Fire breaks out in Bahrija Valley

While spending a weekend Camping with Peppi Gauci a friend of ours, Greenhouse members witnessed the aftermath of a fire which broke out in the Bahrija Valley on the 21st of August. Peppi was the one who reported the incident and over viewed the whole operation to turn the fire off. Together the following day saw that the minor fires which were starting off again were properly taken care of by the fire fighters.

MEPA's emergency service number is 20699595.

Photo of the fires

These pictures have been given by Peppi Gauci Permaculturalist of the Barhija Oasis and Administrator of the Permaculture Research Foundation. He has witnessed the fires and more information can be attained from permaculture.malta@gmail.com

View Bahrija Valley on Fire in a larger map

Pictures of the Aftermath

Comment posted by Peppi Gauci (person who reported the incident) on our Facebook Note in relation to this incident:

"This incident shows a great crack in our environmental and ecological conservation legal system. Unfortunately, this incident took a relatively big chunk of flora...and fauna in of the areas marked as a special area of conservation in Malta

Its about time that the Maltese law enforces an open 'Fire Ban' during times of drought and dryness as these are times of high risk of wild fires spreading to colossal scale.
We in Malta, not only have small pockets of nature, but these small pockets take a long time to develop into maturity due to our dry climate, whereas when influenced by the human hand in order to flourish ( ie: best described scenario by using permaculture methods) it takes a great deal of dedication, time, resources and energy.
Our leaders need to be aware of such scenarios and made to understand these implications in order to regulate certain damaging activities that could have had much more severe implications. Referring back to this incident, if the wind which picked up yesterday, had to pick up the night before, probably all of Bahrija, Fomm ir rih, Santi and Mgarr valleys would have been burned to cinders.
I hope that this call falls on the right ears. Thankyou"

All articles relating to these fires will be posted on this blog.
TVM News check time: 1.30-4:55

The Green Summer Bash

Exams were over and the time for chilling out began! It’s summer 2010!

But while many a student was victoriously celebrating the end of another scholastic year in some loud, crowded and smoky discotheque, Greenhousers set off for Buskett.

Together with That’s Rubbish- a group of volunteers who organize clean-ups usually at the Ghajn Tuffieha beach- Greenhouse decided to clean up an area of Buskett to start off their summer season.

After obtaining the necessary permits from a government department, a police station and MEPA a group of around 15 people gathered on a sunny Sunday afternoon equipped with garbage bags, gloves and water bottles.

The area which was to be cleaned was filled with all sorts of stuff. We carefully put all recyclable material in grey bags while the rest was disposed of in the black garbage bags. Volunteers scrambled all over the place with protective gloves on to clean the place of glass bottles, packaging waste, shotgun shells, beer cans and a plethora of other stuff that was thrown away by some people who thought the ground would swallow up the waste they would throw at it.

Thirty three full bags were collected!

After the cleanup, sweaty but satisfied, Greenhouse organized a relaxing couple of hours. With salads and water to replenish the drained volunteers and acoustic music to up the spirits of those around, people gathered and chatted the night away. When night time came, we packed up everything careful not to leave any waste behind.

And so ended a very fruitful afternoon- happy with our taking away over thirty bags of rubbish from Buskett and relieved that summer is with us and we can all enjoy the company of our friends in good spirits.

As I was picking up the various waste from the ground, I realized that the commonest waste was packaging waste. Everything from wrappers, water bottles and food packages were fluttering all over the place. So I thought I can share with you some suggestions as to how you can reduce packaging waste. Remember, everything you buy from a supermarket is packaged in some sort of material which is only used for a brief period of time and solely for transporting the product from one place to another. It is immediately thrown away as waste once you take what’s inside. So we can spare an extra thought before buying something and choose those things which have little packaging or, at least, avoid those products which are uselessly packaged in excess material.

These are some hints that would be good to keep in mind:

• Buy in bulk. It’s better if you buy a packet of 500g, for example, rather than two of 250g. This also applies for bottled liquids.
  
  

• Carry your own bags while shopping.
  
  

• Try to buy loose products were available. This applies for fruits and vegetables and things you can buy over the counter rather than those which are pre-packaged.

  

• Try to avoid products which have various layers of packaging. For example, try to opt for cereals which have only one outer layer of packaging rather than those having a plastic bag placed inside a cardboard box. Sponges which are individually wrapped in a plastic bag and then placed in a cardboard box together with numerous other sponges use an exaggerated amount of packaging.

• Choose packaging that is made from recycled material, and preferably, is recyclable.

• Choose paperboard boxes instead of plastic bags.

Cannot Act Cool in the Sun

Where?? in the Sun?

Yet another summer is with us! And while we are being told to act cool in the sun, there are some other sentient beings that, despite suffering the same heat, are placed on the roads with harnesses, reins and carriages waiting for custom in the form of tourists wanting to go round using the horse-driven cabs.

This issue has been with us since time immemorial. NGOs and the general public asking for adequate shelters for the horses have been ignored by authorities. Horse owners have been supporting the NGOs campaigning for these shelters as they want their bread-winning animal to be in top-notch condition to give them the best service.

The Animal Rights Group has been at the forefront of this battle trying to liaise between the Ministry responsible and the cab-drivers representatives. It has also been responsible for bringing to Malta two transport animal experts from abroad to see for themselves the conditions and make recommendations. Hats off to this NGO for spending so much time and resources trying to find a just solution for all.

While we are enjoying our summer months refreshing in the sea or relaxing in our houses let’s reflect upon this situation which has been with us for a very long time. The University Student Organisation Greenhouse wants to add its voice to all those working to find a solution to this problem and urge the competent authorities to solve this issue once and for all especially by providing aerated shelters to the horses.

Letter published on the 23rd July 2010 issue of the Malta Independent.

Views from GW Building

Greening Development

The latest effort to Green our university!! :OP