Environment: stumbling block?

A Social problem that is worrying a lot of columnists, leader writers and correspondents is the environment. Perhaps it should be written in bold letters and with a capital E. In fact, it is also a burning political issue too. The situation is very precarious.

Much depends on whether our country has a right to be credible in this question of the environment. Or is it a problem and a big one at that? Do we deserve to be included in the list of first rate civilised nations when our environment is receiving such a bad press internationally? And one cannot but agree, albeit with great regret...

Whose fault?

The big question is: whose fault is it? Are we in time to remedy the disastrous scenario? One should not be skeptical and give up the struggle. If one has the political will and the stamina to put a brave face to the problem, it should not be impossible to find a solution.

Let us face facts. These are not too easy to surmount, but it requires a lot of courage and goodwill. When 'one' is called in question this 'one' means everyone from the parliamentarian to the media to the man in the street. It means educators, law enforcement officers and the so called 'sportsmen'. They are too trigger happy not to be arrogant and use their blackmail or threat of withholding their vote if their rigid stance is not accepted in full.

Not meeting European levels

It is a well-known fact that environment in the Maltese Islands does not meet the levels set in the regulations of the European Union... Our negotiating team is being told that much has yet to be done to be credible in our application. And rightly so.

It is high time that everybody, but really and truly everybody, has to brace up. We all have to confess: our fault, our most grievous fault! Government is being charged with giving in too much to the hunters and trappers' lobby. The Opposition is blameless in this matter. This item in their agenda does not meet the standards of civilised countries, irrespective of their being members of the Union. Or not.

Arguing from the fact that the state of our environment is the stumbling block in our application to join the European Union, let us confess to our blunders. So let's start from the definition... Environment in the ecological sense means the external surroundings in which a plant, an animal or a human being lives which influence development and behaviour. A hefty definition that has to have a breakdown.

Take garigues and country walks together. The first are being destroyed; the second are getting almost impossible, or let's say less numerous, to enjoy.

Destruction of garigue

The latest garigue to meet a tragic partial end is Il-Qortin tal-Magun in Nadur, Gozo. BirdLife Malta describes it as one of the most biodiverse stretches of garigue in the whole of the Maltese Islands, harbouring a rich flora, including several rare flowers. Large areas have been flattened by bulldozers to set up new trapping sites. It is surprising to learn that a recent survey results in 5,317 areas, concentrated in the coastal zone, according to BirdLife. This is an alarming figure for such a small area as the Maltese Islands.

The number of signs proclaiming RTO, meaning riservato or in plain English "Keep out. This is hallowed ground reserved for hunting". I had personal knowledge and a stern warning. On a walk with friends near Dingli Cliffs, where the RAF had a station or observation post. We were summarily ordered at gunpoint to retrace our steps. His arrogance amounted to his supposition that we might disturb his targets - probably protected birds.

Such selfish behaviour of hunters is depriving the availability of the countryside for leisurely walking.

Again, hunting sheds are mushrooming all over the island limiting the open spaces where one could have a walk round our beautiful country scenes.

Industrial development

The SMEs (small to medium enterprises) have been "blessed" by MEPA in a Public Consultation Draft. Sites near prime level agricultural ground in Wied Filep or It-telgha t'Alla w Ommu in the limits of Naxxar have been earmarked for industrial development. There does not seem to be any collaboration between the MEPA and the Ministry of Agriculture. In effect the sites ten years ago were described as "to be reinstated for agricultural use".

Farmers in the area already complain of the dust from a nearby quarry and building industry concerns. Hillocks of xahx or quarry dust are seen along the Burmarrad and telgha t'Alla w Ommu road. The dust in the area is most frustrating and a health hazard. No wonder so many people living in the area complain of eye allergies due to excessive airborne dust.

The agenda is full if we want to meet the deadline for being accepted in the EU. There is no time to be lost. The NGOs, farming communities and the public had better bolster their pressure group actions.