When the first foundations of a European union were being laid, the choice of Strasbourg as the city where the European Parliament would have its seat was a good one. Both symbolically and geographically.

At the time, the big challenge in securing a lasting peace for Europe was to establish an enduring reconciliation between France and Germany. Strasbourg and the Alsace-Lorraine region that surrounds it had for more than a century ended up as the spoils of war, at times going to France, at others to Germany. Its residents have an affinity with both countries. As the symbol of how the conflicts of the past were to be forgotten and a new political reality would be created based on peace, the symbolism of placing the European Parliament at Strasbourg was excellent.

Moreover, its geographical location was ideal since at that time, the union only covered six countries.

All this no longer holds today. The Union comprises 27 member states, some of which are situated very far from the city. To reach it, the time and complicated travel arrangements needed are excessive and make no sense. Investment in the city’s connectivity has been inadequate.

Meanwhile Strasbourg has lost too its initial symbolic value, not least because of the very success by which the European Union has totally defused all animosity between the major powers of Western Europe.

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CLIMATE CHANGE

Some people are still sceptical about the need for urgent action to reverse the climate change that the world is going through. Some still deny that any meaningful change is happening, since during all ages they assert, the world climate has been alternating between very cold and very warm. Others doubt whether even if real change is being registered, it is going to be catastrophic in scope. And yet others consider that on the assumption that change is happening, there is no proof that it is being caused by human activity.

However we are long past the time for such second thoughts and doubts. Whatever the sceptics claim, a (continually increasing) majority has understood that climate warming exists and that to combat it, the needed measures  must all be introduced urgently. Politically attention still needs to be given to ensure that such measures are appropriate and are to be applied fairly. For they have to be tough and they will create problems for many people, regions and interests.

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BUĠIBBA

I admit that I have a soft spot for Buġibba. This may be because a long time ago, my parents had bought a small flat in the place and my mother enjoyed spending days there during the long Maltese summer.

Beyond this: At Buġibba “popular” tourism really took off.  And it remained successful because young people, families and the old all liked it, perhaps even for the reason that it developed fast out of “nothing”. It had no history, no natural beauty that would leave people breathless.

But it was/is popular, which has meant that its facilities get overused. We have not taken good enough care of them. I just do not like seeing and hearing people complain that at many locations Buġibba has been left too run down. A site that has become so popular, no matter what the reason is, should be well kept not ignored.