Les grandes organisations non gouvernementales environnementales ont claqué la porte de la Conférence internationale sur le climat à Varsovie, jeudi 21 novembre. Un coup d’éclat sans précédent pour dénoncer des pourparlers, censés poser les fondations du grand accord de 2015 mais qui ne “débouchent sur rien”. Les grands pays émergents ne cessent d’insister sur le…
Category: Environment
Neanderthals in Malta?
Although it was a crucial part of humans’ survival 100,000 years ago, hunting is now nothing more than a violent form of recreation that the vast majority of hunters do not need for subsistence. Hunting has contributed to the extinction of animal species all over the world. Hunting disrupts migration and hibernation patterns. It is…
En Bretagne, le pari de l’économie circulaire
Le concept, basé sur la réutilisation des déchets et de l’énergie, est au coeur de la conférence environnementale qui a débuté vendredi Une des cinq tables rondes de la conférence environnementale, qui a débuté vendredi 20 septembre à Paris, est consacrée à l’économie circulaire. Un terme de plus en plus à la mode chez les…
Referenda Act : Declaration for the holding of a Referendum
We the undersigned persons being registered as voters for the election of members of the House of Representatives demand that the question whether the following provision of law, that is to say Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a Spring Hunting Season for Turtledove and Quail Regulations (Subsidiary Legislation 504.94 – Legal Notice 221 of…
Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions 1) What spring hunting takes place on Malta? The hunting of birds in springtime is undertaken by registered hunters using shotguns. The licence allows hunters to shoot quail and turtle dove for two weeks in April. In 2013 over 9,487 hunters were given licences to shoot a maximum of 11,000 Turtle Doves…
Spring Hunting Referendum: signing the petition
The signature collection is in hand, organised by the organisations forming part of the Coalition, that is to say Alternattiva Demokratika, Birdlife Malta, Coalition for Animal Rights, Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Gaia Foundation, Moviment Graffiti, Greenhouse Malta, Nature Trust (Malta) and the Ramblers Association of Malta. If…
Another wasted day with MEPA
Today happened to be the sitting of the MEPA appeals board regarding the outline permit PA2185/06 which had been granted at the appeal on the 30th June 2011. The permit had been issued with following justifications: It was noted that several two floor buildings are in the vicinity of the proposed site. The proposed development is…
MEPA Quo Vadis II
Recently, I have written about the proposed construction of a winery in Bidnija, stating that MEPA was not acting according their own regulations, delivering building permits where they never should. Here is another case, where one can wonder why MEPA exist in the first place. Today the notification for the building of a farmhouse has…
MEPA: Quo vadis?
On Thursday 27th June MEPA’s sitting regarding the application PA03116/12 for the construction of a vinery in Bidnija, I was part of the audience contesting the approval of the permit. This permit application is based on an outline permit PA2185/06, which has been granted to the applicant on the 30th June 2011. The initial permit…
Do we need a bridge to Gozo?
I am having difficulties to understand the rationale of building a bridge between both islands. 1. The financial aspect. The Pont de Normandie, which has been built a few years ago, is 2.1 km long and has costed 435m€. The geological environment for its construction is much more favourable than the one of a bridge…