In Maltese below
Celebrating 40 Years of Environmental Advocacy, Education, and Action!
Friends of the Earth Malta (FoEM) proudly marks its 40th anniversary in 2025, celebrating four decades of unwavering commitment to environmental justice, education, and advocacy. Founded in 1985 as Żgħażagħ Għall-Ambjent (Youths for the Environment), the organisation has grown into a leading voice for sustainability and environmental protection in Malta.
FoEM owes much of its foundation and early successes to the journalist and activist, Julian Manduca (1958–2005), a pioneer in environmental activism in Malta, whose vision shaped the organisation’s formative years. The mid-1980s were a pivotal time in Malta’s urbanisation and development, and with it brought a rise in youths’ activism about Malta’s socio-environmental situation, which eventually led to the formation of various activist groups, one of which being Żgħażagħ Għall-Ambjent (in 1989 it was better known as Moviment Għall-Ambjent). In 1991, thanks to Manduca’s dedication and efforts, the organisation joined the Friends of the Earth International network, solidifying its role in the environmental movement.
Reflecting on four decades of milestones and impact
With activism at the heart of the organisation’s work, the past 40 years marked several accomplishments, notably in influencing environmental policy making. As an organisation, pivotal moments in its history include a campaign which led to the Climate Change Bill being passed through parliament, and the report ‘Towards sustainable Europe – Sustainable Malta’, which was the precursor of the government’s ‘State of the Environment report for Malta’. The organisation was also actively involved in the Pollinators’ strategy for Malta, and waste strategy – particularly with regards to single use plastics.
In the last four decades, FoEM has also been part of numerous actions and protests. An early success was stopping the illegal Burmarrad Tarmac Plant in 1986, which through the organisation’s perseverance came to a halt. Along with a coalition of 11 organisations, FoEM has been a leading figure in the Coalition to Abolish Spring Hunting and for further regulations to limit excessive hunting. In 2006, the NGO was honoured with the EU Golden Stars award for producing the documentary ‘New European Citizens’ (2004/5).
Others worth mentioning are the campaign Front Kontra l-Golf Kors, which FoEM supported in 1999, and 2023 Xebbajtuna – a collective protest together with seven other environmental NGOs and supported by around 80 organisations across civil society. The protest aimed to draw awareness to significant environmental issues with a key focus on Malta’s current overdevelopment culture. In 2024 it became an associate member of Zero Waste Europe.
FoEM currently has several initiatives to enhance further sustainability, promote zero waste and elevate local sources, as well as organising discussion groups. The organisation has four main areas of work, including Climate, Energy and Mobility; Food, Agriculture and Biodiversity; Zero Waste and the protection of Comino, with much of its work targeting young people. Having organised several workshops and events surrounding these themes including Repair Cafes, Clothes Swaps, Cycling lessons, Farm Visits, exhibitions and much more all aiming to educate participants on environmental principles.
Ongoing aspects of the organisation’s work include the www.maltafarmmap.org, which bridges the gap between local farmers and the consumer; research into environmental issues in the local context, most recently the People Power Up report which details the concept of a renewable energy community on the Maltese islands. 5 years ago, to commemorate the 15th anniversary since the untimely passing of Julian Manduca, FoEM established the ‘Julian Manduca Green Resource Centre in Floriana’.
The organisation’s director, Martin Galea De Giovanni highlights that, ‘this aligns with its long-term vision to create a natural communal hub. Over the years we have restored the historic building and it has become home to the NGO’s community garden, its green library and many other initiatives.’
Finally, its flagship project is il-Forn ta’ Kemmuna which seeks to establish an environmental education centre on the island of Comino. Once completed it will offer a space to appreciate the island’s status as a Natura 2000 site along with its cultural heritage, with a key focus on sustainable initiatives including renewable energy, water reuse and saving measures, energy efficiency among other things.
As the organisation reflects on four decades of perseverance, it acknowledges its undeniable role in actively shaping Malta’s environmental awareness. Galea De Giovanni adds, “Over the course of 2025, we intend to look back at our legacy and the people who helped create it. These successes would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication of our team, volunteers, and supporters. Their contributions continue to be the driving force behind our mission. In a global landscape overshadowed by global crises—conflict, deregulation, and the rise of authoritarianism—our community serves as a beacon of hope, proving that grassroots activism can help tip the balance towards a just and sustainable future.”
To preserve this history, the NGO is inviting past members to contribute to its newly established archives by sharing stories, visuals, videos, audio material, and other memorabilia. Those interested in contributing to this research project can register here.
To commemorate this milestone, FoEM is planning a series of events with the aim to honour the organisation’s legacy, celebrate its achievements, and inspire future generations to continue advocating for a sustainable and just environment.
Stay updated on anniversary events and initiatives by following Friends of the Earth Malta on social media and subscribing to its newsletter!
Stqarrija Stampa: L-Erbgħin Anniversarju
Niċċelebraw 40 sena ta’ Promozzjoni tal-Ambjent, Edukazzjoni, u Azzjoni!
Din is-sena Friends of the Earth qed tfakkar l-erbgħin sena anniversarju, waqt li tiċċelebra erba’ deċennji ta’ impenn bla waqfien lejn il-ġustizzja ambjentali, l-edukazzjoni u l-promozzjoni ambjentali. Imwaqqfa fl-1985 bħala Żgħażagħ Għall-Ambjent, l-organizzazzjoni kibret u saret vuċi ewlenija lejn is-sostenibbiltà u l-ħarsien ambjentali f’Malta.
Kien il-ġurnalist u attivist Julian Manduca (1958-2005), pijunier fl-attiviżmu ambjentali f’Malta li bil-viżjoni tiegħu sawwar is-snin formattivi tal-organizzazzjoni u ta sehmu fit-twaqqif u s-suċċessi bikrin tal-FoEM. Nofs it-tmeninijiet kienu żminijiet kruċjali fl-urbanizzazzjoni u l-iżvilupp ta’ Malta. Dan wassal għal żieda fl-attiviżmu fost iż-żgħażagħ dwar il-qagħda soċjo-ambjentali ta’ Malta, li eventwalment wasslet għat-twelid ta’ bosta gruppi attivisti, fosthom iż-Żgħażagħ Għall-Ambjent (li fl-1989 kien magħruf aħjar bħala Moviment Għall-Ambjent). Kien grazzi għad-dedikazzjoni u l-isforzi ta’ Manduca, li fl-1991 l-organizzazzjoni ngħaqdet man-netwerk internazzjonali tal-Friends of the Earth, pass li saħħaħ l-irwol tagħha fil-moviment ambjentali.
Nirriflettu fuq erba’ deċennji ta’ tragwardi u impatt
Riżultat tal-attiviżmu fil-qalba tal-organizzazzjoni tagħna, l-aħħar 40 sena raw diversi kisbiet, fosthom b’mod partikolari l-influwenza fuq it-tfassil tal-politika ambjentali. Ftit minn dawn li aħna kburin bihom jinkludu l-kampanja tagħna li wasslet biex l-Abbozz dwar it-Tibdil fil-Klima jgħaddi mill-parlament, u r-rapport ‘Lejn Ewropa Sostenibbli – Malta Sostenibbli’ (Towards Sustainable Europe – Sustainable Malta), li kien il-prekursur tar-rapport tal-gvern ‘State of the Environment’ għal Malta. L-organizzazzjoni kienet ukoll involuta b’mod attiv fl-istrateġija nazzjoni tal-polinaturi, u fl-istrateġija tal-iskart – partikolarment fir-rigward tal-prodotti tal-plastik li jintużaw darba biss.
Matul l-40 sena, FoEM ħadet sehem ukoll f’bosta azzjonijiet u protesti. Mument li nqisuh bħala rebħa kbira kien il-kwistjoni tal-Impjant ta’ Burmarrad Tarmac fl-1986. Grazzi għall-perseveranza tal-organizzazzjoni dan l-impjant illegali twaqqaf milli jopera. Flimkien ma’ koalizzjoni ta’ 11-il organizzazzjoni, FoEM kienet figura ewlenija fil-Koalizzjoni għall-Abolizzjoni tal-Kaċċa fir-Rebbiegħa u għall-introduzzjoni ta’ regolamenti aktar stretti biex jitnaqqas l-eċċess tal-kaċċa. B’għożża niftakru wkoll fil-premju EU Golden Stars li rbaħna fl-2006 wara li pproduċejna d-dokumentarju ‘New European Citizens’ (2004/5).
Fost kampanji oħrajn ta’ min isemmi huma l-kampanja tal-Front Kontra l-Golf Kors, li l-FoEM opponiet mill-1999, u Xebbajtuna fl-2023 – protesta kollettiva flimkien ma’ seba’ NGOs ambjentali oħra u appoġġjata minn madwar 80 organizzazzjoni mis-soċjetà ċivili. Din il-protesta talbet bidla ambjentali u opponiet l-kultura attwali ta’ żvilupp bla rażan f’Malta. Fl-2024, FoEM saret membru assoċjat ta’ Zero Waste Europe.
Bħalissa l-FoEM għandha diversi inizjattivi biex issaħħaħ iktar is-sostenibbiltà, tippromwovi skart żero u żżid il-prodotti lokali, kif ukoll torganizza gruppi ta’ diskussjoni. L-organizzazzjoni taħdem prinċipalment f’erba’ oqsma ewlenin: Klima, Enerġija u Mobilità; Ikel, Agrikoltura u Bijodiversità; Zero Waste u l-protezzjoni ta’ Kemmuna, b’ħafna mix-xogħol tagħha jimmira lejn iż-żgħażagħ. Organizzajna ukoll sessjonijiet ta’ ħidma biex ninkludu l-pubbliku fi prattiċi ambjentali, bħall-ewwel Repair Cafè (2018) u l-Clothes Swap (2023). Proġett li għadu għaddej huwa l-Malta Farm Map li għandu l-għan li jippromwovi lill-bdiewa lokali u li jħeġġeġ lill-pubbliku jixtri ikel sostenibbli u prodott lokalment. Wieħed mill-proġetti tal-FoEM attwali u li jispikka huwa r-restawr tal-forn l-antik fuq Kemmuna. Dan għandu l-għan li jqis lill-Kemmuna b’mod ħolistiku bħala post Natura2000 u lejn il-wirt kulturali tagħha.
Aspetti kontinwi fix-xogħol tal-organizzazzjoni jinkludu l-proġett www.maltafarmmap.org, li jgħaqqad lill-bdiewa lokali mal-konsumaturi; kif ukoll riċerka dwar kwistjonijiet ambjentali fil-kuntest lokali, fosthom ir-rapport riċenti ‘People Power Up’, li jispjega l-kunċett ta’ komunità ta’ enerġija rinnovabbli fil-gżejjer Maltin. Ħames snin ilu, bħala tifkira tal-15-il anniversarju minn meta ħalliena Julian Manduca, l-FoEM waqqfet il-Julian Manduca Green Resource Centre fil-Floriana. Dan iċ-ċentru jinkwadra mal-viżjoni fit-tul tal-FoEM li jinħoloq ċentru tal-komunità naturali.
Id-direttur tal-organizzazzjoni, Martin Galea De Giovanni, jenfasizza li, “dan jaqbel mal-viżjoni fit-tul tagħna biex noħolqu ċentru komunitarju naturali. Matul is-snin irrestawrajna l-bini storiku u sar id-dar tal-ġnien komunitarju tal-NGO, il-librerija ekoloġika tagħha u ħafna inizjattivi oħra.”
Fl-aħħarnett, il-proġett ewlieni tal-organizzazzjoni huwa ‘il-Forn ta’ Kemmuna’, li għandu l-għan li jistabbilixxi ċentru ta’ edukazzjoni ambjentali fil-gżira ta’ Kemmuna. Ladarba jitlesta, se joffri spazju biex wieħed japprezza l-istatus tal-gżira bħala sit Natura 2000, flimkien mal-wirt kulturali tagħha, b’enfasi fuq inizjattivi sostenibbli fosthom enerġija rinnovabbli, ri-użu u ffrankar tal-ilma, effiċjenza fl-enerġija u ħafna aktar.
Hekk kif l-organizzazzjoni tirrifletti fuq erbgħin sena ta’ perseveranza, tagħraf l-irwol innegabbli tagħha fit-tiswir tal-kuxjenza ambjentali f’Malta. Galea De Giovanni jżid, “Matul l-2025, bi ħsiebna nħarsu lura lejn il-wirt tagħna u lejn dawk li għenuna nibnuh. Dawn il-kisbiet ma kinux ikunu possibbli mingħajr id-dedikazzjoni sħiħa tat-tim tagħna, il-voluntiera u s-sostenituri tagħna. L-għajnuna tagħhom tibqa’ l-forza li tmexxi l-missjoni tagħna. Fid-dinja tal-lum, ikkaratterizzata minn kriżijiet globali—kunflitt, deregolamentazzjoni u żieda fl-awtoritarjaniżmu—il-komunità tagħna tkompli tkun simbolu ta’ tama, u turi kif l-attiviżmu lokali jista’ jgħin biex jinħoloq futur aktar ġust u sostenibbli.”
Biex din l-istorja tinżamm ħajja, l-NGO qed tistieden lill-membri preċedenti biex jikkontribwixxu għall-arkivji ġodda tagħha billi jaqsmu stejjer, ritratti, vidjows, materjal awdjo u memorabilja oħra. Dawk li jixtiequ jikkontribwixxu għal dan il-proġett ta’ riċerka jistgħu jirreġistraw hawn.
Biex tfakkar dan it-tragward, il-FoEM qed tħejji sensiela ta’ avvenimenti bil-għan li ssellem il-wirt tal-organizzazzjoni, tiċċelebra l-kisbiet tagħha, u tispira ġenerazzjonijiet futuri biex ikomplu jappoġġjaw il-kawża lejn ambjent sostenibbli u ġust.
Tista’ tibqa’ aġġornat dwar l-attivitajiet u l-inizjattivi għall-anniversarju billi ssegwi lil Friends of the Earth Malta fuq il-midja soċjali u tinkiteb għan-newsletter tagħna!