The government has presented us with a fait accompli on the foreign university and Middle Eastern investor, and development in an ODZ. Then to show us its burning love for the environment, we have been promised a natural park. That ODZ land it is going to ruin, is already a natural park. Don't mess with it.

The advertisements on Gozo, with billboards showing horse riding in Ramla and off-roading with motor cycles, show a lack of sensitivity for the environment. This craze to bring people to Gozo will not benefit Gozo as much as much-needed actions would, like for example turning the disused quarry at Hondoq into a natural and family park like the one in Marsascala, and a public swimming pool as part of the Gozo Sports Complex in the area of the secondary schools.

The continued building on ridges will continue to transform and uglify our perched villages.

The proposal to sanction 10,000 illegal developments will reward illegalities. This will not make Malta the best in Europe.

The first law of this government is the economy. This is accelerating the ruination of what is left of natural land and is not educating the people to take care of it. Our Opposition is weak. It is encumbered by the sins of the past and by people who wish to be popular, not people who have at heart the natural land.

I propose that TV documentaries about our natural land and fauna and flora be done to educate and this by government funds. Till now it is private individuals or companies who are doing their best but they have limited funds. And you, who are in contact with the parties, speak out and convert your party. And you, Church, don't be afraid to speak out, you who are supposed to be the conscience of Malta. Soon, we will be reading the Pope's encyclical on the environment.

Joe Portelli

Nadur