How wise was the "Maltese" decision to specialise in the international activity of internet gambling? It is true that the Maltese economy has been boosted by its participation in this sector. But one cannot just ignore what the related economic activity is based on and consists of. It rides on the temptation every person experiences at one time or another - to try his/her luck... and earn money, not for work done to create a product or some valid project... but because one has gotten lucky.
No doubt, the sector is vibrant. Good earnings are made in it by the big operators as well as the small-time employees. But nothing about it inspires confidence in a serious and well-occupied endeavour. Wherever betting operations congregated, not least in the US, criminal and mafia empires flourished.
Yet when the sector was introduced here, no one raised any problem. The best economists, lawyers and accountants considered it was a good idea. The Catholic Church which is always at the ready to preach to us - lately even against creches for young children - never said a word against the "vipers" in our midst who promote internet gaming out of Malta.
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HOW EUROPEANS ARE SEEN
A cynical obseerver of world history could claim that after four centuries and more during which Europeans sought to colonise the rest of the world, they started dreaming about human rights. This happened at the time when they were forced to withdraw from their empires. Today, they believe they have the right to give lessons to other peoples about what constitutes good and humane governance. They would like others to import their values and methods of governance - otherwise they draw back and consider how to refuse recognition or cancel relationships. They insist on certain codes of behaviour, failing which they apply sanctions.
Yet, when their fundamental economic and social intersts begin to get squeezed, Europeans know how to soften their messaging. Unsurprisingly, countries which happen to be ex-colonies do not trust them so much.
Possibly, this is too negative a judgement. A problem for Europeans is that it finds too many people who agree with it.
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CHILDREN AS ADULTS
Projects by which children get a voice in ongoing public affairsn, especially if they stand to be somehow affected by ongoing developments, are a good idea. Still, they should be conducted sensibly and purdently, apart from being genuinely intended. It's quite clear there's no merit in using children as a tool by which to deliver a message that is not really theirs, but actually emanates from whoever is guiding them forward. At least, when this game is being played, it quickly becomes apparent and can be easily detected and discarded.
More problematic is the situation in which children are prodded forward... frequently in a genune manner... towards behaviour that is felt as adult, which indeed it mimics. In this way, no meaningful outcome can be secured. Children who imitate mature behaviour are certainly not expressing the real needs of childhood and even less are they participating meaningfully in the adult world. Childhood should be allowed to develop as childhood.