Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/224217
26 Letters maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2013 Send your letters to: The Editor, MaltaToday, MediaToday Ltd. Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 | Fax: (356) 21 385075 E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt. Letters to the Editor should be concise. No pen names are accepted. St Julian's residents baffled by MEPA decision The St Julian's Residents Association is baffled by and questions the legality of the decision taken by the MEPA appeals board to grant a permit for further development at Portomaso, which was originally refused by the MEPA Board. MEPA has never revoked the original permit conditions imposing pro- tection of the site in question, so it is difficult to understand how the appeals board could overturn the MEPA board's decision. Moreover, the disappearance of the protected Wedgefoot Grass, which is now only found in one other place on the island, raises alarm bells and serious questions which MEPA needs to look into properly if it is to be taken seriously. The development of a further 7,500 square meters of virgin land on the shore only continues to gobble up the very few, natural, open spaces left in St Julian's, leaving no open spaces for locals and foreign- ers alike to enjoy. In addition, the increase in residential units will only contribute to more traffic problems in an area already suffering from serious congestion. Furthermore, it seems that the Tumas Fenech Group will never be happy until they've covered every square inch of the Portomaso site in concrete. We wonder what other projects are in the pipeline. St Julian's has had its quaint charm destroyed long ago, but let us not allow MEPA and greed to destroy the little that's left. Michel Spiteri St Julian's The Philippines typhoon Offering help to victims of domestic violence Various statements and comments have been reported in the media in relation to service provision in relation to domestic violence situations. Aġenzija Appoġġ provides a 24-hour service through Supportline 179. This helpline, run by professionally-trained volunteers and backed by professional on-call staff, provides assistance to callers and refers cases according to the needs. It is also important to note that Għabex – the Agency's emergency shelter for women victims of domestic violence and their children, together with a number of other shelters run by NGOs, operate on a 24-hour basis. Professionals and victims may thus refer to these services after normal working hours. These services are accessible and run by professional staff who would be in a position to deal with a crisis situation and other various requests, such as that presented in a domestic violence scenario. The Agency also offers social work interventions to victims of domestic violence through its Domestic Violence Service. Both male and female victims are treated equally by such a service when they refer themselves or refer themselves for help. Domestic violence is about power and control including the dependency and helplessness that comes with it. Appoġġ also offers a Men's Service where male perpetrators of such abuse would be helped to address their aggressive and change their behaviour with others to one of respect. Aġenzija Appoġġ enjoys a good working relationship with various professionals and entities working in the field including NGOs, the Police, the medical professions, and others who through their work, come in contact with families and possibly victims of domestic violence. While the Agency encourages victims to come forward and seek help, it also appeals to the public to report any cases of abuse that it may know about by calling on Supportline 179 or referring to the Police – domestic violence is not a family problem but a problem that affects all society. Sina Bugeja Chief Executive Officer Foundation for Social Welfare Services The typhoon that devastated the Philippines affected 11 million people, including thousands that were left homeless and 5,000 people that perished. The BBC reported that the Catholic bishops urged their congregations to pray for God's protection as the typhoon approached the Philippines. The "response" to their prayers was utter devastation. Jesus said that nothing happens – not even the fall of a sparrow – without God's will. Yet, God permitted this horrific disaster to occur in one of the most Godfearing and staunchly Catholic countries in Asia. Corpses hung from tree branches and were scattered along pavements and among flattened buildings. Hundreds of corpses in body bags were carried away in trucks and dumped in deep trenches. Here is evidence – if more evidence were needed – that we live in an impersonal universe and that nature is all that there is. When perceptive individuals witness the dreadful destruction and the massive loss of human life, they know in their heart of hearts that there is no evidence of a benevolent God. Human beings are more compas- sionate than God. When disaster strikes, they rush to help each other. There was no rush from God to save the 5,000 people that perished. The typhoon in the Philippines, occurring in early November, reminded me of the cataclysmic earthquake that devastated Lisbon on All Saints Day in 1755. On that holy feast day, thirty churches were destroyed and thousands of devout Catholics died amid the rubble as they prayed to God during Mass. John Guillaumier St Julian's Christmas: a time for confidence EDITORIAL • 7 DECEMBER 2003 The decision to ban Christmas parties in parastatal and government bodies is a reflection of the serious financial crisis facing many of our institutions. The decision seems to have been taken after a series of events triggered off by some civil service circular informing staff that Christmas parties would not be organised on a departmental level. The untimely action led ministers to follow suit, a decision that did not go well with some ministers who have made it their mission to invite their constituency to hold lavish parties at, for example, St James Cavalier. The decision not to reciprocate at Christmas is a mistake. If civil service or any other institution wish to save on money, they can start by cutting down on some of the extra costs with the unnecessary travel arrangements, where officials and top manage- ment seem to believe they are obliged to attend every insignificant seminar or meeting held abroad. They could also combine some of the activities in the many entities that are duplicating work. Consumer confidence comes about through the little things in life. Sending out invitations for a Christmas party only to announce that the party has been cancelled sends a very bad signal that adds to negative feedback. Morality Malta revisited The decision by a court to block the deportation of a Russian woman after her companion alleged she carried his child and was planning to have an abortion highlights the mixed morality hanging on in our judicial and political systems. To start with, the woman was to be deported because she is not married to a Maltese citizen. Her companion is a Maltese man, but he has not married her, perhaps he is already married or perhaps he does not wish to marry his Russian child-carrying partner. Whatever the case, the deportation was ordered because Ms Nadezda Gavrilova has no freedom of movement. And now, Ms Nadezda Gavrilova has been ordered to stay on because her companion, a certain Mr Borg, has intervened to allege that she will have an abortion in Russia. With this reasoning, each woman facing deportation could claim she is pregnant by a Maltese man and argue that she should be kept here. Morality-stricken Malta is facing another credibility test. In fact it may be true that someone known to be carrying out an abortion in another country is breaking Maltese law and is liable to prosecution. Even here, one can surely argue that the legality of this could well be challenged. If Maltese law intends to prosecute or take punitive actions against all those who have been inseminated by a Maltese citizen and then abort abroad, then it faces a gargantuan task to track them down. That can only be achieved by implementing a religious police regime. It is about time that we stopped applying these double standards and get on with living in the 21st century.