Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/611961
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 DECEMBER 2015 41 This Week Chevron, EDF and BNP-Paribas have been awarded Pinocchio Climate Awards this week for their roles in undermining climate action and harming local communities. The winners, announced at a ceremony in Paris after a month of public voting, include two sponsors of the UN international climate talks in Paris. Climate talk sponsor BNP- Paribas was awarded its prize for financing coal around the world, including huge coal-fired power plants in South Africa and India. EDF received the award for using its controversial sponsorship to brand nuclear power as a 'clean' energy source and for its continued investments in fossil fuels, with 16 coal power plants worldwide – including some of the dirtiest in Europe. As long as BNP-P and EDF continue to invest heavily in dirty energy, they are part of the problem, not the solution. The public's vote for two sponsors of the COP21 shows that citizens are not fooled by the greenwash polluting the talks and undermining efforts to reach an ambitious and equitable climate agreement. Chevron was denounced for aggressively pushing fracking in Argentina. It is a key partner of the government's and state-controlled firm YPF's relentless efforts to develop unconventional oil and gas in Patagonia at any cost. Some of the largest and most influential companies in the world were nominated for the awards. These included Shell, for its legacy of environmental and social devastation in Nigeria, and Anglo-American for its devastating mine in Colombia. Total, the oil and gas giant, was nominated for infiltrating the European renewables lobby. The Pinocchio Climate Awards call on governments to take concrete action to end corporate impunity through binding regulation, such as the French draft law for transnational corporations and the UN binding treaty on transnational corporations and human rights. Governments must ignore corporate false solutions, and give priority to the protection of human rights, the environment and the climate, according to the organisations. The Wild Rabbit is not really native to Malta but was imported from mainland Europe long ago, possibly in Roman times. It has been here so long in fact that today we regard this prolific lagomorph part of our fauna and is in fact our largest wild land mammal. Contrary to what many think, the wild rabbit (M: fenek selvaġġ) is a different beast from the hare, which does not occur in Malta. Rabbits are smaller and less leggy, but nonetheless strong diggers, digging both to build their burrows as well as to dig up roots and bulbs to eat, along with a selection of grasses and flowers. They are most active at dawn and at dusk so as to avoid detection. In Malta their only predators are weasels and humans (there's a seven-month rabbit hunting season in fact). The wild rabbit is still relatively common in parts of Malta and there is also a population on Kemmuna, where the rabbits are smaller and paler than normal. Contrary to domestic varieties, wild rabbits do not vary much in colour, they are generally sandy grey with white underparts. 483. WILD RABBIT GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 386: : : SOOTHE COUGHS NATURALLY – For a cheaper and natural alternative to shop-bought cough medicine, soothe sore throats with an infusion of organic honey and lemon in hot water. The honey will relieve irritation and has valuable antimicrobial properties 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 and photo Victor Falzon Pinocchio Climate Awards 2015 – The 'Winners' FAA organises Candlelit Carols and Christmas Dinner at St Mark's Priory FLIMKIEN Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) will be organ- ising a Candlelit Carols Concert and Christmas din- ner on December 11 at St Mark's Augustinian Priory, Rabat, which is not usually open to the public. The VOCA choir will open the evening with a repertoire of Christmas music at St Mark's Church – which was built in 1558 by Girolamo Cassar. Following the concert, guests will be invited to wel- come drinks and a special Christmas dinner in the Priory built by Andrea Belli in 1740. A four-course Christmas meal, prepared by Osborne Caterers will be served in the Priory's indoor cloister, complete with traditional Christmas Swedish Santa Lucia pas- tries. Proceeds from the evening will go towards the res- toration of the Priory's medieval four-panel altarpiece of Our Lady of Mercy, which FAA is restoring in or- der to ensure that this priceless work will be enjoyed by future generations. This unique set of four wood- en panels dating to the late medieval period has been described as "one of the most important art treasures in Malta" due to its rarity and fine quality. The Candlelit Carols Concert starts at 19:00 on December 11 at St Mark's Church, in Triq Santu Wistin, Rabat (round the corner from Saqqajja BOV branch). Purchase your tickets online at www.faa.org.mt or call 2131 0720. Group table bookings accepted, dress code: casual smart. Price: adults – €45 inclusive of four courses: coffee, wine and water. Payment to reach FAA by December 9 Mdina Glass lights up Valletta for Christmas The Chairman of the Valletta 2018 Foundation Jason Micallef, together with the Mayor of Valletta Alexiei Dingli, lit a Christmas tree outside the new Parliament Building earlier this week, marking the start of the festive season. The Christmas Tree, as well as other installations at Pjazza Teatru Rjal, are made by Mdina Glass and will be on display for the rest of the month.