MARCH WITH US FOR PROGRESS OUR HEALTH IS AT STAKE Chapter 2 Article 9 of the Maltese Constitution The State shall safeguard the landscape and the historical and artistic patrimony of the Nation. The PN Government was responsible for the following: 2006 Rationalisation scheme gave whole tracts of countryside over to development, thousands of trees were destroyed, pollution episodes increased, relaxation of heights brought chaotic planning everywhere resulting in 72,000 empty or underused units, 7,000 cases of building abuse, and deals were struck with land-robbers at Armier and elsewhere. Now we have a Labour Government which in its 2013 Electoral Manifesto promised Malta should be in the vanguard on environmental standards, not because there is an obligation placed upon us by European directives but because this is what best suits our children and generations to come Instead the Labour Government’s promotion of unrestrained development through its new planning regulations is making it as bad as its PN predecessors. With no Strategic Plan in place, these new policies will permit: • Increased construction in rural areas and the countryside. • High rise hotels and projects to be allowed against the recommendations of MEPA’s own consultants. • The sea, Malta’s main tourist attraction, is the next target through reclamation projects. • Major projects that double the population of a community are being pushed through without social impact studies • New regulations will allow mechanics, panel beaters and furniture sprayers to operate once again in residential areas. • 7,000 building illegalities are to be condoned. All the while, existing planning laws continue to be broken blatantly as in the case of Mistra with the Authorities doing nothing to stop it, unlike the Ramla permit which was reversed after the permit was issued. The result will be the continued uglification of our country and an increase in illnesses that accompany over-development. With the system of political appointments at Mepa, successive governments have used the planning authority as a tool to rubber-stamp projects, policies and regulations of their liking and for votes. Dr Muscat, the country needs a healthy environment. This is ours by right. PHOTO OF MISTRA Transport Malta brushed aside the advice of its own experts that the existing Xemxija Hill already experiences significant traffic problems and the roundabout fails even without additional traffic: “Any additional load, particularly by the scale of this project, would exacerbate the present situation” THE NGOs DEFENDING THE ENVIRONMENT DEMAND THAT GOVERNMENT FULFILS ITS OBLIGATIONS TO PROTECT: • Our countryside • Our coast • Our traditional architecture • Our trees and gardens • Our historic urban centres • Our right to light • Our right to clean air • Our quality of life • OUR HEALTH March with us for progress, for our children and the economy on Saturday 30 November, 2013 at 10.30 City Gate, Valletta Birdlife Malta, Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Gaia Foundation, Greenhouse Malta, Moviment Graffitti, Malta Organic Agricultural Movement, Nature Trust Malta, Ramblers Association of Malta, Y4TE, Why Not? Supported by TRIBALI
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 07:23:41 +0000
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