Over 80 groups, including residents’ organisations from all over Malta and Gozo, have endorsed an upcoming protest calling for environmental and planning reform. The list of endorsing groups can be viewed here: https://xebbajtuna.org/#endorsements
Saturday’s protest, titled Xebbajtuna! Bidla fl-Ambjent u l-Ippjanar ISSA!, is being organised in the context of widespread public outrage on several environmental and planning decisions across Malta and Gozo.
The endorsing organisations span various sectors, including student organisations, academics, animal welfare organisations, cultural groups, religious organisations, workers’ groups, human rights’ NGOs, farmers’ rights groups and even a childcare centre.
They also include residents’ groups from all over Malta and Gozo, spanning from Marsaskala to Qormi, Mġarr to Nadur.
256 academics at the University of Malta have also endorsed Saturday’s protest.
In a statement, the organisers said it is clear that rampant and unbridled construction has upset everyone.
“People across Malta are fed up with the reckless state of our planning institutions, regardless of their background,” the organisers said. “This Saturday, people will gather at the Triton Fountain in a rallying cry for our authorities to listen to our demands, to improve Malta’s conditions for us and for our children,” they added.
The groups are demanding a change in planning policies, radical reform in environment, planning and lands institutions, and a shift to an economic model that focuses on quality of life instead of endless economic growth.
The organisers invite people to join them tomorrow Thursday 25th May for placard-making in preparation for Saturday’s protest. The activity is taking place at 67, Strait Street, Valletta from 6 pm onwards.
The national protest is on Saturday at 10.30am starting from Triton Fountain. It is being organised by eight organisations: Moviment Graffitti, Friends of the Earth Malta, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Nature Trust Malta, Għawdix, BirdLife Malta and Ramblers’ Association
Iktar minn 80 għaqda, inklużi organizzazzjonijiet tar-residenti minn madwar Malta u Għawdex, taw l-appoġġ formali tagħhom għall-protesta nazzjonali ta’ nhar is-Sibt li ġej li titlob riforma ambjentali u tal-ippjanar. Il-lista ta’ dawn l-organizzazzjonijiet tinsab hawn: https://xebbajtuna.org/#endorsements
Il-protesta tas-Sibt, intitolata Xebbajtuna! Bidla fl-Ambjent u l-Ippjanar ISSA!, qed tiġi organizzata fil-kuntest ta’ rabja pubblika mifruxa dwar diversi deċiżjonijiet ambjentali u ta’ l-ippjanar madwar Malta u Għawdex.
Dawn l-għaqdiet ikopru diversi oqsma, inklużi organizzazzjonijiet tal-istudenti, akkademiċi, organizzazzjonijiet tal-benesseri tal-annimali, gruppi kulturali, organizzazzjonijiet reliġjużi, gruppi tal-ħaddiema, NGOs tad-drittijiet tal-bniedem, gruppi tad-drittijiet tal-bdiewa u anke ċentru għall-kura tat-tfal.
Fost l-organizzazzjonijiet li qegħdin jappoġġjaw il-protesta hemm ukoll gruppi ta’ residenti minn madwar Malta u Għawdex kollha fosthom ta’ Wied il-Għajn, Ħal Qormi, l-Imġarr u n-Nadur.
Grupp ta’ 256 akkademiċi mill-Università ta’ Malta ukoll qegħdin jappoġġjaw il-protesta tas-Sibt.
Fi stqarrija, l-organizzaturi qalu li jidher ċar li l-kostruzzjoni sfrenata u bla rażan dejjqet lil kulħadd.
“In-nies, ġejjin mil-liema kuntest ġejjin, imxebbgħin mit-taħwid sfrenat fl-istituzzjonijiet tal-ippjanar tagħna,” qalu l-organizzaturi. “Għalhekk nhar is-Sibt li ġej ser ninġabru kollha ħdejn il-Funtana tat-Tritoni f’għajta waħda biex l-awtoritajiet jisimgħu t-talbiet tagħna, u biex itejbu l-kundizzjonijiet ta’ Malta għalina u għal uliedna,” żiedu jgħidu.
L-organizzazzjonijiet qed jitolbu bidla fil-politiki tal-ippjanar, riforma radikali fl-istituzzjonijiet tal-ambjent, l-ippjanar u l-artijiet, u mudell ekonomiku ġdid li jiffoka fuq il-kwalità tal-ħajja minflok fuq it-tkabbir ekonomiku bla tarf.
L-organizzaturi jistiednu lin-nies jingħaqdu magħhom għada l-Ħamis ta’ Mejju fis-6 pm biex iħejju l-kartelluni għall-protesta tas-Sibt. L-attività ser issir f’67, Strait Street, Valletta.
Il-protesta nazzjonali ser issir nhar is-Sibt fl-10.30 am u tibda mill-Funtana tat-Tritoni. Hija qiegħda tiġi organizzata minn tmien għaqdiet: Moviment Graffitti, Friends of the Earth Malta, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Nature Trust Malta, Għawdix, BirdLife Malta u Ramblers’ Association.
