That climate warming is a phenomenon which is really happening has now been accepted by practically everybody. Those who remain in denial have become a minority that is almost totally discredited. On a world scale, developments have been unfolding which provide evidence of the ongoing warming, as with the rapidly melting ice at the poles.

What I believe is still missing though is a good enough scientific measure of how warming is affecting particular countries and regions. Yes, the huge fires that are decimating forests and the unexpected rise in ocean temperatures are usually highlighted. But over the decades, numerous climatic changes were recorded that were caused by temporary movements in atmospheric conditions or in ocean currents which had nothing to do with global warming.

The measure that needs to be established would take into account the difference between temporary changes and those caused by the systemic warming of the climate; it would measure the latter and place it on the same scale as other similar recorded changes, relating them to specific countries and regions. In this way, all the earth’s inhabitants, no matter where they are situated, would know directly how global warming is affecting them. 

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SUSPICION

Certain educational outcomes in Malta get a frequent mention as they do not compare well with those of  the rest of Europe. Among them one finds the number of early school-leavers and of those who fail to attain basic educational competences. This happens despite the fact that comparatively, Maltese expenditures per capita on education are among the highest in Europe.

Now for those of us who observe “from the outside” what is happening in the country’s educational system, the suspicion has arisen that in order to counter this problem, a mistaken strategy is being adopted. Instead of launching a long term effort (admittedly a difficult task) to get an improvement in results, qualifications and the contents of courses are being lowered and loosened. On paper, outcomes will appear to have improved, but in truth we will have made a step back, not forward.

Unfortunately this is becoming a growing suspicion.    

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PRIME MINISTER

I cannot understand precisely what gave root to the political scandal which erupted recently in Australia when it became known that former Prime Minister Morrison had decided during his tenure, to enter as minister alongside and on top of five ministers who remained in office. They were not informed that Morrison had butted in on their responsibilities; nor is it clear what he achieved by doing so.

He has defended himself by saying that at a time of a huge emergency (this happened during the pandemic) it was important for him to be personally in charge of the most vital sectors. But if the ministers already running them did not know about his move and did not even realize he had done it, what effective control did he have? And what real need was there for what he “did”?

It’s a very bizarre story – including the decision of the Governor General of Australia to secretly give the ministerial oaths of office to Morrison when there were already ministerial appointees fully in charge.