Mhux cimblu imma 'glockenspiel'

Hafna hawnhekk ighidulu cimblu. Ma nafx 'l ghaliex. Propjament glockenspiel jissejjah.

Mhux strument facli. L-aktar li jindaqq f'baned militari. Forsi ghax jirrekjedi certu dixxiplina biex iddoqqu?

Gieli kont Malta u smajt lil xi bandist idoqqu. Fil-baned Ghawdxin qatt ma smajtu ghalkemm xi 15-il sena ilu kont qed nghallmu lil wihed bandist mix-Xewkija - Ta' Fantin. Imma ma tantx dam idoqqu wisq. Nifhem li l-banda fiha rabta.

Il-glockenspiel huwa strument iehor li jghogobni. Pero' trid toqghod attend kif iddoqqu. Il-hoss fl-gholi (high pitch) tieghu jinstema' hafna u allura daqsxejn ta' zball jinstema wisq!

Trid tkun ziemel ghalih - kif ighidu. U jrid ikollok 'widna' tajba wkoll.

Xi ghaxar snin ilu, il-kunjatu kien xtara wiehed biex idoqqu mal-banda tar-rahal tieghu iz-Zebbug - banda li kienet ghadha kif giet imwaqqfa. Il-kunjatu daqqu darba u fullstop. Jien mort tajjeb, ghax kultant kont intektiklu daqtejn (lic-cimblu).


Xi gimgha ilu gie Mawrizju ta' Sander id-dar. Kien jaf li jien indoqq ic-cimblu u qalli jekk nithajjarx indoqq mal-banda ta' l-Gharb. Ghidtlu "mela le" anzi apprezzajt li qalli.

Gabli CD b'xi marci. Il-kunjatu silifni ic-cimblu u ghamilt gimgha nippruvah. Ergajt rattabt naqra idejja. Indoqq ic-Cd fuq il-player u ndoqq ic-cimblu mieghu.

Illejla Mawrizju gabli beritta u ngravata ghax ta' l-Gharb ser idoqqu l-marcijiet. Trid tarani bl-uniformi ta' bandist hej!

Mort. Daqqejt u hadt pjacir.

Filwaqt li naghti l-festa t-tajba lin-nies ta' l-Gharb, ismaghni ndoqq l-Innu Marcia sieheb billi taghfas fuq il-vidjow clip hawn taht:

Dreaming versus Reality

Almost twenty years ago, the Malta Greens (AD) were talking about the need for serious investment in alternative sources of energy (sun, wind, sea) rather than depending completely on fossil fuels.

The Labour and Nationalists then, completely ignored AD's suggestions on sustainable development including their policies on energy.

Again and again AD continued stressing that electricity production from alternative sources was the future. Again ignored.

But now?

Politicians acknowledges that alternative sources of energy were useful because they were good for the environment.

The tax-payer (me included) acknowledges that electricity bills are becoming much too high!

Reality is different than dreaming. Remember the picture of the billboard? I hope that you are "mohhok mistrih"....go and switch off the lights!

Ir-riforma fil-ligi tal-Kera

Dak li suppost qed jaghmel l-istat, qieghdin jaghmluh numru ta' sidien ta' djar. U dan minkejja li ahna lkoll inhallsu t-taxxi li minnhom suppost l-istat jonfoqhom f'inizjattivi biex hadd ma jaqa' lura fis-socjeta' taghna.

Imma mhux hekk gara mill-gwerra 'l hawn fil-kaz tal-ligijiet tal-kera.

Fi zmien ta' wara l-gwerra, kien gust li kulhadd jaghti sehemu sabiex kulhadd ikollu saqaf fuq rasu, peress li dak iz-zmien hafna familji spiccaw bla dar u ghalhekk min kellu aktar minn dar wahda beda jikri lill-dawn in-nies.

X'gara allura?

Is-sidien ta' dawk id-djar kienu jdahhlu ftit soldi u xelini mill-kera. Ghaddew is snin u l-kera baqghet l-istess. Mhux biss...

Is-sidien tad-djar ma setghux juzawhom - l-anqas ghal uliedhom stess. Il-kirjiet baqghu jintirtu mill-buz buz nannu ghall-buz nannu u ghan-nannu ecc. U t-tajba hi li jekk dan il-post mikri jkollu bzonn xi manutenzjoni ikun irid jirrangah is-sid bi spejjes tieghu minkejja li min joqghod fil-kera baqa' jhallas ix-xelini.

Allura hawn kaz ta' ingustizza. U din l-ingustizzja baqghet tgerbeb matul is-snin kemm taht Borg Olivier, kemm taht Mintoff, il-KMB, Eddie (jew Edward) Fenech Adami, Sant u Gonzi.

Minghajr biza' ta' xejn, Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) indirizzat din l-anomalija meta bdiet titkellem dwar dan is-suggett.

L-avversarji taghna (bhas-soltu) bdew jaraw x'ha jaqilghu. U qalu taf!

Fost kollox qalu li ta' l-AD jridu jitfghu in-nies 'l barra. Ara x'kull wahda!

Minkejja kollox l-AD baqghet ghaddejja b'kampanja favur it-tibdil tal-ligi tal-kera. Is-success ta' din il-kampanja lahaq il-qofol tieghu meta qabel l-elezzjoni generali ta' Marzu li ghadda, il-GonziPN accetta l-fatt li hemm bzonn ta' riforma fil-ligi tal-kera; anzi saret wieghda fil-programm elettorali. Kemm hi sabiha l-hajja hux?

U issa l-gvern qed jaffaccja l-muzika (facing the music kif ighidu bl-Ingliz) b'John Dalli fi tmum. Dalli iva, ghax issa sar ministru tal-politika socjali. Dak, li darba jien stess smajtu jghid li ta' "l-alternattiva hlief fuq l-ambjent ma jitkellmux".

Dalwaqt jinduna Dalli li ta' l-AD mhux fuq l-ekologija biss jitkellmu!

Nissugerielkom taghtu titwila dak li diga kiteb bhala l-ewwel reazzjoni tal-White Paper, il-Kelliem ta' l-AD dwar l-izvilupp sostenibbli, il-Perit Cacopardo billi taghfas HAWN.

Remember this? "Don't Destroy Gozo"

This week, the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage called on MEPA to schedule the entire Ta’ Cenc area. In its annual report, the Superintendence also revealed that during its inspections of the area extending from the entire Ta’ Cenc plateau towards the valley and the bay of Mgarr ix-Xini, several previously unknown archaeological features were discovered.


Look at the beauty of these site in the photo above (Ta' Cenc on the right of the Mgarr ix-Xini valley and Ta' lambert/Tal-Kus on the left hand side).

We are now asking the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage to inspect the area around the heliport in Xewkija overlooking Mgarr ix-Xini Valley known at Ta’ Lambert, where illegal dumping takes place and a number of cart ruts and other pre-historic features had already been destroyed in broad daylight.

In a press statement published yesterday I said that it is of utmost importance that the archeological sites around the heliport are protected before somebody dreams of developing the area. The superintendence report itself states that a few meters away from Ta’ Lambert at Xewkija, there are archaeological remains and the surrounding landscape has to be protected. It is a shame that this area was left in such an abandoned state of affairs during the recent years. At present heavy machinery is extending a quarry very close to the area. We believe that the Superintendence is aware of the Roman-era Olive Press found near the heliport which unfortunately is in a total state of neglect. (see photo of the Roman-era Olive Press)

Hence I conclude by saying that if the government of Malta promised to protect the ecology of Gozo few weeks before last general election, we now demand action and not mere words. Eco and heritage tourism are a niche market which we are not exploiting enough. The archaeological sites at Ta’ Lambert are of great importance for future jobs because that is what makes us unique in attracting tourism since such prehistoric sites are only unique to our nation.

Any thinking?

Meantime I advice you to read a very interesting feature 'Illegal dumping - Gozo’s silent killer' by Malta Independent Journalist Francesca Vella by clicking HERE

Cheers

Victor

Sorry to repeat again: 'Fortifications Restoration Project’

Today the Hon. George Pullicino, Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs of our Republic addressed the public seminar on 'Fortifications Restoration Project' . What a great coincidence with the letter published on The Times today by the Xewkija resident Frankie Vella!

Pullicino is saying (no repetitions) that a fortune is to be spent on the restoration and rehabilitation of Malta's most important fortifications to make them an integral part of the country's cultural product. Priority is being given to the lines of fortifications in Valletta, Vittoriosa, Mdina and the Cittadella in Gozo. (See video on The Times by clicking HERE).

Great!

This discourse, we read about since two years ago. Read HERE.

For example Minister for 'all' the Gozitans said on the 19th May 2006 that

"Restoration work is currently under way on the outer north westerly walls of the Gozo Citadel. The work, which is being funded by the Gozo Ministry, involves the consolidation of part of the fortified wall system, the reconstruction of a totally collapsed stretch of the same wall and the complete removal and replacement of highly weathered stone to allow, amongst other things, the reestablishment of original 17th century features."

Read more HERE.

On the other hand, people like Frankie, and Joseph had been highlightening the
I suggest you read Joseph's contribution by clicking HERE (with photos) on the Gozonews.com

"...ruins which stand not as monuments of the past but as evidence of the present disregard by the current government with regards to that which is of historical value in the centre of Gozo. Whether this is due to an inability to fund this site or a utilitarian objectivity stating that there is no perceivable monetary return for this investment it is subject to debate."

Frankie Vella's letter can be read HERE. I like the title: Cittadella under attack from weeds.

Let's continue fighting the attack or are we no more living in the feudal system?

No biodiesel on Gozo

Bill Hopkinson from Xaghra is partially right when he commented on The Times today that biodiesel is still not available here on Gozo.

On the other hand, when we talk about biodiesel, one should not take it for granted that such measures are 100% eco-friendly.

One needs to be very clear on bio-fuels.

I don't think it is morally right to promote those biofuels that are produced from agricultural land that is taken on purpose for the growing of soya, mais or whatever to produce ethanol etc.

On the other hand, one should accept bio-fuel, where this is produced from the leftovers of waste that would otherwise be ending up in the waste cycle.

On the other hand, in countries like Sweden it is useful to produce biofuels from the nature that dies NATURALLY every year in the millions of forests they have.

It would be better to recycle the kitchen frying oil in Malta and Gozo into bio fuel rather than letting it finish in the drains and water table. I remember that Prof. Arnold Cassola was strongly promoting this during his campaign for the European parliament elections three years ago while in a meeting with the Gozo Tourism Association and the Gozo Business Chamber.

I remember clearly.....hardly anybody took notice then. But things change!

Thanks to Mr. Hopkinson for raising this issue again.

Note:
I thought to share this website with those of you who are interested in this topic. Click HERE

Malta missed it. Why?

The local media missed it. Arnold Cassola mentioned this during his first speech as new AD Leader. I am told that the One News were more interested to report that Dr. Vassallo cleaned up the office toilet. The Net News (as typical under GonziPN) did not give coverage at all. The printed media missed on this one as well. How insular we are at times. I feel sad.

On the 10th June 2008 (just 7 days ago) all EU member states participated in the Urban Audit. Sorry not ALL member states. The government of the Republic of Malta was not there. Why? Was he busy following the latest developments at Mistra and Fort Cambridge in order to give his trademark on environmental credibility?

The Urban Audit brings together a broad range of indicators on the quality of life in European cities.

The purpose of the conference was twofold:

• To provide information on The Urban Audit to city representatives and other interested communities. Beyond participants in the Urban Audit, the conference provides the opportunity for anyone interested in urban statistics to collect useful information and make contacts.
  
• To present the ways in which the Commission, Member States and cities have benefited from the Urban Audit.

A number of key questions for the future of cities were dealt with during the conference, including the aging of the population, migration phenomena, housing, competitiveness and the attractiveness of cities. Each of these areas was addressed by the Urban Audit.

Is the government of Malta not interested? I think that when the Malta Independent on Sunday editor choose to give such a title to the Gozo as an ecological island concept was right. He called it: Gozo an ecological island? You must be joking

Pity.

New Leader for AD

Last Saturday those enthusiastic members and supporters of AD attended an Extraordinary General Meeting to discuss the general election results and to elect a new executive committee.

I would say that the whole event was a healthy exercise of the party. It was also well attended.

People were free to speak up. Many did.



After a short presentation by Carmel Cacopardo highlighting the most important points in the report commissioned by the party, many others aired their views about the way forward for the party.
The main points which were elicited:
* the party needs to work harder to get its message across to a wider audience.
* the party needs to remain principled on issues ranging from the environment to civil rights.
* the party needs to emphasize more the link between the economy, labour issues and the environment.
* the party needs to work harder at locality level and form a strong party base.
* the party needs to keep on working closely with civil society and the independent media.
* the party must cooperate with progressive movements and social and environmental NGOs to offer a strong, constructive and modern opposition to goverment.

Ralph Cassar, Arnold Cassola, Adrian Grima, Stephen Cachia, Alistair Farrugia, Jurgen Balzan, Carmel Hili, Robert Callus, David Mangion, Henrik Piski, Oison Dillon Jones, were amongst those who intervened during the discussion. Mario Mallia chaired the meeting.

The speech by outgoing party chairperson Dr. Harry Vassallo was quite emotional. He thanked all those with whom he had worked as Chairperson throughout the past 9 years. He said that he feels that he did the best he could with the party's limited resources. He urged the party
to remain true to its ideals and said that AD was the only party courageous enough to bring progressive and ecological issues on the political agenda. He said that the party is not hostage to any financially strong lobby. Big applause!

Dr. Vassallo said that he was not "slamming the door and leaving" as some opinion writers
were saying. He said that he wants to see a strong and effective party and urged everyone to give a helping hand.

The members present then approved by secret ballot the nominees for the
executive committee. According to AD's current statute when posts are uncontested the
nominees have to be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of party members attending a
general meeting.

Arnold Cassola was approved unanimously as the new party leader.


I thanked Dr. Harry Vassallo for his services to the party. I tried to explain that Dr. Vassallo had worked selflessly and untiringly at the helm of AD for the past years. A gift to Dr. Vassallo and his wife was presented on behalf of AD as a sign of appreciation and augured that Dr. Vassallo will continue offering his insight and expertise to the party. I'm sure he will.




In his address at the close of the extraordinary general meeting AD's new Chairperson Prof. Arnold Cassola said that AD will continue making its voice herad, expressing its agreement if it agrees with policies and proposals but also criticizing and offering different solutions where necessary.

It was a moving morning. It was nice also to have met new faces.

I'm also happy with the choice of our new leader. Arnold knows that a smile costs nothing and he knows how to be friendly. He never ignores people and is able to make people feel important and special. He is not a brag. His honesty appeals people.

Cassola's experience as a politician, parliamentarian and his vast experience in all the EU countries as a secretary general of the European Greens is an asset which none of the other political parties in Malta can boast about.

Above all Arnold is a listener and encourager. He never ignores people. Write to him and he will surely reply.

Here is a test: Copy this E-mail address and e-mail Arnold on arnoldcassola@gmail.com
Will he reply to you? I bet he will!