Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1489031
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 DECEMBER 2022 9 INTERVIEW A look back at the best quotes from the weekly interviews by Raphael Vassallo with various protagonists from the political, social and cultural spheres Dr Maria Pisani Integra Foundation 29 May e vast majority of sex workers, in Malta today, are migrants. You cannot have a conversation about sex-work in Malta, without also talking about migration; without talking about the politics – and violence – of borders Ronald G. Sultana Professor of Educational Sociology and Comparative Education, UoM 17 July School as a life 'game' is more compat- ible with the lifestyles of some groups than others. It values dispositions that come 'naturally' to some, but cost blood and tears to others. Josef Bugeja GQU secretary general 28 August In all this talk about 'competitivity' , nobody is mentioning the fact that it has actually increased, in Malta, over the past few years… Astrid Vella Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar 6 November Excuse me, but why should NGOs, and the public, spend so much of their own their lives, and their own money, to appeal against all the wrong decisions taken by the Plan- ning Authority? Alex Schembri MPU President 19 June Policemen feel almost as though they have become a 'machine', expected to perform at all times, and at all costs. But it doesn't mean that policemen should be expected to perform, be- yond all reasonable limits. Karen Mamo Drug-policy researcher specialising in harm-reduction 24 July To create the impression that the sub- stance is so 'dangerous', that a child might be harmed just by 'touching a cannabis plant'… I mean, come on... Mark Gauci OHSA CEO 18 September We have identified where the prob- lem areas are: construction is al- ready a risky economic sector… but the risks are being compounded by – among the things – the utilisation of many vulnerable workers… Paul Buttigieg Qala mayor 13 November A tunnel between Malta and Gozo will not just be the ruin of Gozo… but of Malta, as well. Because it will end up bankrupting the entire coun- try… Clint Flores Economist 26 June If the European people are going to end up with not enough money, to maintain a decent standard of living, then, yes: what happened in the 1930s, could happen again. Antonio Tufigno 'Shostakovich's Nightmare' frontman 7 August e younger generation's attitude to mental health has already changed a lot in that sense; and I think it's really important. I think it's one of the tru- ly good developments we've seen, in this country. Mario Mallia Former headmaster 31 July e number of religious people [in the teaching profession] is on the decline; and the number of lay teachers is on the rise. So the only way forward, in my view, is to 'do this together'. Carissa Munro OECD 2 October We do recognise that a lot of pro- gress has been made in Malta. And we also recognise that there is a cul- ture change that needs to happen, to adjust to these different ways of looking at ethics and integrity. Audrey Friggieri Domestic Violence Commissioner 27 November Look at young people today: where are they getting their education from? ey're constantly with their mobile phones in their hand; they're following all these 'social media ce- lebrities'… Darryl Grima Environmentalist, vegan and End The Slaughter campaigner 3 July ere are a number of pillars behind veganism. It's more than just 'the food you eat'… or even the 'clothes you wear', or the 'cosmetics you use', and so on. It's a complete lifestyle. Suzanne Maas Climate Campaign Coordinator at Friends of the Earth Malta, 14 August ere are many things that make cyclists – or people who might want to cycle – say: "I would consider it; but I'd rather not, because I fear for my life.' Neil Falzon Aditus Foundation 16 October So maybe there is 'violence in the streets'. But I wouldn't single out Hamrun as being the main problem. It was only a few years ago that car- bombs were regularly going off in the middle of Malta's busiest roads Karl Schembri Journalist and author 4 December I am still shocked at how political leaders such as Robert Abela, Joseph Muscat – and even nonentities like Michelle Muscat – are idolized by people, almost on the level of medi- eval 'barons'. Loranne Vella Novelist and translator 10 July Translation is a powerful tool and so must be used very carefully. We are now more conscious than ever about how careful translators have to be in conveying an honest rendering of a text into another language. Ronald Attard Country-managing partner, EY 23 October Historically, we have always empha- sised 'employment', only in terms of 'the number of jobs'. And we tend to measure success in the tourism industry, by the 'number of tourists arriving each year'. Chris Fearne Deputy PM and minister for health 13 December Abortion – as people out there un- derstand the word: and I repeat, I'm talking about 'healthy women who choose to terminate their pregnancy for no medical reason' … that is, was, and will remain illegal…