– Peter Seracino Inglott sends video message to the EGP Congress
– Leading environmentalist Prof. Edward Mallia endorses AD’s MEP candidates

An AD delegation consisting of Secretary General Victor Galea, PRO Ralph Cassar, MEP candidates Arnold Cassola and Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros and Mark Scerri, Miriam Galea, Richard Schranz, Henrik Piski, Nighat Urpani, Andre Vella, Bernardette Mercieca, Mary Anne Zammit and Vikki Attard has just returned from the European Green Party Election Congress held in the European Parliament in Brussels. Harry Vassallo who is a member of the executive of the EGP and Maria Filletti from AD’s youth section who is a member of the executive of the Federation of Young European Greens also attended.

The conference discussed and approved the common manifesto with its emphasis on ‘A Green New Deal’ for the EU. It was emphasised that the Greens in the European Parliament are the most consistent and coherent group which works to give European citizens a good quality of life based on economic, social and environmental sustainability and a truly democratic Europe that acts for its citizens and not just the narrow interests of corporations. The Greens are insisting that the current financial and environmental crises should be taken as opportunities to improve the quality of life of all by investing 500 billion Euros over 5 years (just 0.75% of the EU GDP) leading to the creation of 5 million jobs over 5 years. These proposals are supported by studies including a study by the Wuppertal Institute, A.T. Kearney on a “New Energy Deal”, and by the Green European Foundation.

Commenting on the ‘Green New Deal’ AD MEP candidate Arnold Cassola said that Maltese and Gozitan workers will benefit from a ‘Green New Deal’ through the creation of jobs in the alternative and renewable energy sectors, the construction sector through renovation and improvements in existing buildings, the transport sector through investment in new and cleaner modes of mass transport and in industry, especially SMEs through the modernisation of this sector. He also mentioned the tourism industry which can provide green collar jobs to Maltese and Gozitan workers. Arnold Cassola asked for the studies on the generation of clean electricity by windfarms off the coast of Malta. He said:”It seems that the promise made by Lawrence Gonzi in the budget last November is still just words. We have not seen any studies justifying the choice of the site for the Sikka l-Bajda windfarm.

We cannot wait any longer – with the instability in energy prices and the threats of climate change Malta must move to start producing a significant part of its energy requirements from renewable sources including wind and the sun. AD reiterates its call for Lawrence Gonzi to publish any studies and reports he might have or just admit that once again there is nothing available and the the budget promises were just empty words. We are faced with the issue of electricity prices which the large majority of unions have been campaigning on for months on end now simply because of this government’s carelessness in the energy sector for years on end. Even AD’s concept of eco-Gozo – taken over by this government was clearly just an attempt to greenwash the party in government – no real progress has been made in Gozo, indeed the ecological modernisation of the island hasn’t even started.”

Meanwhile AD’s second MEP candidate Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros talked about the proposal by the EU Commission to extend the minimum maternity leave to 18 weeks throughout the EU. Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros said:”It is easy to talk about the importance of the family, of work-life balance and of women’s important role in society and the economy, so it is rather telling that when it comes to taking concrete measures PN’s Minister John Dalli is resisting such an improvement in the conditions of work of millions of women in the EU and thousands of women and mothers in Malta and Gozo.

The financial crisis should not be used as an excuse for opposing such measures. In the past improvements to work conditions including the 40 hour week and vacation leave were resisted and opposed by conservatives on the premise that these measures will ruin the economy. It is clear that this has not been the case. On the contrary, the current crisis has not been triggered by improved conditions of work but by greed and playing Russian roulette on unregulated and unfettered financial markets. Helping women and imporving their conditions of work should be a priority for the Maltese government – this is a concrete and real issue of family values.”

Meanwhile Maltese personality Rev. Prof. Peter Seracino Inglott, former rector of the University of Malta and Malta’s representative on the Convention for a European Constitution sent video greetings to delegates at the EGP Election Congress. He augured that the Greens in Europe continue working in favour of the common good and the concept of the ‘common heritage of mankind’. Another personality, who sent video greetings to the congress and who is endorsing AD’s candidates for MEPs is one of Malta’s leading environmentalists and scientist Prof. Edward Mallia.

Pictures available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/alternattiva/sets/72157615884698433/
Peter Seracino Inglott video message available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf_4l0vkCYE
Edward Mallia endorsement available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWR5hud2BCQ
More videos will be uploaded in the next few days at www.youtube.com/alternattiva

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