Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1539233
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 2 maltatoday EXECUTIVE EDITOR KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Letters to the Editor, MaltaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt Letters must be concise, no pen names accepted, include full name and address maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 SEPTEMBER 2025 Ta' Qali: A storm in a dust bowl and arrogance Editorial THE Ta' Qali picnic area outside the football stadium and next to the big tent housing a con- vention centre has for many years served as the largest 'green' open space. 'Green' is a relative term here since the ar- ea has some trees and during the autumn and winter season has large patches of grass with islands of barren soil in between. During the summer months the area simply turns into a dust bowl as the grass vanishes and the compacted soil erodes further into a fine dust. To solve the inconvenience caused in the summer months by the dust, the management of the Ta' Qali National Park decided to cover the area in gravel and fine sand. According to Jason Micallef, who heads the agency respon- sible for the Ta' Qali park, the measure was intended to cover the dusty area with materi- als that will eventually allow the grass to grow once the first autumn rains set in. Unfortunately, the explanation only came af- ter an outraged public vented their frustration over what appeared to be an attempt to de-na- ture a big open space and stifle the growth of grass in the winter. To make matters worse, Micallef's less than decorous way of explaining things on Face- book, while accusing critics of being spiteful and peddling 'fake news' and 'lies', did not help the situation. Micallef is paid from public funds to serve as head of the Ta' Qali National Park committee and his duty is to explain the ac- tions taken without resorting to name-calling and parochial politicking on Facebook. His pu- erile antics simply obscured the logical expla- nation he gave. Micallef is correct when he says the Ta' Qali picnic area has always turned into a dust bowl between June and September when the grass dries up and the soil is exposed. The outrage at the lack of greenery was really and truly mis- placed because the current state of the picnic area—covered in gravel and fine sand—is no different from how it always looked bar the fine dust that would normally cloud the air. Nonetheless, the action taken was one that does not address the root cause of the prob- lem. The picnic area has for many years during the summer months been used to host large events—parties, concerts and festivals. The trampling of thousands of pairs of feet on ex- posed soil has over time degraded the area by compacting the soil, which turns into dust dur- ing the summer months. What the picnic area truly needs is a nature restoration plan to ensure that even in the sum- mer months when the natural grass dries up, the area does not end up being one large dust bowl. Just like other areas within the large foot- print of the Ta' Qali park, which also comprises the amphitheatre zone and environs, have been rehabilitated and cared for over the years, the picnic area needs similar attention. A proper nature management plan would take into con- sideration Malta's climate thus providing tai- lor-made solutions for the area and its uses. And there should be no fear of losing an open space where mass events take place. The large open-air concert area next door—a welcome project that transformed the grounds of a once illegal concrete factory into a big events space— can host the parties, concerts and festivals that are normally held in the picnic area. And even if, some events are held in the picnic area, their number should be capped and or- ganisers obliged to install protective flooring to ensure the soil is not trampled upon and com- pacted. The whole ruckus that was created on the Ta' Qali gravel was really a storm in a dust bowl that could have easily been avoided by the au- thorities if they communicated their intentions better and listened to constructive feedback on other options that could be more environmen- tally sound. But the very fact that many were up in arms is also symptomatic of the current state of pub- lic consciousness. Many people have become wary of public institutions, more so when those leading them—often party cronies—choose ar- rogance over understanding. Quote of the Week "We should stop treating the issue with kids' gloves." – Nationalist Party home affairs spokesperson Darren Carabott on Xtra, calling for proposed harsher penalties for drink and drug driving to be extended to dangerous driving. MaltaToday 10 years ago Prime Minister 'resolute on embryo freezing' 6 September 2015 PRIME Minister Joseph Muscat has de clared that he will forge ahead with plans to re-introduce embryo freezing, which was banned in 2013 under the Embryo Protec tion Act made law by the Nationalist gover- mnent. "I am resolute to introduce embryo freez ing," Muscat told MaltaToday. The health ministry is currently car rying out a reviewof the Embryo Protection Act, which was the first piece of legisla tion lo ad- dress Malta's unregulated protocols for in vitro fertilization. The law was remarkable for having out- lawed embryo freezing and instead intro- duced the freezing of eggs - a process called oocyte vitrification - as well as banned any form of sperm or egg dona tion, and surro- gacy. As Opposition leader, Muscat had voted in favour of the Embryo Protection Act. "This was a compromise that allowed, at the very least, the introduction of a law." At the time, IVF was only offered by pd vate hospitals. The national hospital, Mater Dei, had been equipped with IVF equipment but the service was never placed on the national health registry. [...]