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MALTATODAY 21 July 2019

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25 OPINION We already know, for instance, that fresh water is going to be the next critical resource: and historically, fresh water has always been in short supply here. Even the Knights were aware of this, way, way back in the 16th cen- tury. That's why they decreed (among other water-saving policies) that all Valletta houses had to have their own well. Fast-forward 500 years, and it seems we have lost this basic capacity for foresight. New and wider roads will also create more flat surfaces for precious rainwater to simply run off into the sea – where it can only be retrieved through an expensive, energy-guzzling process called 'Reverse Osmo- sis' – when we should be doing everything in our power to harvest as much of it as possi- ble, to ward against inevitable future water shortages. Meanwhile, the new road network – unshaded by any newly-planted trees, as these will all be planted in 'national parks' where their shade is practically useless anyway – will dramatically increase temperatures in the immedi- ate vicinity. For what is a road, anyway, but an expanse of asphalt that radiates solar heat upwards and outwards? It is as though we are do- ing our utmost to make this country as uncomfortable and uninhabitable as possible. I mean, we've only just recorded our hottest June ever, for cry- ing out loud. What is Malta going to be like, when most of its surface becomes an inbuilt solar radiator? Transport Minister Ian Borg cannot claim ignorance as his excuse for overlooking this reality. He has been told – by countless studies and reports commissioned by all the relevant authorities – that his precious Central Link project will only speed up the devas- tating consequences of climate change on our country… while not even solving the problem (i.e., traffic congestion) it was conceived from the outset to solve. I described this as 'lunacy' above; but then again, Borg doesn't quite strike me as a lunatic. So he can't even plead insanity, when charged – by a future court of public opinion – with gross crimes against the environment. What's his defence going to be, I wonder, when future generations hold him and his govern- ment responsible for their ac- tions today? Let me guess: 'It seemed a good idea, at the time, to dish out a few roadworks contracts worth millions to a handful of local contractors. After all, that's what keeps the economy ticking over, isn't it? And our government's policy holds that the economy takes precedence over absolutely everything else: including our citizens' health and safety, the quality of their lives… heck, even their long-term survival chances….' Personally, I don't see that going down too well with future generations who will probably curse today's deci- sion-makers with every breath of their short, uncomfortable and miserable lives. I rather suspect that they will look back at us today, and con- clude that we must truly have been an evil bunch of crimi- nally delinquent monsters, to have wilfully embarked on a course of action that we knew would make their own lives hell. And I'm sorry to have to add that… they'll be right. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 JULY 2019 And our government's policy holds that the economy takes precedence over absolutely everything else: including our citizens' health and safety, the quality of their lives… heck, even their long-term survival chances…' I rather suspect that they will look back at us today, and conclude that we must truly have been an evil bunch of criminally delinquent monsters, to have wilfully embarked on a course of action that we knew would make their own lives hell

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