From Mr J. Portelli

They say Mme d’Esparbes, one of Louis XV’s many mistresses, did not confine her favours to the royal couch. “You have slept with all my subjects,” protested Louis one day. Mme d’Esparbes denied this.

“You have slept with the Duc de Choiseul!”

“Yes, sire, but he is so powerful.”

“The Marechal de Richelieu!”

“But he is so witty.”

“Mainville?”

“But he has such beautiful legs!”

“Very well, but how about the Duc d’Aumont, who has none of these attractions?”

“Ah, sire, he is so devoted to Your Majesty!”

When I read this story, the excuses accompanying each adulteration of the natural environment in Malta and Gozo came to mind.

I have heard people say that when the building industry slows down, so does our economy. Therefore, sacrificing our natural environment is necessary. But can we let this happen at the expense of ruining forever our natural heritage? Can Malta and Gozo venture forward with everything built up? Our quality of life will become poorer. Let’s not reduce everything to money and the economy. But even if we talk in terms of the economy, Malta and Gozo will not remain a quality destination if we do not take care of our natural heritage.

Others say it is right to build to enjoy spectacular views, even it means ruining the view for all the others.

Others say money talks and money walks. But if this is so, we are in the clutches of the Mafia.

The government and the Labour Party say they are in favour of the environment. If this is so, they should protect the most important things: our coastline, our cliffs, our open spaces, our ecosystems – be it agricultural land, garigue, woodland, cliffs, boulder shore and so on.

If the Structural Plan is not clear and Mepa is subsequently taking doubtful decisions, the law must be made clear to protect our natural environment from further abuse.

Joe Portelli

NADUR