My children are seven and five years old. What shall they inherit from our generations?

Over the past 30 years or so, the Maltese islands have experienced an unprecedented construction boom.

Various critics may refer to this phenomenon as a shift of diverse economic set up. Since EU membership, the Maltese islands have experienced an exponential number of Europeans seeking employment, often successfully.

One may also add that most foreign workers have chosen our islands as their permanent residence settling down with their families.

As positive as this may be, this phenomenon, together with our diverse societal make-up, has certainly increased the demand for one-, two- or three-bedroomed apartments as well as offices of 20,30 or more floors. A drive tour of our towns and villages, which concrete and cranes have completely changed, mark the landscape of our islands.

We have lost all sense of being and all sense of belonging towards our heritage.

This is shortsightedness at its best. What countryside, open spaces will our future generations inherit?

We need to rethink our priorities and values towards the environment. Our future generations will end up peering through old photographs of Malta’s landscape across the decades, a real case of rajt Malta tinbidel (I witnessed Malta change). For our future generations, let’s give it a try and save our environment.