Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1468438
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 MAY 2022 NEWS This article was produced as part of the Union Is Strength competition, organised by Slate.fr with the financial support of the European Union. The article reflects the views of the authors and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for its content or use. and local business owners, such as Alda Bugeja, owner of "Gozo Weaving", call for activism. "I was raised that way," Bugeja says of the craft of weaving that is a part of her family's legacy, with the knowledge and skills being passed on between gen- erations of women. She's con- tinuing what her mother used to do, keeping a tradition alive, creating art, homeware, clothes and even jewellery from local sheep wool. Her family reflects on what makes the island unique, cre- ating a bond between the "new Gozo", and what it used to be, appreciating new develop- ments and using them to nour- ish heritage. However, devel- opments in tourism have made it increasingly harder to sustain small businesses like hers. The archipelago of Malta is most popular to tourists for its sunny weather almost all year round, making it a hotspot for watersports and partying. For a small country like Malta, its economy being dependent on tourism, these factors do con- tribute immensely as a source of income, with heritage and culture having had to take a step back. The town square of Victoria, Gozo's largest city, previously lined with small lo- cal businesses, has been trans- formed into a "tourist central". Now lined with souvenir shops, restaurants and information points, it caters to the needs of visitors. What would Alda like to see? To have spaces, shop-fronts and real estate being subsidised by the government and re-allo- cated to traditional local busi- nesses, in order for them to be able to reclaim their space. To be able to have her own shop, sell her goods to everyone in- terested in local handicraft, whether they're local to Gozo or visiting. To have a space where she can pass on knowl- edge to Malta's youth, to make sure that this traditional skill doesn't get lost. For tourists to feel welcome and informed, and to be able to immerse themselves in the local "way of life". As she said, "you have to re- spect where you are, so we can respect you", acknowledging that a balance requires effort from both sides. New shops start opening, with new ideas forming. Peo- ple like Alda and Tonya, who opened a second-hand, vintage clothing store in order to fight consumerism, fast fashion and excessive waste, are at the fore- front of a movement towards ensuring for Gozo stay the par- adise it deserves to be. Places like this tiny island, where the impacts of your ac- tions are so visible, thrive on sustainability and connection to the culture, nature and his- tory. We are the ones to blame for destroying what we used to have, so it's our responsibility to rebuild it better. As ironic as it sounds, taking a step back to our roots can make way for greatest progress, and with mothers usually being right, Mother Gozo proves it. Awarding a label doesn't solve all problems, which is why concerned residents and local business owners, such as Alda Bugeja, owner of "Gozo Weaving", call for activism Places like this tiny island, where the impacts of your actions are so visible, thrive on sustainability and connection to the culture, nature and history