Now that the festive season is over I find it useful to bring to the attention of all those who care about the problem of climate change which is hitting us, that what we eat can worsen or minimise the amount of greenhouse gas hitting the air.

Ruminants like cattle, sheep, goats and deer the world over are the source of more emissions than all forms of transport put together. Their belching produces methane which is the worst type of harmful gas. The problem is that the consumption of beef and lamb is increasing at a very fast rate. Though we cannot do very well without milk or dairy products we can help by changing from beef, lamb or venison to meat obtained from feathered creatures like turkeys, chickens, ducks or from pork, horse and kangaroo etc. One head of cattle produces 1.7 tons of CO2 per year while a sheep produces 0.14 tons of the stuff.

Those who want to help the fight against the emissions of greenhouse gases could try and change to that meat which comes from creatures which do not increase the emissions. The vegetarians help most.

This proves, if any proof was needed, that the road tax imposed on old cars will not really help the environment much but like any other tax has been introduced to rake in money. If one goes for a new car he/she would be helping the foreign car makers and not our economy.

The Maltese were once a nation of savers, now we are forced to be a people of spenders.