Environmental lobby

My highest praise goes out to those who attended the national demonstration for the support of the environment. I was one of those 10,000 who were at home but still in support of the protest.

The issues are clear and no amount of so-called evidence to the contrary can explain away the fact that Malta is an environmental disaster not just waiting to happen; it has happened. Action must be taken now on the part of the government elected to serve the people and the nation's best interests. We clearly need to cease any expansion of building zones and concentrate on cleaning up and improving the existing sites.

But more can be said about our ailing environment overall. I can only share from personal experience and these things happened just within the last two weeks.

We had visiting guests from the US and they were very interested in the historical sites, beautiful villages and unique restaurants. Of course, we wanted to also give them a full Maltese experience by having a swim off the coastal rocks and to go for a caper pick.

How embarrassed I was when we went to our usual swim location. A large slick of God knows what came in from the fish farms and we had to leave the water. As we sat on the shore lamenting, in came several fish farm workers and a larger rusty vessel. Bravo Malta! How lazy we are when we refuse to put those farms out to sea where they belong: at least 16 kilometres from the shore. Greed is the only answer to why the farms are not located further out to sea.

Then on our caper pick with the same family we found that we had to keep driving the car till we could come to a place that did not have illegal dumping all over it. Finally, we found an area between Ghaxaq and Birzebbuga which had what seemed to be clean paths. It appeared to be nice but as we cut across a field towards a large group of caper plants, we stumbled onto a hidden field that had over 50 rusted barrels that had through time opened and spilled a black oil substance into the soil. What is wrong with both the citizens and the local councils of Malta to allow this kind of activity to go on unchecked?

We are an educated society but seem to be living in a dream world where we can do anything and face no consequences.

I am sincerely fed up but still trying to change my small part of the world one person at a time.