Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/537300
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 5 JULY 2015 38 This Week Snakes have the worst publicity. Admittedly some species can kill you in a matter of minutes but most are harmless. Humans being what they are will generalise in topics they are unfamiliar with, so snakes almost always come across as the baddies. Four species occur in Malta and they're all harmless: indeed they are protected by law and considered beneficial as they eat lots of rats and mice. The most handsome is the Leopard Snake, so called because of the lovely pattern of black-edged amber patches all over its otherwise pale body. The Maltese name is Lifgha, a rather silly name if you ask me, considering that the word simply means snake (so technically the rest can be called lifgha). But the word stuck and every time you say the word, it invariably invokes in every Maltese mind the story of a certain snake's unlucky encounter with the saintly Paul of Tarsus, whereupon the topic of venom is broached all over again and, as always, the poor snake gets the blame. 461. LEOPARD SNAKE GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 363: FOOD VISION PHOTO CONTEST – For more information about how to participate visit http://www.foemalta.org/links/foodvision Potential conflicts of interest continue to plague the European Parliament one year after elections, finds new research released by Friends of the Earth Europe, Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl. The report details nine cases of MEPs who have other jobs while holding public office and are at risk of potential conflicts of interest. All nine MEPs hold paid positions in companies or business associations that directly or indirectly lobby EU decision-makers on current legislative files. The cases include parliamentarians from Poland, Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, the UK, Denmark and Austria – some of which had already given rise to concerns in the last parliamentary term. The report authors point out that the existing code of conduct for MEPs, introduced in 2012, is insufficiently enforced and riddled with loopholes so that problematic cases keep arising. Friends of the Earth Europe, Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl are recommending the parliament's code of conduct be strengthened in a number of ways, including the implementation of tighter disclosure requirements for outside financial interests, force MEPs to be more specific about their outside earnings, and ensure full disclosure of any monthly income above €10,000 as well as giving more detailed descriptions of ambiguous job titles. It is not acceptable that MEPs work for companies that are at the same time lobbying the EU. This undermines public trust in law-making and the integrity of the European Parliament. MEPs should be their electorate's representative, not industry's representative. Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate Text Victor Falzon Photo John J Borg Potential conflicts of interest persist in EU parliament – new research Applications open for youth scholarships to international piano festival TWO young pianists will be tak- ing part in a festival in Italy next month, after the European Foun- dation for the Support of Culture and the Malta International Music Festival in collaboration with Alex- ey Kononenko, have announced the grant of two scholarships for young pianists. They will be taking part in the second International Piano Festi- val in Italy which will be held next month, between August 9 and 19, 2015. The festival is organized by the Centro Culturale Russo-Italiano, European Foundation for Sup- port of Culture and Internation- al Music School Cenacolo della Musica – S. Irene in collabora- tion with the music school Città di San Giovanni Teatino. The two scholarship grants include flights, accommodation and active participation in the master classes within the festival. The scholarships are awarded by European Foundation for Sup- port of Culture and sponsored by Alexey Kononenko. A selection process will be held on July 8 at the Johann Strauss School of Music - Malta. Intermediate students are to present two contrasting pieces or movements with a maximum duration of seven minutes. Ad- vanced students are to present two to three contrasting pieces or movements, with a maximum duration of 14 minutes. Closing date for registrations is July 7, and the registration fee is €10. To register send an email to info@eufsc.eu indicating appli- cant's name, age and programme being presented at audition. The registration fee is to be paid on the day of audition. For more in- formation call on 7772 7222