Mike's Beat

Appeal for donations to Alternattiva Demokratika

2009-07-02T19:14:00.000+02:00

Dear All

It would really be appreciated if you read message below and give a kind donation or, make a standing order addressed to Alternattiva Demokratika. Both can easily be done through internet banking or through other methods (e.g. post in case of cheques).

We are committed to remain active for social justice, environmental justice and civil rights and to keep speaking up for the voiceless. Your support is crucial !

Michael Briguglio

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Dear Friends,

The recent electoral results have called for us at AD to take stock and examine new directions for its political future. However, AD is also facing a difficult financial situation. Unlike the two parties represented in parliament, which since 1994 have been receiving 50,000 liri a year from the state, AD has always relied on donations from its members and other donors and the money made in fundraising activities. This doesn’t come any close to the financial cost of keeping a party going.

Its success in dealing with the present financial situation will also have an impact on its decision about its political future. AD needs your financial help now more than ever. Are you ready to give it? If you are, you can write a cheque made payable to Alternattiva Demokratika send to: Alternattiva Demokratika,

c/o GreenMantle
36 Triq l-Gharbiel,
Swieqi SWQ 3251

or make a deposit at the BOV account number shown below:

BANK OF VALLETTA account no: 40015056960

BANK BIC: VALLMTMT

IBAN MT47 VALL 2201 3000 0000 4001 5056 960

AD needs you. Do you need AD? If yes, now is your time to show it.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Arnold Cassola

Barroso ghandu jitlaq... L-Alternattiva ghandha tibqa'

2009-07-01T11:58:00.005+02:00

minn Michael Briguglio
http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=54665
L-Orizzont 1 ta’ Lulju 2009

Barroso għandu jitlaq

Il-grupp tal-Ħodor fil-Par¬lament Ewropew qed jagħmel kampanja biex il-President tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea, Josè Manuel Barroso (ritratt), ma jerġax jiġi appuntat f’din il-kariga daqshekk importanti. F’dan ir-rigward se jittieħed vot kruċjali fil-Parlament Ewropew nhar l-14 ta’ Lulju, u alleanzi bejn partiti varji jistgħu jwaqqfu lil Barroso u b’hekk jinstab kandidat al¬ternattiv.

Iżda x’għamel ħażin Barroso? F’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-ekonomija, il-Kummissjoni Ew¬ropea, immexxija minn Barroso, falliet milli tindirizza b’mod konvinċenti n-nuqqas ta’ re¬golazzjoni fis-settur finanzjarju, liema settur kellu rwol prinċipali fil-kriżi globali ekonomika, minħabba raġunijiet bħall-ispekulazzjoni bla rażan.

Il-Kummissjoni Barroso ħadet xi passi biss wara pressjoni minn pajjiżi msieħba fl-UE, meta dan kien tard wisq għal ħafna ħaddiema li tilfu xogħolhom.

Barroso mbotta ukoll biex ikun hemm iktar privatizzazzjoni, liberalizzazzjoni u nuqqas ta’ regoli f’setturi varji tal-eko¬nomija, fosthom bosta servizzi pubbliċi bħall-enerġija, il-posta u t-trasport. Fl-istess ħin, saru attakki fuq kisbiet li għamlu ħaddiema tul is-snin, bħalma hi dik ta’ paga ugwali għal xogħol ugwali.

F’isem il-kompetittività, Barroso ppromwova d-‘dumping’ soċjali, fejn ħafna impjiegi ġodda huma ta’ natura prekarja, bħalma hu xogħol kuntrattwali u partajm. B’hekk miljuni ta’ ħaddiema fl-UE qed jiċċaħdu minn drittijiet bażiċi, u sa¬ħansitra ftehim kollettiv u regoli nazzjonali bħal dik tal-paga minima qed jiġu mminati minħabba li kumpaniji qegħdin jitħallew iġibu ħaddiema minn pajjiżi oħrajn b’kundizzjonijiet ferm inferjuri u b’hekk iħallsu¬hom ferm inqas minn dak stabbilit fil-pajjiż fejn ikunu qegħdin jaħdmu. Dan biex ma nsemmux fatturi oħrajn bħas-saħħa u s-sigurtà fuq il-post tax-xogħol.

Filwaqt li Barroso ħalla d-‘dumping’ soċjali, l-istess Kum¬missarju naqas milli jieħu azzjoni biex il-kummerċ fuq livell globali jkun iktar ġust. Naqas ukoll milli jieħu azzjoni serja kontra pro¬blemi ekoloġiċi bħat-tibdil fil-klima.

Għall-kuntrarju, il-Kum¬misjoni Barroso dgħajfet bosta proposti għall-politika li tik¬konfronta t-tibdil fil-klima, u anke għall-politika serja kontra t-tniġġiż tal-arja, l-immaniġġjar tal-iskart u kimika perikoluża. Għalhekk, l-immaġini pożittiva tal-UE bħala mexxejja dinjija fil-qasam ekoloġiku qed tiġi mminata mill-Kummisjoni Bar¬roso. Il-profitti ta’ kumpaniji kbar qed jiġu qabel l-ugwaljanza soċjali, is-saħħa tan-nies u s-sostenibbiltà ambjentali.

Hemm bosta raġunijiet oħrajn għaliex Barroso għandu jin¬għata vot ta’ sfiduċja fil-Parla¬ment Ewropew. Wieħed jista’ jaqra iktar dwar dan f’www.stop-barroso.eu

L-Alternattiva għandha tibqa’

Fl-aĦĦar artiklu tiegħi f’din il-kolonna elenkajt raġunijiet li fl-opinjoni tiegħi wasslu għar-riżultati li ġabet l-Alternattiva Demokra¬tika fl-elezzjonijet Ewropej u tal-kunsilli lokali. Minn dak iż-żmien ’l hawn, l-eżekuttiv tal-Alternattiva għamel xi laqgħat u jidher b’mod ċar li hemm rieda qawwija li l-partit ikompli. Fil-ġranet li ġejjin AD se tkompli tiltaqa’ u tiddiskuti l-futur tagħha.

Iżda, biex ngħiduha kif inhi, AD għandha bżonn il-finanzi biex tkompli topera, speċjalment meta wieħed iqis li AD ma tieħu l-ebda finanzjament mill-istat, għall-kuntrarju tal-PN u l-PL.

Għalhekk nappella lil min jixtieq li AD tkompli tkun attiva għall-ġustizzja soċjali, ġustizzja ambjentali u drittijiet ċivili, biex jagħti donazzjoni lill-partit. Dan jista’ jsir permezz ta’ ċekk lil: Alternattiva Demokratika, c/o Greenmantle, 36 Triq l-Għarbiel, Swieqi SWQ 3251, jew donaz¬zjonijiet/‘standing orders’ fil-kont tal-Bank of Valletta 40015056960 .

Grazzi mill-qalb!

European Commission may take action against Sliema, Gzira pollution

2009-06-27T17:29:00.001+02:00

The Times, Saturday, 27th June 2009 - 11:53CET
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090627/local/european-commission-may-take-action-against-sliema-gzira-pollution

The European Commission is verifying whether to take action against pollution in Sliema and Gzira, Alternattiva Demokratika said.

It said that in a reply to a European parliamentary question by the European Greens on pollution in Sliema and Gzira, the EC said that it was verifying whether to take infringement procedures against the Maltese government.

This was because Malta has not yet submitted the required documentation on this issue. In a joint statement, AD chairman Arnold Cassola and former Sliema councillor Michael Briguglio said that both the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the Public Transport Authority have been dragging their feet for too long on the issue, resulting in excessive traffic pollution in streets such as Manwel Dimech, Rue D'Argens and Mrabat, to the detriment of people's health.

Michael Briguglio intervistat minn it-Torca

2009-06-21T17:42:00.003+02:00

X’Alternattiva hemm?
minn Ivin Catania

http://www.it-torca.com/news.asp?newsitemid=8003
It-Torca 21 ta' Gunju 2009

Wara r-riżultat diżappuntanti tas-6 ta’ Ġunju l-Alternattiva Demokratika tinsab f’salib it-toroq dwar x’se jkun il-futur politiku tagħha. Wara li aktar kmieni din il-ġimgħa ltaqa’ l-grupp ta’ tmexxija tal-Alternattiva Demokratika fejn jidher li hemm ir-rieda li l-AD tkompli taħdem bħala partit politiku, il-mistoqsija hija dwar b’liema mod se tkun qiegħda tħaddem il-politika tagħha. Se tibqa’ partit li jipprova jipproġetta politika moderata biex ma tnaffarx in-nies, jew se tieħu pożizzjoni aktar radikali fejn tgħid dak li għandha tgħid, irrispettivament minn jekk tirfisx il-kallijiet jew le?

Għal Michael Briguglio jidher li l-aħħar triq hija dik li verament għandha bżonn l-Alternattiva Demokratika. Briguglio, li huwa l-kelliem tal-AD għall-iżvilupp soċjali u ekonomiku, jsostni li wasal iż-żmien li l-Alternattiva tibdel l-istrateġija tagħha. Jidher li l-aħħar riżultati elettorali kienu konferma li l-AD f’Malta għandha bażi ta’ min verament isegwieha u jara fiha risposta għaż-żewġ partiti l-kbar li ilhom snin twal jiddominaw ix-xena politika ta’ pajjiżna.

“Inħoss li wasal iż-żmien li l-Alternattiva tkun aktar radikali fil-politika li tipproġetta. Għandha tara li ma toqgħodx lura minn dak li verament qed idejjaq lin-nies. Inħoss li jekk l-AD tkun aktar radikali fil-politika tagħha tkun qiegħda timla’ l-vojt kbir li jeżisti fuq in-naħa tax-xellug tal-politika lokali,” qal Briguglio.

Huwa qal li fi ħdan l-Alternattiva Demokratika jeżisti spirtu kbir ta’ kontinwazzjoni politika. Fil-fatt hu stess iħossu kommess li jaħdem fi ħdan din il-formazzjoni politika. Iżda filwaqt li jkun qed jagħmel hekk stqarr li jridu jsiru bidliet kbar, speċjalment f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-organizzazzjoni tal-partit. Briguglio jsostni li l-aktar bidla importanti li l-AD għandha tara li seħħ hija dik li l-attivisti u l-imsieħba jkollhom aktar parteċipaz-zjoni: “Irridu ninvolvu aktar lill-attivisti u lill-membri. Dawn se jiggarantulna l-kontinwazzjoni u l-eżistenza politika. Hemm bżonn ta’ tibdil u anke tisħiħ fl-istrutturi tal-AD innifisha. Irridu nespandu u nwessgħu n-nukleu ta’ nies li jaħdmu fl-istrutturi tagħha.”

“Jiena nemmen fil-filosofija ta’ ‘The Long March’ (il-Mixja Twila). Dan fis-sens li filwaqt li l-Alternattiva Demokratika tibqa’ tkun preżenti fix-xena politika u attenta għal dak li jkun qed iseħħ, trid ukoll timbarka fuq programm ta’ bidliet li mhux neċessarjament se jagħtu riżultati fl-immedjat. Imma jkunu pjani għat-tul. Eżempju ta’ dan huwa li ma jistax ikun li nibqgħu nqisu l-elezzjonijiet li jsiru f’pajjiżna daqs li kieku huma ħajja jew mewt għall-partit. L-għanijiet u l-ambizzjonijiet tagħna jitolbu li nibdew naħsbu dwar dak li se nkunu qiegħdin inwettqu u nixtiequ li jsir, mhux biss issa, iżda anke dak li jista’ jinqala’ ’l quddiem fis-snin,” qal Briguglio.

Fl-elezzjoni tal-2009 il-voti tal-AD kienu reali

Imma qabel xejn tajjeb li wieħed jara x’setgħu kienu r-raġunijiet li l-Alternattiva Demokratika fl-aħħar elezzjonijiet għall-Parlament Ewropew kisbet riżultat daqstant diżappuntanti, meta ħames snin qabel kienu biss ‘ftit’ voti li ma rebbħux lil Arnold Cassola siġġu fil-Parlament Ewropew. Dwar dan Briguglio jsostni li: “Il-vot li kisbet l-Alternattiva f’dawn l-aħħar elezzjonijiet inħoss li huwa aktar reali. Fl-elezzjonijiet ta’ ħames snin ilu naħseb li kien hemm ħafna li riedu jirringrazzjaw lill-Alternattiva talli ħadmet favur li Malta tidħol fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Ħallieha li fl-elezzjoni ġenerali tal-2003 kien hemm it-tradiment min-naħa tal-partit nazzjonalista. Tradiment li kont għidt li se jsir. Imma issa dak ħallieh. Nistqarr ukoll li dakinhar kien hemm ukoll numru ta’ voti ta’ protesta. Għalhekk il-voti miksuba llum huma aktar reali milli wieħed jaħseb. Biss tajjeb ukoll li wieħed jgħid li dawn huma wkoll il-votanti li realment jemmnu f’dak li tista’ toffri differenti l-Alternattiva.”

Iżda l-inkapaċità min-naħa tal-AD li tirkeb fuq is-suċċess tal-2004 mhuwiex l-uniku ostaklu li kellha bħala partit. Għal Michael Briguglio kien hemm ostakli oħra maħluqa mill-istuzzjonijiet tal-pajjiż infushom. Fil-fatt għall- mistoqsija dwar jekk jaħsibx li f’pajjiżna hawnx vera demokrazija huwa wieġeb li: “Id-demokrazija li hawn hija waħda limitata. Ħares lejn kif topera l-Awtorità tax-Xandir. Il-membri tal-bord tagħha huma ffurmati b’nomini mill-partit li huma fil-parlament biss. Dan wassal għall-operat oxxen fi tmiem il-kampanja għall-elezzjonijiet tal-parlament ewropew. Kollox dar maż-żewġ partiti l-kbar. Ħu l-MEPA. L-istess il-membri tal-bord tagħha huma ffurmati minn nomini tal-partiti li għandhom rappreżentanza fil-parlament. Iżda dan mhux biżżejjed. Għandek għadd ta’ bordijiet u entitajiet li huma maħtura mill-gvern tal-ġurnata b’nies li l-lealtà tagħhom hija lejn il-partit fil-gvern. Nifhem li l-gvern irid li f’ċerti istituzzjonijiet ikollu nies tal-fiduċja tiegħu però dan qed iwassal biex l-istess gvern jibqa’ għaddej minn fuq il-poplu bħal bulldozer minħabba li ma hemm ebda istituz-zjoni li tista’ żżommu milli jagħmel hekk. F’sitwazzjoni bħal din mhux biss ngħid li d-demokrazija hija limitata, iżda sa ċertu punt anke mhedda! F’ħafna każi ssib li dan kollu hu maħluq mill-kultura tal-obbligazzjonijiet”

B’referenza għal dan Briguglio semma l-fatt kif il-gvern mhu qed jagħmel xejn biex jikkontrolla l-iżvilupp irresponsabbli li qed isir f’dan il-pajjiż, fejn għandek numru ta’ kuntratturi u negozjanti li bil-mod il-mod ‘qiegħdin jibilgħu kollox’: “Dan ikompli juri biċ-ċar kif il-Partit Nazzjonalista, minkejja l-kompromessi li għamel biex jidher li għandu xi forma ta’ ruħ soċjali, xorta waħda għadu l-partit li hu marbut u sostnut mill-gruppi u klassi soċjali dominanti ta’ pajjiżna. Fl-isfond ta’ dan kollu, għalhekk insostni li l-Alternattiva għandha tkun aktar radikali fl-operat u l-proposti tagħha.”

L-ambjent fil-politika

Fl-isfond ta’ dawn l-istqarrijiet, il-mistoqsija tqum waħeda: fl-aħħar mill-aħħar in-nies verament jinteressahom mill-ambjent jew jiġu jaqgħu u jqumu minnu, issa li anke dan l-istess suġġett spiċċa politizat? Għal Briguglio t-tweġiba hija waħda ċara u bla ebda dubji: “Il-Maltin vera jinteressahom mill-ambjent. Li ma teżistix f’pajjiżna hija l-kuxjenza ta’ politika ambjentali. Fil-fatt tul is-snin nibtet l-idea falza li jekk partit joħorġu miegħu kandidati li xi darba jew oħra, kienu jew għadhom attivi fil-qasam ambjentali, issa dan il-partit sar wieħed favur l-ambjent. Ħu l-Partit Nazzjonalista. Ipproġetta lilu innifsu bħala l-partit li għandu għall-qalbu l-ambjent. Iżda mhux kulħadd jaf li l-PN għandu rabtiet kbar ma’ uħud mill-akbar negozjanti u kuntratturi li għandna f’pajjiżna u ħafna minnhom qiegħdin jitħallew jiżviluppaw bla rażan? Huwa fatt ukoll, li l-partiti l-kbar kien f’dawn l-aħħar snin li bdew jitkellmu dwar l-ambjent. Dan għamluh għax raw li t-temi ambjentali li kienet qiegħda titkellem dwarhom l-Alternattiva Demokratika kienu qiegħdin jinteressaw lin-nies u biex ma jitilfux voti, dawn it-temi għamluhom tagħhom ukoll.”

L-AD trid tkun aktar xellugija

Għaldaqstant, jekk it-temi ambjentali issa saru parti mill-politika mħaddma miż-żewġ partiti kbar, x’għandhom ikunu t-temi li l-Alternattiva Demokratika trid titkellem dwarhom u permezz tagħhom tikseb u tkabbar l-appoġġ popolari? Għal din il-mistoqsija Briguglio qal li t-tweġiba tinsab fil-weġgħat tan-nies: “Għalhekk l-AD trid tkun aktar xellugija. Trid titkellem aktar dwar dawn it-temi li fil-preżent qiegħdin iweġġgħu li n-nies. L-għoli tal-ħajja, li minkejja li qiegħdin jogħlew il-prezzijiet ta’ prodotti essenzjali, il-pagi ma żdiedux b’rata li jpattu għalihom. F’dan il-kuntest għandha ssir pressjoni biex, fost affarijiet oħra, ikun hemm reviżjoni tal-paga minima nazzjonali u din tiżdied biex verament tkun tirrifletti r-realtajiet tal-lum. L-AD trid tibqa’ titkellem ukoll dwar id-drittijiet soċjali, bħal kundizzjonijiet aħjar għall-ħaddiema - bħal ma hi ż-żieda fil-ġimgħat tal-maternity leave. Xogħlna hu li naqbżu u nitkellmu f’isem il-ħaddiema f’setturi varji, bħal manifattura u s-servizzi. L-industrijalisti għandhom l-għaqdiet tagħhom li jaqbżu għalihom. Ma jistax ikun li f’dan il-pajjiż nippermettu li ma jkunx hawn infurzar bis-serjetà tar-regolamenti dwar is-saħħa u s-sigurtà fuq il-post tax-xogħol. L-AD għandha wkoll tagħmel aktar pressjoni kontra l-kundizzjonijiet ħżiena li bihom qiegħdin ikunu impjegati l-ħaddiema part-time jew meta jingħataw kuntratti definiti. Tajjeb li jkun hemm aktar pressjoni kontra l-isfruttament ta’ persuni f’xogħlijiet professjonali li jaħdmu f’kundizzjonijiet prekarji u li dawn ħafna drabi lanqas jitħallew jidħlu membri ta’union. L-AD għandha wkoll ikollha pożizzjoni aktar b’saħħitha favur politika li tħares l-investimenti f’servizzi pubbliċi bħat-trasport pubbliku, enerġija nadifa u housing.

Hemm ukoll il-kwistjoni tad-drittijiet ċivili – bħalma hu d-divorzju – irridu nitkellmu dwar dan u mhux noqgħodu lura għax ikun hemm minn jattakkana. Kollox ma’ kollox għandna nkunu l-vuċi ta’ dak li m’għandhomx vuċi f’dan il-pajjiż. Għandna nkunu l-vuċi ta’ dawn l-organizzazzjonijiet mhux governattivi li minħabba nuqqas ta’ riżorsi l-ideat tagħhom ma jaslux u ma jinnstemgħux. Irridu ukoll naħdmu ma’ dawk li finalment huma lesti li jaħdmu magħna. Għalhekk nemmen li fis-sitwazzjoni li ninsabu fiha llum l-Alternattiva Demokratika rtinsab f’pożizzjoni li timla’ l-vojt li jeżisti fix-xellug politiku ta’ pajjiżna.”

Fl-aħħar mill-aħħar x’inhu l-futur ta’ Michael Briguglio fl-Alternattiva Demokratika: “Għalkemm kont diżappuntat li wara żewġ perjodi fil-kunsill lokali ta’ Tas Sliema, fl-aħħar elezzjoni ma kontx elett, però kif jgħid il-Malti ‘kull deni ħudu b’ġid.’ Issa għandi ħafna aktar ħin x’niddedika għall-Alternattiva Demokratika u x-xena politika. Hemm entużjażmu biex bħala AD inkomplu bil-ħidma politika tagħna, u jien kommess li nkompli naħdem fi ħdan il-partit.”

Dizappunt ghall-AD

2009-06-17T11:18:00.001+02:00

minn Michael Briguglio, Kelliem ghall-Izvilupp Socjali u Ekonomiku tal-Alternattiva Demokratika

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=54299
L-Orizzont 17 ta' Gunju 2009

Fl-elezzjonijiet għall-Parlament Ewropew u għall-Kunsilli Lokali, l-Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) ġabet riżultati ħżiena. Xejn iktar u xejn inqas. X’wassal għal dan?

Qabel xejn, tajjeb wieħed iżomm f’moħħu l-istħarriġ xjentifiku dwar l-elezzjonijiet Ewropej, bħal dak tal-gazzetta Malta Today li sar bejn Marzu u Ġunju, wera li AD se ġġib bejn 1.9% u 3.6%. Dan meta wieħed jikkonsidra lil dawk li ġew mistoqsija lil min se jivvotaw u taw il-fehma taghhom. F’dan l-ambitu, ir-riżultat ta’ 2.34% ma jidhirx bħala sorpriża, minkejja li hu diżappuntanti.

Tajjeb wieħed jinnota ukoll li l-AD ġabet madwar 1% f’ħafna mid-distretti fin-Nofsinhar ta’ Malta, u madwar 4% f’ħafna mid-distretti fit-Tramuntana. Dan jista’ jirrifletti raġunijiet ta’ klassi soċjali.
Jista’ jkun hemm raġunijiet għal din id-disfatta li AD ma kellhiex kontroll fuqhom, iżda jista’ jkun hemm ukoll raġunijiet li għandhom x’jaqsmu mal-istrateġiji u l-operat tal-partit.

Dwar tal-ewwel, wieħed jista’ jgħid li min ried jivvota kontra l-Gvern Nazzjonalista, ipprefera ma jivvotax jew jivvota lill-PL (jew lil xi partiti żgħar oħra). B’mod imparzjali nistqarr li l-is¬tra¬teġija Laburista kienet ferm iktar effettiva, speċjalment min¬ħabba l-impatt pożittiv li ġabet magħha t-tmexxija l-ġdida.

L-istrateġija Laburista ffokat iktar fuq kwistjonijiet nazzjonali milli Ewropej, u li ffokat fuq suġġetti li skont stħarriġ soċjo¬loġiku qed jikkonċernaw b’mod qawwi lill-Maltin, bħall-immi¬graz¬zjoni u l-għoli tal-ħajja. Il-Partit Laburista pprova jappella ukoll għall-gruppi varji li ħass¬hom imweġġa’ jew traduti mill-imġiba tal-Gvern Nazzjonalista.

Hemm ukoll il-kwistjoni tar-riżorsi finanzjarji u aċċess għall-midja. Ma jistax ikun li f’dan il-pajjiż l-Awtorità tax-Xandir tib¬qa’ tiffavorixxi lill-partiti kbar b’mod daqshekk ċar u li f’pajjiż¬na ċerti kandidati jibqgħu jitħal¬lew jiksru l-liġi u jonfqu iktar flus minn dak permess. Fl-is¬tess ħin, AD kienet għamlet żball kbir meta ftit snin ilu bie¬għet ir-radju tagħha, Capital Radio.

Raġuni oħra li AD ma kellhiex kontroll fuqha hi l-kriżi globali ekonomika. Is-suġġetti li jemfa¬sizzaw il-partiti ħodor (bħall-protezzjoni ambjentali u d-drittijiet ċivili) kemm-il darba jkunu iktar attraenti mal-votanti meta l-ekonomija tkun sejra tajjeb. F’sitwazzjoni ekonomika ħażina, hemm tendenza li jiġri bil-maqlub.

Iżda tajjeb wieħed jgħid ukoll li l-Grupp tal-Partiti Ħodor żied is-siġġijiet fil-Parlament Ewro¬pew. X’aktarx li l-Partiti Ħodor f’pajjiżi bħar-Renju Unit, Ġer¬manja, Belġju u Franza marru tajjeb għax irnexxielhom iwasslu messaġġ konvinċenti fejn abbi¬naw l-ekonomija mal-ekoloġija.

Forsi l-istrateġija “pożittiva” tal-AD ma niżlitx tajjeb ma’ nies li xtaqu jagħtu “lezzjoni” lill-Gvern Nazzjonalista. Jista’ jkun ukoll li diskors ta’ AD dwar ‘green new deal’ fl-ekonomija u teknoloġiji ekoloġiċi kien wisq sofistikat għal din il-kampanja ddominata minn somom dwar l-għoli tal-ħajja u l-immigrazzjoni illegali.

Hemm ukoll min qal li AD kienet moderata wisq fuq kwistjonijiet ta’ drittijiet ċivili bħad-divorzju, u għalhekk ma attiratx lill-votanti iktar liberali, li ma rawx differenza bejn l-AD u l-PL. Apparti minn hekk, l-islogans ta’ l-AD, bħal “enerġija, esperjenza, Ewropa” kienu vagi wisq, u l-AD dehret mingħajr proġett ċar favur Ewropa soċjali u ekoloġika.

Forsi l-iktar kwistjoni li għamlet ħsara lill-AD kienet dik tal-immigrazzjoni illegali. L-AD ipprovat toħloq bilanċ bejn id-drittijiet umanitarji ta’ dawn in-nies, u l-interess nazzjonali f’kun¬test Ewropew. Iżda jidher li dan id-diskors ma kienx attra¬enti mal-votanti. Din il-kwistjoni toffri sfida kbira lill-AD, li fuq naħa trid tappella għall-votanti, u fuq naħa oħra trid tappella għall-membri tagħha!

Iż-żewġ kandidati ta’ AD għall-elezzjonijiet Ewropej, Arnold Cassola u Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer ħadmu kemm felħu, u kellhom messaġġ po¬żittiv tul il-kampanja elettorali. Hemm min ikkritika xi aspetti relatati mal-kandidati innifis¬hom, iżda naħseb li x-xogħol li għamlu Arnold u Yvonne ħaqqu rispett massimu! Min hawn nirringrazzjahom tax-xoghol li ghamlu.

Arnold wera kemm hu vera¬ment ġentlom billi ħabbar ir-riżenja tiegħu l-għada li ħarġu r-riżultati, iżda dan ma waqqfux milli qatta’ ġurnata u lejl fis-sala tal-għadd tal-voti (flimkien ma’ Stephen Cachia u Carmel Caco¬pardo) meta kienu qed jingħad¬du l-voti tal-kunsilli lokali. Id-dinjità ta’ dawn in-nies hi xi ħaġa li ħadd ma jista’ jeħodhielhom!

Hekk kif qed nitkellmu dwar il-kunsilli lokali, ma nistax ma nirreferix għad-disfatta tiegħi f’Tas-Sliema, fejn naqqast 200 vot, u fejn il-madwar 500 vot li ġibt ma servewx biex niġi elett għat-tielet darba. Fil-każ speċi¬fiku ta’ din il-lokalità, jidher li kien hemm vot ta’ protesta kon¬tra Lawrence Gonzi kemm per¬mezz ta’ astensjonijiet, iżda anke permezz ta’ voti għal fazzjoni fl-istess Partit Nazzjonalista, dik ta’ Robert Arrigo, jiġifieri għas-sindku l-ġdid Nikki Dimech.

Naħseb ukoll li jien tlift xi voti minħabba l-politika xellugija li nħaddan u minħabba l-perċezzjoni li l-AD u PL dehru iktar viċin xulxin mis-snin ta’ qabel. Bħallikieku dan ixekkel lil wieħed biex jaħdem favur ir-residenti! Iżda nemmen li din il-perċezzjoni wasslet għal ħafna sefsif fil-widnejn minn xi “professuri” tad-demokrazija li jiddilettaw bl-arma tal-biża’.

Bħala parti mit-tim ta’ AD, nas¬sumi ukoll ir-responsab¬biltajiet tiegħi għal din it-telfa, u fil-jiem li ġejjin nieħu deċiżjoni finali dwar il-futur politiku tiegħi, wa¬ra li l-attivisti tal-AD jiltaq¬għu u jiddiskutu s-sitwazzjoni.

AD's future - Disband or be more radical

2009-06-16T10:26:00.001+02:00

The Times, Tuesday, 16th June 2009

AD's future
Disband or be more radical - Briguglio

Executive discusses result tonight

Kurt Sansone

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090616/local/disband-or-be-more-radical-briguglio

Alternattiva Demokratika faced a stark choice: it will have to disband or else adopt a more radical political approach, according to former Sliema councillor Michael Briguglio.

The moderate approach, which sought to make political compromises to gain wider acceptance, had not worked, he told The Times barely 24 hours after he lost his seat on the Sliema council.

"Being more radical does not mean AD will get more votes but it will ensure the party remains consistent in its beliefs. In this way it will continue to serve as a critical alternative voice to the prevailing political and mainstream structures, even if it never gets elected," Mr Briguglio said.

After a dismal performance in the European Parliament and local council elections, the party's executive committee will be meeting tonight to discuss the results and the party's future.

Mr Briguglio ruled out any formal move by AD to join the Labour Party.

"If AD dismantles it will be up to the individual members what to do. I do not think that structurally AD will take any formal decision to join Labour," he said.

Just last week in a post-mortem of the EP result, Nationalist Party MEP Simon Busuttil suggested AD activists should militate within either of the two major parties.

He even suggested the PN should approach people like Mr Briguglio, chairman Arnold Cassola and deputy chairman Stephen Cachia.

However, AD general secretary Victor Galea said AD's disappearance could create a "political vacuum" for those who wanted an alternative to the two-party system.

"I fear AD's disappearance would create space for the far-right to grow since you will always have people who vote for a third party because they do not believe in the two-party system," he said.

Mr Galea admitted the party was at a crossroads after 20 years of active political participation: "We need to do some radical thinking. After an internal discussion we should open up the debate to our members."

Tonight's executive meeting is expected to discuss whether the party should wait for October's annual general meeting or call an extraordinary meeting now to discuss the result and the party's future, among other issues.

"I do not think it is fair on the 5,000 or so people who believed in us to simply take a decision to fold up. We have to reflect hard. These were not protest votes since whoever wanted to protest against the government voted Labour. However, at the same time we activists have to respect ourselves. It is disheartening and disappointing to constantly be faced with bad results," Mr Galea said.

The general secretary was the Green Party's candidate for the Għarb local council and missed getting elected by five votes.

On the other hand, Mr Briguglio had already served for two terms on the Sliema council before losing his seat. He insisted there seemed to be a cultural and political trend for people to shift their preference between the two major parties, even at a local level.

However, Mr Briguglio added that the two major parties also managed to contain disgruntlement within the party.

"In Sliema those who were angry with the government either chose to stay at home or else voted for Nikki Dimech who was supported by Robert Arrigo," he said.

Mr Briguglio attributed AD's bad result to a number of factors, some of which were beyond the party's control such as the Broadcasting Authority's attitude that favoured the two major parties.

However, there were other issues attributable to AD's campaign.

He said the slogans adopted by the party were vague and although the "Green New Deal" was something he believed in, it proved to be "too sophisticated" for the electorate.

Mr Briguglio said AD's dismal performance eroded the bargaining power of environmental groups: "I trust NGOs and admire their work but the only thing that motivated the two big parties to take action in favour of the environment was their fear of losing votes to AD."

Referring to the PN candidature of environmentalist Alan Deidun, Mr Briguglio said the electorate seemed to believe that by having good people in the PN, the environment could be better served.

"This is not the case because the party will always remain linked to contractors and unless this link is severed there won't be change," he said.

AD's electoral performance
Alternattiva Demokratika was founded in 1989 by a group of environmental and social activists, who teamed up with Wenzu Mintoff and Toni Abela. The two had been kicked out of the Labour Party after they publicly denounced the violent and corrupt elements within the party.

Dr Mintoff had been elected to Parliament on the Labour ticket in 1987 but went on to represent AD after its formation.

AD contested its first general election in 1992, gaining over 4,000 votes but failed to elect an MP. Dr Mintoff lost his seat.

It was the first election since 1971 that a third party polled over one per cent of the national vote.

After 1992 the party's electoral fortunes did not improve, with one exception: Its best showing was in the first EP election in 2004 when its sole candidate Arnold Cassola polled over 22,000 votes and just missed making it to Brussels on the last count.

Over the years, AD also managed to elect a number of councillors in various localities, even though the party consistently failed to contest in all localities. It now has only one councillor, in Attard.

AD has had three leaders since its inception. Dr Mintoff led the party between 1989 and 1998. He was succeeded by Harry Vassallo, who resigned after last year's general election. Prof. Cassola was elected leader last year.

After last week's EP result Prof. Cassola said he would continue on as leader until the party's next general conference when he would resign irrevocably.

Election - votes
1992 - 4,186 (1.69%)

1996 - 3,820 (1.46%)

1998 - 3,208 (1.21%)

2003 - 1,929 (0.68%)

2004* - 22,938 (9.33%)

2008 - 3,810 (1.31%)

2009* - 5,802 (2.34%)

* European Parliament elections

ksansone@timesofmalta.com

Arnold Cassola: An honest and principled politician

2009-06-08T19:55:00.003+02:00

Arnold Cassola announced that he will be stepping down as AD Chairperson next October, when his term expires.

For me, Arnold is a true example of an honest and principled politician, one of Malta's best, and, indeed an inspiration for the Green movement. Arnold is not only the excellent politician one sees on the TV screens, but also the person who works his heart out to have AD's administration functioning as it should, and a true friend. Above all, Arnold has always been down-to-earth, close to the people and has always welcome valuable proposals.

Last June I had written this about Arnold.

Ivvota!

2009-06-03T10:01:00.002+02:00

minn Michael Briguglio, Kelliem ghall-Izvilupp Socjali u Ekonomiku, Alternattiva Demokratika

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=53960
L-Orizzont 3 ta’ Gunju 2009

Kultant il-bniedem ma japprezzax dak li għandu u jibda jap¬prezza xi ħaġa wara li jitlifha.

Kemm hu ironiku l-fatt li filwaqt li hawn min lest li jmut għad-demokrazija f’pajjiżi dittatorjali, hemm min lest jarmi l-vot f’pajjiżi demokratiċi! Ov¬vjament, dan jista’ jirrifletti diżillużjoni bis-sistema, jew indifferenza lejn sistema politika li għal bosta tidher li hi maqtugħa mir-realtajiet tal-mases. Iżda, ngħid jien, jekk bniedem ma jivvotax, ir-riżultat x’ikun? Mhux li qed jgħin li s-sistema tibqa’ kif inhi?

Għalhekk, nappella lil kul¬ħadd biex jivvota fl-elezzjonijiet lokali u Ewropej tas-sitta ta’ Ġunju. Ivvota lil min taħseb li jista’ jippreżenta l-prinċipji, it-twemmin u l-bżonnijiet tiegħek!

Jista’ jkun il-każ li inti jogħ¬ġbuk kandidati minn partiti differenti, jew għall-kuntrarju, assolutament ma tridx li xi partit imur tajjeb. F’dan il-każ, is-sistema elettorali Maltija tagħtik il-lok li tuża l-vot tiegħek b’mod maħsub u intelliġenti.

Fil-fatt, is-sistema Maltija tippermetti li tivvota għal iktar minn partit wieħed. Dan billi taqleb minn partit għall-ieħor. Per eżempju, tista’ tagħti l-ewwel preferenza lill-kandidat ta’ partit, it-tieni preferenza lill-kandidat ta’ partit ieħor, u t-tielet preferenza lil xi ħadd ta’ partit ieħor!

Tista’ taqleb minn partit għall-ieħor u terġa’ tmur lura għall-ewwel partit. U tista’ tivvota lill-kandidati kollha ta’ partit par¬tikolari u mbagħad tkompli fuq kandidati ta’ partit jew partiti oħra.

Saħansitra tista’ tivvota lill-kandidati kollha, billi tibqa’ sejjer sal-aħħar vot, jiġifieri, jekk għall-argument hemm 29 kandidat, tista’ tibqa' sejjer min-numru wieħed san-numru 29, basta ma tirrepetix numri. Tista’ ukoll tieqaf fuq liema numru trid, anke fuq l-ewwel preferenza!

B’hekk bis-sistema elettorali Maltija, tista’ tivvota mhux biss lil min trid tappoġġja b’mod ċar, iżda ukoll tkompli fuq kandidati ta’ partit jew partiti oħrajn biex almenu tkun taf li jekk il-preferenza tiegħek tiġi eletta jew tinqala’, il-vot ikom pli fuq min tippreferi li jitla’ wara l-preferenzi primarji tiegħek.

Nixtieq nipproponi riflessjoni oħra. F’Malta huwa tajjeb li għandna żewġ partiti rappre¬żentati fil-Parlament Ewropew, u fil-maġġoranza tal-kunsilli (ħlief għall-eċċezzjonijiet bħal Tas-Sliema u Ħ’Attard, fejn hemm kunsillieri tal-Alter¬nattiva Demokratika – wieħed minnhom jien). Kemm ikun aħjar jekk ikun hemm iktar minn żewġ partiti f’dawn l-istrutturi, biex ikun hemm rappreżentanza iktar demo¬kratika.

Fil-Parlament Ewropew bħalissa hemm tmien partiti, u dawn aktarx jiżdiedu wara l-elezzjonijiet tas-6 ta’ Ġunju. Fil-prezent Malta hija rappreżentata f’żewġ partiti biss. Żgur li jkun aħjar għal pajjiżna li nkunu rrappreżentati f’partiti oħrajn ukoll, biex ikollna iktar influ¬wenza wiesgħa fil-Parlament Ewropew!

Għalhekk, nappella mhux biss li kulħadd imur jivvota, iżda ukoll li nużaw il-vot b’mod maħsub, biex niżguraw li dan jintuża bl-aħjar mod possibbli, mhux biss fl-ewwel preferenza, iżda ukoll fil-preferenzi ta’ wara!

Nixtieq nagħlaq dan l-artiklu billi nirringrazzja lil dawk kollha li b’xi mod jew ieħor għenuni fil-kampanja tiegħi għall-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Tas-Sliema. Grazzi mill-qalb.

For Sliema's Empowerment

2009-05-28T16:15:00.001+02:00

The Times, Wednesday, 27th May 2009
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090527/opinion/for-sliemas-empowerment

Michael Briguglio

Over the past weeks, the government decided to make life easier for building contractors by removing tariffs on the placement of scaffolding around construction projects. Thus, contractors will now be further encouraged to install hoarding for long periods of time, blocking roads and pavements and creating difficulties to pedestrians, especially the elderly, disabled and people with pushchairs.

Clear examples of such hoarding in Sliema include a tower crane in St Paul's Street, which has been occupying the street for ages, and the scaffolding in front of the small chapel in High Street, which is dangerously prohibiting people from using the pavement. With Mepa's poor track-record in enforcement, we can only expect more cases of hoarding and more inconveniences for Sliema residents.

Besides, councils can only impose a daily charge of €2.33 for the placement of cranes! Sliema council is being prohibited from charging contractors realistic rates for the damages many of them are doing to Sliema's infrastructure and to the daily inconveniences faced by residents. The government's lack of sensitivity towards residents in the crane-permit issue is one example out of many that are resulting in increased frustration among residents.

The Malta Transport Authority, for example, has not yet approved Sliema council's proposals for a fair residential parking scheme. The local council has carried out all necessary work over the past six years and, yet, for some reason or another, the ADT keeps procrastinating.

Another example is the wardens' scheme, which has become a bad example of privatisation. Instead of having a proper service that educates citizens and instils necessary discipline, what we now have is a system that penalises easy targets and is blind to daily abuses.

The mother of insensitivity towards residents is Mepa. Big developers are more often than not the net winners of Mepa's decision-making process. The red-carpet treatment given to the developers of the MIDI monstrosity is a case in point.

The development is not only an ugly metamorphosis of what existed previously in Tignè but is also a far cry from the developers' original plans!

Just a few metres up the road, the Fort Cambridge 23-storey high overdevelopment is taking place. Originally, Mepa did not ask the developers to carry out an environment impact assessment but was forced to change its position following EU intervention, which, in turn, was prompted by protests from the Greens, NGOs and residents.

Unfortunately, however, Mepa found a way to make things easier for the developers by not obliging them to carry out a social impact assessment, thus totally ignoring recommendations from the Sliema council.

The local council is appealing against Mepa's approval of the development, yet in the meantime, the development is being carried out while we are all waiting for the appeal to be heard by Mepa!

Mepa is also acting strangely in the Villa Bonici case, where developers are proposing about 23 blocks of apartments in one of Sliema's last green areas.
Sliema's local plan makes it clear that any development on this site requires a development brief, which to date does not exist... And, yet, Mepa has not refused the proposed development!

Notwithstanding such cases of disrespect by such authorities, Sliema council made various achievements for Sliema residents in the past years. Apart from blocking certain developments such as the Chalet and Pjazzetta, the council is now objecting to various unsustainable development proposals and is frequently consulting with residents.

The two most recent achievements made by the council are the achievement of funds for the installation of solar panels on top of the council premises and Wi-Fi access at Independence Gardens. In the case of the former, this will help the council be more efficient in its energy use, in addition to other methods it is already using. In the case of the latter, Sliema council is further empowering residents through internet access, in addition to current Wi-Fi access in the council premises and library.

Empowerment of residents and empowerment of local councils are two vital goals for democratisation. In this regard, may I invite readers of The Times to check out my proposals for Sliema at http://sliema-malta.blogspot.com/2009/05/ad-manifesto-2009-sliema-local-council.html

Mr Briguglio, a sociologist, is a Sliema local councillor for Alternattiva Demokratika - the Green party.
www.sliema-malta.blogspot.com

For a smarter Sliema

2009-05-22T09:33:00.000+02:00

Michael Briguglio

Article in Sliema Local Council magazine May 2009 www.sliema-malta.com

I am proud to have served my second term as Green Local Councillor in Sliema. It was a pleasure working with all other Local Councillors and with the hard-working staff of the Sliema Council. In particular, it was a pleasure meeting so many residents who voiced opinions, proposals and complaints for a smarter Sliema.

In this article I would like to share some successes achieved by the Sliema Local Council in the past years, in which I had a direct role.

-A culture of public consultation has been introduced in Sliema Local Council, whereby residents are frequently consulted on various matters relating to the environment, transport, etc..

-A culture of objections to unsustainable development has also been introduced in Sliema Local Council. The Council is frequently supporting residents and NGOs in their objections against development which runs contrary to planning regulations or is unsustainable. This has increased pressure on Malta’s Environment and Planning Authority, and in certain instances, developments were stopped (Pjazzetta, Chalet, Manwel Dimech Street). In other cases, developers were forced to carry out Environmental Impact Assessments on certain projects (such as Fort Cambridge), even though in the case of the latter, MEPA has totally ignored the Council’s proposal for a proper social impact assessment.

-Victory against the Qui-si-sana carpark. The informal alliance made up of some Sliema Councillors in support of NGOs such as the Qui-si-sana and Tigne’ Residents’ Association against the development of a carpark and commercial centre under a public garden on the Sliema coast has had tremendous effect, to such an extent, that it is now an open secret that Government has shelved its plans for such development.

-The promotion of ecological practices such as the Sliema circular bus route (which has been retained); the installation of photovoltaic cells (provided that Sliema Council’s project will be selected by central Government); energy-efficient practices within the Council premises; the installation of various bicycle racks, improved maintenance of public gardens, soft areas and beaches; the installation of bring-in sites for recycled waste; the introduction of Environment and Animal Welfare Sub-committees;

-The necessary work for the introduction of Residents’ Parking Zones. Sliema Council has done all necessary work in the past 6 years, including analysis of all roads and consultation with residents and with businesses. All that is now required is the final approval of the central Government through the Transport Authority.
Improved relations with civil society organisations such as NGOs and local organisations, resulting in increased public activities in Sliema.

-Constant support for improved workers’ rights within the Sliema Council itself.

On the other hand, there are areas where more needs to be done. Amongst others, these include

-Having better and more accessible pavements and less potholes in our roads. The Council is fixing pavements in partnership with the central Government, and Council also does force contractors to fix broken pavements, but surely this, together with the state of Sliema’s roads, is an area which requires more immediate attention, even because the Council’s funds and enforcement powers are limited.

-Having more accessible public transport. In reality this falls under the responsibility of the Government, but Sliema Council can make more pressure to ensure that public transport is improved.

-Having more constant management of Sliema’s contracts such as waste collection and maintenance of soft areas. The engagement of a contracts manager can surely help in this regard.

-Taking stronger measures against pollution. Sliema Local Council should make more public pressure to authorities (both national and European) for concrete action to be taken against pollution resulting from traffic and construction, which is detrimental to people’s health.

-Having more public presence through activities such as press conferences whereby the work done and the position of Sliema Local Council on various issues can be better communicated to the public.

-I hope to have the privilege of remaining a Local Councillor in the next three years. In this regard, I am committed to keep working in the areas referred to above, and also in other areas such as

-Showcasing Sliema as a vibrant town whereby commerce, though promoted, does not lower the quality of life of residents, and whereby culture and community life are given the space they need.

-Ensuring that Sliema is equipped for today’s needs in terms of Information Technology, by providing free internet access not only at the Council premises and in the Sliema Library, but also through facilities such as WI-FI in public spaces. Sliema council has already started working on this and it has been decided to have free WI-FI access at Independence garden.

-Constant vigilance on day-to-day realities that cause difficulty to residents such as inconvenient construction practices; broken pavements and damaged roads; lack of access in public spaces such as beaches and gardens; and security from crime and vandalism.

-Ensuring that the concerns of different social groups (such as the elderly; parents with young children; the disabled; workers; consumers; residents in general etc..) are given the importance they deserve

-Having more civil society and life-long educational programmes, whereby, for
example, Sliema’s government school premises are made increasingly available for Sliema residents for purposes such as education, training, sports, culture and other civil society activities.

-Ensuring that partisan politics are kept out of the Local Council. It is healthy to have different opinions and political beliefs, but one should not be in favour or against something simply due to partisan reasons.

I would like to thank all civic-minded residents for your trust in me and in all other Local Councillors and staff. Let’s work for a smarter Sliema!

Tfixkil mill-Awtoritajiet

2009-05-20T11:41:00.000+02:00

minn Michael Briguglio, Kelliem ghall-Izvilupp Socjali u Ekonomiku, Alternattiva Demokratika

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=53596
L-Orizzont 20 ta’ Mejju 2009

L-elezzjonijiet għall-kunsilli lokali li se jsiru fis-6 ta’ Ġunju li ġej ma tantx qegħdin jingħataw impor¬tan¬za kbira fl-isfera pubblika. Bla dubju dan huwa relatat mal-fatt li se jkun hemm l-elez¬zjo¬ni¬jiet għall-Parlament Ewropew fl-istess ġurnata. Iżda jista’ jkun ukoll minħabba sentimenti ta’ fataliżmu li qed ninnota f’ħafna nies.

Jien ilni kunsiller fil-Kunsill Lokali f’Tas-Sliema mill-2003 u nittama li nerġa’ niġi elett fis-6 ta’ Ġunju! Qed ninnota li ħafna residenti qegħ¬din jaqtgħu qalbhom minn titjib fil-lokalità. Bla tlaqliq ngħid, li bosta awtoritajiet go¬ver¬nattivi għandhom ħafna x’jagħ¬tu f’dan ir-rigward. Se nġib xi eżempji relatati ma’ Tas-Sliema, iżda żgur li dawn jistgħu jiġu applikati għal lokalitajiet oħrajn.

Jekk nieħdu l-MEPA, wieħed jinnota n-nuqqas ta’ trasparenza u l-mod kif jittieħdu d-deċiż¬jo¬ni¬jiet li, iktar iva milli le, jif¬fa¬vorixxu lill-iżviluppaturi l-kbar. Biżżejjed wieħed jara t-trat¬ta¬ment taz-zokkor li ngħataw l-iż¬viluppaturi tal-MIDI f’Tignè, li qiegħda tesperjenza meta¬mor¬fosi kerha li saħansitra hija dif¬ferenti mhux biss minn dak li kien jeżisti qabel, iżda anke mill-pjani originali tal-proġett.

L-istess jingħad għall-iżvi¬lupp ta’ Fort Cambridge (fejn kien hemm il-Holiday Inn). Għal xi raġuni li hi biss taf x’inhi, il-MEPA kienet eżentat lill-iżvilup¬pa¬turi milli jagħmlu studju dwar l-impatt ambjentali, iżda mbagħad ġiet “imġiegħla” tbid¬del il-fehma tagħha mill-Unjoni Ewropea wara protesti mill-Al¬ter¬nattiva Demokratika, għaq¬diet non-governattivi u resi¬den¬ti. Madankollu, il-MEPA ħalliet lill-iżviluppatur jgħaddi mit-tieqa u eżentatu milli jagħmel stud¬ju dwar l-impatt soċjali, minkejja li l-Kunsill Lokali, l-AD u l-għaqdiet imsemmijin hawn fuq talbu dan. Tgħid għalfejn il-MEPA ħalliet dan isir? Forsi għax taf li fost ir-residenti hemm oppożizzjoni qawwija għall-proġett ta’ bini ta’ mostru ta’ 23 sular? Sadanittant il-Kunsill Lo¬kali tefa’ appell kontra dan l-iżvi¬lupp, iżda dan għadu ma ġiex ipproċessat mill-Bord tal-Appelli. Sadanittant, l-iżvilupp għad¬dej…

L-aktar manuvra riċenti mill-MEPA hi dik relatata mal-każ ta’ Villa Bonici, li hi waħda mill-aħħar ‘green areas’ f’Tas-Sliema. Qegħdin jiġu proposti madwar 23 blokka ta’ appartamenti, b’uħud ilaħħqu 12-il sular. Iżda m’hemm l-ebda regola tal-MEPA li tippermetti din il-proposta. Filfatt skont il-pjan lokali tal-lo¬kalità, żvilupp f’dan is-sit jir¬rikjedi ‘development brief’, iżda dan ma jeżistix. Minflok ma bagħtet lill-iżviluppatur lura (bħal¬ma tagħmel ma’ ċittadini komuni li jkunu jridu jagħmlu xi tieqa), il-MEPA xorta ħalliet lill-iżviluppaturi jipproponu dan l-iżvilupp! Bħalma jgħidu l-Ingliżi, “two weights, two measures”!

Xi ngħidu għall-Awtorità tat-Trasport? Il-Kunsill Slimiż ilu jistinka biex jiddaħħlu żoni ta’ parkeġġ għar-residenti għal bosta snin. Fil-fatt il-Kunsill għamel ix-xogħol kollu meħtieġ f’dawn l-aħħar sitt snin, fosthom analiżi tat-toroq kollha u konsultazzjonijiet mar-resi¬denti u man-negozji. Kulma jonqos issa huwa l-approvaz¬zo¬ni finali tal-Gvern permezz tal-Awtorità tat-Tras¬port. Iżda din se ddum eternità biex tiġi! X’qiegħda tistenna l-Awtorità biex tagħti l-appro¬vaz¬zjoni għal din il-proposta li tant hi bżonnjuża f’Tas-Sliema!

Imbagħad hemm is-suġġett tal-gwardjani lokali. Naħseb m’hemmx għalfejn ngħid wisq biex nikkonvinċi lir-residenti dwar il-faqar ta’ servizz li qed jin¬għata. Sfortunatament il-kun¬silli tilfu ħafna kontroll fuq dan il-qasam. Dan għax il-Gvern ta s-saħħa lil kumpanija privata li qiegħda tagħmel flus kbar minn dan il-qasam. Min¬flok servizz edukattiv u ta’ dix¬xiplina bżonnjuża, is-sistema tal-gwardjani lokali hija negoz¬ju. L-aqwa li qiegħda tikber l-ekonomija!

Minkejja dawn il-gambetti u oħrajn, il-Kunsill Lokali għamel bosta kisbiet għar-residenti Slimiżi fejn waqqafna bosta żvilupp milli jsir (bħal dak tax-Chalet u tal-Pjazetta) u anke daħħalna bosta prattiċi ġodda bħal konsultazzjoni pubbli¬ka.

F’dan ir-rigward, nistieden lill-għeżież qarrejja ta’ l-orizzont biex jaqraw ir-rendikont tiegħi bħala Kunsillier tal-Alternattiva Demokratika u l-proposti li għandi jekk nerġa’ niġi elett billi jżuru l-websajt http://sliema-malta.blogspot.com/2009/05/ad-manifesto-2009-sliema-local-council.html

AD meets unions and reiterates its support

2009-05-19T15:35:00.000+02:00

Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party officials today met a delegation of unions, including UMASA, MUT, GWU, MUMN, UHBC and UPAP.

Prof Arnold Cassola, AD Chairperson and MEP Candidate, said:'AD is reiterating its support to the unions which are speaking up for their members and for thousands of other workers and their families on the utility bills' issue. Notwithstanding the pre-electoral nominal reduction in bills in the past days, Government has not taken effective measures to remedy the situation. AD's position on this issue is that Government should commission proper scientific studies before deciding on the cost of utility bills, whereby wasteful practices, and not basic consumption should be penalized. Such studies should be wide-ranging in their analysis of consumption trends of families, households and different types of companies, rather than being merely an accounting exercise'.

'As a member of the European Greens, AD is proposing a Green New Deal in Europe, which will create millions of jobs in areas such as manufacturing, tourism, services, IT, research, alternative energy, transport, agriculture and waste management. It is estimated that 5 million Green jobs can be created within the European Union. The United Nations, Trade Unions and Employers' Associations within the EU and Malta are supporting the call for creation of Green Jobs'.

Michael Briguglio, AD Spokesperson for Social and Economic Development and Sliema Local Councillor, added:'AD is for a social and ecological Europe and Malta and Gozo. Hence we are insisting that the European Parliament pushes for better job opportunities and work conditions, such that social protection, ecological sustainability and economic growth can take place concurrently'.

'Together with the European Greens, we are campaigning against insecure job contracts, precarious work and exploitation which are affecting various categories of workers, including young, ageing, female workers and workers with family responsibilities. We are also for policies which encourage more female participation in employment. Unlike the position taken by the Government, which is opposing an increase in maternity leave, the Greens are for social policies which promote the work-life balance, where men and women actively participate in both employment as well as in family life and caring roles'.

'AD congratulates the 12 trade unions which on the 29th of April, formed the '"Ghaqda Unions Maltin" (GhUM)', concluded Michael Briguglio.

In Memory of Julian

2009-05-17T22:13:00.002+02:00

4 years have passed since the death of Julian Manduca, a founder of the Maltese Green movement and a main source of inspiration for my activism.

May I invite you to read my blog commemorating the first year of his passing away.

The Left and Civil Society in Malta

2009-05-17T13:33:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio

Presentation at What’s Left Conference – organised by General Workers’ Union Youth, 11 April 2009.

Zminijietna – Harga Marzu – Gunju 2009 www.zminijietna.org

Hegemony

When analysing politics, the concept of hegemony is a very useful tool. Hegemony can be defined as a situation where a historical bloc exerts social authority and leadership over subordinate classes and groups through force and consent, and where unity exists in a social formation (Gramsci, 1971).

As Laclau and Mouffe put it, ‘a situation of hegemony would be one in which the management of the positivity of the social and the articulation of diverse democratic demands had achieved a maximum of integration’ (Laclau & Mouffe, 1985)

A successful hegemonic project is one where there is relative stability and a widely shared common sense of universalistic ideological representation. A successful hegemonic project is characterised by relative stabilisation and a widely shared ‘common sense’ (Mouffe, 1993).

Therefore, hegemonic formations are characterised by popular identities, which become signifiers of a demand that is more universal than the particular demands that constitute them. Yet, every hegemonic formation must have some form of exclusion, which in turn can result in the creation of counter-hegemonic practices (Mouffe, 2005).

The concept of hegemony can be used to analyse political power and conflict in Maltese society.

The Maltese Right and Hegemony

Bar a twenty-two month interval, the Maltese political Right has been in power for around twenty years, creating a historic bloc based on the articulation of two main identities – the Catholic and the consumerist, winning support across class lines and amongst different social groups.

Nationalist administrations were capable of pleasing both business interests and improving the standard of living of workers. Economic liberalisation and the strengthening of the welfare state enabled the Nationalist hegemony to thrive. At the same time, however, there have been economic, ecological and social costs to economic liberalisation and privatisation polices.

Indeed, like other Christian Democratic parties, the Nationalist Party is characterised by shifts, from policies that foster a social market to policies that move towards the New Right and neo-liberal economics. The extent of such shifts is not uniform, and requires deep analysis.

The Maltese Left and Hegemony

The Labour Party – Malta’s largest leftist political organisation, has not been a hegemonic force since the 1970s, when it relied on working class support and an alliance with the General Workers’ Union.

On the one hand, one reason why Labour was defeated in 1987 could be related to its conflicting economic policies. The inward-looking and protectionist policies did not meet the economic aspirations of certain classes and categories of people. Indeed, Labour experienced conflicts with or lack of support from sections within the middle and working classes such as the upwardly mobile ones (Briguglio, M. 2001).

During the 1990s, Labour presented itself as a modernised and moderate party, winning the 1996 elections in the process. On the other hand, the austerity measures taken by the Labour Government during 1996 and 1998 alienated working-class voters and disappointed middle-class voters such as the self-employed who expected much more from the new Labour Government. At the same time, Labour inherited a massive deficit from the previous Nationalist administration, and its one-seat parliamentary majority depended on the support of Dom Mintoff, who voted against his own Government in 1998 (Briguglio, M. 2001).

Alliances in Malta Today

Broad alliances involving political parties and other civil society organisations may create hegemonic / counter-hegemonic formations. In contemporary Maltese society, various political alliances are taking place. Malta’s EU membership process included both pro- and anti-membership alliances. Labour’s opposition to EU membership was branded under its “Partnership” proposal. However, it did not manage to win the minds and hearts of the majority of the Maltese voters, unlike the Nationalist Party, which was supported by the majority of civil society organisations.

Other recent alliances include those on socio-economic issues (e.g. the water & utility bills alliance of trade unions) and environmental issues (e.g. the alliances against development of a golf courses at Verdala and Xaghra l-Hamra). In these cases, alliances were formally organized. However, alliances may also be informal, whereby different organisations are united in a concern but have no common strategy (e.g. the privatisation of Shipyards).

The informal alliance against the privatisation of Malta Shipyards

Following its third consecutive electoral victory in 2008, Malta’s Nationalist Government, opted to privatize Malta Shipyards and reduce its already downsized and ageing workforce from 1,800 to 700 by the end of the year through early retirement schemes.

The workers’ representative, the General Workers’ Union (GWU), protested against these plans. Though there was no formal alliance on this issue, the Shipyard workers were also supported by the Labour Party, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party, leftist NGOs Zminijietna – Voice of the Left and Moviment Graffitti, as well as by eurosceptic Campaign for National Independence. The Catholic Church also appealed for a just solution to the matter.

Eventually, agreement was reached between the Government and the GWU, resulting in more generous retirement schemes. Government also committed itself to negotiate a work guarantee with the new prospective owner of the Shipyards for a number of years (Brown M. and Briguglio M, 2009).

However, the EU Commission pressurized the Maltese Government to declare Malta Shipyards bankrupt and liquidate the company before continuing the privatization process. This has resulted in a massive increase of Shipyard workers who applied for retirement schemes.

‘The Malta Shipyards case shows that, through factors such as social conflict and structural constraints, the identity of its (mostly) ageing workers is the subject of conflicting views, including that of ‘surplus’, that of a group that requires social protection, and that of a social group that requires employment by right’ (Brown M. and Briguglio M. 2009).

Environmental alliances

Environmental alliances have flourished in the recent years. A successful example was the Front Against the Golf Course – a coalition made up of a diversity of environmental, social, cultural, religious and political organizations was successful in stopping the development of a golf course on a large area of agricultural land in Verdala, Rabat. The Front was active between 1997 and 2004.

Nevertheless, Maltese Environmental NGOs (ENGOs) tend to prefer forming homogenous alliances, whereby the creation of networks and the assignment of trust concerns ENGOs which are similar to each other in terms of ideology and aims (Briguglio M. and Brown M., 2008)

Most Maltese ENGOs engage in moderate activism and view Malta’s EU accession process favourably, thus implying that they are involved in networking with State agents. On the other hand, a minority of ENGOs are more critical and do not rule out militant activism. It cannot be ruled out that EU membership may result in institutionalisation of Maltese ENGOs in the future, within this new context (Briguglio M and Brown M., 2008). This poses a challenge for Malta’s Left.

Towards a hegemonic Left in Malta?

‘In this day and age of neo-liberal policies based on privatization, downsizing and competitiveness; of postmodern multiple identities based on particular life-styles, experiences and tastes, the universal quest for equality remains a rallying cry for the subaltern. For example, in the particular context of employment, trade unions should work together with social movements against a neo-liberal model and for a European social model’. (Brown M. and Briguglio M., 2009).

A hegemonic Leftist movement in Malta must go beyond the narrow interests of each identity and articulate inclusive discourse and strategy within the Maltese context.

Such discourse and strategy should not be alien to the identities and traditions of different political and social forces – from mainstream to minorities - but should build on what it common amongst different identities. Inevitably, this requires compromises.

It should be emphasised that no hegemonic force can please everyone at the same time. Should this have been the case with the Front Against the Golf Course, there would have been no adversary. In this case, farmers and activists would have might as well settled for happily enjoying birds or watering the artificial turf, creating a gaze that disguises social and ecological exploitation.

References:

Briguglio, Michael, 2001. Ideological and Strategic Shifts from Old Labour to New Labour In Malta, Unpublished dissertation: University of Malta
Briguglio, Michael and Brown, Maria, 2008. ‘Lobbying in Malta: Environmental NGOs and Social Capital’. Paper presented at the TSCF 2008 Malta Conference, Malta, September 19-22 2008.
Brown, Maria and Briguglio, Michael, 2009. ‘Discouragement Amongst Ageing Workers in Malta within an EU Context’, Societies Without Borders, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp.45-60 (Brill).
Gramsci, Antonio, 1971:. Selections from the Prison Notebooks. London: Lawrence and Wishart.
Laclau, Ernesto and Mouffe, Chantal, 1985. Hegemony and Socialist Strategy: Towards A Radical Democratic Politics. London: Verso.
Mouffe, Chantal, 1993. The Return of the Political. London: Verso.
Mouffe, Chantal, 2005. On the Political. London: Routledge

Politika Ekologika ghall-Ewropa Socjali

2009-05-17T13:28:00.001+02:00

Michael Briguglio
Zminijietna – Harga Jannar-Marzu 2009 www.zminijietna.org

Fadal ftit gimghat ghall-elezzjonijiet ghall-Parlament Ewropew. Jidher li ser ikun hemm iktar partiti politici li ser jikkontestaw. Bhalissa l-ikbar partit Ewropew huwa dak Popolari, segwit mis-Socjalisti, il-Liberali, il-Hodor, il-grupp Xellugi, l-Ewroxettici u l-Indipendenti rispettivament.

Hemm min jghid li l-Parlament Ewropew huwa sempliciment istituzzjoni fejn ippapuha numru ta’ politici f’istituzzjoni bla snien. Minn naha l-ohra, hemm min ipingi l-Parlament Ewropew bhala istituzzjoni li qed tahkem lill-popli Ewropew flimkien mal-Kummissjoni Ewropea!

Fir-realta, l-Unjoni Ewropea hija struttura kumplikata b’siti varji ta’ poter. L-ebda istituzzjoni – kemm il-Kummissjoni, il-Parlament u l-Kunsill tal-Ministri nazzjonali, m’ghandhom monopolju tal-poter, u kemm il-darba, jittiehdu decizzjonijiet ibbazati fuq kompromessi bejn interessi ekonomici, politici, nazzjonali u ohrajn. Fil-fatt hemm min jargumenta li din hija r-raguni ghalfejn l-UE tibqa’ tezisti u tikber. L-istutturi taghha stess jaghmluha difficli ferm li jittiehdu decizzonijiet ‘estremi’ lejn naha jew l-ohra. Barra minn hekk, l-UE tibbaza s-sahha taghha mhux fuq il-forza, izda fuq in-nuqqas ta’ azzjoni. Hadd m’hu mgieghel jidhol fl-UE, izda nuqqas ta’ shubija jew ftehim iwassal ghal nuqqas ghal access ghas-suq Ewropew u ghal hwejjeg ohra.

Fl-istess hin, huwa car li l-Unjoni Ewropea ghandha pressjonijiet ekonomici ta’ interessi kapitalisti kbar fuqha, u li fil-kuntest kurrenti hemm xaqliba iktar lejn il-Lemin.. Izda din ix-xaqliba tista’ tinqaleb lejn in-naha l-ohra….

Ghalhekk, rapprezentanza fil-Parlament Ewropew ghandha utilita’ politika, specjalment ghal partiti – bhall-Hodor – li huma bbazati fuq attivizmu mhux biss lokali u nazzjonali, izda ukoll globali. Bosta sfidi ekologici, ekonomici u socjali imorru lil’hinn mill-fruntieri nazzjonali, u ghalhekk jehtieg rispons xieraq.

Fil-fatt il-Hodor qed jemfassizzaw li l-UE ghandha jkolla rwol centrali biex tilqa sfidi globali li qed nesperjenzaw illum: il-krizi finanzjarja; il-krizi ta’ l-energija; il-krizi ta’ l-ikel…. Krizijiet li huma relatati ma’ l-effetti tal-kapitalizmu neo-liberali, u li jehtiegu rispons globali biex jigu meghluba….. Il-kaz ta’ l-Islanda – pajjiz zghir u hekk imsejjah ‘indipendenti’ u li issa qieghed gharkuptejh f’din il-krizi – huwa ezempju haj ta’ dan.

Fl-elezzjonijiet Ewropej, il-Hodor ser jenfassizzaw l’hekk imsejjah 'Green New Deal' bil-ghan li jinholqu miljuni ta’ impjiegi sostenibbli, f’setturi bhal dak ta’ l-enegija nadifa. Dan ikollu effett pozittiv lil’hinn minn industriji specifici, u ghandu appogg shih mill-kamp tredjunjonistiku. Bizzejjed wiehed jara l-pozizzjoni ta’ l-ETUC – il-konfederazzjoni ta’ l-Unjins tal-Haddiema Ewropej - dwar dan.
Iktar minn qatt qabel, qed naraw li l-ekologija ghandha rwol centrali fis-socjeta’.

Hassieba Hodor bhal Alain Lipietz janalizza dan billi jghid li l-hsieb ekologiku zied l-aspett ta’ responsabilita’ lejn generazzjonijiet futuri flimkien ma’ l-aspetti ta’ awtonomija u solidarjeta’, liema aspetti kienu diga’ jitkellmu fuqhom ideologiji ohrajn.

Ohrajn bhal James O’Connor jargumentaw li qeghdin nghixu t-tieni kontradizzjoni tal-kapitalizmu.

L-ewwel kontradizzjoni ghandha x’taqsam mal-qasma klassika bejn il-kapital u l-klassi tal-haddiema, liema qasma giet imtaffija bil-holqien tal-welfare state. Iktar ma jmur, l-istess welfare state, isir iktar insostenibbli u jkollu iktar diffikultajiet biex isolvi l-kontradizzjonijiet tal-kapitalizmu, specjalment minhabba iktar piz finanjarju li jirrizulta minn bidliet socjali u iktar htigijiet kawza ta’ effetti bhall-qghad. Din twassal ghall-‘krizi fiskali ta’ l-istat’. L-ewwel kontradizzjoni hija relatata ukoll mal-produzzjoni zejda fil-kapitalizmu, li jgib mieghu skossi ekonomici u socjali kbar… Il-krizi finanzjarja kurrenti huwa ezempju ta’ dan.

It-tieni kontradizzjoni ghandha x’taqsam mal-effett ekologiku, fejn l-industrija kapitalista tibda’ teqred dak li hu mehtieg ghall-kontinwazzjoni taghha stess. Ezempju mill-iktar car huwa t-tibdil fil-klima – li hafna minnu huwa rizultat ta’ produzzjoni u konsum zejjed, b’effetti devastanti fuq postijiet tax-xoghol, postijiet fejn jghixu n-nies u industriji shah.

Analizi ta’ dan it-tip turi kif il-politika Hadra – li hi msejsa fuq ir-rabta bejn l-ekologika, l-ekonomija u s-socjeta’ - hija fuq quddiem biex tiddefendi d-drittijiet tal-haddiema, ta’ komunitajiet lokali, u ta’ dawk l-iktar vunnerabbli.

Il-Hodor huma l-oppost tal-politika tal-lemin estrem, liema politika qieghda thedded il-kisbiet li ghamlu l-haddiema u gruppi tas-socjeta’ civili tul is-snin. In-nazzjonalizmu ta’ dawn il-partiti mhux biss huwa xenofobiku u razzist, izda ukoll huwa kontradittorju. Bizzejjed wiehed isemmi l-kwistjoni ta’ l-immigrazzjoni illegali. L-ebda partit tal-Lemin Estrem m’hu ser jaqbel ma’ iehor ta’ l-istess ideologija fuq qsim ta’ responsabilita’ bejn il-pajjizi, ghas-simplici fatt li huma jaraw biss l-interess dejjaq ta’ pajjizhom! Ghalhekk, l-ebda partit tal-Lemin Estrem Ewropew m’hu ser jaqbel, per ezempju, li pajjizhom jaccetta r-responsabilita’ ghall-immigranti li qeghdin f’Malta kontra r-rieda taghhom.

Ghall-kuntrarju ta’ dan, il-Hodor kemm il-darba tkellmu favur ir-revizzjoni tat-Trattat ta’ Dublin sabiex ikun hemm qsim gust ta’ responsabilita’ bejn il-pajjizi Ewropej fil-kwistjoni ta’ l-immigrazzjoni.

Il-Hodor jipprezentaw alternattiva ghall-estremizmu u l-minnaccja tal-Lemin Estrem… Ghall-kuntrarju ghandhom politika li thares il-quddiem, b’vizjoni ta’ sostenibilita u solidarjeta’ fl-Ewropa u lil’hinn Minna.

My Sliema Local Council Manifesto 2009

2009-05-13T15:48:00.003+02:00

I have launched my manifesto for the 2009 Sliema Local Council campaign as candidate for Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party.

The manifesto builds on achievements I made in Sliema Local Council during the past six years and includes new proposals for a smarter Sliema. Issues such as protection of the environment, residents’ parking, better roads and pavements, security, education, public consultation and ecological practices are all dealt with in the manifesto.

The manifesto can be read in English and Maltese here.

From Stuttgart to Sliema

2009-05-06T10:28:00.000+02:00

The Times Wednesday, 6th May 2009

Michael Briguglio

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090506/opinion/from-stuttgart-to-sliema

A few days ago I had the opportunity to participate in the 4th European Green local councillors meeting, which was held in the German city of Stuttgart. Entitled Green New Deal for Greener Cities, the meeting discussed the challenge being posed by climate change for local policies.

I was impressed by the successes being made in various European cities and towns which have a Green presence in their local councils.

To give one example of such successes, Imma Mayol, the Green deputy mayor of Barcelona, was impressive in showing how this Mediterranean city is coping with the global economic and ecological crises.

She explained how unlike other parts of Spain which have become overdependent on the construction industry and which are facing deep economic problems, Barcelona gives priority to economic diversification, strong social policies and public investment in sustainable infrastructure and facilities. Social policies are focusing on inclusion, whereby, for example, public housing is being targeted towards vulnerable groups whilst being characterised by energy efficiency. Barcelona is promoting economic sectors such as services, tourism and industry within the ambit of the knowledge and environmental economy. The result is that thousands of jobs are being created in areas such as IT, energy, media and medical technology.

Ms Mayol added that thousands of jobs are being created in the wind and solar energy sectors, and in 85 per cent of cases these have very good conditions and indefinite contracts. A lesson to learn for Mediterranean island Malta? Ms Mayol also explained how Barcelona is now aiming to pedestrianise its main avenue as an example of urban renewal.

Another example of green council successes is that of German "eco-city" Freiburg. Apart from having an extensive pedestrian zone, the city only permits construction of energy-efficient buildings on municipal land, and all new buildings must comply with energy specifications.

Another German "green" city, Muehlacker, has already reached its emissions-reduction target for the year 2030! The Green council invests heavily in gas buses, railways, energy efficiency in public buildings and so forth. Similar examples are also found in other countries such as Finland, with one particular green city reaching the 91 per cent renewable energy rate.

Many other examples were given of green successes in cities and towns, resulting not only in ecological improvements, efficient and universally accessible public services, and better quality of life for residents, but also an expansion of job opportunities and stronger public participation, in line with the concept of the Green New Deal.

During the conference, it was emphasised that greener cities require strong public services. There are various examples of cities across the EU which have privatised too many public services (or formed public-private partnerships). In various cases this has resulted in costlier services, less accountability and inferior working conditions.

Jean Lambert, British Green MEP, explained how this took place in the British health and public transport sectors. In the case of the latter, non-profitable routes have simply been removed. To the contrary, cities like London, which have Green councillors, prioritise public transport. Besides, the use of bicycles is being promoted through extensive use of bicycle lanes.

Mr Lambert also explained how the economic crisis brought havoc to various banks which lend money to such private companies, resulting in bail-outs from the State, only bringing about further pressure on taxpayers, when various services could easily have been provided by the public service!

As Sliema local councillor, I learned a lot from this conference. To begin with, I definitely agree that in many instances, local councils are paying a costly price for private services which leave much to desire. The wardens system is a case in point. I also agree that public consultation and participation makes local councils more aware of residents' needs - and Sliema council is on the right track in this regard.

It is also clear that there is a clear link between ecological, social and economic dimensions. Usage of public transport and efficient energy are two cases in point. In this regard I am proud to say that as regards the former, Sliema has its own free service. As regards the latter, the council has applied for funding, which will hopefully result in usage of solar energy for the council premises. Besides, Sliema council is also carrying out other energy-saving measures, which will ultimately result in less pressure on the council's finances. In all cases, such ecological and social policies ultimately result in employment opportunities.

To go back to the Stuttgart conference, a memorable quote came from Green deputy mayor of Helsinki Pekka Sauri. Borrowing a line from contemporary social theorist Jurgen Habermas, he said that Greens have "the force of the better argument". Indeed, Greens are not held hostage by economic interests which benefit from the unsustainable status-quo, and our approach frequently results in consensual decisions in local councils. In itself this is already a step forward for local politics.

www.michaelbriguglio.com

Mr Briguglio, a sociologist, is a Sliema local councillor for Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party.

Immigrazzjoni u montaturi

2009-05-06T09:59:00.000+02:00

minn Michael Briguglio, Kelliem ghall-Izvilupp Socjali u Ekonomiku, Alternattiva Demokratika

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=53222
L-Orizzont 6 ta’ Mejju 2009

Ma’ naqbilx ma strateġiji politiċi li huma bbażati fuq it-tfieħ ta’ tajn. Filfatt kemm-il darba jien faħħart politika ġejja minn fejn ġejja u ma ħallejtx il-partiġġjaniżmu jagħlaqli ħalqi. Apparti raġunijiet ideoloġiċi, din hija waħda mir-raġunijiet ewlenin għaliex jien attiv mal-Alternattiva Demokratika, speċjalment meta ċ-Ċerpersin preżenti Arnold Cassola, iħaddan din it-tip ta’ filosofija.

Iżda sfortunatament, pajjiżna jibqa’ maħkum minn politika bbażata fuq partiġġjaniżmu taż-żonqor, fuq il-biża’ u fuq in-nofs veritajiet. Eżempju riċenti hu l-mod kif il-Partit Nazzjonalista qed jipprova jħammeġ lill-Alternattiva dwar il-kwistjoni tal-immigrazzjoni illegali.

Biex inkunu ċari: Alternattiva Demokratika hi favur politika umanitarja u favur ir-rispett lejn il-liġi internazzjonali. Kien għalhekk li bħala partit responsabbli, ma ddejjaqna xejn nappoġġjaw lill-Gvern Malti fil-kwistjoni li kellu mal-Gvern Taljan. Iżda, l-Partit Nazzjonalista ma rreċiprokax fl-irġulija. Ovvjament, il-politika mhix xi poeżija, iżda kultant wieħed jippretendi iktar maturità minn ċerti politiċi.

Filfatt, il-Partit Nazzjonalista qed jipprova jagħti l-impressjoni li kull immigrant illegali u irregolari se jkollu d-dritt tal-vot u li l-Alternattiva Demokratika qiegħda tippromwovi din it-tip ta’ politika. Il-verità hi li ż-żewġ Membri Parlamentari Ewropej tal-Partit Nazzjonalista, l-istess bħal m’għamlu Parlamenti oħrajn fosthom tal-Ħodor Ewropej, ivvotaw favur rapport li jirrakkomadna li huma l-immigranti legali (u mhux illegali), li għandhom ikollhom id-dritt tal-vot. Ir-rapport jagħmilha ċara li dan id-dritt għandu jeżisti f’elezzjonijiet lokali, ġaladarba l-immigranti legali ikollhom permess li jgħixu fil-pajjiż u li jkunu ilhom jgħixu hemm għal numru ta’ snin. Minbarra hekk, kull pajjiż huwa liberu li ma jaddattax din il-politika. Din hi stampa ferm differenti minn dik impinġija mill-propagandisti tal-Partit Nazzjonalista.

Hija xi ħaġa sfortunata li hawn min qed jipprova joħloq mewġa ta’ biża’ fil-pajjiż biex jagħmel kapital politiku mill-kwistjoni tal-immigrazzjoni. Ta’ min inżommu f’moħħna li l-Ministru Taljan Maroni, li qed jagixxi ta’ ‘bully’ kontra Malta, jifforma parti minn partit tal-Lemin Estrem li hu alleat fil-Gvern mal-Partit ta’ Silvio Berlusconi. Fil-Parlament Ewropew, il-Partit ta’ Berlusconi, hu fl-istess grupp li miegħu huma msiebħin in-Nazzjonalisti.

B’Lemin politiku b’saħħtu, bħal mhu l-każ fil-preżent, hemm inqas ċans li pajjiżi Ewropej oħrajn jaqsmu r-responsabbiltajiet ma’ Malta fil-kwistjoni tal-immigrazzjoni.

Minbarra hekk, politika iżolazzjonista mhux se tgħin biex pajjiżi oħrajn juru s-solidarjetà ma’ pajjiżna. Jekk pajjiżna ma jikkoperax ma’ ħaddieħor, dan jista’ jħajjar lill-pajjiżi oħrajn biex jagħmlu l-istess meta niġu biex niddiskutu l-qsim tar-responsabbiltajiet!

Problema globali teħtieġ respons globali. Huma partiti progressivi bħall-Ħodor li qegħdin jagħmlu pressjoni biex verament ikun hemm solidarjetà fl-Unjoni Ewropea u b’hekk ikun hemm qsim ġust ta’ responsabbiltà fil-kwistjoni tal-immigrazzjoni.

Filfatt, il-Ħodor ivvotaw favur tibdil fil-konvezjoni ta’ Dublin biex pajjiżi żgħar bħal Malta, li qegħdin jiffaċjaw pressjoni sproporjzonata, jibbenefikaw minn mekkaniżmu legali biex immigranti jiġu reallokati f’pajjiżi oħrajn fl-UE. Dan jiżgura li l-qsim ta’ resposabbiltà ikun obbligatorju u mhux volontarju. Ta’ min isemmi li kienet Membru Parlamentari Ewropea f’isem il-Hodor, jiġifieri Jean Lambert, li kienet qajmet il-kwistjoni biex isir tibdil fil-konvenzjoni ta’ Dublin u dan wara konsultazzjoni mal-Alternattiva Demokratika.

Huwa ċar li l-Ħodor Ewropej qegħdin jagħmlu pressjoni qawwija biex ikun hemm qsim gust tar-responsabbiltajiet fl-UE fil-kwistjoni tal-immigrazzjoni. X’se tkun il-montatura li jmiss min-naħa tal-Partit Nazzjonalista biex jipprova jiskura dan il-fatt?

Workers' Day - Time for a Green New Deal

2009-05-01T09:42:00.002+02:00

www.alternattiva.org.mt
Press Release 1 May 2009

In its message for workers' day, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party saluted trade unions, progressive movements and activists who are doing their utmost to defend workers' rights. AD added that the Green New Deal can help confront problems being faced by workers in Malta, through safeguarding of jobs, improvement of work conditions and creation of sustainable jobs.

Michael Briguglio, spokesperson for Social and Economic Development said that whilst AD supports Government's efforts to protect existing jobs, Government should abandon policies which result in increased hardships for workers.

"Whilst new job opportunities are being created in Malta, many of these are not offering job security to workers due their precarious nature. Contractual and part-time jobs are often characterised by exploitative practices such as lack of various rights and lack of unionisation. This is effecting various categories of workers, including young, ageing, female workers and workers with family responsibilities."

Michael Briguglio added, "at the same time, thousands of workers are having difficulty coping with the cost of living, particularly due to the rise in utility bills and foodstuffs. In this regard, AD is supporting the Maltese trade-unions which are defending workers' rights."

"Thousands of workers are also facing difficulties in balancing work and family responsibilities, and the Government of Malta is not helping much in this regard, due to its opposition to the European Parliament's proposal for increased maternity leave. To the contrary, AD and the European Greens are proposing social policies which promote the work-life balance, where men and women actively participate in both employment as well as in family life and caring roles."

Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros, AD MEP candidate said, "AD agrees with the European Parliament proposals to harmonise and increase the minimum maternity leave throughout the EU. The Maltese government is resisting such a positive development. AD in the EP will insist on improvement of working conditions throughout the EU including in Malta and Gozo. An AD MEP will represent forward looking and socially conscious Maltese and Gozitans."

Prof Arnold Cassola, AD Chairperson and MEP candidate, added:'AD is preoccupied with the increase of unemployed workers in Malta, and believes that social and economic policies should be more forward looking to prevent further increases. As a member of the European Greens, AD believes in a social Europe and is promoting the Green New Deal which will create millions of jobs in areas such as manufacturing, tourism, services, IT, research, alternative energy, transport, agriculture and waste management'.

'It is estimated that 5 million Green jobs can be created within the European Union. The United Nations, Trade Unions and Employers' Associations are supporting the Green New Deal, as this creates sustainable employment opportunities at various levels. AD also believes that fair-trade and co-operative structures deserve more support from the Government as these ensure better work conditions'.

Manifest b’ruħ soċjali

2009-04-22T13:35:00.000+02:00

minn Michael Briguglio – Kelliem ghall-Izvilupp Socjali u Ekonomiku, Alternattiva Demokratika

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=52850
L-Orizzont 22 ta’ April 2009

Fil-jiem li għaddew, il-membri ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika approvaw il-manifest elettorali tal-Partit għall-Elezzjonijiet għall-Parla¬ment Ewropew, li se jseħħu fis-6 ta’ Ġunju li ġej.

Personalment, kelli rwol ewlieni fil-formulazzjoni tal-manifest, peress li mexxejt kumitat tal-AD, li ġie maħluq għal dan il-għan speċifiku. Kien hemm bosta proposti mill-membri tal-kumitat u minn fergħat oħrajn tal-Alternattiva, fosthom il-Kumitat Eżekuttiv, il-Kumitat Reġjonali ta’ Għawdex u AD Żgħażagħ. Tul ix-xhur li għaddew, saru ukoll bosta laq¬għat ma’ għaqdiet tas-soċjetà ċivili – inkluż il-GWU – u smaj¬na b’attenzjoni l-proposti varji ta’ dawn l-għaqdiet. L-aħħar u mhux l-inqas, fil-Laqgħa Ġenerali dwar il-manifest, kien hemm bosta proposti li wasslu għall-irfinar tal-manifest.

Il-manifest huwa maqsum f’disa’ kapitli, li jkopru l-bżonn ta’ leħen ieħor għal Malta fil-Parlament Ewropew; l-immg¬raz¬zjoni; l-ekoloġija; il-politika soċjali; id-drittijiet tal-konsu¬matur; il-familja; il-kultura u l-innovazzjoni; Għawdex; u d-demokrazija u s-soċjetà ċivili.

F’dan l-artiklu nixtieq niffoka fuq il-proposti ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika għal Ewropa soċjali. Qabel xejn, tajjeb li jiġi emfasizzat li l-Ħodor Ewropej qegħdin fuq quddiem fil-qasam ta’ politika soċjali, li għandha l-għan li twassal għal soċjetà aktar ugwali u inklussiva.

Din tirrikjedi politika bil-għan li jittaffew l-effetti negattivi tal-kriżi ekonomika attwali, sabiex jitħarsu gruppi bħall-anzjani, il-familji li għadhom jibdew, u ħaddiema li qegħdin jissugraw li jitilfu xogħolhom.

F’dan ir-rigward, AD qiegħda tagħti priorità għall-ħolqien ta’ opportunitajiet u kundizzjonijiet ta’ xogħol aħjar f’Malta u fl-Ewropa. Il-Ħodor qegħdin jip¬proponu Patt Ekonomiku u Ekoloġiku ġdid li se joħloq miljuni ta’ impjiegi f’oqsma bħall-enerġija alternattiva, it-trasport, l-agrikoltura, u l-immaniġġjar tal-iskart.

Il-Ġnus Magħquda, l-unjins tal-ħaddiema u l-assoċjazzjo¬nijiet ta’ min iħaddem, kemm f’Malta kif ukoll fl-Unjoni Ewropea, qegħdin jappoġġaw is-sejħa għall-ħolqien ta’ Im¬pjiegi Ekoloġiċi, speċjalment meta ħaddiema ta’ livelli varji (bħal dawk professjonali, am¬ministrattivi u tekniċi) jistgħu jgawdu minn din il-politika f’setturi bħall-manifattura, ser¬vizzi, turiżmu, IT, edukazzjoni u riċerka.

AD qiegħda tippromwovi ukoll politika kontra l-impjiegi prekarji u l-isfruttament, li qegħ¬din jaffettwaw bosta kategoriji ta’ ħaddiema, fosthom il-ħaddiema żgħażagħ, l-anzjani, in-nisa u dawk il-ħaddiema li għandhom familja x’jieħdu ħsieb. AD qiegħda tippromwovi ukoll politika favur il-kummerċ ġust u strutturi koperattivi, peress li dawn iżidu l-ġustizzja soċjali fl-isfera ekonomika.

F’dak li għandu x’jaqsam max-xogħol u l-familja, nem¬mnu li biex ikun hemm sehem akbar tan-nisa fis-suq tax-xogħol, teħtieġ politika soċjali li tippromwovi l-bilanċ bejn il-ħajja u x-xogħol, fejn in-nisa u l-irġiel jieħdu sehem attiv, sew fix-xogħol, u sew fil-ħajja tal-familja.

Politika soċjali Ewropea teħtieġ ukoll il-ħarsien soċjali ta’ gruppi vulnerabbli u gruppi li jeħtieġu attenzjoni speċjali. Il-ħarsien tad-drittijiet tal-bnie¬dem huwa essenzjali f’dan ir-rigward.

Lil ’hinn mill-proposti dwar politika soċjali fil-manifest ta’ AD, tajjeb wieħed jinnota kif tul dawn l-aħħar xhur, Alternattiva Demokratika ħadet pożizzjoni¬jiet politiċi ċari li juru tassew l-emfasi li l-partit jagħti lill-po¬litika soċjali bbażata fuq il-ġus¬tizzja soċjali u l-ugwaljanza. Biżżejjed wieħed jara s-soli¬darjetà li AD uriet ma’ ħaddie¬ma varji, fosthom tat-Tarzna, tal-ST Microelectronics, u oħrajn, bħal dawk li b’sens ta’ solidarjetà għażlu li jaħdmu ‘4-day-week’ biex ħadd minn sħabhom ma jitlef xogħlu.

AD kienet ukoll fuq quddiem fis-sejħa għal żieda fil-paga minima u kumpens xieraq għall-għoli tal-ħajja. Fuq kollox, ap¬poġġajna, u nibqgħu nappoġ¬ġaw lill-unjins li – fi kwistjonijiet bħal dik tal-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma – mhux biss qegħdin jid¬de¬fendu l-interessi tal-ħaddie¬ma membri tagħhom, iżda qegħ¬¬din isemmgħu l-leħen ta’ eluf ta’ ċittadini li bħala konsu¬maturi ma jifilħux għall-piżijiet ġodda.

Il-manifest għall-Elezzjo¬nijiet tal-Parlament Ewropew ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika jista’ jinqara online f’http://www. alternattiva.org.mt/filebank/documents/Manifest/PE2009/Malti.pdf

Diskussjoni Pubblika - X'nistennew mill-Kandidati Ewropej

2009-04-18T13:45:00.002+02:00

Zminijietna Lehen ix-Xellug qed torganizza diskussjoni pubblika dwar l-elezzjonijiet ghall-Parlament Ewropew.

Ser jippartecipaw kandidati mill-Partiti Politici ghall-Elezzjonijiet tal-Parlament Ewropew

Nhar is-Sibt 25 ta' April f'60A Triq id-Dejqa Valletta, 10am
Il-pubbliku huwa mistieden

Id-diskussjoni titmexxa mill-gurnalist James Debono

www.zminijietna.org

Attivita' socjali - 'Nistennew Jum il-Haddiem'

Ikla ghand L'Ordine Restaurant (faccata ta' Neptunes Waterpolo Club, San Giljan.
Data : It-Tlieta 21 ta' April
Hin: 8:30pm
(Ikel: kullhadd jaghzel skond il-budget tieghu)

Ikkonfermaw ma' David Pisani - pisanidanny@hotmail.com jew 79536914
Narawkom Hbieb!

www.zminijietna.org

What's Left Seminar

2009-04-15T23:08:00.005+02:00

My presentation in last Saturday's 'What's Left' seminar, organised by GWU Youths, can be downloaded here.

G20

2009-04-08T11:23:00.000+02:00

minn Michael Briguglio
Kelliem ghall-Izvilupp Socjali u Ekonomiku Alternattiva Demokratika

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=52487
L-orizzont 8 ta’ April 2009

Il-Ġimgħa l-oħra l-laqgħa tal-G20 f’Londra serqet ix-xena fl-aħbarijiet globali. Fuq naħa ttieħdu numru ta’ deċiżjonijiet bil-għan li jwasslu għall-iżvilupp ekonomiku. Fuq naħa oħra, kien hemm ħafna protesti minn movimenti xellugin, ekoloġisti, trejdunjins u paċifisti kontra l-mod kif gvernijiet qegħdin jittrattaw il-kriżi globali tal-kapitaliżmu.

Qabel xejn, tajjeb wieħed jispjega x’inhi l-G20. Din tirrappreżenta Ministri tal-Finanzi u Gvernaturi tal-Banek Ċentrali tal-ikbar 19-il ekonomija fid-dinja u tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Kollettivament, dawn l-20 ekonomija jkopru madwar 85% tal-Prodott Nazzjonali Gross fid-dinja, 80% tal-kummerċ dinji u żewġ terzi tal-popolazzjoni dinjija.

Ma’ dawn hemm imsieħba ukoll istituzzjonijiet fosthom il-Fond Monetarju Internazzjonali u l-Bank Dinji.

Fil-laqgħa f’Londra, il-mexxejja tal-G20 iddeċidew li jikkonfrontaw il-kriżi ekonomika permezz ta’ miżuri li jiswew madwar triljun dollaru, li huma ekwivalenti għal madwar €740 biljun.

Fost oħrajn, ġie deċiż li jkun hemm iktar trasparenza u miżuri kontra politika li ġġib magħha riskji finanzjarji kbar. Dawn jinkludu regoli dwar il-mod kif jaħdmu l-banek u kontra pajjiżi magħrufin bħala ‘tax havens’ li ma jaqsmux informazzjoni. Dawn il-pajjiżi huma magħrufin għall-mod kif jattiraw nies u kumpaniji sinjuri biex jiddepożitaw flushom u b’hekk jevitaw li jħallsu taxxa f’pajjiżhom.

Id-deċiżjonijiet tal-G20 ġabu xi reazzjonijiet ottimisti iżda kawti, fejn almenu issa qed jiġi rikonuxxut li politiċi eletti jistgħu jagħmlu xi ħaġa kontra din il-kriżi. Għalhekk, l-hekk imsejħa “id inviżibbli” tal-ekonomija ngħatat ħajja, u m’għadhiex qisha xi misteru semi-reliġjuż tal-profeti tal-profitt.

Iżda tajjeb li wieħed jara sewwasew x’jirrappreżentaw dawn it-triljun dollaru. Il-Fond Monetarju Dinji (IMF) se jingħata 750 biljun dollaru biex jgħin lill-pajjiżi li qegħdin jiffaċċjaw diffikultajiet.

Iżda kemm-il darba, kienet l-istess IMF li sellfet flus b’interessi lil bosta pajjiżi b’kundizzjonijiet ħorox u anti-soċjali li wasslu għal żarmar ta’ politika soċjali bbażata fuq il-ħarsien soċjali. Fortunatament, pajjiżna qatt ma kien dipendenti fuq din l-istituzzjoni. Fost il-flus li se jingħataw lill-IMF hemm 250 biljun dollaru li se jingħataw “b’xejn” lill-pajjiżi, iżda minn dawn 19-il biljun dollaru biss se jingħataw lill-pajjiżi l-iktar foqra.

Hemm ukoll 250 biljun dollaru biex jiġi ffinanzjat il-kummerċ, iżda minn dawn 50 biljun dollaru biss se jingħataw lill-pajjiżi foqra. Sadanittant, miljuni ta’ ħaddiema madwar id-dinja qegħdin jitilfu xogħolhom u jesperjenzaw miżerja kbira kaġun ta’ kriżi li ma ġabuhiex huma.

F’dan ir-rigward ta’ min wieħed jinnota li huwa stmat li fl-2009, bejn 40 miljun u 80 miljun persuna huma mistennijin jiżdiedu mal-190 miljun ħaddiema li qegħdin jirreġistraw għal xogħol madwar id-dinja. Barra minn hekk, 43% tal-ħaddiema madwar id-dinja jaqilgħu inqas minn żewġ dollari kuljum. B’reazzjoni għad-deċiżjonijiet tal-G20, il-pjattaforma “Put People First” li tirrappreżenta movimenti varji li pparteċipaw fil-protesti f’Londra, qalet li minkejja li sar xi progress fil-laqgħa tal-ġimgħa l-oħra, ma sarx biżżejjed biex jiġu kkonfrontati l-isfidi ewlenin li qiegħda tiffaċċja d-dinja, jiġifieri x-xogħol, il-ġustizzja soċjali u t-tibdil fil-klima.

Il-Moviment Dinji għall-Iżvilupp qal li din il-laqgħa pproduċiet “mediċina qarsa” għan-nies l-iktar foqra fid-dinja. Ta’ min ifakkar li bosta pajjiżi diġà mhux qegħdin jattwaw dak li wegħdu xi snin ilu biex jilħqu l-miri tal-millenju tal-Ġnus Magħquda. Jiġifieri bejn ir-retorika u l-prattika kemm-il darba hemm baħar jaqsam.

Fl-aħħar mill-aħħar, il-kriżi globali m’għandhiex x’taqsam ma’ xi “bankiera immorali”, iżda ma’ sistema kapitalista li hi bbażata fuq l-immassimizzar tal-profitt akkost ta’ inugwaljanzi soċjali u l-qerda ekoloġika.

Diffiċli wieħed jimmaġina li tinstab soluzzjoni f’sistema hekk distruttiva. Iż-żerriegħa għal soċjetà aħjar qiegħda tinżera mill-movimenti li huma fuq ta’ quddiem biex jitkellmu dwar kwistjonijiet bħax-xogħol, l-iżvilupp soċjali u l-ekoloġija. Ma rridux nilludu ruħna li hemm xi soluzzjonijiet faċli, iżda lanqas m’għandna naqtgħu qalbna mit-tama li dinja oħra hi possibbli.

A good deal for jobs

2009-04-03T12:22:00.000+02:00

Michael Briguglio

The Times, Friday, 3rd April 2009

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090403/opinion/a-good-deal-for-jobs

Official figures show that economic growth last year was down to l.6 per cent, compared to 3.6 per cent in 2007.

Besides, NSO statistics report that there was a decrease in jobs, sales and investment in Malta's manufacturing sector for the fourth quarter of 2008. Bed-occupancy in hotels has also registered a drop last January. The signs are that Malta is being adversely affected by the global economic crisis.

The global crisis has more to do with the failure of unbridled neo-liberal capitalism than with the government of Malta. One should surely appreciate efforts made by the government and trade unions to protect existing jobs and to attract new investment to Malta. Yet, this does not absolve the government from responsibility to meet the challenges ahead in a determined way.

To begin with, more solidarity should be shown towards those workers who are themselves demonstrating camaraderie with their fellow workers in opting for four-day weeks instead of seeing their colleagues losing their jobs. These workers are sacrificing a day's pay every week and, thus, keeping unemployment levels lower than they would otherwise be.

It would be more than fair if the government helps these workers through financial compensation until the economic situation gets better. This mechanism is already being used by other European governments.

The government should embrace the concept of the Green New Deal, which is being championed by the European Greens, with whom Alternattiva Demokratika is affiliated.

In this regard, studies indicate that five million Green jobs can be generated within the European Union.

The United Nations, trade unions and employers' associations within the EU and Malta are supporting the call for the generation of Green jobs.

Such jobs can be generated in sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, services, IT, research, alternative energy, transport, agriculture, community work and waste management. Jobs can also be generated in new technologies for transport and public transport, alternative energy generation, in the greening of the construction industry and the education sectors among others. Workers at various levels, including professional, administrative and technical, stand to gain from such investment.

Apart from investing more funds in projects that are socially and ecologically sustainable, thus creating job opportunities, the government can also incentivise the businesses community to opt for such sustainable paths.

Measures such as tax breaks, venture capital initiatives and soft-loans would surely be beneficial in this regard. Local councils should also have more authority and resources for the creation of such opportunities.

A Green New Deal involves a change in the way politics is done, whereby economic, social and ecological factors are seen holistically. It involves proper consultation with all actors involved, including employers, workers, family, local communities, civil society representatives and consumers. The way the government is bulldozing upon trade unions, workers and small businesses in the utility bills issue is surely not a step in the right direction.

The Green New Deal also makes work pay through policies that encourage people to enter employment by fair working conditions. Malta's employment rate, the lowest in Europe, especially due to the very low participation rates of women and aging workers, should encourage us to do more in this regard. Sociological studies have shown how the lack of proper employment opportunities is not helping things for such groups.

Unfortunately, the government is not doing enough to stop the tide of casualised, contractual and low-paid jobs and is not itself setting an example.

For example, enforcement against employers denying basic rights to part-time workers is lacking.

Besides, not only does the government issue tenders to employers with exploitative practices but it also opposes family-friendly proposals such as those by the European Commission to improve the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding. Indeed, the government insists on being the miser of Europe as regards maternity leave - Malta grants the lowest entitlement on this social right.

Better social standards are not necessarily in contradiction with economic development. The Green New Deal offers much food for thought on the challenges ahead.

The author, a sociologist, is spokesman for social and economic development of Alternattiva Demokratika - the Green party.

Latest Issue of Zminijietna: New and Revamped Format

2009-04-02T13:03:00.001+02:00

Zminijietna, the Leftist trimester gazette, is back with a new format. It is for sale in more than twenty different localities around Malta. It is the official mouthpiece of Zminijietna – Voice of the Left with the scope to analyse social, economical and political issues from a Leftist perspective.

The leading articles of Zminijietna’s latest issue are an analysis of the employment question in Malta and the EU by Christopher Cutajar; an interview with PL’s Deputy Leader Dr. Toni Abela on the party’s operations within its structures and its believes on various topics; James Debono shows how history is being misread as regarding the Middle East; whilst Michael Briguglio writes about ecological politics for a social Europe.

Richard Mifsud proposes the socialist alternative, whilst Andre’ Damato analysed Marx and Engels writings on religion. David Pisani sheds light on the way how workers’ collective bargaining is being threatened in the EU. Other contributors include Steve Borg, Reno Cardona, Alfred Consiglio, Mary Anne Zammit and Moviment Graffitti.

Those who are interested to contribute in Zminijietna should send do so by 21st April, 2009 either by post to Editor – Zminijietna, 14/8, Vincenti Bldgs, Strait Str, Valletta or else electronically to chriscut@onvol.net

To subscribe in Zminijietna one should send EUR 2.50 for a year or EUR 5 for 2 years, to the aforementioned postal address.