Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/943656
maltatoday SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2018 Opinion 22 I n recent days the Netherlands became the latest country to introduce legislation which researchers say could save thousands of lives every year – a change from opt-in to opt-out for the donation of one's organs following death. This is quite a sensitive subject and a big decision for some, while perhaps others may not give it too much thought. But it is quite a decision to take. What is certain, is that it is a live- saving decision. Research shows that one person can save up to eight lives following his or her death, if they were signed up to donate their organs. The opt-out option simply facilitates this, while those who, for one reason or another, do not wish for their organs to be donated can simply remove themselves from the register. In Malta, if a person has not decided before their death, their next- of-kin is asked for a decision. This is a process which can be simplified and a weight lifted off the next-of-kin in what certainly is a difficult moment. The way it will be introduced in the Netherlands is quite straightforward. You're sent two letters at home asking you what you would like to do. If you reply saying you'd like to register or don't reply, you're added. If you reply saying you don't, you simply won't be added to the register. Either way, you can always reverse your decision. For children under the age of 18, it's the parents who decide. The law did not get unanimous support in the Dutch parliament. I was curious to understand what the critics' viewpoint was on this. From what I read it seems that critics were questioning the level of government's authority after your life. How I see it, as long as you're allowed to opt-out in a simple and straightforward manner, then what's the problem for those who simply refuse to donate their organs based on their principle? Presumed consent is a tricky affair, and in the Netherlands, as in other countries, a whole debate preceded the introduction of this law. I think it's time for Malta to have this discussion. What is sure, is that it saves lives. Until last year, in Malta, there were 110 people awaiting transplants. Spain, which introduced this law back in 1979, is today a world-leader in organ donations. It is not all sunshine and rainbows. There have been cases of gross abuse. In Germany in 2012, a doctor was accused of manslaughter in a major organ donor scandal. However, I feel that the positives outweigh the negatives and at the very least, there is a debate to be had. Organ donation is a beautiful thing which helps saves lives. Irrespective of what you think about opt-out rules, I do encourage you to have a thought about this and, if you believe it's the right thing for you, register in the organ donor register. It is the ultimate gesture of altruism. You can help another, or more than one, human being and bring hope. Evarist Bartolo is minister for employment and education O n the 21st February the United Nations celebrates International Mother Language Day. This day calls for each and every one of us to ref lect upon our linguistic and cultural heritage, a heritage that derives from various sources such as family, school and society. It is also an opportunity to celebrate and promote multilingualism. Multilingualism refers to the presence of several languages in a given geographical area. Due to the recent inf lux of migrants in Malta, there is hardly any doubt that Malta has become multilingual. Listening to non-Maltese nationals speaking an array of different languages is a reality which surrounds us in our everyday life. Due to the demographical changes which took place over the last few years, celebrating International Mother Language Day in a country like Malta has thus gained a much more profound meaning. Apart from the importance of celebrating Maltese, our precious national language, it serves as an opportunity to foster what is known as pluriculturality, or the desire and ability to identif y with several cultures, and participate in them. Intercultural competence acquired from doing this helps individuals to understand cultural difference better, establish cognitive and affective links between experiences related to that difference and mediate between members of different groups and cultures. As global and local migration f lows increase, so do the number of migrant students in host country schools. In Malta there are currently 5,744 foreign students in state, independent and church schools. In most cases these students are first-generation migrants with foreign-born parents who speak a foreign language different from the languages of schooling when at home. The Migrant Learners' Unit, in charge of providing education to learners from a migrant background, has taken the initiative to encourage schools to promote International Mother Language Day amongst all learners deeming it as an excellent opportunity to foster awareness of languages and intercultural respect. Maltese learners, but also learners from a migrant background, are being encouraged to come up with something in their own mother language – singing a song, reciting a poem, a prayer or a small theatrical performance. Basically anything they feel they would like to share with the rest of the school in their own language. While efforts are conducted every day to support migrant learners in acquiring our languages of schooling, Maltese and English, on this day they are being given the opportunity to celebrate their linguistic diversity and hence an important part of their cultural heritage. The occasion also serves to encourage them to remain f luent and literate in their own languages. Their plurilingual skills are a valuable asset which will be extremely beneficial for Malta in the future. Today more than ever, it is crucial in teaching and educational contexts to sustain the development of plurilingual and pluricultural competence in our learners. Such competence plays a key role in accepting diversity while focusing on the ability to go beyond obstacles and open up a certain predisposition towards languages, cultures and communication in general, as part of a willingness to establish a dialogue with the other. The benefits of linguistic diversity and multilingual education are many and far reaching and need to be communicated more clearly at all levels of society. Cheers to the celebration of International Mother Language Day and to creating awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue. Phyllisienne Vassallo Gauci is an educator. She has a PhD in second language acquisition specialising in cross-cultural and intercultural pragmatics Let's talk about organ donation International Mother Language Day in multilingual Malta It seems that critics were questioning the level of government's authority after your life Evarist Bartolo Phyllisienne Vassallo Gauci