I think one of the big issues that must be acted upon now and talked about in the coming election is the protection of our natural environment and our agricultural land.

This makes sense when seen from all angles. We and our children lose when the natural environment becomes impoverished. We need free air, natural scenery unencumbered by cement and concrete. Malta becomes less attractive to tourists, so it is economic sense to protect our natural habitats, and Mepa is not protecting our natural environment. There are many good people in the Authority but there seem to be loopholes in the Structural Plan. Handing out heavy fines is not enough, first and foremost because it will hit the less able the hardest. Rehabilitating what has been ruined is needed. I think we all know the natural worth of our islands, even if unconsciously. It was with delight that I saw pictures of Ramla Bay and Imgarr ix-Xini valley on an Eko-Gozo brochure. With satisfaction, I remembered that these two places were to be ruined with development nearby that was stopped because NGOs and ordinary people protested.

The political parties should tell us how they are going to protect the natural environment, not be bedfellows in the ruin of it. The Catholic Church, which pretends to be a leading light and the moral conscience, should teach more about this moral obligation and lead by example. A case in point is Nadur cemetery. In a recent publication of Nadur parish church, the Cemetery Association said that a kind of bunker encompassed the graves so that nothing passes down. But I ask: where is the rainwater going? I agree that people have a right to bury their dear departed, but it should be done without contaminating natural spring water. A mistake is not corrected by making it bigger. The Church should move towards the light and see the impact of this cemetery – and reverse this blunder, even if it costs some money. Other abuses are rectified, so why not this one?

Birdlife is using a great deal of energy to catch illegal hunters and bird trappers. It should focus on protecting the natural land and maybe even collaborate with hunters and trappers on this issue. These things should not be dealt with sentimentally. If they were, then we should not eat fish, meat, etc. The issue is protecting the species and as Malta is not on a main migration route, what we do will not affect it much. To put it crudely, we can import birds but not natural land. If it is destroyed, Malta is ruined and no birds will stop here.

Even the mass media does not talk about the protection of the natural environment. Maybe that tells you what everybody is doing: thinking about economics and votes and about protecting their bubble.

So I suggest you use your vote for the natural environment. I suggest you pass on your wishes to your political party so it changes for the better or else change your party, if you believe it will do nothing to save our natural land. If you are a church member, I suggest you take a critical stance regarding decisions by church leaders. I suggest you talk about the natural environment as well when you talk about the needs of man.

Joe Portelli

NADUR