Two essential issues stand out by their absence in the public debate that is incessantly being held - as should be the case in a democracy. Security and foreign policies never get mentioned in Parliament, are not highlighted at all in media programmes and feature even less in election campaigns. Sometimes, we get some discussion concerning neutrality but it is almost never contexted within a general vision of the international relations which Malta should cultivate. The same applies to security policy - the most it got reviewed was when irregular immigration became a flash point because of the arrival of many boat people. Since such arrivals have declined to practically zero, the issue now very rarely gets mentioned.

The reason for this lack of public interest in such matters is because they are taken care of by the EU - so we get told. When we discuss them, we do so as part of the process by which the EU is undertaking its mission. Yet, within the EU's purview, many of the competences that relate to foreign and security policies remain a national responsibility. Decisions about them at European level are taken following discussions-cum-negotiations between the governments of member states. They all enter that process after having discussed and set their policies in their respective national capitals.

***

ANIMAL RIGHTS

How do human rights relate to animal rights? - that is, if the latter exist. To date, we still organize our lives around the principle that the whole world is ours. All other species of animals should be kept under tight human control and eventually serve to enhance the best interests of humanity. If we deal more "humane"ly with other beasts outside our species, this is done as an act of mercy not because animals have any right to benefit from such treatment.

After all, humanity has not always been "on top". During the epochs when it was not, the problem of rights was never raised. So why is it that today, some people refer to animal rights in order to protect beasts which are not humans? It isn't only hunters and embalmers who chafe at this development.

***

DRIVING

Day in, day out, horrible traffic accidents are reported and seem to be on the rise. Clearly the phenomenal increase in vehicles on the road is one reason accounting for this. But other reasons are also mentioned.

Among them, you get told that: the quality of driving on the road has been deteriorating as... drivers bother less about driving safely and never use indicators to show whether they intend to turn right or left; many secondary roads are in bad shape but drivers still race through them; too many motorcycles are now in circulation and they get driven with a sense of adventure in speed; frustrated drivers who have spent time stuck in traffic, are all too eager to get to their destination quickly, with tragic consequences.

A friend of mine remarked: One cannot forget either, the worry experienced by drivers as they commute - about where and how they will park when they reach their destination... which becomes a major distraction...