Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/313770
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 18 MAY 2014 36 THIS WEEK Many kinds of shorebirds make stopovers around our coast during migration. At this time of year they will be heading in a generally northern or north-easterly direction, along with millions of other birds, to their breeding grounds. One of these waders – as they are also known collectively – is the common redshank. True to their name, redshanks have long red legs (with matching long red bill), which come in handy when they wade in shallow water along a sandy or muddy shoreline looking for worms and other tiny aquatic beasts. Redshanks (M: pluverott) are regular annual visitors but they won't be visiting your green patch at home: it's places with open shallow water that they like, like the wetland at Ghadira nature reserve or Salina. Such sites are ideal snack-bars for these travellers in transit. The redshank's plaintive call evokes images of huge windswept estuaries. Well we don't have estuaries here, but at least we have redshanks and their friends stopping by, if only for a short stint. Text Victor Falzon Photo Mike Downham 404. COMMON REDSHANK 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 306: FRESHEN THE AIR WITH PLANTS - Plants at home or work can be really effective in filtering pollutants from the air, according to research by NASA. Some have been shown to remove up to 87% of indoor pollution in 24 hours. All terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems provide multiple ecosystem services. However some ecosystems are particularly important in that they provide services that directly contribute to human wellbeing by providing services and goods to fulfill daily needs. Actions taken to protect and restore such ecosystems will have benefits for biodiversity as well as human wellbeing. This target aims that by 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor and vulnerable. All ecosystems provide goods and services. However some ecosystems are particularly important for human wellbeing because of the services they provide. Ecosystems which provide services related to the provision of food, fibre, medicines and fresh water, pollination of crops, filtration of pollutants, and protection from natural disasters are among those ecosystem services provided by biodiversity which are essential for human wellbeing While all people are dependent on ecosystem services for their survival some groups are particularly reliant on them for their wellbeing. In many countries the poor and vulnerable are directly reliant upon ecosystem services for their day to day survival needs. In many countries the poor and vulnerable are disproportionately composed of women. Further because of different gender roles, in some countries women may be reliant on certain types of ecosystems more than men. For many indigenous and local communities ecosystems not only provide services but are also an essential part of their spirituality, worldview and identity. Therefore decisions about how to restore and protect ecosystems particularly important for human wellbeing could have effects on these different groups As such it will be important to ensure that the needs of these groups are considered when setting policies or undertaking certain types of action. As part of its national obligations Malta targets that by 2020, vulnerable ecosystems that provide essential services are safeguarded, with at least 15% of degraded ecosystems restored, while 20% of the habitats of European Community Importance in the Maltese territory have a favourable or improved conservation status. Text by Martin Galea De Giovanni Aichi Biodiversity Targets – Ecosystems and essential services safeguarded Making theatre a viable profession The Department of Theatre Studies of the University of Malta's School of Performing Arts has recently revamped its undergraduate course to address 21st century developments in education, culture, and employability. New study-units include a festival, popular per- formance, applied theatre, and arts and cul- tural management, in addition to units in the history and theory of theatre. The department is run by a dynamic team of lecturers who range from traditional aca- demics with years of experience in university teaching and research, to arts and culture professionals who have worked in the indus- try doing anything from acting to directing, community work, festival organisation, or arts funding. Past students of Theatre Stud- ies have found jobs in the educational sector, the media, as well as the cultural industries. Other graduates have used skills and knowl- edge learnt during their course to develop ca- reers in diplomacy, management, and private enterprise. The launching of the new course coincides with the 25th anniversary of Theatre Studies at the University of Malta. Originally estab- lished in 1989 as a programme of study, it was elevated to departmental status in 2012 as one of the founding disciplines (along with Dance Studies and Music Studies) within the newly set up School of Performing Arts at the Uni- versity of Malta. More information on the new course and the history of Theatre Studies can be found in a specially prepared booklet, which can be down- loaded here: https://www.um.edu.mt/__data/ assets/pdf_ file/0015/214620/thsbrochure.pdf Violinist Nadine Galea chosen to join the European Union Youth Orchestra MALTESE violinist Nadine Galea has been chosen to form part of the 2014/2015 season of the European Union Youth Orchestra, joining the exceptionally talented group of young musicians who will bring to life the Orchestra's pro- gramme over the next sea- son. The result was announced after the European Union Youth Orchestra recently published its list of Eu- rope's greatest young mu- sicians, as it announced its new 2014/15 orchestra of 140 players – drawn from all 28 EU member states. Nadine Galea will be one of the emerging artists to perform at this year's Malta Arts Festival. Over 3,000 of Europe's finest young musicians au- ditioned for a place in this year's orchestra, which tours internationally twice annually. With most players aged between 19 and 25, the European Un- ion Youth Orchestra has acquired a reputa- tion, over almost 40 years, as Europe's leading youth orchestra, performing under the baton of current Music Director, Maestros Vladimir Ashkenazy, and previous Music Directors Claudio Abbado and Bernard Haitink. Lo- cally, auditions were organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts. To view recent video footage of the EUYO: http://www.youtube.com/EUYOvideo PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARRIN ZAMMIT LUPI