Two lessons from Greece

The situation in Europe can be considered as a serious challenge for the European Union and also for the monetary union of Europe. The Greek storm had been brewing for a while, with the last weeks seeing a further collapse of the Greek financial system and credit rating agencies declaring the country practically bankrupt due to serious problems of liquidity.

The crisis in Greece came to the fore at the point when other countries started to emerge from the financial and economic crisis. Calls were heard of having Greece exit the eurozone and left to its on means. However, there was an equally strong push from those who realised that this was a test case scenario for the resilience of the European market and its currency.

Beyond the rhetoric, I appreciate the difficulty for those confronted with the decision to help a country with millions of euros when all European countries are facing problems of their own. This issue applies to our own country too, which has been requested, like the other member states, to play its part through a loan to the tune of €27 million. In the moment of need, Europe has shown its strength and unity. A confirmation, if any, of this government's assessment that throughout the accession campaign placed the solidarity between member states as one of the fundamental advantages of membership.

The principle of solidarity was clearly at work in the way EU countries agreed to help Greece. Rightly so, the assistance is tied to austerity measures the Greek government has been obliged to take to restore Greek finances on a sound footing and be better equipped to remain afloat in any future crises. The tough measures the Greek state has been constrained to take to cut public expenditure are daunting and I would shudder to think Malta would ever go down that road.

This "Greek tragedy" should teach us two important lessons:

1) that the electorate should be wary of those parties that promise the sky before an election with the sole aim of getting elected, as the Greek Socialist Party did before the last election only to find itself with its back to the wall trying to fulfil its own promises;

2) the option of a government that courageously takes the necessary measures at the right time and implements needed reforms, even if unpopular, instead of dragging its feet and risking a crisis is undoubtedly superior to having someone else dictate the extent and the timeframe to undertake such measures - May 5.

A fitting exhibition for an unparalleled master

I had the opportunity to view the exhibition being mounted in Rome on Caravaggio on the occasion of the 400th year anniversary of his death.

The famous painter Michelangelo Merisi, or, as he is known, Caravaggio, was born in Milan and worked in Rome, Naples, Sicily and Malta. In a relatively short and tumultuous period of 17 years he dominated the baroque art scene of the 17th century.

The exhibition brings together 24 of his masterpieces: the Bacchus, David with Goliath's Head, the Fruit Basket, the Taking of Christ and other works, which were brought to the exhibition from museums in Italy and also from other countries among which the United States, Ireland, Russia and Germany.

The exhibition, mounted very professionally, also makes reference to other works including those we are so privileged to have on our islands where Caravaggio resided for less than two years. Among his works painted in Malta are the two treasures at St John's Co-Cathedral: the meditative St Jerome and the imposing, forceful Beheading of St John, still in the place where the artist was commissioned to paint it and which is the largest of Caravaggio's works.

Caravaggio will remain a major artist in the history of art thanks to his unparalleled naturalism. His greatness will also be measured against his influence on baroque artists who succeeded him, in particular his innovative chiaroscuro technique, which attracts an ever-increasing viewership to his art.

Apart from feasting my eyes on the works of art, I was also quite impressed by the educational and didactic events taking place in parallel to the exhibition, among which are seminars, art laboratories, sessions for children and a presentation of the exhibition on iPhone with details about his life, the style and other information relative to the works of art being exhibited. A truly well organised exhibition. The exhibition will be on until June 13, so if you happen to be in Rome till then do not miss it.

http://www.scuderiequirinale.it/MEDIACENTER/FE/CategoriaMedia.aspx?idc=77 - May 2

When good deeds wipe out bad ones

While difficult to comprehend, we have to face the reality that there are people among us who are insensitive and irresponsible. It is difficult to spare such people of such adjectives when they perpetrate the type of cowardly acts that have occurred in Foresta 2000 at Mellieħa where some 100 trees were vandalised. About 100 pine trees, some of them almost three metres in height, were ruthlessly snapped. These trees were planted by families and children, indeed most were bearing the name tags of the children who planted them. This is a spineless act of destruction resulting in a loss to our environment and the well-being of our children.

It is not the first time that Foresta 2000 has been targeted by vandals. This site is run jointly by the government (through the Parks Department, which falls under the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs), BirdLife Malta and Din l-Art Ħelwa. It is a site the Maltese population has warmly embraced. All of us remember the impressive reaction when, sadly, on the same site 3,000 trees were chopped off. While acknowledging the need for security measures, one needs to keep in mind that this site is on open terrain and whatever measures one takes there will always be a risk of similar attacks.

I strongly appeal to anyone having any information concerning these attacks to pass it on to the police so that whoever is responsible will be arraigned. I also appeal not to lose heart. The best lesson these vandals can learn is from more participation in afforestation initiatives. A week ago, a lovely couple who tied the knot offered guests an interesting alternative to souvenirs: they will plant 40 trees as a living memory to their special occasion. The 34U campaign has been extended to include such ideas. Our resolve is to combat those who do harm to our environment with more of these initiatives. In October, we will invite the public to plant more trees in Mellieħa. I have no doubt that we will find many people who will respond positively as was always the case in the past - April 23.

The author is Minister of Resources and Rural Affairs.