The Green Whistleblower

Published on the Sunday Times of Malta on Sunday 29th April, 2007 by Alan Deidun.

We know what we want for Gozo

Government will still find it hard not to alienate environmental NGOs as long as it harbours within its fold individuals like Euchar Mizzi who wrote an article "Ahna nafu x'irridu jew le?" ("Do we know what we want or not?", In-Nazzjon, March 28) in which he takes NGOs to task for opposing mega-projects in Gozo, such as the Hondoq marina project and Ta' Cenc project, since, in his words, in so doing, NGOs are depriving Gozitans of good employment opportunities and are the major cause of unemployment in Gozo.

Needless to say, Mr Mizzi failed to mention the fact that more jobs in the tourism sector will be lost if Gozo is smothered by development, as has happened to Malta, in the Balearics, etc.; that Gozitans maybe prefer to have a good quality of life (e.g. enjoy clean bathing water at Hondoq and uncluttered views at Ta' Cenc) rather than a good standard of living, which is often very difficult to quantify in feasibility studies.

Mr Mizzi harps on about cheap labour, which should be kept away from our shores - what about employment in the catering industry that the mega projects he speaks about will generate in the long term? The wages offered in this sector in Gozo are miserly.

What happened to the jobs promised by the proponents of some of the hotels that are being converted into apartment blocks? On the other hand, the site has been committed and lost forever. One should also not bank on the jobs in the construction sector that are being bandied about since these are only short term - the degraded bathing water quality however will be a more durable scar.

This is part of the article. If you want to view the whole article please go to
http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=259792

Nafu x'irridu jew le?

Pubblikata fuq l-Orizzont nhar t-Tlieta 17 ta' April 2007 minn Paul Buttigieg

Sur Editur,

Nixtieq nirrispondi l-artiklu “Ahna nafu x’irridu jew le?” li kiteb Euchar Mizzi f’In-Nazzjon fit-28 ta’ Marzu 2007.

Semmejt hafna progetti li jrid jaghmel il-Gvern però nsejt issemmi fejn huma jew x’isimhom. Jew kont qed tirreferi ghall-progett propost ta’ Hondoq ir-Rummien? Possibbli sthajt issemmi ismu jew bzajt li l-poplu tal-Qala u eluf ohrajn iduru fuqek u jghidulek “Int taf x’int tghid jew le?”

Jekk nippermettu li l-progett ta’ Hondoq ir-Rummien isir, il-generazzjonijiet futuri ghad jisthuna u jkollhom elf ragun. Mela biex tohloq ftit xoghol hemm bzonn li teqred rahal shih? Ahna ma rridux inkunu tradituri ta’ rahal twelidna, imma rridu nkomplu nipproteguh sa l-ahhar nifs ta’ hajjitna. Kif inhu Hondoq illum digà qed jaghti sehmu fis-settur turistiku.

Eluf ta’ Maltin u barranin jigu ta’ kull sena f’Ghawdex u l-maggoranza taghhom imorru jghumu fil-bajja ta’ Hondoq ghall-kwiet. Din hi l-unika bajja f’Ghawdex li hi kennija mir-rih fuq. Jekk il-progett jibda addio Hondoq u addio t-turisti. Fejn se mmorru nghumu fil-bajja kkontaminata ta’ l-Imgarr?

U tghidilniex bl-iskuza li l-bajja ta’ Hondoq mhix se tintmess. Kulhadd ghandu sens bizzejjed li b’jott marina ftit metri boghod ZGUR se tigi effetwata l-bajja.

Sur Mizzi tista’ tghidilna ftit kemm hemm haddiema jahdmu fuq il-progett ta’ Chambray. Il-poplu ta’ Ghajnsielem ukoll kellu mohhu mimli li se jsib xoghol fil-qrib. Anke fil-lukanda ta’ San Lawrenz grat l-istess storja. Meta kien qed jinbena l-bini f’Chambray, haddiema barranin kien hemm imhallsin bic-centezmi.

L-importanti hu li qridna dan il-post darba ghal dejjem. F’dawn l-ahhar xhur fl-iskola tal-Qala wkoll hemm xoghol ta’ kostruzzjoni ghaddej. Tista’ tghidli kemm hemm haddiema mill-Qala jahdmu hemm? Nghidlek jien, HADD.

Xoghol fil-kostruzzjoni hawn ghal dawk li jridu jahdmu. Però ma nistghux nistriehu fuq l-industrija tal-kostruzzjoni biss. Immagina, li kieku n-nies kollha li hemm jirregistraw f’Ghawdex jintefghu jahdmu fil-kostruzzjoni kieku lil Ghawdex ingibuh belt wahda fi ftit snin u hlief bini ma narawx. Kieku aktar jigu t-turisti!

Jekk f’Ghawdex ikollna industrija tat-turizmu u tal-manifattura sodi, il-mijiet li hawn ifittxu x-xoghol jigu kollha assorbiti, min fuq xoghol u min fuq iehor.

Imma biex isir dan irid ikollok Gvern u Ministru tat-Turizmu biezel. Ghandna Gvern qed jistenna lil xi zviluppatur idawwarlu r-rota. L-izviluppatur idawwar ir-rota, kif jaqbel lilu biss u mhux kif jaqbel lil-Gvern jew lil-poplu Ghawdxi.

Habib semmieli progetti li nholqu f’dawn l-ahhar 20 sena u li jhaddmu hafna Ghawdxin.

F’Ghawdex kellna zewg postijiet li jhaddmu hafna nies, il-fabbriki fix-Xewkija u l-industrija tat-turizmu. Int fl-artiklu tieghek ghidt li ejjew ninsewhom dawk il-fabbriki li jhaddmulek 300 u 400 persuna.

Skond l-ahbarijiet ta’ ftit granet ilu fabbrika f’Ghawdex kabbret u se thaddem madwar 250 ruh. Ghawdex kull ma ghandu bzonn zewg fabbriki ohrajn bhal dik u m’hemmx ghaliex teqred lill-Hondoq bl-iskuza tax-xoghol. Dan huwa xoghol li nsejjahlu sostenibbli u b’ahbarijiet bhal dawn niehdu gost nisimghu.

It-turizmu f’Ghawdex ilu mhux hazin li qabad in-nizla u l-Gvern m’ghamel assolutament xejn biex jerga’ jqajmu fuq saqajh. Mhux talli ma ghinx lill-industrija tat-turizmu, talli kompla ghaddashom aktar ’l isfel billi gholla l-permessi tal-lukandi u r-restoranti u ghamel s-soprataxxa fuq id-dawl u l-ilma.

Ghidli kif jista’ sid ta’ lukanda jkompli jopera meta jkollu dawn il-pizijiet flimkien mal-pagi tal-haddiema u hafna spejjez ohrajn. Meta fil-lukanda gieli ma jkollux aktar minn ghaxar turisti residenti. Mhux ta’ b’xejn li l-lukandi qeghdin jitwaqqghu u jinbnew appartamenti.

Il-ftit turisti li ghadhom jithajru jigu Ghawdex qeghdin jigu ghax ihobbu l-ftit ambjent li fadlilna.

Jekk behsiebna li neqirdu darba ghal dejjem il-ftit sbuhija naturali li fadallu Ghawdex, ibqa’ zgur li t-turisti jkomplu jonqsu mhux jizdiedu.

Bhalma ghidt, il-politika qieghda tilghab il-parti taghha wkoll… ghandna politici li qeghdin jghaddu kummenti biex jinfluwenzaw lill-poplu bi-kliem sabih favur il-progett. It-tajba hi li jghidulna kemm huwa ta’ beneficcju ghall-Ghawdxin, izda r-riperkussjonijiet li jgib progett bhal dan ma jissemmew imkien. Veru li politici ohrajn kienu favur il-progett però wara li raw li l-Qalin ma jridux jitilfuh onoraw r-rieda tal-Qalin.

Habib, il-85% tal-Qalin li vvotaw fir-referendum, l-ambjentalisti, l-Ghawdxin, il-Maltin, il-barranin li jghixu hawn u li jzuruna, u zewg partiti politici kollha qalu LE ghal dan il-progett. Ma nahsibx li dawn kollha ma jafux x’iridu. Biex tkun taf x’kummenti ghaddejjin dwar dan il-progett idhol fuq il-websajt soshondoq.blogspot.com u idhol fuq “peoples comments” u ghidli jekk dawn in-nies jafux x’iridu jew le.

Ahna l-Ghawdxin dejjem konna maghrufin li hadd ma jaghmlilna l-bzieq fuq imnehirna.

Winners and losers

Published on The Sunday Times of Malta on 15th April, 2007 by Mr Angelo Xerri, Qala.

Where will this country be if there were no objectors? Democracy will be at the lowest point; developers and the powerful will run the country, and the government.

Some objectors will object to anything under the sun, but most are for real and care about their fellow man and country, like the hundreds who are objecting and commenting on the Website http://soshondoq.blogspot. com. Do all these people object for no reason at all?

Mr John Ebejer (The Sunday Times, February 25) mentioned some places where there was strong objection to developers. For instance, look at the mess Fort Chambray today is in. This fort was the signature of Gozo. The tourists loved it the way it was then, just imagine if it were restored to its former glory, where almost a two-hour journey from the mainland would have been the first stop for tourists for a first impression of Gozo.

Mr Ebejer, maybe there were not enough objections from the people of Gozo. Perhaps stronger objection would have saved the fort. Where in the world do you see a historic place like Fort Chambray with an ugly development like that?

Another sickening instance where there were no objectors of any kind involves the two quarries in northeast Qala. These quarries destroyed the area by dumping by the sea, and up to recently nobody checked on them until the damage was done.

The refuse trucks that service these quarries are playing havoc by unbearable noise, diesel fumes, damaging buildings using the narrowest of streets from morning until night, choking this once tranquil village where many residents have died of cancer. Mr Ebejer, this is what happens if nobody objects.

Mr Ebejer (March 11) mentioned Hondoq Ir-Rummien, saying he would be the first to oppose any project that diminished the public enjoyment of the beach. What a way to slide something under the carpet. The quarry he mentioned is a few metres away from the beach, where a yacht marina for about 150 boats is going to be carved out of this quarry without any circulation of the water, creating a cesspool. That will be enough to kill the beach.

Has Mr Ebejer ever seen hundreds of people swimming in Mgarr Harbour at the Zewwieqa side like you see at the pristine little Hondoq Cove where hundreds flock every summer. No, because it is full of pollution floating on the surface of the water from the Mgarr marina.

Qala council ran a referendum on the project and 85 per cent of the residents voted against it. The Labour Party said it would respect the outcome of the referendum, and that is why One News was backing the objectors. Alternattiva Demokratika was the first to oppose the project before the referendum. The Labour Party's change of policy was never mentioned because the Prime Minister and the Minister for Gozo are in favour of the proposed Qala Creek project. The Qala referendum and the residents do not count, according to this government.

The Qala Creek project includes a five-star hotel, apartments, villas, time-share units, a yacht marina, and restaurants. The hotel may last a year or two and then it will join the Imgarr, Andar, and Atlantis hotels in the graveyard where it will be turned into apartments. When that happens the jobs that this project is to create will all be gone. The developers will be declared the winners.

It will very sad indeed if all the objectors lose the battle for Hondoq Ir-Rummien,, Ta' Cenc, Ramla Bay, Fort Chambray, and many others, and the developers are declared winners. Gozo will be the greyest of greys covered in concrete. Is this what the Maltese people who invested in Gozo for an occasional break were hoping for?

Aħna nafu x’ irridu jew le?

Pubblikata fuq t-Torca nhar l-Hadd 8 ta' April, 2007 minn Dun Lawrenz Theuma.

Nhar l-Erbgha, 28 ta’ Marzu, 2007 fil-ġurnal “In-Nazzjon” deher artiklu bl-isem: “Aħna nafu x’ irridu jew le?” miktub minn Euchar Mizzi.

Qabel nidħol għall-kummenti tiegħi u r-risposta dwar dan nagħmel mistoqsija lill-ħabib tagħna li kiteb l-artiklu u ngħidlu: Aħna nafu x’ qed ngħidu jew le? Din il-mistoqsija nagħmilha minħabba asserjonijiet konfliġġenti li nkitbu.

Nikkwkota: “Ejja ninsewhom dawk il-fabbriki li jħaddmulek 300 jew 400 ruħ meta mhux iżjed...” Imbaghad “.. ix-xogħol f’ Għawdex tkattar ukoll l-aktar fis-settur turistiku u dak indusrijali”. “ Dan apparti dawk kollha li tilfu l-impieg tagħhom mill-fabbriki u l-lukandi li għalqu...” Ma jagħmilx sens, li tgħid jagħlqu l-lukandi u l-fabbriki u jizdied ix-xoghol fl-istess setturi. Mhux hekk!

Niġu issa għall-mistoqsija. Nafu, nafu, x' irridu, mela ma nafux! Irridu xogħol bħama tixtieq int. Pero' hemm xogħol u xogħol. Xogħol bħal ma jddefinih il-qawl Malti: “Is-salmura tal-ġisem”; u xogħol, kif tħares lejh l-ILO flimkien ma' WHO , bħala l-kamla jew susa jew sadid, li f' qasir zmien, itemm lill-bniedem. Ma rridux xogħol li jtemm ħajjitna u ħajjet il-poplu tagħna. Wara nixhru għalxejn! Diġa l-esperjenza qarsa teħodna lura mindu beda jinqata' l-blat f'Ħondoq ir-Rummien għall-moll ta' l-Imġarr, fejn in-numru ta' mwiet bil-kanċer, fit-toroq nvoluti, minn xejn tela' b' mod tant allarmanti li mhux ta' min isemmih.

Familji sħaħ ilhom, sa minn dak iz-zmien, ma jistgħu jistgħu jiftħu bieb jew tieqa għat-triq. Xi drabi, wieħed lanqas ikollu ċans joħroġ jew jidħol li ma jimliex id-dar bid-dħaħen. Ma ninsewx li minn testijiet ufiċjali jirriżulta li dawn it-toroq huma b' arja, it-tieni l-iżjed imniġġsa f' Għawdex, b' livelli mhux aċċetti mill-kriterlji li titlob l-EU. Hawn hu s-sens ta' solidarjeta' li wieħed għandu jkollu mal-proxxmu tiegħu, u anke hawn intenni l-mistoqsija: Aħna nafu x' qed ngħidu jew le?

Issa ejjew nirraġunaw ftit bis-sens. Fost il-kapitali kbar li jinvolvu miljuni kbar ta' liri, mhux eskluż il-propost proġett f' Hondoq ir-Rummien. Ma għandi xejn kontra progetti kbar li joħolqu xogħol sostenibbli, dejjiemi u li ma jagħmlu l-ebda ħsara ambjentali u ma jkunux ta' detriment soċjali, mentali u fisiku, morali nħalluha barra. Din illum meta s-semmiha hemm min jidħak bik. Il-proġett tagħna, f' Hondoq ir-Rummien, jilħaqhom dawn il-kriterji. Ir-risposta, frott dak li ġarrabna, hi ċara. LE.

Hemm, ix-xogħol li ma jwassalx għal impiegi sostenibbi għat-tul taż-żmien. Iżda kull ma hu spekulazzjoni ħarxa ta' l-inħawi li huma fost l-isbaħ f' Malta u f' Għawdex. Hu immirat biss biex certi nies jagħmlu profitti kbar. Jeqred mhux biss l-ambjent naturali fejn wieħed jista' jaħrab il-ħitan li jdawruh u jistrieħ f' kuntatt man-natura, iżda saħansitra l-ambjent naturali, nadif, kwiet ta' raħalna, bit-traffiku li jiġġenera kemm waqt li jkun sejjer kemm wara li jieqaf, flimkien mat-tniġġis ta' l-arja, ħsejjes 'l fuq mill-kriterji sotenibbli u aċċetati mill-EU, flimkien ma inkonvejjenzi u perikli oħra. Irridulu dil-ħsara lill-poplu tagħna? Daqshekk qalbna taħraqna għalih?

Bl-iżvilupp tal-port ta' l-Imġarr u l-yacht marina fih, diġa tlifna żewġ bajjiet żgħar iżda sbieħ, il-Hawlija u ż-Żewwieqa. Dawn, min għadu joħlom li jmur jgħum fihom? Illum, min jixtieq li l-bajja f' Hondoq ir-Rummien jiġrilha l-istess? Fejn it-tfal u l-poplu tagħna jistgħu jieħdu l-mistrieh tagħhom? Nirristrinġuhom għal xi “swimming pool” jew aħjar, kif insejħulha u bil-malti u kif it-terminu verament ikun jixirqilha: pixxina? Aħna nafu x' qiegħdin ngħidu jew le? Poġġi l-qerda totali ta' l-ambjent naturali tal-bajja f' Hondoq ir-Rummien u tar-raħal tal-Qala, għal dejjem, bil-konsegwenzi li ġġib, f' keffa ta' mizien u l-ftit xogħol iġġenerat, verament limitat, fil-keffa l-oħra u saqsi, lil min jara lil hinn mill-ponta mnieħru, u ara x' igħid?

Paprata oħra li ħazżeż ħabibna hi fejn qal: “Pero', lanqas ma għandu jgħaddi xejn għax hekk jogħġob lil xi ħadd”. Ngħidlu: Trid tiċċajta? Iftaħ il-websajt http://soshondoq.blogspot.com u hemm issir taf li x-xi ħadd, li għandek fil-fantasija tiegħek, huma mijiet, joqorbu l-eluf. M' intix ser isir taf isimhom. Mela , le. Mela l-moviment irid jiftaħ sensiela ta' vendikazzjonijiet?

Ħabibna, weħlu ukoll ma' rasu l-ambjentalisti. Allaħares ma kienux huma għax kieku, illum, pajjizna hu ferm agħar milli hu u t-turiżmu diġa parpar kollu. Dawn qiegħdin, ġenorosament, jaqdu dmirhom sew. Aktar milli jifilħu qieghdin jagħmlu sforzi. Ħaqqhom prosit u nkoraġġiment mill-poplu Malti kollu. Kulħadd qed igawdi mill-frott tagħhom, aħmar u blu. Qal: “..Mingħajr ma jagħtu soluzzjoni għall-problemi li jqajmu huma stess”. Nerġa ntenni: Nafu x' qiegħdin ngħidu? Sabieħa din! Fejn qatt min jaħdem biex islava l-ambjent joħloq hu problemi ambjentali? Hallina tridx! Jew fejn qatt hu xogħol l-ambjentalisti li jagħtu soluzzonijiet, meta dawn jaqgħu taħt il-kompetenza tal-konsulenti u l-konsulenzi li jerdgħu l-miljuni mit-taxxi tagħna, li mbaghad l-kompetenza tagħhom tidher mill-frott li joħroġ minnhom, ibda, minn snin ilu, meta ngħata l-parir biex jaħslu in-nugrufun, f' Dar il-Mediterran, bix-xampu'.

U xi nghidu ghall-asserzjoni: "U x'jimpurtahom mill-imprenditur jekk hux sid il-post fejn qed jipproponi l-progett tieghu jew le?" Fejn sejjer b'rasu habibna. Kemm hawn zghazagh, kapijiet ta' familji, li ghandhombicca raba' u ma jistghux jibnuha biex ikollhom fejn joqoghdu. Xi dritt ghandu l-imprenditur izjed minn dawn l-imsejkna li l-propjeta' taghhom hi maqbuda fl-ODZ? Lil dawn habibna ma jithassarhomx?

Issemma ukoll ix-xogħol fil-kostruzzjoni u dak kollu li hemm marbut ma din l-industrija. Bir-rispett kollu lejn kull min jaħdem f' dan is-settur, nistqarr li dan is-setteur hu delikat ħafna. Meta tqis ic-cokon ta' gziritna, mhux ta' kemm wieħed iħeġġeġ iż-żieda ta' l-impeigi f' dan is-settur. Diġa qiegħdin narawh qabad ritmu iżjed mgħaġġel u sta għall-mexxeja ta' pajjiżna li fil-ġejjieni ma joħloqx problemi kbar socjali, sanitarji, familjari, komunitarji kif ukoll individwali.

“Ma hemmx dubju li l-politika tilgħab il-parti tagħha ukoll”, kellu l-kuraġġ jikteb il-ħabib tagħna. Hawn nistaqsih: Il-politika għandha tidħol fejn jidħol l-ambjent, saħħet il-poplu, u l-ħajja aħjar tal-poplu kollu? Min deffes il-politika fil-kwistjoni ta' Hondoq ir-Rummien? Il-Moviment Harsien Homdoq, fil-qawmien tiegħu avviċina lil nies minn kull settur politiku. Minn kull naħa kien hemm respons tajjeb, izda meta nbagħad beda it-tfesfis u l-intimidazzjoni fil-widnejn, bir-raġun, l-affarijiet bdew jinqalbu. Ara taħseb li din kienet xi vittorja! Il-poplu għad jiftaħ għajnejħ u jintebaħ min iridlu l-veru ġid u min jinqeda bih għall-iskopijiet partiġjani u personali tiegħu.

“Proġetti li ftit ta' żmien ilu kienu fil-programm elettorali tat-tali partit u allura kienu mija, fil-mija favur, issa saru kopletament kontra dawn il-progetti, jew xi uħud minnhom”, kompla jikteb ħabibna. Ma nafx għal liema proġġetti qed jirreferi, imma zgur wieħed minnhom hu dak ta' Hondoq ir-Rummien. F' dan ir-rigward hu ta' unur għall-Partit Laburista li wara li qies u għarbel l-volonta' tal-poplu tal-Qala espressa kemm individwalment, kemm f' referendum b' vot assolut ta' 84.5% kontra l-progett, li Dr. Alfred Sant ddeċieda li ma jirromblax fuq xewqet il-poplu u saħħtu. Dr. Sant mzejjem b'sens ta' umanita' fehem tajjeb it-tbatijiet u l-inkonvenjenzi li hemm lesti, wara da il-proġett, għall-poplu tal-Qala. Ma nibzax, hawn pubblikament, f' ismi, isem il-familja tiegħi u l-Qalin ta' rieda tajba, nirringrazzjah. Grazzi Dr. Alfred Sant. Verament ħassejt il-polz tagħna. Grazzi.

Ħaddieħor baqa', bil-poter f' idejh, jinsisti li jirrombla fuq id-deċiżjoni tal-poplu. Ma hemmx agħar, minn meta l-poplu jagħżel mexxej u dan jitbiegħed minn dak li jħoss il-poplu b' detriment ta' saħħet l-istess poplu. L-ambjentalisti Qalin jafu x' qiegħdin jagħmlu, jafu sew x' iridu, jafu x' ħaddieħor qiegħed igħid u x' qieghed jaħbi. Hemm bżonn li l-Qalin ma jħallux min ikisser dak li għandna u jitfa' lilna u lill-generazzjonijiet kollha ta' warajna f' rovina rreversibbli.

Dun Lawrenz Theuma
Qala.

Hondoq ir-Rummien

Published on The Sunday Times on 1st April, 2007 by Mr Paul Haste, Plymouth, UK.

Any development in the area of the cove at Hondoq ir-Rummien would be obscene. As a tourist stumbling across the cove many years ago, it is the first and last place I visit when spending a day or so driving around Gozo.

It is such a beautiful spot, with people of all ages enjoying the sea and paddling in what seems such a safe environment. Why would anyone want to spoil such a jewel is beyond me. But then I only visit once a year. I am sure many more visitors would feel the same and would support any action to stop development in the area.

Good luck with your protest Ms Kreup (The Sunday Times, March 25).

New EIA Rules Opposed

Published on The Times of Malta on 30th March, 2007

The Moviment Harsien Hondoq has added its voice to opposition to amendments to the environmental impact assessment regulations.

The Gozo-based environ-mental organisation claims the amendments would favour developers at the expense of the public.

They will also help land speculators develop their projects without the obligation of an environmental study, the organisation said.