Mike's Beat

Candidature for Sliema Local Elections

2012-01-25T09:52:00.000+01:00

I will be contesting the sliema local council elections in March on behalf of AD-The Green Party. I was councillor between 2003-2009.

Sign the petition to save Wied il-Ghasel!

2012-01-22T23:06:00.003+01:00

Dear All,

I invite you to support the campaign to save the destructive development at Wied il-Ghasel, Mosta. Read all about it at http://www.it-tarka.com/

You can sign the petition at City Gate, Valletta, 11am-8pm weather permitting.

You can also obtain petition sheets and send them to Harsien Patrimonju Mosti

As Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, I am supporting this campaign

Michael Briguglio

What would AD have done?

2012-01-20T10:27:00.001+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, Friday 20th January, 2012
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120120/opinion/What-would-AD-have-done-.403087

Like some other members of Parliament from both sides of the House, Franco Debono was right in raising certain issues during this legislature. Yet, his strategy of holding the government at ransom for his issues confirmed that, in spite of the parliamentary Whips, the government here is made up of a coalition of individuals, unlike practically all European countries where governments comprise coalitions of parties.

The Franco Debono issue has shown that Malta, more than ever, requires reforms in its democratic system to ensure as much fair parliamentary representation and stability as possible. It is for this reason that Alternattiva Demokratika has been proposing an electoral system similar to the German one, which ensures representation both through election at district level (as is the case in Malta right now) and also through a national quota.

In the past days, many have asked me what AD would do were we in Dr Debono’s situation.

If we are represented in Parliament we would propose reforms in various areas and would work with the government and the opposition to attain them.

If we form a coalition with another party, we would agree on a joint programme and work to achieve it when in Parliament. If the programme is drawn up on the basis of mutual respect and understanding stability can be ensured. This is the norm all over the EU, where coalition governments operate on the basis of fair representation leading to a functional government. Green parties frequently feature in such coalitions.

Being a responsible party, we would respect the fact that we would be a minor partner in a coalition. We would surely not resort to threats to have our way at all costs as this would not only bring about unwarranted instability in Malta’s democratic system but would also mean that we would be committing political suicide.
AD has made its position clear on the Franco Debono issue through press statements and various TV interventions, including on Xarabank and TVAM. We made it clear that were we in Parliament we would have acted as a responsible party and that we were not rubbing our hands in anticipation of an election.

Many contacted me to express their support for our responsible approach, yet, some others expected us to join the speculation brigade and to issue a press release every five minutes on the matter. We said what he had to say on the issue and we will say more when we deem fit to say so. However, this does not mean that we should simply shut up on other issues, from the local to the national, European and global.
One local topic is the destructive development at Wied il-Għasel, Mosta. Indeed, as Mark Anthony Falzon remarked in The Sunday Times (January 15), while the Franco Debono issue monopolised media attention, the development in this valley was still taking place. AD is the only political party opposing this development together with environmental NGOs and the inspirational Ħarsien Patrimonju Mosti, which, unlike the locality’s local council, is doing its utmost to lobby on this issue.

I invite readers get more information on this at www.it-tarka.com/ and to sign a national petition opposing the development.

AD is speaking on various other local issues, from the need for more accessible public spaces to the need for better infrastructure because we feel we have the responsibility to do so at all times. Everyday democracy means that issues related to quality of life should be high on the political agenda.

On the national front, we are also declaring our position very clearly on a myriad of environmental, social and economic issues.

Just to mention a few, and to show how we can be clearly distinguished from other parties, we are the only party calling for a sustainable water policy when illegal boreholes are bringing Malta close to a water crisis.

We are the only party calling for a balance between sensible economic policy and progressive and socially just fiscal measures, such as those against property speculation, when more than 25 per cent of properties are vacant in Malta.

We are the only party calling for equal rights for LGBT persons and other minorities in family and social policy.

We are calling for the modernisation of censorship legislation and for humane and sustainable policies on immigration.

Unlike PNPL, but like experts in the field, we are calling for the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use and real help for drug users, rather than imprisonment, which only increases problems for such victims. Cheap populism is not on our agenda.

AD is the only party not held to ransom by egoistic lobbies such as Armier squatters, hunters and trappers, firework fanatics, contractors with cash and destructive developers.

Voting for AD would, therefore, be a vote for change in the style of governance and for stability. If one believes in giving priority to social justice, civil rights, environmental justice, sustainable development, ecological modernisation and, last but not least, the reform in the institutional set-ups for the enhancement of democracy, one knows where one stands with the greens. Voting for the Nationalist Party and for the Labour Party would mean voting for the political status quo.

Mr Briguglio, a sociologist, is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance, Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Appeal to AD activists, members and supporters

2012-01-13T15:31:00.000+01:00

Dear Green Activists, Members and Supporters,

In view of the upcoming elections (local, and probably, general), I strongly appeal to each one of us to help AD in any way one can. 5 minutes worth of work is better than nothing, and a 1 euro donation is better than nil !

Amongst others, we require volunteers to distribute fliers in households, to write letters in the press and the social media, to attend public events, and to generate funds for our campaigns (as regards the latter, I am posting message below which you may wish to circulate).

If there is any way how you can help AD, please contact us at the earliest on one of these email addresses:

info@alternattiva.org.mt
cassarralph@gmail.com
mbrig@hotmail.com

There's no better time than now to be active for the green cause! You will make a difference!
A new parliament deserves a new party!

In solidarity,

Michael Briguglio
Chairperson AD - The Green Party

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Appeal for donations - Alternattiva Demokratika The Green Party
You will make a difference!

Join, donate or help Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party

Dear Friends,

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party is committed to remain active for social justice, environmental justice and civil rights and to keep speaking up for us all. Your support is crucial.

AD needs your financial help now more than ever. A simple leaflet sent to all households in Malta and Gozo costs around 7000 Euros. Just one
billboard for one month costs around 2000 Euros. Recording electoral video spots professionally will easily cost another 2000 Euros. Are you ready to help AD?

It would really be appreciated if you give a kind donation or make a standing order addressed to Alternattiva Demokratika. Both can easily be done through internet banking or through the post. Cheques can be sent through the post as detailed below.

Ralph Cassar
Secretary General
ralph.cassar@alternattiva.org.mt / info@alternattiva.org.mt

DONATIONS BY POST

Cheques (written out to 'Alternattiva Demokratika' can be sent to either:

Alternattiva Demokratika,
c/o Simon Galea (Treasurer),
73, Flt1, Sardinella
Triq Andrew Cunningham
Qawra SPB1747

OR

Alternattiva Demokratika
P.O. Box 38
Marsa MTP 1001

DONATIONS THROUGH INTERNET BANKING

Standing orders and/or deposits can be made to the Bank of Valletta
account number shown below through your bank’s internet banking
service:

Alternattiva Demokratika BOV account details:

BANK OF VALLETTA account no: 40015056960
BANK BIC: VALLMTMT
IBAN MT47 VALL 2201 3000 0000 4001 5056 960.

Donations can also be made at any BOV branch (just ask to deposit into
the Alternattiva Demokratika current account).

Appeal for donations - Alternattiva Demokratika The Green Party

2012-01-11T11:56:00.003+01:00

You will make a difference!
Join, donate or help Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party
Dear Friends,

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party is committed to remain active for social justice, environmental justice and civil rights and to keep speaking up for us all. Your support is crucial.

AD needs your financial help now more than ever. A simple leaflet sent to all households in Malta and Gozo costs around 7000 Euros. Just one
billboard for one month costs around 2000 Euros. Recording electoral video spots professionally will easily cost another 2000 Euros. Are you ready to help AD?

It would really be appreciated if you give a kind donation or make a standing order addressed to Alternattiva Demokratika. Both can easily be done through internet banking or through the post. Cheques can be sent through the post as detailed below.

Ralph Cassar
Secretary General
ralph.cassar@alternattiva.org.mt / info@alternattiva.org.mt

DONATIONS BY POST

Cheques (written out to 'Alternattiva Demokratika' can be sent to either:

Alternattiva Demokratika,
c/o Simon Galea (Treasurer),
73, Flt1, Sardinella
Triq Andrew Cunningham
Qawra SPB1747

OR

Alternattiva Demokratika
P.O. Box 38
Marsa MTP 1001

DONATIONS THROUGH INTERNET BANKING

Standing orders and/or deposits can be made to the Bank of Valletta
account number shown below through your bank’s internet banking
service:

Alternattiva Demokratika BOV account details:

BANK OF VALLETTA account no: 40015056960
BANK BIC: VALLMTMT
IBAN MT47 VALL 2201 3000 0000 4001 5056 960.

Donations can also be made at any BOV branch (just ask to deposit into
the Alternattiva Demokratika current account).

Lejn użu sostenibbli tal-ilma

2012-01-10T22:32:00.000+01:00

Michael Briguglio

7 ta'Jannar 2012
Il-Gens Illum
http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=12687

Malta hi waħda mill-iktar pajjiżi niexfa fid-dinja, iżda mhux qed tingħata prijorità għall-politika sostenibbli dwar l-ilma.

F’pajjiżna, madwar 60 fil-mija tal-ilma tax-xorb jiġi mill-impjanti tar-reverse osmosis, li jikkunsmaw ħafna enerġija. Iktar dipendenza fuq din it-teknoloġija hija riskjuża, għax dan ifisser li jekk, per eżempju, ikun hemm xi inċident ta’ xi tanker taż-żejt ħdejn Malta, ikollna diżastru sħiħ! Malta għandha faċilitajiet ta’ ħażna tal-ilma ta’ 48 siegħa biss.

Tajjeb ngħidu li f’pajjiżna hemm madwar 8,000 borehole privata, li jieħdu l-ilma mill-pjan għal użu varju fosthom produzzjoni ta’ soft drinks, trobbija tal-annimali, manifattura, manifattura tal-konkrit, pixxini, agrikultura, u ġonna – mingħajr ħlas ta’ xejn. Probabbli pajjiżna għandu l-ikbar rata ta’ boreholes fid-dinja, meta tqis id-daqs tal-pajjiż.

L-użu tal-boreholes huwa insostenibbli, u esperti qed jgħidu li jekk nibqgħu bl-istess prattiċi tal-preżent, fi 15-il sena l-ilma tal-pjan tant se jkun mielaħ li ma jkun tajjeb għal xejn. B’hekk, pajjiżna miexi lejn sitwazzjoni fejn inkunu totalment dipendenti mill-ilma tar-reverse osmosis.

Qegħdin f’sitwazzjoni fejn il-maġġoranza tal-poplu jħallsu l-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma, waqt li oħrajn jisirqu l-ilma li jiġi mill-boreholes.

Wasal iż-żmien li l-ilma tal-pjan jiġi protett u li jkun hemm miżuri sostenibbli, per eżempju dwar ilma riċiklat.

Huwa pożittiv li l-Gvern se jdaħħal sistema fejn il-boreholes ikollhom arloġġ biex wieħed ikejjel il-konsum tal-ilma, iżda żgur li l-Gvern beda tard u mhux miexi bl-urġenza li titlob din il-kwistjoni. U hemm bosta miżuri oħrajn li għandhom jittieħdu mill-iktar fis.

Immedjatament, il-boreholes mhux irreġistrati għandhom jitwaqqfu minnufih, u l-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma għandu jkollha l-prijorità fl-użu tal-ilma tal-pjan. B’hekk, il-Korporazzjoni tkun f’pożizzjoni aħjar li tippjana użu sostenibbli ta’ dan ir-riżors strateġiku u anki tkompli twassal ilma liċ-ċittadini kollha bi prezz raġunat. Dan jagħmel sens ekonomiku, soċjali u ambjentali.

Il-bdiewa għandhom jitħallew jużaw l-ilma tal-pjan, iżda għandu jkun hemm sistema razzjonali u ppjanata li tinkoraġġixxi użu sostenibbli. Għalhekk għandu jkun hemm jew kwota mingħajr ħlas jew ħlasijiet minimi għall-użu ta’ dan l-ilma, skont id-daqs tal-għelieqi li jaħdmu fuqhom l-istess bdiewa. Iżda fuq medda itwal ta’ żmien, l-agrikultura, bħala settur strateġiku, għandha tuża ilma riċiklat ta’ kwalità tajba, permezz ta’ sussidju, jekk hemm bżonn – u tnaqqas id-dependenza fuq il-boreholes.

L-industrija ma għandhiex titħalla tuża ilma tal-pjan, u għandha tħallas rati kummerċjali għall-użu ta’ ilma tal-mains. Tajjeb li nsemmu li kumpanija prinċipali tas-soft drinks, li dan l-aħħar ironikament ingħatat premju ambjentali, qed tuża ilma tal-pjan għall-prodotti tagħha. L-industrija għandha tuża ilma riċiklat meta possibbli, u għandha tħallas prezz kummerċjali għall-użu ta’din ir-riżorsa strateġika. Jekk kumpanija ma tistax tħallas il-prezz kummerċjali tal-ilma, dan hu sinjal li l-istess kumpanija qiegħda tagħmel użu minn prattiċi insostenibbli.

Irridu nifhmu li m’hemmx ammont infinit ta’ ilma għall-użu tagħna. L-ilma li qiegħed jittella’ mill-boreholes privati qiegħed jittieħed mill-produzzjoni tal-WSC u minn ħalq uliedna.

Il-kwistjoni tal-ilma hi waħda ta’ ġustizzja ambjentali, ġustizzja soċjali u sens tajjeb ekonomiku. Kif jista’ jkun li riżorsa hekk skarsa qed tiġi trattata qisha xi waħda bi provvista bla limitu, u kif jista’ jkun li dawk li qed jieħdu l-ilma b’xejn qed jiġu ppremjati ta’ dan?

(NOTA: Dan kien il-ġist tad-diskors ta’ Michael Briguglio, Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, fil-konferenza ambjentali dwar l-ilma organizzata mill-Kummissjoni Ambjentali tal-Knisja u mill-Għaqda Maltija dwar l-Ilma, fl-10 ta’ Diċembru 2011)

AD's reaction to political situation in Malta

2012-01-07T20:07:00.002+01:00

In reaction to the current political situation, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party believes that, as was the case in 1998, the current situation shows that it is not necessarily true that a one-party government is stable. Unlike others we are not opportunistically rubbing our hands with joy and anticipation. Were AD in a Government coalition, we would be working for stability by being responsible and not by threatening government to have everything our way.

Threatening to bring down a government because of a reshuffle is not a valid reason.

What really causes potholes

2012-01-06T16:49:00.001+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, Friday 6th January 2012
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120106/opinion/What-really-causes-potholes.401192

When I sat on the Sliema local council, between 2003 and 2009, I had first-hand experiences of how governmental authorities such as those responsible for planning, the environment and transport were practically acting in the interests of the construction industry.

As the only Green local councillor I tried to influence the local council to act in the interest of residents who feel powerless when confronted with land developers and contractors who ride roughshod over their rights.

I was partially successful in persuading fellow councilors, blue and red, on the need to take concrete action. Indeed, the local council started to object to various development proposals, opted to consult residents on important issues and also took action against developers who did not abide by regulations. Some roads were resurfaced after faulty work and some others were actually resurfaced properly, as was the case with St Mary Street. We had also managed to block development such as the massive commercial and car park development at Qui-si-Sana garden and Chalet.

Even though I was very much disappointed that I was not elected in 2009 (having been elected in 2003 and 2006), I still treasure my years as local councillor and I also cherish the fact that I gained a lot of first-hand knowledge on the politics of construction.

Thus, I am not surprised when, all over Malta, I see crass disregard to residents’ rights by various developers and contractors. The pothole plague is a case in point.

I am sure no one believes that Malta has some adverse climatic condition that fills roads with craters. There must be other reasons for this. I am quite positive on two such reasons in this regard.

First, many contractors carry out shoddy work and do not make proper mixes of required materials when resurfacing roads.

When I served as councillor, we had asked the authority responsible for transport to inspect a particular road that was resurfaced and it transpired that the mix was faulty. I am quite sure that this is the case with many roads. Yet, unfortunately, many local councils simply close their eyes to such matters and action by Transport Malta is very infrequent, to say the least.

Contractors are engaged again to resurface roads in a faulty way and make money in the process!

Another reason for potholes and uneven surfaces has to do with the weight of trucks used for construction.

Such trucks are frequently overloaded and, thus, cause damage to roads, pavements, sewage systems and so forth.

If one takes the construction being carried out at the former Galaxy site in Sliema one would immediately witness damaged pavements, potholes and uneven roads in Old College Street, St Ignatius Junction, Depiro Street and Manwel Dimech Street.

Besides, heavy trucks sometimes drive over the precarious bridge in Old College Street. A sign barring trucks from passing over the bridge has mysteriously disappeared. To date, I am not aware of any enforcement in this regard.

Are the Motor Vehicles (Weights, Dimensions and Equipment) Regulations being adhered to? These rules lay down clear specifications on maximum permissible gross vehicle weight/axle weights for different vehicle configurations. I recently asked Transport Malta whether any inspections are carried out in this regard and the reply was that the Enforcement Directorate carries out roadside inspections in line with the regulations.

I hereby invite Transport Malta to publish reports on such inspections and on enforcement carried out.

Various construction projects are also characterised by blatant cases of lack of enforcement: the so-called protective “green nets” used for hoarding. Very often, such nets are simply ceremonial rags that make a parody of the Environmental Management Construction Site Regulations.

By way of example, I have been corresponding with the Sliema local council for almost two months on the fact that the same construction site mentioned above (the ex-Galaxy) lacks protective hoarding to conceal parts of the site, to the inconvenience of residents living a few metres away.

Initially, there was no hoarding, then it gradually began to appear and increase but a whole side of the development remains uncovered. To date, enforcement is lacking.

There is not much that the local council can do on this other than correspond with the respective authorities, which it did. The latter still have to take action in this respect. The same holds for other pseudo-hoarding all around Malta.
Unfortunately, the construction industry still retains disproportionate influence in the politics of the environment.

Needless to say, the lack of regulations on party financing means that contractors can finance political parties and politicians and, thus, invest in having carte blanche on their operations. Besides, both the Nationalist and the Labour parties remain committed to the ideology of endless development, even though the last census showed that a quarter of properties remain vacant.

This is one main reason why Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party will be fielding a number of candidates in March’s local elections in localities such as Balzan, Swieqi, Mosta, St Paul’s Bay, St Julians, Gżira and Attard, among others. The last locality already has a Green councillor, Ralph Cassar, who has been voicing the concerns of residents for years and has helped hinder overdevelopment in some areas.

Residents will have a chance to vote for councillors who have no obligations or ideological affiliations to the construction industry. The alternative is voting for the status quo. In this case, one can only expect more potholes and inconvenient construction practices, blessed by the authorities.

A happy New Year to the staff and readers of The Times.

The author, a sociologist, is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance, Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Solidarity before populism

2011-12-23T09:30:00.001+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, Friday January 23rd, 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111223/opinion/Solidarity-before-populism.399621

I recently formed part of a Green party delegation that visited the detention centre at Safi, which hosts irregular immigrants. We asked to visit the place after the riots that had taken place earlier this year.

We were warmly welcomed by the authorities that run the venue. Col Brian Gatt, who heads the centre, gave us a presentation and guided us around the place together with other officials.

We had the opportunity to talk to some of the detained migrants who are hosted in the so-called Block B. However, we did not visit the section known as the “warehouse”, which, as the name apparently suggests, is characterised by more overcrowding.

Judging by what I saw in Block B, I must admit that the situation is not as bad as I had thought it would be, even though, in the final analysis, we are still talking about a detention centre. There were some things that I was not aware of.
For example, recognised non-governmental organisations have access to the detention centre. Those that visit range from human rights NGOs to religious movements, including those of minority faiths in Malta.

Educational courses are given to the detainees, though I was not pleased to hear that those wanting to receive such education are handcuffed while walking to the venue in question. According to some detainees we spoke to, such treatment is degrading and leading to lack of attendance to such courses.

It must, however, be noted too that there were cases of detainees escaping in such situations and this led to more problems and sensationalism, especially by certain scaremongers within civil society and the press.

Other existing challenges include those related to language use, the plurality and diversity of ethnic groups that are not always compatible, vandal acts carried out by some and logistical problems related to the fact that the venue was not designed to be a detention centre.

Medical assistance exists on a 24-hour basis Those in a vulnerable state or who are in particular situations, for example children, the elderly and parents who arrived in Malta with their children, are immediately freed from detention if they are given medical clearance. These are transferred to open centres.

What struck me most from this visit was that the common appeal of the detainees to have a shorter detention period. I was moved when some of them expressed their gratitude to the fact that the Maltese armed forces saved them at sea. However, they pleaded for shorter detention periods.

Each detainee we met had a story to tell, a particular account amid a universality of misery and search for a better life. Their stories confirmed one of my maxims of life, that to live is to hope.

There are about 600 irregular immigrants in detention centres in Malta and many of them had their request for asylum refused. In such cases, such persons cannot be kept in detention for more than 18 months and, depending on the case, one remains in Malta or is sent back to one’s country if documentation exists and if the country is not declared as being in a dangerous state. On the other hand, immigrants who are granted asylum are detained for a maximum of 12 months.

While a short period of detention would be required for reasons such as the establishment of one’s identity and security, on the other hand, long detention periods are inhumane and can be counter-productive. In such situations, anxiety, stress and tension can flourish among detainees and officials. Besides, long detention periods are not practical for financial reasons.

A six-month maximum detention period should be more than enough for observation and security reasons and more humane and financially-viable alternatives can be found.

These include obligatory signing at police stations and compulsory health tests. Should one fail to meet with such requirements one would be sent back to detention. This would add a dimension of personal responsibility for one’s freedom.

Malta should give more importance to the humanitarian realities of immigrants through a policy that matches rights with responsibilities and which gives asylum rights to those who require them.

A sustainable integration policy should be universalist in scope, yet should consider immigrants as individuals with particular realities. For example, policies aiming to develop the capabilities of immigrants should be given the priority they deserve. The implementation of such polices should not simply be a top-down diktat but should rather be characterised by communication and input from all stakeholders, not least immigrants themselves.

In this respect, the European Greens have called for full respect of human rights of immigrants, for responsibility sharing within the European Union, for changes within the Dublin Convention and for more attention to the situations of small island states.

To the contrary, xenophobic populists aim to disperse politics of hate and of egoistic nationalism. Such politics propose the direct opposite of responsibility sharing and, therefore, are more harmful not only to immigrants but also to small islands like Malta.

AD believes that, in the name of transparency, the media should have full access to detention centres. Immigrants who leave the detention centres should be given full work permits to be employed in a legal manner.

This is a win-win situation as it would be combating the underground economy, the unfair exploitation of workers through cheap labour and would also result in more tax payments through legal employment.

In sum, our visit to Safi confirmed that in the politics of immigration one should take a side. The Green position might not be a net vote-winner in the Maltese political context, yet, for us, solidarity comes before cheap populism. We prefer to put forward proposals, which, though being challenging, will ultimately lead to more social inclusion and social justice.

May I wish a Happy Christmas and New Year to readers and staff of The Times and to their loved ones.

www.alternattiva.org.mt
Mr Briguglio, a sociologist, is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance, Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

The carbon capture scam

2011-12-09T09:49:00.002+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times Friday, December 9, 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111209/opinion/The-carbon-capture-scam.397524

Both the Nationalist and Labour parties are committing themselves to energy strategies that depend on fossil fuels and dirty technologies. Both seem addicted to fuels of the past while the 21st century offers solutions to a clean energy future.

Dependency on dirty fossil fuels will only postpone problems related to climate change and to the ever-increasing price of such limited sources of energy.

The Nationalist government keeps giving priority to dirty fossil fuels and not focusing enough on renewable energy. Residents in the south of Malta will bear the brunt of pollution from heavy fuel oil. This reflects the government’s lack of foresight, lack of planning and lack of an energy policy, which takes into account the sustainability of power generation.

AD has been consistently critical of the PN’s energy policy.

Labour, like AD, prefers gas to heavy fuel oil, but, unlike the Greens, Labour is only giving lip service to renewable energy and is supporting dirty technology based on coal.

Indeed, if the PN energy plan is horrific, Labour’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) proposal is a nightmare. Indeed, CCS is intimately tied to dirty fossil fuel industries in coal and oil. Coal? Yes, coal, the dirtiest of fossil fuels.
CCS –being proposed in Malta by Sargas – burns coal and oil with other chemicals.

The use of such fossil fuels means CO2 will increase. In what sounds too good to be true, the difference is that the CO2 is supposed to be captured forever.

This technology depends completely on the issue of whether CO2 can be dumped permanently and securely. The captured CO2 needs to be transported to its storage, emitting CO2 in the process. Once the CO2 is dumped, CCS leakage could cancel out any climate benefit as do the increased energy requirements of CCS technology.

The plain truth is that this technological quick-fix is too risky and not developed enough in a day and age when the global community is already late in the adaptation to climate change. Does the world have time to keep experimenting with Frankenstein energy when the writing is on the wall?

The Sargas proposal is unclear where financing is concerned. Sargas is not guaranteeing the length of validity of its proposal. This means that prices could change. Hardly surprising when one keeps in mind that fossil fuels have limited supply, which means that their price is likely to keep increasing due to surge in global demand, especially due to the growth of emerging economies such as China’s and India’s.

During its recent presentation in Malta, Sargas said that the price of 7c5 per unit of electricity is only in relation to energy generation (raw cost of energy). Yet, what about costs related to transport and disposal of captured CO2 and what about costs related to a new power plant? The latter alone is estimated to cost about €900 million.

Common sense assumes that the Maltese consumer will have to foot the bill for this.
In a report in The Sunday Times (December 4), experienced engineer Derek Lennon revealed that, in the UK, massive subsidies to CCS plants were not sufficient to recover the costs of three new proposed plants proposed by Drax. One plant was eventually built only after a massive subsidy of €175 million. The British government has now postponed a £1 billion funding for a full-scale pilot plant.

As far as Sargas’s argument to export carbon to Denmark, the new Danish government, which includes a Green Foreign Minister, is committing itself to sustainable energy reform and cutting dependency on fossil fuels. It is also now refusing Vattenfall’s carbon storage plan. Vattenfall is connected with Sargas. Indeed, Denmark’s Climate and Energy Minister will be awaiting the outcome of CCS projects in other countries before approving the process for use in Denmark. No wonder Sargas is lobbying extensively in Malta!

Sargas has also attempted to depict itself green by referring to the support of so-called “environmental” NGO Bellona, sponsored by fossil fuel companies. Yet, true environmental NGOs such as Greenpeace are definitely against CCS. Indeed, CCS provides more benefits to the dirty coal industry than it does to climate.

Thus, I remain flabbergasted how Labour and its satellites seem to be acting as spokesmen for Sargas. Labour should also explain what will happen to Enemalta employees should the Sargas proposal be accepted if the party is in power.

Given that both heavy fuel oil and CCS are based on dirty fossil fuels, what is the way forward for a sustainable energy programme?

AD is proposing that Malta should shift to gas – as a transitional energy – as early as possible and progressively increase its investment in clean renewable energy, such as solar and wind, which are the best options for Malta, to reach the 10 per cent target committed with the EU by 2020 and further increases after that. Gas is a fossil fuel, meaning it is finite and expected to increase in cost. But, at least, it is much less polluting than other fossil fuels, though being more expensive.

As for renewable energy, Sargas wrongly says that it is not viable. Indeed, to the contrary, the International Energy Agency has said that renewable energy is becoming increasingly cost competitive while having clear environmental and energy security benefits.

Twenty per cent of the world’s power generation comes from renewable energy with hydro power leading the way with an 84 per cent share.

Sargas is saying that Malta can lead the way in Europe by resorting to CCS. We Greens return the compliment by stating that Malta should be neither the guinea pig of Europe nor the life jacket of the coal industry.

Michael Briguglio interviewed on Bondiplus on the Sargas proposal - here:

www.alternattiva.org.mt

Michael Briguglio, a sociologist, is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance,
Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Żjara sa Ħal Safi

2011-12-03T18:20:00.000+01:00

Michael Briguglio

Il-Gens Illum 3 ta'Dicembru 2011
http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=12052

Ftit tal-ġranet ilu kont parti minn delegazzjoni tal-Alternattiva Demokratika li żaret iċ-Ċentru ta’ Detenzjoni f’Ħal Safi, fejn jinsabu miżmuma immigranti irregolari. Aħna tlabna li nżuru dan il-post wara li riċentement kien hemm xi rvellijiet fil-post.

Ġejna milqugħa b’mod tajjeb ħafna, u l-Kurunell Brian Gatt, li jmexxi dan iċ-ċentru, għamlilna preżentazzjoni dwar kif jitmexxa dan il-post, u anki ggwidana ma’ xi uffiċjali oħra madwar il-post, fejn anki tkellimna ma’ wħud mill-imigranti detenuti. Żorna l-hekk imsejjaħ ‘Block B’ u ma morniex f’sezzjoni magħrufa bħala ‘l-warehouse’, fejn hemm iktar iffullar. Iżda jkolli nistqarr li minn dak li rajt fi Block ‘B’, ħsibt li s-sitwazzjoni hi agħar minn dik li effettivament rajt b’għajnejja.

Kien hemm xi affarijiet li ma kontx naf, per eżempju li l-għaqdiet non-governattivi rikonoxxuti għandhom aċċess għaċ-ċentru. Isiru wkoll numru ta’ korsijiet, avolja ma ħadtx gost nisma li l-imigranti jiġu mmanettjati biex jimxu għal fejn jingħataw il-korsijiet. Din qed twassal biex uħud ma jattendux, iżda n-naħa l-oħra tal-munita hi li kien hemm każijiet fejn kien hemm minn ħarab, li waslet għal iktar problemi u sensazzjonaliżmu minn xi elementi popolisti fis-soċjetà ċivili u fl-istampa.

Problemi oħra li jeżistu jinkludu problemi relatati mal-lingwa, il-pluraliżmu ta’ gruppi etniċi li mhux dejjem għandhom kulturi kompatibbli ma’ xulxin, il-vandaliżmu li jagħmlu xi wħud, u problemi loġistiċi fis-sit, li ma kienx disinnjat biex ikun ċentru ta’ detenzjoni. Nagħmilha ċara li AD ma tappoġġjax vjolenza jew kulturi bbażati fuq il-fundamentaliżmu, irrispettivament mit-twemmin.

Teżisti assistenza medika f’kull ħin tal-ġurnata. Dawk li huma fi stat vulnerabbli jew li għandhom każijiet partikolari, bħat-tfal, anzjani u ġenituri li ġew bit-tfal magħhom, jingħataw il-ħelsien jekk jingħataw ‘clearance’ medika. Dawn jintbagħtu fl-‘open centres’.

L-għajta komuni fost l-immigranti li ltqajna magħhom, kienet li jonqos il-perjodu ta’ detenzjoni. Kont kommoss ħafna meta wħud minnhom qaluli li jirringrazzjaw lil Malta talli salvathom minn ibħra perikolużi, iżda li, fl-istess ħin qed jitolbu għal detenzjoni iqsar.

Bħalissa hemm 600 immigrant miżmuma f’ċentri ta’ detenzjoni f’Malta, u ħafna minnhom kellhom it-talba tagħhom għall-ażil rifjutata. F’dan il-każ, immigrant ma jistax jiġi miżmum fid-detenzjoni għal iktar minn 18-il xahar, u skond il-każ, jibqa’ Malta jew jintbagħat lura f’pajjiżu, jekk teżisti dokumentazzjoni dwar l-individwu konċernat, u jekk il-pajjiż minn fejn ikun ġej ikun iddikjarah bħala mhux perikoluż. F’każ ta’ immigrant li jingħata ażil, dan jista’ jinżamm għal massimu ta’ 12-il xahar.

Filwaqt li perjodu qasir ta’ detenzjoni huwa meħtieġ sabiex tistabbilixxi identità, kemm għandha żmien persuna, u għal raġunijiet ta’ sigurtà, perjodi twal ta’ detenzjoni għandhom tendenza li jkunu inumani u kontro-produttivi, u jiżirgħu l-ansjetà u l-inkwiet fost l-immigranti u s-suldati. Barra minn hekk, detenzjoni għal żmien twil lanqas mhuwa prattiku mill-aspett finanzjarju. Perjodu ta’ massimu ta’ sitt xhur huwa aktar minn biżżejjed għall-osservazzjoni, peress li jeżistu alternattivi aktar umani u rħas. Dawn jinkludu ffirmar obbligatorju fl-Għasses tal-Pulizija, kif ukoll testijiet tas-saħħa obbligatorji. Nuqqas milli jagħmlu dawn ikun ifisser li l-immigrant jerġa’ jintbagħat f’detenzjoni; b’hekk, huwa responsabbli għal-libertà tiegħu.

Malta għandha tagħti l-importanza xierqa lir-realtajiet umanitarji tal-immigranti, filwaqt li jkollha politika ċara ta’ integrazzjoni, li tqabbel id-drittijiet tal-immigranti mar-responsabbiltajiet, u li tagħti d-dritt ta’ ażil lil dawk li ġenwinament għandhom bżonnu. Politika ta’ integrazzjoni sostenibbli għandha tiġi żviluppata b’tali mod li hija sensittiva għall-individwu u realtajiet tal-immigranti.

F’dan ir-rigward, il-Ħodor Ewropej sejħu għal qsim ta’ responsabbiltà fl-UE, għal tibdil relattiv fit-trattat ta’ Dublin, kif ukoll għal aktar attenzjoni lejn is-sitwazzjonijiet tal-gżejjer żgħar. Il-populisti li jxerrdu politika ta’ mibegħda mnebbħa min-nazzjonaliżmu egoist, jopponu għall-kunċett ta’ qsim tar-responsabbiltà, u għalhekk qed jagħmlu iktar ħsara milli ġid, mhux biss għall-immigranti, iżda anke għall-pajjiżi żgħar f’qagħda ġjografika partikolari, bħal m’hi Malta.

Alternattiva Demokratika temmen li hu fl-interess ta’ kulħadd li waqt li l-immigranti jkunu hawn Malta dawn jingħataw assistenza sabiex jiżviluppaw l-abbiltajiet tagħhom, sabiex meta jirritornaw lura pajjiżhom jew meta jsibu ruħhom xi mkien ieħor, dawn ikunu f’pożizzjoni aħjar biex jiffaċċjaw id-diffikultajiet li kienu l-kawża tal-problema. Taħriġ offrut lill-immigranti, speċjalment lit-tfal tagħhom, jikkontribwixxi għal integrazzjoni aħjar meta dawn isibu ruħhom xi mkien ieħor.

Nemmnu wkoll li apparti awtoritajiet u NGOs, esperti u l-midja għandhom ikollhom aċċess sħiħ għaċ-ċentri tad-detenzjoni.

Kull immigrant li joħroġ miċ-ċentri tad-detenzjoni għandu jingħata permess tax-xogħol sabiex ikun jista’ jaħdem b’mod legali. Din toħloq sitwazzjoni fejn jirbaħ kulħadd, kemm l-immigranti u l-Maltin li jħallsu t-taxxi, kif ukoll isservi bħala daqqa kontra l-ekonomija s-sewda.

Il-pożizzjoni ta’ AD żgur li m’hijiex qed trebbħilna voti. Iżda għalina s-solidarjetà tiġi qabel il-populiżmu rħis. Nippreferu ngħiduha kif inhi u nipproponu soluzzjonijiet li, għalkemm diffiċli, iwasslu għall-inklużjoni u ġustizzja soċjali.

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċermen ta' Alternattiva Demokratika

Michael Briguglio (AD) interviewed by Saviour Balzan (Reporter)

2011-11-30T10:00:00.001+01:00

Check out my interview here

The middle-class budget

2011-11-25T09:43:00.002+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times Friday, November 25, 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111125/opinion/The-middle-class-budget.395396

The Nationalist government’s proposed Budget for 2012 is something of a mix, with a number of positive proposals, yet with its shortcomings, too. Beyond the economic framework, the Budget also has political implications.

The fact that Malta’s deficit is decreasing is welcome. Of course, one augurs that the projections do not lose track for electoral purposes, as was the case prior to previous elections. Deficit reduction is essential for a sustainable economy. Such an economy would also require giving top priority to the need for a shift towards renewable energy and sustainable usage of water, which, I am afraid to say, have not been given priority in the Budget.

As an EU member state, Malta is required to have 10 per cent of energy coming from renewable sources by 2020. Yet, the government persists in introducing sporadic initiatives rather than holistic policies for renewable energy use. The plain truth is that dirty fossil fuels will keep rising in price while increasing pollution in the process. The only guarantee for clean energy and stable prices comes from renewable energy, which creates green jobs in the process.

As regards water, the Budget misses out on the urgent need to stop the illegal extraction of water through unauthorised boreholes. Such extraction is forcing the Water Services Corporation to rely heavily on reverse osmosis and is, in itself, a contribution to the rates that are charged for water.

As regards property, notwithstanding the positive proposal for incentives to rehabilitate dilapidated buildings in urban conservation areas, the government has once again failed to introduce a tax on property speculation despite the increase in vacant property and the lack of affordable housing for low and middle income earners.

But, as has been commented by many, the Budget has various positive proposals, particularly through social welfare and economic incentives.

The government’s attempts to encourage more parents to join the labour market are welcome.

The proposal to extend maternity leave, proposed by the greens and others for years, has finally come to be, after being opposed by the same Nationalist Party. Having said that, we would have preferred an extension of maternity leave to 20 weeks and for two weeks of paternity leave, as proposed by the European Commission. We believe that this should be fully paid.

The opening of more childcare centres is also welcome, yet, one must emphasise that not everyone affords to use them. It would have been more socially just to give higher tax refunds for such facilities rather than for private schools.

The proposal to give tax refunds to parents and the increase in children’s allowance are welcome. Yet, the tax refund scheme is socially regressive as it rewards high income earners more than those with a low taxable income. In itself this symbolises the strategic orientation of the Budget. It is clear that the Budget aims to target middle class categories, ranging from professionals to the self-employed, through various incentives.

From refunds for private schooling to guarantees for small businesses, the Budget makes it clear that middle-class categories are being prioritised by the Nationalist government. Low and low-middle income earners will not be experiencing as much improvements through the Budget.

The government could argue that 30,000 low-income families are being subsidised with regard to utility bills and that there are a myriad of welfare schemes for such groups. True, but the fact remains that middle and high income earners will benefit more from the tax cuts and incentives on offer. For example, the government once again did not have the courage to increase the minimum wage beyond the cost-of-living adjustment, despite the hardships faced by low income earners. If such a measure is coupled with increase in productivity, it would not be inflationary.

Concurrently with the Budget, the PN updated its principles, attempting to discard its confessional image. The PN is now speaking on the need to recognise current realities in family life, including divorce and same-sex couples. Last time around it was the environment, but, three years after the 2008 general election, it is clear that big business, contractors, hunters and the like still have disproportionate influence in environmental politics.

Where does this leave the other political parties?

The Labour Party’s response to the Budget has been uninspiring. Instead of recognising that we are living in a context of global economic and environmental crisis, Labour has chosen to criticise everything.

Even though Joseph Muscat has put forward some commendable proposals, which were originally proposed by the Greens (such as recognition of civil unions, the need for the government to combat precarious employment and an increase in parental leave), many other proposals are vague or populistic and will only help fuel unrealistic expectations.

Examples include Labour’s pledge to lower utility tariffs and the attempt to scaremonger on a €2.36 increase in national insurance contributions, which is essential to finance pension funds in an aging society. The plain truth is that if the pension system is left untouched, public funds will simply not suffice for pensioners.

To the contrary, AD calls a spade a spade and does not shy away from praising and criticising accordingly. We also do not shy away from presenting concrete proposals, even at the risk of not sounding popular.

From a strategic perspective, I believe that an important challenge is to convince voters that, despite the PN’s modernisation process, we are the only party with a clear and unequivocal commitment for progressive civil rights, fiscal responsibility and environmental sustainability and that our contribution as an extra-parliamentary party will only be amplified if we have parliamentary representation.

AD in Parliament will be a value-added for a modern, secular and sustainable Malta. Coupled with our election in next year’s local council elections, this will help do away with the “wasted vote” dilemma.
www.alternattiva.org.mt

Michael Briguglio, a sociologist, is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance, Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Towards green employment

2011-11-14T13:22:00.002+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, Friday 11th November 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111111/opinion/Towards-green-employment.393260

Earlier this week, I led a Green party delegation for a meeting with the new leadership of Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin. It is a pleasure meeting with trade unions and, in the case of the UĦM, we have shared common positions on various issues in the past years. Two important examples are the support of Malta’s EU membership and the call for having sustainable national budgets with strong social and environmental priorities. This can serve as a framework for increased collaboration in the coming years. In this regard, the American example of the Blue-Green Alliance comes to mind, where Greens, unions, employers and NGOs work together for the creation of green jobs.

Green jobs in small states were recently discussed in a seminar organised by AD’s foundation Ceratonia, in collaboration with the Green European Foundation. Various academics presented papers on a myriad of issues related to the subject and these shall be included in a forthcoming publication.

Together with fellow sociologists Maria Brown and Diana Aquilina, I presented a paper during the seminar, which analysed the assessment of Maltese civil society stakeholders with regard to sustainable energy policy in general and green jobs in particular.

Before delving into the findings of our research, it is pertinent to define the term “green jobs”. The most comprehensive definition is that of the United Nations Environment Programme, namely, “work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development (R&D), administrative and service activities that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality”.

In Malta, a 2007 study by the Employment and Training Corporation analysed employment figures in a restricted manner, namely in the “environmental goods and services industry” (such as waste management) and concluded that this growing sector employs about three per cent of the labour force and contributes about two per cent to gross domestic product.

More recently, the draft National Environment Policy speaks on the generation of green jobs. Without providing specific details, it calls for the increase of such jobs by 50 per cent by 2015, for the preparation of a green jobs strategy (and a corresponding training strategy) by 2012 and for the setting up of an incubator for green industries by 2014.

Given that our research focused on green jobs in the sustainable energy sector, it is important to note that, according to Eurostat, Malta has the highest energy dependency rate in the EU and one of the highest rates of tonnes of oil equivalent per inhabitant in the EU. It also occupies the last position in the EU with regard to share of renewable energy within final energy consumption. Hence, there are huge opportunities for growth in sustainable energy.

Jobs in this sector can include employment in all renewable energy industries and increased energy-efficiency in buildings. In turn, this can help fight climate change, increase energy security and cut dependency on dirty and unsustainable energy such as oil. The current economic and environmental crises are surely food for thought in this regard. No populist discourse on lower utility bills can supersede the economic fact that the price of oil, gas and other similar types of energy will keep rising. The basic fact is that global supply is limited while demand is growing, especially due to the expansion of economies such as China’s and India’s.

As main promoters of green jobs, the European Greens have developed the policy framework of the Green New Deal.

A main goal in this regard is the shift towards sustainable energy production until 100 per cent use of renewable energy is reached in 2050. The European Greens believe that, during the process, a minimum of 20 per cent renewable energy is to be reached within the EU by 2020 while CO2 emissions are to be reduced by 40 per cent in the same period, compared to 1990 levels. Concurrently, a European energy super grid should be created.

The EU has opted for a less ambitious 20 per cent reduction of CO2 emissions and 20 per cent renewable energy. Consequently, Malta requires to produce 10 per cent of energy from clean renewable sources by 2020. It was also obliged to limit CO2 emissions increase by five per cent by 2020.

The research conducted by Ms Brown, Ms Aquilina and myself reveals that civil society representatives are highly conscious of the potential of green jobs. Indeed, respondents from major trade unions and environmental NGOs acknowledged that a shift towards sustainable-energy use has a potential of generating such jobs and that benefits outweigh negative repercussions such as possible job losses in other sectors. Yet, respondents were also generally concerned of uneven situations within the green job market, ranging from skill mismatches to precarious employment situations.

Hence, civil society representatives are calling for sustainable development through holistic and inclusive policy through consultation and decentralisation and for a mix of macro and micro policies in the field.

Examples that come to mind include increased prioritisation or renewable energy in the budgets of the EU and of Malta but also increased input from local councils and civil society.

For example, AD’s councillor in Attard, Ralph Cassar, is crucial in the greening of the local council. Recently, for example, the council introduced LED-signs for pedestrian crossings, which were produced in Malta. When I was local councillor in Sliema I had also successfully convinced other councillors of the need to optimise energy efficiency and to use solar energy in the council premises.

Awareness on the green job potential exists within civil society in Malta. In itself, this augurs well for the myriad of challenges, opportunities, antagonisms and decisions that Maltese society is likely to encounter in relation to sustainable energy use.

www.alternattiva.org.mt
Michael Briguglio, a sociologist, is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance, Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Lejn politika ta' Green Jobs

2011-11-05T19:19:00.003+01:00

Michael Briguglio

Il-Gens Illum 5 ta'Novembru 2011
http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=11472

Ftit tal-ġranet ilu, il-Fondazzjoni Ceratonia, flimkien mal-Green European Foundation, organizzat seminar dwar il-green jobs f’pajjiżi żgħar. Il-kelliema ppreżentaw riċerka li għamlu f’dan il-qasam b’konnessjoni ma’ dan is-suġġett. Bħala wieħed mill-kelliema, involvejt ruħi f’riċerka flimkien ma’ żewġ soċjologi oħra – Maria Brown u Diana Aquilina – dwar perspettivi mis-soċjetà ċivili dwar il-green jobs f’Malta, b’enfasi fuq l-enerġija sostenibbli. Fir-riċerka kkonsultajna ma’ rappreżentanti ta’ unjins u għaqdiet ambjentali. Sfortunatament, ma kellniex rispons mill-għaqdiet ta’ min iħaddem.

Hemm bosta definizzjonijiet ta’ x’inhuma ‘green jobs’, li jinkludu dik tal-Programm Ambjentali tal-Ġnus Magħquda, li titkellem dwar xogħol fl-agrikultura, manifattura, riċerka u żvilupp, amministrazzjoni u servizzi li jikkontribwixxu b’mod sostanzjali fil-preservazzjoni jew biex tiġi restawrata l-kwalità tal-ambjent.

Il-Green Jobs qed jiżdiedu madwar id-dinjja, iżda tajjeb li wieħed ipoġġi kollox f’kuntest ekonomiku, politiku u soċjali. Per eżempju, jista’ jkun li politika ambjentali stretta wisq tista’ twassal sabiex xi investiment jiċċaqlaq lejn pajjiżi b’regoli inqas stretti. Jista’ jkun ukoll li jinħolqu tipi differenti ta’ green jobs, li fost oħrajn ivarjaw minn dawk b’kundizzjonijiet tajbin u pagi għoljin għal dawk prekarji, b’nuqqas ta’ sigurtà u b’pagi baxxi. Għalhekk, bħalma jissuġerixxu s-soċjologi Angelov u Jonannson, tajjeb li wieħed iqis il-kwalità, u mhux biss il-kwantità ta’ green jobs.

Skond il-politka nazzjonali għall-ambjent proposta mill-Gvern Malti, f’pajjiżna għandhom jinħolqu iktar opportunitajiet ta’ green jobs. Mingħajr ma jagħti dettalji ċari, il-Gvern qed jipproponi żieda ta’ impjiegi ta’ dan it-tip b’50 fil-mija sal-2015, kif ukoll li pajjiżna jkollu strateġija ċara u inkubatur għall-industrija ħadra qabel din id-data.

F’dan il-kuntest, u b’enfasi fuq il-qasam tal-enerġija sostenibbli, tajjeb li jiġi rikonouxxut li Malta, bħala l-iżgħar pajjiż fl-UE, għandha wieħed mill-iktar rati għoljin ta’ tunnellaġġ ta’ żejt għal kull persuna, u qegħda fl-aħħar post f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam ma’ użu ta’ enerġija rinnovabbli fl-UE. Ġaladarba pajjiżna jista’ jagħmel użu minn enerġija mix-xemx u mir-riħ, jeżistu opportunitajiet kbar fil-qasam tal-enerġija sostenibbli. Dan jinkludi xogħol fil-qasam tal-enerġija rinnovabbli, kif ukoll xogħol ieħor bħal dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-kostruzzjoni ta’ bini li huma effiċjenti fl-użu tal-enerġija, u t-titjib ta’ bini eżistenti f’dan ir-rigward.

Politika favur enerġija sostenibbli tista’ mhux biss toħloq ix-xogħol, iżda tista’ tgħin fil-ġlieda kontra t-tibdil fil-klima u tnaqqas id-dipendenza fuq enerġija maħmuġa u skarsa miż-żejt, gass u sorsi oħra. Dan ikun ta’ benefiċċju għas-sigurtà u l-kompetittività.

Fil-kuntest tal-kriżi ekonomika u tal-kriżi ekoloġika, jidher biċ-ċar li dipendenza fuq enerġija maħmuġa m’hijiex xi ħaġa sostenibbli. Huwa għalhekk li l-Ħodor Ewropej, permezz tal-politika tal-Green New Deal, huma fost il-promoturi ewlenin tal-green jobs. Prijorità ewlenija f’dan il-qasam hi li l-UE tipproduċi l-enerġija kollha tagħha minn sorsi rinnovabbli sal-2050. Il-Ħodor Ewropej qed jipproponu wkoll li sas-sena 2020, u mqabbla mas-sena 1990, mill-inqas 20 fil-mija tal-enerġija fl-UE tkun rinnovabbbli, filwaqt li l-emissjonijiet CO2 jonqsu b’40 fil-mija fl-istess perjodu, bħalma qed jirrakkomandaw xjentisti ewlenin f’dan il-qasam. Fl-istess ħin, għandu jkun hemm grid Ewropew tal-enerġija.

Wara ħafna negozjati u diskussjonijiet, l-UE għażlet politika inqas ambizzjuża, jiġifieri li tnaqqas l-emissjonijiet CO2 b’20 fil-mija u li l-enerġija rinnovabbli tkun 20 fil-mija tat-total sal-2020. Malta hi obbligata li tipproduċi 10 fil-mija tal-enerġija minn sorsi rinnovabbli sal-istess sena, u tista’ żżid l-emissjonijiet CO2 b’ħamsa fil-mija meta mqabbla mal-1990.

Fir-riċerka li jien għamilt flimkien ma’ Maria Brown u Diana Aquilina, irriżulta li r-rappreżentanti tas-soċjetà ċivili jirrikonoxxu li politika favur enerġija sostenibbli tista’ toħloq il-green jobs, u huma tal-opinjoni li l-benefiċċji huma ikbar minn riperkussjonijiet negattivi bħall-possibilità li jintilfu xi impjiegi f’xi setturi oħra. Iżda s-soċjetà ċivili qed turi tħassib li jista’ jkun sitwazzjonijiet ta’ inguwaljanza f’dan il-qasam, bħal m’hu x-xogħol prekarju.

Irriżulta li r-rappreżentanti tas-soċjetà ċivili jappoġġjaw il-kunċett ta’ żvilupp sostenibbli, li jgħaqqad prijoritajiet ambjentali, soċjali u ekonomiċi. Fil-fatt, kien hemm enfasi fuq il-bżonn ta’ politika iktar ħolistika u inklussiva f’dan il-qasam, permezz ta’ konsultazzjoni u diċentralizzazzjoni, fejn l-istat jaħdem bi sħab mas-soċjetà ċivili, u fejn jista’ jkun hemm politika fuq livelli varji, kbar u żgħar, bħal m’huma l-livelli lokali, nazzjonali u Ewropej.

Per eżempju, kunsill lokali jista’ faċilment jgħin sabiex jinħolqu l-green jobs, jekk, per eżempju jiddeċiedi li juża enerġija rinnovabbli għall-bozoz. Il-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Ħ’Attard, li jinkludi rappreżentanza tal-Alternattiva Demokratika permezz tal-kunsillier Ralph Cassar, huwa xhieda ta’ dan.

Għalhekk, f’pajjiżna teżisti kuxjenza dwar il-potenzjal tal-green jobs. Dan jawgura tajjeb għall-opportunitajiet, sfidi, antagoniżmi u deċiżjonijiet li s-soċjetà Maltija se tesperjenza fis-snin li ġejjin.

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika
www.alternattiva.org.mt

My interview on Bondiplus

2011-11-02T11:42:00.002+01:00

Check it out here

For a sustainable Budget

2011-10-28T22:13:00.003+02:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times Friday, October 28, 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111028/opinion/For-a-sustainable-Budget.391117

In a global context of economic crisis, one augurs that the upcoming Budget is sustainable while aiming to improve environmental, social and economic targets. Budgetary deficits and public debt should be manageable, thus entailing fiscal discipline. Within such a context, Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party, has submitted 30 proposals to the Ministry of Finance, the Economy and Investment. In this article, I shall focus on the proposals related to economic policy.

In order to have a sustainable Budget, it is short-sighted to call for increased expenditure in certain areas without suggesting ways and means to make up for such costs. To begin with, efforts to reduce avoidable public expenditure should be stepped up. Mismanagement, excessive bureaucracy, wasteful methods and inflexible work practices should not be supported.

The government should not resort to fiscal populism in an attempt to win votes and should not take heed of the constant appeals by the Labour opposition to resort to such measures. On the contrary, Malta’s progressive income tax system – a pillar of Malta’s welfare state – should be maintained and not further dismantled. Progressive income tax is based on the ethical consideration that those who can contribute proportionally more do so and it also provides necessary funds to maintain public expenditure. The only changes in income tax rates that should be supported are those which raise ceilings for low-income earners in order that tax-free income for such persons is increased, thus leaving a larger portion of their income in their hands.

The government should introduce taxation on Malta’s most underutilised asset, namely vacant property. Recent estimates suggest that this has a value to the tune of about €7 billion, which is hardly surprising, considering that a quarter of properties are vacant.

Consequently, property speculation should be taxed from third vacant property. This would not only bring in revenue to the public coffer but would also encourage the renting and selling of properties that are kept vacant for speculation purposes and the use of existing buildings rather than building more areas.

Another consideration for a sustainable Budget concerns water, a strategic resource of national importance. Malta is one of the driest countries in the world, yet, extraction from boreholes goes on at a dangerous rate, making Malta increasingly dependent on seawater, which is very costly and energy-thirsty due to the usage of reverse osmosis plants. Hence, water should be priced in a realistic way.

In the short run, all unregistered boreholes should be banned. In the longer run, save for some strategic exceptions such as agriculture, which, in turn, could use purified sewage water following an upgrade in Malta’s sewage treatment processes, the true price of water should be reflected in its consumption. Utility tariffs should through an appropriate pricing strategy discourage wasteful practices, making sure that basic consumption is kept reasonably priced.

Another important consideration relates to the introduction of “shadow prices” by providers of public services, even if the consumers essentially do not pay the real cost. Yet, this can raise awareness on the true cost of public services. For example, bills and statements could include descriptions of the real cost of sewerage services, the cost of a medical operation and the cost of waste collection. This should also help in more realistic estimates of government expenditure on services offered free of charge or subsidised.

On the expenditure side, a realistic assessment of the cost-of-living adjustment should be carried out in order that the yearly compensation truly reflects the rise in inflation. The social partners should, therefore, consider updating the methodology to replace the one on which COLA is based.

The minimum wage in Malta should be revised upwards and should be extended to part-time and contractual workers as well as those who are being forced to register as self-employed by their employers. Low-income earners will have more money at their disposal and, if the measure is balanced by increases in labour productivity, it would not be inflationary.

The government should also introduce concrete policies with regard to the generation of green jobs in areas such as education, IT, transport, tourism, waste management and agriculture. Measures such as tax breaks, venture capital initiatives and soft-loans could be targeted at initiatives that promote employment in areas such as those leading to environmental protection and reduction of pollution. Local councils should also have more authority and resources for the generation of such employment opportunities. Such employment can have positive economic, environmental and social impacts, in line with the concept of sustainable development.

As regards Malta’s labour market, one should acknowledge that the government has offered a number of incentives to attract more workers to active employment. However, despite some growth in employment rates, the problem of inactivity persists and precariousness is on the increase, especially among workers on contract or those forced to register as self-employed.

More efforts need to be made to make the labour market more accessible to vulnerable groups such as women, persons with disability and immigrants. For example, family-friendly measures need to be stepped up. Affordable childcare, flexible working hours, extended maternity and paternity leave, after-school programmes all facilitate the full-time contribution of both mothers and fathers in the labour market while ensuring that a healthy work-life balance is achieved. Such measures need to be extended also to workers in the private sector. The state should shoulder part or all of the financial costs to enable small employers to be able to offer family-friendly measures to their staff.

Besides, vulnerable groups who depend on social benefits for their livelihood should be encouraged to seek employment, where possible. Active market policies should acknowledge the individual and diverse realities of vulnerable persons and should not be based on one-size-fits-all considerations. Maximum income capping should be increased to reflect today’s realities, otherwise deductions in one’s social benefits/disability pensions would act as disincentives to seek employment.

I invite readers of The Times to check out all of AD’s proposals at www.alternattiva.org/pdfupload/Budget2012-ADproposals.pdf.

www.alternattiva.org.mt

Michael Briguglio, a sociologist, is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance, Alternattiva Demokratika - the Green party.

Norm Rejection reviewed by Greek zine 'Behind the Veil'

2011-10-18T22:45:00.002+02:00

Greek webzine ‘Behind the Veil’ has reviewed Norm Rejection’s latest CD ‘Belligerent’ and recent re-issue of Norm Rejection’s albums ‘Deconform’ and ‘0002’

In the words of ‘Behind the Veil’:

NORM REJECTION, with their music, have willingly chosen to reject every form of norm and cliche and not add it to their music, thus creating something quite original that makes them easily recognisable.

Read the reviews here:

Deconform - 0002
http://behindtheveil.freehostia.com/october_main.html#NORMREJECTION

Belligerent
http://behindtheveil.freehostia.com/october_main.html#NORMREJECTION2

Norm Rejection is: Wil (Vocals); Michael Briguglio (Drums); Sean Vukovic (Guitar); Rex (Bass)

Check out Norm Rejection’s latest single ‘Belligerent’ at

www.normrejection.com

Michael Briguglio interviewed by Malta Today's Miriam Dalli

2011-10-11T11:57:00.001+02:00

It’s not easy being Green | Michael Briguglio

By Miriam Dalli

Malta Today - Tuesday, October 11, 2011

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/2011/1011/it%E2%80%99s-not-easy-being-green-michael-briguglio

"People didn't vote for us because of our stance on immigration. But we are proposing the most responsible and realistic solution." Michael Brigulio
Alternattiva Demokratika has been at the forefront in the fight for civil rights, protection of minorities and the environment since its inception in 1989. AD’s chairperson Michael Briguglio on his party’s next mission: local councils.

For the past 22 years, Alternattiva Demokratika -The Green Party has been trying to establish itself as the country’s alternative to the main political parties.

It considers itself as the natural home of the progressive and liberal. But despite having been on the right side of history twice – supporting Malta’s accession to the European Union, and more recently divorce – it still fails to attract the necessary votes to place it in Parliament.

Like all Europe’s minority parties, AD sees itself as part of a possible coalition government alongside one of the two larger and longer established part. But does it really see any prospects of alliances with either PN or PL?

“Yes: with the party with which we share most common ground,” Briguglio asserts. “But we cannot say which now. We will have our manifesto and it will have a number of key points – some of them will be the core issues. We would negotiate with the parties and obviously form a coalition with the one we agree more on most things.”

As things stand today, would this mean he’d be more inclined to form a coalition with the Labour Party?

“On certain issues we are closer to the PL while on certain issues we are closer to the PN. But in a coalition it’s all a question of negotiation. However we will never form a coalition with a political party that does not agree with certain civil rights, for example. But on many issues one could negotiate.”

He however stresses that “certain issues are not for sale” and that AD would never be the “satellite” of any political party: “If I say we will be with the PN or the PL, it would automatically mean that we are the satellite of that party.”

On an ominous note he adds that the Green vote cannot be taken for granted. “The Green vote can help another party win the election. It’s up to the other parties to decide whether they want to risk losing the election or have a coalition in government.”

Referring to comments that a coalition would bring about an unstable majority, Briguglio says that Green parties are not in parliament to topple governments: “We would be committing suicide. If we are in government and each time we threaten to destabilize government, people would not vote for us next time around.”

Recent surveys show AD’s support hovering between 1% and 1.5%. Is this not an ominous sign that you are not managing to convince people? Why is it that some people prefer not voting at all rather than voting for AD?

“The surveys show that as things stand currently, AD has little chance of gettting elected in parliament. However, surveys do not predict everything: they did not predict the Arab Spring or the fast changes in the Mediterranean. Yet one still has to give importance to such statistics, which as a sociologist I respect.”

Briguglio adds that one has to bear in mind those who have not yet declared how they would be voting.

“However, I think that next year’s local elections, which are not captured by the surveys, are very important. If AD gets elected, it would be a very important milestone for us. So our main concern right now is to be elected in next March’s elections.”

Cautiously, Briguglio says he doesn’t want to speak about pie in the sky: “I know it is very difficult to be in parliament. However, I don’t think it’s impossible as certain things are not explained by statistics. If people really want change, they should vote for it. There is no other way to get that other than voting for it.”

He acknowledges that people would rather not vote at all than vote for AD even though they would agree with the party’s principles. According to Briguglio, people would choose not to vote in local and European elections send a message to both political parties for different reasons – something even for personal gain, he claims:

“They give such a message because the main political parties are exempt from the Data Protection Act, so they get information of people who do not vote and then try to win them back by promising them favours accordingly. Some people do not vote specifically for this reason. In general elections it’s a another issue.”

Briguglio adds that while he respects the will of those who choose not to vote, at the same time he considers it a mistake.

“If you really want change or something to be done you have to vote for it. If you don’t vote you are only doing a favour to the big forces.”

Despite AD’s several attempts to make history by being in government, people seem still not convinced that AD is really the better alternative. How can he convince them that voting for AD is the better choice?

“When people vote for us they know what they are voting for. If you vote for Labour right now, you do not know what you are voting for … actually we do know some of Labour’s policies: that it supports the hunting lobby, that it is promising everything to everyone, even though this is ultimately contradictory. On the other hand, people know what the PN is, and if they want the same party that has been in government for almost 25 years, then it’s their choice.”

But if one wants a party that is committed to environmental protection, to sustainable development, to civil rights, then AD is the party to vote for, he says. Briguglio also sounds confident that AD will be elected in various localities in the local council elections. and adds that political parties are already trying to “make sure that AD is not elected.”

AD, he claims, has been receiving information that both parties are “panicking” in some localities: “They definitely don’t want AD to be elected. It is no coincidence that lately we have been hearing about how Labour is not happy with some of its councilors. Now, certain local councils that have been dormant for years, especially Nationalist councilors in localities where AD is contesting, are now writing in the press. We are not naïve. We know they don’t want a Green councillor and this only hardens our resolve to make sure that our councillors are elected.”

He adds that it has now become his own personal target to see AD elected in the local councils elections: “If AD gets elected it will be a success. But if not, it would be a disaster. But I am still confident we will succeed.”

If elected, this would not be the first time that a local council would include a Green councillor. In fact, Briguglio himself was elected twice on the Sliema council, but later lost his seat in 2009.

Do you think this was a sign that AD was tried and tested … and failed that test?

“If anything, that election has almost resulted in a parody in itself. Just look at it today: look at what the constituents voted for, and see what they got. The election itself was characterized by a behind-the-scenes campaign.”

Not one to beat about the bush, Briguglio describes himself as a very effective local councillor who worked very well with both the public and the other councillors.

Two of AD’s battle cries were Malta’s EU membership and the divorce legislation – both issues which today Malta has obtained. This vindicates AD’s credibility in terms of policies… but could mean that AD has to search for a new warhorse. This cause is evidently the Environment.

“There are many issues which still have to be resolved in society, such as the environment. The others have painted themselves green, they take photo shoots with NGOs to give the impression they are environmentalists. But the fact is that environment is still a main issue: we still have a lot of pollution, haphazard buildings, development zones extended; we have a huge problem with water. AD is the only environmentalist party,” he reiterates.

Briguglio also questions the other parties’ commitment to civil and gay rights.

“We are the only party with clear policies on the LGBT community - the PN has taken a very conservative stand while Labour promises everything to everyone, but the only concrete thing we have heard from Joseph Muscat so far is that he will definitely not allow gays to obtain certain rights…”

He also mentions minority rights, the modernisation of censorship laws and the amalgamation of economic and environmental policies.

“We have a very forward-looking economic agenda where we say that environment actually creates jobs and if we have a greener economy it would help create a lot of jobs.”

But is this enough to attract the necessary votes to get elected?

“As a Green party we give importance to economic, social and environmental issues. There is also a growing consciousness on these issues.”

By way of example, Briguglio says that the divorce experience teaches us that Malta is moving closer to being a “fully-fledged” secular European society: “The best bet to have such a society is to have AD in parliament. We are not in parliament, and yet we have managed to help Malta obtain EU membership and divorce rights. Just imagine what we would do if we were in parliament…”

Against whom are you mostly competing for votes?

“Surveys show that Nationalist-leaning voters are most likely to be sympathetic towards AD rather than Labour-leaning voters. We attract mostly those who are for the green cause, or who are against the two-party system.”

Where does AD stand in the political spectrum?

“As we Greens like to say, not left. not right but forward. This means that we are influenced by different backgrounds. I have been very much influenced by various Leftist ideas but I am open to ideas which come from the Right and which make sense.”

Briguglio adds that being Green means sustainability: environmental sustainability, social sustainability and economic sustainability; that one is for civil rights, for a more inclusive society, a responsible society.

“I believe that the Green Party is the party of the 21st century and next year’s German elections will hopefully bring a Green success.”

AD is also very clear on its immigration policy. Is this costing you votes?

“Yes. In the European Parliament elections the PL and PN opted for populist discourse and it did cost us some votes. People admitted that they didn’t vote for us because of our stance on immigration. But we are proposing the most responsible and realistic solution: that there should be more responsibility sharing.”

But isn’t this what the Maltese MEPs have been calling for as well?

“Yes. But while the PN has gained some support form the European People’s Party Parliamentary Group, it has not obtained support from the centre-right governments, except some mere token gestures. The PL has not even given the burden sharing issue the necessary attention.

“We have obtained the support of the European Greens. If next year the German Greens are in government – which is likely to be the case – this would surely change things.”

Lately in Malta there have been new calls for a Second Republic, and renewed calls for a constitutional reform. Does this debate represent an opportunity of change or is it another sign that change can still come from within the two-party system?

Without hesitation, Briguglio answers that AD is for constitutional reform and also welcomed President George Abela’s speech on the issue – “especially since the President said things which have been mentioning for 22 years and which are an essential characteristic of a normal European democracy.”

He says Malta should have true pluralism in the mass media. “If we really want a second republic we should ensure that we really have political pluralism in all aspects of society. Which means electoral reform, proper financing of political parties, that two main political parties do not dominate the Broadcasting Authority, do not dominate the MEPA board.”

With a second republic, civil society – local councils, non-governmental organizations and the general public - would have a greater say in the running of the country.

“What I can assure you is, that if AD is in a government coalition we will definitely work for a constitutional reform to make Malta a more democratic and inclusive society.”

Opportunities from the economic crisis

2011-10-10T10:19:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

Malta Today
Monday, October 10, 2011
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/blogs/michael-briguglio/2011/1010/opportunities-from-the-economic-crisis

The European economy is passing through difficult times, but, as is the case with calm after storms, there are opportunities for recovery. Yet, clear political decisions are required for this to take place. Examples of such decisions include the need to help economies facing problems, and the need for tax on financial transactions.

In such a context, helping Greece is important not only to avoid collapse of its economy, but also to help bring about stability in the Eurozone. Lack of stability can lead to a lack of investment, with negative repercussions.

At the same time, the EU should ensure that member states, especially those within the Eurozone, conform to fiscal discipline whilst aiming for social, environmental and economic sustainability.

An alternative to this would be the dismantling of the Eurozone and the re-introduction of national currencies, as is being proposed by some Eurosceptics. This would effectively mean that certain economic achievements would disappear. I’m sure that businessmen, tourists and plain consumers remember the complexity of economic transactions in a context of so many different currencies.

The re-introduction of national currencies would also mean that artificial and short-termist economic policies such as currency devaluation would risk given priority over more sustainable policies such as those which encourage value-added investment.

Resorting to national currencies would result in a false sovereignty, where national egoisims and ruthless competition would prevail over having partners co-operating together with clear parameters, rights and duties.

Ultimately, this would weaken the EU, to the advantage of other global forces such as the USA, Cina and Russia. Is this what Eurosceptics aspire for, when the EU, with all its defects and internal differences – is characterized by the most progressive social, environmental and economic policies than those of other global forces?

The economic crisis shows us that if anything, we need more, and not less European integration. Solidarity within the EU should be strengthened not only as it brings more stability, but, even more so, because it helps bring about more equality and leveling out between different regions. An example in this regard is the EU-wide policy of cohesion and structural funds. According to EU figures, between 2004 and 2010, Malta, as a less developed region, obtained €354 million more worth of EU funds than it paid. Such progressive fiscal policy should be supported in a global context.

More EU integration would also bring about more discipline in Government budgeting. This would help avoid situations where individual Governments act irresponsibly in their financial and economic policies.

Above all, more EU integration would help member states move closer towards more equal rights and duties amongst citizens, workers, businesses and consumers within the EU.

Some argue that more EU integration is detrimental to small member states like Malta, as this would not permit us to have policies such as low tax rates for sectors such as financial investment and gaming. Yet one should keep in mind that such investment is volatile and can pack up and leave as soon as other countries decide to follow suit and lower their tax rates, too.

Whilst one should not shoot oneself in the foot and discourage investment, it would be better focus on more sustainable forms of investment, such as that which has high value-added and is more labour-intensive, as is the case with investment in green jobs, for example in alternative energy, waste management, IT and sustainable agriculture.

Last but not least, I augur that the Maltese Government supports the proposal of the European Commission for tax on financial transactions. Such a tax, which is supported by various parties on an EU level – including the Greens – would help generate revenue that can be used to help recover the European economy. It is estimated that such a tax can generate up to €55 billion a year.

Time has come for banks and financial institutions to carry part of the burden of the economic crisis, especially when they received help from public funds when they needed it. If workers and employers are financing socio-economic stability through their taxies, it is only fair that banks and financial institutions do the same.

Michael Briguglio is Chairperson and Spokesperson for Economy and Finance, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party

Opportunitajiet mill-kriżi ekonomika

2011-10-09T15:03:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

Il-Gens Illum

8 ta'Ottubru 2011
http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=10926
L-ekonomija Ewropea tinsab fi żmien diffiċli, iżda dan jista’ jsarraf f’opportunitajiet sabiex l-Unjoni Ewropea tirkupra. Biex dan iseħħ hemm il-ħtieġa ta’ deċiżjonijiet politiċi ċari, ibbażati fuq il-prinċipji ta’ solidarjetà, sostenibilità u l-għaqda Ewropea. Fost dawn, hemm il-ħtieġa li ekonomiji bi problemi serji jiġu megħjuna, u li tiddaħħal taxxa fuq it-tranżazzjonijiet finanzjarji.

L-għajnuna li għandha bżonn il-Greċja mhux biss tista’ sservi biex jiġi evitat kollass tal-ekonomija Griega, imma tgħin ukoll biex iġġib stabilità fiż-żona Ewro inġenerali. Jekk ma jkunx hemm stabilità fiż-żona Ewro, tista’ tonqos il-kunfidenza ta’ dawk li jinvestu, b’riperkussjonijiet negattivi ferm.

Fl-istess ħin, iżda, jeħtieġ li l-UE ddaħħal fis-seħħ mill-iktar fis regoli sabiex il-pajjiżi msieħba – u speċjalment dawk fiż-żona Ewro – ikollhom jaderixxu ma’ dixxiplina finanzjarja u ma’ sostenibilità soċjali, ekonomika u ekoloġika.

Huwa fl-interess ta’ kull min qiegħed fiż-żona Ewro – inkluż Malta – li jkun hemm l-istabilità ekonomika u finanzjarja. L-alternattiva għal dan hi triq oħra fejn il-Greċja titħalla tikkollassa, b’riperkussjonijiet negattivi bħal żieda fil-faqar, qgħad u instabilità, anki lil hinn mill-fruntieri tal-Greċja.

Alternattiva oħra hi li tiżżarma ż-żona Ewro u nerġgħu nersqu lejn sistema ta’ muniti nazzjonali, bħalma qed jipproponu xi ewro-xettiċi. Din l-għażla tfisser li d-drittijiet li kisbu ċittadini Ewropej f’affarijiet relatati mal-ekonomija, iċ-ċaqliq ħieles, u oħrajn, jisparixxu fix-xejn.

Dan ifisser ukoll li Malta titlef il-vantaġġi ta’ sħubija f’suq ħieles b’regoli ċari. Ikollna ‘sovranità’ falza, għax ma nkunux fuq l-istess mejda ta’ sħab Ewropej. Minflok, inkunu f’sitwazzjoni ta’ kompetizzjoni bla rażan ma’ pajjiżi oħrajn, f’kuntest ta’ nazzjonaliżmu egoista, ’il bogħod mis-solidarjietà.

Permezz ta’ dan, l-UE tiddgħajjef, għall-vantaġġ ta’ forzi globali oħrajn bħall-Istati Uniti tal-Amerika, iċ-Ċina, l-Indja u r-Russja. Nistaqsi jekk huwiex dan li jridu l-Ewro-xettiċi, meta l-UE, bid-difetti kollha tagħha, u bid-differenzi kollha fi ħdanha – hi karatterizzata minn politika soċjali, ambjentali u ekonomika ferm iktar progressiva minn dik tal-forzi li għadni kif semmejt.

Il-kriżi ekonomika turina li għandna bżonn iktar u mhux inqas integrazzjoni fl-UE.

Il-mudell Ewropew ta’ solidarjetà għandu jissaħħaħ mhux biss għall-istabilità ekonomika, iżda wkoll sabiex ikun hemm iktar livellar u ugwaljanza bejn ir-reġjuni varji.

Eżempju ta’ din it-tip ta’ politika hi dik ta’ fondi Ewropej bħal dawk ta’ koeżjoni u dawk strutturali. Tajjeb ninnutaw li skond figuri tal-UE, bejn l-2004 u l-2010,
Malta s’issa daħlet €354 miljun ta’ fondi Ewropej iktar milli ħarġet.

B’iktar integrazzjoni Ewropea jkun hemm ukoll iktar dixxiplina f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam ma’ bbaġitjar tal-Gvernijiet, u b’hekk nevitaw sitwazzjonijiet fejn Gvernijiet individwali jimxu b’mod irresponsabbli fil-politika finanzjarja u ekonomika tagħhom.

Fuq kollox, b’iktar integrazzjoni Ewropea, nersqu iktar viċin ta’ sitwazzjoni ta’ drittijiet u dmirijiet indaqs bejn ħaddiema, investituri, negozjanti u konsumaturi fl-UE.

Hemm min jgħid li iktar integrazzjoni Ewropea hi ta’ żvantaġġ għal pajjiż żgħir bħal Malta, hekk kif, per eżempju, permezz ta’ rati ta’ taxxi relattivament baxxi, qed nattiraw investiment fl-oqsma finanzjari u tal-gaming. Iżda, tajjeb wieħed iżomm f’moħħu li dan it-tip ta’ investiment jista’ jiġi u jmur f’radda ta’ salib, hekk kif pajjiżi oħrajn jiddeċiedu li jaġġustaw ir-rata ta’ taxxa tagħhom.

Filwaqt li hu tajjeb li ma ngerxux investiment, ikun ferm għaqli jekk isir sforz ikbar biex ikun hemm investiment iktar sostenibbli u li hu dejjiemi, u mhux li sempliċiment jiddependi mir-rata ta’ taxxa. Eżempju ta’ dan hu investiment f’oqsma karatterizzati minn ‘green jobs’, bħall-enerġija nadifa; immaniġġjar tal-iskart, informatika u agrikoltura sostenibbli.

F’dan il-kuntest, u fid-dawl ta’ żviluppi mill-iktar riċenti fl-UE, nittama li l-Gvern Malti jappoġġja l-proposta tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea favur taxxa fuq tranżazzjonijiet finanzjarji. Din it-taxxa, li hi appoġġjata wkoll minn bosta partiti politiċi fl-UE, fosthom il-Ħodor, tgħin biex tiġġenera qligħ li jkun jista’ jintuża biex tissaħħaħ l-ekonomija Ewropea. Huwa stmat li taxxa bħal din tkun tista’ tiġġenera sa €55 biljun fis-sena.

Wasal iż-żmien li banek u istituzzjonijiet finanzjarji jerfgħu parti mill-piż tal-kriżi ekonomika speċjalment meta huma stess irċevew għajnuna kbira minn fondi pubbliċi meta kellhom bżonn. Jekk il-ħaddiema u min iħaddem qed iħallsu t-taxxi biex isaħħu l-ekonomija u l-istabilita’ soċjali, jagħmel sens li l-banek u l-istituzzjonijiet finanzjarji jagħmlu l-istess.

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin u Kelliem għall-Ekonomija u Finanzi – Alternattiva Demokratika.

www.alternattiva.org.mt

The problem with Portomaso

2011-09-30T09:22:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, Friday, September 30, 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110930/opinion/The-problem-with-Portomaso.387035

The Portomaso development in St Julians has been a site of contestation ever since it was proposed for redevelopment in the former Hilton site, in the mid-1990s.
Back then, the developers proposed the replacement of the Hilton hotel with a new hotel, apartments, offices, a yacht marina and other development. High-rise development would characterise the project, a 17th century historic wall would be ripped through to give way to the yacht marina, and greenery in the area would be sacrificed to his majesty the economy. Posedonia meadows – the breeding grounds of fish – and traditional fishing practices would also be imperilled in the process.

The development was duly approved by the then Planning Authority, despite objections from residents, NGOs, Alternattiva Demokratika and experts, including the authority’s own Environmental Management Unit. This approval was the first in a series of high-rise mega-villages that would characterise various parts of Malta’s landscape.

Both Nationalist and Labour administrations gave their thumbs up to Portomaso. In the process, the entire area was leased by the state to the developers for a measly Lm191,000 until 2114, and eventually sold to the developers for Lm800,000 in 2006.

A ridiculous price, when compared to the going rate of apartments (of which there are hundreds) on site. I was one of the youth who formed a front against this development, amid various protests and a hunger strike in 1997 which was only stopped when then Ombudsman Joe Sammut decided to investigate our concerns. His investigation concluded that “the substantial changes to the original grant conditions, though they may not be in breach of the law, constitute a case of bad administration without due consideration to the national interest”.

Among other findings, the Ombudsman also found out that various agreements between the developers and the Planning Authority were carried out verbally rather than formally; that the government had lost a golden opportunity to retrieve public land; that the government “failed to use its negotiating powers to maximise the benefits to be derived from the deal”; and that with regard to the construction of the yacht marina and the excavation of the foreshore, “public accountability and prudence required reference of the concessions to Parliament”.

The Ombudsman also stated that “the major issue is whether the executive government can allow public land given on long-lease at a non-commercial rent for a specific purpose to be utilised for other purposes. In this case changes to the original conditions regulating the grant of land were so substantial, that in the public interest and in the interest of good administration, the government had a moral obligation to refer the proposed concessions for the scrutiny of Parliament”. The Ombudsman’s report proposed some recommendations concerning development and construction to the government.

Then Prime Minister Alfred Sant stated that the government would follow these recommendations, but did not state whether any measures would be taken with regards to the Hilton project. This was a small victory for the front, but all in all, the Portomaso conflict showed that the state and the developers formed a power bloc through which both stood to gain from the exploitation of land. The state gained through the generation of economic growth. Land developers legitimated the exploitation of land through the State Apparatus, which supported the development.

Whether such economic growth is everlasting remains to be seen, particularly when one-fourth of properties are vacant in Malta, possibly resulting in an economic bubble that can implode due to excess supply of properties in a context of endless speculation. Agencies such as the International Monetary Fund – surely not environmental militants – have warned Malta to be wary of overreliance on the real estate sector.

The Portomaso issue did not end in the late 1990s. During recent years further permits were given to the developers for further extensions and increase in storeys. Residents of the area have also been deprived of swings and a five-a-side football pitch, when the embellishment of the playing field resulted in a soulless site which is often closed to the public. In short, Qaliet and Paceville residents have been undergoing constant stress and discomfort due to overdevelopment in the area. The developers are now proposing an extra 46 apartments on an artificial lagoon between Spinola Road, the edge of the marina and the foreshore. This totally disregards the environment impact assessment of the project which had called for protection of the area in question. The developers were responsible for the conservation of the two species (Wedgefoot grass and Maltese sea camomile), one of which has already disappeared.

With a St Julians local council and a government which are usually hell bent on servility towards big business, one can only be sceptical as to how Mepa will react to the proposed development. Yet, there have been various instances when political pressure influenced the authority to act in the interest of residents and to favour sustainability over other concerns. It is for this reason that Alternattiva Demokratika is objecting to the Portomaso extension. Besides, the election of Green candidate Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, in the St Julians local elections in a few months’ time will help ensure that residents’ quality of life is given priority over other interests.

(Note: Reference to the above: Briguglio, M. (1998 State/Power: Hiltonopoly (Unpublished dissertation). Malta: University of Malta, also available at www.michaelbriguglio.com)

www.alternattiva.org.mt

Michael Briguglio, a sociologist, is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance, Alternattiva Demokratika - the Green party.

Yacht marinas in the beach

2011-09-16T11:52:00.000+02:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times Friday, September 16, 2011

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110916/opinion/Yacht-marinas-in-the-beach.384911

In the past years, various yacht marinas were developed in Malta. These are deemed important for the Maltese economy in a contest of diversification and niche markets with lucrative sources of investment and revenue. This economic niche deserves support, especially due to Malta’s geographic position as a maritime hub.

Yet, one should also keep in mind that yacht marinas can also bring about economic, social and environmental controversies. They are subject to policy, contestation, consensus and controversy. From the swimmer to the businessman, from the yacht owner to the resident nearby, there are different interests characterising the field. The yacht marina issue exemplifies this.

For example, on the economic level, the development of yacht marinas can run counter to the interests of fishermen operating in the same zones and using traditional methods. On the environmental level, yacht marinas can result in the destruction of natural habitats, for example of fish breeding grounds known as posedonia meadows. On a social level, yacht marinas can infringe on the rights of swimmers to enjoy the sea.

From Portomaso to Ħondoq ir-Rummien, Malta has not been free from such controversy.

In the case of Ħondoq, Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party recently urged the Malta Environment and Planning Authority board to endorse the recommendations of the Environment Planning Directorate and refuse the proposed development of a yacht marina and tourist village in this popular bay in Gozo. Such development is a severe threat to the rights of swimmers in the area.

Indeed, we expect the Mepa board to refuse the proposed development and, thus, close the issue once and for all. Together with NGOs and Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq, AD is the only political party that has been opposing the development ever since it was proposed. Like others, we also agree with the embellishment of the beach and the area for the benefit of the public.

Another area characterised by yachts is Sliema and Gżira, from the Tigné seafront across Marsamxett to Manoel Island. A yacht marina close to the Fortina Hotel was privatised after being operated by the maritime and transport authorities. The yacht marina is close to a beach concession to the Fortina Hotel and a public beach at Tigné, which is very popular with swimmers.

Indeed, this area can be divided into four zones. The first part, extending from the Ferries to somewhere in front of Nazzareno church, which is occupied by excursion boats. The second part extends from Nazzareno church to the edge of the Fortina beach concession, which is now a yacht marina but was previously used by swimmers. There is then the Fortina beach concession and the area beyond the Fortina Hotel concession, which is frequented by swimmers.

When I was local councillor in Sliema between 2003 and 2009, many residents used to complain about lack of access to the beach due to nearby development. Now, residents are expressing concern about the possible effects on people’s health from the existent yacht marina, which is being buffered by the Fortina beach concession. To date, the quality of the sea at the beach looks good, yet, it would be recommendable to have the health authorities verify this in order that appropriate measures can be taken should they be required.

At face value, residents should not be concerned with further yacht marina development in Sliema. A government document published in April 2009 (Developing Of Yachting Facilities In Malta https://opm.gov.mt/file.aspx?f=1289) did not recommend that Sliema be subject to further yacht marina development, for various reasons, due to the extent of investment required for parking and boat berthing. In The Times (July 23, 2009), the Malta Maritime Authority was quoted as saying that, as regards the Sliema area in question, “for the time being, this site is not being recommended for further consideration in view of the investment required to construct an adequate breakwater in relation to the number of berths created and the necessary reclamation to provide adequate parking facilities and amenities” (www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090723/local/marinas.266445).

In this regard, I ask the maritime authority and the ministry responsible for transport whether this recommendation still holds.

Given that Malta seems to be inclined to have more and not fewer yacht marinas, it would make sense to have a holistic vision based on the concept of sustainable development. In this regard, economic, social and environmental factors should not be seen in isolation of each other but should be analysed holistically in terms of their interdependent relationship.

To this effect, should there be any further plans for development, widespread consultation with local councils, residents and NGOs is imperative in order that a proper balance can be reached between the economic need to have yacht marinas and the social, environmental and even economic factors that stand to lose out due to lack of adequate planning.

www.alternattiva.org.mt

Michael Briguglio, a sociologist, is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance, Alternattiva Demokratika –
the Green party.

Jottijiet u ghawwiema

2011-09-03T19:11:00.000+02:00

Michael Briguglio

Il-Gens Illum 3 ta'Settembru 2011
http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=10240

Il-baħar u l-bajjiet mhumiex ħielsa mill-politika. Tul dawn l-aħħar snin pajjiżna ra l-iżvilupp ta’ bosta yacht marinas, li huma sors ta’ dħul għall-ekonomija Maltija, u għalhekk jistgħu jkunu ta’ importanza għall-pajjiż.

Iżda dawn iġibu magħhom ukoll numru ta’ kontroversji ekonomiċi, soċjali u ambjentali.

Fuq livell ekonomiku, hemm min jgħid li l-iżvilupp ta’ yacht marinas imur kontra interessi ekonomiċi oħra bħal dawk ta’ sajjieda li joperaw b’metodi tradizzjonali fl-istess żoni. Fuq livell ambjentali, jista’ jkun li l-iżvilupp ta’ yacht marinas jeqred abitat naturali, bħalma huma posedonia meadows li fihom il-ħut jirriproduċi ruħu. Fuq livell soċjali, yacht marina ħafna drabi twassal għal nuqqas ta’ drittijiet ta’ għawwiema fil-viċin.

Mill-Portomaso sa Ħondoq ir-Rummien, Malta ma kinetx nieqsa mill-kontroversja konnessa mal-yacht marinas.

Fil-każ ta’ Ħondoq ir-Rummien, dan l-aħħar Alternattiva Demokratika ħeġġet lill-Bord tal-MEPA sabiex tapprova r-rakkomandazzjonijiet tad-Direttorat għall-Ħarsien tal-Ambjent u tirrifjuta l-iżvilupp propost ta’ villaġġ turistiku u yacht marina f’dan il-lokal. L-iżvilupp propost iġib miegħu impatti soċjali u ambjentali negattivi, speċjalment f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mad-drittijiet tal-għawwiema f’din il-bajja hekk popolari.

Flimkien ma’ NGOs u l-Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq, Alternattiva Demokratika huwa l-uniku partit politiku li ilu jopponi dan l-iżvilupp minn meta ġie propost. Kien tassew pass pożittiv meta l-oġġezzjonijiet tagħna u ta’ oħrajn sabu l-appoġġ tad-Direttorat għall-Ħarsien tal-Ambjent, u huwa propju għal din ir-raġuni li qed nappellaw lill-Bord tal-MEPA biex tingħalaq din l-istorja darba għal dejjem. Fl-istess ħin, aħna favur proposti sabiex tissebbaħ il-bajja u ż-żona għall-benefiċċju tal-pubbliku. Dan jista’ jkun ta’ benefiċċju ekonomiku wkoll, fid-dawl tal-politika ta’ eko-Għawdex.

Żona oħra li qed tara żieda fil-jottijiet hija l-bajja f’Tas-Sliema fl-inħawi ta’ Tignè, faċċata ta’ Marsamxett, ħdejn il-lukanda Fortina. Wara li kienet operata mill-Awtorità Marittima u mill-Awtorità tat-Trasport, inħarġet sejħa sabiex operatur privat jieħu ħsieb iż-żona.

Bosta residenti Slimiżi ilhom imorru jgħumu fil-viċinanzi għal numru ta’ snin. Tul is-snin kien hemm diversi attentati biex l-aċċess għall-bajja jkun iktar diffiċli, u issa hemm min qed jappella sabiex il-yacht marina ma tibqax tikber sabiex b’hekk, dawn l-inħawi jibqgħu tajbin għall-għawm. Alternattiva Demokratika taqbel ma’ dan is-sentiment.

Tkun idea tajba li l-awtoritajiet konċernati jikkonsultaw b’mod estensiv mal-kunsilli lokali, residenti u għaqdiet non-governattivi sabiex pajjiżna jkollu bilanċ xieraq bejn il-ħtieġa ekonomika li jkollna l-yacht marinas, u l-ħtiġijiet soċjali, ambjentali u anki ekonomiċi li jistgħu jiġu affettwati b’mod negattiv kaġun ta’ ppjanar mhux xieraq.

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin u Kelliem għall-Ekonomija u Finanzi – Alternattiva Demokratika

www.alternattiva.org.mt

Libya: AD welcomes ousting of Gaddafi regime

2011-08-22T09:20:00.001+02:00

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party salutes the birth of a post-Gaddafi Libya.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: “The dramatic developments in Libya in the past hours are beyond description. The celebration of freedom of common Libyan people in the streets of Tripoli is a true symbol of what making history is all about. The Libyan opposition, with the aid of the international community has finally got rid of the brutal Gaddafi regime. We augur that other brutal dictatorships are done away with”.

Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD spokesperson on EU and International Affairs, stated: "We salute and congratulate the people of Libya who are managing to get rid of a ruthless tyrant. It is now imperative that the transitional government ensures that there are not reprisals or vindictive actions by the winning faction. The new Libya should be built on the concept of respect of basic human rights as well as the rights of all minorities. The rule of law is to be the guiding light of the new Libya".

Prof. Cassola continued: "The fall of the Libyan regime is also a lesson for those Maltese political forces which were subservient and apologetic to the Gaddafi regime over the past forty years. It is about time that they denounce the financial and political support obtained from Gaddafi".

Robert Callus, AD spokesperson for Citizenship and Migration said: "It is also imperative that the EU assists the democratic process as well as pressure the new leaders to ratify the Geneva Convention for Refugees like all other democratic countries have done, as well as allowing the UNHCR operate once again in Libya. While the West couldn't dictate what type of democracy the new Libya will have, it is imperative that that the most fundamental human rights are respected."

Safi. Beyond populism

2011-08-18T14:45:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

Malta Today Thursday, August 18, 2011

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/blogs/michael-briguglio/safi-beyond-populism.

The violence characterising the Safi incidents should not be supported. Yet, this does not mean that it should simply be brushed away without analysing the bigger picture. The government will not improve the situation if it simply focuses on punishment without analysing the causes of the incidents.

Malta should give due importance to the humanitarian realities of immigrants, whilst also having a clear integration policy that matches immigrants’ rights with responsibilities, and that grants the right of asylum to those who genuinely need it. A sustainable integration policy needs to be developed in a way which is sensitive to the individual and particular realities of immigrants.

Length and conditions of detention, which are currently too long, inhumane and unsustainable should be reviewed. A short period of detention is required to ascertain identity, age and for security reasons. But long terms of detention tend to be counter productive and are useless as these foster bitterness among immigrants and soldiers.

In any case, despite the rhetoric of the anti-immigration populists, many migrants will still end up living in Maltese society after the detention period is over. Six months’ detention for people who are escaping from war, hardship and suffering is more than enough. If there are people who still need to be monitored after that period, there are other alternatives such as obliging migrants to sign at Police stations and attend obligatory medical check ups.

Other issues should also be dealt with as soon as possible. These include the learning of languages used in Malta and having better dialogue amongst cultures. The right to work is imperative too, for the benefit both of immigrants and Maltese society. It is better to have regularised employment than allowing the underground economy to flourish, to the detriment of both exploited migrant workers and the labour force in general, due to a race to the bottom as regards wages and work conditions.

NGOs, experts and the media should have full access to detention centres. Continuous discussion on detention policy and other immigrant issues is always beneficial. There are many things that need to be reviewed, and consulting the various stakeholders can help improve the situation.

Migrants escaping war should not be sent back to such zones. In the case of those deserving protection, sending them back is not only inhumane but also illegal. Any politician or political party which promises this must either not know the facts or is deliberately lying. In the case of those not deserving protection, many times they are sent back, but it usually takes time for various reasons.

Yet, various refused migrants cannot be sent back to their countries of origin, for a variety of reasons ranging from lack of agreements with the countries involved and lack of certainty on where they come from. These end up living in a legal limbo. Some simply “disappear” but others stay. There is no easy solution to this but periodic amnesties which bring these people within the law could be preferable to having the problem worsen.

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party believes in a European policy of responsibility sharing within pluralistic societies based on respect, rights and responsibilities. In this respect, the European Greens have called for responsibility sharing across the EU, relevant changes in the Dublin Treaty, and for more attention to be given to the situations of small island states. The anti-immigration populists, characterised by egoistic nationalism, oppose the very concept of responsibility sharing.

Hence, whilst others are busy involving themselves in cheap populism and empty rhetoric, AD, through the European Greens, is proposing viable, sustainable, and above all, humane policies to the immigration issue.

Michael Briguglio is a sociologist and the chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green Party

Mill-Marsa sax-Xemx

2011-08-06T16:52:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

Il-Gens Illum 6 ta'Awwissu 2011
http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=9709

Kulħadd jaf kemm qed toħloq tniġġiż il-Power Station tal-Marsa. Kulħadd jaf ukoll li ilna snin twal niġu mwiegħda mill-Gvern li dan il-power station jingħalaq. L-ewwel kellu jingħalaq fl-1995, mal-iżvilupp tal-ewwel impjant f’Delimara. Imbagħad kellu jingħalaq meta Malta daħlet fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Sal-lum il-ġurnata, din il-power station baqgħet topera iktar milli suppost, u l-Kummissjoni Ewropea qed tikkunsidra passi legali kontra Malta.

Il-Gvern Nazzjonalista jidher li ma tantx għandu għaġġla biex jagħlaq din il-power station. Iżda għall-kuntrarju, qed jgħaġġel ferm fuq it-tkabbir tal-power station ta’ Delimara, u qed jistenna li ma jkunx hemm evalwazzjoni u kritika dwar dan il-proċess. Wieħed jista’ jsemmi bosta raġunijiet għal din l-għaġġla, iżda żgur li waħda minnhom hi li l-Gvern ma ppjanax sew l-għeluq tal-power station tal-Marsa.

Sfortunatament, jidher li dan il-Gvern ma jippjanax sew fit-tul f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-enerġija. Is-sinjali kollha kienu juru li d-domanda għall-enerġija se tibqa’ tikber, iżda l-Gvern baqa’ ma jagħtix prijorità lil din il-kwistjoni. Ministru wara l-ieħor baqa’ jħaddan il-politika ta’ dipendenza totali fuq l-enerġija maħmuġa miż-żejt, meta dan tal-aħħar qed isir iktar skars u iktar għoli fil-prezz.

L-impjant il-ġdid f’Delimara se jibqa’ juża din it-tip ta’ enerġija, sakemm xi darba jaqleb għall-gass. Fl-istess ħin, Malta tinsab tard ukoll fil-proġett li permezz tiegħu pajjiżna jingħaqqad mal-grid Ewropew tal-enerġija b’konnessjoni mal-Italja.

Nibqa’ sal-lum skantat kif il-Gvern ma jagħtix prijorita użu effiċjenti tal-enerġija u għall-enerġija nadifa li nistgħu nġibu minn sorsi bħax-xemx u r-riħ. Minkejja li daħħal xi miżuri pożittivi, u minkejja l-pjanijiet għall-proġetti kapitali f’dan ir-rigward, Malta tibqa’ lura ħafna meta mqabbla ma’ pajjiżi oħrajn fl-Unjoni Ewropea.

Bħala membru tal-UE, Malta għandha l-obbligu li tipproduċi 10 fil-mija tal-enerġija minn sorsi rinnovabbli sal-2020, u tista żżid l-emissjoni CO2 b’ħamsa fil-mija biss sal-istess sena, meta mqabbla mal-2005.

Għalhekk, nistenna li l-baġit li ġej jinkludi mhux biss xi inizjattivi sporadiċi u xi pjanijiet fuq il-karta, iżda li jkun hemm politika ħolistika li verament tagħti prijorità lil dan is-settur. B’hekk, Malta tkun tista’ tnaqqas id-dipendenza fuq l-enerġija maħmuġa, u dan ikun ta’ benefiċċju ambjentali u ekonomiku.

Il-Gvern għandu jagħti prijorità lill-proġetti kapitali u lill-miżuri u nċentivi fiskali ħolistiċi u mhux restrittivi. Nawgura li n-nefqa tal-Gvern tkun waħda xierqa u mhux waħda ċerimonjali.

Nawgura ukoll li l-Gvern jirrevedi politika kontradittorja f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-ippjanar. Biex nagħti eżempju wieħed, il-bjut ta’ appartamenti ġodda qed jintużaw eskussivament għall-penthouses, għad-detriment ta’ min jixtieq jagħmel użu mill-enerġija tax-xemx.

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin u Kelliem għall-Ekonomija u Finanzi ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika

The European economic pact

2011-08-05T09:56:00.000+02:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, 5 August 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110805/opinion/The-European-economic-pact.378834

In a context of economic and fiscal crisis, particularly among EU member states such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal, the European Union has adopted an economic agreement known as the Euro Plus Pact.

When the euro crisis came into being, it was made clear that EU member states that were not conforming to established financial and economic norms were “behaving badly” but when they did their punishment was just a gentle rap on the knuckles. This led to unsustainable economic and financial measures in some countries, notably those in southern Europe, to the detriment not only of their economies but also of other economies in the eurozone, the EU and the global economy. We now know that such an irresponsible approach is a recipe for disaster. As if we needed to be reminded, it is now clearer than ever that national governments have their fiscal limits and money doesn’t fall from the sky. Sustainable budgets are a must, irrespective of one’s ideological orientation.

In this regard, the EU – which is dominated by centre-right governments, a centre-right Commission and a centre-right majority in its Parliament – is opting for measures with the aim of avoiding further risks as much as possible. While one welcomes measures and policies based on such risk management, some of the measures being proposed are likely to result in slow economic growth and will mostly affect the most vulnerable groups in society.

The remedies being proposed for Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy included reduced public spending. Even though one should commend fiscal prudence, austerity cuts are not the only option to achieve such goals and should be used in tandem with other measures. For example, progressive taxation can help balance out expenditure and revenue and thus help provide the required funds to avoid an increase in poverty, social exclusion and precariousness.

Another measure that can be implemented in this regard is to resort to harmonised eco taxes, increase tax compliance and taxes on speculative activities including certain financial transactions. The latter, in particular, can also help provide revenue that can be used for social and environmental purposes among others.

The Euro Plus Pact also provides for proper sanctioning – including fines – on member states that do not conform to regulations such as those involving public debt. In this regard, Malta’s public debt – about 68 per cent of gross domestic product – is roughly in line with EU regulations and it is definitely not in the crisis situation as is the case with some member states with public debt exceeding 100 per cent. It is however pertinent to note that a considerable proportion of government expenditure goes on public debt servicing

While one welcomes measures that aim to curb unsustainable economic and financial policies, at the same time, one would expect that these should not increase poverty and threaten employment and expenditures on education, health and the environment (including combating climate change).

The European Greens, which welcome aspects of the Euro Plus Pact but are critical of others, have proposed the setting of concrete targets and corresponding measures related to such areas. Unfortunately, the centre-right majority within the European Parliament, also comprising Malta’s Nationalist Party, blocked this proposal. This is not the first time that progressive proposals were blocked by the centre-right.

Euro Plus Pact policies relating to the monitoring of private sector debt, financial speculation and economic inequality are most welcome. In this regard, one must mention the fact that Malta, particularly the banking sector, remains over-reliant on construction and real estate. This is raising concern elsewhere (including the IMF) but, apparently, not among Malta’s policy elite. In Malta, the provision of housing by far exceeds demand. Malta’s 25 per cent rate of vacant properties is ample proof of this. One mega-development project even went as far as to issue shares and found very few buyers, resulting in the purchase of the same shares by those who issued them in the first place, possibly to avoid financial collapse. Yet, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority keeps acting in a business-as-usual manner by issuing permits for even more mega projects. Besides, to-date, Malta does not have fiscal policies that discourage property speculation. The real estate sector – already characterised by various white elephants across Malta and Gozo – can ultimately implode, unless a policy shift is undertaken. In sum, while certain aspects of the Euro Plus Pact are welcome, it would have been better if increased priority were given to economic policy based on the promotion of sustainable development and ecological modernisation.

In this regard, increased investment in areas becoming increasingly important – such as renewable energy and information technology – is essential. Investment cannot only provide opportunities as regards education and training but can also result in more green jobs. Such forward-looking investment is based on real needs rather than short-term profits and speculation. Policies establishing realistic minimum wage levels and realistic cost-of-living adjustments, while encouraging productivity, are also required.

www.alternattiva.org.mt

The author, a sociologist, is Chairman and Spokesperson for Economy and Finance of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party

Dripht & BNI Live

2011-07-31T16:05:00.004+02:00

Dripht and BNI will be playing live at V-GEN, Ball Street, Paceville, this Saturday 6 August 2011. Starts at 9:30pm, Dripht playing first.

Facebook event page - click here

Dripht is Nick Morales - Michael Briguglio - Fre - Daniel Cassar
www.myspace.com/dripht

BNI is Miguel Debattista - Malcolm Dalli - Steve 'Lombardo' Attard
www.myspace.com/bnimalta

Divorce - AD welcomes historic approval

2011-07-25T11:45:00.000+02:00

Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party welcomed Parliament's approval of the divorce legislation, and said that it is honoured to have set the ball rolling for the introduction of this civil right.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson said: "AD welcomes the introduction of divorce in Malta. Malta has now joined the rest of the world in granting a basic civil right through which people can

find official closure and re-marry following a failed marriage. As Chairperson of the Green Party I am proud that AD has been in favour of this civil right ever since it was founded in 1989, and to have set the ball rolling for the introduction of divorce when last year we wrote to all members of parliament, which eventually led to the founding of the YES campaign and to the divorce referendum"

"AD believes that no member of parliament should have voted against the divorce legislation, particularly when it was the same parliament that decided for a divorce referendum. In particular, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi should not have voted against, particularly when it was the same Dr Gonzi who originally suggested a referendum. Dr Gonzi’s no vote shows not only that his confessional outlook is out-of-synch with contemporary Maltese society but, above all, it shows that, for him, the divorce referendum and parliamentary procedures were merely mathematical means in a futile attempt to keep Malta without the basic civil right of divorce".

Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, AD Deputy Chairperson and Spokesperson for Civil Rights said: "The introduction of divorce is a historic achievement for Malta. On this issue, Maltese people will finally be treated as adults and will no longer be discriminated against, unlike the situation prior to the introduction of divorce. Being Malta's progressive political party, AD will campaign for the introduction of other civil rights".

What causes the Cyrus switch

2011-07-22T09:18:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, Friday 22 July 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110722/opinion/What-causes-the-Cyrus-switch.376758

The Cyrus switch is what happens when the parties in power are so similar that it is easy for their members to belong to either. Expect more.

So Cyrus Engerer – the young politician never afraid to speak his mind – has decided to shift from Nationalist to Labour. Changing one’s political allegiance, shifting one’s vote, is a reality in a democracy. Indeed, political parties constantly try to attract people who vote for other parties (or, increasingly, who don’t vote at all).

There are many reasons why this is done. For example, some do it because of ideology, others do it because they consider the election as a market of bidders ready to give the best favours, while others do it to improve their own political careers.

I agree with Mr Engerer that Lawrence Gonzi should not have voted against the divorce legislation in Parliament, particularly when it was the same Dr Gonzi who originally suggested a referendum. Indeed, I believe that Dr Gonzi’s no vote in Parliament is the biggest mistake he has done so far as Prime Minister. Not only does it show that Dr Gonzi’s confessional outlook is out-of-synch with contemporary Maltese society but, above all, it shows that, for him, the divorce referendum and parliamentary procedures were merely mathematical means in a futile attempt to keep Malta without the basic civil right of divorce.

Even though in the past I jokingly remarked to Mr Engerer that his “natural” party should be Alternattiva Demokratika, I was not at all surprised with his defection from PN to PL. But how will this affect his political aspirations and career?
Did Mr Engerer join Labour because it champions his pet issue, namely the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) persons? If this is the case, it is interesting to note that, to date, Labour has no clear policy in this regard.

Notwithstanding the commendable activism of Labourites like Evarist Bartolo, PL leader Joseph Muscat’s recent comments on Xarabank were surely not music to the ears of autonomous LGBT activists. Maybe Mr Engerer is optimistic that he can convince Dr Muscat otherwise. Good luck to him.

Perhaps Mr Engerer joined Labour to become Sliema mayor? Theoretically, there is a possibility for Mr Engerer to become Sliema’s mayor but in this case he would most probably require the support not only of PL councillors but also of Nikki Dimech and Sandra Camilleri, the two former PN councillors. Mr Engerer was very much involved in the ousting of Mr Dimech as Sliema mayor. Would Mr Dimech “return” the compliment? And if Mr Engerer becomes mayor, what would happen next? Would he stand a chance in the 2013 local elections?

Perhaps Mr Engerer has a long-term plan to be elected in Parliament on the Labour ticket. Well, if he contests the 10th district he would have heavyweights such as Mr Bartolo, Michael Falzon and Gino Cauchi, just to mention a few. It would also be interesting to note that in the 12th district, Mr Bartolo will most probably have Dr Muscat and Deborah Schembri – the other new PL convert – contesting his same district.

I would not at all be surprised if in the coming weeks and months more political activists defect to Labour, especially since many are perceiving it to be the next party in government.

Yet, if a week is a long time in politics, the 20 months or so till the next election are unwritten. Politics is not an evolutionary straight line but a battlefield of ideology, strategy and interests.

The pace and swiftness of such defections only help confirm that, more often than not, the Nationalist and Labour parties are two sides of the same coin. Labour may be a bit more liberal than the PN on civil rights issues, a bit more inward looking on the economy and a bit more conservative on issues such as immigration but, otherwise, the PNPL represent a stagnant duopoly that will not be challenged by switches of the type Mr Engerer resorted to.

Both parties are financed through dubious mechanisms and are reluctant to have a proper accountable party financing system. Both parties are hell-bent on keeping an electoral system that acts in their egoistic interest at the expense of everyone else. And both parties have exempted themselves from data protection laws, which effectively means they are free to make use of the private data of citizens as they deem fit. With all talk of civil liberties, some prefer to climb the slippery slope towards a political career, which in the last instance, will only help retain the status quo.

In a way, Mr Engerer’s switch shows that AD remains the only party which is different from the rest, which has clear principles and for whom the need for progressive social change comes before other concerns such as personal advancement. With us, you know what you get. And being active with the Greens is more about giving than about taking.

The Greens are not in Parliament but we have been crucial in bringing about certain changes in Malta, such as environmental consciousness and successful environmental campaigns, EU accession and divorce. Just imagine what we could do if we are represented in Parliament.

www.alternattiva.org.mt
The author, a sociologist, is chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Notice of Publication of Paper on Malta’s Welfare Model

2011-07-20T19:19:00.003+02:00

Dear Friends,

I would like to inform you of the publication of the following co-authored peer-reviewed paper (abstract and link to paper below):

Exploring Malta’s Welfare Model

Michael Briguglio and Ian Bugeja

(Bank of Valletta Review No 43, Spring 2011)

Abstract. The paper compares the Maltese welfare state with other mainstream welfare regimes. It makes use of Esping-Andersen’s concepts of decommodification and stratification, whilst also looking at political and ideological factors. The European context in general, as analyzed by Roche, and the Southern European context in particular, as analyzed by Ferrera, are given particular attention. For this purpose, qualitative interviewing and analysis of secondary data was analysed through a sociological perspective. The paper argues that Malta has a hybrid model which does not neatly fit in one particular model of welfare. Indeed it has similarities and differences with other welfare models such as the Liberal, Social-Democratic, Continental and Southern European. However Malta must also keep in line with targets set by the European Union, which in turn are likely to influence Malta’s welfare model.

Link to the full paper: https://www.bov.com/filebank/documents/Michael%20Briguglio_30Jun11.pdf

Norm Rejection LIVE @ Farsons Beer Festival

2011-07-20T10:48:00.002+02:00

Norm Rejection live @ the Farsons Beer Festival, together with In the Name of, Indigo, Club Murder and Loathe. (Monday) 25th July - ROCK STAGE

Norm Rejection will be the 2nd band to play- 9.30PM

www.myspace.com/normrejection

Norm Rejection is: Wil Pace (Vocals); Michael Briguglio (Drums); Sean Vukovic (Guitar); Rex (Bass)

Check out Norm Rejection's latest CD - BELLIGERENT -

Facebook event page -
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=245164098844570#!/event.php?eid=164675700266396

Call for Papers: Green Jobs from a small state perspective

2011-07-17T17:48:00.001+02:00

In the light of the increasing importance of global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres, a seminar on 'Green Jobs from a Small State perspective' will be organised by the Green European Foundation with support of the Ceratonia Foundation in Malta in October 2011. The seminar will critically examine a range of issues and questions related to the opportunities and challenges of creating Green employment, through a multi-disciplinary perspective. The focus on small states is relevant as these are presented with specific challenges in this respect, such as vulnerability, small local markets, insularity, indivisibility and diseconomies of scale.

This seminar is of interest to academics and researchers in economics, sociology, social policy, public policy, small states and to civil society representatives (employers, trade unions, NGOs, etc.). We envisage the seminar as a point of discussion for papers documenting best policies and practices in creating and promoting Green jobs.

Prospective authors are invited to send abstracts of about 250 words to: ceratoniafoundation@gmail.com.

Selected papers will be discussed in the seminar and we are looking into later publishing the best articles in a publication (on-line and possibly print version as well), by courtesy of the Green European Foundation.

Draft timetable:

August: authors submit abstracts (max 250 words long).

End September: Outline of the essays to be delivered in the conference

End October: submission of final essays (to allow additions or editing after the conference)

December: publication is ready (graphic design + print)

Aims

To document Green policy solutions and best practices in advancing Green jobs as a response to the triple environmental, financial and economic crisis.

The seminar and later the envisaged publication will highlight the ideas, policy proposals and projects that Greens and their civil society counterparts around Europe will be promoting in order to ensure that these crises are overcome in a sustainable manner, that will allow the creation of decent work and implicitly decent life styles. This will imply investments in creating jobs in new economic sectors, such as renewable energy, but at the same time investments in education and training.

Keeping in mind that the Green New Deal is more than an eco-friendly policy, but seeking to address the current economic, social and evironmental crisis, the papers should deal with the economic, social, technical, policy and ecological issues of changing economies towards a greener and more sustainable economy and of creating the green jobs related to it.

Summaries of thesis, reviews of current literature related to the topic and comparative studies with other small economies and how these compare to the Southern European situation are also welcome. Papers should be kept to about 3,000 - 6,000 words long.

Prospective article themes could for instance include:

1) Theoretical and Policy frameworks (Green jobs and the ecological modernisation of our societies, Fair Trade etc.)

2) Papers on best practices in creating Green jobs;

3) Perspectives from civil society (employers, unions, NGOs)

Project realised with support of the Ceratonia Foundation (Malta).

Il-Patt Ekonomiku

2011-07-09T15:40:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=9192
Il-Gens Illum 9 ta’ Lulju 2011

Fit-23 ta’ Ġunju, il-Parlament Ewropew approva pakkett ta’ governanza ekonomika li se jiġi diskuss mal-Kunsill tal-Ministri. Dan il-pakkett jittratta r-rispons tal-Unjoni Ewropea għall-kriżi tal-Ewro. Il-Partit tal-Ħodor Ewropej, li miegħu hija msieħba l-Alternattiva Demokratika, jaqbel ma’ xi elementi tal-pakkett, iżda ma jaqbilx ma’ oħrajn.

Meta faqqgħet il-kriżi tal-Ewro, kien jidher b’mod ċar li pajjiżi membri fl-UE ma kinux qed jiġu kkastigati meta jmorru kontra r-regoli finanzjarji, bħal dawk li għandhom x’jaqsmu mad-dejn pubbliku.

F’dan ir-rigward, il-patt ekonomiku qed jipproponi tnaqqis fin-nefqa pubblika permezz ta’ miżuri ta’ awsterità li x’aktarx jimpattaw lill-persuni l-iktar vulnerabbli fis-soċjetà. Filwaqt li hu tajjeb li n-nefqa pubblika tkun sostenibbli, jista’ jkun hemm miżuri oħrajn li jibbilanċjaw id-dħul u n-nefqa, bħal m’huma t-taxxi progressivi. Dawn żgur huma iktar soċjalment ġusti minn miżuri li jikkastigaw lil min qiegħed f’qagħda prekarja.

Tajjeb ukoll li jkun hemm iktar armonija fiskali bejn il-pajjiżi fl-UE f’oqsma bħat-tassazzjoni fuq it-tranżizzjonijiet finanzjarji, l-evażjoni tat-taxxa u t-taxxi ambjentali.

Fl-istess ħin, filwaqt li hu importanti li l-UE tiżgura li l-pajjiżi msieħba jkunu dixxiplinati fil-finanzi tagħhom, għandu jkun hemm l-istess tip ta’ dixxiplina f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam ma’ politika dwar il-faqar, xogħol, edukazzjoni, riċerka u tibdil fil-klima fost oħrajn.

Sfortunatament, din il-proposta tal-Ħodor ma ġietx milqugħa mill-Kunsill tal-Ministri tal-UE u mill-maġġoranza tal-Parlament Ewropew, li jinkludi l-Partit Popolari, li miegħu hu msieħeb il-Partit Nazzjonalista.

Min-naħa l-oħra, il-Patt Ekonomiku jipproponi titjib f’affarijiet bħall-monitoraġġ tad-dejn tas-settur privat, l-ispekulazzjoni fl-ekonomija u l-inugwaljanza ekonomika.

L-ikbar problema f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-patt ekonomiku hu li bħalissa l-Kummissjoni Ewropea, il-Parlament Ewropew u l-Kunsill tal-Ministri huma kollha kkaratterizzati minn maġġoranza li tiffavorixxi politika ekonomika neo-liberali.

Għalhekk, qegħdin jipprovaw jimponu miżuri ekonomiċi li x’aktarx se jżidu l-faqar fl-UE.

Minflok, l-istituzzjonijet Ewropej u l-pajjiżi msieħba fl-UE, jistgħu jipproponu politika ekonomika li hi bbżata iktar fuq il-valur miżjud li joħolqu l-ħaddiema, f’kuntest ta’ żvilupp sostenibbli fl-oqsma soċjali, ambjentali u ekonomiċi. Il-Ħodor Ewropej huma favur din it-tip ta’ politika.

F’dan ir-rigward, l-investiment fl-edukazzjoni u t-taħriġ u f’oqsma li iktar ma jmur, iktar m’huma se jsiru importanti – bħall-enerġija rinnovabbli – hija essenzjali. Tajjeb ukoll li l-UE jkollha politika barranija iktar progressiva li permezz tagħha tiddefendi l-kisbiet soċjali li saru tul is-snin u ma tiffavorixxix pajjiżi jew blokok ekonomiċi li huma kkaratterizzati minn politika ekonomika li tiġi taqa’ u tqum mill-inugwaljanzi ekonomiċi, il-faqar u l-qerda ambjentali.

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin u Kelliem għall-Ekonomija u Finanzi ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika.

Ideology in a post-referendum context

2011-06-24T17:50:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times 24 June 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110624/opinion/Ideology-in-a-post-referendum-context.372137

The divorce referendum process could be read in many ways. One of them could be to analyse the ideological and strategic orientations of the political parties in Malta.

It seems that the same Nationalist Party that took Malta out of the political dark ages of the 1980s has become a victim of its own success. Malta’s environment is in ruins and economic inequalities have increased, notwithstanding the fact that Malta’s economy is relatively stable and successful. As regards values and civil liberties, the dominant ideology within the Nationalist Party seems to be one that is archaic, confessional and out of synch with the aspirations of thousands of people.

The PN now has to decide whether its rupture with liberal new middle class voters was something temporary, or whether it will seek to ally itself with this politically important category once again. Surely, with ministers who base their opinions on “holy” visions and allies who think that Malta is some form of presepju fil-Mediterran, I cannot expect the PN to become a secular party, nor to do away with its ties with big business interests. Indeed, hoping that the PN suddenly becomes the natural home of gay rights activists, environmentalists and new social movements is wishful thinking to say the least.

Labour, on the other hand, played a cynical strategic game in the divorce issue which, however, paid its dividends. With Joseph Muscat and Evarist Bartolo as frontliners for the pro-divorce cause, Labour immediately proclaimed itself as victor after the referendum result. Of course, had the No camp been victorious, Labour would have depicted a different image of itself, emphasising that the party did not have an official position on divorce.

Labour’s strategy is to aim to please everyone at the same time. As I already had the occasion to say in previous articles, this strategy might win elections, but I doubt whether it will change anything at all. A party that promises everything to everyone at the same time might face the same implosion as happened to Alfred Sant in the 1990s. I mean, what will Labour in power do when it faces environmentalists and hunters, residents and big business contractors, workers’ unions and employers, who would all want their pound of flesh?

Having Green parliamentary representation, and more importantly Green presence in government, will help ensure that Malta moves closer to a liberal European democracy based on progressive and sustainable aspirations. Of course, this would require compromise and negotiation but this is the essence of politics, where power is productive.

What are the main principles of Alternattiva Demokratika? I will refer to five key principles which are essential for us Greens.

First, social justice. We believe that there cannot be progress without social equality, responsibility and sustainability. Referring to the Social Europe model, Malta should strengthen its welfare state system to guarantee inclusion in the labour market and a decent standard of living to all. We believe in decent and accessible public services such as public transport, housing, inclusive education, public health and safety in our localities. These requirements need sustainable financing and progressive taxation systems.

Second, civil rights. We believe in a truly democratic, secular and progressive society where diversity is celebrated and protected within a context of pluralism, reciprocal respect and civil liberties.

We oppose all forms of discrimination irrespective of one’s gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion or belief, race or ethnicity, or any other status, and strongly believe that equality should be mainstreamed in all social policies. Malta needs to honour its human rights obligations at all times.We will therefore work to strengthen the freedom of the press and the modernisation of censorship laws.

Third, environmental justice. We believe that ecology is a holistic chain and therefore we support sustainable development, the protection of the environment and animal welfare and rights. We are also actively involved in the struggles of local communities to defend their quality of life against overdevelopment.

Fourth, sustainable development and ecological modernisation. We believe in a sustainable society that incorporates economic, environmental and social priorities. In the process, green jobs can be created in sectors such as tourism, renewable and clean energy, waste management, research and the production of food. Such jobs should be characterised by decent pay and work conditions.

Last but not least, democracy. AD believes in a participative and pluralistic democracy based on the rule of law, subsidiarity, adequate checks and balances to ensure a separation between constitutional powers and legal safeguards which serve as effective deterrents against corruption and the dominance of economic interests and egoistic lobby groups. This requires clear rules regulating party financing, electoral reform, greater autonomy of the judiciary from government, clear distinction between the state and political parties and complete separation between State and Church. In a world marked by globalisation, democracy can only be safeguarded through more integration and the strengthening of the EU’s democratic and representative structures.

The Green vision is clear, and everyone knows where he or she stands with us. As the divorce referendum has shown us, citizens have a very powerful tool – the vote – which can be used to help bring about progressive and sustainable change. Let’s use this tool wisely.

www.alternattiva.org.mt
The author is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party

Sliema, as we want it to be

2011-06-21T10:20:00.002+02:00

MICHAEL BRIGUGLIO

Malta Today - Tuesday, June 21, 2011
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/blogs/michael-briguglio/sliema-as-we-want-it-to-be

The pedestrianization of Bisazza Street is a clear example of the lack of direction of the Nationalist Government. Ministers Austin Gatt and George Pullicino, who are respectively responsible for public transport and for the pedestrianisation of Bisazza Street, have been unable to coordinate their effort regarding Arriva’s claim to have buses passing from the street. As things stand, tax payers will likely foot the bill for their blunder, if Arriva is to be compensated for having its buses pass from elsewhere.

Anyone who believes in the importance of public transport would immediately realise that buses should pass through the Qui-si-sana and Tigne' seafronts, thus making it easier for residents of these areas to have access to public transport. The buses shall be of Euro 5 standard, meaning that they are the least polluting diesel buses on the market, though there are less polluting buses which use cleaner types of fuel.

Given that Bisazza Street has now been pedestrianized, it should remain as such. Having vehicles, of whatever nature passing through this road will reduce the amenity for commuters. At the same time, however, traffic at the Qui-si-sana and Tigne' seafronts has increased. Are transport authorities penalizing those whose cars, trucks and buses are emitting fumes above permitted levels, possibly because of dubious methods of fuel?

In the meantime, a few metres away, the Townsquare proposal is haunting Sliema. Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party is objecting the proposal, which includes a 23-storey tower, amongst others.Once again, Sliema residents are being offered another development similar to what we have at Tigné Point and Fort Cambridge.

Studies commissioned by the Townsquare proponents show that the development will result in further shading of parts of the Qui-Si-Sana promenade, the sea and the rocky foreshore and will have a major impact on the landscape, as is the case with the other nearby development referred to previously.Besides, a revised environment impact study confirmed that Townsquare will increase air pollution and thousands of cars in an already congested area. Indeed, the study projects an additional 4,430 vehicles in daily traffic in Qui-Si-Sana, increasing peak flows in the area from the present 24,444 to 28,874 vehicles. This will not only help deteriorate people’s health and increase traffic jams but will also possibly put Malta in infringement of EU directives on issues relative to the quality of air. In this regard, MEPA is legally obliged to ensure that the air quality limit values enforced by the Ambient Air Quality Directive are not exceeded.

Sliema Local Council is totally silent on this proposed development. Perhaps it will speak after MEPA approves the project. But it will then be too late. Or perhaps those opposing the proposed development will emerge victorious. Time will tell.

Other parts of Sliema are not immune to the Local Council’s slumber. For example, we are yet to hear the official position of the Council on the worthy proposal of the Sliema Residents’ Association to schedule the extensive gardens at Villa Bonici. We are also yet to be informed whether Sliema Local Council has noticed the disproportionate development at Exiles. The Council had all the time in the world to act consistently with its previous position and officially appeal against the development. But it did not.

Yet apparently, judging by voting patterns of most Sliema residents, this is Sliema as we want it to be. With all the talk of whether the PN should be conservative, liberal or what ever may win it the next election, the elephant in the room seems to be missed. At the end of the day we have a Government and Council which are more often than not subservient to the interests of big business. This subservience is both ideological, in that the PN believes in the god of overdevelopment, as well as structural, given that the PN is financed by big business interests.

Michael Briguglio, a former local councilor in Sliema, is Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party

Norm Rejection CD Launch Gig, supported by Victims of Creation

2011-06-08T10:36:00.002+02:00

Metal band Norm Rejection will be officially launching the Belligerent CD, supported by doomsters Victims of Creation at Voice of a Generation Ball Street, Paceville, St Julians on Saturday 11th June 2011. Doors open at 9pm. Entrance fee is 7 Euro and includes 'BELLIGERENT' CD. Facebook event page here.

BELLIGERENT comprises 3 brand new songs, namely 'Kemm Hawn Dwejjaq fil-Pajjiz', 'Belligerent' and 'Encounter'. In addition, the CD also includes 'Subtly Mesmerized', 'Pangea's Neglect' and 'Distorted Visions' from the band's 1994 demo 'Subtly Mesmerized?' which had sold out within weeks from its release. All the songs were composed by Norm Rejection (music for 'Belligerent' song by Sean Vukovic') and all lyrics were written by Michael Briguglio. Production and mastering by Sean Vukovic. Sleeve design by Wil Pace.

Single 'KEMM HAWN DWEJJAQ FIL-PAJJIZ' can be heard for free at

http://www.myspace.com/normrejection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv3VjW_QN2Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhWBPLf9MRg

Norm Rejection is Wil Pace - Vocals; Michael Briguglio - Drums; Sean Vukovic - Guitar; Rex - Bass

Victims of Creation is Rex - Bass & Vox; A.J. - Guitar; Daniel - Guitar; Dino - Drums.

Those interested in obtaining an advance copy of the CD are requested to contact Norm Rejection at mbrig@hotmail.com

www.myspace.com/normrejection
www.myspace.com/victimsofcreation

X'inhu jiġri tas-Sliema?

2011-06-04T15:09:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

Il-Gens Illum 4 ta'Gunju 2011
http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=8483

Il-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Tas-Sliema qiegħed f’sitwazzjoni staġnata. Jidher li xi kunsilliera mhumiex jattendu laqgħat, li qed iwassal għal nuqqas ta’ kworum u nuqqas ta’ teħid ta’ deċiżjonijiet. U meta l-kunsill jasal biex jiddeċiedi xi ħaġa, ħafna drabi jiddeċiedi li ma jiddeċidix. Mill-esperjenza tiegħi ta’ Kunsillier f’Tas-Sliema bejn l-2003 u l-2009, m’għandix dubju li hemm kunsilliera b’rieda tajba, iżda m’għandix dubju wkoll li s-sitwazzjoni preżenti tal-Kunsill m’hijiex sostenibbli.

Mhux se nirrepeti stejjer li smajna dwar il-Kunsill fix-xhur li għaddew, dwar kif inbidel is-sindku, dwar kif l-elezzjoni tal-2009 kienet ikkaratterizzata minn infiq sproporzjonat ta’ flus minn xi kandidati u minn ħafna wegħdi fiergħa fil-ġimgħat ta’ qabel l-elezzjoni. Se nitkellem dwar affarijiet li qed jiġru fil-preżent fil-Kunsill. Dawn qed iwasslu għal frustrazzjoni kbira fost residenti u għaqdiet volontarji fil-lokalità.

Ħa nibda bil-proġett ta’ Townsquare. Fl-10 ta’ April 2010, fi IL-ĠENSillum online (http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=3308), jiena ktibt dwar l-iżvilupp propost ta’ torri ta’ 23 sular u ta’ żvilupp ieħor kummerċjali u residenzjali, kif ukoll parkeġġ, f’żona f’Tas-Sliema li diġà huwa kkaratterizzat minn żvilupp estensiv (Fort Cambridge u Tignè Point) u konġestjoni kbira ta’ traffiku.

Riċentement, studji ambjentali għall-MEPA juru li bil-proġett ta’ Townsquare se jkun hemm żieda ta’ 4,430 karozza kuljum fl-inħawi ta’ Qui-si-sana, biex b’hekk ikun hemm 28,874 karozza kuljum li tgħaddi minn din iż-żona. Il-Kunsill Lokali jidher li huwa sieket ferm dwar din il-kwistjoni.

Hemm ukoll żvilupp ieħor propost fiż-żona ta’ Villa Bonici, li hi meqjusa bħala l-aħħar pulmun aħdar f’Tas-Sliema. Hawnhekk, għaqdiet tal-ambjent qed jappellaw lill-MEPA sabiex il-ġonna ta’ din iż-żona estensiva jiġu skedati, u b’hekk jiġu protetti mill-iżvilupp. Għal darb’oħra, jidher li l-Kunsill ta’ Tas-Sliema mhux qed jesprimi x’pożizzjoni għandu dwar il-kwistjoni.

Proġett ieħor li qajjem kontroversja hu dak li jikkonċerna l-klabb tal-waterpolo tal-Exiles, li ngħata permess li jikber b’mod sproporzjonat. Nistieden lill-qarrejja ta’ IL-ĠENSillum online biex jaqbżu qabża sal-bandli ta’ Tas-Sliema (ħdejn Ġnien Indipendenza) u jaraw b’għajnejhom il-mostrożità ta’ żvilupp li hu għaddej fl-Exiles.
Alternattiva Demokratika ilha topponi dan l-iżvilupp sproporzjonat, u konna kkonvinċejna lill-Kunsill sabiex joġġezzjoni għalih. Iżda wara li l-MEPA approvat l-iżvilupp, l-istess Kunsill seta’ jappella iżda naqas milli jagħmel dan.

Dawn it-tliet eżempji riċenti juru li l-Kunsill qed jonqos milli jieħu pożizzjoni dwar affarijiet li qed jolqtu lir-residenti Slimiżi. Mhux ta’ b’xejn li l-għaqdiet tar-residenti fil-lokalità dan l-aħħar esprimew id-diżappunt tagħhom għal kif qed jimxu l-affarijiet.

X’għandu jsir biex jinbidlu l-affarijiet?

L-ewwel: nistieden lill-Kunsill biex jippubblika figuri li juru kemm qed jattendu jew ifallu laqgħat il-kunsilliera. Qed nirreferi kemm għal-laqgħat tal-Kunsill, kif ukoll għal dawk li jirrigwardaw lis-sotto-kumitati.

It-tieni: il-Kunsill għandu jikkunsidra jekk jistax jibqa’ għaddej b’dan l-istaġnar. Jekk jibqa’ f’pożizzjoni li ma jistax jieħu deċiżjonijiet, jista’ jkun li l-aħjar soluzzjoni tkun li jkun hemm elezzjoni mill-ġdid għall-kunsilliera.

It-tielet: l-elettorat Slimiż jista’ jqabbel kunsilli differenti f’Tas-Sliema u jara liema minnhom kienu l-iktar effettivi. F’dan ir-rigward, l-elettorat għandu l-arma tal-vot. Jekk wieħed verament irid il-bidla, għandu l-faċilità li jivvota għaliha!

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika
www.alternattiva.org.mt

MPs not ready to vote in favour of divorce should resign before the vote

2011-06-02T21:49:00.000+02:00

Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party has noted the declaration of Labour MP Marie Louise Coleiro Preca that she will not contest the forthcoming general elections. This declaration has been made within the context of the current polemic on the implementation of the referendum decision of last Saturday concerning the divorce Bill in respect of which Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca declared yesterday that for reasons of conscience she intended to abstain thereon.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said : "As a first point AD condemns whoever is exerting pressure and threatening Coleiro-Preca and her relatives. AD also condemns those who are threatening her through making use of information on her personal life. On this AD is four square behind Coleiro Preca.

AD is however of the opinion that each one of our Members of Parliament who is not prepared to vote in favour of the Divorce Bill is not fit to be an MP. The issue is not the Divorce Bill itself but the unconditional respect which each and every MP owes to the will of the electorate. After all, it is the same members of parliament who shifted the responsibility onto the people through a referendum.

The electorate has taken a decision and Members of Parliament should oblige. The reaction of their conscience is at this stage irrelevant. However if the conflict with their conscience is so disturbing they should resign before and not after voting".

STAND UP TO BE COUNTED!

2011-06-01T13:20:00.002+02:00

Parliament should introduce divorce without manoeuvring

TUESDAY 7 JUNE, 2011, 9.30am
In front of Hastings Gardens, Valletta
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=132925523451734

On Tuesday 7 June (public holiday), we will tell members of parliament to respect the result of the referendum and to avoid any manoeuvring as regards the introduction of divorce legislation.

The issue is simple. Over 53% of voters want the introduction of divorce in Malta. Parliamentarians, who did not have the courage to take a decision on divorce and shifted the responsibility onto the people through a referendum, should stand by the result of the referendum. Any manoeuvring is simply unacceptable.

Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party will be carefully analysing the situation and will make sure that parliamentarians do not take the Maltese electorate for a ride. Civil society is invited to stand up and be counted!

Divorce, change, continuity

2011-05-31T14:23:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

Malta Today Tuesday, May 31, 2011

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/blogs/michael-briguglio/divorce-change-continuity

The divorce referendum result is very much welcome. Judging by value surveys on the referendum in particular and family life in general, I must say that I was mildly optimistic on a positive outcome, though, of course, I was wary of a possible ‘no’ victory.

As Chairperson of the Green Party, I am proud to be in the only party that to date has a pro-divorce stand and to be in the only party to have been on the right side of history in the divorce and EU referenda, which were both so important for Maltese society. I am proud to be in a party that set the ball rolling on the divorce issue since it was founded in 1989 and to have sent the draft law to parliamentarians in 2010, which subsequently led to the creation of the YES movement.

The outcome of the referendum confirms that Maltese society is undergoing changes which are irreversible. The individualized society is here to stay. In this regard, people are more likely to construct their own biographies than previous generations. This does not mean that class, politics, beliefs, gender, level of education and other factors no longer play an important role in Maltese society. Yet, people are less likely to construct their lives simply upon inherited tradition. Choice and everyday situations are likely to play an increased degree of influence in our life-course. Whether such reflexivity will be reflected in general elections remains to be seen.

Yet, society is characterized by change and continuity at the same time. Labour’s attitude following the ‘yes’ victory are a striking example of the latter.

Upon the ‘yes’ victory, the Labour Party, through its media apparatus, immediately attempted to create a new look, where it suddenly pronounced itself as the winner of this referendum, as the party we all have to thank for such an achievement. Of course, had the ‘No’ camp been victorious, Labour would have depicted a different image of itself, emphasizing that the party did not have an official position on divorce.

Following the result, leading Labour exponents also spoke of the importance of civil society and cross-party alliances. Yet, in practice, Labour has acted otherwise. For example, it did not invite any Green Party representative for its post-result live transmissions on One TV. Even, worse, I, as AD Chairperson was dumped from the panel of One’s programme ‘Inkontri’, hosted by Joe Grima.

Indeed, as early as 20th May I was invited to form part of the panel of ‘Inkontri’ edition to be aired live on 30th May (a day after the referendum result). Yet in the morning of 30th May, I was suddenly informed that I will not form part of the panel and instead will be given an interview. Of course, I refused to be party to such shameless inconsistency and unequal treatment. If Labour thinks that we Greens are hungry for its bread crumbs, it really must look elsewhere for lackeys.

Many Labour-leaning persons contacted me to express their sympathy for such degrading treatment, but, surprise surprise, to date I have not yet been shown any sympathy from those Labourites who made sure to have their face appear in every activity of the ‘YES’ movement. With friends like these, who needs enemies? It would be interesting if One TV tells us who took the decision to dump me off the panel.

If civil society is to keep struggling for the introduction of further civil rights (such as anti-censorship, LGBT rights, fair electoral systems etc) and for the further modernization of Maltese society, one should not get carried away with the idea that Labour is the ‘natural’ party for such change. Devoid of any sense of reciprocal respect, Labour simply acts according to where the wind blows, and uses and dumps its temporary allies as it deems fit.

Of course, the Nationalist Party is not so different in this regard, and neither are its media allies, but at least the PN had a stand on divorce, albeit archaic, confessional and out of synch with the aspirations of thousands of people. The PN now has to decide whether its rupture with liberal new middle class voters was something temporary, or whether it will seek to ally itself with this politically-important category once again. Surely, with Ministers who base their opinions on ‘holy’ visions and allies who think that Malta is some form of ‘presepju fil-Mediterran’, I cannot expect the PN to become a secular party. On the other hand, adaptation to the current scenario is inevitable unless the PN wants to lose the next election.

Hence, the further modernization of Maltese society is not something that will simply happen automatically. With a stronger progressive civil society (the Green Party, NGOs, media etc..), Malta can only move closer and closer to a more inclusive and pluralistic democracy and a cosmopolitan society.

In the meantime, I urge members of parliament to respect the result of the referendum and avoid any manouvering as regards the introduction of divorce legislation.

The issue is simple. Over 53% of voters want the introduction of divorce in Malta. Parliamentarians, who did not have the courage to take a decision on divorce and shifted the responsibility onto the people through a referendum, should stand by the result of the referendum. Any manoeuvering is simply unacceptable. Alternattiva Demokratika will be carefully analysing the situation and will make sure that parlamentarians do not take the Maltese electorate for a ride.

Alternattiva Demokratika welcomes divorce referendum result

2011-05-29T19:01:00.002+02:00

Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party welcomes the divorce referendum result, adding that it was proud to have played a very important role in this victory and congratulates the majority for showing its maturity and confirming that justice triumphs over injustice, that tolerance prevails over discrimination and that compassion transcends insensitivity.

AD is proud to have set the ball rolling on the divorce issue since it was founded in 1989 and to have sent the draft law to parliamentarians in 2010, which was subsequently supported by MPs Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Evarist Bartolo, leading to the creation of the YES movement. AD will continue working to ensure that parliament respects the will of the people. When divorce is introduced, thousands of people will be able to start their lives afresh, and Malta will move closer to democracies based on pluralism and civil rights.

Now is the time that the Government should stop paying lip service to the needs of strengthening the family, roll up their sleeves and start working in earnest on the implementation of family-friendly measures such as increasing parental leave and the minimum wage.

The result of the referendum condirms that if people want change, they should vote for it.

Townsquare strikes back

2011-05-27T15:21:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, Friday, May 27, 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110527/opinion/Townsquare-strikes-back.367516

The proposed Townsquare development in Sliema does not seem to make much news headlines. There could be various reasons for this. For example, it could be the case that news items on development in Sliema have been so frequent in the past years that they have created an overkill effect and, to put it bluntly, have become boring. It could also be the case that, save for some exceptions, environmental and local residents’ NGOs have too much on their agenda to be able to catch up with everything. Or, perhaps, in a society so much characterised by informal networks of power, the developers prefer not to have the proposed development in the news to avoid public discontent. Silence can be an effective tool in politics.

Irrespective of such reasons and other possible ones, this does not mean that the proposed Townsquare development is not important. May I remind readers of The Times that the developers are proposing commercial and residential development in an area situated between the Union Club and the former Libyan Embassy (Villa Drago) and, among others, includes a 23-storey tower (which was previously planned to be 32 storeys high, though it was originally indicated to have 15 storeys).

When the development was originally proposed in 2002, the Greens welcomed the way it was presented, especially since it included gardens, pedestrian lanes, avenues and piazzas in a zone that was previously not fully accessible to the public. However, as time went by, it became clearer that the proposed development would give Sliema more of the same, similar to nearby developments at Tigné Point and Fort Cambridge.

Unfortunately, this is of little concern to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, which approves projects on a piecemeal basis rather than adopting a holistic approach. This is very rich when one considers that one-fourth of properties in Malta are vacant and that areas such as Sliema are plagued by traffic problems.

Besides, studies commissioned by the developers showed that the development will result in further shading of parts of the Qui-Si-Sana promenade, the sea and the rocky foreshore and will have a major impact on the landscape, as is the case with the other nearby development referred to previously.

Indeed, last year, Alternattiva Demokratika said that the proposed changes to the Townsquare development in Sliema were not sufficient to protect the rights of residents and that these will further increase environmental problems such as pollution and traffic congestion. Hence, we feel the development as being proposed is far too extensive. For this reason, we had objected to Mepa on the proposed development on grounds of overdevelopment and the overstretching of services, negative impact on traffic and more air and noise pollution.

More recently, a revised environment impact study was produced and it confirmed that, as being proposed, Townsquare will increase air pollution and thousands of cars in an already congested area. Indeed, the study projected an additional 4,430 vehicles in daily traffic in Qui-Si-Sana, increasing peak flows in the area from the present 24,444 to 28,874 vehicles.

This will not only help deteriorate people’s health and increase traffic jams but will also possibly put Malta in infringement of EU directives on issues relative to the quality of air. In this regard, Mepa is legally obliged to ensure that the air quality limit values enforced by the Ambient Air Quality Directive are not exceeded.

The silence of Sliema local council on the Townsquare proposal is striking. The council seems to be in a total stalemate and is conspicuous on its absence regarding environmental issues in the locality. If residents are happy with this situation all they have to do is vote for the status quo next time round. But residents can also empower themselves, not only by supporting the Green party and NGOs that are really concerned on the Townsquare development but also by petitioning the European Commission should their right to clean air quality not be respected by the authorities. Sliema residents – like all other residents in the EU – have a legal right to air quality, which is within the limits specified by EU directives.

Like all other developments, Townsquare is not pre-determined to take place at all costs. It can be recreated and contested and can perhaps be made more environment-and resident-friendly. But things don’t happen automatically. Surely, activism and voting patterns can help change things. But are Sliema residents ready to do this? Or will the majority keep having confidence in the political “super saints” whose claim to power is very much the result of patronage rather than concrete action for sustainable development?

www.alternattiva.org.mt
The author is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

AD urges people to vote YES in the referendum

2011-05-25T18:32:00.000+02:00

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party urged people to vote YES in the divorce referendum on 28th May.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said that "the basic issue in the divorce referendum is that whilst a “Yes for divorce” allows people to choose No in their personal lives, a “No for divorce” does not allow people to choose Yes in their personal lives. AD is proud to have submitted the Irish divorce law to members of parliament, which was subsequently picked up by Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Evarist Bartolo. The draft law is based on a responsible model of divorce."

Michael Briguglio added that “AD is confident that the referendum can be won, if people stand up and be counted. We strongly appeal those who are in favour of the introduction of divorce to vote Yes in the referendum. Abstention from voting can play in the hands of the fundamentalists who, through their misinformation and scaremongering want Malta to remain without this basic civil right. We also appeal to those who do not agree with divorce but do not want to prohibit others from this right to vote yes in the referendum. Those who want to deny divorce to the thousands who need this civil right should not be allowed to win.”

Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, AD Deputy Chairperson and Spokesperson for Civil Rights said that “one should vote yes because adults have a right to make their own decisions about whether they want to stay single, to remarry or to cohabit with their new partner once their previous marriage has irrevocably failed. Divorce is a civil right which is being denied to a number of people who are not in a position to obtain it from abroad. Malta is the only country in the world where divorce is not granted by the courts but where divorce obtained from many other countries is recognised by the state.”

Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD Spokesperson on EU and International Affairs, said that "Alternattiva Demokratika is asking the Maltese people to live up to the motto of the European Union that we joined in 2004, i.e. ‘United in diversity’. People might have different beliefs but we should be tolerant of the beliefs of others, even if they are different from ours. Voting ‘YES’ at the referendum will also be a respectful sign of tolerance of those who do not necessarily share your beliefs, but who are in need of your help to be able to start afresh in life. Voting "IVA" also means restoring the concept of equality amongst all Maltese citizens and not privileging those who can get a divorce from abroad, as the situation is now”

Urgent - AB Positive Blood urgently needed!

2011-05-16T23:57:00.002+02:00

AB POSITIVE Blood is urgently needed...this is an extremely rare blood group so if you know anyone who can help encourage them to go to the Blood Bank next to St. Lukes Hospital - You can save a Biker and a friend ! !

Individualisation, families, divorce

2011-05-13T21:32:00.000+02:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, 13 May 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110513/opinion/Individualisation-families-divorce.365075

In contemporary modern societies, individualisation is becoming increasingly common in all aspects of life. Though we are influenced by factors such as class, gender and culture, we are increasingly autonomous and reflexive in our life choices. Family life is no exception.

Though not always the case, people are increasingly likely to make their own decisions about the formation and dissolution of families, rather than simply follow inherited traditional social rules. It is as if people are freer to write their own biographies, in a context of reflexivity. In turn, lifestyles have become more flexible, variable, complex and plural. Here, opportunities and risks are two sides of the same coin.

Hence, we no longer speak of “the family” in the singular tense as if there is just one type of family but we speak of “families”, comprising situations and formations such as marriage, separation, divorce, annulment, cohabitation, single parenthood, same-sex relationships and so forth.

Of course, not everyone welcomes such changes. Broadly speaking, traditionalists believe that families (as defined by traditionalists) are in decline while progressives maintain that what is happening is a continuous process of change and transition. Indeed, there have been different family forms throughout the history of human societies, across time and space.

Even though most people would like to live in a stable marriage, the plain truth is that not everyone does so. An interplay of factors, such as personal beliefs, character traits and experienced situations (at times contrary to one’s aspirations), have to be taken into consideration in this regard.

One may decide not to remain in a relationship, for various reasons, ranging from economic realities to abuse; from lack of love to incompatibility. Others might prefer to be in a relationship but cannot do so because of reasons such as having their partner deciding to stop the relationship. This is the case even in Malta, which does not permit divorce within its boundaries. Let us not kid ourselves into assuming that Malta is some “crib” in the Mediterranean.

Indeed, separation is on the increase in Malta. Despite the absence of divorce, and despite the rhetoric of traditionalists, many people go on with their everyday lives, which, sometimes, also means ending relationships and, also, forming new ones. What is specific for Malta is that separated spouses cannot remarry whereas in other societies they can. Thus, Maltese persons who decide to remarry in their own country are being discriminated against and have to settle for cohabitation or a financially prohibitive divorce overseas, unless they have valid grounds for an annulment.

Maltese traditionalists of the fundamentalist type prefer burying their heads in the sand rather than come up with viable and inclusive policies, which make life easier for people whose marriage fails. They assume it is divorce that is harmful to children and not the context in which children live. For example, a child living with quarrelling parents in a marriage “made in heaven” and experiencing conflict every day could possibly suffer serious negative repercussions, which could “scar” him or her. Such a child might be in a better situation if his/her parents quit their relationship, yet give him/her love and serenity in their own ways.

Various sociologists and social policymakers are arguing it is important that both biological parents should be in frequent contact with the child should a marriage (or a relationship) fail. Indeed, when children are involved, many parents whose relationship would have failed still maintain contact, though this is not always the case. In various societies, such an arrangement is also supported by social policymakers such as government agencies, legislators, lawyers and family counsellors. There are various reasons for this, including the increase in separated/divorced fathers who would like to maintain access to their children, which, in turn, is more likely to ensure that the same fathers support their children financially.

In this regard, sociologist Anthony Giddens speaks of the need to move towards “emotional democracies”, where parents, irrespective of their marital or relationship status and living arrangements, would be legally obliged to cater for their children’s emotional and economic needs. Such a perspective is truly fitting for the individualised context of today and goes beyond rigid stereotypes of family structures and gender roles.

The traditionalists of the fundamentalist type want us to believe we should return to some “golden age” of the traditional family, which, in all probability never existed. Indeed, various oppressive characteristics of families in the past are unacceptable today. Women won’t give up the rights they have won. Sexual partnerships and marriage have changed. Emotional communication and individual decisions are a key aspect of the individualised society, whether one likes it or not. And the right to happiness is prized by many.

Unless Malta legalises divorce within its shores, social policy will remain out of synch with the life courses of thousands of people whose marriage has ended. It is ironic that a society which declares itself as being a guardian of “family values” is prohibiting thousands from marrying.

www.alternattiva.org.mt

The author is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Sfidi għall-ħaddiema ta' żminijietna

2011-05-07T09:25:00.003+02:00

Michael Briguglio

Il-Gens Illum 7 ta'Mejju 2011
http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=7909

Hekk kif ftit tal-ġranet ilu ġie ċċelebrat Jum il-Ħaddiem, nixtieq naqsam xi ħsibijiet mal-qarrejja ta’ Il-ĠENSillum online. Kull sena nieħu l-okkażjoni biex nikteb dwar din il-ġurnata. Din is-sena, bħala Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, nixtieq nitkellem dwar sfidi li qed jiffaċċjaw ħaddiema f’Malta. Fost dawn żgur hemm il-bżonn li nikkumbattu x-xogħol prekarju, l-inugwaljanza, l-esklużjoni soċjali, u l-bżonn ta’ politika li tinkoraġġixxi bilanċ xieraq bejn xogħol u familja kif ukoll il-ħolqien ta’ green jobs.

L-ekonomija Maltija sejra mhux ħażin, iżda dan ma jfissirx li m’għandhiex problemi. F’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-qagħda tal-ħaddiema, wieħed jinnota li, bħal oqsma oħrajn fis-soċjetajiet ta’ żminijietna, ix-xogħol qed isir iktar individwalizzat u diversifikat. Dan iġib miegħu iktar opportunijiet iżda wkoll iktar riskji. Dawn tal-aħħar jinkludu l-qgħad u x-xogħol prekarju.

Malta għandha waħda mill-iktar rati baxxi ta’ qgħad fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Iżda hawn ħafna ħaddiema li għalkemm għandhom xogħol, mhux qed jaħdmu f'kundizzjonijiet xierqa. Mhux qed isir biżżejjed sforz biex jinqatgħu l-abbużi li qed isofru ċerti ħaddiema vulnerabbli bħal dawk li jkunu mġiegħla jaħdmu bla ktieb jew jirreġistraw bħala self-employed biex ma jingħatawx il-benefiċċji li huma intitolati għalihom.

Hawn ħafna ħaddiema li m'għandhomx sigurtà fuq il-post tax-xogħol għax jaħdmu b'kuntratti qosra kontra qalbhom. Ċerti kategoriji ta' ħaddiema bħal ħaddiema manwali, immigranti, persuni b'diżabilità, eks-ħabsin, nisa, ħaddiema anzjani u ħaddiema żgħażagħ huma aktar vulnerabbli minn oħrajn. Ta’ min isemmi li fost il-pajjiżi fl-UE, Malta għandha l-iktar persentaġġ baxx ta’ parteċipazzjoni ta’ ħaddiema fis-suq tax-xogħol, l-iktar minħabba l-persentaġġi baxxi ta’ parteċipazzjoni ta’ ħaddiema nisa u ħaddiema anzjani.

Hemm bżonn li dawn il-gruppi mhux biss ikollhom aċċess akbar għax-xogħol, imma li jingħatawlhom kundizzjonijiet xierqa u li jiġu mħarsin id-drittijiet tagħhom. Jeħtieġ ukoll tingħata aktar importanza għall-bżonn li kemm nisa kif ukoll irġiel ikunu jistgħu jibbilanċjaw ir-responsabbiltajiet tagħhom tax-xogħol u tal-ħajja personali, speċjalment f'każi ta' familji bi tfal żgħar, biex b'hekk ikunu jistgħu jagħtu sehemhom fl-ekonomija u kif ukoll jieħdu sehem attiv fit-trobbija tat-tfal. F’dan ir-rigward, tajjeb wieħed isemmi l-ħsibijiet tas-soċjologa Nancy Fraser, li tipproponi l-mudell ta’ universal caregiver, fejn minflok duwaliżmu u segregazzjoni sesswali, il-politika soċjali tibda tqis lil kulħadd bħala individwu li għandu drittijiet u dmirijiet fl-oqsma pubbliċi (bħax-xogħol) u f’dawk privati (bħall-ħarsien tat-tfal fil-familja).

Ta’ min wieħed isemmi wkoll l-għoli tal-ħajja, fejn jeħtieġ li jkun hemm kalkoli realistiċi tal-COLA biex il-kumpens li jingħata kull sena jirrifletti verament l-għoli tal-ħajja. Żgur li ż-żieda li ngħatat fl-aħħar bagit, jiġifieri ta’ €1.16 fil-ġimgħa mhumiex realistiċi! Għalhekk għandu jkun hemm sforz ġenwin sabiex il-metodoloġija ta’ kif tinħadem il-COLA tiġi riveduta.

Bħalma diġà stqarrejt fil-passat, hemm bżonn urġenti wkoll li tiżdied il-paga minima. Mhux biss għax din ilha s-snin ma’ togħla, iżda wkoll għax dan jgħin biex tiżdied il-produttività u, fuq kollox, biex dawk li għandhom dħul baxx, jiżdidulhom il-flus f’idejhom peress li dawn huma l-aktar li ġew milquta mir-riċessjoni dinjija. Din iż-żieda għandha tkopri ukoll lill-ħaddiema part-time u kuntrattwali.

Jeħtieġ ukoll li r-riforma fil-pensjonijiet isseħħ mill-iktar fis, fejn aktar flus jistgħu jiġu mfaddla fis-sistema tal-pensjonijiet tal-istat. Jekk dan ma jsirx, hemm riskju li pajjiżna jkollu pensjonanti iktar foqra fis-snin li ġejjin, minħabba li aktarx se jkun hemm rata iktar għolja ta’ pensjonanti meta mqabbla man-numru ta’ ħaddiema. Barra minn hekk, jeħtieġ li l-Gvern ikun iktar sensittiv lejn il-ħtiġijiet ta’ pensjonanti preżenti, speċjalment minħabba li l-pensjoni hi baxxa wisq għal bosta pensjonanti.

L-aħħar u mhux l-inqas, tajjeb li tingħata prijorità lill-investiment u inċentivi biex Malta tkun tista’ timxi lejn il-Green New Deal, fejn jiġu maħluqa green jobs f’oqsma bħal servizzi, turiżmu sostenibbli, immaniġġjar tal-iskart, trasport pubbliku u enerġija alternattiva. Din hi l-ekonomija tal-futur, u permezz tagħha nkunu inqas dipendenti fuq enerġija maħmuġa bħaż-żejt, li l-prezz tagħha qiegħed dejjem jogħla, u fl-istess ħin inkunu qed noħolqu mpjiegi ġodda.

Bħala attivist tal-Ħodor, nemmen li l-attiviżmu u s-solidarjetà fost il-ħaddiema għandhom ikunu globalizzati, lil hinn mill-egoiżmi u s-simboliżmi nazzjonalistiċi. Għal din ir-raġuni nemmen f’Ewropa Soċjali u Ekoloġika. F’dan ir-rigward, nagħlaq billi, f’isem Alternattiva Demokratika nesprimi l-appoġġ tagħha għall-isħubija tal-ForUM tal-Unjins Maltin fil-Konfederazzjoni Ewropea tal-Unjins tal-Ħaddiema.

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin Alternattiva Demokratika. www.alternattiva.org.mt

Norm Rejection & Victims of Creation Live - BELLIGERENT CD Launch‏

2011-05-02T14:06:00.002+02:00

Metal band Norm Rejection will be officially launching the Belligerent CD, supported by doomsters Victims of Creation.

www.myspace.com/normrejection
www.myspace.com/victimsofcreation

Voice of a Generation Ball Street, STJ312 Saint Julian's, Malta
Sat 11 June 2011
Doors open at 9pm
Entrance 7 Euro, includes 'BELLIGERENT' CD

Norm Rejection is Wil Pace - Vocals; Michael Briguglio - Drums; Sean Vukovic - Guitar; Rex - Bass

Victims of Creation is Rex - Bass & Vox; A.J. - Guitar; Daniel - Guitar; Dino - Drums.

HEAR NORM REJECTION'S LATEST SINGLE 'KEMM HAWN DWEJJAQ FIL-PAJJIZ' AT www.myspace.com/normrejection

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE -
https://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/event.php?eid=128515940556874

Norm Rejection LIVE @ Simon's Pub Music Fest

2011-04-24T14:58:00.003+02:00

Norm Rejection will be playing live at Simon's Pub Music Festival, at Simon's Pub, Depiro Street, Sliema, in aid of Inspire.

The festival will take place between Friday 29th April and Sunday 1st May. Norm Rejection will be playing on Saturday 30th April at 10pm sharp.

Facebook page of event:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=219177851431679

In the meantime, Norm Rejection has just released new CD 'BELLIGERENT'.
More info here:
http://www.myspace.com/normrejection/blog/542629776

Norm Rejection's latest single 'KEMM HAWN DWEJJAQ FIL-PAJJIZ' can be streamed at
http://www.myspace.com/normrejection

Norm Rejection is Wil Pace (Vocals); Michael Briguglio (Drums); Sean Vukovic (Guitar); Rex (Bass)

The return of the risk society

2011-04-15T10:39:00.002+02:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, April 15th, 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110415/opinion/The-return-of-the-risk-society.360372

The Japanese tsunami and earthquakes were natural disasters. Yet, the Fukushima nuc¬lear power station was man-made. It was a monument of scientific “certainty”, a symbol of absolute progress, the triumph of technocracy. Today, it is the opposite: a symbol of fear, uncertainty, unanswered questions and confusion. In short, it is a certificate of risk.

This reminds me of the writings of German sociologist Ulrich Beck, whose “risk society” theory was developed precisely after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. Prof. Beck says that today’s modernity is different from an earlier version, which was characterised by scientific certainty, stability, uniformity and security. Today, we are living in unstable and unsure situations.

Unpredicted or unintended consequences become a way of life in today’s modernity. Perils – such as nuclear radiation – have no frontiers. They travel across countries, generations, social classes and time. In this context, “smog is democratic” and “perpetrator and victim soon become identical”.

Prof. Beck adds that “the dream of class society is that everyone wants and ought to have a share of the pie. The utopia of risk society is that everyone should be spared from poisoning”. Hence, anxiety becomes a dominant force in society. This takes place not only in the environmental sphere – which, in any case, is increasingly fused with the social but is also present in other spheres of social life. For example, pensions systems that were supposed to be created to guarantee a decent standard of living become unsustainable, ever-threatened by financial collapse, and, in many instances, actually causing poverty, rather than eradicating it.

His writings present an obscure and almost macabre aspect of progress, in the vein of Mary Shelley’s 19th century writings on Frankenstein. Yet, this sociologist is not a reactionary who would like to return to a “golden age” that probably never existed.

Instead, Prof. Beck observes that risk society is characterised by reflexivity, where people become ever more conscious of the dangers and opportunities in their lives and start being less trustful of technocratic elites who are used to having a monopoly over “truth”. An example of this is when the mad cow disease came to being, where the consumption of beef declined drastically. Similarly, many people did not take heed of recommendations for vaccination against the swine flu a few years ago.

Individualisation becomes a way of life, resulting in increased freedom and increased precariousness at the same time, in all aspects of social life, from family life to employment. People are less bound to tradition and, consequently, freer to construct their own biographies in an autonomous manner. Of course, as existentialists such as Søren Kirkegaard, Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre, show us, freedom has its own anxieties, as we end up being responsible for our choices, even if we are in the dark.

As another contemporary sociologist, Zygmunt Bauman, puts it, we are living in “liquid” modernity, where everything is in flux. For example, we might be on the losing end of someone else’s freedom, for example when one’s love relationship ends because the love of the other partner simply ceases to exist.

Yet, this increased reflexivity and individualisation also means we have opportunities that were unheard of among previous generations.

This is also the case in politics. Organised groups opposing the “cathedrals of power in business, science and the state” come to being. These “courageous Davids get their chance against this Goliath” and form local alliances, environmental coalitions, civil rights movements, consumer organisations, Green parties, and so forth.

The recent success of the Green party in Germany’s richest region – Baden-Württemberg, which shall have a Green Prime Minister for the first time ever – is very telling in this regard. Among others, this region of almost 11 million inhabitants hosts manufacturers such as Daimler, Porsche and Bosch. The Greens did well not only because of the Japanese nuclear disaster – given that Greens oppose nuclear energy – but also because Greens have drawn up policies that foster the positive aspects of individualisation while combining them with responsible politics. In short, Greens have progressive and realistic policies that adapt to the risks of our times. Indeed, sociological surveys show the Greens were on their way to victory well ahead of the Fukushima incident, even though the latter did help increase their share of the vote.

The Japanese nuclear disaster shows us that the exclusionary discourse and obscure behind-the-scenes manoeuvring of technocrats and business lobbies belongs to a time gone by, even though, like zombies that return from the dead, they attempt to keep monopolising the public sphere. Instead, science itself should undergo a process of democratisation in a culture based on real civil society participation. In such a context, politics no longer remains the monopoly of mass parties that are bedfellows of big business and other elites.

It would be interesting to apply these concepts to Maltese society, erstwhile dominated by political, commercial and religious elites in the public sphere. For example, the lack of divorce legislation is only increasing risks and insecurity for thousands of people who would like to start a new chapter in their biographies. In the realm of the environment, one can mention the unsustainable extraction of groundwater, the unsustainable building spree with the blessings of the authorities and Malta’s timid voice on the development of nuclear energy and oil drilling in neighbouring countries.

In politics, the stagnant PNPL duopoly becomes a risk to democracy itself. With the aid of an electoral system tailor-made for the PNPL and with a financing system that encourages political money laundering, one is not surprised that civil society is showing signs of frustration with politics.

Will Malta’s Davids defeat the Goliaths of our times?

www.alternattiva.org.mt
The author is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

The right to remarry

2011-04-12T11:48:00.000+02:00

Michael Briguglio

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/blogs/michael-briguglio/the-right-to-remarry
Malta Today Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Should a separated person, whose marriage failed with no possibility of reconciliation, be given the right to remarry or should it be denied?

The ‘No to divorce’ camp wants to deny separated persons the right to remarry on the premise that they know what is best for others. In the meantime, people in Malta go on with their lives.

Separations are on the increase. There are various reasons for this. This includes stress, negative experiences and various situations which people encounter. Other reasons have to do with increased individualisation in contemporary societies. In this regard, people are giving more value to the importance of being happy in a relationship.

Many separated persons would like to remarry. In other societies, many do, as divorce legislation permits them to do so. Thus, divorce is a right which enhances family stability, as it gives the facility to couples to regularise their relationships once their previous marriage would have irreconcilably failed.

An inclusive social policy should be sensitive to the emotional, legal and financial stress that many people are facing because of the lack of divorce within Malta’s shores.

In the absence of legislation which permits divorce in Malta, the State is excluding thousands of citizens from a civil right which is universally recognized around the world, and which the same Maltese State recognizes as long as it is granted in any other country in the world.

The ‘No’ camp argues that the majority of marriages in Malta succeed, and therefore one should not legislate for a minority of persons whose marriage failed. This argument is insensitive to the reality of such persons. It is also self-defeating because people are still separating and forming new relationships, even if there is no divorce legislation. No self-appointed guardian of morality can stop people from making their individual choices. Perhaps the ‘No to divorce’ camp want to abolish separation, cohabitation and the use of condoms too?

The ‘majoritarian’ argument is also potentially dangerous, as it seems to assume that minorities should not have rights. Is the ‘No’ camp saying that minorities such as persons with disability, persons with an LGBT identity, and others should simply be excluded as they do not have a ‘majoritarian’ identity?

I believe that separated persons have the right to remarry, because such persons should not be denied a right which is available all around the world.

Such persons should have the right to remarry because individuals should be respected for their choices, and not be seen as mere pawns of outdated ideology.

In short, separated persons should be given a second chance.

I shall therefore vote ‘Yes’ in the divorce referendum. Those want to deny the basic right of divorce to others should not be allowed to win.

Michael Briguglio, a sociologist, is Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party

Norm Rejection releases ‘BELLIGERENT’ CD

2011-04-11T14:48:00.003+02:00

‘Kemm Hawn Dwejjaq fil-Pajjiz’ available on MySpace

Metal band Norm Rejection has released ‘BELLIGERENT’ consisting of 3 new songs and, for the first time ever on CD, songs from the band’s debut demo.

‘BELLIGERENT’ comprises brand new songs ‘Kemm Hawn Dwejjaq fil-Pajjiz’, ‘Belligerent’ and ‘Encounter’, which are supplemented with ‘Subtly Mesmerized’, ‘Pangea’s Neglect’ and ‘Distorted Visions’ from the band’s 1994 demo ‘Subtly Mesmerized?’ which had sold out within weeks from its release.

‘Kemm Hawn Dwejjaq’ fil-pajjiz is streamed for free on the band’s websites www.myspace.com/normrejection ; www.normrejection.com

Norm Rejection is made up of Wil Pace (Vocals); Michael Briguglio (Drums); Sean Vukovic (Guitar) and Rex (Bass).

All the songs were composed by Norm Rejection (music for ‘Belligerent’ song by Sean Vukovic’) and all lyrics were written by Michael Briguglio. Production and mastering by Sean Vukovic. Sleeve design by Wil Pace.

Norm Rejection will shortly be announcing the date of the official CD launch. In the meantime, those interested in obtaining an advance copy of the CD are requested to contact Norm Rejection at mbrig@hotmail.com

Norm Rejection releases 'BELLIGERENT' CD

2011-04-10T13:21:00.003+02:00

Norm Rejection has released its new CD.. ‘BELLIGERENT’… consisting of three brand new tracks – ‘Kemm Hawn Dwejjaq fil-Pajjiz’, ‘Encounter’ and ‘Belligerent’, and, for the first time ever on CD, our debut demo ‘Subtly Mesmerized?’.... Contact Norm Rejection for a copy

Ghaliex ser nivvota iva fir-referendum dwar id-divorzju

2011-04-07T21:38:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

(Dan l-artiklu deher f’Zminijietna Harga April-Gunju 2011)

Fis-sajf li ghadda, Alternattiva Demokratika kitbet lill-membri tal-parlament kollha u appellat biex jibdew diskussjoni dwar l-introduzzjoni tad-divorzju. Bghatnilhom il-ligijiet tad-divorzju ta’ l-Irlanda u ta’ l-Italja biex ikollhom mudelli ta’ ligijiet ta’ pajjizi b’kulturi simili ghal ta’ Malta.

Ftit tal-granet wara, id-deputat Nazzjonalista Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando qal li ser jaghmel private members’ bill dwar id-divorzju biex b’hekk tkun tista’ tigi diskussa fil-parlament. Hekk kif id-diskussjoni bidet tiehu iktar prominenza fl-isfera pubblika, gie mahluq il-moviement IVA ghad-divorzju, li fost ohrajn kellu bhala membri lil Pullicino Orlando u Michael Falzon mill-kamp Nazzjonalista, lil Evarist Bartolo u Marlene Mizzi mill-kamp Laburista u lill-Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer u lili mill-kamp ta’ l-Alternattiva Demokratika (AD).

Ta’ min ifakkar li l-AD ilha favur l-introduzzjoni tad-divorzju sa minn meta twaqqfet fl-1989 u dan kien inkluz f’kull manifest elettorali taghha. Dan ghamlitu ghaliex temmen li f’socjeta sekulari u pluralista, id-drittijiet civili ghandhom ikunu garantiti.

Eventwalment, il-Prim Ministru Lawrence Gonzi ta’ x’jifhem li ser ikun hemm referendum dwar id-divorzju, gie mahluq il-Moviment LE, u l-parlament iddecieda li ser ikun hemm referendum ghal divorzju specifiku, dak responsabbli, ibbazat fuq il-mudell Irlandiz.

Galadarba huwa car li ser ikun hemm referendum f’Malta, kull diskussjoni politika dwar id-dhul tad-divorzju f’pajjizna ghandu jitpogga f’dan il-kuntest. L-ghazla li ser ikollna quddiemna fit-28 ta’ Mejju hi dik ta’ referendum.

Kull diskussjoni dwar possibilitajiet ohra, tkun diskussjoni purament akademika li fil-kuntest prezenti huma jew irrelevanti jew inkella iservu biex ikun hemm frammentazzjoni fis-sejha ghall-introduzzjoni tad-divorzju. U bhal ma tghallimna l-politika ta’ l-Imperaturi Rumani, l-istrategija ta’ ‘ifred u ahkem’ isservi sew lil min hu fil-poter u jrid izomm kollox kif inhu. U lkoll nafu x’inhi s-sitwazzjoni prezenti.

F’Malta qeghdin f’sitwazzjoni unika fid-dinja, fejn, divorzju migjub minn kull pajjiz tad-dinja, anke jekk minn cittadini Maltin, jigi rikonoxxut mill-istat. Ghalhekk l-istat qed jiddiskrimina kontra c-cittadini li jghixu fil-pajjiz. Min jiflah ihallas ghal divorzju barra l-pajjiz jista’ jaghmel dan. Min qal li klassi socjali spiccat?

Sa dan it-tant, minkejja n-nuqqas tad-dritt tad-divorzju gewwa pajjizna, is-separazzjonijiet qegħdin jiżdiedu minħabba raġunijiet varji. Dawn jinkludu stress u sitwazzjonijiet varji fil-hajja ta’ kuljum. Iżda hemm rargunijiet ohra wkoll, anke minħabba li l-individwu qed jagħti iktar valur lill-kuntentizza fir-relazzjoni li jkun/tkun fiha. Ghalhekk, il-verita; hi li certi zwigijiet ifallu u ghandna nkunu sensittivi ghall-istress emozzjonjali u finanzjarju li hafna nies ikollhom jghaddu minnu minhabba n-nuqqas ta’ legizlazzjoni dwar id-divorzju ghal dawk f’Malta.

Ħafna nies separati jixtiequ jingħataw iċ-ċans li jerġgħu jiżżewġu. Permezz ta’ din il-perspettiva, id-divorzju jista’ jitqies bħala dritt favur il-familja, minħabba li jippermetti lill-koppji li jirregolarizzaw ir-relazzjonijiet tagħhom.

F’pajjiż fejn tirrenja d-demokrazija ta’ kuljum, l-istat għandu r-responsabilità li jipprovdi l-qafas legali li jirrispetta l-għażliet tal-individwi. L-introduzzjoni tad-divorzju tista’ ssir flimkien ma’ miżuri oħrajn bil-għan li jsaħħu lill-familji. Izda dan jirrikjedi kuraġġ politiku. L-istat għandu jinjora din ir-realtà, u jeskludi lil eluf ta’ ċittadini minn drittijiet ċivili bażiċi?

Wiehed ghandu tapprezza r-rwol tal-Knisja Kattolika bħala vuċi leġittima fis-soċjetà Maltija. Il-Knisja għandha kull dritt li tgħid li hi kontra d-divorzju u li tistenna lill-fidili tagħha jsegwu t-tagħlim tagħha. Iżda wieħed għandu japprezza wkoll li f’soċjetajiet moderni u sekulari, fejn id-drittijiet ċivili għandhom rwol importanti, l-identità Kattolika hija waħda fost oħrajn.

Huwa f’dan il-kuntest li jien ser nivvota IVA fir-referendum. Bhala attivist li nemmen fid-demokrazija ta’ kuljum, fil-pluralizmu u fid-drittijiet civili, kont nippreferi li d-divorzu jidhol fil-legizlazzjoni ta’ Malta minghajar referendum, ghax dan huwa dritt tal-minoranza u hadd m’hu ser ikun obbligat jiddivorzja jekk dan jigi legalizzat. Izda r-realta’ hi li ser ikun hawn referendum, u ma rridx naghmilha ta’ Ponzu Pilatu u nahsel idejja mir-responsabilita’ f’dan il-mument storiku.

Ser nivvota IVA fir-referendum, ghax irrid li cittadini Maltin ikollhom l-istess drittijiet li ghandhom cittadini fid-dinja kollha, specjalment fil-pajjizi demokratici u li jirrispettaw id-dinjita’ tal-bniemed.

Ser nivvota IVA fir-referendum ghax irrid li tispicca d-diskriminazzjoni li tippermetti d-divorzju minn pajjiżi oħrajn.

Ser nivvota IVA fir-refererendum ghax nemmen li d-divorzju huwa dritt bażiku għal dawk li jixtiequh, inkluz dawk li jixtiequ jergghu jizzewgu. Id-divorzju jaghti cans iehor lil min kellu zwieg li ma rnexxiex.

Ghalhekk, nappella lil dawk kollha li jaqblu ma’ l-introduzzjoni tad-divorzju kif ukoll dawk li ma jaqblux mad-divorzju izda li ma jridux icahhdu lill-haddiehor minn dan id-dritt biex jivvutaw iva fir-referendum. M’ghandniex naghtu rebha lil min irid icahhad lill-eluf minn dan id-dritt civili.

Ma naqghux ghan-nassa li nkunu favur bojkott ta’ referendum, ghax dan ipaxxi lil min ma jridx idahhal id-divorzju f’Malta. Bhal ma jghidu l-Inglizi, let us stand up and be counted! Fl-ghaqda hemm is-sahha!

Abbona fir-rivista Zminijietna, u tircievi kopja kull darba bill- posta. Sena (4 hargiet) : Euro 5. Ibghat ismek u l-indirizz flimkien ma' cash, bollol jew cheque lil: Zminijetna, PO Box 35 Sliema. Cekkijiet ghandhom jigu indirizzati lil: Ghaqda Zminijietna

Norm Rejection live @ Rookies Music Marathon

2011-04-06T09:41:00.003+02:00

Norm Rejection will be playing live at Rookies Sports Bar (Bugibba) this Saturday 9 April. Also playing on the night: Cyanide; Knockturn Alley; Insurgence; X-Vandals; Colourblind. The charity gig is in aid of YMCA and Mission of Mercy.

In the meantime,Norm Rejection’s forthcoming release ‘Belligerent’ is expected to be released very shortly. CD includes 3 new tracks, ‘Kemm Hawn Dwejjaq fil-Pajjiz’, ‘Belligerent’ and ‘Encounter’, and will also include the 1994 sold-out debut EP ‘Subtly Mesmerized’ for the first time on CD

It-traġedja tal-Ġappun: Eku tas-soċjetà ta' riskju

2011-04-02T09:48:00.000+02:00

Michael Briguglio

Il-Gens Illum 2 ta' April 2011
http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=7209

It-tsunami u t-terremot li laqtu l-Ġappun kienu diżastri naturali. Iżda l-impjant nukleari kien maħluq mill-bniedem. Kien monument ta’ ‘ċertezza’ xjentifika, simbolu ta’ progress assolut, xbieha tat-teknokrazija.

Illum sar bil-kontra. L-impjant nukleari sar simbolu ta’ biża’, inċertezza, mistoqsijiet u konfużjoni. Sar ċertifikat ta’ riskju.

Dan ifakkarni bil-ħsibijiet tas-soċjologu Ġermaniż Ulrich Beck, li fit-tmeninijiet ħoloq it-teorija tas-soċjetà ta’ riskju, wara d-diżastru nukleari ta’ Chernobyl.

Beck jgħid li qed ngħixu f’soċjetà moderna li hi differenti minn dik li kienet fis-seħħ iktar kmieni. Fejn qabel il-moderiżmu kien jirrappreżenta ċertezzi xjentifiċi, stabilità, uniformità, u sigurtà, illum qed ngħixu f’sitwazzjonijiet instabbli, individwalizzati, u ta’ inċertezza.

Konsegwenzi li ma kinux previsti jew intenzjonati jsiru forza dominanti fis-soċjetà ta’ żminijietna. U dawn il-konsegwenzi – bħar-radjazzjoni nukleari – m’għandhomx fruntieri. Jimxu tul il-fruntieri, nazzjonijiet, ġenerazzonijiet, klassijiet u żminijiet. F’dan il-kuntest, ‘l-iżmogg huwa demokratiku’, u ‘dak li jipperpetwa u l-vittma jsiru identiċi’.

Beck jisħaq li ‘l-ħolma tas-soċjetà tal-klassi hi li kulħadd irid u jistħoqqlu parti mill-ġid. L-utopija tas-soċjetà tar-riskju hi li kulħadd għandu jiġi eżentat mill-velenu’.

L-ansjetà ssir forza dominanti fis-soċjetà. U dan mhux fil-qasam ambjentali biss. Anki, ngħidu aħna fil-ħarsien soċjali nibdew naraw eżempji ta’ riskju. Per eżempju, is-sistema ta’ pensjonijiet li suppost inħolqot biex tassigura ħajja aħjar għall-pensjonanti, issir waħda insonstenibbli u b’riskju ta’ kollass finanzjarju u għal bosta raġunijiet tkun hi stess li toħloq il-faqar fost l-anzjani.

Beck għalhekk jippreżenta aspett oskur u kważi makabru tal-progress, kważi bħal kif Shelley kitbet fuq Frankenstein fis-seklu 19. Iżda dan is-soċjologu mhuwiex xi reazzjonarju li jixtieq li mmorru lura għal xi żmien tad-deheb li x’aktarx qatt ma eżista.

Minflok, Beck josserva li s-soċjetà tar-riskju hija karatterizzata minn riflessività, fejn in-nies isiru iktar konxji mill-perikli u l-opportunitajiet f’ħajjithom, u jibdew jafdaw inqas f’awtoritajiet teknokratiċi li huma mdorrijin b’monopolju fuq il-verità. Eżempju ta’ dan hu meta l-konsum taċ-ċanga naqas drastikament meta kien hemm il-marda tal-mad cow.

Għalhekk, iktar nies jibdew joħolqu l-bijografiji tagħhom b’mod awtonomu, u jibdew ifaqqsu wkoll iktar gruppi organizzati li jippropagaw politika ġdida, lil hinn mill-‘katedrali ta’ poter bil-kummerċi, xjenza u l-istat’. Il-politika tal-ħodor, il-koalizzjonijiet ambjentali, l-alleanzi lokali, huma kollha xbieha ta’ dan. Beck iqabbel lil dawn ma’ David fil-ġlieda tiegħu kontra Gulija.

Id-diżastru tal-Ġappun jikkonferma li spiċċa ż-żmien li naċċettaw kulma jgħidu t-teknokratiċi, il-kummerċjanti armati b’diskors xjentifiku, u l-awtoritajiet li jaħdmu minn wara l-kwinti. Minflok, ix-xjenza stess għandha tiġi iktar demokratizzata, f’kultura verament ibbażata fuq il-parteċipazzjoni tas-soċjetà ċivili. U l-politika ma tibqax iddominata minn forzi monopolistiċi li jħokku dar il-kummerċjanti l-kbar.

Malta se taħrab minn dan il-proċess?

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika.
www.alternattiva.org.mt

'AlternattIVA' - AD launches divorce referendum logo

2011-03-26T13:33:00.002+01:00

In a press conference in St Julians, AD launched its AlternattiIVA logo for the divorce referendum campaign.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: "AD is launching its slogan for the divorce referendum, namely 'AlternattIVA', whereby AD urges all those who are in favour of the introduction of divorce as well as those who do not agree with divorce but do not want to prohibit others from this right to vote yes in the referendum. Those who want to deny divorce to the thousands who need this civil right should not be allowed to prevail".

"AD appeals to the Broadcasting Authority to ensure that as was the case in the run up to the EU referendum, all civil society organisations are represented in the debates and airtime on state television. We also appeal to the Electoral Commission to ensure that there is fair civil society representation in the counting process during the referendum".

Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, Deputy Chairperson, said: "AD is pleased that parliament has voted in favour of a referendum and a just question, though it is shameful that certain politicians are playing with words to manipulate the whole issue and misinform the public what divorce is all about. Divorce is the dissolution of a failed marriage. It is useless to beat about the bush because with or without divorce legislation a failed marriage will simply remain a failed marriage with all its repercussions. AD has always been in favour of this civil right because people have a right to choose as how to live their lives, and to start afresh, whether by re-marrying or remaining single, after their marriage has irrevocably failed. The possibility to divorce should exist in a liberal and representative democracy like Malta. It is up to the individual to decide whether to make use of it or not".

Prof Arnold Cassola, AD spokesperson for EU and International Affairs, said: "In the democratic and civilised EU that Malta forms part of, it is happily married people who have tipped the balance in favour of divorce legislation. AD appeals to all happily married couples in Malta to give an opportunity to those persons who were not so lucky and whose marriage has irretrievably broken down, to be given the chance, if they so wish, to divorce and find happiness through a second marriage."

Consumer rights must be practised

2011-03-18T10:08:00.001+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times 18th March 2011

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110318/opinion/consumer-rights-must-be-practised

Official national figures reported in The Times show that, last year, the Consumer Affairs Department received 2,632 complaints – almost three times the number of cases in 2009. Of these, 250 are still pending. At the same time, according to the Eurobarometer – a scientific survey conducted across the EU – the trust of Maltese consumers in public authorities to protect their rights increased to 69 per cent last year, seven per cent more than in 2009. Malta’s rate was seven per cent higher than the EU27 average.

In the meantime, Malta is due to have its own Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority. Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said told the House of Representatives decisions made within the authority will be independent from the government.

The setting up of this authority is surely a step in the right direction. But it has to be seen whether it will truly be independent of the government. Such an authority should put consumer rights at the forefront of its goals and not act as yet another agency led by those whose main loyalty is their minister’s short-term requirements.

Unfortunately, this government has often appointed “yes men” to run state agencies. A notable exception is the appointment of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, Kenneth Wain. One hopes that in the case of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority, the office will be free from political interference.

The new authority surely has an important role in Maltese society. One hopes it truly acts in a way to ensure fair competition among business operators, particularly since various sectors seem to be characterised by collusion and behind-the-scenes cartels, thus resulting in excessive prices and, at times, inferior products. For example, with regard to the provision of electricity and water, Enemalta exhibits all the bad habits of monopolies: arrogance, inefficiency and obscure pricing practices. Its formulae for charging consumers remain shrouded in mystery.

One main concern of Maltese consumers is the cost of living, particularly with regard to the utilities, food and medicinal products. It may be true that inflation can in part be imported – recent natural catastrophes, the crisis in North Africa and the Middle East and the increased global demand for food and energy, especially in emerging economies, do not augur well in this regard. However, in Malta, monopoly and oligopoly pricing do not help the situation due to two main things – excessive profits in the case of private sector and inefficiencies in the case of public utilities. The newly established authority should be especially vigilant in controlling and possibly eradicating home-grown abuse.

Low income groups, those living below or slightly above the poverty line, including the elderly and the disabled, are those who suffer most in such situations. For example, the disability pension, which amounts to 55 per cent of the minimum wage, does not suffice for a decent quality of life.

Official statistics show there are about 61,000 people on the verge of poverty in Malta. Among these, 19,000 cannot afford four or more of the basic needs in their everyday life. The poverty rate in Malta is not one of the highest in the EU but it has increased in comparison with previous years and now lies at 15 per cent.

Appropriate measures are required to ensure market abuse is properly detected and corrected. It is also important to compensate those who are affected most by the inflation burdens people are experiencing. In this regard, Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party recently approved a resolution on this issue at its annual general meeting.

In the first instance, AD is calling for a realistic evaluation of the adjustment in the increase in the cost of living to be made, such that the annual compensation given truly reflects the rise in inflation. For this reason, the method being used at present – on which cost-of-living allowance is based – should be adjusted. One need only keep in mind that the COLA awarded in Budget 2011 was of €1.16 per week, which is surely out of synch with reality.

Besides, the minimum wage in Malta needs to be increased and should cover a fair adjustment for part-timers and workers on contract. An increase in the minimum wage would improve the purchasing power of such consumers and, thus, be of benefit to the economy.

Pensions should be reformed because, otherwise, poverty among the elderly will increase. While a second pillar – through which people will save a portion of their income for their pensions – is welcome, the government, and not the private sector, should be ultimately responsible for the system, including for those who genuinely cannot afford to invest in the second pillar.

In the case of utility bills, investment in alternative energy can ease Malta’s dependency on dirty oil, the price of which is likely to keep rising due to political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa and due to market forces. While the government should penalise energy waste, and not the basic use of electricity and water, it should also step up its investment and proactive legislation which favours clean energy.

There are many other issues which are of major importance with regard to consumer welfare. These include improved consumer rights as proposed by the European Greens, improved consumer information regarding food content and hazardous products and better enforcement of corporate social and environmental responsibility. Minorities, such as persons with disability, should have improved access to goods and services on offer.

The author is chairman and spokesman for economy and finance of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Divorce referendum - AD urges Yes vote

2011-03-16T13:35:00.001+01:00

In reaction to parliament’s approval of a referendum on a responsible type of divorce, Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said:

‘Given that a referendum will take place, AD urges all those who are in favour of the introduction of divorce as well as those who do not agree with divorce but do not want to prohibit others from this right to vote yes in the referendum. Those who want to deny divorce to the thousands who need this civil right should not be allowed to prevail’.

Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, AD’s Deputy Chairperson, said: ‘AD has been in favour of the introduction of divorce ever since it was founded in 1989 and has unequivocally inserted in all its electoral manifestos. It has done so because it believes that in a secular and pluralistic society civil rights should be guaranteed. The plain truth is that some marriages fail and it is our duty to be sensitive towards the emotional and financial stress many individuals have to endure because of lack of this legislation. No one is obliged to divorce but the possibility of divorce should be available in a truly liberal and pluralistic democracy’.

AD presents its new team of spokespersons

2011-03-12T20:45:00.003+01:00

Following its annual general meeting, AD is presenting a team of 17 spokespersons, 5 of whom are women. We have a healthy mix of experience and new faces, and our team is equipped with experts, professionals and activists in various spheres of social life. Our spokespersons are involved in the updating of AD’s policies and are active in spheres such as the Malta EU-Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) and other consultative fora. It is clear that AD is Malta’s only progressive party.

The party’s spokespersons are:

Arnold Cassola – EU and International Affairs

Mario Mallia – Education

Ralph Cassar – Industry, Energy & Transport

Michael Briguglio – Economy and Finance

Carmel Cacopardo – Sustainable Development & Local Government

Simon Galea – Agriculture and Animal Welfare

Richard Schranz – Consumer Rights and the Elderly

Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer – Civil Rights

Henrik Piski – Communications and IT

Nighat Urpani – Social Development and Health

Dirk Urpani – Sports and Youth

Miriam Cassar – Culture

Angele Deguara – Social Policy

Claire Azzopardi Lane – Disability Issues

Robert Callus – Migration and Citizenship

David Friggieri – Justice and Home Affairs

Andre’ Vella – Community Development

Short biographies of AD’s spokespersons can be found here.

Riżoluzzjoni għal kwalità ta' ħajja aħjar

2011-03-05T17:02:00.000+01:00

Michael Briguglio

Il-Gens Illum 5 ta'Marzu 2011
http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=6616

Nhar is-Sibt li għadda, il-membri preżenti ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika eleġġew eżekuttiv ġdid u approvaw numru ta’ riżoluzzjonijiet għall-pjan ta’ ħidma tal-partit għal din is-sena. Dan seħħ waqt il-laqgħa ġenerali annwali ta’ AD.

Waħda mir-riżoluzzjonijiet, li ġiet proposta minni permezz ta’ mozzjoni, kienet dwar l-għoli tal-ħajja u l-faqar f’pajjiżna.

Fil-mozzjoni ġie nnutat li skond statistika uffiċjali, f'Malta hawn madwar 61,000 persuna li huma fir-riskju tal-faqar. Fost dawn hemm 19,000 persuna li għandhom nuqqasijiet materjali serji u ma jaffordjawx erbgħa jew iktar ħtiġijiet bażiċi għall-ħajja ta' kuljum.

Ġie nnutat li r-rata tal-faqar f'Malta żdiedet meta mqabbla mas-snin ta' qabel, u issa laħqet il-15 fil-mija. Huwa veru li pajjiżna m’għandux waħda mill-iktar rati għoljin ta’ faqar fl-Unjoni Ewropea, iżda huwa veru ukoll li wieħed għandu jinkwieta meta jara li l-faqar qiegħed jiżdied.

Għalhekk, fil-laqgħa ġenerali ġie riżolt li għandhom jiddaħħlu miżuri konkreti u realistiċi sabiex jikkumpensaw għall-piż żejjed li qed jitqiegħed fuq in-nies permezz tal-għoli tal-ħajja.

Għalhekk, Alternattiva Demokratika qed tipproponi li ssir evalwazzjoni realistika għall-aġġustament għall-għoli tal-ħajja, sabiex il-kumpens li jingħata kull sena tassew jirrifletti ż-żieda fl-inflazzjoni.

Għaldaqstant, il-metodu li jintuża fil-preżent, li fuqu hija bbażata l-COLA, għandu jiġi aġġornat. Huwa veru li l-mekkaniżmu tal-COLA jirrifletti qbil storiku madwar 20 sena ilu bejn sidien, unjins tal-ħaddiema u l-Gvern. Iżda l-mekkaniżmu li qed jiġi wżat ma tantx jidher li għadu wieħed realistiku meta wieħed iqis li l-kumpens għall-għoli tal-ħajja għal din is-sena kien biss ta’ €1.16 fil-ġimgħa.

Fil-laqgħa ġenerali ġie riżolt ukoll li għandha tiżdied il-paga minima f'Malta, inkluż għax-xogħol part-time u kuntrattwali. Dan sabiex ikopri mhux biss lill-ħaddiema ‘full-time’, iżda wkoll dawk il-ħaddiema li qed jaħdmu xogħol prekarju, liema xogħol dejjem qiegħed jiżdied.

Eżempju ta’ dan huma ħaddiema li qed jiġu sfurzati jiddikjaraw lilhom infushom bħala ‘self-employed’ meta l-kumpanija li tħaddimhom tingħata xi tender, anki mill-Gvern, anki jekk l-istess kumpanija tiddikjara li l-ħaddiema jaqilgħu inqas mill-paga minima. Ta’ min jinnota li żieda fil-paga minima twassal għal iktar flus fl-idejn u għalhekk għal titjib ekonomiku.

AD rriżolviet ukoll li għandu jkun hemm riforma ġusta u sostenibbli tal-pensjonijiet f'Malta. F’dan ir-rigward, AD diġà tkellmet kemm-il darba dwar il-ħtieġa li jkun hemm it-tieni pilastru fis-sistema tal-pensjonijiet sabiex ħaddiema jkollhom pensjoni diċenti meta jirtiraw. Iżda AD temmen ukoll li l-Gvern għandu jkollu responsabilità aħħarija ta’ dan il-fond, u li l-Gvern għandu wkoll jieħu responsabilità ta’ ċittadini li ma jifilħux iħallsu għat-tieni pilastru.

L-aħħar u mhux l-inqas, irrisolvejna wkoll li l-aħjar garanzija għall-kontijiet tad-dawl u ilma affordabbli hi li n-nefqa tal-Gvern tagħti prijorità lill-enerġija alternattiva, li hija l-aħjar garanzija kontra ż-żieda fl-ispejjeż ta' enerġija maħmuġa. Il-verità hi li l-prezz taż-żejt se jkompi jogħla minħabba skarsezza u fatturi politiċi u ekonomiċi, u għalhekk wieħed ikun qed jilludi lilu nnifsu jekk jemmen li kontijiet ibażati fuq din l-enerġija maħmuġa jistgħu jorħsu għal medda twila ta’ żmien.

AD temmen ukoll li għandha tiġi ppenalizzata l-ħela u mhux l-użu bażiku tad-dawl u l-ilma, u li r-regoli dwar insulazzjoni tajba fil-bini għandhom jiġu nfurzati, għax dan jgħin biex tittaffa d-domanda għal iktar użu ta’ enerġija.

Għalhekk, fil-laqgħa ġenerali annwali, AD kkonfermat li ma taqbilx ma’l-użu ta’ diskors populista li jipprova joħloq aspettattivi foloz. Għall-kuntrarju, il-partit irriżolva li għal darb’oħra jippreżenta proposti responsabbli, sostenibbli, ġusti u realistiċi.

Wieħed jista’ jaqra dwar riżoluzzjonijiet oħrajn li ġew approvati mill-AD billi jmur f’www.alternattiva.org.mt

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika

Don’t let Libya burn

2011-02-27T11:19:00.001+01:00

Michael Briguglio

Malta should speak out loud for a United Nations’ peace keeping intervention.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/blogs/michael-briguglio/don%E2%80%99t-let-libya-burn
Malta Today Saturday, February 26, 2011

The current situation in the Arab world is truly inspirational. Those struggling for social change are making history, showing us that the future is unwritten. As a Green activist and sociologist, I cannot but express my strong admiration for those active against oppressive tyrants in the countries concerned. My hope is that these countries will be transformed into secular democracies.

In its annual general meeting held on Saturday, Alternattiva Demokratika members approved a resolution on the situation in Libya, and we shall also be presenting a similar resolution in the upcoming European Green Party congress in Budapest in a few weeks’ time.

We Greens noted that Libya is being run by a heartless dictator who is treating human lives with the utmost disrespect. Many European countries, including Malta and other members of the European Union acted in a hypocritical manner and were ultimately accomplice in the arming of the Libyan forces and legitimisation of the Gaddafi regime which is now committing genocide on their people; consequently, thousands of people are expected to flee the country, so as to seek refuge from the brutality.

We also noted that a good number of EU member states, contrary to the will of the European Parliament and the European Commission, have upheld their egoistic attitude and refused to accept the proposal of responsibility sharing of refugees from Libya and other countries with similar situations.

We resolved that we support secular democratic opposition forces in Libya, and that the Maltese Government, together with other like-minded governments should insist with the EU, if it truly believes in the principle of solidarity, for an immediate implementable plan, whereby the 27 EU member states give hospitality and share equally and in a just way amongst themselves those people fleeing from the coast of Africa towards the European Union in order to seek refugee status.

Finally, we also resolved that the Maltese Government should the United Nations to send a peace-keeping mission to Libya, with humanitarian intentions. With murderous dictator Gaddafi threatening to bring about bloodshed, we cannot sit on the fence and risk having another Rwanda or Kosovo. Unfortunately, other political parties in Malta do not share the same opinion.

Indeed, as the Gaddafi regime keeps its murderous frenzy going, the PNPL duopoly and their satellites remain on talk-strike, and the few statements they made confirm how pathetic they are. How significant, when they are usually everywhere, suffocating Maltese society! How hypocritical from the wannabe guardians of morality and the wannabe progressives!

On the other hand I express my admiration for progressive NGOs like Moviment Graffitti and Zminijietna for speaking out clearly on the Libya issue. Government Ministries, AirMalta and Virtu’ Ferries should also be praised for their efforts to help people evacuate from Libya.

Let’s not let Libya burn! Malta should speak out loud for a United Nations’ peace keeping intervention.

AD Holds Annual General Meeting

2011-02-26T15:41:00.001+01:00

In its annual general meeting at Hotel Juliani St Julians, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party elected a new executive, which, apart from confirming Michael Briguglio as Chairperson and Ralph Cassar as Secretary General, also includes a new Deputy Chairperson, Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, amongst others.

Addressing those present at the meeting, Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: 'Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party is clearly the only progressive party in Malta. Whilst other political parties are adopting confessional stances or sitting on the fence without committing themselves to anything, AD takes clear positions and we have no strings attached. Our clear stand in favour of the introduction of divorce and our clear condemnation of the Gaddafi regime in Libya, not just now, but from years ago, are just two current examples amongst many. During the coming year AD will keep working for social justice, civil rights, environmental sustainability and a healthy economy'.

The AGM approved the following motions:

- A motion on divorce, reaffirming the party’s stand in favour of divorce as a civil right and calling on the party to be at the forefront in the campaign for a ‘yes’ vote in a probable referendum on divorce;

- A motion calling for parliament to face up to its responsibilities and for MPs to become full-timers to be able to serve the country in a professional manner including influencing, debating and researching EU directives, in view of the new powers accorded to national parliaments by the Lisbon treaty;

- A motion calling for a realistic cost of living adjustment mechanism and an upward revision in the minimum wage, in view of the thousands of people at risk of poverty. The motion also calls for investment in alternative energy to wean the country off its total dependence on imported fossil fuels;

- A motion calling for a solidarity initiative between all 27 EU countries to share responsibility for refugees from Libya and other Maghreb countries. The motion calls for UN forces to stop violence and for a UN peacekeeping mission in Libya.

AD's executive approved by the AGM for the year comprises of the following officials: Michael Briguglio, Chairperson; Ralph Cassar, Secretary General; Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, Deputy Chairperson; Henrik Piski, Deputy Secretary General; Andre Vella, Public Relations Officer; Simon Galea, Treasurer; Arnold Cassola, International Secretary. Other members of the Executive are: Carmel Cacopardo, Angele Deguara, Mark Scerri, Richard Schranz and Nighat Urpani.

In the meantime, AD will shortly announce its new team of spokespersons.

AD Annual General Meeting & Social Event

2011-02-22T19:57:00.002+01:00

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - ALTERNATTIVA DEMOKRATIKA - THE GREEN PARTY

SAT 26th February - Annual General Meeting 9am-1pm at Hotel Juliani, Spinola. We shall then be having lunch, please contact Ralph Cassar if you want to have lunch - cassarralph@gmail.com

More details at: http://www.alternattiva.org.mt/page.asp?p=7651&l=1

SOCIAL EVENT - GREEN EVENTS: AD GOES BIR MULA

SAT 26th February - Social Event - Green Event - AD Goes Bir Mula, 8pm at Bir Mula Heritage House 79, Triq Santa Margerita, Bormla, Malta. Booking necessary by contacting Chris Mizzi on 99278223 or perspexmlt@gmail.com . Donation = 10 Euro, includes finger food and drinks (wine, soft drinks, beer)

Facebook page for event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=146690912054564

Directions: http://www.birmula.com/docs/Maps.pdf

Divorce games the PNPL plays

2011-02-18T10:02:00.001+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, Friday, 18th February 2011

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110218/opinion/divorce-games-the-pnpl-plays

The divorce issue is increasingly be¬coming subject to strategic games and manoeuvring as befits the stagnant PNPL duopoly. The everyday realities of thousands of individuals who require this basic civil right are deemed second fiddle to the interests of the party machines. Such a crass lack of sensitivity by the party machines is humiliating for a democracy.

Both the Nationalist and Labour parties have been burying their heads in the sand for too long, leaving Malta in a social and legal limbo on such an important issue.
How different from the clear and consistent stand of Alternattiva Demokratika! Indeed, the Greens have been in favour of the introduction of divorce as a basic civil right since the founding of the party in 1989. Divorce was included in each and every AD electoral manifesto from 1992 onwards. With the Green party in Parliament, everyone would know how we would be voting. No ifs and buts, no procedural tricks, no mixed messages.

While one can appreciate the fact that the Nationalist Party has taken a stand on the matter, it is clear this stand is out of sync with reality in Maltese society. Indeed, Malta has no divorce but separations are on the increase. People are making their decisions and lack of legislation is only increasing hardships on those who need to reconstitute their family life. In short, should divorce not be introduced the likelihood is that separations will still keep increasing, for a variety of reasons.

To make matters worse, the PN has come up with its latest ugly game of technicalities and procedures, leaving many people confused in the process. In whose interest was the “double hurdle” proposal made? One asks what is the real motive of the PN in this regard if not to maintain the status quo.

On the other hand, one does expect members of Parliament to have a clear stand on the divorce issue, especially when, ultimately, it is Parliament which has the power to introduce legislation. Otherwise, why have they presented themselves for election? Well, the lack of attendance of many parliamentarians in Parliament is not very inspiring, to say the least.

Should a parliamentarian be personally against divorce but otherwise recognising the need of its introduction as a civil right is a stand which is welcome as it recognises the pluralistic essence of democratic societies.

The Labour opposition is equally to blame for the mess we are in. Labour’s “progressive and moderate” strategy aims to please everyone at the same time, meaning the party does not have a stand on divorce. What we have is a mishmash of positions ranging from the liberal to the ultra-conservative, which is unheard of in progressive parties when it comes to such a basic issue. This irresponsible tactic is further confusing people.

Labour’s sudden proposal for an immediate referendum on divorce is, putting it mildly, confusing. What side will Labour take if there would be a referendum campaign? Will it be without a position, unlike AD (in favour) and PN (against)? If so, once again, Labour would be putting “catch-all” politics before principles.

Should a referendum take place AD will therefore be urging a yes vote. But the ultimate approval of Parliament would still be required after the referendum. This takes us back to square one: How should a basic civil right like divorce be decided, particularly when this concerns a minority? Here we are not talking about Malta’s membership of the EU, which concerns everyone, but about divorce, which concerns those who need this civil right. No one is obliged to divorce and it would be very cynical to think people would divorce for capricious reasons. The moderate legislation being proposed in Parliament surely does not allow “Las Vegas”-style divorces.

I assume many people are now realising their vote in elections really has an effect on the positions taken by Parliament. Those who thought the PN shelters people with liberal aspirations must surely feel betrayed by the confessional approach and cynical manoeuvring taken by the Gonzi leadership. And those who thought Labour is a progressive movement must surely think the party is more of a “catch-all” calculating machine, which might win elections, yet, which will ultimately change nothing at all. Things would really be different with a Green presence in Parliament. Indeed, the presence of a plurality of parliamentary forces is a main reason why European societies are so dynamic and progressive in their democratic processes.

In the last instance, the divorce issue symbolises whether Malta is to form part of the cosmopolitan world of diversity, respect and choice, or whether we are to remain the backyard of Europe, allowing elites – in this case political and cultural – to usurp people’s responsible choices.

www.alternattiva.org.mt
The author is chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Ir-roti m'għandhomx jitneħħew mill-promenade!

2011-02-07T09:53:00.000+01:00

Michael Briguglio

Il-Gens Illum 5 ta' Frar 2010
http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=6070

Kont verament diżappuntat meta qrajt li s-Sindku ta' San Ġiljan qed jipproponi bye-law biex ċiklisti adulti ma jitħallewx jużaw il-promenade. Nittama li din il-proposta ma tkunx approvata. F’każ li jiġri hekk, din tkun daqqa ta’ ħarta kbira għall-bżonn li f’Malta jkun hawn ċaqliq ikbar lejn użu ta’ trasport sostenibbli li hu tajjeb għall-ambjent u għas-saħħa tan-nies.

Proposta bħal din turi nuqqas ta' sensittività għaliex se ġġiegħel liċ-ċiklisti jużaw it-triq li hija magħrufa għas-sewqan bl-addoċċ u għat-traffiku li jgħaddi minnha. Hija wkoll illoġika għax tmur kontra l-kampanja pożittiva li bħalissa qed jagħmel il-Gvern biex jippromwovi forom differenti ta' attività fiżika biex ikollna stil ta ħajja b'saħħitha, innaqqsu l-istress u l-obeżità bir-riskji ta' mard li jġibu magħhom.

Barra minn hekk, il-proposta li jinqata' ċ-ċikliżmu għal kollox ma tagħmilx sens jekk tikkunsidra l-fattur ambjentali u jekk pajjiżna verament irid inaqqas it-tniġġiż fl-arja.

Jien spiss nimxi fuq il-promenade ta’ Tas-Sliema u San Ġiljan, u huwa ta’ sodisfazzjon kbir li nara nies differenti jippassiġġaw, jiġru, jirrikreaw ruħhom u jsuqu r-roti. U hekk għandu jkun. Il-promenades għandhom ikunu aċċessibbli kemm għaċ-ċiklisti kif ukoll għal min ikun miexi, speċjalment tfal żgħar u anzjani. Jista' jinħoloq bilanċ bejn il-protezzjoni ta' min ikun miexi u d-drittijiet taċ-ċiklisti li jipprattikaw il-passatemp tagħhom mingħajr periklu.

Għaldaqstant, ftit tal-ġranet ilu, Alternattiva Demokratika organizzat konferenza stampa fuq il-promenade ta’ San Ġiljam, u pproponejna li, fejn hu possibbli, għandhom jiġu introdotti passaġġi għar-roti immarkati b'mod ċar.

F'postijiet fejn ma jkunx hemm dawn il-passaġġi, iċ-ċiklisti jkunu mitlubin isuqu aktar bil-mod u dejjem iċedu lil min ikun miexi. Jistgħu jiġu kkunsidrati wkoll ċerti ħinijiet speċifiċi meta jkun hemm ħafna nies mixjin fuq il-promenade fejn ma jkunx jista' jsir sewqan bir-roti.

Tajjeb wieħed jitkellem ukoll dwar il-passaġġi għar-roti fit-toroq, speċjalment meta ġieli smajna dwar inċidenti koroh – u anke fatali – f’dan ir-rigward. Dawn il-passaġġi għandhom jiġu riveduti u mtejbin sabiex ċiklisti jkunu jistgħu jsuqu fit-triq ukoll, mingħajr ma jkollhom perikli u passaġġi li jieqfu ħesrem.

Sewwieqa tal-karozzi għandhom ikunu edukati u jitgħallmu jikkonvivu maċ-ċiklisti fit-toroq. It-toroq għandhom jinżammu tajjeb sabiex ma jkunx hemm affarijiet perikoliżi bħal ħofor, xaħx u ħġieġ imkisser.

Meta jiena kont Kunsillier f'Tas-Sliema, flimkien ma’ xi kunsilliera oħra, kont ikkonvinċejt lill-Kunsill tal-lokal biex ma jilqax proposta li ma jitħalliex isir sewqan bir-roti fuq il-promenade ta' Tas-Sliema.

Nittama li l-kunsilliera preżenti ta’ San Ġiljan jagħmlu l-istess, u minflok jaħdmu sabiex ikun hemm bilanċ bejn il-ħtiġijiet varji ta’ dawk li jiffrekwentaw il-promenade. Jekk dan il-bilanċ intlaħaq fi bliet u rħula oħra madwar id-dinja, ma nistax nifhem kif dan ma jistax jintlaħaq f’pajjiżna.

Michael Briguglio huwa Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika.

www.alternattiva.org.mt

Disabled by society?

2011-02-04T13:49:00.001+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, Friday, 4th February 2011

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110204/opinion/disabled-by-society

On a European and global level, there are interesting and welcome developments on the politics of disability. The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is picking up and Malta is expected to ratify it this year.

The European Union has launched a 10-year strategy on disability – which was recently discussed in Malta within the Malta-EU Steering Action Committee of which I am a core group member. The European Commission is proposing to standardise the social benefits for persons with disability in all member states to ensure such persons do not face additional hurdles when they travel within the EU.

Besides, the proposed EU anti-discrimination directive aims to eliminate discrimination as regards access to various social services at various levels, including disability. Unfortunately, this directive is facing many obstacles from various governments due to the variety of exclusionary policies in certain member states.

All this represents a growing awareness on disability rights. Social movements active in this field play a significant role in this regard.

“Disability” is not a fixed term. Sure, there are physical and intellectual challenges certain people have and which cannot be denied. But such disability is not simply a personal and individual problem but rather a question of how society constructs and deals with such challenges. For example, if buses have steps which are too high, this would immediately render persons disabled due to lack of access. Similarly, persons with disability can be socially excluded through social policies and discourses which see them as a burden. It is not a coincidence that sociological research shows that persons with disability are often victims of poverty and social exclusion due to insufficient means that enable them to participate fully in community life, education and employment.

On the other hand, persons with disability can be socially included if their needs are seen as a challenge and an opportunity for society. In this case, disability would be seen as forming part of the plurality and diversity of needs and identities which citizens of any society may have. This is precisely the type of approach Green parties support.

Malta has gone quite a long way in the social construction of disability. Some decades ago, persons with disability where hidden in families’ basements or locked away in institutions. Later on, they were labelled as being “handicapped”. Yet, some activists and NGOs stood up to be counted and helped influence social policy to be more socially inclusive. Malta’s EU accession has surely helped empower the movement of persons with disability, yet much more needs to be done for further inclusion and empowerment.

To begin with, such persons should not be lumped into one social category devoid of difference. There are various degrees and types of disability, from the physical to the intellectual – and such identities intersect with other identities that each individual has – such as gender, class, sexuality, age and so forth.

Social policy on disability should involve a mix of measures that compensate persons with disability for social inequalities. For example, more should be done with regard to employment, employability and community participation. As a mere starting point, existing legislation such as that regarding employment of persons with disability and that regarding access to public buildings should be strictly enforced. The latter should also include public facilities. Unfortunately, the erstwhile positive developments of the Ta’ Qali and Qui-si-Sana parks do not include facilities that are accessible to persons with disability.

The disability pension, which amounts to 55 per cent of the minimum wage, surely does not encourage independent lifestyles. Budget 2011 once again represented a missed opportunity for a realistic upward revision of this social benefit.

The last Budget could also have taken heed of the demands of concerned parents for the development of centres for persons with a disability through public-private partnerships. Indeed, community-based supported living facilities deserve more public funding. Besides, as I have already argued in previous articles in The Times, Budget 2011 could also have accepted the demands of groups for recognition of certain conditions, such as ME and FM, as disability.

As regards education, it is positive that through the current educational reform – which AD supports resource centres for persons with disability form part of colleges. At post-secondary level, however, things are not so clear with regard to the segregation or inclusion of students with learning disability. Does the Education Division have clear guidelines in this regard?

It is also important to recognise that certain problems are still considered as taboo and are hardly spoken about because of fear of labelling. Besides, there is lack of policies which encourage independent living and which deal with areas such as sexuality, independence and vulnerability of persons with learning disability.

Research on persons with disability should also be given more value. With this I am not only referring to statistics, important as they are, but also to qualitative research that can portray realities and social constructions, such as emotions, sexualities, discourses and social networking that can never be presented through numerical generalisations.

In the last instance, the social construction of disability rights helps make up “everyday democracy”. Persons with disability, their families and carers, NGOs, political parties and experts all have an important role to play in such a reclamation of rights.

www.alternattiva.org.mt

The author is chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

The cost of fuelling expectations

2011-01-21T10:39:00.002+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, Friday 21 January 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110121/opinion/the-cost-of-fuelling-expectations

How realistic, sustainable and just are the policies of the three political parties on the increases in energy prices?

Let’s start off with Labour. I believe it is fuelling unrealistic expectations with regard to prices of utilities and gas. In an age of transnational politics in a global economy, I simply cannot understand why Joseph Muscat keeps persisting in his silence on the global recession and the global increase in energy prices.

Austerity measures are taking place in every corner of the world irrespective of the ideologies of governing parties in specific nation states. A friend of mine who believed such measures do not take place in Left governments must be shocked when reading about austerity measures in Bolivia, Cuba and Cyprus, to name three. Social democratic governments – the same political family as Labour – are doing the same; Spain and Greece immediately come to mind. And, of course, the same can be said of centre-right governments and other coalitions as is the case with Italy, Britain and Ireland.

The facts are simple; no national borders can stop economic and ecological realities related to scarce resources such as oil and gas. Given that the global demand for such resources is rising faster than their availability, it is more than obvious their price will increase. Besides, given that such energy – especially oil – causes a lot of CO2 emissions and pollution, an added cost is incurred on society in relation to adaptation to climate change, health costs and so forth.

And no nation state can simply act as though it has unlimited budgets. If Labour prefers thinking otherwise, so be it. But I would expect much better from a party that is presenting itself as the government-in-waiting.

What about the Nationalist government? It can absolve itself from the global increases in the price of energy. On the other hand, however, it is clear that sustainability – whether related to economic, environmental or social factors – is not a priority for the government.

Were this the case, more public funds would have been invested in alternative energy. It is true that, after many years of passivity, the Nationalist government introduced some reforms such as grants for the purchase of solar water heaters and photovoltaic panels, together with the introduction of the feed-in-tariff. But, surely, it is clear these policies are not a priority for the government, especially since the grants are very restrictive and limited.

Given that Malta has ample solar and wind resources, one would expect government invests massively in such energy, for example by ensuring thousands of solar water heaters are installed on rooftops. One would also expect clear policies ensuring people who live in apartments can have access to such energy. Thousands of people who live in apartments are denied access to the roof (save for a conventional water tank) in view of Malta’s penthouse policy.

Increased investment in clean energy is not only beneficial to the environment but is also beneficial to the economy and to society. Green jobs will be generated and less money will be spent on imported energy.

The Nationalist government has also shied away from introducing simple and workable fiscal incentives for businesses that make use of sustainable energy and/or generate green jobs.

State authorities do not help much in the shift towards a sustainable Malta. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority, for instance, could have imposed tough conditions on energy-thirsty projects such as Mater Dei Hospital, Smart City, MIDI and Fort Cambridge, for example by obliging them to use their rooftops for solar energy. This would have eased pressure on Malta’s demand for oil, which is what feeds the ever-expanding Delimara power station.

Enemalta, on the other hand, is an incredibly unaccountable monopoly and nobody seems to know how much we are paying for its inefficiencies. Unfortunately, the regulatory authorities – which are supposed to act as independent regulators – do not help much. More often than not they are headed by appointees whose first loyalty is towards ministers rather than consumers.

On Xarabank last Friday, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said, through the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, the government is evaluating whether some form of mechanism can be introduced to make up for increased hardships.

In this regard, as a Green party, Alternattiva Demokratika augurs any form of compensation should not reward wasteful practices. Taxpayers should not pay for capricious consumption of dirty energy, particularly when its price keeps increasing and when this keeps adding more pollution.

We suggest a realistic assessment of the cost of living adjustment is carried out in order that the yearly compensation truly reflects the rise in inflation. Hence, an updated methodology should replace the current one on which COLA is based.

AD also reiterates that Malta needs an increase in the minimum wage.
It is true this can add costs to employers but this can also help bring about more productivity and, above all, put more money in the pockets of low-income earners who are truly hardly hit by the global recession.

Even though the days of utopia are long gone in an age of uncertainty, risk and anxiety, this does not mean we should remain idle in the irreversible context of escalating costs of dirty energy. Rather than fuelling unrealistic expectations and giving handouts, which will only suffice till the next energy hike, it would be better to equip consumers with real choices in an energy market and with realistic compensation for cost of living increases. In such a scenario, we Greens believe the government should ensure regulators are really autonomous and that sustainable energy is prioritised over the rest.

www.alternattiva.org.mt

The author is chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Debating with the No movement

2011-01-19T10:47:00.002+01:00

The setting up of a ‘no to divorce’ movement is good: debate is essential in a democracy.

Michael Briguglio

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/blogs/michael-briguglio/debating-with-the-no-movement
Malta Today, 19th January 2011

As chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika – to date the only political party with a position on divorce, and a positive one at that, I must say that I am pleased that a ‘no to divorce’ movement has been set up. Debate is essential in a democracy.

As expected, however, I do not agree with the fundamental thesis of the No movement. Basically, the movement believes that the introduction of divorce will bring about an increase in marriage breakdown and cohabitation.

Such an argument is ridiculously fallacious because in Malta there is no divorce, yet separations and cohabitation are on the increase.

Hence there must be another reason why such changes are taking place, and this has nothing to do with divorce.

One factor which is influencing such change is economic stress and related situational factors. Economic hardship – for example long-working hours and lack of income in an age of precarious employment can be very stressful to couples. So could unrealistic expectations, however. This could include reasons such as having unsustainable bank loans for an unaffordable residence. Malta’s saving-spending ratios are clearly showing that we are moving towards the latter.

Yet another important reason – which is heavily undervalued by the ‘no’ camp - is the fact that people are becoming increasingly reflexive and individualised in advanced modern societies. More and more people are less tied to the traditions they inherited – whether related to religion, class, or culture – and are becoming more predisposed to construct their own biographies.

In such a context, there are reasons associated with ‘family breakdown’, such as infidelity and violence, which, though being in existence for ages, are dealt with differently in our times. In short, one is freer to move out of a relationship in such instances. Even in Malta – where there is no divorce.

In a context of reflexivity and individualisation, one might also choose not to marry, or to marry at a later age. One might have an LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) identity. One might be cohabiting with someone else. And one might be in a marriage in which happiness has simply disappeared. In all cases, the right to happiness should never be undervalued.

The ‘yes’ and ‘no’ positions are basically at loggerheads when it comes to the right for separated persons to be given another chance to marry. From a ‘yes’ perspective, divorce can be seen as being pro-family because it permits couples to regularise their relationships. The alternative is having thousands of couples living in a legal limbo without rights and obligations. The ‘no’ perspective is against this, but, what is its stand on annulment (whether granted by the State or Church) and on people who live together after separating?

If there is to be a point of convergence between the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ positions, I suppose this will have to do with responsibility for children. Maybe sociologist Anthony Giddens can inspire us all here. He suggests that as a global society we should move towards ‘emotional democracies’ in which the protection of children becomes the primary feature of legislation and policy. Parents should be legally obligated to provide emotionally and economically for their children until adulthood, no matter what the living arrangements happen to be.

Ultimately the divorce issue symbolizes whether Malta is to form part of the cosmopolitan world of diversity, respect and choice, or whether we are to remain the backyard of Europe, allowing political, economic and cultural elites to usurp our individuality.

Michael Briguglio is chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika.

Prospetti għas-sena l-ġdida

2011-01-08T13:30:00.000+01:00

Michael Briguglio

L-imħabba - mill-aktar essenzjali għall-bniedem. . .

8 ta'Jannar 2011
http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=5566

Hekk kif qed nikteb l-ewwel artiklu tiegħi għal IL-ĠENSillum online għal din is-sena, nixtieq naqsam xi ħsebijiet dwar dak li nixtieq nara jiġri tul din is-sena.

Fuq livell personali, ibni David se jagħlaq tliet snin din is-sena, u jien kburi bir-rwol tiegħi bħala missier attiv. Għandi tifel verament simpatiku u ferrieħi!
L-imħabba hija verament essenzjali għall-bniedem, u għalhekk nittama li din dejjem tkun preżenti f’ħajti u fil-ħajja ta’ dawk ta’ madwari matul din is-sena.

Ġaladarba jiena soċjologu u ndoqq id-drums, se jkolli sfida kbira – bħal dejjem – li nibbilanċja l-ħin tiegħi bl-aħjar mod possibbli.

Din is-sena nittama li nkun aħjar f’dak kollu li nagħmel iżda li nkun iktar rilassat. L-ansjetà – waħda mill-ikbar problemi eżistenzjali fi żmenijietna – tista’ xxekkel l-iżvilupp tal-individwu. Iżda hija l-ansjetà wkoll li tgħinna noħolmu u nittamaw!

Fuq livell politiku, ili nokkupa r-rwol ta’ Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika għal ftit iktar minn sena, u ili attiv fil-politika mill-1994. Qed nistenna sena oħra ta’ ħidma kontra l-Gulijji kbar fil-politika. Ovvjament, meta qed nuża l-kelma ‘kontra’ qed nirreferi għal dibattiti u djalogu politiku kkaraterizzat minn rispett reċiproku. Id-diversità hija essenzjali għal demokrazija b’saħħitha.

Pajjiżna għandu Gvern Nazzjonalista li ilu hemm għal wisq żmien, iżda li b’mod jew ieħor, irnexxielu jibni sistema ta’ bilanċ fejn sar qisu xi gvern naturali. Iżda dan qed ixekkel ċerti bidliet li jeħtieġ li jsiru u qed iwassal ukoll għal ċerta arroganza tal-poter.

Fl-istess ħin, il-Partit Laburista qed jagħmel kollox possibli biex jirbaħ l-elezzjoni ġenerali billi jwiegħed kollox lil kulħadd. Dan it-tip ta’ popoliżmu jista’ forsi jrebbaħ elezzjoni, iżda ma naħsibx li jbiddel l-affarijiet. Nemmen li hemm bżonn xi ħaġa li tmur oltre l-ħakma staġnata tal-PNPL. U naħseb li Alternattiva Demokratika jista’ jkollha rwol importanti ħafna f’dan ir-rigward.

Bħala attivist tal-ħodor, nixtieq li pajjiżina jersaq iktar qrib id-demokrazija moderna u kożmpolitana Ewropea. Nixtieq li pajjiżna jkun iktar tolleranti u pluralista f’affarijiet relatati ma’ drittijiet ċivili u forom differenti ta’ kultura, fost oħrajn.

Dwar id-divorzju, huwa fatt li l-opinjoni tiegħi hija differenti minn dik tal-Knisja Kattolika, iżda naħseb li lkoll naqblu li jkun tajjeb jekk pajjiżna jadotta direzzjoni ċara li tippermetti diskussjoni serja, matura u ta’ rispett reċiproku dwar is-suġġett. Kif inhuma l-affarijiet, għandna biss spekulazzjonijiet dwar referendum, kampanji u x’naf jien.

Nawgura sena mill-isbaħ lill-qarrejja, il-ħaddiema u d-diretturi ta’ IL-ĠENSillum online.

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika.
www.alternattiva.org.mt

Roadmap for the new year

2011-01-07T10:10:00.002+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, 7th January 2011
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110107/opinion/roadmap-for-the-new-year

This will be the last year before electoral frenzy grips Malta again given that the country will have successive rounds of European, national and local elections between 2012 and 2014.

Will any significant reforms take place in the Maltese political sphere? I, for one, hope Malta moves some inches closer to European-style democracy in the coming year.
As I see it, Malta should decide whether it wants to be a cosmopolitan European democracy or whether it wants to remain the backyard of Europe, burying its head in the sand on various issues that have been long established in advanced democracies.

Of course, such a statement may be too categorical, given the various factors, such as the economic, ecological, social, cultural and political, which help shape Maltese society. But this does not mean one should sit down and relax hoping that progressive reforms take place automatically, along a fictional royal red carpet of evolutionary history. As social actors, we can bring about changes at various levels.

One issue that shall surely dominate the Maltese political sphere in 2011 is divorce. It is unclear whether a referendum shall really take place, especially since the Nationalist Party is, as always, making its calculations on the voting plusses and minuses of such a strategy. Labour’s catch-all-strategy, aiming to please everyone while not pronouncing itself clearly on anything significant, will not help.

I hope the government puts forward a proper roadmap on the divorce issue so that both the yes and no camps can have ample space and time to present their arguments in an orderly manner. And, please, let’s stop saying this is not a political issue. Of course it is! It is through the vote that one can ensure the introduction of this basic civil right.

If 2011 shall really be the year of the divorce referendum, I hope the yes campaign will emerge victorious. Malta will finally join the rest of the world in the achievement of this basic civil right, which can only help strengthen family life, for example by allowing separated persons to remarry should they want to.

I also augur Malta stops using an intolerant approach on matters related to sexuality and cultural pluralism, among others. A modern democratic society cannot remain relying on mindsets and cultural constructs that assume that everyone in Malta shares the same faith, lifestyle and aspirations.

Of course, this does not mean anything goes and that morality should be thrown out of the window. But, once again, we can only learn from the policies and practices of advanced democracies. In this regard, the argument that Malta has its own values should not be used to stifle the values of diversity, respect and tolerance. Fundamentalism – in its various forms – should have no space in a cosmopolitan society.

Another issue which, I believe merits importance, is that related to the PNPL duopoly, which remains unaccountable in their financial transactions and have disproportionate influence on civil society, even thanks to the way Maltese-style democracy is designed. Media spectacles like L-Istrina, good intentions aside, are a depressive reminder as to how civil society is suffocated by the dominant institutions.

Certain media agencies are in many ways strengthening the PNPL hegemony, especially when they seem to have become more interested in maintaining the status quo than acting fairly. With all due respect to my friends Peppi Azzopardi and Lou Bondì, I would like to remind them that, during this season’s TV schedule, they have never invited AD representatives for programmes on political issues. When Mr Azzopardi and Mr Bondì ask “Where’s Everybody?” I can only say the Green party is here but WE does not seem to notice. How’s that for fair journalism?

Hopefully, Malta will take clear decisions on other important issues such as water, pensions and energy use during the coming year. As regards the economy, Malta has adapted relatively well to the global economic crises, compared to many other countries. Yet, at the same time, it is worrying that official statistics show an increase in persons at the risk of poverty and surveys reveal the cost of living, low wages and employment are major concerns for people in Malta.

It is also becoming clearer that over-reliance on construction and property speculation can have very negative economic, social and environmental consequences. Malta has been told by the IMF the oversupply of construction is posing a serious threat to the financial sector because the latter has considerable of its assets tied to property. Shall policies be adopted to avoid this bubble from bursting? Fiscal policies against property speculation come to mind here, alongside more rational planning.

Another thing I would like to see happen in 2011 is that certain untouchable lobbies be cut down to size on their disproportionate influence in environmental, economic and social policy. I do not need to give examples, I am sure readers of The Times know what I am referring to when they themselves are short-changed as consumers, when their rights as residents are trampled upon.

Malta is a wonderful place to live in and I believe it can be made even better if we really become part of a modern, egalitarian and cosmopolitan Europe.

I wish the readers, staff and directors of The Times a happy new year.

The author is chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Looking at 2010, looking at 2011

2011-01-02T10:09:00.003+01:00

What made 2010 and what's in store for 2011...

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/what-made-2010-and-what-s-in-store-for-2011

2010 was my third year as a Dad – one of the most rewarding experiences in my life – and my first year as AD chairperson, another challenging experience which I cherish. I’m also a sociologist and drummer, so you can imagine how precious time is for me!

Politically the most significant thing is the fact we have a government which has been alone in power for too long, and an Opposition doing everything possible to get to power by aiming to please everyone at the same time. Cheap populism might win elections, but won’t change things. I am convinced more than ever on the need for something that goes beyond the stagnant duopoly of the Nationalist and Labour parties.

In 2011 I aim to be better in all I do, and to be more relaxed at the same time. Indeed, sometimes anxiety blocks one’s personal development. If 2011 shall really be the year of the divorce referendum, I hope that the ‘yes’ campaign will emerge victorious. Malta will finally join the rest of the world in the achievement of this basic civil right, which can only help strengthen family life.

Looking to 2011.......... Malta Today, 2 January 2011

2011 will reveal whether Malta can be considered a cosmopolitan European democracy, or whether it is to remain the backyard of Europe, burying its head in the sand on various issues which have been long established in advanced democracies. In this regard, I augur that a proper roadmap for the divorce issue be put forward and that Malta stops using an intolerant approach on matters related to sexuality and cultural pluralism amongst others. I augur that civil society does not remain divided in two camps, where the PNPL duopoly and certain privileged voluntary organisations, are totally unaccountable in their financial transactions and have disproportionate influence on civil society. I also augur that certain untouchable lobbies are brought down to size on their disproportionate influence in environmental, economic and social policy. Maybe I want too much. What can I say? If you want change, vote for it.

Michael Briguglio

AD sends its greetings for 2011

2011-01-01T08:42:00.001+01:00

In its new year greetings, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party said that it augurs that Malta moves closer to European-style democracy during 2011.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: 'Like previous years, 2011 will show whether Malta truly wants to be a cosmopolitan European democracy, or whether it wants to remain the backyard of Europe, burying its head in the sand on various issues which have been long established in advanced democracies’.

‘Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party augurs that a proper roadmap for the divorce issue will be put forward and that Malta stops using an intolerant approach on matters related to sexuality and cultural pluralism, amongst others. We augur that civil society does not remain divided in two camps, where the PNPL duopoly and certain privileged voluntary organisations, are totally unaccountable in their financial transactions and have disproportionate influence on civil society. We also augur that certain untouchable lobbies are brought down to size on their disproportionate influence in environmental, economic and social policy’.

‘During 2011, AD will keep giving priority to sustainable development, environmental protection, civil rights, a healthy economy and social justice’.

On New Year's day, a delegation of AD - The Green Party will be exchanging new year's greetings with President George Abela and Archbishop Paul Cremona.

Qui-si-Sana garden a victory for residents

2010-12-27T16:29:00.001+01:00

Michael Briguglio, chairman, Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party, Marsa

The Times, Monday, 27th December 2010
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101227/letters/qui-si-sana-garden-a-victory-for-residents

It is positive that the public garden in Qui-si-Sana has been redeveloped in a sustainable manner to the benefit of residents.

May I remind readers that when I was Alternattiva Demokratika’s local councillor in Sliema, I was the first to put the issue regarding the Qui-si-Sana development on the agenda of the local council.

AD’s persistent and consistent stand for the rights of residents and pedestrians was instrumental in convincing the government to drop the proposal through which the garden was going to be transformed into a car park and shopping centre.

The fact that Qui-si-Sana garden has now been redeveloped into an open public space and playing area is a victory for Sliema residents amid the overdevelopment going on nearby, namely at Midi and Fort Cambridge, as well as the proposed development at Townsquare.

As regards the fears of some that Qui-si-Sana may become another Paceville, I can only say one thing: When one promotes or votes for a political party which has a love affair with big business developers, one simply reaps what one sows. Voters in Sliema could have voted against overdevelopment.

If they want change, they must vote for it. Or, perhaps, before the next general election, another meeting with the Prime Minister will convince them otherwise.

Greetings from Norm Rejection

2010-12-23T09:31:00.001+01:00

Here’s a happy Xmas and New Year for Norm Rejection!

Thanks to all those who gave their support to the band in any way during 2010.. You know who you are!!!

We look forward to 2011 as we shall be releasing a new CD.. ‘BELLIGERENT’… consisting of three brand new tracks – ‘Kemm Hawn Dwejjaq fil-Pajjiz’, ‘Encounter’ and ‘Belligerent’, and, for the first time ever on CD, our debut demo ‘Subtly Mesmerized?’ (Subtly Mesmerized, Pangea’s Neglect, Distorted Visions), which was released in 1994 and which sold out in weeks!

Production is at a very advanced stage and sleeve artwork is ready!

Cheers to all!!

Wil, Michael Briguglio, Sean Vukovic and Rex
NORM REJECTION
www.normrejection.com

The year of the green woman

2010-12-17T12:56:00.000+01:00

Michael Briguglio

Malta Today - Friday, December 17, 2010
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/blogs/michael-briguglio/the-year-of-the-green-woman

A few days ago, the prestigious American magazine Foreign Policy named its top 100 global thinkers for this year. 4 green politicians shared the 32nd place. These are Monica Frassoni, Cécile Duflot, Renate Künast and Marina Silva.

Monica Frassoni, is co-spokesperson of the European Green Party, and has become one of the most influential green voices in the European Union.

Cécile Duflot, leads the French Green Party Ecologie Europe. It is France's third-most powerful party, and she is being dubbed a kingmaker for the 2012 presidential race.

Renate Künast presides over Germany's Green parliamentary coalition at a time when the party is polling higher than ever. She is also likely to be the first green mayor ever in Berlin next year.

Marina Silva, a rural activist and former environment minister in Brazil, surprised everyone by forcing her country's recent presidential election into a runoff, placing a strong third in the process.

Frassoni, Duflot, Künast and Silva are symbols of the gender dimension of green politics. Indeed, they consistently show that the way out of the economic and ecological crisis is to innovate through green technologies and a green new deal, creating jobs in the process. They are not the only female green politicians who made a hit in 2010.

Indeed, one can also refer to others such as Caroline Lucas, the first ever green politician who was elected in Britain’s parliament and Rebecca Harms co-leader of the Green Group in the European Parliament - indeed the only woman who heads a parliamentary group in the European Parliament. In the far east, Kazumi Inamura was elected the City Mayor of Amagasaki - the first Green Mayor in Japan! In Malta, we have had some relative success too, with AD’s spokesperson for Social Protection and Health, Nighat Urpani, having won the award for moral and environmental leadership by Junior Chamber International Malta.

Gender equality features high on the green agenda. If one looks at the European Union, we Greens are currently emphasising that gender must be given the importance it deserves in the EU's new economic strategy for 2020.

Indeed, even though the EU is the most progressive bloc in the world, the gender pay gap is still 17% on average, with highest rates at 35%. In many countries, female participation in the labour market is less then that of men. Not surprisingly, Malta is bottom of the list when it comes to female participation.

The Greens have been upfront in the struggle to raise EU standards on gender related polices. Frequently, various proposals and progressive concepts related to gender equality and to the politics of sexuality, such as Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights, originate from the Greens.

A case in point is maternity and paternity leave. We support social policy that dismantles the continuing barriers to having children and working.

The Green group in the European Parliament was crucial in the vote in favour of a minimum of 20 weeks maternity leave for European mothers at full pay and 2 weeks paternity leave at full pay. Such social reforms provide important steps for better division of caring responsibilities between women and men.

Indeed, as Greens, we endorse concepts of the universal caregiver (this being proposed by sociologist Nancy Fraser) which suggests that both men and women have access to the public and the private spheres and so share out the responsibilities attached to paid and unpaid work more equally.

Whilst Greens managed to convince others within the European Parliament for an extension of maternity and paternity leave, various Governments blocked this progressive move.

These include Malta’s, which once again has voted against concrete family-friendly social policies. So much for its talk on family values.

The voluntary farce

2010-12-14T12:25:00.002+01:00

Michael Briguglio

Malta Today
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/blogs/michael-briguglio/the-voluntary-farce

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The situation concerning enrolment with the Commissioner of Voluntary Organisations has become a farce and is untenable.

The situation is simple. All voluntary organisations in Malta have a choice to enroll or not to enroll with the Commissioner. Enrolling with the Commissioner brings with it certain rights and duties, and various NGOs and voluntary organisations, both large and small have taken this option. Hence they are able to benefit from state funding and donations.

Certain organisations are choosing not to enroll, and they have every right to do so, according to legislation. Yet what if some of them generate a lot of revenue? What if some are refusing to be transparent as required by legislation on voluntary organisations? Isn’t this unfair towards voluntary organisations which are transparent in their activities and how they are financed?

Even though I have full respect for charitable work carried out by certain organisations, this should not justify exemption from transparency.

Within such a context, the call of Kenneth Wain (Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations) for equal treatment of all voluntary organisations is correct. It is surprising that the Government has not publicly declared support for his position. Nor has the Labour opposition.

Or perhaps it is no surprise at all. After all, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. The Nationalist and Labour parties are themselves unaccountable and lack transparency in their sources of revenue. Indeed, this has been pointed out by of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (Greco).

As things stand, there is a free-for-all system as regards donations to political parties and it is more than obvious that this has resulted in a system of political money laundering. In this case, some are more equal than others in their influence on political parties and there is no accounting system to trace this. It is true that Government has initiated steps for a proper system of party financing, but given by what has been said so far, one should hold his breath for a proper reform.

Where does the Green Party stand in all this?

To begin with, we have expressed our support of Kenneth Wain’s commendable work. We are insisting that the legislation on Voluntary Organisations should be observed. It does not make sense for government to first pilot legislation (albeit belatedly) and then to encourage its being ignored by leaving persons like Commissoner Wain on their own to carry the can. Other NGOs, namely Birdlife Malta, Friends of the Earth Malta, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Nature Trust Malta, Ramblers Association of Malta and Zminijietna are also supporting Professor Wain.

AD is also in the process itself of registering with the Commissioner of Voluntary Organisations, unlike other political parties. Indeed, our Youth Section, AD Zghazagh, has already submitted its application, and in the near future our cultural foundation Ceratonia will be following suit, together with the Green Party itself.

Yet again, in Maltese civil society, all organisations are equal, but some are more equal than others. In the meantime we can all send them donations at the click of a button. Hurrah!

Norm Rejection & Forsaken LIVE

2010-12-13T23:54:00.003+01:00

Norm Rejection & Forsaken will be playing live at Rookies Sports Bar, Bugibba on Saturday 18 December in what promises to be a night of doom and rebellion.

Doors open 9.30pm - GIG STARTS AT 9.45PM AND ENDS AT 12 SHARP DUE TO TIME LIMIT.
Entrance 5 Euro
Sound by AV Warehouse

Facebook link - click here.

Economic issues in a real world

2010-12-10T10:44:00.000+01:00

Michael Briguglio
The Times, Friday, 10th December 2010

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101210/opinion/economic-issues-in-a-real-world

In the past days, various important statements were made about Malta’s economic situation. Michael Bonello, the governor of the Central Bank, said that in order to be sustainable, the Maltese economy needs to reduce public expenditure. At the same time, the International Monetary Fund said that even though Malta was not hit very hard by the economic crisis experienced by other countries, the Maltese economy faces risks in sectors such as finance and property.

In the meantime, as I already had the opportunity to explain in my previous article in The Times, the United Nations Development Programme placed Malta in the 33rd position on its Human Development Index in a list of 169 countries. The index combines income per capita, education and health.

The Maltese economy therefore has its upsides and downsides. I might not agree with certain proposals made by Mr Bonello but I surely agree with him when he says we cannot act as if we are not part of the world.

Any talk of the economy which simply ignores the global context does not make sense, especially for Malta which is one of the most open economies in the world. The same holds for talk on the economy that simply ignores the ecological context. By way of example, I shall refer to three vital issues related to the Maltese economy: land development, water and pensions.

In this regard, it is plain wasteful that Malta does not have policies aimed to reduce property speculation and unlimited construction. About one out of every four properties are vacant in Malta. Is such a situation sustainable in such a small and overbuilt country? Fiscal policy can surely help discourage speculation, for example by taxing one’s vacant property from the third one onwards. Such a mechanism would encourage the renting or selling of such property, which would otherwise be kept vacant. Unfortunately, one cannot expect the introduction of such a policy from political parties that are financed by construction magnates.

Another issue which deserves priority is that relating to water. Malta is one of the driest countries in the world, yet, we keep acting as if we have an unlimited supply of water. The biggest irony is that there are about 8,000 private boreholes through which groundwater is taken for various uses including the production of soft drinks, animal husbandry, manufacturing, swimming pools, agriculture and gardens… all for free!

This takes place while all people connected to the water supply of the Water Services Corporation are charged for their metres and water consumption. In a few words, precious groundwater is being stolen and this amount exceeds the amount produced by WSC through reverse osmosis plants.

In the short run, all unregistered boreholes should be banned. In the longer run, save for some strategic exceptions such as agriculture, the true price of water should be reflected in its consumption. WSC should have full control of all water production, which should then be redistributed according to the country’s priorities.

Another pressing issue relates to Malta’s demography. Given that people are living more, which in itself is a major socio-economic achievement, it is clear Malta’s pension system has to be reformed in order that sufficient funds are available for its financing. In simple words, at current trends, in a few years’ time, the ratio of pensioners depending on contributions by workers will increase so much the contributions of the working population will not be enough to meet the pensions.

Hence, in order to render Malta’s pension system sustainable, it is vital more money is saved to finance the pensions system.

The closer we get to the general election, the less chance there is for the Nationalist government to take concrete action on such pressing issues. Yet, both the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party will not take action if this means loss of votes in the short term.

In this regard, Labour does not seem to be producing enlightened alternatives. For example, its criticism of the governor of the Central Bank was uncalled for and, if anything, only confirms the “moderate and progressive” strategy of this party is more interested in cheap populism than sober analysis. Instead of engaging with Mr Bonello, Labour chose to resort to personal attacks on his income and job conditions. Perhaps Labour, like the PN, can illuminate the public on its own sources of income and how this influences its policies or lack of them.

Labour should also inform the public how it expects to finance a comprehensive welfare system when it is promising tax cuts for everyone.

Any serious economic policy cannot ignore three realities. First, that income to finance expenditure has to come from somewhere. Second, that natural resources are limited. And, third, that we live in a global economic, ecological and social complex. AD’s economic stance recognises these three realities through a green new deal that aims to reduce carbon footprint and unsustainable practices while improving quality and life and generating employment opportunities.

www.alternattiva.org.mt
The author is chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Twissijiet f'kuntest ta' riskji u awsterità

2010-12-04T13:23:00.003+01:00

Michael Briguglio

http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=4650
Il-Gens Illum 4 ta’ Dicembru 2010

Ftit tal-jiem ilu l-Gvernatur tal-Bank Ċentrali, Michael Bonello, ma qagħadx jomogħdha. . . qal ċar u tond li fl-opinjoni tiegħu, pajjiżna jeħtieġ li jnaqqas in-nefqa pubblika sabiex l-ekonomija tagħna tkun waħda iktar sostenibbli.

Fl-istess żmien, il-Fond Monetarju Dinji qal li filwaqt li pajjiżna ma daqx il-kriżi ekonomika li daqu pajjiżi oħrajn, jeżistu bosta riskji fl-ekonomija f’oqsma bħal dawk finanzjarji u l-proprjetà.

Ejja ngħiduha kif inhi. Malta mhix qed tesperjenza l-miżuri ta’ awsterità severi li qed jaħkmu pajjiżi madwar id-dinja kollha, irrispettivament minn min hu fil-gvern. Anki gvernijiet li jipproklamaw lilhom infushom bħala ‘gvernijiet tal-ħaddiema’ qed jintroduċu bosta miżuri iebsa.

Minkejja li f’pajjiżna jeżistu l-faqar u l-esklużjoni soċjali, wieħed ma jkunx qed ikun leali lejn ir-realtà meta jqabbel lil pajjiżna ma’ xi soċjetà fejn l-ikla ta’ kuljum hija verament kwistjoni ta’ ħajja jew mewt.

Fir-rapport għas-sena 2010, il-Programm tal-Iżvilupp tal-Ġnus Magħquda, permezz tal-indiċi ta’ l-iżvilupp uman (HDI Index) għadha kif poġġiet lil pajjiżna fit-33 post minn 169 pajjiż. Pajjiżna tela’ ħames postijiet, speċjalment minħabba li n-nies jgħixu medja ta’ 80 sena u minħabba li d-dħul medju huwa ta’ $21,000 għal kull persuna. Dan l-indiċi jinkorpora fih statistika relatati mad-dħul, is-saħħa u l-edukazzjoni.

Fi ftit kliem, l-ekonomija ta’ pajjiżna s’issa laqgħet tajjeb għar-riċessjoni globali, iżda jeżistu bosta riskji. F’dan il-kuntest, minkejja li ma naqbilx ma’ kulma jipproponi l-Gvernatur tal-Bank Ċentrali, naqbel miegħu meta jgħid li ma nistgħux naġixxu daqslikieku m’aħniex parti mid-dinja. F’dan ir-rigward, jeżistu bosta kwistjonijet li wieħed ma jistax jinjorahom.

Per eżempju, niskanta kif il-Gvern Nazzjonalista jibqa’ jgħaddas rasu fir-ramel u ma jintroduċix politika ekonomika li timmira li trażżan il-ħela u l-ispekulazzjoni f’żewġ riżorsi skarsi f’pajjiżna: l-art u l-ilma. Jekk ma titteħiedx azzjoni konkreta f’dawn iż-żewġ oqsma, qed nistiednu problemi kbar fis-snin li ġejjin.

F’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-art, donnu l-Gvern qed jibqa’ jippremja l-ispekulazzjoni fil-proprjetà, meta f’pajjiż ċkejken bħal Malta, kwart tal-bini huwa vojt. Kemm tista’ tibqa’ tiġi ttollerata din is-sitwazzjoni insostenibbli? F’dan ir-rigward, jagħmel sens li jkun hemm miżuri fiskali fuq spekulazzjoni tal-proprjetà.

Alternattiva Demokratika qed tipproponi li dan għandu jsir mit-tielet proprjetà vojta ’l quddiem. Mekkaniżmi fiskali għandhom jinkoraġġixxu l-kiri u l-bejgħ ta’ proprjetà li tinżamm vojta għall-ispekluazzjoni. Dan mhux biss jiġġenera dħul għall-Gvern, iżda wkoll irażżan l-ispekulazzjoni u b’hekk jagħmel pressjoni fuq il-prezzijiet tal-proprjetà. Iżda diffiċli wieħed jimmaġina li ssir xi ħaġa f’dan il-qasam jekk l-Alternattiva Demokratika ma tkunx rappreżentata fil-Parlament.

Il-fatt jibqa’ li hija l-AD biss li ma tiddependix minn finanzjament mill-industrija tal-kostruzzjoni.

F’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-ilma, pajjiżna għandu jagħmel ħafna iktar biex ikun hemm użu sostenibbli ta’ dan ir-riżors skars. Tajjeb ngħidu li f’Malta hemm madwar 8,000 bore-hole privata, li jieħdu l-ilma mill-pjan għall-użu varju fosthom produzzjoni ta’ soft drinks, trobbija tal-annimali, manifattura, manifattura tal-konkrit, pixxini, agrikultura, u ġonna – mingħajr ħlas ta’ xejn.

L-ammont ta’ ilma li jittella’ mill-boreholes privati hu aktar mill-ammont ta’ ilma li tipproduċi l-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma (WSC) mill-impjanti tar-Reverse Osmosis. Fi ftit kliem, filwaqt li l-maġġoranza tal-poplu tħallas il-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma, uħud jisirqu l-ilma li jiġi mill-bore-holes. Għalhekk, teħtieġ tittieħed azzjoni ċara biex ma jibqax jiġi inkoraġġit l-użu b’xejn tal-ilma tal-pjan.

Fuq medda qasira ta’ żmien, il-boreholes mhux reġistrati għandhom jingħalqu. Iżda fuq medda itwal ta’ żmien, jeħtieġ li, b’eċċezzjonijiet ta’ kunsiderazzjonijiet strateġiċi bħall-agrikultura, il-prezz veru tal-ilma jiġi rifless fil-konsum tiegħu.

Il-WSC għandu jkollha kontroll totali tal-ilma kollu li jiġi prodott f’Malta, biex imbagħad dan jiġi ridistribwit skond il-ħtieġa tal-pajjiż.

Kwistjonijiet oħrajn relatati mas-sostenbilità jinkludu, fost oħrajn, dik tal-pensjonijiet, fejn jeħtieġ li filwaqt li s-sistema l-ġdida tkun waħda karatterizzata minn ġustizzja soċjali, tkun waħda wkoll fejn il-pajjiż iġemma’ iktar flus biex isostni s-sistema tal-pensjoni. Ir-raġuni hi waħda sempliċi: peress li n-nies qed jgħixu iktar, il-persentaġġ ta’ ħaddiema li jikkontribwixxu għall-pensjoni qiegħed dejjem jiċkien meta mqabbel man-numru ta’ pensjonanti. Kwistjoni oħra hi dik tal-arretrati li għandu jiġbor il-Gvern.

Iktar ma toqrob l-elezzjoni ġenerali, inqas hemm ċans li l-Gvern Nazzjonalista jagħmel xi ħaġa sew biex jikkonfronta kwistjonijiet bħal dawn.

Niskanta wkoll meta nara li l-Partit Laburista, minflok ma joħroġ bi proposti serji, sostenibbli u responsabbli, jibqa’ jinqeda bi propaganda rħisa.

Per eżempju, minflok ma qagħad janalizza x’qal il-Gvernatur tal-Bank Ċentrali, u jirribatti bi kritika kostruttiva, il-PL għażel li jagħmel kampanja ta’ tgħajjir personali.

Il-PL qiegħed ukoll jirrepeti d-diska skaduta tal-bżonn ta’ tnaqqis fuq it-taxxa tad-dħul meta fl-istess ħin jippretendi li jonqos id-defiċit u jitjiebu s-servizzi pubbliċi. Huwa possibbli li l-PL mhux qed jara x’inhu jiġri f’pajjiżi oħra bħalissa?

Filwaqt li ċertu tnaqqis għal min għandu dħul baxx jew medju jista’ jkun aċċettabbli għax jirriżulta f’iktar flus fl-idejn u b’hekk iktar attività ekonomika, ma nistax nifhem kif partit li jridha ta’ wieħed progressiv jibqa’ jħambaq biex tonqos it-taxxa tad-dħul għal kullħadd u jibqa’ jopponi kull miżura fiskali li tista’ tiġġenera d-dħul għall-Gvern. Nistaqsi lill-Partit Laburista: jekk irid li Malta tkun l-aħjar fl-Ewropa, minn fejn se jiffinanzja n-nefqa tiegħu, meta qiegħed iwiegħed kollox lil kulħadd?

Għalhekk, filwaqt li n-nefqa pubblika għandha tibbilanċja l-ħtiġijiet soċjali, ambjentali u ekonomiċi, ikun tassew żbaljat min joħroġ bi proposti li donnhom jappartjenu għal xi dinja tal-ħolm li ma teżistix. Proposti serji dwar l-ekonomija ma jistgħux jinjoraw tliet realtajiet: L-ewwel, li d-dħul biex tiffinanzja din in-nefqa għandha tiġi minn x’imkien. It-tieni, li r-riżorsi naturali huma limitati. It-tielet, li qed ngħixu f’kuntest globali.

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika
www.alternattiva.org.mt

2 new published papers on environmental sociology in Malta

2010-12-03T15:08:00.000+01:00

Dear Friends,

I would like to inform you of the publication of the following 2 peer-reviewed papers (abstracts below):

1. Briguglio, Michael (2010). ‘Are ENGOs empowered through EU accession? The case of Maltese ENGOs’, International Journal of Green Economics, 4: 3, 262-274

2. Briguglio, Michael and Aquilina, Diana (2010). ‘The Social Impact of Liberalisation of Plastic Bottles in Malta’, International Journal of Green Economics, 4: 3, 275-291

1. Are ENGOs empowered through EU accession? The case of Maltese ENGOs: Malta joined the European Union in 2004 and carried out vast changes in its environmental legislation during the process. Environmental NGOs have been key actors in this regard. This paper verifies whether Malta’s EU accession has helped empower such organisations. The paper argues that EU Accession has enhanced empowerment of ENGOs. This has occurred as a result of EU-driven policy and legislative reforms, leading to the institutionalisation of various ENGOs – especially if conservationist, but not if local or radical - through their participation in environmental reform. In addition, lobbying opportunities for ENGOs within EU Institutions have increased. However various factors constrain the ENGOs' empowerment, including neo-liberal ideology; political pressure from other lobby groups; and economic pressures. It should be qualified that empowerment has effected ENGOs differently, with conservationists gaining most, followed by sustainable development, radical and local ENGOs respectively.

2. The Social Impact of Liberalisation of Plastic Bottles in Malta: This paper analyzes the social impact of liberalisation of plastic bottles in Malta, wherein the system of returnable glass bottles has effectively been replaced by a system of disposable plastic bottles. The paper applies concepts such as Ulrich Beck’s (1992) ‘risk society’, and Michael Cahill’s (1994) ‘consumer society’ to the issue under research. A quantitative survey administered in two Maltese localities shows that whilst there is a wide-ranging opposition towards the plastic bottles system, at the same time, most respondents are not ready to make financial contributions for a better environment. Such perceptions are compared with those of European counterparts.

http://malta.academia.edu/MichaelBriguglio

You will make a difference!

2010-12-03T12:00:00.001+01:00

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Mosquitoes, rats and governance

2010-11-26T12:32:00.001+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times Friday, 26th November 2010

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101126/opinion/mosquitoes-rats-and-governance

A letter of mine regarding a mosquito infestation was published in The Times a few days ago.

Basically, I said that a building site of Montebello Brothers in Depiro Street, Sliema is full of stagnant water and mosquitoes. There were also reports of dangerous tiger mosquitoes, which have not been denied by the authorities. Residents are justly complaining about the situation in view of the precarious state of the unbuilt deep excavations at the site where the former Galaxy Hotel was situated.
Now, the situation is even worse. The site is infested by rats.

The total disregard of the interests of residents by Montebello Brothers is there for all to see. Indeed, the Depiro Street pavement has remained occupied by concrete slabs; the whole area is an unsightly mess (including the developed part).

The area is a total eyesore and an example of weak environmental governance. Part of the pavement has been occupied by concrete slabs for years to the detriment of pedestrians, something I had protested about when I was local councillor in Sliema. During my local council years, I also used to protest day in day out about the working hours of the developers, who frequently used to start working before the permitted time. In this particular instance, and many phone calls to the planning authority later, my protests did manage to stop the developers from working at such inconvenient hours.

The mosquito problem is causing a serious health hazard. Residents have shown me their mosquito bites. My two-year-old son was also affected as he was bitten in his face, arms and legs.

We have to wait and see as to how the rats will add to the misery of the neighbourhood.

I support and endorse the pressure being made by the Sliema local council both on the developers and on the authorities with regard to the precarious situation in the former Galaxy site and I can confirm that at least one councillor – Julian Galea – is working on the issue. A Nationalist MP, Edwin Vassallo, has also tabled a parliamentary question on the hazardous state of this building site and, consequently, legal action has been initiated against the developers. But I would expect the government to take immediate action to improve the state of this building site now because the situation is getting worse by the day. The government should also have prevented this health hazard from occurring in the first place. With regard to the Sliema local council, unfortunately, there is not much more it can do.
The truth is that, with all the talk of decentralisation and subsidiarity, local councils have limited powers and they function at the mercy of government ministries and authorities.

The ex-Galaxy issue is a symbol of the abuse and total lack of respect of residents’ rights by some big developers. This is, of course, not an isolated case as many building sites in various localities pose threats to the health and safety of residents and often disturb entire neighbourhoods.

All this shows the government is indeed very weak when it comes to governance over matters dealing with construction and development. There is a lot of lip-service in this regard but, in practice, developers are allowed to have their way. Look at the debris and loose stone left lying about near construction sites. Look at the cynical way in which they “cover” the works using tattered and over-used green fabric. The lack of enforcement on building regulations is hardly surprising as the Nationalist
Party benefits from the support of construction magnates. This is also true of Labour; so don’t expect any better from this party.

I assume ministers and parliamentarians are already knocking on the doors of Sliema residents in the routine vote-fishing exercise which, once again, totally disregards electoral legislation on expenditure for electoral campaigns. Unfortunately, it is shameless mediocrity that is resulting in the abysmal situation that Sliema residents are facing.

At the risk of sounding arrogant, I must say Sliema residents have the elected representatives they deserve because, after all, it is the same residents who elected them. I wonder whether residents tell ministers or MPs the same things they say to me when they stop me in the street to complain about the mess Sliema is in.

As an unelected politician, I can’t do more than lobby within the public sphere, which, for example, I am doing even through this article.

Yet, I can assure readers that, if elected, the Greens will not tolerate such abuse from developers. Our local councillor in Attard, Ralph Cassar, is a living example of constant defence of residents’ rights.

Indeed, residents have a precious tool – the vote – which can be used if change is really warranted If you don’t want the Greens in elected posts, so be it. But then don’t complain if you experience some rat salad…

www.alternattiva.org.mt
The author is chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green part

Not so independent journalism

2010-11-23T20:46:00.001+01:00

Michael Briguglio

Malta Today 23rd November 2010
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/blogs/michael-briguglio/not-so-independent-journalism

Ever since I have been active in politics, I have always had great respect for the press. I consider it to be an essential pillar of democracy, where different voices and perspectives can air their views within the public sphere. I therefore have great respect for journalists, and have always campaigned for their rights, irrespective of their views.

Indeed, I don’t believe that any newspaper or journalistic production is neutral – all have their own biases, agendas and ideological slants. Nothing wrong with this. For example, we all know that British newspapers the Guardian and the Telegraph are progressive and conservative, respectively, and both do a great job in their respective fields.

Hence whilst I simply cannot imagine journalism without any ideological slant, I would expect the press to be fair and to call a spade a spade. I would not expect bias to blind these two characteristics.

In the past weeks I directly experienced instances of journalism which was very disappointing to say the least. Let me just mention three examples of what I mean. In all three cases I hope I am suffering from unjustified paranoia. Maybe I have read too much Kafka and Orwell.

Example One: The Malta Independent’s coverage of the IVA movement on divorce. First the Independent on Sunday incorrectly states that the movement was set up on the initiative of Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Evarist Bartolo, and attributes this to a quote from a committee member of the same movement. The truth is that different people concurrently formed the movement after the Prime Minister announced his position on a referendum. This also includes Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party, which immediately said that it will campaign for a ‘yes’ vote.

For argument’s sake, let us say that The Independent’s mistake was genuine. Then check out the report in the newspaper on 16th November which covered the official launch of the movement. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The photoshoot on the front page of the newspaper included 3 members of the group but not the others, including myself, even though I was sitting down practically at the centre of the table. A coincidence? Maybe the ‘Independent’ is not so ‘independent’ after all. What’s in a name anyway!

Example Two: L-Orizzont, another self-proclaimed independent newspaper, has suddenly decided to discontinue my fortnightly column in the newspaper. The editor told me that for the time being my fortnightly column will be suspended and that he’ll contact in the future to start writing again. Maybe the newspaper is considering a new editorial policy, reducing its columnists? Once I see which other columnists have been removed, the picture will be clearer. Maybe after all, the same treatment is being given to Labourite columnists. Or maybe not. Perhaps his master’s voice does not like it when I criticise Labour.

Or perhaps I am expecting too much. Space in l-Orizzont may be precious, and possibly the editor decided that it would be better to allocate more space for views which are in synch with what the newspaper represents.

Example Three: Since the beginning of the current TVM schedule, my good friends Peppi Azzopardi and Lou Bondi (I’m serious, they are my friends) have for some reason or another declined to invite AD on any of their programmes dealing with political issues. I thought they were all for equal opportunities. Maybe ‘Where’s Everybody’ has a new definition of what ‘everybody’ means when they invite guests for programmes on politics. I hope and trust that they will prove me wrong. Peppi, Lou – when you ask ‘Where’s Everybody?’ my answer is, the Green Party is here! Will you exclude us?

What about other not so independent sections of the press – Well, In-Nazzjon, il-Mument and KullHadd are unashamedly partisan. I have no problem with this. They have every right to be so in a democracy. What you see is what you get.

Others do invite AD to their programmes (perhaps too many too mention, but you know who you are!), and we actually have regular columns in some newspapers, namely The Times, MaltaToday, Illum, Zminijietna and Il-Gens Illum. Hats off to you!

L-importanza tal-AirMalta

2010-11-20T06:28:00.001+01:00

Michael Briguglio

http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=2839
Il-Gens Illum 20 ta’ Novemberu 2010

Naħseb li kulħadd jaqbel li l-AirMalta għandha importanza kbira għal pajjiżna. L-AirMalta hija pilastru għas-settur tat-turiżmu f’Malta, u hija wkoll neċessarja għall-ħtiġijiet strateġiċi ta’ pajjiżna, minn provvista stabbli ta’ turisti sa ġarr ta’ pazjenti f’kundizzjonijiet kritiċi.

Għall-kuntrarju ta’ linji tal-ajru oħrajn li jiġu u jmorru, l-AirMalta dejjem qdiet il-ħtiġijiet tagħha għall-benefiċċju ta’ Malta u taċ-ċittadini Maltin sabiex isiefru barra mill-pajjiż.

Iżda l-AirMalta qed topera f’kuntest, u iktar ma dan jingħaraf malajr, iktar ikun hemm ċans li l-kumpanija tkampa fid-dawl tad-diffikultajiet kbar li għaddejja minnhom. It-telf f’sena ta’ €50 miljun mhuwiex ċajta. Jeħtieġ li jsir proċess serju ta’ ristrutturar, liema proċess għandu jkollu bilanċ bejn is-sostenibilità finanzjarja, id-drittijiet tal-ħaddiema u l-importanza strateġika tal-kumpanija.

X’wassal għas-sitwazzjoni preżenti tal-AirMalta? Naħseb li hemm iktar minn fattur wieħed.

Ibda biex, il-kumpanija ġiet użata minn gvernijiet suċċessivi, inkluż il-Gvern Nazzjonalista mill-1987, bħala għodda elettorali, u fost oħrajn ġew impjegati nies għal raġunijiet li ma kellhomx x'jaqsmu ma’ vijabilità ekonomika.

Fl-istess ħin, il-maniġment tal-kumpanija naqas milli jagħmel il-kumpanija vijabbli, anki wara li l-ħaddiema tal-AirMalta ffirmaw memorandum fl-2004 li inkluda friża fil-paga, u f’xi każijiet anki tnaqqis, sabiex jgħinu s-sitwazzjoni.

Matul is-snin, saru wkoll numru ta’ żbalji strateġiċi, bl-appoġġ tal-Gvern, li swew ħafna flus. Eżempji ta’ dawn huma x-xiri ta’ ajruplani mhux bżonnjużi u x-xiri ta’ assi u ftuħ ta’ kumpaniji sussidjarji bħal lukandi, li ġabu telf, u li sussegwentement l-AirMalta ħelset minnhom. Il-Gvern u l-maniġment se jieħdu responsabilità ta’ dan kollu?

Hemm ukoll raġunijiet oħrajn, fosthom il-prezz għoli tal-fjuwil u l-kompetizzjoni ħarxa fis-suq ta’ l-avjazzjoni. Iżda dawn il-fatturi qed jeffettwaw linji tal-ajru oħrajn, u ma tantx hemm x’isir f’dan ir-rigward.

Hemm min jgħid li l-linji ta’ l-ajru ‘low cost’ huma l-ikbar kaġun tal-problemi li qed tiffaċċja l-AirMalta. Huwa veru li kumpaniji ‘low cost’ huma karatterizzati minn sfruttar kbir tal-ħaddiema, iżda huwa veru wkoll li dawn il-kumpaniji qed jaħdmu f’rotot li permezz tagħhom qed jiġu iktar turisti lejn Malta, apparti mill-fatt li qed jintużaw minn ħafna Maltin. L-AirMalta stess qed tgawdi mis-sistema maħluqa ta’ rotot ġodda sussidjati mill-Gvern, fejn il-kumpanija qed topera lejn Reggio fl-Italja.

Huwa pass pożittiv li l-Gvern mhux qed jaħdem għal rasu fil-kwistjoni tal-AirMalta. L-involviment tal-unjins huwa essenzjali sabiex jiġu salvagwardjati d-drittijiet tal-ħaddiema. Alternattiva Demokratika diġà ddikjarat li tapppoġġja lill-Gvern f’taħditiet mal-Unjoni Ewropea biex jiddefendi l-importanza strateġika tal-AirMalta.
F’dan ir-rigward, ikun għaqli jekk il-Gvern jenfasizza li l-AirMalta għandha importanza strateġika għall-pajjiż għaliex Malta, bħala gżira periferali u insulari, tiddependi fuq il-komunikazzjoni bl-ajru ferm aktar minn bosta pajjiżi oħra fl-UE. Għalhekk, dipendenza totali fuq kumpaniji barranin hija riskjuża kemm ekonomikament kif ukoll soċjalment, speċjalment meta dawn jistgħu jiddeċiedu li ma jibqgħux joperaw f’Malta. Nemmen li dan hu l-iktar argument b’saħħtu li jista’ juża l-Gvern fin-negozjati.

Barra minn hekk, il-Gvern għandu juri wkoll li kull self ta’ flus lill-AirMalta se jiġi akkumpanjat minn ristrutturar serju li jwassal għall-vijabilità tal-kumpanija.
Il-Gvern jista’ jargumenta wkoll li hekk bħal kif gżejjer żgħar li jappartjenu għal pajjiż ikbar (bħal Lampedusa u l-Italja rispettivament) igawdu mill-prinċipju Ewropew ta’ ‘kontinwità territorjali’, dan għandu jiġi applikat għal Malta wkoll, minkejja li Malta hi pajjiż minnha nnifisha.

Bażikament, permezz ta’ dan id-dritt, ir-residenti ta’ dawn it-tip ta’ gżejjer jistgħu jibbenefikaw minn prezz privileġġjat u għalhekk ajruplani li jsiefru minn dawn ir-rotot għal pajjiżi ikbar jibbenefikaw minn sussidji għal dawn ir-rotot.
Iżda hawnhekk irridu nkunu ċari: aktarx ikunu jistgħu japplikaw iktar minn linja waħda tal-ajru għal dawn is-sussidji.

Jekk l-AirMalta għandha wisq ħaddiema biex tkun tista’ ssir vijabbli, għandu jkun hemm sforz ġenwin biex ħaddiema żejda ma jispiċċawx bla xogħol. Jekk il-kumpanija tittermina l-impieg ta’ xi ħaddiema, dawn għandhom jiġu assorbiti f’xogħol produttiv u meħtieġ fis-settur pubbliku jew jinstabilhom impjieġ alternattiv fis-settur privat. Jekk dan mhuwiex possibbli, għandu jkun hemm skemi ta’ rtirar kmieni, iżda dan għandu jitqies bħala l-aħħar pass. Ikun aħjar li ħaddiem ikun f’xogħol produttiv milli jiġi kkunsidrat ‘żejjed’ u jitħallas talli ma jaħdimx!

Irridu nżommu f’moħħna li jekk l-AirMalta ma ssirx vijabbli, mhux se tkun tista’ tkampa fil-kuntest ta’ swieq liberalizzati tal-avjazzjoni. Għalhekk jeħtieġ li l-AirMalta jkollha viżjoni għat-tul, u mhux ristrutturazzjoni li titfa’ l-problemi taħt it-tapit.

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika
www.alternattiva.org.mt

Mosquito infestation at building site in Sliema

2010-11-17T11:19:00.000+01:00

Michael Briguglio, chairperson, Alternattiva Demokratika, – the Green party, Sliema

The Times Wednesday, 17th November 2010
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101117/letters/mosquito-infestation-at-building-site

A building site of Montebello Brothers in Depiro Street, Sliema is full of stagnant water and mosquitoes.

Residents are justly complaining about the situation in view of the precarious state of the unbuilt quarry in the former Galaxy. Not only is the area an eyesore and not only has part of the pavement been occupied by concrete slabs for years to the detriment of pedestrians but now the area is infested with mosquitoes due to stagnant water. Neighbouring residences are being infested with mosquitoes and there are reports of dangerous tiger mosquitoes. I have also heard reports of similar issues in Sliema and other localities concerning both building sites and hotels with unused pools.

As a former Green councillor in Sliema I endorse the pressure being made by the Sliema local council both on the developers and on the authorities about the precarious situation in the former Galaxy site. Urgent action is required to safeguard the health of residents.

Budgeting within a context

2010-11-12T11:13:00.003+01:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, Friday 12 November 2010

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101112/opinion/budgeting-within-a-context

The government’s 2011 Budget has to be seen in proper context. We simply cannot keep using inward-looking “zombie” analysis as if Malta is isolated from the rest of the world.

Malta is a very open economy and highly exposed to developments in the European Union and of the global economy. Economic turmoil and uncertainty are not mere buzzwords put forward by economists of doom.

Looking at other member states, one notes that various austerity measures were taken in countries with both centre-left and centre-right governments. Some of these measures led to the sacking of public service workers, heavy cuts in welfare expenditure and cuts in public sector wages. In other parts of the world, governments ranging from state socialist to fundamentalist theocratic, from liberal democratic to nationalist populist are acting in quite a similar fashion. Hence, whether it is England or Cuba, Iran or Spain, Greece or Zimbabwe, France or Iceland, the plain truth is that austerity measures are the name of the game.

Compared to many other countries, I cannot really say Malta is in a tragic state. The United Nation’s Development Programme’s Human Development Index seems to confirm this, as Malta has climbed five places and is now in the 33rd best place to live in out of 169 countries.

Of course, this does not mean all is well in the southernmost member state of the EU. Indeed, there has been quite a lot of criticism on Malta’s Budget for 2011. Criticism ranges from the constructive to the destructive. Some populist remarks on the Budget may sell on TV programmes but lack substance.

My verdict of the Budget is that it has a mix of measures, some of which are positive, while others are rather vague. The Budget also misses out on certain social and environmental matters.

It is positive that, in a context of global economic difficulties, the government is aiming to reduce the deficit. Hopefully, the government’s expenditure programme will be more sustainable and will not suddenly change direction once the general election approaches.

It is also positive that the government shall pay workers who undergo training programmes on minimum wage and that it will make life easier for people on social assistance who choose to work. On the other hand, this should not have excluded the badly required increase in the national and hourly minimum wage. Such an increase, proposed by the Green party, unions, progressive NGOs and some experts, would have helped improve the quality of life of such workers and give them more spending power.

One also augurs that enforcement of legislation which prevents employers exploiting foreign workers is effective.

With regard to the cost of living and social benefits, the increase in supplementary and expenditure for vulnerable groups such as fostered children is a positive step. However, one would have expected more expenditure on disabled persons and the inclusion of vulnerable groups such as those with myalgic encephalomyelitis and fibromyalgia for entitlement of disability benefits.

The government’s investment in the cancer centre at Mater Dei Hospital is also welcome. However, cancer should also be confronted through better environmental policies, which at present are lacking or badly enforced. The government should also do much more to tackle costly medicinal prices, including considering importing them itself alongside importers from the private sector. Both the government and the Green party had proposed this move last year.

As regards education, one can only agree with the increased expenditure outlay. However, one would have expected the government steps up its investment in public education and childcare centres rather than in increasing already existing incentives to private schools. I cannot see why the taxpayer should subsidise the latter when it is the choice of parents to pay for the children’s education.

As for environmental policy, Malta is surely a laggard compared to other similarly developed countries. The government should take sustainable development more seriously by, for example, reactivating the National Commission for Sustainable Development and implementing the various measures proposed by the Sustainable Development Strategy. One area that surely needs attention relates to the promotion of renewable energy. In this regard, Malta does not have a good record.

A very big gap in this year’s Budget is that relating to water policy. The time has come to protect groundwater and to take serious and effective measures in this regard. As a first immediate step, all non-registered boreholes should be banned. Allowing water theft through 8,000 boreholes is surely unsustainable and scandalous. Measures should also be taken to have more water catchment structures.

As a revenue-generating and environmental measure, property speculation could have been taxed from third vacant property onwards, particularly when Malta is a perpetual building site and when a quarter of properties are vacant. This would also encourage the renting and selling of properties, which are kept vacant for speculation purposes and the use of existing buildings rather than building more areas.

Other positive measures – which were also proposed by AD – include the investment in farmers’ markets and in animal welfare. It is positive the government shall introduce incentives encouraging cleaner transport.

All in all, my verdict of the Budget is that it should be given six marks out of 10. This mark is conditional on the assumption that the positive Budget measures will actually be put into place and not simply fade away once the Budget show ends.

www.alternattiva.org.mt
The author is chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.

Riflessjonijiet dwar il-Bagit

2010-11-06T19:00:00.002+01:00

Michael Briguglio

Il-Gens Illum 6 ta'Novembru 2010

http://www.il-gensillum.com/news.asp?newscat=10&news=2443

Il-Baġit tal-Gvern għas-sena 2011 għandu taħlita ta’ miżuri, li wħud minnhom huma pożittivi, filwaqt li oħrajn huma pjuttost vagi. Il-Baġit ukoll ma ħax azzjoni konkreta fuq ċerti materji soċjali u ambjentali.

Qabel xejn, kollox għandu jitpoġġa f’kuntest. Ma nistgħux naħarbu mill-fatt li d-dinja kollha għaddejja minn problemi ekonomiċi. Għalhekk, huwa fatt pożittiv li f’dan il-kuntest, il-Gvern qed jimmira li jnaqqas id-defiċit. Naħseb li kull kritika kontra l-Baġit li tinjora dan il-fatt bażiku, hija kritika b’nuqqasijiet kbar. Dan speċjalment meta wieħed jara l-miżuri ta’ awsterità iebsa li qed jieħdu gvernijiet madwar id-dinja kollha, hu x’inhu l-orjentament politiku tal-Gvern.

Nittama biss li sena qabel l-elezzjoni l-Gvern Malti ma jiddeċidix li jbiddel ir-rota, u b’hekk jitfa’ l-piż fuq min irid iħallas għad-dejn li jiġi ġġenerat.

Għalhekk, huwa tajjeb li l-Gvern irażżan l-infiq tiegħu. Dan m’għandux ifisser li l-Gvern jabdika mir-responsabilitajiet tiegħu, iżda li jagħmel prijoritajiet xierqa.
Il-miżuri li permezz tagħhom il-Gvern iħallas ħaddiema bil-paga minima li jagħmlu programmi ta’ taħriġ, u li l-Gvern jagħmilha eħfef għall-persuni fuq assistenza soċjali li jagħżlu li jaħdmu, huma pożittivi, dment li dawn in-nies ma jiffaċċjawx xkiel ieħor biex itejbu s-sitwazzjoni tagħhom.

Min-naħa l-oħra, kont nistenna li jkun hemm żieda fil-paga minima nazzjonali u bis-siegħa, inkluż dak għall-partajmers u ħaddiema kuntrattwali fuq bażi pro-rata. Din ilha ma togħla s-snin, u jekk tigi implimentata, ikun hemm iktar flus fl-idejn.
Huwa fatt pożittiv ukoll li l-Gvern ħabbar li se jieħu miżuri kontra min iħaddem li jisfruttaw ħaddiema barranin. Ikun għaqli li l-Gvern jaħdem id f’id mal-unjins u ma’ għaqdiet non-governattivi f’dan ir-rigward, minħabba l-esperjenza li għandhom f’dan il-qasam.

Fir-rigward tal-għoli tal-ħajja u l-benefiċċji soċjali ż-żieda fl-assistenza supplimentari u fin-nefqa għal gruppi vulnerabbli bħal tfal fostered huma pożittivi. Iżda seta’ kien hemm nefqa ikbar għal nies b’diżabilità – per eżempju fin-nefqa kapitali u fl-assistenza li jingħataw. Il-Gvern seta’ wkoll jinkludi gruppi bħal dawk li jbatu bl-ME u l-FM ma’ dawk intitolati għall-benefiċċji ta’ nies b’diżabilità.

Fir-rigward tas-saħħa, huwa wkoll pożittiv li l-Gvern qed jinvesti fiċ-Ċentru tal-Kanċer fl-Isptar Mater Dei. F'dan ir-rigward, huwa importanti li wieħed jinnota li l-kanċer għandu wkoll ikun ikkonfrontat permezz ta’ politika ambjentali aħjar, li bħalissa hija nieqsa. Il-Gvern għandu wkoll jagħmel ħafna aktar biex jiġu indirizzati prezzijiet mediċinali għaljin, inkluż li jiġi kkunsidrat l-importazzjoni tagħhom flimkien ma’ importaturi mis-settur privat.

Wieħed ma jistax ma jaqbilx ma’ zieda fl-allokazzjoni għall-edukazzjoni, iżda nemmen li kien ikun aħjar kieku l-Gvern gaħmel investiment akbar fl-edukazzjoni pubblika u childcare centres minflok fl-edukazzjoni privata.

Miżuri oħrajn pożittivi jinkludu l-investiment fis-swieq tal-bdiewa u fiċ-ċentru għall-ħarsien tal-annimali. Huwa wkoll pożittiv li l-Gvern jagħmel inċentivi li jħeġġu trasport aktar nadif. Iżda dwar dan, s’issa d-dettalji huma vagi wisq biex nikkummenta f'aktar dettall.

Min-naħa l-oħra, il-Gvern għandu jagħmel ħafna aktar għall-iżvilupp sostenibbli, per eżempju li jerġa’ jattiva l-Kummissjoni Nazzjonali għall-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli. In-nefqa tal-Gvern dwar l-enerġija rinnovabbli hija sempliċiment mhux biżżejjed, speċjalment meta wieħed iżomm f'moħħu l-fjuwil maħmug li se jintuża fl-estensjoni tal-power station. Il-Gvern għandu jelabora wkoll dwar l-iskemi ta 'assistenza għall-enerġija sostenibbli’.

Nuqqas kbir ieħor fil-Bagit hi dik relatata mal-politika fqira tal-Gvern dwar l-ilma. Hemm urġenza kbira li nipproteġu l-ilma. Irridu nifhmu li m’hemmx ammont infinit ta’ ilma għall-użu tagħna. Għandha tittieħed azzjoni ċara biex ma jibqax jiġi inkoraggit l-użu b’xejn tal-ilma tal-pjan, fejn f’pajjiżna hemm madwar 8,000 borehole privata, li jieħdu l-ilma mill-pjan għal użu varju fosthom produzzjoni ta’ soft drinks, trobbija tal-annimali, manifattura, manifattura tal-konkrit, pixxini, agrikultura, u ġonna.

Wasal iż-żmien li l-ilma tal-pjan jiġi protett u li jkun hemm miżuri sostenibbli, per eżempju dwar ilma riċiklat. Il-boreholes mhux reġistrati għandhom jitwaqqfu minnufih, u l-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma għandu jkollha l-prijorità fl-użu ta’ l-ilma tal-pjan.

Ovvjament, il-bagit m’huwiex biss dwar infiq, u jkun tajjeb li min jikkritika l-bagit jagħmel proposti dwar kif il-Gvern jista’ jiġġenera d-dħul.
F’dan ir-rigward, miżura li seta’ faċilment jieħu l-Gvern hi dik li jintroduċi miżuri fiskali fuq l-ispekulazzjoni tal-propjetà, mit-tielet proprjetà vojta ’l fuq, partikolarment meta Malta u Għawdex huma sit tal-bini perpetwu u meta kwart tal-proprjetajiet huma vojta. Din il-proposta tinkoraġġixxi wkoll il-kiri u l-bejgħ ta’ proprjetajiet li huma miżmumin vakanti għal għanijiet ta' spekulazzjoni u użu ta’ bini eżistenti milli l-bini ta’ aktar postijiet.

Il-Gvern seta’ wkoll jintroduċi taxxa fuq tranżazzjonijiet fiskali u fuq profitti straordinarji tal-banek u istituzzjonijet finanzjari sabiex tonqos l-ispekulazzjoni finanzjarja.

Nittama li l-miżuri pożittivi li hemm fil-bagit jiġu implimentati matul is-sena, għax kemm-il darba jkun hemm miżuri li jibqgħu biss parti mid-diskors tal-Ministru. Għaldaqstant ikun tajjeb li matul is-sena l-Gvern jinforma lill-poplu dwar x’qed jiġri mill-miżuri tal-baġit.

Biex nikkonkludi, nistqarr li bħala Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, kburi li flimkien mal-kelliema tal-partit, nedejna 32 proposta lill-Gvern għall-bagit 2011. Bħala Partit nemmnu li xogħolna mhux li noqogħdu nikkritikaw ta’ xejn b’xejn iżda li nipproponu politika responsabbli u sostenibbli. Huwa għalhekk li ma nistgħux inqisu l-Bagit la bħala sħaba sewda u lanqas bħala s-soluzzjoni għall-opportunitajiet u l-problemi kollha tal-pajjiż.

Il-proposti ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika jistgħu jinqraw f’
http://www.alternattiva.org.mt/filebank/documents/Budget_2011_-_AD_proposals.pdf

Michael Briguglio huwa ċ-Ċerpersin ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika.

L-urġenza li nipproteġu l-ilma

2010-11-04T12:09:00.001+01:00

minn Michael Briguglio, Cerpersin tal-Alternattiva Demokratika
l-orizzont 3 ta’ Novembru 2010

(Nota: fl-artiklu kif gie stampat fl-orizzont hemm zball, ghax minflok ma hemm miktub li “Skont Cremona, fi 15-il sena l-ilma tal-pjan tant se jkun mielaħ li ma jkun tajjeb għal xejn”, hemm miktub 215-il sena)

GĦaddiet maltempata oħra u fil-mid¬ja reġa’ qam dibattitu dwar jekk u kif għandu jkun hemm miżuri ta’ kif nikkonservaw l-ilma kollu li jkun hemm jiġri mal-pajjiż. Iżda kemm verament qegħdin jittieħdu miżuri f’dan ir-rigward? Aħna konxji li Malta hu wieħed mill-iktar pajjiżi nieqsa mill-ilma fid-dinja? Jew mingħalina li l-provvista tal-ilma qisha xi bir bla qiegħ?

Skont l-espert Marco Cremona, Malta se tiffaċċja kriżi kbira fl-ilma, fejn l-ilma tal-pjan qed jitmellaħ u ma jkunx tajjeb għat-tis¬qija u wisq anqas għax-xorb aktar ma jgħaddi ż-żmien. Dan minħabba l-użu eċċessiv ta’ boreholes. Skont Cremona, fi 15-il sena l-ilma tal-pjan tant se jkun mielaħ li ma jkun tajjeb għal xejn. Dan il-proċess diġà qegħdin narawh, u fil-fatt il- WSC minn sena għall-oħra qiegħ¬da jkollha tnaqqas il-produzzjoni mill-boreholes tagħ¬¬¬ha minħabba deterjorazzjoni fil-kwalità.
B’hekk pajjiżna qiegħed jimxi lejn sitwazzjoni fejn inkunu totalment dipendenti mill-ilma tar-reverse osmosis, li jiġi mill-baħar, iżda li jirrikjedi ħafna ener¬ġija biex jiġi mibdul f’ilma tajjeb għall-użu għan-nies. Fi ftit kliem, jekk jiġri bħal ma qed jipprevedi Cremona, u din il-kwistjoni ma tingħatax prijorità mill-Gvern, nistgħu nistennew kriżi fil-provvista tal-ilma, u b’hekk kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma li jibqgħu jogħlew.

Tajjeb ngħidu li f’pajjiżna hemm madwar 8,000 bore¬hole privata, li jieħdu l-ilma mill-pjan għal użu varju fost¬hom produzzjoni ta’ soft drinks, trobbija tal-annimali, manifattura, manifattura tal-konkrit, pixxini, agrikoltura, u ġonna – mingħajr ħlas ta’ xejn. Probabbli pajjiżna għandu l-ikbar rata ta’ boreholes fid-dinja, meta tqis id-daqs tal-pajjiż.

Iż-żieda fil-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma fl-aħħar snin inkoraġġiet lill-iktar nies biex jagħmlu użu mill-boreholes, speċjalment meta din il-prattika s’issa qiegħda ssir b’mod liberu. L-ammont ta’ ilma li jittella’ mill-boreholes privati hu aktar mill-ammont ta’ ilma li tipproduċi l-WSC mill-impjanti tar-Reverse Osmosis. Fi ftit kliem, filwaqt li l-maġġoranza tal-poplu jħallsu l-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma, uħud jisirqu l-ilma li jiġi mill-bore¬holes.

Wasal iż-żmien li l-ilma tal-pjan jiġi protett u li jkun hemm miżuri sostenibbli, per eżempju dwar ilma riċiklat. Il-boreholes mhux irreġistrati għandhom jitwaqqfu minnufih, u l-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma għandha jkollha l-prijorità fl-użu tal-ilma tal-pjan. B’hekk il-Korporazzjoni tkun f’pożizzjoni aħjar li tippjana użu sostenibb¬li ta’ dan ir-riżors strateġiku u anke tkompli twassal ilma liċ-ċittadini kollha bi prezz raġonat. Dan jagħmel sens ekonomiku, soċjali u ambjentali. Huwa pożittiv li l-Gvern se jdaħħal sistema fejn il-bore¬holes ikollhom arloġġ biex wieħed ikejjel il-konsum tal-ilma, iżda żgur li l-Gvern beda tard u mhux miexi bl-urġenza li titlob din il-kwistjoni. U hemm bosta miżuri oħrajn li għandhom jittieħdu mill-iktar fis.

Il-bdiewa għandhom jitħallew jużaw l-ilma tal-pjan, iżda għandu jkun hemm sistema razzjonali u ppjanata li tinkoraġġixxi użu sostenibbli. Għal¬hekk għandu jkun hemm jew kwota mingħajr ħlas jew ħlasijiet minimi għall-użu ta’ dan l-ilma, skont id-daqs tal-għelieqi li jaħdmu fuqhom l-istess bdiewa. Iżda fuq medda itwal ta’ żmien, l-agrikoltura għand¬ha tuża ilma riċiklat ta’ kwalità tajba, permezz ta’ sussidju – u tnaqqas id-dependenza fuq il-boreholes.

L-industrija m’għandhiex titħalla tuża ilma tal-pjan, u għandha tħallas rati kummer¬ċjali għall-użu ta’ ilma tal-mains. Tajjeb li nsemmu li kumpanija prinċipali tas-soft drinks, li dan l-aħħar ironikament ingħatat premju ambjentali qiegħda tuża ilma tal-pjan għall-prodotti tagħha. Jekk kumpanija ma tistax tħallas il-prezz kummerċjali tal-ilma, dan hu sinjal li l-istess kumpanija qiegħda tagħ¬mel użu minn prattiċi insos¬tenibbli.

Irridu nifhmu li m’hemmx ammont infinit ta’ ilma għall-użu tagħna. Li qiegħed jittella’ mill-boreholes privati qiegħed jittieħed mill-produzzjoni tal-WSC u minn ħalq uliedna.

Għandha tittieħed azzjoni ċara biex ma jibqax jiġi inkoraġġit l-użu b’xejn tal-ilma tal-pjan.

Tajjeb ngħidu wkoll li Malta diġà qiegħda f’sitwazzjoni prekarja f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-provvista tal-ilma. Ġaladarba kważi 60% tal-ilma tax-xorb tagħna ġej mir-rev¬erse osmosis, dan ifisser li jekk per eżempju jkun hemm xi inċident ta’ xi tanker taż-żejt ħdejn Malta, jkollna diżastru sħiħ! Malta għandha faċilitajiet ta’ ħażna tal-ilma ta’ 48 siegħa biss! U biex inkomplu ngħaxxquha, l-BP se jħaffru għaż-żejt viċin il-Libja. Iva l-BP, l-istess kumpanija li għamlet diżastru sħiħ fil-Golf tal-Messiku permezz tat-tħaffir taż-żejt. Hija ħasra li ż-żewġ partiti l-kbar huma siekta dwar din il-kwistjoni.

Huma bosta li tkellmu dwar l-urġenza li nippproteġu l-ilma. Apparti esperti bħal Marco Cremona, kien hemm ukoll il-Kummissjoni Nazzjonali għall-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli – liema kummisjoni tidher li ġiet żarmata mill-Gvern – kif ukoll l-Alternattiva Demokratika. Ta’ min isemmi li Carmel Cacopardo, f’isem AD, kemm-il darba qajjem il-kwistjoni tal-ilma f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam ma’ direttivi Ewropej f’laqgħat tal-MEUSAC, fejn jiġu diskussi affarijiet relatati mal-UE.

Nappella biex organizzazz¬jonijiet u individwi jifformaw xi forma ta’ alleanza biex nassiguraw li din il-kwistjoni tingħata l-attenzjoni li jixirqilha.

www.alternattiva.org.mt

Letter sent to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malta to speak up against stoning of Sakineh in Iran

2010-11-03T11:30:00.002+01:00

Please write to the Foreign Minister of your country re. below!! Click here to obtain email addresses and sample letter.

Also please sign the Avaaz global solidarity petition. Click here.

-----

Hon Dr Tonio Borg
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malta

Cc. Prime Minister of Malta, Dr Laurence Gonzi;
Leader of the Oppostion, Dr Joseph Muscat;
Opposition Spokesperson of Foreign Affairs, Dr George Vella;
Media, Malta.

Dear Hon Dr Borg,

I strongly urge the Maltese government to exert the utmost diplomatic pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran to:

a) prevent the execution of Sakineh Ashtiani
b) secure the immediate and unconditional freedom of Sakineh Ashtiani, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and Houtan Kian.
Sincerely,

Michael Briguglio
Chairperson, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party

You can read more on this atrocity here:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/24h_to_save_sakineh/97.php?cl_tta_sign=50f1e45e9701be37aaa62c25a16ebf23

The Islamic regime of Iran plans to execute Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani immediately
http://stopstonningnow.com/wpress/4194

Sakineh hanging imminent
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/fears-that-alleged-adulterers-execution-by-hanging-is-imminent/story-e6frg6so-1225946610965

Iranian woman could be stoned Wednesday
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hipKgm5UqJOxciOi1f07BwbfRgFg?docId=CNG.6ef6de7af5f33847d19e690e61087c73.811

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani: A life in the Balance (Amnesty International)
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/089/2010/en/589bd56b-49ac-4028-8dc6-abd903ac9bac/mde130892010en.pdf

24 Hours to Save Sakineh

2010-11-02T22:32:00.001+01:00

Iranian authorities could kill Sakineh Ashtiani tomorrow.

This July, a global outcry saved her from death by stoning. Now, the Iranian government has issued execution orders based on trumped-up charges -- and she could be killed within a day. We have 24 hours to get world leaders with influence in Iran to do all they can to save her life.

Fill in the form (click here) to send an emergency message directly to the leaders of Turkey, Brazil, and key UN nations who could sway Iran to halt the execution. These leaders heeded our calls in July and August, and their intervention made the difference. Now they must hear from us again, massively, and respond quickly. If enough of us raise our voices now, an outrage and a tragedy may yet be averted.

Urge leaders to help Sakineh now!