Tuesday 6 May 2008

The magic of 'Let Go'

Our son is now exactly 12-hours old. He was born on the 6th of May 2008 at 11:55AM.
What an amazing day! My wife Miriam did a superb job. The midwives and the staff at the Gozo Maternity Unit are not just experts but are professional, caring and so supportive in such moments.
I am still rather speechless with the happiness and joy of the birth of our new-born.
Weight: 4.105kg and Length: 53cm and normal delivery. I took the advice of many of you. Just be there and support. I felt uncontrollable...can't change or do anything while Miriam was doing all her best to 'let go' of our child from her womb after 9 months in comfort. Nature thought me major lesson in life : "Let go"



This is what I truly learned this day and I'm obliged to my son for his first lesson!

Admitting the obvious truth - that you are not responsible to affect a change or correct a problem which is beyond your competency, power, authority or responsibility.

Releasing over-responsibility - giving permission to yourself to be free from an overresponsible sense of obligation, duty, or requirement to make everything "perfect'' in your life and the life of others.

No perfectionism - Allowing yourself to rid yourself of the perfectionistic need to control every aspect of your life so that nothing goes ``wrong'' in it.

Getting rational about what you can and cannot do - becoming realistic about what is and is not your obligation or duty to correct, change, or control.

Confessing faith in God- Openly declare that God, your "Higher Power" is stronger and a great source of power to whom you can hand over these things out of your control.

Accepting your powerlessness - over things and handing these things over to your Higher Power.

Handing it over to God - which is no longer taking direct action to effect a change but handing the situation over to the goodness and mercy of your Higher Power in hope that the solution will rest in the Higher Power's authority and wisdom.

Declaring God is in Charge - admitting that you can only do so much and after that it is up to your Higher Power to take over.

Thank you all very very very much for your calls and SMSes during the day.
Thank you to families, relatives and friends who visited us at the Gozo Hospital.

Cheers from
Victor, Miriam and son (still have to think of the name!)

Monday 5 May 2008

Gozo the future eco-island

German Green MEP to discuss Gozo as an eco-island

Source: www.adgozo.com On:Sat 03/05/2008 12:00 (2589)

MEP Gisela Kallenbach has accepted an invitation by Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party to pay a visit and to hold a public debate in Gozo in the coming weeks..

Ms Kallenbach is a German Green MEP and a member of the EU Regional Development Committee. She is responsible for the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund and other instruments of the Union’s regional policy. Assessing the impact of Eruopean Union policies on economic and social cohesion, outermost regions and islands as well as trans-frontier and interregional cooperation are amongst her responsibilities.

For many years Ms Kallenbach represented the city of Leipzig on the Eurocities environment committee and is an Honorary member of Solar City Leipzig and Haus der Umwelt (environment house) associations.

“When I heard about the Malta Green Party’s proposal to turn Gozo into an ecological island over a year ago, I increased my interest in this island-region and happily accepted the invitation by Alternattiva Demokratika to visit the island soon” said Ms Kallenbach.

AD spokesman for Gozo and secretary general of the Malta Green Party, Mr Victor Galea said that “We are honored to host Ms. Kallenbach in Gozo and we envisage that a public debate will be held in order to learn from success stories of other EU countries where the state seriously invested in sustainable tourism, jobs and the improvement of the ecology. We also hope that the Maltese Government’s promise to take up the Alternattiva Demokratika suggestion is implemented as soon as possible in order to turn Gozo into an ecological island, while enhancing its unique characteristics.”

“A strategy to generate energy mainly through alternative sources would create a substantial amount of Gozo-specific employment and add value to the island’s unique characteristics. The establishment of Gozo as an island model by virtue of pioneering its launch as a centre of studies in renewable energy, concurrently generating new employment for technicians, engineers, marketeers and hospitality representatives is something Alternattiva Demokratika looks forward to.”

“Our aspiration is to have Gozo become the country’s leader in exploiting alternative sources of energy and establishing itself as a centre in alternative energy studies while promoting a campaign to reduce energy bills for households and businesses in Gozo” concluded the secretary general of Alternattiva Demokratika.

During her stay in Malta, MEP Gisela Kallenbach will also be holding a speech during the annual meeting of the members of the Foundation of European Societies of Arm Collectors (FESAC).

Gozo 1234 and 5 and 6 and 7

For those who might have missed it, here you can have a glimpse of what kind of PR went on during the festivities of the 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th of may 2008 in the famous island of Gozo:

Gozo 1:The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, visits Archeology Museum at the Cittadella,Victoria, Gozo

Gozo 2:The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, at Cittadella, Victoria, Gozo.

Gozo 3:The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, and Mrs K. Gonzi attended a traditional folk dance and singing activity. Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Chris Said was also presentat Palm Street, Victoria, Gozo.

Gozo 4:The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, and Mrs Kate Gonzi visit an art exhibition accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Chris Said at The Exhibition Hall, Ministry for Gozo at Pjazza San Frangisk, Victoria, Gozo.

Gozo 5:

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, and Mrs Kate Gonzi visit the Crafts and Art Market. Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Chris Said accompanied the Prime Minister at Pjazza San Frangisk, Victoria, Gozo.

Gozo 6:

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, attends the traditional Dwejra fair at Dwejra Gozo.

Gozo 7:

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, visits an Exhibition at Banca Giuratale, accompanied by the Minister for Gozo, the Hon Giovanna Debono, and Parliamentary Secretaries the Hon Chris Said, and the Hon Mario de Marco, at Independence Square, Victoria, Gozo.