Lesson in environmental protection from the US
Published on The Times of Malta on Monday 7th July, 2008 by Charles Sammut.
Politicians in Malta do not hesitate in claiming that they want to protect the environment. However Mepa, appointed as the environmental watchdog, has had no qualms in the past in issuing permits in sensitive areas that needed to be protected.
Here in the US the State of Florida has taken action in protecting the Everglades. The Everglades is a 50-mile-wide, slow-moving river full of saw grass, which is why it is nicknamed the River of Grass. In one of the biggest conservation deals in US history, the State of Florida has reached a tentative agreement to buy nearly 300 square miles of real estate from US Sugar's holdings, which is the largest producer of sugar in the US.
Under the deal, the state would buy US Sugar's holdings in the Everglades south of Lake Okeechobee, including its cane fields, mill and railroad line. US Sugar would be allowed to farm the 187,000 acres for six more years, after which it would go out of business. The state would then protect the land from development, which has been encroaching on the Everglades for decades.
We all know that "actions speaks louder than words". The State of Florida took the initiative to protect its natural heritage. Whereas in Malta speculators buy land in ODZ's like Ħondoq ir-Rummien and Ramla l-Ħamra and then roll the dice and hope that Mepa will grant them the permit to build their projects. Instead of the government buying that land and consolidating and protecting the natural treasure it hesitates and does not say a resounding no and many times acquiesces to the greedy developer.
Some contrasting actions! One government body made sure that a precious area is forever saved and in Malta instead of saying no to exploiting the environment the government allocates funds to have a study done on the impact of the proposed Ħondoq project. When one has to rely on a study to see whether a project would be detrimental to the environment, one cannot be taken seriously as far as environmental issues go. The promises during the election campaign were just that; hollow promises to attract more votes.
It is about time that the Malta government gets a hint from the State of Florida and protects the few public areas left that only a tiny minority want to develop for personal gain with total disregard to the vast majority's wishes. Just plain lip service has never solved anything. Actually there is a precedent that took place at a location at Nadur. A vacant lot was turned into a public promenade by the Ministry of Gozo guaranteeing that the owner of the property across would never have his view blocked.
Proving that where there is a will there is always a way.
Politicians in Malta do not hesitate in claiming that they want to protect the environment. However Mepa, appointed as the environmental watchdog, has had no qualms in the past in issuing permits in sensitive areas that needed to be protected.
Here in the US the State of Florida has taken action in protecting the Everglades. The Everglades is a 50-mile-wide, slow-moving river full of saw grass, which is why it is nicknamed the River of Grass. In one of the biggest conservation deals in US history, the State of Florida has reached a tentative agreement to buy nearly 300 square miles of real estate from US Sugar's holdings, which is the largest producer of sugar in the US.
Under the deal, the state would buy US Sugar's holdings in the Everglades south of Lake Okeechobee, including its cane fields, mill and railroad line. US Sugar would be allowed to farm the 187,000 acres for six more years, after which it would go out of business. The state would then protect the land from development, which has been encroaching on the Everglades for decades.
We all know that "actions speaks louder than words". The State of Florida took the initiative to protect its natural heritage. Whereas in Malta speculators buy land in ODZ's like Ħondoq ir-Rummien and Ramla l-Ħamra and then roll the dice and hope that Mepa will grant them the permit to build their projects. Instead of the government buying that land and consolidating and protecting the natural treasure it hesitates and does not say a resounding no and many times acquiesces to the greedy developer.
Some contrasting actions! One government body made sure that a precious area is forever saved and in Malta instead of saying no to exploiting the environment the government allocates funds to have a study done on the impact of the proposed Ħondoq project. When one has to rely on a study to see whether a project would be detrimental to the environment, one cannot be taken seriously as far as environmental issues go. The promises during the election campaign were just that; hollow promises to attract more votes.
It is about time that the Malta government gets a hint from the State of Florida and protects the few public areas left that only a tiny minority want to develop for personal gain with total disregard to the vast majority's wishes. Just plain lip service has never solved anything. Actually there is a precedent that took place at a location at Nadur. A vacant lot was turned into a public promenade by the Ministry of Gozo guaranteeing that the owner of the property across would never have his view blocked.
Proving that where there is a will there is always a way.
posted by Hondoq at
6:02 PM
