Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/216204
13 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2013 Din l-Art Helwa President Simone Mizzi coins a new word – 'Mistrafication'– to denote the uglification of Malta, and fears the prospect of Malta being turned in to another Dubai. But does the public feel the same sense of urgency to stand up to be counted? PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUDREY LIENARD Mistrafication cism that development is necessary to ensure economic growth? "Some 35% of our land is built up, but it is more like 60% when you take into consideration the road networks, quarries, landfills. It is only too easy to sell off Malta's beauty spots for speculation, but the gain is only short-term." Instead, more attention should be diverted to regenerating and retrofitting existing urban spaces which is a far more sustainable and long-term direction, instead of taking up yet more virgin land or demolishing the old town and village cores which give us our identity. Mizzi does not mince her words when asked to rate the current government's environmental creden- tials. "So far entirely non-existent. But then the previous administration was not exactly lily white." One of the political decisions she questions is that of separating the Planning from Environment within MEPA. "This is convenient to developers as their applications will not be so closely scrutinised. A new planning authority divested of its environmental responsibilities becomes a mere rubber stamp for development." Moreover, she points out that until this takes place, numerous new permissive regulations are conveniently being passed that will bring widespread development everywhere, and yet there is silence from the Environ- ment Ministry on their impact. According to Mizzi, it remains to be seen how the Environment Ministry armed with a new Malta Advisory Council on the Environment will be carrying out this responsibility when it is one more step removed from planning. "I am glad to have heard [Environment Minister] Leo Brincat's statement of intent to form this Council, but I want to know more about how this Council can impact on decisions such as Mistra." Because if the council has just one vote on the new MEPA board, "it will get nowhere, as political appointees outvote those caring to do things correctly all the time". How does she respond to cynics who say that protesting against environmental abuse is useless because decisions are taken simply on the basis of financial considerations? "Those responsible, which include our planning and environment ministries and MEPA, may ride roughshod over the plea for recognition, but citizens will at least have done their utmost." Moreover, she believes that the outcry generated by public protests serves to create more awareness. "Hopefully some sense of duty is instilled into the hardened hearts of those who ultimately take the decisions." She expresses satisfaction that politicians from both sides of parliament have indicated they will attend. "But will this translate into action from their part?" she asks. A sense of urgency is evident in Simon Mizzi's denunciation of the state of the nation and the lop-sided priorities of those in power. "Malta's open spaces are so few, its Mediterranean island quality is deteriorating fast and the beauty of our islands, which is so extraordinary, needs to be protected… we owe it to our children and their children." "This is a worrying time for Malta's environment. I urge the public to join Din l-Art Helwa and 10 other NGOs as well as the silent majority who are unable to speak up, so we can make our voices heard. "The job of good citizens is to not keep their mouths shut."