Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1520629
professional enough to allow her own judgment to be in any way 'clouded', in the way suggested by Prime Minister Abela. At the same time, however: in her place – and having already taken four years, on the same in- quiry - I would (rightly or wrong- ly) have probably considered leaving it just a few more weeks, until the election was safely out of the way, before actually setting the judicial machinery in motion. If nothing else, to avoid even the mere SUSPICION of possible po- litical motivations… In any case, however: that's not what happened, in practice; and, well, one of the consequences is that – rightly or wrongly, once more – this has opened the door for precisely the above to happen. Like it or not, an element of suspi- cion has indeed, and indisputably, been 'added to the mix'. So while the words Abela chose (deliberately, no doubt) to de- scribe that reality were certainly 'condemnable'… the reality he was alluding to is nonetheless TRUE – in the sense that thousands (pos- sibly, tens of thousands) of peo- ple out there genuinely share the Prime Minister's misgivings – and as such, it will not be altogether so easy to dispel, as Abela's ill-ad- vised words. And this brings me directly to the rest of the country's reactions – especially, those coming from entities purportedly representing the legal profession itself. For reasons already outlined, it is one thing to condemn Abela's use of the 'T-word', in this par- ticular context; but it is some- thing else entirely, to suggest (as many people seem to be doing, in comments) that Abela is equally wrong to voice his own doubts, about the possibility of… oh, let's just call it: 'Political Manouevres in the Dark'. You all know what I mean. The former can, I suppose, be le- gitimately described as an 'attack on the judiciary'… but personal- ly, I shudder to even imagine the consequences, if we were to ex- tend the same definition to even genuine doubts and suspicions, concerning any given legal deci- sion. For if it turns out that – for fear of 'interfering with the autonomy of the judiciary' – we cannot even so much as question the logic (and yes: possibly even the motives) behind any judge or magistrate's ruling, in any case… … then we'd be in exactly the same situation that Arthur Miller had warned us about, with his play 'The Crucible': specifically about the harrowing consequences, when an entire community allows its judgement to be temporarily clouded by (then as now, political- ly-motivated) mass hysteria… "Is every defence an attack on the court…?" And let's face it, folks. I think we'd all much rather be living here in Malta (warts and all), in 2024; than in Salem, New England, at the height of the 1692 century witch-hunt craze. You know: just another 'no-brainer' to add to the rest… CHILDREN are the most precious gift of our community because they represent our future. So, are we do- ing enough to ensure they grow into healthy, happy children? From my professional background as a speech and language patholo- gist, I understand the relationship between food and the development of our children. Food is an essential part of our children's life, and it con- tributes to their healthy g3rowth and development, their mental wellbeing and immunity, to ensure they are able to live healthy lives. The envi- ronment around them and parents/ caregivers play a major role in shap- ing children's eating habits from an early age. Nutrition is closely linked to ed- ucational outcomes. Children who are well-nourished are more likely to perform better in school. They have improved concentration, high- er energy levels, and better memory retention. Conversely, malnutrition can lead to reduced cognitive func- tion, fatigue, and behavioural issues, all of which can impact a child's abil- ity to learn and thrive in an academic environment. Providing children with nutritious meals not only benefits their physical health but also enhances their edu- cational prospects. This, in turn, can have a positive ripple effect on soci- ety, leading to a more educated and productive workforce in the future. A healthier future through better nutrition Good nutrition is the foundation for a healthy life, and its importance for children cannot be overstated. As your candidate, I understand the need to create policies that ensure a bright future for our children. Here's why focusing on nutrition and pro- viding access to good food for chil- dren is critical. But are we giving much thought to the food we put on our children's plate and the type of food our chil- dren eat? It is a well-known fact that there is a high rate of overweight and obesi- ty in children in Malta and also that the food eaten as a baby and young child has an effect on our health as an adult. The large number of food outlets selling foods high in sug- ar, salt and fats, the convenience of food being easily delivered to the doorstep, the increased food prices, together with a hectic lifestyle, can all contribute to the consumption of food which is energy-dense and poor in nutrients. In these circumstances, what can be done to encourage our children to make healthy food choices? Eating together as a family: This in- stills a positive environment around food and mealtimes. Families that eat together eat more varied foods and are more likely to eat healthier foods. Planning ahead: With a busy life- style, it can be easy to eat ready- made meals which are usually high in sugar, salt and fat. We need to sup- port an environment where parents and caregivers can plan ahead, prep, cook in bulk and freeze home cooked meals to make the provision of nu- tritious meals for the family more manageable. Buying seasonal fruit and vegeta- bles: Seasonal fruit and vegetables sourced locally will increase the va- riety of food and nutrients that your children eat, but should also help to keep the cost of food lower. We must support local producers so that they are in a position to support our nu- trition. Rewriting the kids' menu: When eating out, many food options on the kids' menu aren't always the healthi- est options. We need to work togeth- er to encourage food providers to change these menus. Our children are the next gen- eration. We need to ask ourselves whether it will be a healthy one. Norma Camilleri is a PN MEP election candidate What are our children eating? Can it be improved? Norma Camilleri 11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 MAY 2024 OPINION Nutrition is closely linked to educational outcomes. Children who are well-nourished are more likely to perform better in school. They have improved concentration, higher energy levels, and better memory retention