Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/852418
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 23 JULY 2017 39 This Week "SOLITUDE is a kind of freedom," writes Umberto Eco. Sometimes, it is a freedom that relieves and purifies as, within the walls of solitude, the indi- vidual can withdraw from the negativi- ty of the outside world into a kind of in- ner peace. In other instances, however, it is a freedom that leads to destruction and pain, as a consequence of isolation from dearly held roots. Imposed by circumstances, this solitude becomes a burden which leaves one fighting against the currents of life without a shoulder to lean on. Marwan and Chanelle, the protago- nists of Jarmuk, experience this burden very early in life. Still in their secondary school years, they face the emptiness that surrounds them. Their isolation has different facets. Chanelle's is more psychological than physical. Besides the fact that her mother left home for another man, Chanelle lives with the rest of the family under the same roof. Nevertheless, her father's detachment, her brother's foolishness and the loss of her grandfather strip her of all human contact, and in return, present her with obstacles and respon- sibilities. The latter prevent her from following her dreams and further iso- late her from fellow teenagers. Marwan's isolation has deeper roots. The spirit of his upbringing in Yar- mouk, a district of the city of Damascus which was the scene of intense fight- ing during the Syrian conflict, is felt throughout the whole novel. In Yar- mouk, Marwan had been surrounded by family and friends. Now, he is left with just his mother, a lonely woman with impossible dreams and bitter nostalgia. From the first pages, his ambiguous and introverted character acts as a backdrop to his conspicuous solitude as an outsider displaced from his land, who then gives up on the possibility of integration due to finding himself in a community that does not understand him, and that consequently rejects him and discards him. As a result, Yarmouk becomes more than just Marwan's homeland, but in an intriguing play on words ('jarmuk' in Maltese means 'to dump/to throw away'), it amalgamates with the inner soul of the two protagonists, victims of a hostile environment that pushes them to ostracise themselves further. In this sense, the novel's title acquires more significance as it acts as their outcry against a society that excludes them. It is a silent and suppressed outcry which the author presents with great skill by means of a first person narration that alternates with each chapter. Later, when Marwan's and Chanelle's paths cross, they find a kind of mutual sup- port. However, it is a fragile support blemished by years of isolation, a deep connection with family roots and ap- parently unachievable aspirations. Jarmuk is Stephen Lughermo's sec- ond novel. His first work, X'Aħna Smart! (2015, Horizons) won the Liter- ary Contest of Novels for Youths 2014 organised by the National Book Coun- cil and Aġenzija Żgħażagħ. With this novel, Lughermo continues to explore a young adult world but from a deeper and more mature perspective. In fact, although the main characters of this work are teenagers, this novel appeals to readers of all ages. Jarmuk is published by Horizons and can be found for sale in all major book- stores. Nature Notebook usually takes a peek at wildlife that we find at the current time of year. Today we digress to remember one bird we don't enjoy any more in our countryside – a sad story with an all too familiar ending. A century ago the Western Jackdaw (M: Ċawla) was a common year-round resident breeding bird. The species thrived in healthy colonies, nesting in cliffs and fortifications all around the Islands, even Valletta. Enter a new breed of thrill-seeking hunter, with better weaponry and maybe more time to kill. The Jackdaw population plummeted and by 1930 the bird was already scarce. In April 1956 a hunter shot down a jackdaw at Id-Dabrani in Gozo, and with that kill ended another chapter in Maltese natural history, since that bird was the last Maltese Jackdaw. Were it not for the trigger- happy men in our midst, today's Notebook would have been a regular look at a regular breeding bird. 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 Aron Tanti 567. WESTERN JACKDAW GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 470: Storing fruits - Wrapping apples in old newspaper somewhere dry will keep them from rotting. Protecting Europe's nature is not only about special sites and targeted species. We must also restore nature beyond those confines, ensuring that habitats are better connected, and that the wider landscape is managed with nature in mind. Ultimately our food and farming system needs a radical overhaul towards an ecological and fair agriculture that protects wildlife and natural resources, supports resilient, sustainable family farms, and reduces our impact on developing countries – by promoting low-intensity, diverse agro-ecological farming. The EU must use the opportunity of the mid-term review of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to move away from incentivising industrialised and intensive farming practices, towards one that supports rather than undermines full implementation of the Nature Directives and sustainable farming and food production. In this way the objectives of the nature laws can be mainstreamed throughout all policies. The EU should fundamentally reform farming policies to end harmful industrial practices, whilst substantially increasing the role of agroecology and ensuring EU nature laws are central to any new CAP. 10 actions for a biodiverse Europe Jarmuk from Yarmouk Take action to make farming more sustainable