Schoolchildren share environmental concerns with Minister Pullicino

Children from 16 schools raised their environmental concerns last Tuesday morning with Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs, George Pullicino, at an event organised at the Mosta community hall by BirdLife Malta and Bank of Valletta (BoV) as part of the Dinja Waħda education programme.

Primary schoolchildren from 23 schools submitted letters on alternative energy, climate change, the sea, waste management, the countryside, national parks and the protection of wild animals. Letters from 16 schools were chosen to be read to Minister Pullicino.

"Through Dinja Waħda, children are not only becoming aware of environmental issues but they are also learning what action they can take to protect the environment," said Nicolette Falzon, Dinja Waħda manager.

Addressing the children gathered, BoV Sales and Product Development executive head Alan Cassar expressed his satisfaction that BoV is participating in this educational initiative for the third consecutive year. He said he is highly impressed with the growing interest in environmental issues among school children.

A panel of judges chose a letter written by Luigi Sammut, from Kulleġġ Santa Tereża Primarja, as the winning letter. In his letter, Luigi said: "There needs to be more enforcement from the government so that waste separation is done by all Maltese. The better Maltese people understand the need to separate waste, the cleaner Malta will be."

Mr Pullicino replied, saying, "In the last two years, 22,000 tons of recyclable waste have been collected - thank you for helping us to address this but there is a lot left to do."