Nature Trust – FEE Malta said that it strongly supports the firm stand being taken by President Dr George Vella, in favour of protecting the natural environment.

The ENGO was referring to the President’s address at the Gieh Ghawdex Award ceremony in Victoria this week, when he stressed that “development in Gozo should not take place at the expense of the natural environment, which is one of the main attractions of this island.”

Dr Vella also spoke about the “need to find a sustainable balance between new buildings and construction projects, and the environment which, after all, we have a duty to protect, for ourselves and for future generations.”

The President added that, “now, more than ever, we are living a reality where open spaces and the natural environment are needed. Therefore, I appeal to pay more attention to these considerations when making such decisions.”

The ENGO in a statement, said that it is heartened to see the President echoing its preoccupations on the state of the natural environment, which has been “left to the dogs for far too long by successive administrations.”

It said that it also agreed wholeheartedly with his most recent appeal to stop the over-exploitation of Gozo.

“Dr Vella is being true to both his office as Head of State of Malta and his calling as a physician when he warns” that “the natural environment is essential not only to preserve Gozo’s attractions and to attract tourism, but also to the physical and mental health of Gozitans themselves.”

Nature Trust concluded by saying that it hopes that “now the pleas made so often in the past by it and other ENGOs will finally be listened to, so that common sense and the duty to safeguard future generations will prevail over egoism and greed – two unfortunate vices engendering that insensitivity to fundamental values which is sadly so rampant in our political class.”

Photo by Alain Salvary

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