Life is indeed beautiful

Sedqa, the national agency against drugs and alcohol abuse, yesterday launched a CD bringing together a group of local singers in a song aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and conveying a message in favour of life.

The track Inhobbu l-Hajja (we love life) was penned by Rita Pace, whose message is "we should enjoy life, which is beautiful, and not spoil it by abusing alcohol and drugs".

"We all have talents and everyone is special," she said, adding that "if we develop our interests, there would be no need to take drugs to get a high".

Sedqa operations director Jean-Claude Cardona said the most important aspect of the initiative was that it was "a message from the young to the young, without the paternalistic issue of preaching.

"We need awareness from doctors and other experts but the message is so much stronger when it is from the young to the young," he said.

The song was launched under a tent in Freedom Square, Valletta yesterday, but it is not a Christmas track, confined to the festive season, Sedqa primary prevention executive Martin Chetcuti explained.

It was timely to launch it now, what with the parties and the attention it could receive, but the idea was for the song to be sung throughout the year.

Inhobbu l-Hajja was composed by Elton Zarb and Matthew Grech, while the rap part is by Sonic J.

The CD, which contains tracks by 12 singers, each with a related anti-abuse and excesses theme, or focusing on enjoying life, has been in the making since March.

It is being distributed for free to youth organisations and to secondary schools.

It is also available for downloading from www.seqda.gov.mt.