Imagine if Deborah Schembri starts chairing the House Environment Committee?

Dr Marlene Farrugia resigned from the Labour Party Parliamentary Group last Monday, and also gave up her Chairmanship of the House Environmental Committee. Since this new Chair is up for grabs, I am wondering whether the government will use this opportunity to give it to someone that will benefit its hidden environmental agenda…Deborah Schembri instantly comes to mind.

I always liked NGOs! Jokes. (Adapted from: DOI)

Marlene Farrugia voted with the Opposition on amendments to the Environment Protection Bill at committee stage, which will see the setting up of the two authorities formerly merged into the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

Dr Farrugia also voted in favour of another amendment by shadow environment minister Dr Portelli, which proposed that the nomination of the chairman of the Environment Authority should be approved by Parliament after a hearing at the Standing Committee on Environment and Development Planning. Dr Farrugia supported this as she said that “it was time for the government to move away from past practices and increase parliamentary scrutiny”.

Since her resignation, the chairmanship is up for grabs, and only a representative from the Labour Party can fill the void according to the current standing orders.

The Standing Orders say that: “There shall be a Standing Committee on Environment and Development Planning which shall consist of five members appointed by the House, of whom three shall be members supporting the Government, one of whom shall be appointed as Chairman, and the other two shall be members from the Opposition.

As such, there needs to be another labour MP alongside Charles Buhagiar and Franco Mercieca. Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said today that he will nominate Marlene Farrugia to continue to serve as chair of the Parliamentary Environment Committee, but this can only be done if the law is amended to allow a non-government representative to serve as chair. In any case, the appointment of the chairman, can only be approved by the government.

Front Harsien ODZ has already stated that it would like to see Dr Farrugia to continue to chair the committee, but I would not hold my breath.

I have a certain feeling of trepidation that Dr Farrugia’s justifiable resignation will serve as the perfect pretext to elect a new chair that does not care about the environment, such as Deborah Schembri.

Deborah Schembri has been suspiciously omnipresent in the public debates revolving around the (fake) American University of Malta, where she even filled in for the non-existing Environment Minister Leo Brincat on Xarabank to defend the (fake) AUM project. In addition, there was also a very heated exchange between Schembri and Farrugia back in May on the same House Environment and Planning Committee regarding the issue of improving the SPED.

Schembri enraged Farrugia by comments that ultimately hinted at NGOs being given a special privilege by attending an environmental committee to put forward their proposals.

Deborah Schembri would be the perfect fit as  chairperson of the Environment and Planning Committee; she follows the hidden environmental agenda of the current government, has no qualms with excluding NGOs and alienating other parts of civil society from democratic procedures, and she REALLY loves the hunting lobby (or their votes anyway).

I pray that for once, I will be surprised and have to say that I was wrong. But Marlene Farrugia was an obstacle in the government’s side that has voluntarily vacated her seat to the detriment of all the Maltese citizens that value their environment.

 

Spot the extremist

Last Saturday saw one of the biggest environment centric protest that Malta has ever seen. Headed by Front Harsien ODZ (FHO), the national protest drew over 3,000 people and provided the correct message to Joseph Muscat and his government: Hands off our environment! In typical Joseph Muscat fashion, he did not mention that he was willing to listen, but he was only willing to compromise with people who are not ‘extremists‘.

I know that the Maltese Government expects me to feel honoured by the Prime Minister’s statement, but I think that something has gone terribly wrong in my ‘standard-Maltese-circuit-board’. I think I need to format my operating system so that I can conform to what the Prime Minister feels as though I should think is ‘acceptable’ and ‘not extreme’. I must expunge these ‘extreme’ feelings of wanting to protect my environment, and of wanting to not bend over for Middle Eastern construction companies.

In any case, can you please help me become one of those ‘no opinion/national interest/light a candle’ type people by participating in the exercise below? It is very simple, all you need to do is spot the extremist/s. Don’t you dare be deceived by their looks, they are lurking everywhere…

Oh and if you happen to meet me out and about in Malta or Brussels, you should consider avoiding me. I wouldn’t want to go all ‘Extreme’ on you and braid flowers in your hair and share my organic chia seeds.

25 Game of Thrones Memes describing my feelings about Zonqor Point

There are so many things that can be said about the (fake) American University of Malta, that it gets a bit overwhelming sometimes. With each new revelation in this twisting and ever more contentious project, feelings of disgust, anger and irritation seem to be permeating daily through the Maltese public. So what better way to frame these emotions than by using Game of Thrones memes?

1. On Joseph Muscat handpicking Sadeen

2. On Thaer Mukbel’s daft gesticulations

3. On Sadeen saying it would respect the local environment

4.On the ‘American’ in AUM

5. On the US Ambassador to Malta being invited by the OPM for the agreement signing 

6. On Joseph Muscat wanting to turn Malta into an ‘educational hub’

7. On having to have AUM in ‘the South’

8. On Silvio Parnis telling people to not discourage the Jordanians

9. On the Government calling Zonqor Point a ‘wasteland’

10. On the incessant use of ‘National Interest’

11. On the eviction of farmers

12. On the Prime Minister joking about the evicted farmer’s future

13. On the changing of the Education Act

14. On the announcement of the Nature Park

15. On excluding the Environment Directorate from the site assessment

16. On MEPA selecting Zonqor Point

17. On not publishing the AUM agreement

18. On asking the public to select a site themselves

19. On Marsascala Local Council being in favour of AUM

20. On the Government updating the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED)

21. On the coincidental location of the project on land owned by former Lorry Sant cronies

22. On Leo Brincat pretending to do his job

23. On Leo Brincat calling the environment ministry a ‘poisonous chalice’

24. On Deborah Schembri pretending to understand public consultations

25. On safeguarding Zonqor Point and other ODZ

Make sure you attend the National Protest this coming Saturday 20th June at 10am in Valletta (in front of the new Parliament). It is imperative that you also do your part in stopping the development of ODZ and safeguarding areas such as Zonqor Point!

The Malting Pot’s guide to ODZ development in Malta

Happy World Environment Day everyone! To celebrate this special day, I have drawn up a comprehensive overview of contentious planned and allowed ODZ development across the Maltese Islands. In a country where its Governments have absolutely no respect for its environment and for the public that would like to enjoy it, I think it is about time that we quantify and illustrate the extent of ODZ development in Malta.

The following map shows some of the infamous ODZ developmental issues in Malta over the past decade. Some of these have unfortunately been given the green light, others have simply dropped under the radar so that no one is aware of their status, and others are still in discussion.

A – (fake) American University of Malta at Zonqor Point

Area at stake – 91,000m²

B – Yacht Marina and Cruise Liner terminal at Qala Coastline

Area at stake – approx 85,000m² (undisturbed area around the quarry)

Click here for more information

C – Useless megapolis at Xemxija Hill/Mistra Ridge

Area at stake – approx 30,000m²

Click here for more information

D – Bungalows behind Mellieha Bay Hotel

Area at stake – approx 35,000m²

Click here for more information

E – Church Schools in Hal-Ghaxaq

Area at stake – 80,000m²

Click here for more information

(Photo credit: TimesofMalta)

F – Lidl in Xewkija, Gozo

Area taken – 1440m² (this project has been completed)

Click here for more information

G – Private Residence for the elderly at Wied Garnaw

Area at stake- Unknown

Click here for more information

H – Mushroom Farm in Gharb

Area at stake- 15,000m²

Click here for more information

(Photo credit: VictorGalea)

I – Private residence in Wied Marcia in Bahrija Valley

Area at stake- unknown

Click here for more information

J – Extension of Ta’ Cenc hotel and apartments at Ta’ Cenc

Area at stake – unknown, but significant

Click here for more information

K – Development at Hondoq ir-Rummien

Area at stake – unknown, but significant

Click here for more information

L – Arriva Bus Depot in Zebbug

Area at stake – 9300m²

Click here for more information

(Photo credit: TimesofMalta)

Total ODZ area up for grabs = approximately 350,000m², or 0.11% of Malta’s entire area. This figure excludes the thousands of other ODZ applications that we are unsure if they have been accepted. The applications for the past ten years (since 2005), roughly equate to 30,000,000m² or 9.5% of Malta total area. Happy World Environment Day Malta! We love you so much!

US Embassy: “The Prime Minister’s Office extended an invitation to the Ambassador”

The US Embassy in Malta has reached out to me to clarify some issues regarding the extent of their involvement in the (fake) AUM case. The reply I have received is quite generic, but it does provide some more interesting insights into this case.

The US Embassy to Malta tweeted directly to my account and asked me to send them any queries which I may have regarding the presence of the US Ambassador at the ‘grand unveiling’ of the (fake) American University of Malta in the beginning of May.

Below are the questions I sent to the US Embassy in Malta, and the replies I received:

Can the Ambassador state the relevance of her presence at the signing of this private agreement between the Jordanian Investor and the Government of Malta?

• The Prime Minister’s Office extended an invitation to the Ambassador.  The Ambassador attended to demonstrate the U.S. Government’s support for American-style education overseas.  The U.S. Embassy was not consulted or involved in planning this project.

Is the Ambassador aware that AUM will have nothing American about it, apart from the deal signed between Sadeen and DePaul which was agreed upon without an international call of expression?

• The U.S. Embassy does not have information on the number and kind of elements of an American-style education AUM will offer other than the DePaul University curriculum.  There are a number of American universities in the world.  They are called American because they seek to duplicate the American style of education, a style we believe has particular advantages.  An American-style curriculum imparts general knowledge but allows for significant specialization.  It provides a program of extra-curricular activities designed to cultivate the student’s humanistic outlook and social skills, and develops strong skills in critical reasoning and precise, persuasive self-expression.  An American university offers exceptional liberal arts and professional education in a cross-cultural environment.  Academic freedom and shared governance are some of the issues that American faculty members value.  Accreditation by an American accreditation body ensures the quality of the higher education experience.

In relation to the Ambassador’s comment “I Support Education”, what is her opinion regarding the changing of educational requirements to accommodate AUM? 

• The Maltese education system is a local issue and falls solely within the Maltese government’s remit.

There it is then; the Prime Minister invited the US Ambassador to Malta as a special guest for the announcement of the (fake) AUM. It becomes apparent that he involved the US Ambassador to support his claim on the relevance of this ‘university’, even though he is fully aware at how American this institution is going to be. He managed to rope in the senior representative of the US Government in this corrupt and abusive scandal.

I find the following comment particularly pertinent – “Academic freedom and shared governance are some of the issues that American faculty members value”. Given how academics in Malta are livid at the lack of transparency with which the government changed the requirements for recognition of universities in Malta, AUM is seemingly become less American by the second.

I hope this serves as a lesson to the incumbent and following US representatives to be careful in allowing themselves to become embroiled in the corrupt and undemocratic manner in which the current Maltese government chooses to operate.

No one really cares KSU…

KSU President Gayle Lynn Callus attends the Nationalist’s Party General Council meeting and lands himself in hot water. I find the whole issue of his presence at this meeting as being superfluous and dull; I’m more interested to understand how his speech will further the Zonqor Point cause.

(Photo credit: InsiterOnline)

It is a known fact that student organisations in Malta have no function other than serving as a breeding ground for future political party representatives. As such, if the KSU President wants to speak at a political debate, then good for him and for his future political career if or when he decides to pursue it. The eight minutes I spent listening to this cringe worthy and convoluted speech could have been better spent listening to Amber’s warrior…

It was a typical ‘Cry Me A River’ speech – no listens to us poor students, the government and the political parties do not care about us, we are the present/future, our future hangs in the balance, babble, babble, babble. I honestly cannot believe that people still use these outdated speeches in 2015; at least I think I heard the word ‘selfie’ somewhere in there.

I do not understand why Gayle Lynn Callus feels he has the authority to even mention the Zonqor Point case. I had already wondered what KSU or Insiter thought about this whole AUM issue back when it was first made public. All they could muster were a couple of PR communications, an online petition that was launched sometime last week, and this feeble attempt at making the students’ voices heard. I find it very hard to believe that KSU gives two hoots about the environment in Zonqor Point or any other ODZ areas. The only reason why it even knows what an ODZ is stems from their jumping on the bandwagon along with the rest of the disgruntled public. Too little too late now KSU, too little too late.

These superficial and generic arguments being put forward to ‘safeguard’ the Maltese Environment are about as enlightening as watching Kim Kardashian trying to form thoughts. If Gayle Lynn Callus and KSU represents the future of what Malta should expect in terms of environmental protection, then our natural spaces really stand no chance.

I would strongly suggest to KSU that should the opportunity arise again next time, they send an environmental student organisation in their place to discuss the issue. I am sure that Green House, S3 or Y4TE are better equipped than these SDM/Pulse cronies to provide an in-depth perspective on topics such as the Zonqor Point case. Y4TE had issued a statement on this case much before KSU ever thought it was noteworthy.

Full Speech Below:

Two Lawyers and a Dentist speaking for our environment on Xarabank tonight

Tonight, on Xarabank, three politicians will be discussing the contentious AUM/Zonqor Point case in a televised debate. These three politicians will be scrutinising and advocating for this project using their vast knowledge of Dentistry, IT Law, Family Law and….wait what?

From Left to Right: Marlene Farrugia, Marthese Portelli, Deborah Schembri

Unfortunately the above is not a misprint. The panel chosen by our political parties to discuss this horrific project the Government is trying to shove down the Maltese public’s throat is made up of two lawyers and a dentist, with next to no expertise in environmental issues. Even though most Maltese people will not believe what I am about to say, Environmental Science is an actual field of expertise. Just because such an industry doesn’t exist in Malta, it does not mean that it is less relevant than Law or Medical Sciences.

I am in no way trying to undermine these politician’s individuals merits, but the public should be aware that what is said on Xarabank tonight will most definitely be borne out of political motivation (for a change). In any case, we know that Marthese Portelli will be on this panel in her capacity as shadow minister for the Environment. The same goes for Marlene Farrugia, who has openly opposed this project and who also chairs the committee on the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development. If anything, it makes sense that these two politicians should be debating this project tonight.

But we do not know why Deborah Schembri is there. Her presence on this panel is a bit sad really, as she knows as much about the environment as a Chinese workman knows about democracy. Hey Deborah, we still haven’t forgotten how you persuaded Labour Party Supporter to vote in favour of Spring Hunting. I hope who had time to rehearse your answers from the Prime Minister’s handbook of lies and deception, because that is all we can expect from you tonight in terms of critical insight.

I hope that either Marthese Portelli or Marlene Farrugia make reference to this point, as it clearly shows how Deborah Schembri is more about her party’s hidden agenda than about the environment.

Expect a lot of big words from Deborah, such as “Economy”, “is-South”, “Foreign Investment”, “National Interest”, “America”, bla bla bla. We’ve heard it all Debbie. P.S. – please send our regards to the Environment Minister Leo Brincat, who appears to not be confident in his management consultant skills to appear on a debate concerning the area he should be overseeing.

Glasgwegian Higher Educational Institutions provide syllabi for MCAST – so is MCAST British now?

The (fake) American University of Malta will be run using courses purchased from Chicago’s DePaul University, hence the ‘American’ in the name. Would it surprise you to know that the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology will be updating its syllabi, teaching and learning resources for its courses through Scottish Education Institutions, but will not have its name changed to British College of Arts, Science and Technology?

(Photo credit: investinyourfuture)

This piece of information is relatively important in light of how this (fake) American University of Malta is being set up. The contract for the updating of MCAST courses is a matter of public record, and it can be found on the European Union’s TED (tender electronic daily) website. All public procurement expenditure must be published and TED is the official website for publication of contract notices. Furthermore, all contract award notices are also published in the OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) once it’s above certain thresholds.

The public tender for the updating of MCAST courses is between the College itself and a consortium called “Strathclyde and Glasgow Educational Services Consortium”, and can be found by clicking on this link. This project is an EU funded one, and it forms part of the much larger programme called ERDF 164 – Masterplan: development of Applied Science and Business and Commerce Institutes.

Why is this relevant?

Scottish Higher Educational Institutions will be “engaging experts to design syllabi, teaching and learning resources of MCAST courses”. This is the same principle for the agreement between Sadeen (Hanini Has-Unpronounceable) and DePaul, or more specifically from the email DePaul had sent me “SEI contracted with DePaul to provide initial curriculum materials for programs at AUM”.

Yet MCAST will not become S (Scottish) CAST or B (British) CAST now will it? The reality is that while the material provided to this Maltese College is based on the British ‘style of education’ (to use the same excuse as the Prime Minister did), the delivery is anything but British. If AUM will be employing Maltese academic professionals, their delivery of the American style courses will be Maltese and not American.

You should also be able to notice the difference in transparency between these two agreements: One is an open process between multiple European educational institutions with the contracts readily available online, while the other is a behind closed doors agreement between a Jordanian guy and a Catholic American University.

 Lastly, and most importantly, European (and also national funds) are being used to further the courses at a FREE and PUBLIC educational institution in Malta for the benefit of ALL of its students and employees. On the other hand, we have a secretive deal that will see hectares of natural public land transferred to a Jordanian businessman so that a PRICED and PRIVATE university will be set up for the benefit spoilt Middle Eastern children, Hanini Has-Unpronounceable and all those involved in this secretive deal.

This also applies to DePaul University, who has allowed itself to become embroiled in this scam, since no international call of expression was ever issued to select a university for the provision of courses for the (fake) AUM.

This so-called university is a farce and a scam. I rest my case.

We all have a responsibility to stand up to these bullies

Maltese people have historically been very weary at voicing their concerns against their Government. This trait is synonymous with our historical dependency on other countries, and an inherent inferiority complex that does not allow us to reach our full potential. However, the recent spring hunting referendum has proven that we can call for change if we really want it. In the face of the scam that is the (fake) American University of Malta, we owe it to ourselves and others to stand up to the individuals bullying us into accepting this project.

(Photo credit: Michael Briguglio)

“What is the point of raising concerns when the Government has already signed this deal?” – Most of you will probably be asking this question at the moment. You shouldn’t worry too much about it though, it is a completely natural ideology to have in a country like Malta. Time and time again, we have been taught to take our Government’s words for sacrosanct, as we  cannot possibly have the mental capacity to interfere with the running of a country.

Malta still exists in a perpetual state of Stockholm’s Syndrome. We have become enamoured by our captors, complying with their demands and actions and even lauding and defending them in the process. The Maltese population is increasingly and alarmingly becoming desensitized by the Government’s bullying tactics with respect to our environment. If you think about it, every time we hear of a new irregular development project, or illegal construction issue, or dumping of waste in protected areas, or some grand trojan horse project like the (fake) AUM, we are most likely inclined to say “Here we go again”.

And again, and again, and again, and again, till apartments and restaurants start sprouting up on Comino and Filfla in the name of ‘National Interest’, or in the name of regenerating ‘The South’, or ‘The West’, or ‘Gozo’, or ‘Harbour Region’, or any place chosen ad infinitum. Governments have become so used to minimal resistance, barring the exceptional work conducted by local NGOs, that they just steam roll ahead without any consideration.

We expect NGOs to do all the dirty work for us, while we sit at home and flick through our news feeds online and wait for others to solve issues that effect us all. Even though NGOs are the closest representatives that the public has in the opposition of projects such as the (fake) AUM, they are also pushed aside in the name of ‘National Interest’ (those pesky tree hugging freaks).

We are led to believe that our voice doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, or that we should only speak when asked to (remember that form our Prime Minister wants us to fill in to propose alternative sites for the [fake] AUM?). The vast majority of the Maltese population will unfortunately fall victim to this trap, as they cannot bring themselves to have a rational thought that might contradict that of the Prime Minister.

People tend to forget that the Prime Minister is an imperfect human being just like you and me. If you remove his title as a politician, he is a family man with a tertiary education and with experience in public deception speaking. I’m pretty sure that the thousands of graduates in Malta are more qualified than the Prime Minister in their respective fields, including the environment. Yet most people still fear voicing their opinion to prevent what they think is potential retribution.

The second people stop idolising politicians in Malta, the country can leap out of its post-colonial idiosyncratic mentality. I am still perplexed at how many times people approach me to say how ‘brave’ and ‘gutsy’ I am for speaking my mind. Everyone has a brain and a mouth, so stop complaining and use them.

Even though the current trending issue is the abusive development of Zonqor Point, such abuse will not stop unless we start shifting our minds closer to those of established European democracies.

I for one do not want this (fake) American University of Malta in my country – I do not want it in Marsascala, or in the south, or anywhere else on the bloody Islands. I want to live in a country where the environment can still be enjoyed outside of designated zones and without fear of further development. And even though many of you will strike me down as one of those individuals who does not want the country to succeed economically, well screw you.

Albert Einstein once said: “”The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything”. Are you going to continue standing by and allowing our environment to be destroyed by the evil that is clearly turning out to be the Maltese Government?

NOW they want a public consultation – spit in our faces why don’t you?

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is asking the people of Malta to propose an alternative site for the (fake) American University of Malta. Even though he is visibly upset at the discord this project is causing amongst the public, he is willing to listen to the people…but the project will still go ahead.

“I’m only asking your advice because I have to, my mind is already made up Bi***es. (Photo credit: TimesofMalta)

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has set up a webpage to allow members of the public to propose alternative sites for the (fake) AUM. While worshippers of the Prime Minister will call this an olive branch, or a sign of transparency, the rest of us with half a brain recognise it for what it actually is: a slap in the face.

This deal was secretly set up between the Maltese Government and the Jordanian Investor Hanini Has-Unpronounceable, signed within days of being announced without any call of expression, and NOW they ask for the public’s insights? No matter how many times I exhale and shake my head, I cannot believe there are so many people in Malta that have such a vociferous appetite for this kind of bullshit.

A true public consultation would have been issued in tandem with a proper stakeholder participation process. The transparent way of doing things would have been to issue a call of expression for this university, engage with all the relevant involved parties (NGOs, Residents, Local Council, Site Users, Landowners, Educational Institutions etc), and then ask the public for feedback.

But this process is too lengthy for the likes of Hanini Has-Unpronounceable, who wants this university to be completed within two years. Muscat managed to appease this trojan horse of a businessman, but he has angered thousands of people in the process. In order to shut us up, he has asked us to contribute our ideas – since Guza the housewife, Frans the farmer, Grace the fishmonger’s wife and Gejtu the hunter have the technical expertise to suggest alternative sites. No matter how many ideas people can manage to come up with, this university is here to stay so that Hanini Has-Unpronounceable can line his pockets off our public land.

This government keeps on laughing and spitting in our faces repeatedly, calling our bluff instead of listening to our environmental concerns. The project will go ahead as planned, but Muscat wants to us to know that he given us a chance to speak up so that we have no reason to continue whingeing about it.

So go on, play Muscat’s game – Click Here. I doubt any of the complaints which you enter in this webpage will be taken seriously. I will not be proposing any sites – this private business venture being labelled as a university should not be happening in the first place.