The agreement – if it can be called that – between the EU and Turkey on the refugee crisis could have been better or worse. If it is not implemented properly, or if the Syrian civil war multiplies its scenario of atrocities, the crisis will continue to deepen Europe’s problems.
Even so, it makes sense to call a spade a spade. The basis of the agreement is a deal for push back, covering a method by which irregular immigrants are to be sent back immediately to where they came from. Prior to this, it would be a scandal to propose that a similar operation be carried out on the high seas. Now, it will be done in such a way that once they land, irregular immigrants are sent back by the receiving country, though the latter has to accept instead an equal number of people certified as being genuine refugees, so that they can enter Europe legally.
To arrive to this point, Germany along with a number of other countries, needed first to be largely affected. Then, something gave way.
When it was Malta or Italy alone, or both together alone, there would be a big scandal if it were said that as soon as they arrived, illegal migrants should be sent back.
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NSTF
Organised by NSTF, the exhibition of their science projects which school children displayed at the Paola technical institute was most interesting. During my visit this time round, also because I was pressed for time, I mainly visited the stands of school children at private and government schools, primary levels.
They were all well prepared to explain what their project consisted of. I was impressed by how seriously they considered the assignment they had taken on. Some were already relating it to their future career as adults. I liked too the balance that was kept between the participation of boys and girls. Actually it seems like Malta has in its women and girls, a huge human resource able to develop the technical and scientific skills that we need so much.
One can only consider the NSTF initiative to organise this annual exhibition as the best tool we have in Malta to encourage the development of an interest in science and technology.
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Beatles
The death of George Martin has once again reminded us of the Beatles’ heritage. Time and again during I don’t know how many years that have passed, for one reason or another, their memory would come back into the limelight, in a surge of nostalgia.
Perhaps this was only true for my generation, but I doubt whether it was so restricted: by creating a certain popular music that defined a generation, the Beatles continued to benchmark how to live differently from those who came before you. Some mention Sinatra, Elvis Presley, the Who or Queen as having had the same impact. I doubt it.
Yet now, looking back, what in the Beatles heyday appeared individualistic and rebellious, in fact seems wired to a rather placid conformism. This holds true even when the Beatles began to feature drug usage in their songs.