This week, I was invited to take part in Bondi+ because the topic was waste management. I was impressed with the features that were televised after the production team visited facilities similar to the ones being proposed in our draft waste management strategy. The incinerator in operation in Minden, Germany, is very similar in size to the one needed locally and is one of many such plants to be found in many European countries working within the parameters of EU directives.
The discussion broadcast on TVM this week again showed up the glaring differences between political parties in Malta. On the one side, there is the government, which presented a draft waste management strategy, prepared by a committee made up of individuals who are experts in their field, who weren't chosen for their political allegiances but for their competences. These individuals are proposing a strategy that primarily seeks to maximise the energy that can be extracted from waste, bearing in mind that 20 per cent of our waste doesn't go into a landfill but is incinerated. Then, there is the Labour Party (PL) and Alternattiva Demokratika that vie for the dubious honour of being the better scaremonger between them, constantly sowing seeds of doubt.
The government acted in a totally transparent manner to the extent that before the draft strategy was even publicly launched, Leo Brincat was given a detailed preview. This surely shows beyond any doubt that the government has nothing to hide.
During the said meeting with Mr Brincat, I had mentioned that the members of the technical committee I had appointed, whose names are in the public domain, will be available and are more than willing to field any queries he may have. Regrettably, the openness and transparency on the government's side is not being mirrored by the PL. When I asked Mr Brincat to publicly state the names of the individuals forming part of the technical team appointed by the PL, he retorted: "Don't even think about it! I won't have you taking it out on them!" I would have hoped that, in the aftermath of the Sant'Antnin plant saga, there would have been more maturity and that a national issue like waste management would not be politicised. It seems that I was mistaken! - February 25.
Preaching to the converted
Yesterday evening, I heard Mass at the Żebbuġ parish church. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Celebrated by Fr Daniel Cardona, it was truly a Mass with a difference - animated from beginning to end with a projection screen suspended above the altar, displaying a slide presentation with the readings from the Scriptures and the communal prayers superimposed on striking images.
As it happened, the pastoral letter for Lent was read out yesterday. In the pastoral letter, the Archbishop made reference to the fact that priests and the laity are making genuine efforts to celebrate Sunday Mass in a way where the presence of God is really felt.
In Rome recently, one of the newly-ordained Bishops tasked a number of youths and other persons to hear Mass in the various churches forming part of his Diocese to conduct an "audit" of what was being said during the homily and how it was being said.
When the exercise was completed, he set up a meeting for the preachers and gave them his feedback. It would be a good idea for the Maltese and Gozitan dioceses to conduct a similar exercise so that Mass, at least on Sundays, will be as interesting as the one I heard yesterday or the Mass I had heard the previous Sunday celebrated by Fr Charles Tabone at Jesus of Nazareth church, in Sliema. - February 23.
Unjust rewards
The upheaval, caused by the unprecedented global financial crisis, is not completely over yet. The latest news reports revealed that car producer Nissan is discharging 20,000 employees with immediate effect. In the car manufacturing industry, in fact, production decreased by almost 50 per cent.
Against this backdrop, certain news items take you completely by surprise. In the throes of this crisis, brought out primarily by a series of bank and insurance company failures, we are now hearing that certain banks are discussing bonus payments for their highest officials! Unbelievable!
The Royal Bank of Scotland is proposing to pay out close to £1 billion in bonuses to its staff, when, ironically, small-time depositors are risking bankruptcy. After the media uncovered this scandal, the bank bowed to pressure and cut the bonus amounts down to £175 million!
Apart from the financial ramifications, one also needs to factor in social considerations, and why not, the fact that banks that had to rely on taxpayer guarantees were now rewarding senior officials who may have abetted to precipitate the crisis in the first place! - February 21.
UĦM - a valid partner
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to address the council of the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, after I had been asked to present the draft strategy prepared by the climate change committee. This draft strategy had already been presented and discussed during a recent meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development; however, UĦM officials had expressed the wish to give their council an opportunity to listen first-hand to the 87 recommendations contained therein.
Yesterday's session convinced me that there was a lot of value in working closer with the UĦM on local environmental issues. I took the opportunity to emphasise the need for social partners to accept the fact that there are certain decisions the government needs to take to maximise the limited resources to generate alternative energy. I explained that this draft strategy has great social and economic relevance. Although the country will have to pay a high price if our aims are not reached till 2020, there are also work and investment opportunities to be taken if we proceed wisely. - February 19.
Mr Pullicino is Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs