During the third week of September, many EU countries celebrated the European Mobility week. During this week, people are encouraged to be œin town without my car as the initiatives motto says. Since 2002 this event has been growing from strength to strength and this year, with no less then 2000 towns and cities across...
Category: Press Releases
Malta needs Climate Change Legislation
Friends of the Earth Malta is glad to note that the labour spokesperson for the environment, Mr. Leo Brincat is taking political action on climate change, in particular the proposal to pass a Private Members’ Bill at Parliament level. We believe that this is the way forward to make sure that the current, and subsequent,...
Record number of objections to St John’s project
A record 1,050 objections have been sent to MEPA to protest over plans by St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation to extend its museum, the NGOs Flimkien Ghall Ambjent Ahjar and Friends of the Earth said today. The foundation is proposing to create an underground museum chambers by excavating St John’s Street. Alternatively, it has suggested building...
A public transport service for the public
Friends of the Earth Malta is concerned over the way the transport issue has developed recently. The NGO deplores the violence and illegalities which occurred during the protests. The NGO urges all political parties to unite on environmental issues such as this one since it is of national concern and not partisan. Friends of the...
Green NGOs Condemn Mistra ‘s Mega-Project
Friends of the Earth Malta together with the environmental NGOs Birdlife Malta, Gaia Foundation, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Light Pollution Awareness Group, NatureTrust (Malta) and Ramblers Association of Malta, today strongly criticized the MEPA decision to give the green light to Mistra mega-project and questioned the reason why this and similar permits are being rushed...
Packaging Waste Collection Scheme – more questions than answers
Further to the letter ‘Packaging waste collection system’ by Chris Ciantar and published on The Sunday Times (April 27th), Friends of the Earth (Malta) would like to point out the following issues. In his letter, the newly appointed Permanent Secretary, clearly exhibits his annoyance at the public statement issued by the NGO. However, unless he...
The eternal saga? Part II
Further to the article published in The Sunday Times, 30th March 2008, “Waste Separation Postponed” Friends of the Earth (Malta) would like to point out that only minor parts of the PR text issued by the organisation were quoted in this article and these were out of context. A case in point of this is...
Waste Separation in Malta – the eternal saga?
Friends of the Earth Malta would like to express concern at the recent developments related to the postponing of the introduction of weekly separate waste collection from households. The reason given by the local press is that, though, local councils, fully support the scheme, they cannot meet the deadlines imposed on them and start implementing...
NGOs Urge Dr. Gonzi and Dr. Sant to Outlaw Spring Hunting
Thirteen prominent Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from environmental, social and cultural sectors in a joint statement today urged Prime Minister Dr. Lawrence Gonzi and the Leader of the Opposition Dr. Alfred Sant to endorse the full implementation of the Birds Directive by outlawing spring hunting and trapping in 2008 and beyond. [1] The NGOs reminded both...
FoE Malta Comments on the General Elections Party Manifestos
Friends of the Earth Malta notes with interest the wide range of proposals for the environment made by all the political parties contesting the 2008 general election. Taken at face value most of the proposals are commendable. Unfortunately, those by the two major parties especially, contain elements that tend to undermine their credibility. Every party...