An EcoSkola student told parliament that balloon releases damage the environment and animals at sea and an awareness campaign should be kick-started to stop this.

A number of students from various schools today presented a motion in parliament on the millennium development goals which have to be reached by EU Member States, including Malta, to reduce poverty, improve the quality of water while also ensuring more women join the workforce.

Among those present were MPs from both sides of the House and ministers. The event was organised by NatureTrust Malta, the local representatives of the Foundation for Environmental Education who run the EcoSkola programme. HSBC also teamed up with EcoSkola for the second consecutive year through its ‘Catch the Drop’ campaign in schools. This event started off some 11 years ago spanning three legislatures.

In his address, Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia said that the new parliament building is eco-friendly.

Turning to poverty, he said that we must ensure poverty is reduced and the secret to cutting down on it is to ensure there is peace.

He said that this problem is exacerbated when there is war, adding that corruption also brings about poverty.

Students said that funds should be distributed so that water wells could be built so that the poor can make use of them. They said that rain water should be recycled and more done to improve the quality of water while also trying to reduce the use of wrapping paper and greeting cards to lessen the impact on the environment.

PN MP Ryan Callus said that it is good that the seats in parliament are green so that when MPs are debating, the colour green will serve as a reminder that the environment is an important factor.

He asked students present whether they mind showering in cold water to which those present replied in the negative. Citing an example, he said that when he was in Kenya there were children who hardly had any water to shower and the little water they have is cold.

“These children have no option but to shower in cold water,” he said to the surprise of the children present.

Environment Minister Leo Brincat said that parliament will soon update the law on sustainable development and welcomed the fact that NGOs will form part of the working group leading to the enactment of this law. He said poor quality of water or a lack of it does not only have implications on the environment but also has social implications.

Gozo Minister Anton Refalo said that Gozo is ensuring that it reaches such goals by ensuring more women join the workforce. The environment, he said, is of great importance to us.

He highlighted that the ministry was doing its utmost to educate children on the environment.

PN MP George Pullicino – who served as environment minister during the last legislature -said that one of the goals is to ensure that the number of people who do not have access to quality water is reduced by half, adding that we still have 600 million people around the world who do not have access to quality water. As a result, he said, 4,000 children die every day as a result.

Another aspect, he said is the lack of sanitary conditions. He said that not everybody as access to a toilet.

He said it is ironic for us to have a cell phone each but then so many children haven’t access to certain things we take for granted.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius said that students should feel honoured since they are the first to visit the new parliament chamber.

PN MP Marthese Portelli welcomed the fact that the students did not just focus on themselves in their proposals but focused on the rest of the world.

She also appreciated the fact that students are keeping MPs on their toes when they state that MPs must listen to students and implement their proposals and not simply hear them out and forget what they said soon after.

Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella said that it vital that students are conscious of the fact that certain people don’t even have toilets and that we can consider ourselves fortunate. He said that the voice of students is powerful in pushing the country’s agenda forward.