Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/278185
THIS WEEK maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 MARCH 2014 37 THIS WEEK This Cleopatra has no connection with Egypt or with a certain desperate Antonius. Instead, it's one of our loveliest butter ies. It is medium sized as butter ies go, but the delicate pale lemon hue of its broad wings is unmistakable. On the other hand, once it lands, the animal virtually disappears, because its hindwing mimics a leaf almost to perfection, veins and all. As spring approaches, butter ies that had spent the winter as pupae start to emerge and descend on the vast oral bu et selection. Butter ies are not nicky about what owers to drink from but they are very careful where to lay their eggs. That's because their caterpillars are much more picky vis-a-vis their menu. The Cleopatra, for example, lays on buckthorns because its leaves (and those of closely related species) are the foodplant of their larvae. Most Maltese butter y names, in fact, indicate the foodplant of that particular species, and so the Cleopatra is Farfett taż-Żiju (żiju being the Maltese name for the Olive-leaved Buckthorn). Text and photo Victor Falzon 395. CLEOPATRA 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 297: Give houseplants a boost – Pop small plants outdoors next time it rains - avoid cacti, succulents and hairy-leaved plants. The rain removes dust from the leaves, so they can photosynthesize more effectively, and stimulates their growth. By 2015, the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean acidification are minimized, so as to maintain their integrity and functioning. Urgently reducing anthropogenic pressures on those ecosystems affected by climate change or ocean acidification will give them greater opportunities to adapt. Where multiple drivers are combining to weaken ecosystems, aggressive action to reduce those pressures most amenable to rapid intervention should be prioritized. Many of these drivers can be addressed more easily then climate change or ocean acidification. In addition to climate change and ocean acidification there are a variety of other human pressures affecting ecosystems. These include such things as land-based pollution/ sedimentation, unsustainable harvesting and other physical pressures which result in habitat loss. Given that some ecosystems, such as coral reefs, are expected to suffer serious declines in the future as a result of climate change and/or ocean acidification urgent action needs to be taken to reduce those pressures over which we have greater control or are in a position to meaningfully address now. Given this urgency a deadline of 2015 has been set for this target. The emphasis of this target should be on taking urgent action to reduce those drivers affecting ecosystems particularly vulnerable to climate change or ocean acidification. The reduction of these stressors will help to make these ecosystems less vulnerable to the impacts of acidification and climate change over the short to medium-term. This will provide more time for climate change and ocean acidification to be addressed over a longer time-scale. Ultimately the aim of this target is to provide ecosystems with the greatest probability of maintaining their integrity and functioning despite the effects of climate change and/or ocean acidification. As part of its national obligations Malta targets that by 2020, 13% land area covered by terrestrial Natura 2000 sites is maintained, and Malta's sufficiency in the designation of key marine biodiversity areas is improved through a representative network of marine protected areas. Aichi Biodiversity Targets – Pressures on vulnerable ecosystems reduced Manoel Theatre to stage Mozart's La Clemenza Di Tito WRITTEN at the very end of his life, La Clemenza di Tito remains one of Mozart's most interesting compositions; an opera seria, beau- tifully created and constructed in the Italianate grand manner. This opera will be staged for the first time in Malta at the Manoel Thea- tre, which is dedicating four con- secutive nights to this production between March 20 and 23. Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito follows the great Pietro Metasta- sio's typical libretto structure, as modified by Caterino Mazzola and chosen by Mozart purposely for its classic qualities as he sought to please the new Emperor Leopold and entice him to appoint him maestro di cappella. Leopold who succeeded his childless brother Joseph II in 1791, and his Spanish wife Maria Ludovica had till that time been Grand Duke of Tuscany and it was presumed that his tastes were more Italian than what was fashionable in Vienna at the time. Given that this opera is be- ing staged over four consecutive evenings, a double cast has been secured to cover all the four per- formances. The role of Tito will be performed by tenors Peter Davoren and Ben Thapa, the role of Vitellia by sopranos Andriana Jordanova and Cristina Baggio whilst the role of Sesto will be covered by coun- tertenor David Hansen on two of the nights, alternating with mezzo soprano Sian Cameron. The artistic direction of the Op- era is by Kenneth Zammit Tabona who has opted for scenery inspired by Piranesi's engravings of Rome's most famous landmarks. These are being produced purposely for this production by Teatru Manoel. The stage f looring will regale patrons with a reproduction of the famous f loor designs at Rome's Campido- lio created by Michelangelo. Zammit Tabona also designed the costumes for this production inspired by the elegance and neo- classical lines of the Directoire pe- riod. The fabric and materials for these costumes have been spon- sored by Camilleri Paris Mode and the costumes are currently being sewn by the Teatru Manoel's cos- tume house. The complete performing cast al- so includes mezzo sopranos Clare Chigo and Annie Fredriksson in the role of Annio, sopranos Clau- dia Tabone and Gabriella Costa in the role of Servilia whilst bass singers Albert Buttigieg and Noel Galea will cover the role of Publio. The Manoel Theatre is also bringing over experienced opera director Harry Fehr to work along- side locally-based director Denise Mulholland to realise her ideas for this originally designed new pro- duction. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will be under the baton of Damiano Binetti. The Teatru Manoel Opera Chorus has been trained by Alexander Vella Gre- gory. Tickets are already available and being sold from Teatru Manoel's website www.teatrumanoel.com. mt or through the booking office by email on bookings@teatrumanoel. com.mt or by calling on 21 246389 WE all know that the Phoenicians occupied Malta but how much do we actually know about them? On Tuesday 18 March the heritage group Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ah- jar will be holding a talk by Prof. Anthony Frendo on Phoenician and Punic Malta to provide some of those answers. Occurring between the two "gi- gantic" phases of Prehistoric and Roman Malta, the Phoenician-Pu- nic period of the Maltese islands is often overshadowed by these heavyweights of Maltese history. Although there are only few sur- viving architectural remains from the Phoenician-Punic period of the Maltese archipelago, the period is in fact very rich culturally as the Phoenicians introduced writing to the Maltese islands, which means that besides interesting small finds, many inscriptions have been found at Phoenician-Punic sites in Malta and Gozo. Prof. Anthony J. Frendo, former head of the Department of Oriental Studies, as well as that of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Malta, who also specialises in North-West Semitic and Phoeni- cian Inscriptions, will make this shadowy period come alive with his talk about the art, architecture, cul- ture and trade of this community that placed Malta at the centre of the Mediterranean trading routes in the first millennium BC. To reserve a place at this interest- ing lecture taking place at the Cor- inthia Palace Hotel, Attard, on 18 March, 18:30 (eve of a public holi- day). Those interested are request- ed to reserve their places by email- ing bookings@faa.org.mt or calling 99820159. Participants are request- ed to be seated by 18:15. A donation of €5 is solicited; each participant will be given a publication courtesy of Midsea Books, and refreshments will be served after the talk. The talk is sponsored by FimBank and Da Vinci Hospital. Exploring the Phoenician-Punic period