Thursday, June 20, 2013

PN goes LGBT?

The Nationalist Party's parliamentary proposal to include a clause in the Constitution to protect people against discrimination based on sexual orientation is most welcome. So is its apology towards to Joanne Cassar and transgendered persons. Symbolically, the latter is a far cry from its confessionalism of the previous years.

It would be even better if this Saturday, at the Pride March, leaders of all 3 political parties pronounce themselves clearly and unequivically against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in all aspects of social policy. Basically, this would represent clear policy consistency for Arnold Cassola, it would represent a great leap forward for Simon Busuttil and it would represent the logical path for Joseph Muscat.

In my reading, an anti-discrimination position should mean that discrimination in all walks of life, including not only employment and education, but also other areas such as marriage and adoption, would be done away with.

This would also mean that political parties distance themselves from the patronizing evolutionist approach of the ‘Today Public Policy Institute’, which recently said that Malta ‘is not ready’ for same-sex marriage, as if Maltese people are some inferior ‘species’. Luckily, such a statement only strengthened the resolve of the LGBT activists.

As I had the opportunity to say previously, recognition of same-sex marriages can lead to the strengthening and democratization of the concept of the family, through a process of social inclusion and recognition of different family forms. It is indeed ironic that in a day and age of increased separations and divorce, couples who wish to marry are denied this right solely because of their sexual orientation.

It is becoming clearer than ever that social policy does not simply fall from above (like some present from some ‘super-saint Minister’), but is also subject to various factors, including the influence of activism and movements. In itself, this gives hope to those activists, green, blue, red, individuals, progressive organisations and extra-parliamentary forces, to articulate more progressive demands in the future.


Note: This blog also appeared in Malta Today
http://maltatoday.com.mt/en/blogsdetails/blogs/PN-goes-LGBT-20130621

Monday, June 17, 2013

100 jum tal-Gvern Laburista

Michael Briguglio


Hemm hafna x’wiehed jista’ jghid dwar l-ewwel mitt jum ta’ Gvern Laburista.

Kien hemm decizzjonijiet pozittivi, bhal hidma favur minoranzi u persuni zvantaggjati u favur edukazzjoni mhalta, u, bhall-kontinwita’ f’affarijiet pozittivi li kienu jezistu.

Hemm affarijiet ohrajn li ghad irridu naraw x’ser isarfu fil-konkret, bhal kliem kontra x-xoghol prekarju u l-process lejn energija iktar nadifa. B’mod negattiv, jidher li l-Gvern huwa lest jaghti rwol sproporzjonat lil zviluppaturi kbar. Din iggib maghha mistoqsijiet dwar sostenbitilita’ ambjentali.

Izda hemm zewg kwistjonijiet li f’dawn l-ewwel mitt gurnata, qed jispikkaw iktar minn ohrajn.

L-ewwel: Il-hatriet. Nifhem li Gvern ghandu jahtar persuni f’rwoli krucjali li jkollhom twemmin li jkun vicin dak tal-Partit fil-Gvern, jew li jistghu jahdmu fi spirtu pluralista minghajr ma’ jaghmlu sabutaggji. Persuna f’pozizzjoni pubblika qatt m’hu ideologikament newtrali. Nifhem ukoll li kien hemm numru ta’ postijiet li ntlew minn persuni professjonali, kompetenti u kapaci. Izda f’hatriet ohrajn li saru ma’ narax meritokrazija jew kompetenza.

It-tieni: Il-politika fiskali. Bhal ma argumentajt qabel l-elezzjoni generali, l-ahhar bagit tal-Gvern Nazzjonalista kien wiehed irresponsabbli li wieghed tnaqqis ta’ taxxa ghal dawk li ghandhom dhul gholi, b’detriminet ghall-fondi pubblici, liema fondi huma essenzjali ghas-servizzi pubblici bhas-sahha, l-edukazzjoni u l-penzjonijiet. Il-Gvern Laburista gdid zamm dan it-tnaqqis rigressiv. Issa kif ser jaghmel tajjeb ghaz-zieda kbira fid-deficit? Pajjizna ser jiehu triq neo-liberali lejn l-awsterita’ ghad-detriment tal-gustizzja socjali? Nittama li le. Il-Gvern Laburista ghadu fiz-zmien li jbiddel ir-rotta favur politika fiskali progressiva li tredni dhul pubbliku minghajr ma xxekkel l-investiment. Dan jista’ jiggarantixxi servizzi pubblici sostenibbli u socjalment gusti. Nappella lill-Gvern biex jiehu din it-triq qabel ma jkun tard wisq.

F’kontradizzjonijiet bhal dawn, jidher li l-islogan “Malta Taghna Lkoll” huwa problematiku, u li politika minghajr avversarji hija fantazija. Gvern dejjem jiehu naha, irid jew ma jridx.


(Nota: Din l-opinjoni dehret fuq il-gazzetti It-Torca u Illum, li, flimkien mas-Sunday Times talbuni nikkummenta fuq l-ewwel 100 jum tal-Gvern Laburista)



Friday, June 14, 2013

Bridge to Gozo?

The idea of a bridge connecting Malta and Gozo will hopefully serve as a rallying point to protect Malta's environment from corporate greed.