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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 JANUARY 2023 5 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 848. Bath White MOST people of a certain age seem to agree that butterflies were much more common "when we were young". No surprise there, when one considers that we zap their young with an arsenal of pesticides, kill their foodplants with herbicide and grasscutters, and bury their habitat under concrete and tarmac. So it's always a pleasure to spot any of our twenty or so species flitting along country lanes and wild flowers patches. One such beauty is the bath white, a small and del- icate creature. It's largely white, with some black spots on its upper wings and greenish patterning all over its lower wings. Its Maltese name – farfett tal-ġarġir – refers to its foodplant, that vital species on which the mother lays her eggs for her caterpillars to gorge on. In the bath white's case it is various species of rockets and mustards. New Year's Resolutions for more sustainability A tradition we all know is to make New Year's resolutions to continue good practices and change undesirable traits or behaviors. Often, we fo- cus on ourselves and resolve to live healthier, exercise more, drink less alcohol or quit smoking. But how about starting this year by focusing more on the planet and nature by resolving to live more sustainably? Feeling inspired? Then we have a few suggestions for you: 1. Explore the nature: Right now, is the best time to get out and take walks in nature. 2. Eat less meat: Giving up meat is good for the climate, because the production of animal products is responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions in the food sector. 3. Educate yourself and get involved: An important step in raising your own awareness of sustainability and climate change is to educate yourself. If you like to read, there are nu- merous books on the subject. Victor Falzon, Desiréé Falzon www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 736: Get in involved by joining our next Community Garden ses- sion https://foemalta.org/event/20230115_communitygarden/ 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 MCO Big Band Concert Until 20 January Place: Robert Samut Hall, Triq Sarria, Floriana Renowned for its interpretations of swing repertoire, the Malta Concert Orchestra Big Band will be performing unplugged at Robert Samut Hall under the direction of Maestro Paul Abela featuring works by Thad Jones, Sammy Nestico, Neal Hefti, CY Coleman and more, promising yet another unforgettable night of Swing music. Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member Malta Society of Arts' 100 years 11 January Place: Palazzo de La Salle Malta's finest musicians will be joining forces to celebrate the Malta Society of Arts' 100 years at Palazzo de La Salle with a series of monthly concerts and masterclasses. Compositions from the MSA's music archive and music by past composers affiliated with the MSA will be brought to life by Christine Zerafa, Dominic Galea, Charlene Farrugia, Carlo Muscat, Philip Attard and many more. In addition, this Maltese musical cultural heritage will be flanked by commissioned compositions by contemporary composers. A GOOD WEEK Good Week/Bad Week A BAD WEEK Genealogical records reviewed on the show Finding Your Roots reveal that Pocahontas, the mythologized 17th- century Native American woman, is the 12th great-grandmother of actor Edward Norton. The stars of the Oscar-winning 1968 film Romeo and Juliet are suing Paramount Pictures for sexual abuse over a nude scene they appeared in. Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey were teenagers when they made the movie. Norton, the star of such films as Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Fight Club, said the revelation "just makes you realize what a small … piece of the whole human story you are". In a new legal case, the English actors, now in their 70s, claim director Franco Zeffirelli encouraged them to do nude scenes despite previous assurances that they would not have to