Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/755517
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2016 44 This Week Now that some rain has finally slaked the land's thirst and that much awaited verdant carpet is back, we can hopefully forget the summer greys and browns for a few months. We deserve a good rainy season after last winter's disappoinment. The effect of rain is also evident at wetlands such as BirdLife's nature reserves, which are now again open at weekends for the public. The brackish lake at Għadira receives an invigorating infusion of fresh water, thanks to which the lagoon increases in size as the wintering birds start trickling in. Naturally, birds are not the only attractions at Għadira. The weather is still warm, so chameleons and insects are still active, and the trees are still largely in leaf. The place is bursting with robin song as these intrepid little birds arrive and stake out their winter territory, while black-necked grebes and the odd cormorant test the waters for juicy killifish. Come visit, it's free. GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 437: GO VEGETARIAN ONCE A WEEK: One less meat- based meal a week helps the planet and your diet. For example: It requires 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. You will also also save some trees. For each hamburger that originated from animals raised on rainforest land, approximately 55 square feet of forest have been destroyed. 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 Joe Sultana 534. GĦADIRA NATURE RESERVE EU's Land Footprint - Recommendations for policy makers (continued) Extend global databases: funding needs to be made available to support data collection of grassland and forest use, and data on land use in non- agricultural activities such as mining, urban expansion and infrastructure development. This will result in the Land Footprints being calculated for a wider range of end products, and identifying impact- hotspots associated with these activities (especially important given the high impacts of mining and predicted growth in urban areas). Support further research into Land Footprint and impact accounting methods: whilst current accounting methods and data can be used to calculate basic Land Footprints, there is scope for refining the land allocation procedures and to link the detailed EU Land Footprint to spatially explicit environmental and social impacts; further support of research into underlying drivers and causes of land system changes and the role of key actors therein is necessary to come to a more fair allocation of land use and land- related environmental and social impacts. The two-pronged reality of truth THE Entity of Truth – Personal Con-ver- sions is a figurative and abstract art exhibi- tion by Japanese painter Naoya Inose and French artist Julien Vinet, presenting seven artworks each that are inspired by the same title. They present interpretations of the title in their own unique style, emphasising the fact that truth is subjective, and that 'our world' is made up of personal experiences: our back- ground gives us one idea of the world around us, which is our own truth. The exhibition is on until December 24 at Lily Agius Gallery, 54 Cathedral Street, Slie- ma. More information: 9929 2488, info@lily- agiusgallery.com, www.lilyagiusgallery.com Monolith by Naoya Inose An illustration by Julien Vinet