Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/621909
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 3 JANUARY 2016 40 JOHN PAUL CAUCHI Compromise This is a word that evokes differ- ent reactions in different people. Some see it as a positive word – one which signifies fairness, or jus- tice. To others, it means loss – per- haps irrevocable loss. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as an agree- ment or settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions; an intermediate state between conflicting alternatives reached by mutual concession. Indeed, its root is the Latin term "com promittere" – to "together make a promise". Positive... right? However, compromise also hides a darker meaning. It can mean loss – an irrevocable loss of something that can never be returned to the way it once was. Indeed, when used as a verb, the past tense of com- promise – compromised, means "to accept a standard that is lower than that desired". And this, dear readers, is Malta's speciality. As we look at our history, we see a society composed of generations where each generation inherits a status quo of diminished environ- mental wealth. Encouraged by the false man- tra of "economic growth is what makes a country successful" we be- lieve that infinite economic growth is possible – indeed desirable – ir- respective of the way we treat our very limited resources. Scientifi- cally this is nonsense, even when factoring in gains in efficiency and knowledge, since one cannot sustain endless growth on a finite planet. We believe that humans are apart from nature, not a part of nature – a great delusion. Nature affects us directly, and we already suffer the consequences of this age being termed by geologists as "the An- thropocene" (the human era). Our quality of life suffers as our bod- ies, which have evolved to live in a very different, more natural en- vironment, struggle to adapt to the stresses of contemporary society. A few decades of unprecedented economic growth since independ- ence have lifted this country out of great poverty. We are wealthier, in financial terms, than we have ever been, no longer classified as a "de- veloping" country but a developed one. This is an economic legacy to be lauded. However – at what cost? How many times have we used the false interpretation of 'compromise' to take from the environment? One- third of our land built up – just go on Google Maps and see – the gi- ant sprawl that surrounds the har- bour area. We are one of the most densely populated countries on Earth. Our over-congested roads are at breaking point. Our air qual- ity continues to decline. Social in- equality is increasing, with greater gaps between the haves and the have-nots. Do we not see we might be enter- ing an era of 'overdevelopment', where our natural heritage and indeed our identity might be lost amidst rising towers of concrete? Zonqor. Hotels. Race Trak. Sky- scrapers. Bridges. Tunnels. Roads. More cars... need I go on? Must we keep following models of countries that are far larger than our own to feel we are 'part of a club'? Must we keep snatching away pieces of land to fill the pockets of a few? Must we keep applauding the myth of 'creating more jobs' while our governments brag of the lowest unemployment levels ever? Must we keep feeding local and foreign speculators, while our children in- herit a country that we do not rec- ognise from that of our childhood? Must we become forever victims of nostalgia looking mournfully at Richard Ellis photographs, stuck in traffic jams overshadowed by high- rise buildings? 'Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well- being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.' (The World Health Organisation). Ask yourself – is our current state of life indeed leading to complete physical, men- tal and social well-being? Compromise: positive for some. Supposedly, a happy conclusion of two opposing sides. But where the environment is concerned, there is never compromise. Rather, the environment is compromised, and with it our health, our heritage, our sense of identity, and our human- ity. Dr John Paul Cauchi is a special- ist in environmental public health, and also a committee member of Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar Environment The outcomes of the Paris climate summit fall short of what is needed to solve the climate crisis. We need people power more than ever. Across Europe people are already taking on governments and corporations which promote dirty energy. And people are winning. In 2016 Friends of the Earth will be working with people across Europe and beyond to end fossil fuels and dirty energy. We'll be working with more communities to realise community-owned renewable power across Europe. We'll be working together to ensure people power increases pressure on governments and corporate polluters and get Europe off fossil fuels. People- powered, clean community energy can lead us to a climate- safe future. The Paris climate talks were one step in the fight for climate justice. Now people are more determined than ever to pressure governments to speed-up Europe's energy transformation. In 2016, Friends of the Earth groups around Europe will be working with more people to demand Fossil Free Energy; No to nuclear! Stop wasting energy! Yes to community power! Divest now! Decent green jobs! We're an island, so it's no surprise that we get lots of marine crabs around our shores. But considering that we live on an arid speck of land without rivers or freshwater lakes, and five-to-six rainless months in a row every year it is surprising that we actually also have freshwater crabs. Mind you, it's just one species – the Mediterranean freshwater crab (M: qabru) – and it's extremely rare, somehow surviving in just two or three rare spots where freshwater streams occur all year round. Most people know about the animal not because they've seen one but because before we adopted the euro, this brave creature featured on the old 5c coin. Freshwater crabs are largely active at night, hunting snails, slugs and tadpoles in the dark, then retreating to their mud burrows for the day. The crab is a protected species but its habitat too needs protecting from pollution, development or over-extraction of ground water. If not, this charismatic crustacean will go the way of the old coin that sported its image. A happy new year to all. GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 390: FIND OUT MORE AT HTTPS://WWW.FOEEUROPE.ORG/ENERGY-REVOLUTION 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 Join the Energy Revolution Compromise, compromised Do we not see we might be entering an era of 'overdevelopment', where our natural heritage and indeed our identity might be lost amidst rising towers of concrete? Text Victor Falzon Photo Guido Bonett 487. FRESHWATER CRAB