It is rare to see the correspondence pages of The Malta Independent graced by such a magnificent example of cheap vulgar sarcasm as the letter sent in by one J. Falzon from Rabat (So truly sorry, TMID, 10 November). This letter was high in content of irrelevant nonsense about warming backsides, political innuendo, et cetera; but very low in substance.

Yes, indeed, quality of life has deteriorated in Malta, exactly because of the way Mr Falzon (and, sadly, so many other people) view “quality of life”.

Mr Falzon’s sort of “quality of life” (or standard of living, if you so wish) is measured in terms of car ownership, the bigger the better, and cheap electricity which, until recently, was subsidised to such an extent that it could be wasted to heart’s content. Mr Falzon’s quality of life includes not caring a fig about pollution. Never mind the harm we are causing to our children who grow up in such a polluted atmosphere that so many of them are asthmatic (the highest rate ever recorded worldwide) and their lungs stunted. Our quality of life is fine for Mr Falzon as long as energy comes cheap and it costs little to drive around in a big car.

Now, Mr Falzon, might it be possible that you got it all wrong? You see, in more civilised and advanced countries as, say, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, Holland quality of life means something quite different to what you think. It means plenty of exercise. It means walking a lot and cycling or using public transport whenever possible, rather than using a car. It means children growing up healthy in less polluted surroundings. It means paying the full price for energy and using it carefully. This readiness to pay a fair price for energy even goes as far as a willingness to pay even more for electricity in Denmark if it means that it is generated from a clean source like wind.

Sorry Mr Falzon, you are a bit behind the times.

Dr G Debono

St Julian’s