Malta’s civil society has, en masse, issued an environmental clarion call to the nation that needs to be answered today.  That is because if we do not answer that call to Valletta, that absence could very well provide the opening verses of what will beyond doubt become a swansong for the country’s environment.

That is, quite clearly, because no government would make the significant changes to the status quo unless enough people out there demand it – enough people to lead them to think that their electoral majority may stand at risk.

And, frankly, so far the status quo has been environmental destruction on all fronts, not in the national interest but in the unholy interest of greed, bottom lines and the bank balances of the fat cats who are pulling the strings.

This certainly has to stop, or be stopped.  And since the government appears unwilling to stop it, civil society has now stepped forward, is leveraging its clout and will today demand a stop to the madness we see all around us.  This country, after all, is finitely limited in space and at the rate things are going we are headed towards a national case of claustrophobia.

And since the government appears rather reticent to make any real moves to bring the country’s unabated development under control, it has now fallen to the people themselves to demand change, a change of the better.

The powers that be need reminding that this is, in fact, our country, and it is not a piece of land to be sold off in parcels to the highest bidders at the convenience, connivance and compliance of the governments of the day, for all governments of all days have been guilty of the same offence: of buckling under the pressure of developers and contractors, and of sacrificing our very environment upon the altar of economic gain.

The people are clearly sick to the gills of the wanton development, the uglification of this country and of our open spaces and greenery being subjugated in the interest of lining the pockets of the few, many of whom are undoubtedly official or unofficial sponsors of one political party or another. 

The biggest and best, of course, donate, rather cynically, to both.

And this is one of the main reasons why the organisers have insisted that this morning’s event not be politically tinged, and why they have made it expressly clear that Members of Parliament are not welcome to piggyback on this one.  That is because both of the main political parties stand charged with the destruction of this country’s environment, albeit to varying degrees.

The environment must no longer be used as a political football for the mileage of whatever party is in Opposition, or for government politicians to ironically and more than somewhat falsely pretend to stand up to the situation which their own political masters would be perfectly able to sort out, if, that is, they had any will whatsoever to do so.

This ban should also make it a lot easier for people to attend without fear or favour, and to stand up and be counted for our environment.

Anyone reading this piece this morning in time to get down to Valletta is beseeched to attend if you love your country and are concerned about its future. 

And if you did not make it, spare the time to go over protestors’ demands, reflect on them and think about what you really want for the future of this country and its children and decide on what action you can personally take to curtail the wholesale destruction of the country as we know and love it.