In a recent survey, traffic congestion topped the list of people’s concerns. Parking – or the lack of it – also features as a perennial problem, as circling blocks in search of that elusive vacant spot contributes to cars remaining on the roads for longer with the traffic snarl-ups, accumulating emissions and lost man hours which that brings about.

So, you’d think that with the number of mega-developments in the pipeline there would be adequate provision for parking spaces to accommodate a substantial proportion of the people who will live, work or visit the new projects.

 However, it is not turning out to be the case. As recent media reports have shown, there is a shortfall of parking places compared to the demand brought about by new developments. The unofficial policy seems to be that lack of parking spaces will discourage people from using their own cars and switch to public transport instead. The idea behind this is that the creation of parking slots would encourage even more visitors – creating the phenomenon of induced demand. In other words – If you build it, they will come.

The flip side to this should bring us to the conclusion that lack of parking spaces will be leading us to abandon our cars and take up other forms of transport. Except that it’s not.

The destruction of foetuses with physical or mental challenges is essentially an admission that society is not willing to embrace diversity

According to NSO statistics for 2017, 43 new vehicles are introduced to our roads every day. As of last year there were 365,483 vehicles licenced in Malta. It would seem that parking and traffic problems notwithstanding, the lure of private car use remains strong.

There may be several reasons for this but it is evident that alternative forms of transport are not considered as being sufficiently efficient (in the case of public transport) or safe (in the case of cycling or scootering).

Now making public transport efficient and timely depends on clearing cars off the roads – which in turn depends on good public transport, so it’s a vicious circle which is very difficult to break there.

On the cycling front, however, it may not be impossible to create safe cycling paths which would go some way towards helping commuters overcome concerns for their safety on the road.

Quotas for women, equality legislation, the Black Panther blockbuster film, the other movie release A Wrinkle in Time. What do they all have in common? Basically, they are all initiatives promoting diversity. Everywhere you look it seems that diversity is the name of the game now. These days there are so many measures promoting diversity – or the inclusion of persons with varying beliefs, sexual orientations, races and genders – in all levels of society.

The overwhelming feeling is that there should be a push for people of different creeds, opinions and capabilities to be present in all for all. To believe in diversity is to believe in tolerance and peaceful co-existence. It’s a commendable ethos and it is the hallmark of liberal and progressive thinking.

Which is why it is deeply disturbing to see the move towards diversity and increased tolerance being halted by pro-abortion exponents. The uncomfortable but brutal truth is that the destruction of foetuses with physical or mental challenges is essentially an admission that society is not willing to embrace diversity. It is a chilling statement to the effect that only perfect, healthy persons are considered to be worthy of a place in society – or even in the world. It is ableism at its terrifying worst.

Because diversity should not only refer to diversity of sexual orientation but also to diversity of ability and physical and mental abilities. There is no getting away from the fact that if only perfect physical and mental children were allowed to be born – because it is thought that there is no place for them at the table of humanity – that constitutes a selective and exclusionary practice. It is the epitome of discrimination. 

While the whole of society and the authorities should provide real, effective, financial and moral solidarity to differentially-abled persons and their family, it cannot be denied that abortion spells the death knell for diversity.

I’d like to wish readers and their families a peaceful Easter.

drcbonello@gmail.com