Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1504697
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 JULY 2023 7 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 877. Greenshank OUR islands are tilted on their side, which is why the north-east side mostly slopes gently to the sea. Shallow shores attract an exquisite group of birds known as waders, one graceful member of which is the greenshank. Greenshanks are medium-sized, with typical shore- bird anatomy: long slender bill, long legs and slim, streamlined body. It is called greenshank because of its greenish legs, while the rest of the bird is shades of grey and white with lots of speckling. Its Mal- tese name ċewċewwa rather mimics this bird's haunting three-note call, a sound that (to me at least!) evokes wide windswept estuaries. Sadly, we don't have wide windswept estuaries but two good spots to look for greenshanks resting on their (currently south-bound) mi- gration are Għadira and Salina nature reserves. Power cuts in Malta: what can be done to prevent them In the last week, many families and businesses in Malta suffered due to extensive and recurring power cuts, throughout an ongoing heatwave with temperatures topping 40°C. Our energy system is not robust and not resilient in the face of climate change, which will bring rising temperatures, longer and more intense heatwaves and pressure on the electricity system. Malta needs to urgently prioritise a more resilient and democratic energy system. Instead of relying on imported fuel and electricity, public money should be invested in renewables (like solar and wind), energy sav- ings, and community energy. Renewable energy communities are energy cooperatives in which citizens jointly own and participate in renewable energy or energy efficiency projects, for example on the roof of a local school, on a shared apartment block, or even a share in the investment of large-scale offshore renewables. Friends of the Earth Malta, together with the Malta Cooperative Federation, is trying to create the first renewable energy commu- nity in Malta! To that end, we are asking the government for a public (roof)space to pilot the first project! Victor Falzon, Aron Tanti www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 763: Read more about our recommendations for a clean energy future in our report 'To- wards a Fossil Free Malta' https://foemalta.org/news/foem-climate-report-launched/ 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 Remembering Operation Husky 4-6 August Place: Mediterranean Conference Centre MCC intends to highlight the importance of history's largest wartime amphibious operation ever attempted. Focusing of course on Malta's pivotal role in it. The Exhibition will recall how Malta's Lascaris War Rooms housed the massive underground military complex, from where this remarkable operation was launched, as directed by the US Allied Supreme Commander General Dwight Eisenhower. Also how Malta's own 231st Infantry Brigade, formed by some of the British Regular Infantry Battalion's defending Malta during its siege in WW2, also took part in the landings as part of the Eighth Army. Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member La Notte di San Lorenzo 9 August Place: Esplora Interactive Science Centre Join us for another unforgettable experience on the 9th of August and celebrate La Notte di San Lorenzo with us at Esplora, Malta's only science centre. During La Notte di San Lorenzo you will have the opportunity to roam around the science centre with our knowledgeable staff members and watch the dark night be lit with vibrant colours from our outdoor areas overlooking the Grand Harbour. Apart from our morning opening hours 9:00am – 3:00pm, We will be opening our doors to welcome you between 7:30pm and 11:30pm. Complimentary tickets, Vouchers, or Discount offers will not be accepted for this event. *Please note that the Esplora Exhibition Building will remain open until 11.00 pm. A GOOD WEEK Good Week/Bad Week A BAD WEEK Barbie broke box office records over the weekend as it cruised to a $155 million American haul, and more than double that worldwide. Anticipation has been high for Barbie over the last few months, and the reviews were mostly positive, with Greta Gerwig's film earning a Rotten Tomatoes score of 90%. Irish singer and activist Sinéad O'Connor has died at the age of 56. Her family announced the news "with great sadness", saying "her family and friends are devastated". The cause of death has not been made public. That critical success has now translated into a box office sucess, with Barbie a bona fide blockbuster. She was best known for her single Nothing Compares 2 U, released in 1990, which reached number one and brought her worldwide fame.