According to the state of the environment report published by Mepa, since 1957 Malta has lost two kilometres squared of agricultural land every year, apart from the fact that one in every four houses is vacant.

However, these statistics are not enough to stop the barbaric destruction of Malta’s natural environment.

The end has come for the last green area in Cottonera. A considerable number of trees are being uprooted to lead the way for the completion of the concrete jungle. Mepa have given the developer the green light for the development of the valley.

Mepa imposed a number of conditions in order that the developer may compensate for the destruction of this natural area. For instance, the developer must donate a number of trees to the local council. My basic knowledge of trees tells me that trees need a certain amount of area and soil to survive.

So, if the last remaining natural area in Kalkara has been destroyed, where is the local council going to plant these trees?

What is happening to the Kalkara valley does not affect only the Kalkara residents but the whole population of Malta. The less natural environment we have, the less space for families and children to relax in open areas. Less space for birds, hedgehogs, lizards, snakes and other animals that live in the wild.

Less natural environment means more pollution and more pollution means more health problems, meaning more taxes for our health services.

However, in the end, society is not interested in calculating the damage being done to the natural environment and the consequences we must suffer.

Society is only interested in instant gratification. Society is only interested in how much profit it makes, regardless of the exploitation and oppression of its environment, animals and people.

I would like to conclude this letter with a Native American Indian Creed: “Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realise that we cannot eat money”.

Chris Mizzi

Kalkara