City Gate in Valletta was transformed by a variety of stands, exhibitions and a discussion group focusing on various social issues, particularly the global assault on human rights through commercialism and rampant capitalism.
Among the participating NGOs who put up stands for the event were: Moviment Graffiti, Nature Trust, GWU Youth, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Malta Council of Disabled Persons, National Youth Council, Third World Group and Association for Men’s Rights.
Deo Cassar, a prolific writer and activist whose work is normally on the left wing fringe, led the first roundtable discussion. Mr Cassar introduced peace as his starting point and gave a most interesting presentation that focused on the word peace and other related words such as harmony and solidarity. He attacked the rampant capitalism that is ingrained in our society, mentioning the idea of conflict that has existed since time immemorial, especially the struggle for resources such as water and land that have sparked off massive wars between nations throughout history.
Mr Cassar mentioned the rise of communistic ideals influenced by the writings of Marx and Engels and the eventual dissolution of the system with the rise of a new world order based on multinational conglomerates that contribute to the great divide in society. He also criticised the American invasions in Iraq and Afghanistan that were nothing but pretentious aggressive conflicts to control the world’s paramount energy resource – oil. The discussion from the floor centred on the doctrine of pre-emptive aggression and was generally very anti-American in its stance.
Social inclusion was the theme of the second discussion led by Fr Pierre Grech Marguerat SJ, who is involved in the Jesuit Refugee Service. Fr Grech focused on the situation of illegal immigrants and refugees in his opening discussion. He said that the general public must understand that these unfortunate human beings are fleeing situations in which not even animal can live decently.
Fr Grech added that there is no country except Malta where persons applying for asylum status are kept in detention centres in cramped and often inhumane conditions. He also called on the authorities to take the necessary steps to alleviate these persons’ sufferings that will definitely increase as the colder season begins due to the fact that hundreds are currently housed in tents.
Among the themes developed by the panel was the xenophobic and racist attitude ingrained in the Maltese psyche towards immigrants, which and is caused through intrinsic fear. Another point raised was that the Maltese are only generous when it suits them, although this was rather questionable, but the phenomenon of children’s attitudes towards the refugee problem was indeed a reality in more ways than one.
The activity also included discussions on fair trade, social justice and the state of the left wing movements.