Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1440009
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 02 JANUARY 2022 9 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 795. Lichens LICHENS (M. likeni) are those crusty affairs forming lovely patterns of orange, yellow, black, white or grey-green that you often see growing on old walls. Lichens are actually two organisms (an alga and a fun- gus) living together for mutual benefit. Such partnerships are known as symbiosis and they're common in nature, from an egret on a buffalo's back, to the billions of friendly bacteria in your intestines. Thanks to this co-habitation, lichens survive in demanding conditions, such as bare rock faces. Many thousands of lichen species exist, of which sever- al hundred occur in Malta. They grow on rocks, walls, trees, soil, even on metal structures. They can be crust-like, leafy or twiggy. Lichens are very sensitive to air pollution, so their variety and frequency in an area can be indicators of air quality. Happy New Year. Victor Falzon www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 687: Find out more – https://foemalta.org/support Happy New Year! FRIENDS of the Earth Malta wishes a Happy New Year to everyone! Start this new year by becoming a supporter of Friends of the Earth Malta and this way, make a gift to your local environment! We know that there are some people that enjoy supporting local NGOs but not necessarily taking a direct and active role in their work. Becoming a supporter of our organisation is a fantastic way of aiding our cause and also contributing something towards the conservation of the environment and support of different parts of the community. Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation – www.foemalta.org/donate Don't miss this The Last Breath Date: Until 16 January 2022 Place: il-Kamra Ta' Fuq - Mqabba The Last Breath, an Art Installation by Katel Delia. Delia is presenting an immersive installation, built specifically for il-Kamra ta' Fuq, to encapsulate the whole room and transform it into a surreal space. The subject tackled is that of migration within the Mediterranean and the sad and alarming situation that many got too comfortable with. Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member Kelma u Taghlima ma' Danita Date: 8 January 2022 Place: Salini Resort Local influencer Danita Camilleri (OneChickandaYorkie) who is most famous for her down to earth and realistic ways on her social media platforms is now gathering her followers to get up close and personal. Organising a day event full of information and of course a dash of fun. A panel of speakers from Willingness covering topics relating to all aspects of parenthood from handling your toddler & the autism spectrum to discussing sex life with local sexologist Matthew Bartolo. Also featuring special guest and popular make-up artist Jennifer Dimech. A GOOD WEEK Good Week/Bad Week A BAD WEEK A clinical trial in South Africa found that a Johnson & Johnson booster shot provided strong protection against the Omicron variant, greatly reducing the risk of hospitalisation. Ghislaine Maxwell has been found guilty of recruiting underage girls to be sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein. The 60-year-old British socialite and ex-girlfriend of late billionaire financier Epstein is now facing the prospect of years in prison. Johnson & Johnson's one- shot strategy made it easier to distribute and administer to people She was accused of recruiting and grooming four teenagers for Epstein to molest in massage rooms between 1994 and 2004