Alternattiva Demokratika welcomes the publication of the State of The Environment Report for Malta 2002 as an invaluable tool for the strengthening of public awareness in this key sector. Green Party Chairperson, Dr Harry Vassallo said that public awareness has already driven environmental issues very high up on the country's political agenda. "We welcome the other parties' new interest in this field since we have always believed that effective change can only come when the political will can be found for it." Dr Vassallo said.

"We invite every Maltese and Gozitan to take the time to read this report. It concerns every man, woman and child, every economic activity. It is central to the economic future of the country. It documents He added that the report does not paint the poor quality of life in Malta today and the threats which lie before us." Dr Vassallo said.

a positive picture of the state of our environment. "The major changes between 1998 and 2001 have been institutional changes which promise to give us the tools to address our challenges. Significant groundwork has been achieved but almost nothing substantial has changed and environmental quality has continued to deteriorate with increased health impacts and continued permanent losses of vital environmental assets." Harry Vassallo said. 

He praised the report also for documenting the areas of ignorance. "The lack of scientific knowledge of the impact of TBT used in antifouling paints on ships and yachts is a good example" he said. " The political will to investigate the extent of the present damage  has yet to be found. Public awareness can push politicians to make the investment and to act on the precautionary principle by preventing vast investments which make the situation worse in a permanent manner." Vassallo said.

He added that the report recognises the central and essential role of Non Governmental Organizations active in the field. "The token role given to NGOs in the present institutional setup must change giving them effective responsibility to scrutinise public policy impacting on life quality in Malta." Dr. Vassallo said. He added that such organizations should have an effective role in the Malta Council for Social and Economic Development in line with the conclusions of the SOER.

Dr Vassallo stressed that it was necessary for the report to be given extensive publicity. He invited journalists to participate actively in highlighting the many facets of the report which could not reach the public merely through the announcement of its publication. "As many people as possible need to realise the extent of the tasks facing the institutions involved, the civil society organizations that address them and each and every one of us whose future depends on an early restructuring of the country's priorities." Dr Vassallo said.

Alternattiva Demokratika laqghet il-publikazzjoni tar-Rapport Dwar L-istat ta' l-Ambjent f'Malta ghas-snin 1998-2001 bhala ghodda imprezzabbli ghat-tishih tal-kuxjenza pubblika f'dan il-qasam. Dr Harry Vassallo ic-Chairperson ta' Alternattiva Deomkratika qal illi il-kuxjenza pubblika diga wasslet biex dawn il-kwistjonijiet jitqeghdu ghall-ewwel darba fl-agenda politika ta' pajjizna. Huwa qal illi Alternattiva Demokratika tilqa' l-interess li qedin jiehdu l-partiti l-ohra f'dan il-qasam. " Minn dejjem emminna li biex issir il-bidla mehtiega kella tinstab ir-rieda politika li ilha nieqsa ghal hafna snin." Qal Dr Vassallo.

"Nistietdnu lil kull Malti u Ghawdxi, kull Maltija u Ghawdxija li jaqraw dan ir-rapport. Huwa dokument li jolqot li kull wiehed u lil kull wahda minna, kull attivita ekonomika. Huwa suggett centrali ghall-futur ekonomiku tal-pajjiz u ghalina lkoll individwalment." Qal Harry Vassallo.

Zied ighid illi r-rapport ma jpingix stampa pozittiva tal-qaghda ambjentali f'Malta. "L-aqwa bidliet li sehhew bejn l-1998 u l-2001 kienu bidliet istituzzjonali li jaghtuna l-ghodda biex nilqghu l-isfidi li bdejn naghrfu. Tfassal il-pedament izda ma sar kwazi xejn ta sustanza u l-quality ambjentali baqghet tmur lura b'zieda ta' impatt fuq is-sahha tan-nies u b'telfien ghal dejjem ta' gid ambjentali kbir." Qal Dr Vassallo.

Huwa fahhar ir-rapport ukoll fejn wera l-oqsma li ghadna minghajr taghrif bizzejjed. "In-nuqqas ta taghrif xjentifiku dwar l-impatt tal-kimika TBT li tintuza fiz-zebgha tal-antifouling f'bastimenti u jottijiet u kaz wiehed fost hafna onhra. Ir-rieda politika biex isiru investigazzjonijiet bis-serjeta ghadha nieqsa. Il-kuxjenza pubblika tista ggieghel lill-politici li jinvestu f'dawn l-oqsma u li jahdmu skond il-principju ta prekawzjoni billi jevitaw investiment kbar li jistghu jaghmlu il-qaghda hafna aghar b'mod permanenti. " Vassallo qal.

Zied ighid illi r-rapport jaghraf ir-rwol centrali u essenzjali ta' l-ghaqdiet non-governattivi li huma attivi f'dan is-settur. "Ir-rwol ta' l-isem li nghata lil dawn l-ghaqdiet fil-qafas istituzzjonali irid jinbidel biex jinghataw responsabbilta effettiva biex jiflu l-politika li tithaddem u li ghandha impatt fuq il-kwalita tal-hajja f'Malta."Dr Vassallo qal. Qal ukoll illi ghaqdiet bhal dawn imisshom ghandhom rwol effettiv fil-Kunsill Malti ghall-Izvilupp Socjali u Ekonomiku b'rabta mal-qaghdiet ta' dan ir-rapport.

Dr Vassallo ghafas fuq il-htiega li dan ir-rapport jinghat publicita kbira u hajjar lill gurnalisti li jiehdu sehem attiv f'din il-hidma. "Mhux bizzejjed li nhabbru l-pubblikazzjoni ta' ghodda bhal din. Kemm jista jkun nies jehtieg li jsiru jafu il-firxa ta' hidmiet li jiffaccjaw l-istituzzjonijiet, l-ghaqdiet. Kull wiehed u wahda  ghandna l-gejjieni taghna jiddependi fuq kif u meta ser issir bidla radikali fil-prijoritajiet tal-pajjiz". Dr Vassallo qal.

Mark Causon

Segretarju Amministrativ