'Justice for our land': National protest against PA reform on October 4
NGOs want two controversial bills withdrawn from parliament
A national protest will be held in Valletta on October 4 to press the authorities to withdraw controversial bills changing the development planning process.
The protest, called "Ġustizzja għal Artna" (Justice for our land) is being called by a group of NGOs which have described the bills as a "total assault on our environment and quality of life".
"The government is intent on forcing through two planning bills and three legal notices that will dismantle existing safeguards, place serious obstacles to effective public appeals, and regularise all kinds of illegalities across the country," the NGOs said.
"If this legal package is approved, Malta and Gozo will be ruled entirely by the wishes of developers, while the common people will be left under siege from harmful development permitted without even today’s minimal regulatory controls and scrutiny."
The national protest is the first action announced as part of the Ġustizzja għal Artna campaign launched last week. People will gather at the law courts at 10am and march to Castille, where speeches will take place.
The organising NGOs are BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Front Żgħażagħ għall-Ambjent, Għawdix, Moviment Graffitti, Nature Trust – FEE Malta, Ramblers Association and Wirt Għawdex.