A civic duty: SMS 5061 1899

Air pollution in Malta is endemic. It is to a major degree caused by car emissions, which spew poisonous fumes into the atmosphere around us.

As individuals we have all long complained about the poisons we are forced to inhale because old cars, coaches and mini-buses - or those whose engines have been tinkered with - are cocking a snook at the law and the police and warden enforcement authorities are too weak and ineffectual to enforce it.

Now, thanks to an excellent initiative by the Malta transport Authority (ADT), we have an opportunity - as individual citizens - to do something about it. As part of the ADT emissions alert initiative we have been invited to report any obvious polluting emissions spewing out from cars, coaches and mini-buses by sending an SMS on our mobile phones on 5061 1899 and simply reporting the registration number of the offending vehicle. This will be called in for testing by the ADT and appropriate action will be taken against the owner based on the outcome of the test.

The reaction to this excellent initiative has been surprising - and, at times, depressing. Some have complained that to sneak on one's fellow citizen in this way - even if he is breaking the law - is intrinsically wrong. Others that they refuse to do the job of the government for them. Some have begrudged the expense entailed in sending an SMS.

The fact of the matter is that we are a dirty, litter-ridden and increasingly polluted island. And the reasons for this must be placed firmly at our own doors. For too many years we, as individual citizens, have turned a blind eye to what is going on around us by refusing to raise our voices either against governments or, indeed, individuals when we come across them, whom we know to be taking actions which are inimical to our environment and quality of life. Can the recent spate of dumping on our newly laid main roads really not have been witnessed - and reported - by anybody?

Instead we adopt a supine, ostrich-like approach - looking away from anything remotely resembling civic-minded action. As a people, we are family and home-centred. Together with the Church, this is our world. If our children are well and happy and in good jobs, if they come to Sunday lunch bringing our lovely grandchildren, if we can while away the time meeting friends for dinner and attending Mass on Sundays, we ask little more. All is well with our little world.

We close our eyes as soon as we leave our door-steps. We drive smoothly from one house to another, averting our gaze from the litter and litter-bugs. We choose not to see the mess around us. We ignore the pollution in the air.

We think: Well, as long as my street remains unscathed, what does it matter if a lovely old building in the next street gets pulled down or if the roads I drive on are covered in litter and rubbish left by other people?

But the truth is we need to wake up. Our precious grandchildren are getting asthma because of the pollution. They probably won't reach the grand old age of our generation, who grew up with fewer cars and cleaner air. If a building in the street next to ours comes down and we have done nothing to protest, who will protest when it is our street?

If we do not exercise our civic responsibility to stop litter-bugs and to report them, and to send SMSs about cars that pollute our environment, we have no right to complain when we find ourselves living in a shabby, dirty and toxic environment.

Individual responsibility is as fundamental to civilisation as individual freedom. Occasionally, it is vital to be prepared to defend individual freedoms by exercising individual responsibilities. In a small way, the ADT initiative - SMS 5061 1899 - allows us to show that we have the character and civic commitment to exercise our responsibilities as citizens in trying to improve the quality of life of the majority at the expense of the illicit minority.

Mr Scicluna is vice president of Din l-Art Helwa.