Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/248536
40 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 JANUARY 2014 THIS WEEK Sounds of solidarity What were your expectations before you set out working with young musicians and migrants in preparation for this concert? How did they differ from the actual experience? The purpose of this concert is to promote a cultural and music exchange between the percussionists of the Malta Youth Orchestra, (all Maltese), and the migrants coming from various countries in Africa. I wanted to put together a good number of young musicians who are ready to share and challenge different approaches to music. We found brilliant musicians who have been cooperative. I hope that this experience is serving as a learning curve for both groups. What was the mood like during the workshops themselves? How did the young migrants integrate with the other musicians, and what kind of input did they bring? So far the sessions have been very dynamic and energetic. Both the migrants and the MYO integrated very well with each other and have participated wholeheartedly. There is of course a language barrier, which sometimes makes it very difficult to communicate ideas but we are managing in one way or another. Percussionist Daniel Cauchi speaks to us about Sounds of the Mediterranean, a concert featuring young Maltese students and migrants set to take place on February 1 at Robert Samut Hall Given that the Maltese public at large may not be entirely sympathetic to the plight of migrants, what kind of impact do you hope this concert will have? I hope that the people who turn up for the concert focus less on the social statuses of people and appreciate more their talents and this exchange of musical ideas. I hope that we start looking out for ways to learn and benefit from people with such great expertise. Finally, what kind of musical mishmash will we be hearing on the day of the concert itself? What does 'Mediterranean sound' really mean in this context? The concert will be divided mainly into two parts. The first part will focus more on the western percussion repertoire, which will feature mainly the MYO percussion section with the use of various drum setups, cans, buckets and the use of body percussions. The second part is a jam with the migrants, which will also include folk singing and the use of some traditional instruments. The performance will start at 17:30. Entrance is free but booking is required. Contact: www.maltaorchestra.com or call 21 244473 Daniel Cauchi EU 2030 climate plan disregards science 388. WHITE WAGTAIL It's not unusual for cats to dash out right in our driving path. Well, in the cooler months we also get a winged daredevil pulling the same stunt: a small bundle of white, grey and black flashing across the street. It's the white wagtail (M: Zakak Abjad), a common winter resident here. They fly in in autumn from somewhere in northern Europe or Russia, where it gets nastily cold, and spend the winter spread around our balmy islands, foraging in fields and valleys but also town squares, playgrounds and roadsides. Wagtails are gregarious, and especially love to sleep in large groups in nice big sheltered trees, known as roosts. Malta's biggest winter wagtail roost is the trees around St John's Co-cathedral, right in the heart of Valletta. Every evening throughout winter over 7000 wagtails congregate there for the night (we know because BirdLife counts them!). And yup, that's more than the human population of Valletta. Tex Victor Falzon Photo Aron Tanti EU plans to tackle climate change by the year 2030, announced in Brussels this week, have been heavily criticized since these targets ignore key findings from the European Commission's own research which show higher targets will bring savings on health costs, reduce dependency on energy imports and not significantly affect GDP. The policies proposed by the European Commission disregard climate science which makes it clear the need to drastically cut emissions to avoid catastrophic levels of global warming is getting more urgent all the time. In the plans the EU would commit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels) and would not set binding targets for increasing renewable energies or for reducing energy use. Friends of the Earth Europe believes three binding targets is the only way to ensure Europe effectively fulfils its responsibilities for tackling climate change. Emissions must be reduced by at least 60% by 2030 to be in line with science, and there must be binding targets to reduce energy use by 50% and increase the share of renewables to 45%. Only action on this scale will encourage the needed investment in clean energy resources to avoid the worst consequences of climate change and bring maximum benefits to the EU and its citizens. Climate change is happening but the EU is breaking its commitments to address it. With this proposal senior decisionmakers are proposing action which goes against people's best interests. This totally inadequate proposal is off the radar of what climate science tells us to do in Europe to avoid climate catastrophe. The European Commission also announced its intention not to set new targets for the reduction of the greenhouse gas intensity of transport fuels. Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us www.foemalta.org. You can also support us by sending a blank SMS donation on 50618070 (€4.66) or 50619223 (€11.65). GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 290: GREEN WINDOWS – If you don't have a garden, you can still enjoy fresh herbs by fitting a window box. Chives, oregano and creeping rosemary love sunny ledges, while shady windows suit rocket, sorrel and parsley. Start researching now how to build or buy one, so you can enjoy herbs when spring arrives.