The news that a Maltese agricultural item, cheeselets made from sheep's milk, is getting the status of an original product, on a European basis, was very welcome. As a matter of fact, many speeches are delivered to show a high regard for agriculture - which is as it should be. Not always however are they followed up with effective decisions. At least, this one about the cheeselets was - although with some delay.
As a people, we're still not clear regarding how to evaluate the need to foster Maltese agriculture. There are some who believe (without saying it clearly) that best if we forget it; the island is too small for farming to make economic sense. And perhaps, those who share this idea are not completely mistaken.
Others believe that agriculture cannot be allowed to wither away because it offers a substantive basis for the survival of our people at a time of crisis; and because no country can do without an activitiy that produces food from its soil.
Who's right or wrong on this issue cannot be decided here, It is clear however that we must decide on the importance that should be given to agriculture in this country. Whether we need it to underwrite the country's future survival. How we want it to be, if we decide to keep it. And if the answer to all this is positive (as I believe it should be), how to navigate across EU policies in order to sustain it.
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ENDEMIC CORRUPTION
That corruption is endemic in all human societies appears to be an uncomfortable truth, difficult to deny. That it prevails more easily in a society where the govenrment takes a bigger role, compared to how things are done in more "liberal" societies is a conclusion that finds much support. But it is totally mistaken. In both the public and in the private sectors, the temptations of corruption arise (not all taking the same format). Similarly, corruption is not a sickness typical of modern times - John T Noonan's excellent study about it, starts by referring to the history of ancient Mesopotamia, some five thousand years ago.
And in our era, examples of out-and-out corruption surfaced in the US, EU memberstates, China, Russia, including the Vatican. What is sure: many other cases must have remained under the radar.
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READING LITERATURE
It is the case that apart from some exceptions, reading literature was never the pastime of the big majority of people. The exceptions occurred mostly when first the skills of reading and writing started being taught to all.
Today, the reading of literature has declined greatly everywhere. A reason is that the social communications media via internet have taken most of the space and time that formerly people used to dedicate to reading.
A friend of mine made a different point: "Nobody can stop technological advances. They will continue. The problem is that literature and those who are interested in it, as readers or as writers, are not adapting to the new conditions. Somehow, new forms of expression should be created, new literary vehicles, that would fit into today's communications systems. If this is being done, which I doubt, the process still lacks momentum."