President George Vella stated that the environment will be the main goal of his administration in a speech he delivered to Parliament on the day it convened for its first meeting since the election.
As is tradition, the speech was prepared by the government and highlighted the government’s aims for the next five years.
The President stated that it was now the right time to shift the emphasis from previous administrations on infrastructure to the environment.
In the next five years, government intends to spend €700m in projects related to the environment, Vella said. It was a promise made by Labour Party before the election.
Nice words, indeed.
Forgive us if it seems like St Thomas did. But we will only believe what we see.
The environment has been treated as secondary to all other needs for too long. It was never the priority as multi-layered roads were built, villages expanded into land that was previously used for agricultural purposes and the construction industry was given too much leeway to make gold – and not just hay – while the sun shines.
We cannot reverse the clock, and what is already lost will be lost forever. So we really wonder whether the €700m government is saying it will spend will be enough.
One thing is certain, so much damage has already been done that it is futile to talk of green spaces in public places. Concrete will always be more prominent than any other material we see.
Vella – again, to be precise, it’s the government saying it, not him – said that one of the intentions is to protect the unique characteristics of our towns and villages. How can this be possible when these characteristics are almost always destroyed?
You will be amazed at how different our localities looked 25 years, 50, and 100 years ago. Maybe we’re being nostalgic, but the fact remains that, just to give one example, the quaint houses on the Sliema front (in the area close to the tower) were much easier on the eye than the mass of buildings that have been constructed in the past 30 years or so. They won’t be coming back with any green projects.
The President spoke out about the need to change our attitude towards the environment. This is probably the most difficult of all because history has shown us how difficult it is for us to change our ways as a nation.
We mention just one simple thing which, if we manage to do it, will certainly make our country a more beautiful place to live in – and this is the way we dispose of items we no longer want or need. As it stands now, we have zero points.
Take a look around and you will see unwanted tissues, empty cigarettes packs and a million other items lying on the streets or in the middle. Sometimes we find mattresses and other household appliances.
It is easy to see what happens when it’s windy. The lighter items begin flying around, sometimes even posing a danger to drivers. They can also be carried to the sea by the floods, unless they block culverts. Then also take a look at how so many of us think that public places do not belong to anyone and so it’s OK to leave empty burger boxes lying around on benches where people are supposed to sit.
The first step to big changes is small things. However, if we can’t change our behavior in the small things, it is difficult to imagine how we will change our view of the larger picture.
This larger picture also means that the authorities involved must play their part properly.
It is pointless to talk about the environment when nobody cares when construction waste ends its life in the sea, destroying bays.
It is not possible to talk about the environment when permits have been granted.Large projects in areas where there is supposedly no need for development.
It is futile to talk about the environment when the government doesn’t think twice about cutting down trees and taking up land to, for example, build an airport in Gozo.
This is why we stated that we would accept the government’s words when they are presented to us.
In five years’ time, government will have to give an account of where these €700m would have been spent.
Then, we will make our decision.
