Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1405706
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 AUGUST 2021 NEWS accepting sex work as an actual job – some people say the same thing about prostitution. They don't understand that sometimes it's a woman's choice to do this. I might not have all the company benefits, but I pay my own taxes, I make a living, this money goes towards my daily needs and sav- ings… this is my job!" Yet both women seem to agree that that an OnlyFans 'gig' is ac- tually a stressful commitment. "People think it's really easy to do. Let me tell you, it's not!" Thake warns. "It's not easy what- soever. You need a lot of time, your head needs to be screwed on in the right direction, and a lot of effort goes into it." She says running her OF ac- count and a full-time career makes her feel like she's working two jobs. "Almost all my free time is used to market myself on Only- Fans. I've read a lot of comments saying it's easy, it's not challeng- ing, that they can do it tomorrow and become better than everyone else. Sure, maybe, but it's not easy. It's a tough job. I'm not going to compare it to running a country as president, but on different lev- els it's very demanding and there are people who constantly want your attention. It's tough to keep on top of, but I like to think I do the best I can." "You have to treat it as a job," Shyli Rose says. "No matter how you wake up and in whatever mindset you're in, you need to get up and start working on your content." Now that the platform is to start banning explicit content from its site, a development forced by money transaction institutions refusing to service pornographic platforms, life for particular con- tent creators is getting harder. "This isn't simply about Only- Fans changing its terms and con- ditions: people are joking about the lives of millions of women," Thake says. Shyli Rose warns that OnlyFans isn't for everyone, and would avoid recommending it on a gen- eral level. "If you do come to the decision to open an OnlyFans account, all I'd say is don't cross your limits because you'll regret it later, and let no subscriber force you into doing things you don't want to do. Know your lim- its and your worth." Thake suggests speaking to friends and family before going into this line of work. "For some guidance, maybe read about it and speak to other creators if you're sceptical. If there's anyone who wants to start but isn't sure, they can speak to me and hear about my experiences." nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt Subscription-only stars: Shyli Rose (left) and Rachel Thake LUKE VELLA MALTA may not have expe- rienced the wildfires that have engulfed other Mediterranean countries but since the begin- ning of June, firefighters have dealt with more than 500 grass fires. Between 1 June and 10 Au- gust, firefighters put out 513 grass and rubbish fires, Civil Protection Department head Emanuel Psaila told MaltaTo- day. By mid-August, the number of grass fires was well within the average of 543 for the last six summers. Localities like Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Qormi and Rabat where many valleys are situated are more prone to these types of fires in the dry summer season, Psaila said. Most go unnoticed by the population at large but Żebbuġ local councillor Steve Zam- mit Lupi recently posted on Facebook details on fires that destroyed trees and natural habitat in Malta over the past weeks. He said that 25 acres of land in Wied Qirda, including ma- ture carob trees, and 10 acres of land in Girgenti valley, in- cluding mature White Poplar trees, were destroyed in sepa- rate fire incidents. The imag- es are disturbing because they show ecological destruction. While vandal acts and care- lessness cannot be excluded, Zammit Lupi insisted that the effects of the droughts that we are experiencing cannot be ig- nored. "The excessive summer heat and the effects of climate change can only make matters worse and more mitigation ac- tions are required in order to prevent similar incidents from occurring again," he said. Mizieb fire One of the most destructive fires happened in 2019 when around a quarter of the Miżieb woodland in Mellieha was de- stroyed. The area is managed by the Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK), which also manages another Mellieħa woodland at Aħrax. FKNK President Lucas Mi- callef said wildfires all around the Mediterranean region are causing major disasters, which are negatively impacting vari- ous habitats and their ecology. Micallef recalled the Miżieb fire from two years ago when multiple species of trees in- cluding Aleppo pine, olive, gum and blue-leaved trees were destroyed. Micallef said that although there is no evidence of the origins of the fire, the FKNK strongly believes that there was human intervention. "Whether it was accidental or intentional we do not specifi- cally know," he said. Micallef added that in May last year a fire broke out at l-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa, where a large number of trees and bushes, and a substantial part of the natural habitat of the reserve were destroyed. "The fires were caused by a group of irresponsible people who ig- nited a fire pit while camping in an area not permissible for camping," he said. Mitigating risks Since then, FKNK has been closely collaborating with the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and Amb- jent Malta to regenerate habi- tats with indigenous trees and shrubs. Fire-resistant species of trees and shrubs are carefully select- ed to help prevent incidental fires from spreading. Other mitigation measures include volunteers pitching in hundreds of hours of work, es- pecially during the dry months, to do regular clean-ups, plant- ing activities, and monitor and irrigate newly planted trees and shrubs. Dead tree branches are re- moved to minimise fire out- breaks and passage ways are cleared to act as natural barri- ers, Micallef said. But the FKNK has also been working on implementing a fire-smart governance system, and discussions were held about installation of fire ex- tinguishing points throughout the woodlands. Act responsibly Micallef appealed to peo- ple who use the woodlands to act responsibly. "It's not just a question of not igniting fires in woodlands but also to keep these places clean especial- ly during these months when most material would be a fire hazard," he said. It is an appeal shared by Zam- mit Lupi, who called for more public awareness and individu- al responsibility. CPD head Emanuel Psai- la said the department has a contingency plan if fires sweep through woodlands like Bus- kett, Aħrax and Miżieb. In these cases, the CPD will dispatch the all-terrain ve- hicles to the area and have a large water bowser on site for quick refill of water. Psaila said all-terrain vehicles and trucks that could carry large volumes of water, were part of a recent investment that was made. Next year, another two all-terrain vehicles will also be added to the fleet and negotia- tions are ongoing for six small- er vehicles. "Our advice is that people al- ways act responsibly and they don't throw away things like cigarette butts. They should always pick up their trash and if a BBQ is organised, the char- coal residue should be thrown in a metal container. Anyone who owns or takes care of fields, should make sure that they are always ploughed and any dry grass is removed. Ul- timately it goes without saying that no fire should be ignited under trees or in the country- side," Psaila said. Main localities for grass fires Qormi 117 Haz-Zebbug ġ 110 Siggiewi 101 Nadur 100 Rabat 100 Xaghra 82 Malta sees hundreds of grass fires every summer