Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/459448
IX This week maltatoday, Sunday, 8 February 2015 xxxx Take a winter walk down a valley that has a stream at the bottom, and you may just meet this dainty customer. Mind you, it's more likely you'll only see it flying off, having spotted you approaching. Such a pity since, despite their drab name, grey wagtails are quite attractive birds. Their black, grey and white upperparts set off very nicely the stunning lemon underparts, and their slim build and very long tail complete the picture of avian elegance. Grey wagtails are much less gregarious than their cousins the white wagtails, which throng – almost 8000 strong – a few trees in Valletta every winter evening. Greys are generally solitary and like nothing better than to patrol their quiet stretch of stream looking for small insects and other invertebrates attracted to the water. The grey wagtail (M: zakak tad-dell) is not a year-round resident here, we only see them on migration, though several stay the winter wherever they can find suitable habitat. But come spring they all up and fly to mainland Europe, as our summers are way too dry to support the watery haunts of these birds. Having said that, we did have one or two exciting cases of a pair nesting in recent years, but prospects for widespread breeding are not realistic with this species. Guess we'll just have to make do with occasional winter encounters. 440. GREY WAGTAIL GrEEn IdEa of thE wEEk 343: Don't lag behinD – an insulating jacket for your water tank costs about €20 and could pay for itself within months. It's one of the easiest ways to save energy and cut your bills. The trade agreement being negotiated between the uS and eu threatens public health, consumer rights and animal welfare standards, shows new analysis by food and trade experts. The criticisms come as negotiators from both sides of the atlantic meet behind closed doors in brussels, belgium this week started to write new food safety rules for the trade deal and as hundreds of people demonstrated against the 'Trojan Horse Treaty'. a document about the deal recently published by the eu shows that officials are planning a major 'power grab' to put trade interests before food safety concerns as part of the planned Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The analysis shows that the eu proposals would reduce the possibility of restricting genetically modified foods and the use of hormones and other chemicals in factory-farmed animals by establishing a new transatlantic body to filter all future food safety and animal welfare rules – aiming to facilitate trade "to the greatest extent possible". First decisions on food safety would be shifted to this new trade committee and away from national and european decision-makers, whilst also reducing countries' rights to inspect food and agricultural imports at the port of entry – a key measure used to safeguard public health. These moves would expose the public to more food scandals and pollution by making the eu and uS increasingly accept international food safety standards – which are generally accepted as weaker. They would also undermine local or regional powers to set higher standards, such as banning GM crops or restricting antibiotic use in factory farming. Friends of the earth believes that this trade agreement is a Trojan horse that will threaten our food safety and environment. Trade officials whose primary objective is to increase trade and boost corporate profits will have first say over future food safety rules. a trade agreement is not the place to decide about our food safety. 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). Text Victor Falzon Photo Aron Tanti EU-US trade deal threatens food safety Contemporary dance draws on local traditions Happiness, tension and love are some of the com- plex emotions experienced by the characters in MOVEO's new contemporary dance production 'It- Tfajla tal-Għonnella'. A joint production between Manoel Theatre and MOVEO Dance Company this new dance show finds inspiration from Maltese traditional culture and aspects of the Baroque era. This work consists of a series of narratives that occur in four different scenarios – the market, the Baroque ball, the war and the Maltese wed- ding. Although the narratives are diverse, the one constant factor that ties them all is the għonnella – a piece of fabric that was worn by Maltese women and which represents part of the Maltese traditional identity. 'It-Tfajla tal-Għonnella' is choreographed by Dorian Mallia, in collaboration with the danc- ers: Diane Portelli, Christina Cauchi, Elena Zammit, Pamela Kerr, Cassandra Galea, Dorian Mallia, Tom Shale-Coates, Francesco Joseph Nicode. Music adaptation by Albert Garzia. The production will be staged at the Teatru Manoel on February 13, 14, 15 at 20:00. Book- ings: www.teatrumanoel.com.mt, bookings@ teatrumanoel.com.mt or 2124 6389 Brian Schembri and Veronique Vella to perform tribute concert The Malta Philharmonic Or- chestra (MPO) will be pre- senting the world premiere of a new work commissioned by Professor Robert Ghirlando as a tribute to his late wife Maria, herself a pianist and patron to the arts, on February 20. The concerto, enti- tled Concerto for Maria, will be performed by the composer-pianist Veronique Vella. The piece borrows techniques from diverse musical genres,ranging from baroque counterpoint to romantic piano music to a more minimalist approach. Various virtuosic pianistic techniques are displayed, in- cluding large octave leaps in the central movement. Brian Schembri, chief conductor of he MPO leads the orchestra and introduces the second half of the programme with Ravel 's Pavane pour une enfant defunte summing up the idea that a little princess might, in former times, have danced at the Spanish court and Shostakovich 's 9th Sym- phony, a pure and perfect, almost neoclassical work. Bookings: 2124 6389 or www.maltaorchestra.com Veronique Vella