As we emerge from the holidays and embrace the new year, Friends of the Earth Malta (FoEM) takes a moment to reflect on the remarkable achievements of 2023. It was in fact an exciting year for us at FoE Malta since we were underway in developing our brand new strategy for the coming years, one that would guide us towards a vision of hope, well being and a sustainable and more equitable future for Malta.
The past year has been a year of internal transition for the organisation with new team members joining us, new and exciting projects, improvements to our internal systems and hybrid working arrangements becoming the norm. Through our projects we have established various initiatives, including the relaunched a new edition of the very successful Malta Farm Map, the second edition of the Cineambjent film festival and many exciting events and workshops. The Green Resource Centre has been very busy this year, we restarted our community garden, continued with our weekly environmental youth hub and several other activities.
Friends of the Earth Malta engaged the community with everyday small-scale actions which ultimately help to support the local environment, to raise awareness about the global environmental and provide an opportunity for people to make real change in their local community. In doing so, we hope that a greater engagement with widespread local actions can produce global effects.
Below is a selection of our 2023 highlights. We were able to achieve so much because of the talent and hard work of our entire team, dedicated volunteers and your ongoing support.
Bike About – Cycling lessons
Through the Bike About project, we organized cycling training sessions for our volunteers, youth group members, and community members. These sessions are designed to cater to both beginners and experienced riders, providing a comprehensive learning experience for all. For those new to cycling, our beginner-friendly sessions focused on the essential skills and techniques needed to ride safely and confidently. Our experienced instructors guide participants through the basics, from mastering balancing and pedaling to navigating traffic and understanding road rules.
As part of our commitment to sustainable practices, our Bike About project has acquired an electric cargo bike, allowing us to reach our outreach events in a way that’s both environmentally friendly and convenient. This versatile vehicle can accommodate all the equipment we need, including banners, flyers, and workshop materials, ensuring we’re fully equipped to engage with our community and promote cycling as an alternative mode of transportation.
Ċine’Ambjent 2023, Environmental Film Festival
After a pause due to pandemic, Ċine’Ambjent, our Environmental Film Festival was back in 2023.This edition focused on Climate Change and Climate induced Migration – the film festival provided local communities with a wide range of new and thought-provoking environmental films over a 2-day program.
The documentaries powerfully show how climate activists and indigenous communities from different countries in the Global South are leading their fight against extreme weather events due to climate change, corporate exploitation of natural resources or to protect their water from diversion and contamination. In doing so, they are fighting for their survival and right to exist.
Launch: ‘Towards a Fossil Free Malta’
As part of our climate campaign, we worked on an extensive report compiling information about Malta’s energy system and its climate impacts, the proposed Melita TransGas pipeline, and a vision for a future without fossil fuel. Joined by over 30 policymakers, stakeholders and members of the general public, we launched the report on Tuesday 27 June at Dar L-Ewropa in Valletta. During the launch we presented an overview of the report and our recommendations for a fossil free future.
After the presentation of the report there was opportunity for debate with the audience, in which we further discussed topics such as energy savings, the impact of rising energy prices, opportunities provided by renewable energy communities and the future potential of large-scale renewables, such as offshore floating wind and solar in Maltese waters.
Relaunch of Malta Farm Map
Following the success of the original Farm Map some years back, we relaunched the “Malta Farm Map” – an initiative designed to foster and champion local farmers, enabling them to sell their fresh fruits and vegetables directly to consumers. This innovative project is aligned with FoEM’s mission to safeguard local farmland permanently and educate the public about the significance of consuming locally sourced produce.
The “Malta Farm Map” is an online platform dedicated to showcasing local farms and producers who wish to bypass intermediaries in their sales transactions in Malta and Gozo.
The primary goal of the “Malta Farm Map” is to establish a direct sales platform for agricultural producers and customers, enabling them to easily identify where and how to purchase products and services directly from local farms. This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between small, local producers and consumers.
SWAP NOT SHOP!
As a in previous years we also organised a clothes swap event as an alternative to Black Friday,
People were asked to dip into the back of their closet and bring along any clothes that they no longer wear. This way they had the opportunity to give their clothes a second life and leave with some great pre-loved clothing.
During this event we also organised a mini-repair cafe for some basic clothing repairs. This event was organised for the European Week for Waste Reduction by the youth volunteers of Friends of the Earth Malta.
Bees and pollinators
The announcement that Malta’s National Strategy and Action Plan for Pollinators was being being launched, was considered as one of the wins of the year following years of campaigning by FoEMalta on the importance of having this strategy in place.
Now that the process to have this strategy in place has started, Friends of the Earth Malta has submitted recommendations on Malta’s National Strategy and Action Plan for Pollinators 2035. The strategy should aim to set a number of key proposals to safeguard all pollinators given their role in pollinating many food crops and wild plants and their contribution to our food production and the diversity of our environment.
As part of our BeeCause campaign we continued with our educational work related to protecting bees and pollinators.
Stay tuned by subscribing to our newsletter and like our facebook page in order to be the first to know about our activities and events during the coming year. We have some exciting new plans for 2024!
All this work would not have been possible without your support. Help us make 2024 yet another successful year by becoming a supporter or renewing your support. Tick the “make this donation yearly” on the form and you will receive the a gift in appreciation for your support.
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