Citizens raise their voice on internet
What are your options if you are stranded as a result of a public transport strike? Go on foot or try to catch a ride? Hundreds of Maltese internet users rallied on internet and vented their frustration on Facebook, the social networking website that...
What are your options if you are stranded as a result of a public transport strike? Go on foot or try to catch a ride?
Hundreds of Maltese internet users rallied on internet and vented their frustration on Facebook, the social networking website that played a role during the strike that hit Malta a few weeks ago.
Within a few hours of the start of the industrial action, the Malta Transport Reform Action Group was alive and kicking on Facebook.
"This group is intended to empower people, both those using public transport, and who do not, to fight back," says the introduction to the group that within a couple of days saw hundreds of Facebook users joining in.
The reasons that led to the creation of the group are quite clear.
"Bus drivers are making us sick because of their polluting buses... Taxi drivers are rude to locals and foreigners... Mini-bus drivers are driving our school kids in old, unsafe vans which do not even have seat belts installed... Hearse drivers charge exorbitant prices to carry our beloved relatives who pass away... Of course, we could go on forever, but as people with eyes and ears, we can all see the truth out there!"
In a matter of few days over 3,000 people joined the group. Many of them sent messages to congratulate the creators for this initiative and to tell them that they would like this group to become a pressure group.
"Facebook is a perfect tool to bring together a large group of people in a very short time. In fact we were surprised that so many people joined so fast," according to Paul Gauci, a University of Malta student who created the group. "The feedback was impressive."
Mr Gauci is aware that nowadays a large percentage of the Maltese population has access to the internet. Social networks like Facebook and Hi5 are tremendously popular especially with young people.
"These networks offer the possibility for politicians and businessmen to keep contact with thousands of people from their keyboards... and the best thing about it is that it's free. Therefore I'm not surprised that almost all our MPs have a Facebook account today. There are also some businesses and service providers who are using social networks to promote their business and services. Times change and so do marketing strategies."
With such a large virtual support base, did the group have any effect in the real world?
"I believe that it played a role up to a certain extent," admitted Mr Gauci. "It united people from different political backgrounds to achieve one common goal, a better transport service. We also asked our members to give lifts to colleagues and tourists who were left stranded. Several members did that.
"We are happy that some politicians joined this group as well. We hope that their adherence to our group will mean that they will work hard in order to push the liberalisation process forward," added Mr Gauci.
Indeed, officials from the Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communication took notice of the group and have contributed with information from the government's side.
The administrators of the group are thinking of setting up a fully-functional committee over the next few weeks. This committee will be the first of its kind made up by citizens who use public transport or are in one way or another affected by it.
"I'm satisfied that the strike is over. The MTRAG intends to form a pressure group which will put forward several proposals in order to ensure that Malta gets a decent public transport service," concluded Mr Gauci.
As one Facebook group flourishes, another one dies. The "Illegal Immigration ~ stop it now petition" group has just been disbanded despite garnering the support of more than 300 users.
"I created four groups on Facebook and the members rolled in, but when I send a circular for some kind of event or function, there is no feedback at all," lamented Vince Carlos Busuttil, the creator of this particular group against illegal immigration.
The group was created to draw attention to the illegal immigration issue faced by the Maltese people and hopefully to take some form of action, maybe initially through a petition. But when Mr Busuttil called for a meeting this weekend, only four members confirmed their attendance.
"I believe people join groups for the sake of joining and nothing else. When it comes to the crunch they fade away like snowflakes."
But a quick look at what's happening on Facebook reveals there are many groups created and populated by Maltese Facebook users, some of them promoting social action while others are just for fun.
The Maltese Facebook has over 4,000 users, while the 'Bring U2 to Malta' has around 1,200 members who want the popular band to come over. The Save Gozo Facebook group - Ramla l-Ħamra is concerned with the proposed development in one of the most recognisable spots in Gozo, while the Stop the Rip-off action group laments against the charge imposed by commercial banks for any transaction between them under the "excuse" of SEPA - the Single European Payment Area.
Nevertheless, internet is proving to be an invaluable tool in the hands of citizens who want to make their voices heard by the authorities.
"Internet has empowered the public in a way that we have never experienced before," confirmed Astrid Vella, coordinator of Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), an environmental non-governmental organisation. "Our NGO could only come about in this manner thanks to e-mail communication. That is how we gained 400 supporters in one week during our first public outcry two years ago and how we keep in touch. For a small NGO with limited resources internet is a god-send, allowing us to not only avoid administrative overheads but providing us the means to carry out our important research."
She said e-mails hugely facilitate communication with the media and she believes internet has helped to start bringing about change in society.
"Thanks to internet we have not only managed to reach out to our members and the media but also to start to change the mentality of society, both the public and the political class."
Hundreds of Maltese internet users rallied on internet and vented their frustration on Facebook, the social networking website that played a role during the strike that hit Malta a few weeks ago.
Within a few hours of the start of the industrial action, the Malta Transport Reform Action Group was alive and kicking on Facebook.
"This group is intended to empower people, both those using public transport, and who do not, to fight back," says the introduction to the group that within a couple of days saw hundreds of Facebook users joining in.
The reasons that led to the creation of the group are quite clear.
"Bus drivers are making us sick because of their polluting buses... Taxi drivers are rude to locals and foreigners... Mini-bus drivers are driving our school kids in old, unsafe vans which do not even have seat belts installed... Hearse drivers charge exorbitant prices to carry our beloved relatives who pass away... Of course, we could go on forever, but as people with eyes and ears, we can all see the truth out there!"
In a matter of few days over 3,000 people joined the group. Many of them sent messages to congratulate the creators for this initiative and to tell them that they would like this group to become a pressure group.
"Facebook is a perfect tool to bring together a large group of people in a very short time. In fact we were surprised that so many people joined so fast," according to Paul Gauci, a University of Malta student who created the group. "The feedback was impressive."
Mr Gauci is aware that nowadays a large percentage of the Maltese population has access to the internet. Social networks like Facebook and Hi5 are tremendously popular especially with young people.
"These networks offer the possibility for politicians and businessmen to keep contact with thousands of people from their keyboards... and the best thing about it is that it's free. Therefore I'm not surprised that almost all our MPs have a Facebook account today. There are also some businesses and service providers who are using social networks to promote their business and services. Times change and so do marketing strategies."
With such a large virtual support base, did the group have any effect in the real world?
"I believe that it played a role up to a certain extent," admitted Mr Gauci. "It united people from different political backgrounds to achieve one common goal, a better transport service. We also asked our members to give lifts to colleagues and tourists who were left stranded. Several members did that.
"We are happy that some politicians joined this group as well. We hope that their adherence to our group will mean that they will work hard in order to push the liberalisation process forward," added Mr Gauci.
Indeed, officials from the Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communication took notice of the group and have contributed with information from the government's side.
The administrators of the group are thinking of setting up a fully-functional committee over the next few weeks. This committee will be the first of its kind made up by citizens who use public transport or are in one way or another affected by it.
"I'm satisfied that the strike is over. The MTRAG intends to form a pressure group which will put forward several proposals in order to ensure that Malta gets a decent public transport service," concluded Mr Gauci.
As one Facebook group flourishes, another one dies. The "Illegal Immigration ~ stop it now petition" group has just been disbanded despite garnering the support of more than 300 users.
"I created four groups on Facebook and the members rolled in, but when I send a circular for some kind of event or function, there is no feedback at all," lamented Vince Carlos Busuttil, the creator of this particular group against illegal immigration.
The group was created to draw attention to the illegal immigration issue faced by the Maltese people and hopefully to take some form of action, maybe initially through a petition. But when Mr Busuttil called for a meeting this weekend, only four members confirmed their attendance.
"I believe people join groups for the sake of joining and nothing else. When it comes to the crunch they fade away like snowflakes."
But a quick look at what's happening on Facebook reveals there are many groups created and populated by Maltese Facebook users, some of them promoting social action while others are just for fun.
The Maltese Facebook has over 4,000 users, while the 'Bring U2 to Malta' has around 1,200 members who want the popular band to come over. The Save Gozo Facebook group - Ramla l-Ħamra is concerned with the proposed development in one of the most recognisable spots in Gozo, while the Stop the Rip-off action group laments against the charge imposed by commercial banks for any transaction between them under the "excuse" of SEPA - the Single European Payment Area.
Nevertheless, internet is proving to be an invaluable tool in the hands of citizens who want to make their voices heard by the authorities.
"Internet has empowered the public in a way that we have never experienced before," confirmed Astrid Vella, coordinator of Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), an environmental non-governmental organisation. "Our NGO could only come about in this manner thanks to e-mail communication. That is how we gained 400 supporters in one week during our first public outcry two years ago and how we keep in touch. For a small NGO with limited resources internet is a god-send, allowing us to not only avoid administrative overheads but providing us the means to carry out our important research."
She said e-mails hugely facilitate communication with the media and she believes internet has helped to start bringing about change in society.
"Thanks to internet we have not only managed to reach out to our members and the media but also to start to change the mentality of society, both the public and the political class."