Mepa makes a point

The Green Points appearing daily on The Times are the main focus of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's stand at the Home, Garden and Environment Fair underway at Ta' Qali.

Over the last couple of months, The Times readers could notice a daily environmental statement or a curious fact about the Maltese land use published under the heading of Green Point. The Green Points are being compiled by Mepa as part of its environmental awareness raising campaign.

"The Green Points are short but thought provoking. We want the people to be conscious of the environmental situation in the country and, ultimately, we want to encourage the people to do their bit too," says Marie Briguglio, who heads the Mepa team in charge of public communication and participation.

Mepa's stand at Ta' Qali includes an animated show on the Green Points, presentations and discussion spots.

Following are 50 of the more interesting Green Points published so far:

1. The EU requires its members to have at least 12 per cent of all energy generated from renewable sources by 2010.

2. About 14 per cent of Malta's land area is protected for its ecological and scientific importance.

3. After Singapore, Malta has the largest population density in the world - over 1,200 people per square kilometre.

4. Most new Maltese buildings are not energy efficient.

5. The seabird colonies at L-Ahrax, Malta, and Ta' Cenc, Gozo, are considered to be of global importance.

6. One great tip to reduce waste: avoid buying things you do not really need!

7. High concentrations of ozone in the air can cause harm to human health and the environment. All concentrations of ozone reported in Malta are well below the safety threshold.

8. It is estimated that about 23,000 dwellings - a quarter of all dwellings in Malta - are vacant. Approximately 13,000 of them are used as summer residences.

9. The permitted reserves of softstone and hardstone in existing local quarries are estimated to last fewer than 40 years.

10. Use well-water to cause less damage to the environment and to your bank account!

11. Stop and think. Will our children feel as proud of the heritage we leave them as we are of the heritage that has been left to us?

12. One per cent of all households in Malta have five cars or more.

13. Comino is protected by law as a bird sanctuary.

14. The year 1954 was the record year for emigration from Malta, when more than 11,000 Maltese people left the islands.

15. Approximately 5,000 different types of chemicals are used in modern homes.

16. Over 90 per cent of all Maltese enterprises are classified as "micro enterprises" and employ fewer than 10 persons each.

17. Under certain conditions, a dehumidifier running at 200-300 watts will remove the sensation of cold far more effectively than a 1,000-watt fan heater.

18. There are 25 species of plants in Malta, which are not found anywhere else in the world.

19. The largest concentration of all vacant properties in the Maltese islands is in the Grand Harbour area.

20. Mepa's website www.mepa.org.mt contains detailed maps of Malta and Gozo.

21. There are currently around 100 active quarries in Malta and Gozo.

22. Rubble walls protect soil, are home to a large number of species and give character to rural areas.

23. Minimise the use of carpets - some chemically treated carpets can emit harmful substances that may make you sick.

24. More than three fourths of the Maltese population believe that the environment and the economy are equally important, according to a Mepa survey.

25. A quarter of all tourists taking their vacation on the islands during the peak summer months stay in St Paul's Bay.

26. Malta has one of the highest rates of car ownership in Europe... there are more cars per person than in any other country in Europe, except for Germany and Italy.

27. A total of 1.2 billion people, or almost one person out of five in the world, are without access to safe drinking water.

28. There are 167 local species of plants and animals that are protected by law in the Maltese islands.

29. By 2020, a quarter of the Maltese population will be aged over 60.

30. Wood preservatives are used to kill organisms in timber, but they can also be highly toxic for humans.

31. Reverse osmosis plants are the largest single consumers of electricity in Malta.

32. Half the homes in Malta and Gozo were built after 1970.

33. Only two per cent of all agricultural land in Malta and five per cent of all agricultural land in Gozo is irrigated.

34. In the year 2000 there were 290 schools in Malta and Gozo catering for approximately 79,000 school children.

35. By the year 2020, there will be some 434,000 people living in Malta and Gozo.

36. Approximately a million tonnes of oil a year is used in Malta for the production of electricity.

37. Some 6,000 children worldwide die every day from diseases associated with the lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.

38. Mepa issues around 1,200 enforcement notices per year.

39. Almost half of the material extracted from soft stone quarries is discarded to landfills.

40. Ninety per cent of all farmers are aged over 40 and most of them work on a part-time basis.

41. There are 368 churches and places of worship throughout Malta and Gozo, more than one for every day of the year!

42. Make your locality prettier by planting flowers in your windowsills and balconies.

43. Around 64 per cent of the Maltese population owns a mobile phone.

44. There are over 260,000 vehicles on Maltese roads increasing by some 7,000 per year.

45. Some of the prehistoric temples found in Malta were built well before the Egyptian great pyramids.

46. Marine pollution affects the fish we eat.

47. Three tuna farms around Malta and Gozo occupy a surface area larger than five football pitches.

48. On average, Maltese women live almost six years longer than men.

49. Install solar water heaters - spend today but save tomorrow!

50. During the last 15 years, some 1,200 hectares of agricultural land were lost to development and neglect.