Cynthia Busuttil
Hundreds protest and call for better environmental protection
Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.
Protesters yesterday called for better enforcement of environment protection laws as they braved the rain to attend a rally in Valletta.
The rally, on Republic Street, attracted a few hundred protesters blowing whistles and carrying colourful placards and streamers calling for the protection of the environment.
"Too many greedy cowboys, no sheriffs," one of the placards read, while another stated that Sliema residents gasped for clean air.
The rally was organised in protest against the abuse of Natura 2000 sites, encroachment on outside development zones, illegal hunting, air pollution, unauthorised groundwater extraction and the destruction of heritage and lack of public consultation on such issues as the Freeport.
"We need an absolute reform of the planning authority," said Lino Bugeja, from the Ramblers' Association, one of eight non-governmental groups that organised yesterday's rally.
Astrid Vella, from Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, said air pollution was the greatest threat to public health.
Referring to the pouring rain, Ms Vella said: "People have long been saying that having a roofless theatre was not a good idea. Today is the answer."
The organisers said they were pleasantly surprised by the turnout. "We are not fair-weather sailors, but are prepared to suffer for the sake of legality and fight for the country's interests," Alex Vella, from the Ramblers' Association said.
He lashed out at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, accusing it of being scared to apply the law against big contractors.
"The law should be applied uniformly with everyone," he said, adding that abuse was still widespread while permits were being issued haphazardly. "We are calling on politicians to do their duty and safeguard the law as they promised when they took the oath of office," he said.
Birdlife executive director Tolga Temuge called on the government to stop "being strong with the weak and weak with the strong".
In a statement handed out to the media, the organisers said despite promises by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi for better protection of Malta's natural environment, Mepa itself was interpreting its policies to suit private and not national interest.
It said the authorities have not yet taken the necessary actions to clamp down on the illegal killing and trapping of protected species, while there were "thousands of illegally built hunting and trapping hides, tool rooms, so-called boat houses and shanties occupying public land, including EU-protected Natura 2000 sites".
The rally was organised by the Ramblers, FAA, Friends of the Earth, Birdlife Malta, Nature Trust, Graffitti, Greenhouse and the Malta Organic and Agricultural Movement.
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6 Comments
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James Cauchi
Mar 18th 2010, 10:45
Even a protest by a single individual would have held validity.
It marks the difference between 'happened' and 'did not happen'.
This protest was very much needed and the issues remain very real and unchecked. Trees and shrubs may not generate profits but life and the world we live in is not measured in euros, dollars, yen or any other monetary denomination.
Life is measured in the tangible but inexpressible and is extremely difficult to restore once destroyed.
MEPA should be broken down and reformed into two seperate authorities, environmental and urban developmental so that it may be ensured that neither aspect is forsaken in the wake of an internal identity crisis.
George Debono
Mar 14th 2010, 17:00
Joe Camilleri
You need glasses or sumthin ??
Wrong again !
I was there - so that makes it THREE !
And all those MILLIONS of birds were EVER SO HAPPY that somebody was doing something for them at last.
G
James A. Tyrrell
Mar 14th 2010, 14:35
@Joe Camilleri. You obviously were watching different footage from everyone else. There were actually more people taking part in this protest than have taken part in previous protests but don't let that little fact get in the way of a stupid comment on your part.
I find it very revealing that a lot of people watching the event when asked why they didn't join in said that they remembered the bad old days and were afraid! Coming from N. Ireland I have taken part in many rallies against the Government and indeed against paramilitary terrorists where thousands took part. We had every right to be afraid yet were still willing to protest and show our faces. It would appear that Malta still has a long way to go to become a fully democratic society where people can protest without fear of repercussions.
Jesmond Micallef
Mar 14th 2010, 12:51
Dear beloved people of the Maltese Environment, whether the built or the natural, I have the following to say:
I have read here lately about places with massive potential for restoration, tourism and heritage. Places like the Corradino underground powerstation for example, a network of large caves being used for the storage of asbestos. !!!! Continue to concentrate on the vertical skyward and lateral integration of the built environment, and Malta will have its own version of Fritz Lang's Metropolis !!
I think very serious consideration has to be given into what is there beneath the ground in Malta and maybe on Gozo too !!! Here clever and intelligent use of these places may provide unique opportunities of innovative environmental protection but also with sustainable commercial purpose. !!!
Make the very best use of what is already there, you might be walking on it !!!
With my sincere very best wishes.
Joe Camilleri
Mar 14th 2010, 12:01
"Hundreds...."
haha hundreds, even from yesterday's footage, there were only a couple of people.
No wonder that a certain NGO counts birds by the millions.
Frank Anderson
Mar 14th 2010, 10:15
The Planning Authority (PA) , later called MEPA was the brainchild of Perit Godwin Cassar.
Since its inception, the PA (now MEPA) has been controlled by Periti. The nature of their noble profession gives them a propensity for more construction, which is in conflict with the preservation of the countryside.
Other professionals, economists, archaeologists, planners, geologists, ecologists etc... are remarkable absent or have a minor, subordinate role in MEPA. This is crux of the problem with MEPA.
Is it a coincidnece that Perit Godwin Cassar's brother now heads the Chamber of Architects?