Children to take on policy makers on climate change commitments

Maltese students will take on policy makers for a parliamentary debate on climate change and intercultural dialogue to mark Europe Day on May 9.

Chaired by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the debate will include ministers, MPs, representatives of environmental NGOs and Maltese MEPs, who will answer questions from students aiming to secure a commitment on how the climate change challenge would be tackled and seeking to foster intercultural dialogue, both themes being high on Europe's agenda.

The Europe Day debate will be followed by a prize-giving ceremony at the President's Palace, in Valletta, Julian Vassallo, head of the European Parliament Valletta Office, said.

He was listing the activities that will be held to raise awareness about climate change and its devastating effects, saying Malta risked losing its beaches and coastal areas, due to rising sea levels, as well as tourists due to hotter summers.

To link everyday electricity usage to the effects of climate change, a number of schools will be switching off their electricity supplies for 15 minutes at 8 a.m. on May 9, Dr Vassallo added.

The Europe Day activities are the culmination of a series of events organised for schoolchildren by a number of entities, including the European Parliament Valletta Office, the European Commission Representation in Malta, Forum Malta fl-Ewropa, the Directorate for Educational Services within the Education Ministry and Europe Direct, Dr Vassallo said.

St James Cavalier, in Valletta, as the national coordinator of the Year for Intercultural Dialogue 2008, Nature Trust and the French Embassy in Malta are also contributing.

Since April, students have been speaking on a radio programme, watching films, visiting the Institute for Energy Technology, a Water Services Corporation desalination plant, the Met. Office and Nature Trust's Xrobb l-Għaġin nature park to learn more about climate change.

Through films, a poster competition, football training sessions with foreign footballers and cooking lessons they have delved into the value of intercultural dialogue - the other central theme chosen by the organisations involved in the Spring Day and Europe Day celebrations, given the emphasis Europe lays on the value of dialogue between people of different backgrounds, beliefs and ethnicities.

On May 10, the European Parliament Football Festival will be held at the Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali, and students will also be visiting the Institute of Tourism Studies to learn about preparing dishes from different cultures.

On the initiative of French Ambassador Jean Marc Rives, students will be taken aboard the Fleur de Lampaul sailing ship, representing the Coastal Protection Agency, in Malta between May 12 and 17, to hear about the importance of biodiversity and the safeguarding of natural spaces.

The Embassy is also collaborating with its German counterpart to present the play Exodus, a co-production among seven European countries, at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, St Julians, on May 8.

Schoolchildren remain the focus of the entire programme, aimed to stimulate awareness and concrete action in both areas of climate change and intercultural dialogue, Joanna Drake, head of the European Commission Representation in Malta, emphasised.

Although only 13 schools will be directly involved in the May 9 activity at Parliament, all schools have embraced the themes through in-school activities and joint-school projects, Genevieve Abela, from the Education Ministry's Directorate for Educational Services, explained.