The Gozo Observer, No. 25, December 2011, Gozo Campus, University of Malta.
On Friday, January 9, 1693, at about 10 p.m., Malta was shaken by a mild earthquake. Two days later, another much more serious tremor shook the islands. Being the most destructive earthquake ever recorded in Malta, fortunately caused no victims though there was extensive damage in both Malta and Gozo.
The issues of the journal constitute a veritable mini encyclopaedia of Gozo and its culture- Louis Scerri
In the latest number of The Gozo Observer, Godwin Vella, head of the ethnography and Fort St Angelo Curatorial Unit within Heritage Malta, writes a brief account of the devastation caused by the phenomenon in Gozo and gives a translation of the extensive report written by Mederico Blondel, the resident chief engineer of the Order of St John, on June 20 1693.
The great merit of Vella’s contribution is the translation of the complete Blondel report in so far as it concerns Gozo, probably being presented thus for the first time.
With this issue The Gozo Observer celebrates its 25th issue which is a truly remarkable achievement and reflects well on that excellent hive of academic activity that is the Gozo campus of the University of Malta.
The journal has succeeded in reaching and maintaining a high level both in its contents, presentation, and regularity of publication.
A special feature in this issue is the listing of the titles of all the articles that appeared in the previous 24 issues in a contribution compiled by Lino Briguglio, director of the Gozo campus. The issues of the journal constitute a veritable mini encyclopaedia of Gozo and its culture.
In the editorial, Maurice Cauchi writes about the visit to Australia by the Bishop of Gozo in October 2011 and his visits to the various Gozitan communities downunder.
Patrick Schembri writes about three shore crabs of the Pachygrapsus genus. Until recently scientists thought only Pachygrapsus marmoratus occurred locally but recent research has established that all three are to be found in the Maltese islands and, moreover, that they all have been noted living in close proximity at Ix-Xatt l-Aħmar below Chambray and Il-Port at Dwejra.
Alan Deidun writes about managing Gozo’s marine protected areas in a sound scientific manner in the context of a programme of action within the Convention of Biological Diversity.
The importance of Marine Protected Areas is crucial not only from the scientific point of view but also, as is the case in Gozo, for their potential tourist and economic contribution.
The Panacea project is intended to address management programmes and it is proving invaluable in supporting environment initiatives at Dwejra, arguably the Mediterranean’s finest diving site.
George Said, a professional physical geographer and a manager at the National Statistics Office, writes extensively about the geological and geomorpho-logical aspects of the Żebbug and Marsalforn region.
The area has got a significant scientific value for the complexity of its formation process both on land and below the sea, with perhaps the most obvious unmissable features being the three main conical hills that dominate the area.
Said calls for the need to preserve this environment which has been subject to much change by natural forces for aeons and by massive human in the past few years especially.
Fr Geoffrey Attard recalls that June 10, 2012 will mark 125 years since Gozo’s main city Rabat was renamed Victoria to honour Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee in 1887. The two main instigators behind this project were Sir Adrian Dingli and Fr Pietro Pace, two eminent sons of Gozo.
Introducing lace studies as a subject for academic study is discussed by Consiglia Azzopardi, the island’s foremost authority about lace-making and the coordinator of the lace-making programme at the campus.
Joseph Calleja, administrator of the campus, records the recent activities at the centre which include the graduation of five students who graduated MA in Islands and Small States Studies and Hospitaller Studies.
The Gozo Observer is also available at www.um.edu.mt/ugc/publications.