Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1477424
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 AUGUST 2022 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications University budget cuts THE Malta Chamber of Scientists expresses its disappointment at the an- nounced budget cuts at the University of Malta, which will certainly impact its research output and quality of education. This strategy will also have negative consequences on the country as a whole since the University of Malta is a key player in Malta's R&D landscape. Only a few months ago, government pledged to raise public funding of R&D to 2% of the GDP. The Chamber is strongly opposed to cuts in research funding, as research is not a luxury, rather an important indi- cator of a developed nation's progress, identity, society and culture. This comes at a particularly sensitive time, since R&D is a vital ingredient in boosting the economy and the country's competitiveness following the COV- ID-19 pandemic. The Chamber hopes that further cuts will not adversely impact other educa- tional institutions as well as public scien- tific entities such as laboratories, which, like the University of Malta, already operate on restricted budgets. Julia Curmi Science Officer Malta Chamber of Scientists COLA and digital payments GOVERNMENT should assist busi- nesses that opt for digital payments. While welcoming the government's position on the cost-of-living allow- ance for the 2023 budget, left-wing organisation Zminijietna questions the opposition party position on this issue. With regards to the impact of COLA, this increase might bring on small and medium businesses, but the government should consider reducing taxes for those businesses that shift to digital payments. Zminijietna adds that opening the economy more to digital payments will surely increase Government's revenue, whilst combating tax evasion and money laundering. David Pisani Zminijietna – Voice of the Left Nature Trust addition THE International Tree Foundation recently amalgamated with Nature Trust – FEE Malta. The ITF has been working in Malta since 1967, while Nature Trust was founded in 1962 and this year cele- brating its 60 years. Through the amalgamation the ex- pertise of the ITF will now be taken on board to help the Education for Sustain- able Development International pro- gramme LEAF – Learning About For- ests. This is one of the FEE programmes that is found in over 25 countries edu- cating society as it instills in students and communities a sense of ownership in their natural surroundings, rekindling in them the wonderment which woodlands and other habitats evoke and reminding them of the importance the environment plays in our lives. The programme is hands-on learning, about all aspects of the natural environment, encouraging all to understand and engage more with their surroundings. One of the several successful planting projects of the ITF is the Minden Grove at Ta' Qali national park, which now will be incorporated in the LEAF pro- gramme so students can themselves take an active role in woodland and natural management and therefore instil in them a sense of ownership through direct activism. Minden Grove is the result of a long-standing cooperation between ITF, an environmental NGO from the city of Minden [Germany], F.E.E, THE Minden City Council and the Malta Department of Agriculture. The Minden NGO, with the support of German citizens, especially from Min- den, over the years, donated to the Malta Department of Agriculture, and lately to the Parks department, several vans, water tanks, forestry machinery, organic fertilizers and cash for the purchase of varieties of saplings of our region. Vincent Attard, President, Nature Trust