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 has somehow forgotten, Malta is a democratic society and open criticism for this type of scheme is legitimate from all sectors of civil society. As an environmental NGO, Friends of the Earth (Malta) feel that, for the benefit of the Maltese public as a whole,...
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 the paragraph which states why, given the size of the Maltese population, a door-to-door separation scheme is required when there are already many bring-in sites. It should be noted that Friends of the Earth (Malta) asked this question in relation to the economic and environmental...
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 it on the proposed date. However, if the Local Councils are going to act as intermediary for the distribution of bags shouldn’t they have been given sufficient time to get themselves organised ? This should have been a main stepping stone for the implementation of...
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 leaders of the European Commission’s conclusion that “alternative solutions to spring hunting exist, in this case the possibility to hunt the two species in the autumnâ€. It is now also clear that this matter lies at the heart of a wide cross-section of Maltese representation,...
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 is determined to reform MEPA; indeed the PN manifesto carries the promise by Dr. Gonzi to tackle MEPA reform personally. Yet this promise was not accompanied by even a token gesture of good intent, like stopping the wholesale sanctioning of the Dwejra bars, boat houses...
Friends of the Earth Launches ‘BIG ASK’ Climate Campaign Across Europe
A Europe-wide climate campaign launched on Wednesday 27 February by Friends of the Earth Europe and the Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke aims to get governments and the European Union to commit to annual cuts in emissions to fight climate change. The Big Ask brings together Friends of the Earth groups from 17 European countries [1] including Malta, each of which is asking its government to introduce legally binding annual emission cuts. Thom Yorke launched the European campaign in Brussels where he presented a symbol of the Big Ask to the European Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas. Thom Yorke has supported the...
Friends of the Earth Malta Launches its Climate Change Campaign
Climate change is the single biggest environmental threat facing our planet. Burning too much coal, oil and gas increases the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which in turn heats up the planet. On the 27th of February Friends of the Earth Malta will be launching its Climate Change campaign together with Friends of the Earth groups in 17 countries across Europe. The launch will take place at City Gate in Valletta at 16:00. Local bands will be playing live music and together with volunteers from Friends of the Earth Malta will be raising awareness on the issue of climate change....
Environmental NGO condemn attacks on Birdlife Malta Volunteers
Friends of the Earth Malta together with Din L-Art Helwa, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Gaia Foundation, Light Pollution Awareness Group, Ramblers Association and Nature Trust (Malta), strongly condemn the vandal attacks on the cars of 3 Birdlife Volunteers at Buskett. These incidents only show how certain people have no respect towards others and enjoy performing cowardly acts on people who dedicate their free time towards the environment and civil society   The NGOs urge the relevant authorities to intensify their work so as these culprits are caught as soon as possible and are given the punishment they  deserve. Only this...
NGOs Condemn Dwejra vandalism
Friends of the Earth Malta together with Birdlife Malta, Din L-Art Helwa, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Gaia Foundation, Light Pollution Awareness Group, Nature Trust (Malta) and Ramblers Association strongly condemn the vandal attacks recently held at Dwejra Heritage Park in Gozo where graffiti was sprayed on information boards and on rocks in the area. Dwejra is today a designated Natura 2000 site and a possible candidate as a World heritage site due to its paleontological, geological, ecological, ornithological , marine ecology and scenic importance.  Apart for its ecological importance, Dwejra is also one of the main tourist sites on the...
DPA Amendments Welcomed
Friends of the Earth (Malta) together with the environment NGOs Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien għal-Ambjent Aħjar, Gaia, Light Pollution Awareness Group, Nature Trust Malta and Ramblers Association of Malta welcome the decision taken by government to amend the DPA regulations and give a stronger voice to civil society in such issues. This falls in line with the Aarhus Convention and the promise of Government to give the public greater access to environmental information as well as the right of every citizen to voice his and her concern on issues affecting each one of us.  The NGOs have over the...