Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/764316
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2016 44 This Week Land management measures within the EU: improve land management and land use planning within the EU in order to minimize the expansion of built-up land on fertile soils; invest in the restoration of degraded land and soils; involve farmers and promote land tenure and ownership. Support citizen initiatives that encourage changes in consumption and resource use patterns: support of grassroots initiatives by citizens and communities to consume less and become more resource efficient e.g. urban farming, repair cafes, clothing and tool libraries; acting to tackle food waste e.g. by an ambitious EU specific target on food waste reduction as part of the Circular Economy Package; change consumption patterns towards more vegetal diets by promotion of campaigns in this area. Thanks to Christmas the robin is easily the most recognised bird. It is also common at this time of year, having flown in from as far as Siberia to escape the winter cold. But despite its fame and frequency, many people have never actually seen a live wild robin (M. pitirross). Luckily it's easy to attract, especially if you have a bit of garden. Now that the temperature is dropping, insects get scarce and birds go hungry, so what better lure than food. What you do is set up a bird table: nothing elaborate, a plastic flower- pot saucer nailed to a broomstick stuck in the soil will do. Spread crumbled cake or biscuit on it – I find they like ottini a lot – and you're done. Now birds are (wisely) wary of new structures so they may take some days to get used to your bird table's presence. But that delicious spread will soon win them over, and you'll have your resident robin (and other birds) visiting your bird table throughout winter. GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 440: DIAPER WITH A CONSCIENCE: By the time a child is toilet trained, a parent will change between 5,000 and 8,000 diapers and adding up to approximately 6 kilogrammes of waste that goes to our landfill each single. Whether you choose cloth or a more environmentally-friendly disposable, you're making a choice that has a much gentler impact on our planet. 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 537. ROBIN EU's Land Footprint - Recommendations for policy makers (continued) Sean Buhagiar appointed as the first artistic director of Teatru Malta SEAN Buhagiar was announced as the first artistic director of Teatru Malta, the new project for theatre in Malta. The founda- tion of Teatru Malta was announced in the Government 2016 Budget and will initially be led by Arts Council Malta. Sean Buhagiar (1986) is a professional artistic director, creative producer and theatre-maker based in Malta. He is best- known as the artistic director of Notte Bi- anca as well as for his work in theatre and film. His most recent work includes B'Tal- Linja Jaqbillek Żgur, a large-scale street theatre production which toured commu- nity spaces in the five regions of the Mal- tese islands on a Maltese Bus as part of the Malta International Arts Festival. Between 2015 and 2016, he held the post of Deputy Artistic Director of the Vallet- ta 2018 Foundation, European Capital of Culture where he was responsible for as- sisting in the development of the five flag- ship projects of the Valletta 2018 Founda- tion. In 2015 he was appointed as one of the experts responsible for collecting data as part of the Theatres Audit for the Cul- tural Mapping project commissioned by Arts Council Malta and the Valletta 2018 Foundation, a project he is still currently working on. In his first comments about his appoint- ment Sean said that he "feels honoured and privileged to be able to champion such a significant project as Teatru Malta. I thank Arts Council Malta and the se- lection board for their confidence in my work, and for trusting me to lead what is possibly the most exciting national theat- rical project in Malta's history." The announcement was made by Arts Council Malta executive chair Albert Marshall during a press conference held at Teatru Salesjan in Sliema, following an international public call. Working with creative professionals from Malta and abroad as well as new and current theatre companies and the various communities in Malta and Gozo, Teatru Malta will create exciting, relevant and en- gaging work for various audiences across Malta and Gozo. The project will not be linked to a spe- cific building or theatre but will operate within diverse spaces and venues. Teatru Malta will be deeply rooted in communities and will aspire to bridge the cultural difference between Maltese main- stream theatre and the vibrant theatrical activity happening on the periphery. The project is also one of the actions of the Arts Council Malta's Create2020 Strat- egy and a deliverable of the Government's Electoral Manifesto for Culture. The first artistic programme for Teatru Malta will be launched in 2018 as part of Valletta Eu- ropean Capital of Culture. "It is extremely intriguing to have a na- tional theatre company without walls," said the new artistic director. "Teatru Malta should have a duty to produce for everyone. We need to cultivate local crea- tivity by inspiring our different artists to engage with different audiences. Together we can produce generous work, offering memorable experiences through shared imagination. We need to be alert, auda- cious and ground-breaking." Sean Buhagiar