall- jjeb u ta iq t-tr bjent m i!” ta’ a nibbl ten s o s
down under
“Through the Lens - Sus tainability from a diff imtella’ m erent pers iż- żewġ e pective’, sibituri żg u Nicole B ħażagħ l-a uhagiar, st ħwa Dani udenti mi Malta u m el l l-Universi embri talta’ t organizza the Envi zzjoni You a’ ronment, th for ibbażata fl Il-parteċip i s t e ss univers anti li ppr ita’. e ż e n t a w ir-ritrat kollha stu t denti li sk ond il-per i huma individwa spettiva li tagħhom if-fokaw f is-suġġett uq tas-sosten nibilita tal-ambjen ’ t.”
the mediterranean
towards a sustainable region? The Mediteranean Region without any doubt can be considered one of the earliest places for human settlements. It is for this reason that the Mediterranean is considered the Cradle of Civilisation. The agglomeration of various peoples around a common sea together with their interactions provided for the expansion of human presence, organisation and activities on the shores of the Mediterranean. This meant that the relationship between humans and their environment has always been an important issue. As human settlements increased and organisational structures like thalassocracies and empires expanded in the region and beyond, humans have modified the natural environment for its resources and their activities (e.g. settlements and agriculture). A first important consideration is to try and identify what is the Mediterranean. What are the limits of the Mediterranean? Is it an enclosed sea? Is it a border between three continents? Is the Mediterranean a collection of states touching this sea or is it limited to the coastal regions/provinces? What about countries like Portugal and Jordan that share commonalities with the Mediterranean yet do not have a coastal border with it? A most common definition uses a combination of the Mediterranean’s watershed, common climate and vegetation. The limits of the Mediterranean remain a topical debate in the academia and it is not the scope of this article to elaborate on this. Having outlined the need of having a delineated area of study one can pass on indentifying the main challenges facing this region. An important consideration is that the region has different development levels. Even though always sharing some commonalities, the region has always been a divided one since the expansion of Islam into North Africa and Southern Europe back in the 7th century AD. Having surpassed the Cold War West-East divide, the Mediterranean has become the border between a greater division that is the development gap between the developed North and developing South.
A common challenge for both shores however remains the path towards sustainable development. Acknowledging the fact that the zero growth mentality defeats the whole scope of development, the need of finding a development that prioritises the human person both in the present tense and future tense is imperative. For too long a time development in the Mediterranean has been an unrestrained one. The northern shore, having attained a higher development than the southern shore, seems to start heading in a sustainable direction whereas the southern shore is still backwards mainly due to increasing population pressure and the need to develop. One of the first instances of Mediterranean collaboration was without any doubt the Barcelona Convention of 1976. The riparian countries united in order to fight marine pollution in the enclosed sea. Even though there was no legally binding agreement this was an important development in a divided region like the Mediterranean. The convention was amended in 1995 and now together with UNEP’s Mediterranean Action Plan covers diverse environmental issues. A handy and accessible document related to the Mediterranean is without any doubt ‘A Sustainable Future for the Mediterranean – The Blue Plan’s Environment and Development Outlook’ (2006). The report identified 6 main sustainability issues; water, energy, transport, urban areas, rural areas and coastal areas. The report presented the projected situation in a scenario if current trends are upheld. Water shortage, dependence on fossil fuels, urbanisation and desertification are the most threatening hazards facing the Mediterranean. The report identified an alternative scenario for every issue, a scenario that can be attained only by a change in mentalities and development. The Union of the Mediterranean set up in 2008 and is the latest initiative of regional co-operation. Sharing good practices and adopting appropriate development particularly amongst communities in the southern shore can be a practical way to attain a sustainable type of development. The Mediterranean region, being a centre of human habitation since antiquity can be the ideal open air laboratory to experiment sustainable ways that can be implemented globally. Even though there is still much more to be done, present structures augur good particularly when one keeps in mind the region’s divided history.
andrea pace
nuclear fallout
Today’s world economies are looking at alternative sources of energy to further boost their economic growth and to enhance job creation in todays difficult financial times. The world leaders in the use of nuclear energy are France, Japan and the USA, accountiong for approximately 50% of the nuclear energy generated in the world. Emergent economies, such as China, already have 25 nuclear power stations in operation, with plans for further expansion,whilst India is also eyeing the use of Nuclear energy in the near future. Although Nuclear energy is seen by some as a clean means of energy generation, others such as Greenpeace oppose the use of such technology as it believes it is harmful to the environment. This was evident after the accident that occured in Chernobyl in 1986. These sentiments are further being echoed by people all over the world, particularly in light of the recent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Prime examples of these are; The protests that later erupted in Japan, putting pressure on their Government to review their policies in regards to use of this technology. In Italy a recent referdum, held in 2011, to decide on whether the country should introduce the use of Nuclear energy, received a negative response from voters. In Germany, Chancellor Merkel was made unpopular by her desicion to further increase the life span of Germany’s nuclear stations from 2022 to 2035. The 2022 deadline had been set in 2001 whilst the Social Democrats and the Greens were in power. Due to the nuclear disaster in Japan and heavy regional losses to her party, the Chancellor decided to change her stance, and to profess that her nation will be the first Industrialised nation to kick its reliance on Nuclear energy.
Will the fallout in favour of the use in Nuclear energy further entice governments to invest in alternative forms of green energy to satisfy the energy needs of the world?
daniel buhagiar
the european citizens’ initiative
empowering the citizens’ rights Together with Vincent Attard (of Nature Trust), I have attended the Orientation Seminar on the European Citizens’ Initiative held in Brussels on the 27th June 2011 on invitation by the European Commission. This event brought together various national civil society organizations from all the European Union member states. The main focus of this event was to help participants familiarize themselves with the Role of the ECI and also be informed of developments in this sector. The orientation seminar focused on the creation of a debate about the democratic innovations of the Lisbon treaty – the citizens’ initiative. In Article 11 of this same treaty, there is formal recognition to the role of the citizen in the participatory democracy of the EU. The event contributed to the introduction of an innovative idea how EU citizens can voice their views and opinions through a system that was being developed. This meant that each country would also have a benchmark of signatures which citizens of that country had to reach. Some NGOs present also demonstrated how presently this was being achieved through separate systems and how positive results had been obtained through civil society at EU levels. Among these NGOs there was a presentation by ‘Greenpeace’. The European Citizens’ Initiative has a bridge role to the civil society. The importance of direct democracy, involvement of European Citizens, active citizenship and civil dialogue were emphasized during this seminar. A European Constitution was introduced in December 2001. The commission website has the 23 official languages of the European Union and it has a free online collection system.
isabelle camilleri
hondoq one year later... Youth for the Environment’s involvement about Hondoq started about a year ago and yet this protest is still placed as a high priority issue. Y4TE has even met Mr. Paul Buttigieg; the secretary of ‘Moviment Harsien Hondoq’ to discuss important and related matters. Since launching in May 2010, Youth for the Environment followed the Hondoq Rummien Project and took part where possible - including attendance to the public consultation which was held on May 27th 2010, in hopes for voicing our opinion. We believe in representing the youth and future generations by voicing our opinions and attending public consultations to ensure we are up to date with current affairs and petition status. Hondoq ir-Rummiem is one of the most beautiful places in Gozo, attracting many people including tourists and divers, both foreign and local, due to its small caves at water level and deep, clear water. The clean water is considered to be the cleanest in all of Malta, and is also home to some rare underwater plants. Youth for the Environment is against the Hondoq project which deals with the construction of hotels, villas, flats, bungalows and a yacht marina which would be built where the beach is now. The initial propositions dates back to 2002, but since then no conclusions have been made. This project can result in serious environmental damage and can affect the pure air of Hondoq, as well as damaging the seabed which will lead to a reduction in the amount and variety of fauna and flora. This will then lead to a decrease in the number of divers which come from all over the world to explore this particular natural and untouched area. The main focus around the organisation’s first Gozo seminar was the negative impact the project would have in terms of the environment, Gozo’s tourism and the community. The beach is a favourite spot for swimming and scuba diving. The creation of the yacht Marina will affect the quality of bathing water and the beach. Thus Youth For The Environment organised a debate on the beach which was followed by a scuba diving session.
isabelle camilleri
when facts are few and experts are many
The environment is not the domain of few individuals such as specialists, professionals or Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Their output is generally useless on a global level. For instance no official agency alone can effectively develop a conservation strategy. Environmental well being is dependent on the global human behavior and is likewise fundamental to the livelihoods of all. This is why environmental management can only succeed when due consideration is given to people coming from various sectors. Nowadays the phrase “stakeholders’ involvement� has become a key issue in all management programmes and conservation processes. A stakeholder has been defined as anybody with an interest, either indirect and implicit or direct and stated in the issues at hand. Stakeholders have also been described as those affected both positively and negatively by a management programme. Involvement of stakeholders should not be limited to some parts only of the management process. Involvement should start from the period of preparation and continue throughout the development and implementation of the management programme itself, provided that the stakeholders are willing to do so.
Stakeholder participation can be done at various levels. Examples include indirect involvement such as contribution in public hearings and comment periods established by policymakers together with direct involvement such as involvement of stakeholder from the commencement of the programme to the final decision making. Stakeholder participation is a concept based on an assumption that participation of those affected in any form of management is a fundamental human right. This has both advantages and disadvantages. In fact participation of stakeholders can make conservation more effective. Stakeholders such as locals can come up with observations which are overlooked by experts. Involving people in projects and plans increases the probability of obtaining support from them and the related likelihood of their eventual success. On the other hand, the problem of stakeholder participation is related to both resources and time. To truly have an effective stakeholder involvement one should seek to involve every individual with a diverse view and not just those in favour of a desired decision. One should also allow the stakeholders to choose their own level of involvement and not force them to take a role which they do not feel comfortable to take. Finally stakeholder involvement should reflect diversity of representation and thus shall include include different genders, age groups, employment groups, and political affiliations.
karl aguis
organics food and procucts Youth for the Environment participated in the ‘KSU - Environmental Fair’ organised at the University of Malta during Environmental Week. The main activity was the sale of hand-made, non-animal tested soap provided by Soap Cafe’, with proceeds going towards a fund to help the Japanese people recover from the recent environmental disaster. The choice of promoting Soap Cafe’ products fit in well with the environment theme. The aim of Soap Cafe’ is to promote health and well-being. The organisation strives to provide customers with good quality products made out of the most natural ingredients, where possible the ingredients chosen are organic. Soap Cafe doesn’t only produce soap, as the name implies, however balms, lotions and scrubs are also produced. Soap Cafe` produce goods that are not only beneficial to the user but also to the environment, since the products are toxin free. Choosing toxin free products means causing less damage to our environment and safeguarding the skin which is very sensitive. The organisation pledges: “We do NOT use artificial preservatives or detergents (including Parabens and SLS) in our products. Each bar of soap is- made, cut, trimmed and packaged by hand, thus, is truly a UNIQUE piece. We continually strive to introduce increasing range of products to complement modern living at value for money prices.” -Charlene Mercieca The Y4TE stand also exhibited information about environmentally friendly initiatives during the fair, such as the consumption of organic food and organic products, packaging directives and waste recycling. Organics are becoming increasingly popular thanks to consumer awareness towards the environment, health and safety. There are a lot of benefits to using organic products. Their use in beauty products, for example, brings an improvement to hair and skin without the use of the harsh chemicals usually associated with the beauty industry. These chemicals actually make our hair and skin greasier. Therefore, although organic products are slightly more expensive than normal products, consumers end up using less of the product over time whilst still obtaining great results. Organic products have an overwhelming positive response and the sector is expected to grow at a yearly rate of 9% during the next few years (compared to a 1% increase within the non-organic sector). Further to this, organic products are not tested on animals. The production of organic food follows strict farming regulations that lead to the following advantages: profits are increased by means of reduced water use; nutrients are not contaminated
by pesticides; there is no soil reduction; there is an increase in biodiversity. Farmers use green manure to produce organic crops, incurring 50% lower expenditure than farmers using conventional farming methods. This also allows them to retain 40% more topsoil. Weeds are eliminated without using mechanical implements or chemicals. Green pesticides, such as neem, compost tea and spinosad, are used. These are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Crop rotation ensures the sustainability of rich soil. A French study has found that nutritional quality and micro-nutrients are present in higher quantities in organically produced crops. Micro-nutrients ensure good health. Organically grown plants have a longer life than plants grown by the traditional methods and can withstand longer drought periods than non-organic crops. One cannot speak of organics without mentioning packaging. Organic foods must meet EU standards with regard to the materials used in packaging and labelling. Materials must be recyclable, where possible, and carry the appropriate organic accreditation symbol. In consideration to the environment, organic products should strive to avoid all unnecessary packaging. In Malta, the GreenPak waste recovery scheme was recognised in 2005 and has today over 300 members working together that help finance the waste recovery schemes in many localities. The Approving Body is composed of representatives from the Malta Environmental and Planning Authority, the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, the Economy and Investment. GreenPak is now working on facilitating the process of refunds by the government for eco-tax that had been paid by companies since 2006. The company’s work is essential as it diverts millions of kilograms of packaging waste from being disposed of in landfills, which has been proven to be the most environmentally harmful means of disposal of waste. Recycling is a much more environmentally friendly method for waste disposal. One of Malta’s primary sites for waste recycling is the Sant’Antnin plant in Marsascala. This recycling plant currently produces about 10 container loads of compressed recycled materials per week. The materials recycled at the plant include paper, clear and coloured plastic, cardboard, aluminium and iron. The recycling plant also converts domestic waste into compost by means of a digestion tank. The process generates enough electricity for 1,300 homes. Heat produced by the digestion tank is siphoned to the nearby Razzett tal-Hbiberija to heat the pool.
karl petrocochino & andrew grech
the honey bee metaphor
The environment is our honeycomb, and we are the beautiful bees. Metaphorically, of course. And in this scenario, you are either a queen bee, a drone bee, or a worker bee. Your sole purpose should be to nurture and protect the honeycomb, irrespective of your current bee position, irrespective of whether there is a bee promotion or not. As mere humans, we have the capacity to either destroy or enhance the environment. Reason, one of the many things to separate us from a honey bee, should make us want to improve the life that surrounds us. However, reality begs to differ. In theory, we are all about building and designing a better future. In reality, this comes at a cost, and the price is sometimes too high for the Earth to handle. The environment, which we inadvertently ruin by thoughtless, often selfish, acts, has so much to offer us. It gives children an opportunity to express their inner imagination. It gives the poet blissful inspiration. And it gives the photographer motivation to use his overpriced camera. It is there for us to appreciate. It is there for us to bathe in. And yes, it is there for us to exploit. Prudently. Scientifically, the possibilities are endless. If life was a jigsaw puzzle, the environment would represent the tessellating pieces, much like the honeycomb and its hexagonal wax cells. Maybe the most noteworthy example is that of the Pacific Yew tree (Taxus brevifolia), which is the source of a chemotherapeutic drug being used to treat breast and lung cancer. Simply put, had these trees been removed, as a result of the cruel,
egotistical act of deforestation, scientists would not have been able to make this remarkable discovery. And many innocent people would still be the victims of this uncontrolled disease. Uncontrolled dumping of waste in the sea, although probably not as drastic as deforestation, is not without its perils. Scientific research shows that extracts from certain species of algae have potential HIV inhibitory activity. These algae, similar to the other beneficial marine organisms, are negatively affected when faced with water pollution. And again, what it all comes down to is that one inconsiderate act and its ripple effect. Because sometimes, the ends do not justify the means. Sometimes, being the queen bee, always surrounded by worker bees, always expecting them to meet your everyday needs, is feeble and rather pointless. Sometimes, (at the risk of sounding exactly like the great Mahatma Gandhi), you have to be the change you want to see in the world. And change, like the most important things in life, should start from the little things. You can, for example, start by not throwing cigarette butts out the window. By car pooling when you go out on a Saturday night. Or by picking up that unfortunate little snail crossing the sidewalk. And it may seem insignificant now, like that one beautiful bee pollinating that one flower, but in the grand scheme of things, the altruistic acts are those that make all the difference in the world. So today, sometime in between lectures, somewhere in between laughs, make a change, and remember that ultimately it’s the little things that really matter.
leanne grech
virgin land under threat
In his letter of September 19, Mario de Marco, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, the Environment and Culture, refers to Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar’s views on the National Environment Policy requested by The Times for its round-up on the subject. At no point did we state that the NEP will extend the development boundaries but asked “why should this policy endorse the taking over of more virgin land by the rationalisation plans? The 2006 local plans also expanded the development zones to include more unbuilt land and stripped the protection off several urban conservation areas.” FAA stands by the statement that “until these local plans are revised, the destruction of more virgin land and heritage buildings will continue unchecked” as the Malta Environment and Planning Authority is still receiving applications to build yet more eyesores on a weekly basis: blocks of flats on arable sites. Many of them are granted as the 2006 local plans included these sites within the development zone. Cases that prove this point are the applications to build two supermarkets in the valley between Xewkija and Xagħra. There is no lack of industrial/commercial property available in Gozo, as the half-empty Xewkija industrial estate lies just across the road. So why was the valley added to the development zone? Similarly, why was the ancient Knights’ Armoury in Qormi removed from the urban conservation area and subsequently partially demolished
and rebuilt as flats? Sadly the answers are known to all. Certain interests weighed very heavily in the redrawing of both the local plans and the rationalisation plans, with the same names of applicants and architects popping up on these sensitive sites as the most superficial of investigations will confirm. By refusing to review the local plans or repeal the rationalisation plans, the authorities are adamantly refusing to close the stable door until most of the horses have bolted – i.e. until those pockets of countryside and heritage which can be saved are built up, adding to the over 76,000 properties that are presently vacant. These policies have encouraged overdevelopment in Malta which has negatively impacted tourism and increased our problems of air pollution, flooding and economic well-being, the very same problems that the NEP seeks to solve without addressing one of the root causes. It must be said that the NEP does include many positive recommendations to improve air quality, for the protection and efficient use of water, building stone and soil as well as the protection of endangered habitats and species. FAA also welcomes the policy’s recommendation that Malta’s social housing policy should support rental subsidies and the purchase of existing buildings rather than building on previously undeveloped land.
astrid vella
energy Nowadays we are constantly showered with, “recycle this, recycle that”, “don’t forget to turn the lights off ”, “clean with 30 not 40” etc. so as to save the environment. Even if we did obey all these and more, we have to face it, it’s not enough. Just because someone buys a couple of energy saving light bulbs and a Prius to satisfy his environmental conscience, it doesn’t mean that they are doing their part. If you have a hybrid, and you don’t bother to charge it and only buy gas, you’re not saving the environment. The same goes if you buy energy saving bulbs or any more efficient technology and leave them on all the time. It is time to face the facts, and come to terms with the possibility that the damage were doing may become irreparable or will be difficult to reverse. Living efficiently isn’t enough anymore, it is useless to reduce our use of oil because we will still be reliant on it. It is not an infinite source and we are using it at a much faster rate than we are producing it, the most logical resolution is to kick the habit all together and get rid of our reliance on fossil fuels. We have many other sources of energy that are renewable and don’t produce any harmful green house gases but in the past we have only seemed to use them when they suited us. Turbines (windmills), Solar panels (and heaters) are two of the main examples. Many will say that these are new technologies and that it’s costly and time consuming to implement, but the sad truth is that they have been around for a long time. Dynamo technology, to get electricity from motion, has been around since the turn of the 20th century, and the first solar cell was developed in 1883!, the first silicon solar cell (the kind we use today) was developed in 1941. NASA used solar panels back when they started launching satellites because they had no oxygen to burn oil in space with. Ukraine used
nuclear power because it produced a high yield compared to the cost. History has proven that even when faced with extreme danger and risk, we usually choose the cheaper option but only resort to the more expensive yet safest when needed. In Malta there is a rise in the amount of solar heaters, one would think it’s because people are trying to be more environmentally friendly, but in reality it turns out that it’s cheaper to buy a solar heater to let the sun heat water up then to use electricity. Unfortunately people don’t think the same for solar panels because the initial cost is high. What people haven’t realised yet is that with an initial investment they can make money in the long run because with the amount they save, they pay themselves back in 5 years. Obviously there is a small percentage that uses solar panels because they see the potential for the technology. Wind Turbines are also a must in the self sufficient future that we should strive for. Besides the cost, another hindrance for this technology is that many people see it as an eyesore. In England there have been cases where the government was ready to subsidise country sides full of them but locals voted against them because they saw them as “ugly to look at”. Malta is a perfect “Petri dish” for these two technologies as we have sun all year round, therefore solar panels would run at their maximum efficiency most of the time. We also have a lot of wind for wind turbines, but most importantly we have a lot of humidity in our air which gives it momentum. Germany, for example, has a problem because the air there¬¬ doesn’t have a lot of humidity and the turbines don’t work well because there is not much pushing them. We have a great potential to set an example for the rest of the world and even to become the first selfsufficient (energy-wise) country. There will come a day when people will gladly buy green technology as if it is common place. That day will be the day that oil prices are at an all time high because we will be about to run out. On that day it will be too late.
alfred spiteri hili