Mera mera fuq il-ħajt …… liema hi l-ikbar festa tgħid ?

 

 

 

 

Il-PN u l-PL ser jibqgħu jilgħabu bil-festi. Liema hi l-ikbar waħda ?

 

Id-diviżjoni tas-snin sittin iridu jibqgħu jkaxkruha warajhom fis-seklu 2000.  Għax l-egħruq tal-polemika preżenti dwar il-31 ta’ Marzu jmorru lura sas-snin 60 bid-dibattiti jaħarqu dwar l-indipendenza, il-kif u l-meta.

 

Dakinnhar kien jingħad mill-Partit Laburista illi l-indipendenza politika tal-1964 ma kienitx ta’ valur sakemm tibqa’ bażi militari. Issa jekk irridu inkunu onesti għandna ngħidu li filwaqt li hemm ħafna li anke dakinnhar li qablu illi Malta kellha twarrab id-dipendenza tagħha fuq il-bażi militari dan ftit kien possibli sakemm tħejjew il-pedamenti ta’ ekonomija ibbażata fuq it-turiżmu u l-manifattura. Il-Gvern ta’ George Borg Olivier  għażel il-politika tal-gradwalita’ : ħaġa ħaġa. Il-Partit Laburista ried mod ieħor.

 

Billi l-gvernijiet ta’ qabel l-1964 ftit kellhom l-opportunita li jippjanaw transizzjoni għall-ekonomija Maltija minn waħda bbażata fuq in-nefqa militari għal waħda li ma tiddependix minnha dan ma kienx possibli. L-għażla li kellu l-Gvern ta’ George Borg Olivier kienet li jew jieħu l-ewwel pass (bl-indipendenza politika) inkella jistenna għal meta jkun ħejja l-ekonomija għal qabża ikbar. Il-konsegwenza li qasam il-passi wieħed wieħed kienet illi kien il-Gvern tal-Maltin stess li seta’ jippjana u jimplimenta t-transizzjoni. 

 

Li Malta setgħet tgħaddi mingħajr il-presenza militari Ingliża kien pass importanti, imma naħseb li l-Partit Labuirista jesaġera meta jiddeskrivieħ bħala Jum il-Ħelsien. Ir-realta hi li l-PL ħoloq mit dwar dan il-jum biex jibbilanċja l-21 ta’ Settembru fil-psikolġija tal-Laburist. Mit li għadu ħaj u naħseb li ser jibqa’ ftit ieħor, sakemm l-irjus sħan tas-snin sittin u tas-snin sebgħin jikkalmaw. Imbagħad forsi jkun possibli li kif issuggerixxa Lino Spiteri il-bieraħ fit-Times u Frank Portelli   nhar il-Ħadd fil-Malta Today bil-kalma nagħżlu jum wieħed bħala l-Jum Nazzjonali : Jum il-Vitorja. Jew is-7 ta’ Ġunju !

 

Forsi dakinnhar inkunu qrobna li nirrispettaw lil xulxin ftit iktar. Illum dan jidher ftit il-bogħod.

Il-Gass tal-MEPA

Il-gass tossiku li effettwa l-ħidma tal-impjegati tal-MEPA reġa’ fl-aħbarijiet. It-Times illum tikkwota lis-Sindku tal-Marsa biex tfakkar li l-problema ilha magħna għal dawn l-aħħar għaxar snin. Bdiet ftit wara li nħareġ il-permess għall-impjant għar-riċiklaġġ taż-żjut. Ilmenti ilhom isiru u sal-lum waqgħu fuq widnejn torox. Is-Sindku tal-Marsa qed jistaqsi il-għaliex ħadd ma ħa passi f’dawn l-10 snin. Mhux biss. Imma jkun floku li titwieġeb ukoll il-mistoqsija : x’riedu jgħidu biha meta qalu li kien hemm sabutaġġ ? Min agħmel is-sabutaġġ ?

X’jiswa li l-MEPA għamlet kundizzjonijiet dwar l-operat tal-impjant tar-riċiklaġġ taż-żjut jekk ma kienitx kapaċi tara li jkunu onorati ?

The Freeport : will MEPA backtrack ?

published on Saturday, March 21, 2009

by Carmel Cacopardo

___________________________________________________________

On February 26, during a public session, the Mepa board discussed development proposed at Malta Freeport. It decided that the approved development was to include a condition that an environmental permit relative to Freeport operations was henceforth to be a requirement and that this was to be underpinned by an environmental management system (EMS).

I was fortunate enough to participate in this discussion on behalf of AD and in support of the Birżebbuġa local council. I stressed the need to address and contain the impacts of Malta Freeport on the local residents through an EMS, which would be subject to environmental auditing.

This decision by the Mepa board is of the utmost importance. For the first time, Mepa has intervened in order that local industry adopts an EMS into its control mechanisms. In Malta, to date, this has only been carried out by companies operating as part of an international set-up, such as ST and the pharmaceutical companies that have set up shop recently.

The Freeport needs to understand that it has to behave as a good neighbour to the Birżebbuġa community. Economic activity on its own, generating profits and employment, though essential, is not sufficient. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) needs to be factored in. CSR is not about corporate sponsorships and donations: it is about the responsible behaviour of business and industry. Acting responsibly includes ensuring that the impacts of industrial activity are addressed.

This would undoubtedly entail costs. Currently, these costs are inexistent on the Freeport balance sheet: they are being borne directly by the Birżebbuġa community and paid for through an inferior quality of life. These hidden costs (externalities) include but are not limited to the contamination of the bay, the emissions to air from the various activities going on within the Freeport perimeter and noise at all times of the day, most notably during the silent hours.

Malta Freeport Terminal has been assigned to CMA-CGM, the third largest shipping container company in the world. They have commenced direction of the terminal for a period of 65 years pursuant to a decision of Parliament.

Given its size, CMA-CGM operates from a large number of ports around the globe in which they have built a solid reputation. Their website proudly and justifiably reveals that they have an environmental policy which aims at “protecting the marine environment, fighting climate change and developing eco-friendly services and solutions”. The CMA-CGM group also prides itself with the award received for the second year running from the Port of Long Beach, California as part of its Green Flag Programme. This award, according to the CMA-CGM website, reflects their commitment to environmental protection!

The Green Port Policy of the Port of Long Beach has five guiding principles, the first one of which is “the protection of the community from harmful environmental impacts of port operations”. The latest available annual report (2007) for the Port of Long Beach, entitled Reshaping A Vibrant Community, emphasises that the port takes a leadership role in the development of strategies to mitigate security risks in the port complex. Of particular interest is the section in the said report (page 17) which speaks of “Exporting Green policy to seaports worldwide”. Linking with such a vision on the part of CMA-CGM should put the minds of Birżebbuġa residents at rest! Will it?

So far, globalisation and its cousin competition policy have been the vehicle for privatisation, deregulation and economic fundamentalism. The global players imported within our shores to take charge of sections of the Maltese economy have yet to bring along their best environmental practices such that it be ensured that the communities in which they operate are not burdened with the hidden costs of their operations. To date, it has been a globalisation of opportunities for profit seekers, responsibilities lagging far behind! CSR is hardly in sight!

The Mepa board decision of February 26 paves the way for Malta Freeport to be compelled to manage its environmental externalities. It is indeed noteworthy to see that Mepa has, following public participation, taken a leaf out of the CMA-CGM environmental policy and included this as one of the conditions of the development permit.

On February 26, the Mepa board, in addition to underlining the fact that Malta Freeport needs to address its environmental impact, refused one of its applications: that dealing with an extension of the Terminal One West Quay. It is hoped that the Freeport will be capable of deciphering the writing on the wall. By determining that an EMS should underpin an environmental permit regulating the Freeport operations, the Mepa board has identified the way forward. Its neighbours hope that Malta Freeport will move along that path and that Mepa will not backtrack after the June MEP elections!

Dwejra : First Anniversary of Shame

 

On the anniversary of MEPA’s enforcement to stop further construction of a 2-storey concrete building in Dwejra, Gozo, Alternattiva Demokratika celebrated symbolically this “first anniversary of shame” when the Party’s two European Parliament candidates and members of the Gozo Regional Council visited this site. 

Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros, AD candidate in the forthcoming elections for the European Parliament remarked: “It is truly shameful that the Prime Minister, responsible for the environment and its impact on the tourist sector, failed to take action to safeguard this unique site in the Maltese islands. On the pretext that the Authorities are investigating irregularities concerning its approved plan, he permits such a scandal to remain stark naked a year later to all the thousands of visitors in guided tours to the Inland Sea”.    

The Party’s General Secretary and spokesperson for Gozo affairs, Victor Galea, said: “For one whole year a number of environmental organizations have been appealing to the Prime Minister to settle various issues regarding this officially heralded Heritage Park, intended to be the first of its kind for Gozo”.

“This project stuttered from its very beginning when MEPA took over one and a half years to sanction the Dwejra Action Plan. In March 2007 European Union funds for this project were no longer available. Since then no steps were taken for the continued protection of this site; consequently, we have today a glaring scandal of this advertised heritage zone, listing 80 irregularities ranging from illegal structures, unsanctioned extensions of stone quarries and illegal dumping of construction waste and other refuse on public pathways”.     

Dr Arnold Cassola emphasized: “It is absolutely urgent that an illusory Management Board wakes up from its deep slumber, and that site managers are appointed according to the recent recommendations of the European Union which had provided adequate funds for the continued protection of this site. The Dwejra Management Board shoulders a grave responsibility and is urgently requested to settle the issue of this monstrous concrete structure already one year on since MEPA declared these works to be in contravention to its own approval plan.” 

“It is unfair that whereas the ordinary citizen faces stiff fines, Government and its affiliate authorities carry on in their routine administrative tasks as if no illegalities did ever occur. The public silently stands to watch these injustices”. 

Prof Cassola concluded by saying: “Alternattiva Demokratika again calls upon the Gozo Associations, especially the Gozo Tourist Association and the Gozo Chamber of Commerce to represent, as they are bound to do, the issues that interest Gozo best, to positively criticize where needed and not to prioritise their political alliances at the cost of delayed development of Gozo as a European region”. 

Żjara minn AD fl-inċineratur tal-Marsa

 

 

Dal-għodu delegazzjoni ta’ AD għamlet żjara fl-inċineratur tal-Marsa. L-istedina kienet saret mill-Ministru Pullicino waqt Bondi+ ta’ ħmistax ilu, nhar it-23 ta’ Frar 2009. L-istedina kont ilqajtha mill-ewwel.

 

Uffiċjali tal-Wastserv flimkien mat-tekniċi inkarigati ill-inċineratur tal-Marsa dawruna mal-faċilita u fissrulna l-mod kif dan jaħdem kif ukoll l-aġġustamenti li saru u li għad qed isiru fl-impjant.

 

L-inċineratur kien ippjanat biex jieħu skart iġġenerat mill-biċċerija. Imma iżjed tard l-idea ibidlet biex żdied ukoll skart kliniku kif ukoll skart industrijali.

 

L-ewwel mistoqsija : l-iskart kliniku jinkludi skart radjuattiv. It-tweġiba hi le. Imma fl-impjant hemm strumenti li bihom jista’ jiġi vverifikat jekk l-iskart kliniku jkunx jinkludi skart radjuattiv. Tweġiba : le. Imma huwa ppjanat li iktar tard ikun possibli li jsiru dawn il-verifiki qabel ma jiġi aċċettat l-iskart kliniku.

 

 

 

Qabel iż-żjara min-naħa ta’ AD għamilna l-verifiki neċessarji u rriżulta li lejn tmiem il-ġimgħa fuq is-sit elettroniku tal-Wasteserv kienu ippubblikati r-riżultati tal-emissjonijiet sa Jannar 2009. Il-mistoqsija tiġi waħedha : skond il-permess hemm l-obbligu ta’ pubblikazzjoni tal-emissjonijiet fi zmien tletin minuta. It-tweġiba : imma l-impjant għadu m’huwiex ikkummissjonat u allura l-obbligu ta’ pubblikazzjoni immedjata għad ma daħalx fis-seħħ. L-uffiċjali tal-Wasteserv ikomplu jispjegaw li r-riżultati jdumu ma jkunu ppubblikati minħabba li jkunu għand il-konsulenti Taljani għall-verifika u għand it-Taljani jdumu.

 

Min-naħa ta’ AD ma naqblux : il-permess ma jiddistingwix bejn jekk l-impjant huwiex ikkummissjonat jew le. Jirregola l-operat tiegħu il-ħin kollu.

 

F’isem AD hawnhekk għamilt suggeriment : li Wasteserve timpenja ruħha li tibda tnaqqas iż-żmien bejn meta jitkejjlu l-emissjonijiet u meta jkunu ppubblikati. Bħalissa dan iż-żmien hu twil (madwar 4 xhur) u jista’ jitnaqqas faċilment għal mhux iktar minn xahar. Wara kollox sa l-aħħar tas-sena, meta huwa ippjanat li jkun ikkummissjonat l-impjant ir-riżultati jridu jkunu ppubblikat mill-ewwel.

 

Tal-Wasteserv ma kienux konvinti li dan hu possibli u jsemmu elf raġuni : fuq quddiem nett it-Taljani li jdumu.

 

Imma dan jista’ jsir. Hu fl-interess ta’ kulħadd li jsir, l-ewwel u qabel kollox fl-interess tal-komunita. Il-konsulent tal-Wasteserv joħroġ ftit għonqu ukoll : jgħid li dak li qed titlob Alternattiva huwa possibli li jsir mingħajr wisq diffikulta.

  

 

Wara ż-żjara kellimna lill-istampa.

Patrick Attard’s dismissal : back to the 1970s

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party notes that the employment of Dr Ing. Patrick Attard has been terminated after he commented on The Times online with reference to a Gozo News item. Attard was critical of the manner in which the Church in Gozo is effecting Nadur farmers through contamination of a water source which is vital for their livelihood.

AD PRO Ralph Cassar said:”The Malta Resources Authority has terminated the employment of Attard on the pretext on an inexistent breach of professional secrecy. Attard has himself declared that his service to the MRA was in no way connected to water matters. It follows clearly that the dismissal of Patrick Attard is an attack on the right of freedom of expression : a throwback to the dark 70s and 80s when human rights in Malta were more observed in the breach.”

AD appeals to the Malta Resources Authority to undo the damage done immediately by reinstating Patrick Attard. An employee cannot be dismissed without prior warning and without being given the chance to defend himself. This goes against basic ethics.

Communications and IT spokesperson Henrik Piski added:”The Commissioner of Data Protection is asked to investigate the matter to find out how the information about the electronic activities of Patrick Attard have been transmitted to third parties without his consent.”

U l-MEPA qalet LE ……. liċ-Ċaqnu

Il-MEPA qalet LE għal żvilupp li kien qed jipproponi ċ-Ċaqnu ġewwa Ħal-Balzan. Jiena ma kontx preżenti u allura ma nafx x’intqal biex njiġġustifika din id-deċiżjoni. Nista’ pero’ nimmaġina li l-iżvilupp propost hu wieħed intensiv wisq għaż-żona li qed jiġi propost fih, kif ukoll li ma tantx jaqbel man-natura tal-bini eżistenti fi Triq il-Kbira Ħal-Balzan.

Bħalma ikkritikajt lill-MEPA għat-turrun ta’ deċiżjonijiet ħżiena li ħadet naħseb li jkun xieraq li ngħid li din hi deċiżjoni tajba. Pero’ hemm xi ħaġa li għadni ma nistax nifhem : kien hemm vot wieħed biss favur l-iżvilupp : dak tar-rappreżentant tal-Partit Laburista. Xi ħadd naħseb li għandu jispjega u malajr !

AD ON DISTINCTION BETWEEN PLASTIC BAGS AND BIODEGRADABLE BAGS

Alternattiva Demokratika- The Green Party disagrees with Government in treating biodegradable bags at par with non-biodegradable ones.

Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, stated: “Whilst we agree that plastic bags are charged an ecotax, the proceeds of which should be used for the betterment of the environment in Malta, we disagree that the said tax should also be charged on biodegradable bags, since these bags are of no harm to the environment, being produced from harmless and naturally biodegradable vegetable sources”.

Carmel Cacopardo, Alternattiva Demokratika Spokesperson on Sustainable
Development and Local Government , added: “Not only should biodegradable bags not be taxed, but their re-use as carrier bags for household waste should be strongly encouraged”. Cacopardo added: “We are noting a considerable increase in plastics in the waste stream which is originating from supermarket packaging. Instead of taxing biodegradable bags government should address this packaging  problem through the eco-contribution mechanism, thereby reducing a substantial amount of non-biodegradable plastics which according to government’s plans will now end in the Delimara incinerator.”

Ralph Cassar
PRO