Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1250967
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 MAY 2020 9 CULTURE NATURE Terns are coastal birds, the graceful relatives of the gulls. They are generally smaller and slimmer, with a more streamlined look. Their tail is often forked, earning them the nickname sea swallows. Like gulls, they share the same basic monochrome palette: generally white and grey with some black around the head. Nine species (all protected) have so far been recorded in Maltese waters, a handful of which occur every year. The smallest of the group is the apty named Little Tern (M. Ċir- lewwa Żgħira). Smaller than a pigeon, it's a sprightly elf of a bird, sporting a distinctive lemon yellow beak. There was one last week snapping up small fish at Salina nature reserve. Then it flew inland and was shot dead by hunters – the same people who want to be trusted to manage a hundred hectares of wood- land! Text: Victor Falzon Photo: Aron Tanti 712. LITTLE TERN Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate The coronavirus crisis reaches well beyond the COVID-19 pandemic's unfathomable health impacts, exposing systemic environmental, social-economic and gender injustices, and detrimental political causes and consequences. The dire consequences of the coronavirus are the result of the ever increasing concentration of wealth and the imposition of a neoliberal doctrine that sacrifices the preservation of life. We will continue to stand united with our allies to fight the injustices exposed and compounded by the coronavirus and build the world we need. GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 608 Find out more: www.foemalta.org/blog/covid-19-window/ ENVIRONMENTAL NGO Zibel this week ex- ported a 40-foot container with over 20,000 pieces of garment in support Soles4Souls, an international organisation that it collaborates with. Soles4Souls aims to wear out poverty by dis- tributing shoes and clothing to homeless shel- ters, disaster-relief areas, refugee centres and families in need all over the world. Zibel are their Maltese partners. The 40-foot container donation was made pos- sible by support from VF Group, local repre- sentatives of BTI Uniforms, Mexx, Hugo Boss, Sarto, Samsonite and Faces Displays. The 20,000 donated garments will be used in Soles4Souls' micro enterprise programme which helps families pull themselves out of poverty by helping them set-up and maintain their own businesses. Zibel said the support shown by their launch- ing partners, VF Group, was truly humbling. "They have supported this initiative whole- heartedly and it would not have been such a successful launch without them," it said in a statement. "VF Group has set an example for all Maltese business in this regard, and we sincerely hope that others follow in their footsteps." This project is not the product of a few months' work, but stems from very humble beginnings. The first clothes swap Zibel organised last year was the foundation and this project was its evo- lution. Zibel said it will continue to fight the tough battle against fast fashion and fashion waste. "Our aim is to minimise the amount of things that end up in landfills, to put already existing things to good use, and spread a little bit of love." Moving forward, all the excess garments from Zibel's swaps will be directed towards Soles- 4Souls. Additionally, Zibel we will be releasing schemes for schools and businesses interested in future collaboration. Anyone interested in collaborating with Zibel can contact them by email on hello@zibel.org Zibel sends 40-foot container to Soles4Souls, supported by VF Group