The Christmas and the New Year period always brings with it a wave of generosity from the Maltese people. Whether this wave of generosity is really such, however, remains to be seen.

We see it happening year after year that thousands of liri are donated to charitable institutions and political parties during the whole of December. Considering the small size of our population, the amount of money generated is extraordinary.

What I do not like in all this is that many people seem to give only when they can get something in return.

While those charities whose fund-raising activities offer few or no prizes at all get

little attention from the public, those that offer cars, computers and whatnot, get much, much more. It makes you wonder whether people give because they want to help others in need or do so in the hope of winning something.

It would be interesting if, for one year, there is an agreement among those organisations who hold fund-raising activities not to give any prizes. I am sure that the amount of money collected would be much less.

Try it.

M. Micallef

Birkirkara