Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/624751
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 10 JANUARY 2016 39 FOR a country that possesses few resourc- es, one would imag- ine that protection of heritage, the pride of our nation and pillar of our tourism indus- try, has always been of foremost importance to Malta's planners. Sadly it has not. Malta is blessed in that historic urban areas shaped by the aspira- tions of generations are abundant on our islands, revealing the stamp that each coloniser left over the centuries. Already in 2011 UNESCO recom- mendations on the historic land- scape state that "rapid and uncon- trolled urbanization, may frequently result in social and spatial fragmen- tation and in a drastic deterioration of the quality of the urban environ- ment and of the surrounding rural areas. Notably, this may be due to excessive building density, stand- ardized and monotonous buildings, loss of public space and amenities, inadequate infrastructure" – they could have been describing Malta. Our academics and certain author- ities have grasped that our historic buildings are not only a social and cultural but also an economic asset; however this has not prevented the demolition of many of our heritage buildings, authorised by MEPA, the responsibility of the Of- fice of the Prime Min- ister. Ignoring the fact that our old streetscapes make our urban areas more liveable, that they benefit the economy and bring communities together, MEPA issues permits to build blocks of flats that rip the heart out of our village cores and wreck Malta's landscapes. In Europe the emphasis on pre- serving individual architectural monuments has now shifted to- wards the conservation of whole districts to promote social and economic development. Along with protection of green areas, this combines the needs of present and future generations with the legacy of the past. While the preservation of old town centres provides economic, social and cultural opportunities that can improve the quality of life and tra- ditional character of urban areas, overdevelopment undermines the sense of place, the streetscapes and the identity of communities. Un- controlled development in Malta has merged towns and villages to- gether, risking the loss of their tra- ditional identity and populations. Sensitive protection of historic urban landscapes can lessen such impacts by promoting social regen- eration as new services and tourism create employment. Innovations in information technology, sustainable planning and building can improve urban areas, enhancing the quality of life and encouraging residents to remain in the area. This could be achieved in Gozo, rather than digging tunnels for Gozitans who have no choice but to work in Mal- ta. It was precisely the reason why Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar had supported the idea of Parliament relocating to the Mediterranean Conference Centre or the Auberge de Baviere, which, with the comple- tion of the St Elmo project, would have created a cultural hub and re- generated all of Lower Valletta. UNESCO had called on local au- thorities to prepare urban devel- opment plans taking into account landscape and other heritage fea- tures. This was indeed done in the 2006 Local Plans; however such policies were largely ignored by MEPA's boards as the ruination of towns like Attard attests. Both the EU and UNESCO stress the importance of civil participa- tion to involve different stakehold- ers, from residents to universities, encouraging them to identify areas that are important for social, cul- tural or natural reasons. Developing plans and agreeing on actions to- gether not only safeguard heritage, but also helps avert conflict later on. Sadly MEPA has not favoured this approach, quite the opposite; by holding Local Plan consultations in the height of summer it has ensured minimal participation – or interfer- ence – in the process of concreting over Malta. Furthermore, passive participa- tion is not enough when the public has been intentionally starved of knowledge for decades. Training programmes for residents and re- storers, support of private restora- tions, the creation of innovative job-creation projects and the fos- tering of local private investment through micro-credit and flexible financing, would make the historic urban landscape approach finan- cially sustainable. On a strong positive note, MEPA has recently launched its Develop- ment Control Policy, Guidance and Standards 2015 (DC 15) giving a strong new direction to urban and architectural design policy, and providing guidelines to ensure that changes in Urban Conservation Areas are respectful of, and enrich, their historical context. If taken seri- ously by MEPA's permitting boards, and hence by architects, this offers hope for Malta's remaining charac- teristic streets and squares. Environment The production and sale of food generates billions of Euro worldwide. However, multinational corporations seldom assume responsibility for working conditions along their supply chains, and the environmental impact of their production. The study SQUEEZE OUT draws a transparent picture of the entire European orange juice supply chain, from the cultivation of the oranges to the marketing of the juice. Research findings in Brazil and Europe shed light on something that food retailers are all too happy to cover up: dependence and exploitation of workers on plantations and in factories, as well as environmental destruction, in particular through massive use of pesticides. The study gives an overview of the citrus industry in Brazil, highlighting the economic profile of the main companies in the all relevant sectors: rural (farming and orange harvest), industrial (processing of oranges for juice production), as well as marketing and selling the final product (European retail). The findings of this study are based on a qualitative research method, involving two field trips: the first in June/July 2013 by German development NGO Christliche Initiative Romero (CIR) and the second in July 2015 by CIR and Friends of the Earth Austria. This report was prepared as part of the EU funded project "Supply Chainge" which started during the European Year for Development 2015. The main objective of this project is to make supermarket store brands (sometimes known as 'own brands' or 'private labels') fairer and more sustainable. In addition to primary sources (individual interviews with workers and trade union representatives), various secondary sources were used such as company or industry material, trade associations material, and information from government, trade press, universities and others. Being a rock in the middle of the sea, Malta is no stranger to gulls. We have about a dozen species of gulls recorded but only half of these are seen with any regularity, the others are very rare. The most common species is the black-headed gull (M: gawwija rasha kannella). Like most gulls (naturalists say gull, by the way, not seagull), the black- headed gull is a brilliant white, with grey back and long slender wings tipped with black. In summer its head feathers turn dark brown – yes, the Maltese name is more accurate than the English name – but in winter, which is when we see this bird most, the 'balaclava' comes off and the head goes white again! Watching a flock of a hundred black- headed gulls wheeling around dodging boat masts in the harbour is a spectacle, all the more dramatic with dark stormclouds looming behind. All gulls are protected by law but many still get shot – for fun, they're not edible – by hunters, especially out at sea where people are less likely to see them. GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 391: FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE FULL STUDY HTTP://WWW.FOEMALTA.ORG/LINKS/SQUEEZEOUT 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 SQUEEZE OUT - Behind the Orange Juice Business Text Victor Falzon Photo Aron Tanti 488. BLACK-HEADED GULL The historic urban landscape: a social and economic opportunity Astrid Vella