The University’s Department of English Students Association (Desa) recently ‘adopted’ a panda by donating money to the World Wildlife Fund, which is working with the Chinese government to implement a national conservation program for the giant panda and its habitat. Pandas live and depend on forest areas in mountainous southwest China which are being exploited by society.

Desa spokesman Christine Caruana said that since its inception in 2007, the association has always had a strong sense of respect and appreciation towards the environment and the creatures that form part of it. She said the adoption was a celebration of the special relationship the human species has with other members of the animal kingdom.

Desa encourages the public to learn more about endangered species and to consider using certified websites such as that of the WWF to adopt other endangered animals.

The association said the money used to adopt the panda was donated by people who attended its past projects and events, particularly the 3rd Pop Culture event about The Beatles.

The organisation has devised a strict green policy that can be viewed at its website www.desa.org.mt. The policy encourages people not to print e-mails unless necessary and to carpool to attend meetings and events.

Desa recently also decided to publish its journal on literary and cultural matters solely online and said that so far it has been a success. The journal – entitled Text – can be accessed at www.text.desa.org.mt.