Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/326223
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 JUNE 2014 36 ILKUMMIDJANTI tal-Parlament is a book that tickles you to death as much as it embarrasses you, gives you food for thought and disturbs you with its emotional truth. This book – which was recently pub- lished by Horizons, and is being sold in all bookshops – is definitely not a book we are normally used to seeing emerge from local publishers. It is enough to say that the author of this literary work is none other than Carmel Scicluna, who was born in 1969, a senior pharmacist in the Health Department, with eight publications already behind him. The author of Ossessjoni, has al- ready established himself as a writer of realistic novels with a touch of humour and surrealism. In the first story, the lawyer Dr Bongi Wongi is the most intelli- gent monkey in Form 2. He decides to invite journalists to his home to film the high marks he scored in Secondary school. And he passes a motion which exposes even more his pompous character and his per- sonal interests above anything else. In another story, Dr Leonardo di- Malta, makes a pact with the devil, just as Faust had done, in order to win the general elections. But wheat he never imagines that an out-of- body experience will bring him face to face with Lucifer. Ir-Romblu, a political dinosaur who is hard of hearing, causes an uproar in parliament when he is called a "traitor" by Dr Leonardo. Something always happens to the Prime Minister when he tries to be amorous with his wife. We then meet another parliamentary come- dian. He is a pastry chef who be- comes Health Commissioner. And together with Tal-Imqaret, who had previously been his canvasser, comes up with a plan to gain mil- lions of pounds from the company Tikbis Żvediż… these and other slices of political satire – some fea- turing a certain 'JPOS' and a certain 'RCC' – have made their way into the collection. Carmel Scicluna says that he col- lected the information which helped him come up with this book from blogs, YouTube and press cuttings. The book ends with an excellent critique by Dr Francis Fabric, who combined these stories with earlier works produced by the author. THIS WEEK It's not really a fungus but as much a owering plant as your potted petunias. True, on seeing this eldritch red-brown growth protruding from the ground, the concept ' ower' wouldn't be the rst thing to spring to mind. But it owers alright, though these are tiny. Not that you're likely to ever see the thing, as its distribution in Malta is restricted to more or less just one place: Il-Gebla tal-General, a stack o western Gozo. The plant is a parasite and gets all its sustenance from its host plants, which is why it's not green and doesn't grow leaves. The Malta Fungus (Gherq Sinjur) was thought to grow only in Malta (not true, but the name stuck) and was once highly prized as a cure for blood-related illnesses (not true, either), indeed the Grand Master used to send it as a gift to nobility and other bigwigs around Europe. Because of its rarity the plant was strictly protected, and being caught helping yourself would land you a stint rowing the Order's galleys. Considering the fact that it has no medicinal properties, it was eminently not worth the risk. Text Victor Falzon Photo Joe Sultana 407. MALTA FUNGUS 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 309: FOODS TO RE-GROW AT HOME - Did you know you can re-grow spring onions from the root that you cut off and throw away? Or that you can re-grow potatoes from an old potato that has 'eyes' growing on it? The Nagoya Protocol provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of one of the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. The Protocol covers genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, as well as the benefits arising from their utilization by setting out core obligations for its contracting Parties to take measures in relation to access, benefit-sharing and compliance. This target aims that by 2015, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization is in force and operational, consistent with national legislation. Specifically this target states that the Nagoya Protocol will enter into force 90 days after the date of deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification. As such for Target 16 to be met 50 countries must ratify the Protocol by October 2015 at the latest. The second aim of this target requires that the Nagoya Protocol is operational and consistent with national legislation: The operationalization of the Nagoya Protocol requires that it be implemented effectively at the national level. Countries will need, depending on their specific circumstances, to revise legislative, administrative or policy measures already in place or develop new measures in order to meet the obligations set out under the Protocol. Countries will also need to determine the institutional structure needed for implementing the Protocol. As part of its national obligations Malta targets that by 2020, access to national genetic resources is regulated through a National Regime on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). Aichi Biodiversity Targets – Nagoya Protocol in force and operational * Keep your kids active & healthy Keep your kids active & healthy Keep your kids active & healthy Keep your kids active & healthy Keep your kids active & healthy this summer by sigNing them up to... this summer by sigNing them up to... this summer by sigNing them up to... this summer by sigNing them up to... this summer by sigNing them up to... Keep your kids active & healthy this summer by sigNing them up to... V�LUED �T €600 PER CHILD REGISTERED KIDS BET�EEN 5-16 �ILL RECEIVE 2 FREE G�MES OF BO�LING D�ILY, �LL SUMMER LONG! healthy snack options availablE! committed to fight child obesity committed to fight child obesity EDEN LEISURE GROUP FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.edensuperbowl.com Terms and conditions APPLY IN �SSOCI�TION �ITH �N EDEN LEISURE INITI�TIVE Burst of political satire to hit our shelves