Years ago, when many European countries, including Malta, had prohibited by law smoking in all enclosed public spaces (bars, restaurants...), France still allowed it. Now having like the others banned it, France is upfront in extending the prohibition on enclosed public places to open ones (squares, beaches...), which is still not the case in Malta and other countries.

Even if smokers will disagree, the French move makes sense. Actually the number of smokers has been declining in recent years, which surely should be considered a success for the public health campaigns that were run concerning the use of tobacco over this period. No doubt the ban contributed to a reduction in the incidence of cancer caused by smoking by young people and the elderly. So, it would be a good thing if the new French initiative served as a model for others.

Still by contrast to the success achieved in the battle against tobacco, a major problem has become the fast (not to say explosive) growth in the consumption of drugs across all of Europe, Malta included.

***

THE BURDENS OF CLIMATE WARMING

I'm not sure that one can say some countries are suffering more than others from the effects of climate warming. For how are such effects being measured country by country? Few still contest that warming is occurring. The argument has slided towards the point that if is happening, the phenomenon is not earth shaking. It will pass over or become a habitual fact of life, like other global changes, whether natural or man-made.

There exists a number of ways by which the effects of warming can be gauged, not only in "organic", "natural" terms alone, but also in the financial, human (health, birth rates...) and social (jobs, dwellings...) dimensions. On the basis of these approaches one could perhaps move forward to a unified measure of how each and every country is being affected in real terms.  It doesn't seem like we have up to now reached this stage on a world wide basis, that applies to all the same measure by which to estimate the effects of warming.

***

ANIMAL WELFARE

Although a conscience in favour of animal rights and respect towards them have increased, a lot still remains to be done. No matter what the law says, the belief is still too prevalent that since an animal is hardly better than an object, it doesn't really suffer when subjected to acts of cruelty, especially if people enjoy making it suffer. The idea is still strong as well that since an animal is an object, one can throw it away when one doesn't "need" it any more. Recent news items about the atrocious torture and killing of stray cats put this problem under the spotlight.

The authorities are doing well to increasingly emphasize programmes of animal welfare and to introduce professional regulations covering those who care for and protect animals (vets, veterinary technicians and the rest). Where a lot still needs to be done is, as usual, in the area of enforcement.