Is it not somewhat curious how here in Malta, we do not seem to be at all troubled by the situation in Libya which no matter what could be said about it, still remains very unstable? In report after report about the country, the fear is expressed that it is not likely to achieve a stable governance even over the medium term.

Apart from that, what also is striking in such reports arriving from foreign news agencies, is the most natural reference they make now about how the present impasse resulted from NATO's armed involvement there. It seems nobody contests any more this version of what happened.

Apparently too, as a result of that involvement, apart from the political instability that has persisted to this day, another fact that stands out is how Libya has very little influence in the councils where major oil producers coordinate their plans. By contrast till some years ago, Libyan oil and how it would be supplied were key concerns for Western decision makers. If it is true that these decision makers managed to neutralise Libya by operating through NATO, it is difficult to argue that what they did amounted to a positive development... from the perspective of the Libyan people.

Meanwhile the country has become a zone where foreign interests from Russia to Turkey to France openly play out their competitive games.

***

EUROSCEPTIC

Coming from all quarters, the propaganda about how well Malta has done as a member of th EU is incessant. Meanwhile all that has gone askew is blamed on Joseph Muscat and his government.

There's another way however by which to evaluate what has happened. Many of today's problems follow from the options that the country had to choose in order to continue to develop, while remaining in conformity with EU policies, as it was obliged to do being a full Union member. Logically and in the long term, this choice of options would bring us to where we are now.

Now, one knows: such a view will immediately get tagged with the label of being a leftover from the past. The same label gets attached to all those who - would you believe there that such infidels can exist? - do not believe with undying faith in the holy advantages that Union membership brought with it to all of us. The severest verdict then is: You're just a eurosceptic!

***

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

I'm unconvinced that on the environment all that needs to be done to protect it is being implemented.

But as well I'm not prepared to believe (unless convincing proof is made available) that some underhand conspiracy exists between government leaders and the construction lobby to just not bother at all about the environment. More likely is the suspicion that for reasons of political and economic convenience, too many people with decision-making responsibilities at all levels find it comfortably easy to underestimate the environmental damage that their decisions will cause. This might seem to be a venial sin. It is not.

The impact of every single decision, on its own, is considered to be marginal, equivalent to that of a crumb. However, taken together, the cumulative impact of decisions is pulling us towards a disaster. Since it hasn't yet arrived, "everybody" prefers to live easily and comfortably.