7 comments so far.In Defence of Our Environment – Opinion Piece by the Ramblers’ Association
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Opinion Piece – The Ramblers’ Association Malta outline the reasons as to why it is supporting the environmental protest taking place this coming Saturday.
“The environment is the most precious resource which any people can possess. It is self defeating to exploit it in the name of economic growth if the price to pay is a steady deterioration of our quality of life. Stating that our country is in rapid decline in terms of environmental standards seems hardly an exageration.
“Studies show that 30% of our country is now built up (compared to an EU average of 8%), and that locations from which no urbanisation is visible have now but disappeared. The latest census shows that empty properties have reached 72,000 although developers would like us to believe the figure closer to 35,000. Even the lower figure is alarming and construction shows no sign of abating.
“In the coming weeks, a number of citizens living near green areas will be receiving notifications from MEPA indicating that a planning exercise is underway so that these areas can be developed. This is due to the misguided 2006 Rationalisation exercise, which environmentalists had vehemently opposed. In addition to this, permits for speculative mega-projects, are being issued at a rapid pace, with the last two being 750 appartments at Mistra and 45 bungalows at Portomaso.
“The new agri-tourism policy will also allow development to spread to the countryside. Too many mistakes have been allowed to take place in the past, and speculators, with the help of their lawyers and architects have been able to obtain scandalous permits for villas in the middle of ecologicaly sensitive areas and ODZ locations with high landscape value. Instead of closing these planning loopholes, the new policy will open a great amount of new ones.
“The privileged few who managed to circumvent environmental regulation in the past, will now have the opportunity to extend their property; while others who have secured land with derelict structures will be allowed to demolish and rebuild in the middle of the countryside. Under the pretext of agri-tourism, we will also see new, 400m2 holdings, complete with 10 rooms, swimming pool and other facilities, popping up in pristine areas outside the development zone.
“The destruction of our environment is a a very lucrative business for those involved. But if any sense of justice is to prevail, normal citizens should not be paying for the hidden costs of this enterprise. To be able to breathe unpolluted air, is a reasonable aspiration. So is being able to rest one’s gaze on something other than concrete monstrosities.
“The right not to be buried under high rise development and be able to generate clean energy from photovoltaic panels should be commonplace. But above all else, citizens should be afforded the dignity of not seing the natural and cultural treasures inherited from their forefathers destroyed by the relentless greed of speculators.
“We are thus calling on the public to gather at Valletta, Saturday 30th November at 10:30am. Together we shall demand real change to stop the disastrous decline of the environment of our islands.”
Mr Ingram Bondin,
Sectretary,
The Ramblers’ Association Malta.
At this dizzy rate of wild urban development, the Maltese will have, in the not too distant future, to cross over to Sicily to enjoy a view of the countryside and breathe some fresh air!
This Government is duty bound to curb such wanton overdevelopment! It must be brought to its senses before irreparable harm is done to our people and country!
We are deeply disappointed and such a protest should serve as an eyeopener and an occasion to express our grave concern in regard to Government’s apathy and total lack of environmental policy .
aaf
Why are people being allowed to swing from the Azure window and rock climb on these pieces of history? These are attractions to be viewed, not pounced upon. They are very old and precious and not supposed to be abused this way. Its only a matter of time before they chip away.
In the case of the Azure Window it already is falling into the sea. There is less of it now than there was when I first started coming to Gozo. Eventually the arch will collapse into the sea below, and hopefully when that happens there will be no divers swimming through it or tourists standing on top of it. There seems to be no interest in doing anything to stop this eventually collapse and some people say if that is what nature decides then it should be allowed to happen. Fair enough point but unfortunately nature is getting a helping hand from successive governments who don’t seem to care that one of Gozo’s most important tourist attractions is under threat.
It`s so sad that it will happen soon. Got to let nature take its course. The Govt. should restrict access over and beneath it ASAP
I have pointed this out once before.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Arch.
Gozoroo
James, you are 100% correct. Everyone who is reading this can take a look for themselves how these tourist attractions are being exploited and pounced upon. Go to youtube and type in GOZO ADVENTURE FESTIVAL, 4 days ago. This should immediately be made against the law.
Eliza have you ever been to Gozo? The Gozo Adventure activities were not at the Azure Window.
The simple solution is put a tax on all unoccupied properties