Maybe it's just a wrong impression but even if so, it is held by many. Over the years, the Maltese population has experienced a decline of technical skills. Or rather, there's been a decrease in the number of people who've been trained in the traditonal skills required for the maintenance of houses and offices, and in the modern methods by which these skills now get deployed.

Perhaps this impression has arisen because the big enterprises which used to train and employ technical people are no longer in business. Top of the list, we lost the shipyards which were a main supplier of technical skills and were left to sink amidst an inexplicable general indifference. But others as well - in addition to the shipyards, there were firms and training establishments that today have become memories.

And so problems arise when you need to find quickly someone to make fast repairs at homes and offices.  Foreign personnel are increasingly being engaged as technical operators in factories. The reason given is that Maltese workers aren't available.

There is a vital need to ensure that technical skills reacquire the widespread prestige and interest they enjoyed in the past.

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NATO

As a military organization, NATO had the reputation of being a formidable alliance with full control over European territory. Many consider its essential aim to have been the underwriting of US dominance as a superpower. Complaints made by the US that they were carrying too big a financial burden in order to, they claimed, safeguard Europe's security and freedom, did not give rise to major crises. Except when General de Gaulle was French President, the Europeans continued to rely on the American military umbrella while accepting US leadership on most military fronts. Sometimes fissures developed, like when the US decided to invade Iraq. Even so, the relationship between members of NATO hardly changed.

That's no longer the case. NATO has never seemed so hesitant and confused. The Trump administration is insisting relentlessly for the Europeans to put more money and resources upfront and run Europe's defence on their own steam. It has made clear it will decrease its strategic and military commitments in Europe to concentrate on the Pacific. And it is bitterly criticising the Europeans for failing to show solidarity with American military "initiatives".

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WCPE

In the US state of North Carolina, a radio station called WCPE broadcasts 24 hours every day programmes of classical music (only performances, no discussions) that are always presented live by an announcer. The station also streams "live" uninterruptedly over the internet and so can be heard the world over. Every day it publishes on the internet the full list of musical pieces that it will be transmitting on that day.

Understandably, the WCPE team boast they are unique, as no other music station in the world provides so much service to people who share their interests. They're quite right about that. Self-financing on the basis of contributions made by its listeners, the station has been in business for almost fifty years and is run by volunteers. Their story is hardly believable.