Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/959046
maltatoday WEDNESDAY 28 MARCH 2018 8 News A IESEC in Malta recently held a daylong seminar entitled 'Business Connect'; an event aimed at gathering young people from different backgrounds and disciplines and introducing them to business leaders in order to help build discussion on how corporations and youth can work together to drive innovation, leadership and sustainability. The event brought up a number of useful insights, and helped to showcase many important points about the world and society today, but one point in particular stood out with regards to impacting world issues; it is not a matter of building and maintaining connections anymore. The connections are just the beginning, we must go further, and we must go into the level of cooperation and collaboration to make anything possible. Even though we are individuals, years of history and limited efforts have already shown us how less efficient we are when working 'solo' rather than when cooperating, working as a team and synergising towards the achievement of a goal. Connectability is the ability of establishing communication between parties, or to be associated on certain level. Co-operability is the ability to work or act together for a common purpose or benefit. Business Connect and initiatives like it achieve the main purpose, helping us get connected and learn a bit from each other's projects, ideals, and goals, not only on a professional level but also on a corporate one. Now is the time to join as one in action. We already have what can drive us, The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as a set of goals towards the achievement in collaboration between sectors, industries and individuals. We as humanity, and here especially in Malta, must begin co-operating to achieve the global goals. It is a must to stop working solo and it is a must to go deeper and co-operate towards the achievement of the SDGs. AIESEC, as a youth movement of leadership, has being working with the United Nations and the SDGs, under its own sub-brand called Youth4GlobalGoals. This brand and the projects under it have been the main platform for moving thousands of volunteers around the globe in different exchanges, with the purpose of creating a positive impact whilst developing within the individuals the leadership skills required to face the reality of the world we live in today. Enjoying participation, living diversity, striving for excellence, demonstrating integrity and acting sustainably – these are all important values that are part of any AIESEC experience. By taking forward connections made in initiatives like Business Connect, we want to pass on these values. Co-operating and making people understand the issues around them is the first step to empowering them sufficiently to take action and improve the world around them. As of now AIESEC has projects for any young persons to travel and volunteer abroad, and for companies to help bring young people to Malta and contribute to their businesses, yet, what is missing is the participation of all the people who have the power to co-operate and make the impact we talk so much about. All the connections we need to make a difference are at our disposal. The only question is: how do we plan on using those connections? AIESEC in Malta is part of an international non-profit that offers volunteer work and job opportunities in over 120 countries and territories. You can find opportunities to work on global projects via their website aiesec.org or by emailing them on info.malta@aiesec.net Member organisations of the National Youth Council (KNZ) have been invited to submit opinion articles on topics affecting youths today. to its member organisations. The contents of the article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Council. The power of collaboration JAMES DEBONO THE Ministry for the Environ- ment has embarked on an ex- tensive valley restoration pro- gramme aimed at restoring eco-systems and stopping soil erosion in five major valley sys- tems in Malta. One of the first targets for restoration is Wied il-Gnejna where invasive and non-native vegetation will be replaced with indigenous plants to re-create riparian habitats and works will be undertaken to stabilise valley banks and reduce the flooding in Triq il-Gnejna. The growing of new plants will contribute to limit the re-intro- duction of invasive species and reduce sediment and soil loss, thus minimising future mainte- nance costs. Among the species to be intro- duced are plant species, which will help to attract pollinating insects in the area for the benefit of agricultural areas in the valley. The planting schemes will in- clude Arbutus Unedo (Straw- berry tree) which flowers in autumn and is very important for bees, Myrtus Communis (Rihan) which flowers in spring and early summer, Erica multi- flora (the Mediterranean heath) which flowers in winter and the Vitex Agnus-Castus (the Chaste Tree) which is very important for bumble bees and other soli- tary bees which are becoming quite rare in Malta. Enhanced water conservation will be achieved through the re- moval of sediment from behind the dam at Wied tal-Gnejna, allowing increased water reten- tion and improved aquifer re- charge capability. Works will also involve the re- moval of sediment, which has accumulated in valleys. Silt is presently creating an obstacle for the flow of rainwater, which is leading to flooding of agri- cultural fields and roads. Also, dams found downstream shall be cleaned from silt and other material, which has been carried with the rainwater. The cleaning will help to enhance the water capacity of these dams leading to a better recharge of the un- derlying water table. This project will contribute to the restoration of rural in- frastructure such as dry-stone rubble walls and will include the re-construction of an arched masonry bridge. The restoration programme is to be undertaken in Malta's five main valley systems namely Wied Garnaw (Santa Lucija), Wied tal-Gnejna (Mgarr), Wied ir-Rum (Dingli), Wied il-Fiddien and Wied Ghomor (San Gwann/ Swieqi), and particularly in val- ley stretches located in intensive agricultural areas. The project is being undertak- en by The Directorate for Parks, Afforestation and Countryside Restoration in close collabora- tion with the Environment and Resources Authority. Flowers to bring back bees to Gnejna valley A Macedonian man has plead- ed guilty to charges of corrup- tion and assisting persons in breaking the Immigration Act by using illegitimate passport stamps. Police Inspector Frankie Sam- mut accused Gzira resident Zoran Talevski, 36, of gathering the passports of various foreign nationals and giving them to a corrupt immigration official who would stamp them in such a manner as to extend their stay in Malta. The official had al- ready been found guilty in sepa- rate proceedings and had been handed a two-year sentence suspended for four years whilst having her employment termi- nated. Before magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, lawyer David Bonello entered a guilty plea on behalf of Talevski. The accused had co-operated fully, said the lawyer, and his accomplice has already been handed a suspended sentence in return for helping police investi- gations. The accused has a clean police conduct and had filed an early admission, he said. "The question is whether he is going to be jailed and deported or just deported," said the lawyer. Inspector Sammut urged the court to address "this at- titude that you come to Malta, do what you want and then get away with it." The court put the case off for judgment in April. Man admits to illegal passport stamp scheme NOTICE Third Judicial District Court, State of Utah, Salt Lake County In the matter of the adoption of Tina Micallef Phansuwan, Case No. 182900087 STATE OF UTAH TO: Carmelo Micallef A petition for adoption has been filed in the Third Judicial District Court, State of Utah, regarding a child born on December 16, 2006, in Valletta, Malta to Uraiwan Phansuwan. IF YOU INTEND TO CONTEST THE ADOPTION, YOU MUST FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF UTAH CODE § 78B-6-110(6), INCLUDING FILING A MOTION TO INTERVENE WITH THE COURT, WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RECEIVING THIS NOTICE. IF YOU DO NOT, THE COURT WILL ENTER AN ORDER THAT YOU HAVE WAIVED ANY RIGHT TO FURTHER NOTICE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE CHILD, FORFEITED ALL RIGHTS IN RELATION TO THE CHILD, AND ARE BARRED FROM THEREAFTER BRINGING OR MAINTAINING ANY ACTION TO ASSERT ANY INTEREST IN THE CHILD. Any motion to intervene must be filed with the Third Judicial District Court, 450 S. State Street, P.O. Box 1860, Salt Lake City, UT 84114, with a copy mailed to Larry Jenkins, 50 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, and must set forth specific relief sought, accompanied by a memorandum specifying factual and legal grounds on which the motion is based. For a copy of the petition, contact Mr. Jenkins at (801) 328-3600. Cindy Vargas & Luke Young