Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/286290
THIS WEEK maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 MARCH 2014 39 THIS WEEK Our limey soils are apparently best suited for owers in the yellow/ white corner of the paint-box. So a vivid purple ower is a joy to spot growing amidst all the yellow-petalled hoi polloi. The tassel hyacinth is one such beauty and it's not just the colour that sets it apart, but also its unusual arrangement of buds that look rather like a pin cushion or, if you like, a little purple rework caught in mid burst. You may not see this ower it at once – it's not a particularly tall or in-your-face sort of plant – but it seems that as soon as you spot your rst one, others of its kind start to appear (well it's what always happens with me at least). And this is the perfect time to go looking for these exquisite jewels of nature. Tassel hyacinths (M: basal il-hniezer) grow in long-abandoned elds that lost much of their soil and became a rocky steppe (though not quite garrigue yet). Like other species in the garlic family, this plant produces bulbs, which explains the 'basal' part in its Maltese name; the porcine connection, on the other hand, has me totally beat. Text and photo Victor Falzon 397. TASSEL HYACINTH 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 299: Save energy, forget the ironing – Do you really need to iron your clothes and sheets? Save time and energy, and live with the odd crease. If you have to iron, do it while your clothes are still damp to save time. By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well- connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscape and seascape. Well-governed and effectively managed protected areas are a proven method for safeguarding both habitats and populations of species and for delivering important ecosystem services. Particular emphasis is needed to protect critical ecosystems such as tropical coral reefs, sea-grass beds, deepwater cold coral reefs, seamounts, tropical forests, peat lands, freshwater ecosystems and coastal wetlands. Currently, some 13 per cent of terrestrial areas and 6 per cent of coastal areas are protected, while very little of the open oceans are protected. Therefore reaching the proposed target implies a modest increase in terrestrial protected areas globally, with an increased focus on representativity, connectivity and management effectiveness, together with major efforts to expand marine protected areas. Some countries have already surpassed the global % value and therefore will be able to achieve targets higher than the global average. Indeed, this will be necessary to reach the global target. For most of these countries, however, the focus for terrestrial areas is likely to be on the need for improved management effectiveness. As part of its national obligations Malta targets that by 2020, the risk of local extirpation of known threatened species is to be reduced, with 30% of the species of European Community Importance in the Maltese territory having a favourable or improved conservation status. Aichi Biodiversity Targets – Protected areas increased and improved FIMBank sponsors Matthew Kassar art exhibition FIMBANK plc is sponsoring an art exhibition by artist Matthew Kas- sar entitled 'New Places'. The exhi- bition, which will be housed at the German-Maltese Circle at Messina Palace in Valletta, will be open to the public between the 5 and 28 April of this year. Born in 1968, Kassar showed an interest in art from an early age, spending a lot of time in his carpen- ter father's workshop, utilising all kinds of materials to create his first attempts at painting and sculpture. These experiments were the roots of his artistic orientation and shaped the abilities which later flourished in Matthew's obsession in using differ- ent and unconventional materials in his paintings. Kassar considers established art- ist Alfred Chircop, under whom he studied for some time, as a true mentor, thanks to whom his raw and coarse talent developed into refined art. Over time, Kassar has developed the technique for which he is re- nowned today – the newspaper col- lage using acrylic and various other materials, such as gesso and glue. The use of this style can be traced to his earlier abstract work. Kassar has held a number of personal and col- lective exhibitions, both locally and abroad. Commenting on FIMBank's spon- sorship of the exhibition, the Bank's Chairman, Dr John C. Grech, stated that it is clear from Kassar's works that the artist sees this medium "as a very powerful way of communi- cating", and that his use of various materials and colours "gives a very strong and personal interpretation of Malta's architecture and heritage, especially that of Valletta". Dr Grech said that FIMBank was pleased to support an artist who, like the Bank, greatly appreciated the islands' many qualities. For more information about FIM- Bank please visit www.fimbank.com New tourist attraction to depict St. Paul's Shipwreck MALTA will soon boast an innova- tive tourist attraction that depicts the epic story of St. Paul's shipwreck in Malta in a new and exciting cin- ematic experience. This ambitious project was developed by the Ani- mation and Communication Centre (CAK) of the Franciscan Conventu- als and is being made possible with co-financing from European Union funds for the development of the Tourism Product. A production team consisting of Maltese and Italian talent led by director Massimo My is currently shooting the dramatic documentary at the Mediterranean Film Studios in Kalkara. Scenes of the shipwreck in the violent storm are being shot on a virtual set and other built sets are being used for the various pe- riod scenes. The cast includes Maltese ac- tors in leading roles such as Henry Zammit Cordina in the lead role of Saint Paul, Malcom Ellul as Julius the centurion, James Cutajar as the captain and Roberto De Santis as Publius. Production in Malta has been entrusted to Kenneth Cassar of Extreme Effects and all props have been supplied courtesy of the Malta Film Commission. After three weeks of filming in Malta, the production then moves on to Italy for post-production and master- ing. The final production will be screened in six languages. This state-of-the-art tourist at- traction, which is expected to open later this year, will project the epic docudrama on a 14-metre wide screen, making it a truly larger than life experience. CAK is a Christian- inspired organisation dealing with the transmission of religious mes- sages to different audiences in so- ciety. More information about this innovative attraction may be found by following Facebook on "The Shipwreck Malta."