Only Greens consistent on air quality

AD European Parliament Election candidates Arnold Cassola and Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros explained that AD has chosen to address a press conference in Fgura because it is a  locality which suffers from poor air quality.

Arnold Cassola said:”It is a known fact that traffic is one of the big sources of pollutants, however this locality also receives a significant load from the Marsa Power Station, which according to the Government is about to be decommissioned. We have to point out that prior to the referendum on Malta’s accession to the EU way back in 2003, the government had promised the Maltese electorate that this power station would either conform to EU standards by date of accession or else close down. 2004 has cme and gone and now we are being told that the Marsa Power Station will be decommissioned by 2015 – 11 years late. We would like to ask the government if it knows whether the air quality limit values for particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, as stipulated in the EU Air Quality Directives are being exceeded in localities such as this (Zabbar Road, Fgura), as well as St Joseph’s High Road, Hamrun, Triq Aldo Moro, Marsa, Mrabat Road Sliema and many others. If they are being
exceeded what are the corrective measures which are being taken?”

Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros added:” I live in this area and the problems of pollution is very evident. Some years ago when I started teaching in a Fgura school the first thing which caught my attention was the large number of children on asthma medication. The dirt caused by pollution is very evident for us who live in these areas. Clean Air is one of AD’s main isssues; as a party we have always been consistent unlike some who discover the environment days before an election to forget all about it the next day. The promises about Marsa Power Station in 2003 are a glaring testimony of how low air quality is on this government’s agenda. AD in the European Parliament will be the strogngest voice ever from Malta in favour of strict rules on air quality.”

AD spokesperson on Energy, Industry and Transport Ralph Cassar said:”MEPs from AD will form part of the Green Group in the European Parliament. This will guarantee a voice on behalf of all Maltese citizens and residents in favour of cleaner air. Other groups in the European Parliament do not have such a good record when it comes to the environment and clean air. A study by Friends of the Earth (Europe) in 2004 shows that the EPP group of which PN’s Simon Busuttil and David Casa now form part has the worst track record of all political groups when it comes to environmental legislation. The EPP group had voted against strengthening environmental legislation around 80% of the time in the 1999-2004 European Parliament legislature (ref.http://www.foeeurope.org/euvotewatch/) .

More recent examples of Busuttil and Casa’s choice to side with the polluters include voting in favour of weakening existing EU targets on CO2 emissions and postpone attainment of targets (Davies report, plenary vote 24 October 2007).

While in Malta a PN MEP in particular projects the image of a champion of residents in the European Parliament the EPP consistently works to weaken legislation and postpone targets. Most of the health damage currently caused by air pollution in the EU comes from fine particles. On the Air Quality Directive the EPP including Busuttil and Casa voted in favour of weakening legislation and voted so that targets including that of particulate matter do not apply in inhabited areas, roads and industrial installations (Krahmer report on the revised Air Quality Directive).”

Arnold Cassola concluded:”We are glad to see Fgura residents taking interest in the issue of pollution. There are various ways to tackle the problem including improving public transport, increasing the tree cover of the area, pedestrianization and controlling sources of pollution such as the Marsa Power Station and the Marsa incinerator. AD has the energy and experience to follow these real and tangible issues and resist the polluters’ lobby. It is consistent in working for improving people’s quality of life. It is in everyone’s interest to strengthen AD’s voice by electing AD MEPs on the 6 of June.”


Ralph Cassar
PRO

Photos: www.flickr.com/alternattiva