Malta followed with interest and awe the recent story of the child abandoned in one of the streets of Cospicua. The interest aroused by this one child has been overwhelming. People, it seems, gave this matter more importance than other current or political events in the country at the time. The print media dedicated reels of paper and loads of journalist time and resources. It seems that for a magic moment Malta stopped and, oblivious of any other thing in life, was concerned only about this child.

Two reflections come to mind: If there is any need of proof that Malta still has the hospitable spirit of St Paul in its veins, this is it! The Maltese still value life and give it paramount importance. The Pro-life movement or 9+ campaign must be extremely happy because there is no doubt that their message has knocked at the hearts of the Maltese nation. Our dearest new: archbishop should be elated.

But on the other hand I thought: 40,000 children die of hunger, lack of hygene or malnutrition every single day of our living lives in Third World Countries. With the media and globalization nowadays, no country is that far! So if this one child has aroused so much concern (and we know that happenings like this are very rare in Malta) what would the thought of 40,000 children dying in front of our very eyes every single day for lack of basic needs like food, potable safe water and medicines to survive the end of a day, do to us?

Let us appreciate what we have first of all and thank the Lord for it. Secondly let us not stop there! Let us make a difference in this world by promoting life and love especially love for the poorest of the poor like Mother Teresa used to say. Let us not leave a stone unturned. When once interviewed as to what will happen when suffering due to famine is no more, Mother Teresa replied 'We will be unemployed'. So let us pray to God that we become all ‘unemployed’.

Ian Azzopardi (Founder – Mission Fund)

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