Dear Minister, please protect the environment, children write

Schoolchildren clearly voiced their concerns about the environment yesterday as they read out letters, addressed to "Dear Minister", asking for the better protection of animals, the control of urban development and the safeguarding of the environment.

"I know you work hard and that you are very busy... I would like you extend the law for the protection of animals and insects that are in danger of extinction... I also wish you would pass a law to control urban development where there are a lot of wonderful creatures," 11-year-old Jacqueline Licari, from Paola Primary B, wrote to Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino.

Ms Licari, who was the author of the winning letter, was one of 19 primary school students who read out short letters to the minster and addressed various issues such as alternative energy, pollution, animal welfare and afforestation.

They all started their addresses with "Dear Minister", which was the name of the event organised by BirdLife and Bank of Valletta as part of the Dinja Waħda programme that aims to show that children's voices count.

Through their letters they asked the minister to stop hotels from taking over bays, draft new laws to protect animals, control over-fishing, have bring-in sites in every locality, plant more local trees, increase the number of open spaces where they can play and protect Malta's environmental heritage from development.

Mr Pullicino replied to the children's concerns and explained the government's position and action taken on various matters, at times seemingly forgetting the young age of his audience with talk of taxes or percentages.

In his replies, the minister stressed that, for certain initiatives to be implemented - such as bring-in-sites and means of alternative energy like wind turbines - residents of the locality had to accept having the infrastructure in their locality. Unfortunately, he said, many people objected to having these things "in their back yard" and, he added, he was also disappointed by local councillors who caved in to people's pressures. He told the children that for things to be done, people had to have the courage to make tough decisions.

Turning to the subject of the bays, he said government was no longer giving beaches to hotels and, as time passes, it planned to take back more beaches.

Various students asked for the better protection of animals, fish, birds and insects through legislation and Mr Pullicino explained to them that the system to enact a law was complex and other members of Parliament needed convincing. He also told them he hoped to introduce an emergency service for wounded animals.

Students also asked him to control urban development. One student specifically mentioned the safeguarding of Ramla Bay and another touched upon Ħondoq ir-Rummien.

While agreeing that Malta's pristine ecological sites ought to be safeguarded, he asked them whether the population was ready to have part of their tax go towards buying back land from people who owned existing buildings in these areas of environmental importance.

He also said that in Malta 11 per cent of land was protected, comparing well with the European Union where 15 per cent was protected. As from next week, the government would start dismantling any rubble walls higher than the legally stipulated 1.5 metres to ensure that motorists would enjoy country views as they drive.

Mr Pullicino asked the students to share responsibility towards the environment and to do their bit to protect the environment by helping others respect it.