Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Christmas or Xmas? -- Christmas jew Xmas?


Christmas or Xmas?

This week I was at an Indian supermarket in Wentworthville, Sydney. At one point, I saw a rather large crib, with a manger, statuettes etc., I would say not really different from the many cribs I used to see in Malta, even some of those I put up as a kid.

One might not expect to associate Christian symbols with Indians, as this country a billion strong is more associated with Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Sikhism amongst others. Nevertheless, it may not be so well known that Indians also have a long Christian tradition that goes back to the Apostle Thomas.

This unexpected sight reminded me, for some reason, in a tendency I've long noted, that Christmas, which is a Christian religious feast, the presence of Jesus Christ is slowly disappearing.

When I was young, I remember receiving Christmas cards with the words 'Merry Xmas' and used to ask my mum what this meant. I was amazed when I was told, with barely concealed annoyance, that the letter X was seemingly used to cut Christ out of the picture. More recently, I read1 (with considerable relief) that the letter X started being used as an abbreviation of the Greek version of the word Christ (Christos, with the first letter 'chi' written as Χ).

Up till recently I've often had discussions with some friend of mine that holds the Christian faith, that tells me, rather angrily that this year a decision has been made in some place, shop or centre, no crib or other religious symbol associated to Christmas would be set up. Naturally, related commercial music, tinsel, globes and flashing lights are always exempt from this rule, and these start being seen even from November, lest we forget the need to start saving to be able to participate in the shopping orgy towards the end of the year.

The reasons that is always given is that one wouldn't want to drive away those who are not Christian, lest we lose some sales in this important part of the economic calendar. After this reasoning, there is usually some words of anger against these immigrants - Muslim, Buddhists, atheists and the rest that are forcing us to change our culture. What cheek! What have we come to! They wouldn't change their culture in their own country!

Let me confess something with you. I have many friends who are not Christian. I have never heard any one even imply that he feels uncomfortable with Christian symbols at Christmas, even those who are atheists. Naturally, by me not having heard of any, this does not mean that such people don't exist, however I don't get the impression that there is some strong movement against these symbols. Have you, dear readers, personally ever heard anyone directly say something along those lines?

Why would Muslims feel uncomfortable with Christian symbols? For them, Jesus is the 2nd most important prophet in Islam, second only to Mohammed himself.

For followers of other religions, or for those who are atheist or agnostic, as I heard just this week, Christmas does not mean anything in a religious sense, however they still enjoy the day with a good midday meal or with an outing, which means there is a cultural coexistence. So what is the problem?

I think the problem is not coming from those who are not Christian, but from those who have been responsible for putting up these religious symbols, who were not doing so out of some devotion, but to attract people who were predominantly Christian, with the motivation being purely commercial.

Now that society is much more multi-cultural, the calculation of 'how-are-we-going-to-earn-more-money-than-last-year' is now leaning towards risk aversion.

After all, is this really a problem?

My advice to whoever feels that this is a subject of some importance, is that the most powerful Christian symbol in this world comes when we follow the teachings of Jesus in our daily life, and become the salt of the earth in this earth.2 We don't need to make noise or raise any flags.

Where there are Christian symbols that are still visible, let's enjoy and embrace them this Christmas. And in the spirit of tolerance that we expect from others, let's also enjoy the Christian dragon running round the streets at the start of the lunar year, and the lights hanging from the windows of Indian homes in the Hindu festival of Diwali.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.3 Really a golden rule!

Happy Christmas, and peace, to all readers.


2Mt 5:13
3Mt 7:12

-----------------------------------

Christmas jew Xmas?

Din il-ġimgħa dħalt ġewwa supermarket tal-Indjani ġewwa Wentworthville, f'Sydney. F'ħin minnhom rajt li kellhom presepju pjuttost kbir, bil-maxtura, il-figurini eċċ, xejn different ikolli ngħid mill-ħafna presepji li ġieli rajt f'Malta, u wħud ukoll li kont narma meta kont għadni tifel.

Forsi wieħed ma jistennix li jassoċja simboli Nsara mal-Indjani, għax dan il-pajjiż ta' biljun ruħ iktar huwa assoċjat mal-Ħinduiżmu, l-Iżlam, il-Buddiżmu u s-Sikhiżmu fost l-oħrajn. Madankollu, forsi mhux daqshekk magħruf li l-Indjani wkoll għandhom tradizzjoni Nisranija twila ħafna li tmur lura sal-Appostlu Tumas.

Din id-dehra mhux mistennija fakkritni, għal xi raġuni, f'tendenza li ilni ninnota, li fil-Milied, li hi festa reliġjuża Nisranija, il-preżenza ta' Ġesu Kristu ftit ftit qegħda tgħib.

Meta kont żgħir, niftakar nirċievi kartolini tal-Milied bil-kliem Merry Xmas, u kont nistaqsi lil ommi xi tfisser. Kont bqajt mistgħaġeb meta qaltli, b'fastidju mhux wisq moħbi, li l-ittra X tintuża biex qisha qed taqta' lil Kristu 'l barra. Iktar riċentement, qrajt1 (b'mhux ftit serħan il-moħħ) li l-ittra X bdiet tintuża bħala abbrevjazzjoni tal-verżjoni Griega tal-kelma Kristu (Christos, bl-ewwel ittra li tinstema 'chi' tinkiteb Χ).

Sa riċenti spiss ikolli diskussjonijiet ma' xi ħabib tiegħi li jħaddan il-fidi Nisranija, li jgħidli jew tgħidli, b'ton immaħsan li din is-sena saret deċiżjoni li fit-tali lokal, ħanut jew ċentru, ma kinux se jarmaw presepji jew kwalunkwe simbolu reliġjuż relatat mal-Milied. Naturalment, il-mużika kummerċjali relatata, iż-żmontor, il-globi u d-dwal ipetptu huma dejjem eżentati minn din ir-regola, u dawn jibdew jidhru anke minn Novembru, ma morrux ninsew li aħjar nibdew infaddlu ħalli nkunu nistgħu ninfexxu fl-orġja ta' xiri bla rażan lejn l-aħħar tas-sena.

Ir-raġuni li tingħata dejjem tkun li ma jkunux iridu jgerrxu lil nies li ma jħaddnux il-Kristjaneżmu, li ma jmurx jintilef xi bejgħ f'din il-parti tant importanti tal-kalendarju ekonomiku. Wara din ir-raġuni, ġeneralment ikun hemm xi kliem ta' rabja għal dawn l-immigranti Musulmani, Buddisti, ateji u l-bqija li qed iġagħluna ndawwru l-kultura tagħna. X'wiċċ tost! Ara f'hiex wasalna! Mur għidilhom ibiddlu l-kultura tagħhom f'pajjiżhom!

Ħa nqerr magħkom. Jien għandi ħafna ħbieb li mhumiex Insara. Kieku qatt xi darba smajt lil wieħed imqar jimplika li jħossu skomdu bis-simboli Nsara tal-Milied, inklużi dawk li huma ateji. Naturalment, billi jien ma smajtx bihom, ma jfissirx li ma jeżistux, imma m'għandix l-impressjoni li hawn xi moviment qawwi kontrihom. Intom qarrejja. personalment, qatt smajtu lil xi ħadd direttament jgħid dan?

Musulman għalfejn għandu jħossu skomdu b'simboli Nsara? Għalihom Ġesù hu t-tieni l-iktar profeta importanti fl-Iżlam, wara biss Mawmettu nnifsu.

Għal segwaċi ta' reliġjonijiet oħra, jew għal min huwa ateju jew anjostiku, bħal ma smajt anke sa din il-ġimgħa stess, għalihom il-Milied ma jfisser xejn f'sens reliġjuż, imma xorta jgawdu l-ġurnata b'ikla tajba ta' nofsinhar jew b'xi ħarġa, jiġifieri hemm konvivenza kulturali. Allura l-problema x'inhi?

Jien naħseb li l-problema mhix ġejja affattu minn min mhux Nisrani, imma minn min kien responsabbli li jarma dawn is-simboli reliġjużi, ma kienx qed jagħmel dan b'xi devozzjoni, imma biex jiġbed lin-nies li kienu predominantement Insara, bil-motivazzjoni tkun purament kummerċjali.

Issa li s-soċjetà hija bil-wisq iktar multi-kulturali, il-kalkulazzjoni ta' 'kif-se-nagħmlu-biex-naqalgħu-flus-iktar-mis-sena-l-oħra' qegħda xxaqleb lejn li ma jitteħidx xi riskju żejjed.

U wara kollox, din hija verament problema?

Jien il-parir tiegħi għal min dan is-suġġett huwa ta' xi importanza, huwa li l-iktar simbolu qawwi Nisrani f'din id-dinja jiġi meta nsegwu fil-ħajja ta' kuljum t-tagħlim ta' Ġesù, u nsiru l-melħ tal-art f'din id-dinja.2 M'hemmx għalfejn jindaqqu t-trombi jew jixxejru l-bandieri.

Fejn hemm simboli Nsara viżivi li għadhom jidhru, ejja ngawduhom u ngħożżuhom f'dan il-Milied. U fi spirtu ta' tolleranza li nistennew minn ħaddieħor, ejja ngawdu wkoll lid-dragun Ċiniż jiġri fit-toroq fil-bidu tas-sena lunari, u d-dwal imdendel mat-twieqi tal-Indjani fil-festa Ħindu ta' Diwali.

Għamlu lil ħaddieħor kif tridu lil ħaddieħor jagħmel lilkom.3 Tassew regola tad-deheb!

Il-Milied it-tajjeb, u s-sliem, lill-qarrejja kollha.


2Mt 5:13
3Mt 7:12

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Saturday, December 6, 2014

Parliament in Australia -- Il-Parlament fl-Awstralja


Parliament in Australia


Those who live in Australia are probably aware of the problems that the Australian Federal Government is facing in passing legislation. At the moment, legislation to reform tertiary education, a minimum co-payment to visit a doctor under the Medicare system and others.

This is happening because although the government has a big majority of members of parliament in the House of Representatives, it has a minority in the Senate. Legislation has to pass through the two houses to enter into effect, and so the government needs to negotiate with minor parties, independent senators and sometimes even with the opposition to pass the laws it wants.

Is this positive or negative?

Those in favour of the Liberal-National Coalition will probably say this is negative, while those favouring the Labour Party, the Greens Party or the rest will probably say this is positive. I would say it would be wiser to take a step back and see if the people are best served with what is happening.

To those who reason on party lines, I'd just like to remind what happened just months ago, where Labour formed the federal government, where the roles were the opposite of what they are today. The Labour Party had a majority in the House of Representatives, and a minority in the Senate, and a similar difficulty in passing legislation.

In its first legislature, the Labour Party did not manage to pass a fundamental law for the reduction of carbon pollution (CPRS) and in its second legislature had to pass a carbon tax, which wasn't then government policy, as a condition of support by the Greens Party, a decision that had a big part in its electoral defeat in 2013.

Who is benefiting from all this? Few people will be happy with this situation, and this is not news. There seems to be a frustration with the parliamentary system, where the people elects a government to implement an electoral program, and in practice discovers that the government is not able to pass the laws it needs to implement it.

Why shouldn't the government be able to follow the electoral programme it presented to the people? I think that government should be able to follow its programme until the end of the electoral term, and if the people don't like the outcome of that programme, it has the opportunity of changing track at the next election.

I'm not saying this because I agree with the policies of the current government. On the contrary, I'm very critical of a lot of what the government intends to do. However I find myself in agreement with Joseph de Maistre, a French diplomat that lived between the 17th and 18th centuries - 'every people gets the government it deserves'.

This does not mean that members of parliament which don't form part of the government are obliged to pass legislation that is presented to them by government, as often implied by Prime Minister Abbott. No one should vote in favour of what he disagrees with. The problem, in my opinion, resides in the system.

The Australian Federal Parliament is built on the English Westminster system, with two houses of parliament and a ceremonial head of state (the Queen, represented by the Governor General).1 Australian states also have two houses of parliament, except Queensland which has one. The ACT and the Northern territory also have one house, as well as the external territories which likewise have only one.

Why are there two houses of parliament? The work of the Senate is to scrutinise government operations, and also be the representative of states and territories when considering legislation coming from the House of Representatives. In practice, however, most senators seem to me to be representing the parties they belong to, rather than the states and territories they are supposed to represent.

Lately there is a tendency for small parties or independents to be elected into the Senate, on whom little is actually known. I don't view this as necessarily a bad thing, except that it seems they are being elected due to secret deals that are made between them before the election on how preferences flow from one candidate to the other in the different stages of the vote count. The problem is that the preferences are not known, and the people have no influence on this.

Currently a desire to have some changes in this respect is being mentioned. As long as the changes lead to the people having a better direct say in which candidates are chosen after preferences are tallied, this is a good thing. If the changes lead to a reduction in the possibility of members of parliament being elected from minor parties or independents, which is in the interest of the major parties, this is a bad thing, and we need to be very careful not to allow this to happen.

As an immigrant from Malta, I found it very strange to see how the Australian Parliament works (or doesn't). Malta is one of the few European countries which has a single house of parliament, similar to Portugal, Sweden and Norway. In these countries, when legislation is passed in the one house of parliament, only the signature of the head of state remains to enter into effect.

This does not mean there are no problems in unicameral systems. In Malta before the government changed in 2013, the Nationalist Party led by Prime Minister Gonzi lost a vote on its budget, when a member of his own party, which had long threatened to vote against the government, finally had the opportunity to do so.

So one can see that a single house of parliament does not guarantee a lack of these problems. However isn't the situation with two houses worse?

I would think there are more advantages than disadvantages in a single house of parliament, rather than two, provided that elected members are truly representative of the people. Small constituencies, where only one member is selected, while representing the majority of the constituency, surely does not represent the views of those in a minority. That is why it is very hard for small parties or independents to be represented in the House of Representatives, as the constituencies are much smaller than those of the Senate.

In Malta, districts are relatively large, and five representatives are elected from each, but even here, 'wasted votes' arise, which we Maltese familiar with past elections understand very well.

I would prefer to see a single house, with constituencies larger than today, with more than one candidate elected from each, and that votes that are destined to be 'wasted' are gathered together on a state or territory basis, and used to elect other members from parties or independents. The party that wins the election can make agreements as necessary to be able to present once, and pass once, legislation in the single house of parliament. The scrutiny of the government's operations can be made by the media and constituted bodies (independent of government), like a permanent commission of audit, a federal commission against corruption and others.

This wouldn't be a minor change! I'm not holding my breath....


1http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Work_of_the_Parliament/Forming_and_Governing_a_Nation/parl#govgen


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Il-Parlament fl-Awstralja


Min qed jgħix fl-Awstralja aktarx familjari mal-problemi tal-Gvern Federali Awstraljan biex jgħaddi l-liġijiet li jrid. Bħalissa jissemmew liġijiet li jirriformaw l-edukazzjoni terzjarja, jiddaħħal ħlas minimu għal meta tmur tara t-tabib fis-sistema tal-Medicare u oħrajn.

Dan qed jiġri għax għalkemm il-gvern għandu maġġoranza kbira ta' membri tal-parlament fil-Kamra tar-Rappreżentanti, għandu minoranza fis-Senat. Leġislazzjoni trid tgħaddi miz-żewġ kmamar biex tidħol fis-seħħ, u għalhekk il-gvern irid jinnegozja ma' partiti iżgħar, senaturi indipendenti u kultant mal-oppożizzjoni sabiex jgħaddi l-liġijiet li jrid jgħaddi.

Din hija ħaġa pożittiva jew negattiva?

Min huwa partitarju tal-Koalizzjoni tal-Partiti Liberali u Nazzjonali aktarx jgħid li negattiva, u min iżomm mal-Partit Laburista, il-Partit tal-Ħodor jew il-bqija aktarx jgħid li pożittiva. Jien ngħid ikun iktar għaqli li nieħdu pass lura u naraw jekk il-poplu hux moqdi sew b'dak li qed jiġri.

Lil min jirraġuna fuq linji partiġġjani, infakkru x'ġara biss sa ftit xhur ilu, meta kien hemm il-Laburisti fil-gvern federali, fejn ir-rwoli kienu l-oppost li hemm illum. Il-Laburisti kellhom maġġoranza fil-Kamra tar-Rappreżentanti u minoranza fis-Senat, u diffikulta simili li jgħaddu l-liġijiet li riedu.

Fl-ewwel leġislatura tiegħu, il-Gvern Laburista ma rnexxilux jgħaddi liġi fundamentali għat-tnaqqis tal-karbonju (CPRS), u fit-tieni leġislatura kellu jdaħħal it-taxxa fuq il-karbonju, li ma kinetx il-politika tal-gvern, bħala kundizzjoni għall-appoġġ tal-Partit tal-Ħodor, deċiżjoni li kellha sehem kbir fit-telfa elettorali tal-elezzjoni tal-2013.

Min qed igawdi b'dan kollu? Ftit ninnota nies li huma sodisfatti bis-sitwazzjoni, u din mhix xi ħaġa ġdida. Jidher li hawn frustrazzjoni bis-sistema parlamentari, fejn il-poplu jeleġġi lil gvern biex iwettaq il-programm elettorali tiegħi, u fil-prattika l-gvern isib li lanqas jista' jgħaddi l-liġijiet li għandu bżonn biex iwettqu.

Għalfejn il-gvern m'għandux ikun jista' jimxi skont il-programm elettorali li ppreżenta lill-poplu? Jien naħseb li l-gvern għandu jkun jista' jimxi mal-programm tiegħu sakemm jintemm it-terminu tal-gvern, u jekk il-poplu ma jogħġbux ir-riżultat tal-programm, għandu opportunità biex jibdel ir-rotta fl-elezzjoni ta' wara.

Dan mhux qed ngħidu għax naqbel mal-politika tal-gvern preżenti. Anzi, jien kritiku ta' ħafna milli jrid jagħmel dan il-gvern. Però jien naqbel ħafna ma' dak li qal Joseph de Maistre, diplomatiku Franċiż li għex bejn is-sekli sbatax u tmintax - 'kull poplu jkollu l-gvern li jistħoqqlu'.

Dan ma jfissirx li l-membri tal-parlament li mhumiex fil-gvern huma obbligati li għaddu l-leġislazzjoni li jippreżentalhom il-gvern, bħal ma ġieli jimplika l-Prim Ministru Abbott. Ħadd m'għandu jivvota għal dak li ma jaqbilx miegħu. Il-problema, fil-fehma tiegħi, qegħda fis-sistema.

Il-Parlament Federali Awstarljan huwa mibni fuq is-sistema Ingliża ta' Westminster, jiġifieri żewġ kmamar tal-Parlament u kap ċerimonjali tal-istat (ir-reġina, irrappreżentata mill-Gvernatur Ġenerali).1 L-istati Awstraljani kollha għandhom żewġ kmamar, ħlief Queensland li għandha waħda. L-ACT u n-Northern Territory, kif ukoll it-territorji esterni, ukoll għandhom waħda.

Għalfejn ikun hemm żewġ kmamar tal-parlament? Xogħol is-Senat huwa li jservi ta' skrutinju tal-operat tal-gvern, u anke li jkun ta' rappreżentanza tal-istati u t-territorji meta jikkunsidraw liġijiet li ġejjin mill-Kamra tar-Rappreżentanti. Fil-prattika, madankollu, il-maġġor parti tas-senaturi iktar jidhirli li jirrappreżentaw il-partiti li qegħdin fihom, milli l-istati u t-territorji li jirrappreżentaw.

Dan l-aħħar, hemm it-tendenza li jiġu eletti fis-Senat partiti żgħar, jew anke membri indipendenti, li ftit ikun magħruf dwarhom. Jien dan ma naraħx neċessarjament ħażin, ħlief li jidher li jkunu qed jitilgħu minħabba ftehim sigriet li jkun sar minn qabel l-elezzjoni bejniethom dwar kif il-preferenzi tal-votazzjoni jgħaddu minn kandidat għall-ieħor fl-istadji differenti tal-għadd tal-voti. Il-problema hija li l-preferenzi ma jkunux magħrufa, u l-poplu ma jkunx jista' jinfluwenza dan.

Bħalissa qed tissemma r-rieda li jkun hemm xi bdil f'dan ir-rigward. Jekk il-bdil iwassal biex il-poplu jkollu iktar sehem dirett ta' liem kandidati jintagħżlu wara li jingħaddu l-preferenzi, dan huwa tajjeb. Jekk il-bdil iwassal biex titnaqqas il-possibiltà li jitilgħu membri tal-parlament minn partiti żgħar jew independenti, li huwa fl-interess tal-partiti l-kbar, dan huwa ħażin, u rridu noqgħodu attenti li ma jsir xejn minn dan.

Bħala immigrant li ġejt minn Malta, sibtha stramba nara kif jaħdem (jew kif ma jaħdimx!) il-parlament Awstraljan. Malta hija waħda mill-ftit pajjiżi Ewropej li għandhom kamra waħda tal-parlament, bħall-Portugall, l-Isvezja u n-Norveġja. F'dawn il-pajjiżi, meta leġislazzjoni tkun għaddiet mill-kamra waħda tal-parlament, ikun jonqos biss il-firma tal-kap tal-istat biex il-liġi tidħol fis-seħħ.

Dan ma jfissirx li ma jkunx hemm problemi f'sistemi unikamerali. F'Malta qabel ma' nbidel il-gvern fl-2013, il-Partit Nazzjonalista mmexxi mill-Prim Ministru Gonzi tilef vot fuq il-baġit, meta membru tal-partit tiegħu stess, li kien ilu jhedded li jivvota kontra l-gvern, fl-aħħar kellu l-opportunità li jagħmel dan.

Għalhekk, wieħed jista' jara li kamra waħda tal-parlament ma tiggarantix li ma jkunx hemm problemi ta' dan it-tip. Allura żewġ kmamar mhux agħar?

Jien nara li hemm iktar vantaġġi milli żvantaġġi f'kamra waħda milli tnejn, basta li l-membri li jiġu eletti ikunu verament rappreżentattivi tal-fehma tal-poplu. Kostitwenzi żgħar, fejn jitla' membru wieħed fl-elezzjoni, għalkemm jirrappreżentaw l-fehmiet tal-maġġoranza ta' kull kostitwenza, żgur ma jirrappreżentawx il-fehma ta' min huwa fil-minoranza. Għalhekk huwa diffiċli ħafna li jitilgħu partiti żgħar jew membri indipendenti fil-Kamra tar-Rappreżentanti, għax il-kostitwenzi huma ħafna iżgħar minn dawk tas-Senat

F'Malta d-distretti huma relattivament ikbar u jitilgħu ħames rappreżentanti minn kull wieħed, imma anke hawn, ikun hemm l-hemm imsejħa 'voti moħlija', li aħna l-Maltin familjari ma' elezzjonijiet mgħoddija nifhmu sew.

Nippreferi nara kamra waħda, b'kostwenzi ikbar minn ta' illum, li minnhom jitilgħu iktar minn kandidat wieħed, u li jinġabru flimkien il-voti li jkunu se jiġu moħlija fuq bażi ta' stat jew territorju sħiħ, u li jintużaw biex jitilgħu membri oħra mill-partiti jew indipendenti . Il-partit li jirbaħ l-elezzjoni jista' jagħmel il-ftehim li jkun hemm bżonn biex ikun jista' jippreżenta darba, u jgħaddi darba, leġislazzjoni fil-kamra waħda tal-parlament. Skrutinju tal-operat tal-gvern jista' jsir mill-midja u korpi kostitwiti (ċioe mhux dipendenti fuq il-gvern), bħal kummissjoni permanenti tal-awditjar, kummissjoni (federali) kontra l-korruzzjoni u oħrajn.

Din ma tkunx bidla żgħira! M'inix se nżomm in-nifs...


1http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Work_of_the_Parliament/Forming_and_Governing_a_Nation/parl#govgen
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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Kids Homeless in Sydney -- Tfal Bla Dar f'Sydney


Kids Homeless in Sydney

It's 7pm when I exit from Central Station in Sydney. Within a few minutes, a car with the Youth Off The Streets logo stops close by and sounds its horn. I get in and get greeted by Gary, Manager of the Youth Off The Streets Street Walk program. While driving away, he gives me, as the volunteer for the night, a briefing on the situation and the plans for the night.

Over the past few weeks things have been quite busy. There are just a couple of specific things planned for tonight. He's expecting a request by a young couple to be taken back home, and has been asked to collect some clothes from Don Bosco Home to give to another kid. In the meantime, we'll go through the usual process.

We drive in the direction of St Mary's Cathedral, opposite Hyde Park. This holy place is quite familiar to the Maltese community in Sydney, as some religious activities relevant to this community like the feast of Our Lady of Victories are held there.

What most people may be unaware of is that on the opposite side of the Cathedral, just across the small Fragrance Garden, a van organised by the independent Exodus Foundation turns up every day around this time, full of food and a few other volunteers. They find an orderly queue of homeless people, waiting patiently for their dinner.

Today I counted about 70 people, although often there are about 100 or more. Usually these would be adults, but we start our rounds here as the organisers kindly allow us to take some containers of food to distribute to homeless kids or young people we encounter later during the night. If we run out, the backup plan is to visit another food van organised by Youth Off The Streets, which turns up a bit later in the evening at Kings Cross.

Homelessness is an issue just about everywhere, notwithstanding the affluence of the place. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated in 2012 that 1 in 200 people in Australia, or around 105,000, are homeless, 42% of which are under 24 years of age, including 17% under 12.1 As harrowing as these statistics are, Fr Chris Riley, the Catholic priest founder of Youth Off The Streets, thinks the figures for the young homeless are grossly underestimated, as thousands of 'couch surfers' are not included in the official figures.2

Homelessness happens for a number of reasons, like financial difficulties, accommodation issues, domestic violence or relationship issues, health or other reasons. Homeless people live in improvised locations including sleeping rough, supported crisis accommodation such as the Don Bosco Home in Marrickville run by Youth Off The Streets, temporary stays at other households, boarding houses, severely overcrowded dwellings and other temporary accommodation.

We drive through Woolloomooloo and Kings Cross, keeping our eyes open for any young persons we might see, but don't encounter any. We continue to George St, park and start walking on the pavement, navigating our way through the busy flow of pedestrians.

Within a few seconds, Gary hears his name called by a young person, K, who hurries to cross the road. He is probably 20-22 years old. He shakes hands briefly with both of us and asks for some food. We give him one of the containers and a plastic fork. He asks for another container for his mate, says thank you and hurries back.

I've noticed over the months that young people doing it rough on the streets still find it within them to look out for their mates. It's actually quite amazing that kids establish quite a complex and close bond with other kids in a similar situation, ask for and exchange news about each other, providing assistance as best they can, hanging out together, sharing the little they've got. Apart from the substance abuse, the occasional flare-ups, some criminal activity and run-ins with the police, the kids are mainly living as and feeling part of a street family, something they did not find at their own home, for whatever reason. How sad, isn't it?

We continue down the street and encounter the couple who wanted a lift, D & E, both around 16 years old. I recognise E from previous sessions. They were having some food with another person, who looked much older, maybe 40. To be honest I didn't like the look of him - who knows why he had befriended this couple and what his intentions were?

We agree to give them a lift after finishing the current round. We walk into and around Town Hall station and go out from a different exit. No one. We walk back to the couple. By this time, they have been joined by 2 other older people. I am relieved when they get up and walk with us to the car, leaving the other guys behind.

We go for a long drive to a suburb close to Bankstown where the couple are going to stay for the night at one of their parents' house. They also take some food and give us some news about other kids they know. After a while they fall silent and after a few minutes are fast asleep on the back seat. They look exhausted. In half an hour we arrive at the destination, wake them up and let them go.

On the way back, Gary tells me about some other kids he had encountered over the preceding days. A new girl N had been taken to Don Bosco after leaving home due to family problems and domestic violence. B who has mental health issues was doing fine, expecting her child and being monitored by FACS (Family And Community Services, a NSW government agency) to ensure that she stayed away from drugs and violence, and following standards that had been set for her. Another kid had started going to school in Parramatta.

We arrive at Don Bosco. We walk inside, and ask for the clothes for the kid H. We get handed a large plastic bag full of stuff. We drive to a suburb close to Mascot, which contains the Youth Off The Streets corporate services office. H is waiting for us, and seems very happy to get his clothes.

It's getting late, and it's been a light session today. Is that good or bad news? Are there less kids on the streets, or have they moved somewhere else?

We park at Central Station, also a common haunt. We walk into and around the station, but could not spot anyone. It's 11.30pm and we decide to call it quits. We shake hands, agree on the date for my next attendance, and depart. I walk to the platform and wait for my train home.

On the way, I can't help thinking about the kids we encountered on the night, and the others I've met before who I haven't seen for a while. Are they ok? Have they found some stability, to permit them to start digging their way out of their hole, or do they have an environment at home which is so toxic that running away is an objectively better option? The main root cause of young homelessness, from what I've seen, is the level of parenting, or the lack thereof. If the parents don't care, are never there, just dictate and are completely inflexible, or abuse the child in one way or another, then do you blame the kid for running away?

My thoughts are that prevention is better than cure. Kids are only looking for love, care and attention. If they don't find it at home, they WILL look elsewhere.


2http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/homeless-stats-dont-tell-the-full-story-20140308-34dyd.html, retrieved 13/11/2014


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Tfal Bla Dar f'Sydney

Daqqu s-sebgħa ta' filgħaxija meta ħriġt mill-Istazzjon Ċentrali ta' Sydney. Wara ftit minuti, karrozza bil-lowgo ta' Youth Off The Streets (Żgħażagħ Barra mit-Triq) u paqpqet il-ħorn. Dħalt u laqagħni Gary, Maniġer tal-programm Street Walk (Mixja mat-Triq). Filwaqt li telaq isuq, bħala l-voluntier ta' dak il-lejl, qalli fil-qosor is-sitwazzjoni u x'kien hemm ippjanat għal dak il-lejl.

Matul l-aħħar ftit ġimgħat kien hemm ftit xogħol mhux ħażin. Kien hemm biss xi żewġ affarijiet speċifiċi għal illejla. Qiegħed jistenna talba minn koppja żgħażugħa biex jittieħdu d-dar, u ġie mitlub jiġbor xi ħwejjeġ minn Dar Don Bosco sabiex jingħataw lil tifel. Sadattant, ngħaddu mill-proċess tas-soltu.

Insuqu fid-direzzjoni tal-Kattidral ta' Santa Marija, faċċata ta' Hyde Park. Dan il-post qaddis huwa pjuttost familjari mal-komunità Maltija ta' Sydney, għax xi attivitajiet reliġjużi relevanti għal din il-komunità bħall-festa tal-Vitorja isiru hawn.

Li forsi ħafna niex ma jafux hu li n-naħa l-oħra tal-Kattidral, kemm taqsam Ġnien il-Fwieħa, vann organizzat mill-fundazzjoni indipendenti Exodus, tasal hemm kuljum madwar dan il-ħin, mimli bl-ikel u ftit voluntiera oħra. Isibu hemm kju ordnat ta' nies bla dar, jistennew bil-paċenzja l-pranzu tagħhom.

Illum għoddejt madwar sebgħin persuna, għalkemm ġieli jkun hemm mija u anke iktar. Normalment dawn ikunu adulti, imma s-soltu nibdew minn hawn għax l-organizzaturi ġentilment iħalluna nieħdu xi kontenituri bl-ikel biex inqassmuhum lit-tfal jew żgħażagħ bla dar li niltaqgħu magħhom matul il-lejl. Jekk jispiċċawlna, il-pjan ikun li nżuru vann ieħor organizzat minn Youth Off The Streets, li jasal daqsxejn iktar tard f'Kings Cross.

Li nies jispiċċaw mingħajr saqaf fuq rashom hija problema tista' tgħid kullimkien, minkejja l-għana tal-post. Il-Burò Awstraljan tal-Istatistika għamel stima fl-2012 li wieħed minn kull mitejn persuna fl-Awstralja, jew madwar 105,000, huma bla dar, 42% minnhom taħt l-erbgħa u għoxrin sena, inklużi 17% taħt it-tnax-il sena.1 Tal-biża' daqskemm hi din l-istatistika, Fr Chris Riley, il-qassis Kattoliku fundatur ta' Youth Off The Streets, jaħseb li dawn il-figura ta' tfal u żgħażagħ bla dar hija baxxa ħafna, għax dawk l-eluf li jgħixu minn pultruna għall-oħra mhumiex inklużi fil-figuri uffiċjali.2

Tista' tispiċċa bla dar għal ħafna raġunijiet, bħal diffikultajiet finanzjarji, problemi fil-post ta' akkomodazzjoni, vjolenza domestika jew problemi fir-relazzjonijiet familjari, nuqqas ta' saħħa jew raġunijiet oħra. Nies bla dar jgħixu f'postijiet improvviżati li jinkludu jorqdu barra fejn isibu, postijiet ta' kriżi bħad-Dar Don Bosco f'Marrickville li hi mmexxija minn Youth Off The Streets, joqogħdu temporanjament għand ħaddieħor, xi pensjonijiet, djar iffullati ħafna u postijiet oħra temporanji tal-akkomodazzjoni.

Ngħaddu minn Moolloomooloo u Kings Cross, u nżommu għajnejna miftuħa għal xi tfal li nistgħu naraw, imma ma niltaqgħu ma' ħadd. Inkomplu sa George St, nipparkjaw u nibdew nimxu fuq il-bankina, ninnavigaw minn fost ix-xmara ta' nies għaddejja bil-mixi bħalna.

Ma jgħaddux iktar minn ftit sekondi li Gary ma jismax lil ismu jiġi mgħajjat minn żgħażugħ, K, li jgħaġġel hekk kif jaqsam it-triq. Għandu bejn 20 u 22 sena. Ħadilna t-tnejn b'idejna u staqsiena għal ftit ikel. Intuħ kontenitur u furketta tal-plastik. Jitlobna kontenitur ieħor għal sieħbu, jirringrazzjana u jħaffef lura.

Innutajt xahar wara xahar li dawn iż-żgħażagħ, minkejja li għaddejjin ħajja diffiċli fit-triq, xorta waħda jaħsbu fi sħabhom. Hija tal-meravilja li dawn it-tfal u żgħażagħ jistabbilixxu rabta fil-qrib u kumplessa ma' oħrajn f'sitwazzjoni simili, jistaqsu għalihom u jagħtu l-aħbarijiet lil xulxin, jipprovdu għajnuna bl-aħjar li jistgħu, jinġabru flimkien u jaqsmu mill-ftit li jkollhom. Apparti l-abbuż tal-alkoħol jew id-drogi, xi ġlieda 'l hawn u 'l hemm, xi attività illegali u xi ġirja mill-pulizija, it-tfal jgħixu u jħossuhom bħala parti minn familja fit-triq, xi ħaġa li ma sabux f'darhom, hi x'inhi r-raġuni. X'ħasra, hux?

Inkomplu mat-triq u niltaqgħu mal-koppja li riedet lift, D & E, it-tnejn ta' madwar sittax-il sena. Għaraft lil E minn drabi oħra. Kienu qed jieklu ma' persuna oħra li kien ikbar minnhom sew, forsi għandu erbgħin. Biex ngħid il-veru ma tantx għoġobni - min jaf għax kien għamel ħbieb ma' din il-koppja u x'kienu l-intenzjonijiet tiegħu?

Għednielhom li ntuhom lift wara li nlestu r-ronda. Imxejna sa l-istazzjoni Town Hall, dħalna ġewwa u dornieh, u ħriġna minn ħruġ ieħor. Ħadd. Imxejna lura sal-koppja. Sa dak il-ħin, kienu żdiedu żewġ persuni oħra ikbar minnhom sew. Hadt ir-ruħ meta qamu u mxew magħna sal-karrozza, u ħallew lill-irġiel l-oħra warajhom.

Soqna daqsxejn fit-tul għal subborg qrib ta' Bankstown fen il-koppja kienet se toqgħod għal dak il-lejl f'dar ta' wieħed mill-genituri tagħhom. Huma wkoll ħadu ftit ikel u qalulna b'xi aħbarijet fuq tfal oħra li kienu jafu. Wara ftit waqgħu fis-skiet u ftit minuti wara raqdu fuq wara. Dehru mbażwrin. F'nofs siegħa, wasalna fid-destinazzjoni tagħna, qajjimnihom u ħallejnihom joħorġu.

Aħna u sejrin lura, Gary qalli fuq xi tfal oħra li kien iltaqa' magħhom fil-ġranet ta' qabel. Tifla ġdida għalina, N, ittieħdet Don Bosco wara li kienet telqet mid-dar minħabba problemi familjari u vjolenza domestika. B li għandha problemi ta' saħħa mentali, sejra mhux ħażin, qed tistenna t-twelid tat-tarbija tagħha u qed tiġi mħarsa mis-Servizzi tal-Familja u Komunità (Family and Community Services - FACS), aġenzija tal-gvern ta' NSW, biex jiżguraw li toqgħod 'il bogħod mid-drogi u mill-vjolenza, u ssegwi livelli ta' kwalità li ngħatawlha. Tifel ieħor beda jmur l-iskola f'Parramatta.

Wasalna Don Bosco. Dħalna u staqsejna għall-ħwejjeġ tat-tifel H. Ingħatajna borża kbira mimli bl-affarijiet. Soqna lejn subborg ieħor ħdejn Mascot, fejn hemm l-uffiċċju għas-servizzi korporattivi ta' Youth Off The Streets. Sibna lil H jistenniena, u deher ferħan li reġa għandu ħwejġu.

Qed isir tard, u kienet sessjoni pjuttost ħafifa illum. Dak sinjal tajjeb jew ħażin? Hemm inqas tfal jiġru fit-triq, jew marru x'imkien ieħor?

Ipparkjajna fl-Istazzjon Ċentrali, post ieħor komuni għalihom. Dħalna fih u dornih, imma ma stajna naraw lil ħadd. Saru l-ħdax u nofs ta' billejl, u ddeċidejna li nieqfu hemm. Ħadna b'idejn xulxin, qbilna fuq meta se nerġa' niġi, u tlaqt. Tlajt fuq il-pjattaforma u stennejt it-tren li kien se jeħodni d-dar.

Jien u sejjer, ma stajtx ma naħsibx f'dawk it-tfal u żgħażagħ li ltqajna magħhom dak il-lejl, u l-oħrajn li ltqajt magħhom drabi oħra li ilni ma nara. Tgħid tajbin? Tgħid sabu ftit stabbiltà f'ħajjithom, li tippermettielhom jibdew joħorġu mill-ħofra li qegħdin fiha, jew għandhom ambjent f'darhom li tant hija tossika li aħjar jaħarbu minnha? Milli rajt sallum, il-kawża prinċipali li jispiċċaw fit-triq hija kemm il-ġenituri jieħdu ħsieb ħażin, jew xejn affattu, ta' uliedhom. Jekk il-ġenituri ma jimpurtahomx, qatt mhuma d-dar, jimponu biss u ma juru flessibiltà ta' xejn, jew jabbużaw lil uliedhom b'xi mod jew ieħor, tagħti tort lit-tfal li jaħarbu?

Dak li tiżra taħsad. L-ulied ikunu qed ifittxu l-imħabba, ħsieb u attenzjoni. Jekk ma jsibuhomx id-dar, ŻGUR ifittxi band'oħra.



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Sunday, November 9, 2014

Climate Change -- It-Tibdil tal-Klima


Climate Change

A family was at the seaside. The youngest child finished eating his Twistees and threw away the empty bag on the sand. His elder sister reported him to her dad saying “Look at what my brother has done! Say something to him, dad!” The father looked around him and replied “It doesn't matter, my daughter. When the other families stop littering, we'll stop as well!”

This fictitious story always comes to mind when I hear the argument of the Australian coalition government, that they would be ready to consider an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) only if other major countries do the same. From my perspective, this is an immoral position.

It's clear that the government does not want to be counted as a global leader in this respect, and prefers to be one of the laggards. There's quite a good chance that's exactly what will happen.

The EU has been operating an ETS since 2005, and aims to reduce carbon pollution by 20% by 2020, 40% by 2030 and at least 80% by 2050.1 Malta forms part of this initiative, although the region to which it is attached has looser targets until 2020.2

China already had seven pilot ETS schemes in place, and a national market is expected to start by 2015.3

India has two market based systems which aren't an ETS directly.4 One system, called Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) is aimed at reducing the intensity of emissions, and another called Renewable Energy Credit (REC) promotes investment into sustainable sources of energy, similar to the Renewable Energy Target (RET) in Australia (that the government is trying to reduce).

In the United States there is no national system, although there is a Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) which includes nine states including New York, and there is another system in California.5

I think Prime Minister Tony Abbott can rest assured that Australia will be one of the last of the developed countries that has an effective system to reduce carbon pollution.

It seems that the Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, is quite happy for Australia to stop at having a target of a 5% reduction of pollution by 2020. The system that has been adopted by Australia, Direct Action, sees the taxes you and I pay, used to finance companies that reduce or compensate for this pollution. The poor paying the rich.

When talking about climate change, Minister Hunt seems to be more determined not to let electricity prices rise than to avoid the damage of climate change.

To be honest, I don't blame the government when taking this position. It was known before the election that it disagreed with an ETS. Tony Abbott split the Liberal party on the eve of voting in favour of this scheme in 2009, then called the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). Today, he says that man does contribute to climate change, but never says that man is principally to blame unless he is outside Australia.

It is we who voted the Coalition into government, so serve us right.

In my view, the main blame for the current situation lies, paradoxically, with the Green Party, the ones who most agitate for the environment. In 2009, this party voted with the Coalition against the CPRS, arguing it had too much compensation for the big emitters, and wanted a better system.

The Greens did not appreciate the historic moment we were in, and that there was a consensus in the country in favour of such a system. They did not understand that many times an imperfect system that is generally going in the right direction, is better than nothing. A bent system can be straightened with the wisdom of experience. When you aim for perfection at once, you can fail.

This does not mean that Labour had no part of the blame. We shouldn't forget that the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, after the fiasco of the CPRS, and the other fiasco of the Copenhagen negotiations at the United Nations, decided before the 2010 election to postpone legislation on this subject. The message that we were given was that it wasn't urgent any more to take action on climate change.

As we know, after the 2010 election, Labour and the Greens passed an ETS with a fixed price for the first years, which is equivalent to a carbon tax. Some prices were expected to rise, and the government provided compensation. However the right time had passed, people had lost interest, and a few weeks ago the Coalition government removed this scheme.

Now on one side we have the United Nations warning that climate change is coming from the burning of fossilised sources of energy, which is resulting in the climate becoming irreversibly more extreme.6 On the other hand we have Prime Minister Abbott telling us that coal is good for humanity and should continue to be used for the production of energy,7 passing legislation with the party of Clive Palmer, who has big interests in the production of coal.8

What does it matter if the acidification of the ocean damages the Great Barrier Reef, and that islands in the Pacific sink? What does it matter that the future industry of sustainable energy establishes itself everywhere except Australia? What matters is that the price of electricity came down by 5%!


8http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/clive-palmer-s-$6-4-billion-coal-mine-project-1, retrieved 4/11/2014


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It-Tibdil tal-Klima

Familja kienet fuq xtajta ħdejn il-baħar. It-tifel iż-żgħir spiċċa jiekol it-Twistees li kellu u rema l-borża vojta fuq ir-ramel. Oħtu l-kbira gżatu lil missierha u qalet “Ara x'għamel ħija. Għidlu xi ħaġa, Pa!” Il-missier ħares waħda madwaru, u qalilha “Ma jimpurtax binti. Meta l-familji l-oħra jieqfu jarmu fl-art, nieqfu aħna wkoll!”

Din hi storja fittizja li dejjem tiġini f'rasi meta nisma' l-argument tal-gvern ta' Koalizzjoni Awstraljan, illi lesti li jikkunsidraw Skema ta' Kummerċ fl-Emissjonijiet (Emissions Trading Scheme - ETS) biss jekk il-pajjiżi l-kbar l-oħra kollha jagħmlu l-istess. Din għalija hija pożizzjoni immorali.

Jidher ċar li l-gvern ma jridx jingħadd bħala wieħed mill-mexxejja globali f'dan il-qasam, u pjuttost beħsiebu jkun minn tal-aħħar. U hemm ċans tajjeb li hekk se jiġri.

L-UE ilha li adottat ETS sa mill-2005, u timmira li tnaqqas it-tniġġis b'20% sal-2020, 40% sal-2030 u mill-inqas 80% sal-2050.1 Malta tifforma parti minn din l-inizjattiva, għalkemm ir-reġjun li qegħda fih għandu miri daqsxejn iktar laxki sal-2020.2

Fiċ-Ċina, diġà hemm seba' sistemi pilota tal-ETS jaħdmu, u suq nazzjonali għandu jibda fil-2016.3

L-Indja għandha żewġ sistemi li għalkemm huma bbażati fuq is-suq, mhumiex ETS direttament.4 Sistema waħda (Perform Achieve and Trade - PAT) hija mmirata għat-tnaqqis tal-intensita' tal-emissjonijiet, u oħra (Renewable Energy Credit - REC) li tippromwovi l-investiment f'sorsi sostenibbli tal-enerġija, simili għar-Renewable Energy Target - RET tal-Awstralja (li l-gvern qed jipprova jnaqqas).

Fl-Istati Uniti mhemmx sistema nazzjonali, imma hemm sistema reġjonali msejħa Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative - RGGI, li tinkludi disa' stati nkluża New York, u hemm sistema oħra f'Kalifornja.5

Naħseb li l-Prim Ministru Tony Abbott jista' jserraħ rasu li l-Awstralja se tkun minn tal-aħħarnett mill-pajjiżi żviluppati biex ikollha sistema effettiva biex jitnaqqas it-tniġġis mil-dijossidu tal-karbonju.

Jidher li l-Ministru tal-Ambjent, Greg Hunt, huwa kuntent li l-Awstralja se jkollha l-mira ta' tnaqqis ta' 5% tat-tniġġis sal-2020, u daqshekk. Is-sistema li adottat l-Awstralja, l-Azzjoni Diretta (Direct Action) hi li mit-taxxi tiegħi u tiegħek, jitħallsu l-kumpanniji sabiex inaqqsu jew jikkumpensaw għal dan it-tniġġis. Il-fqir iħallas lis-sinjur.

Meta jitkellem fuq it-tibdil tal-klima, fil-Ministru Hunt iktar tispikka d-determinazzjoni tiegħu li ma jogħliex il-prezz tal-elettriku milli ma ssirx ħsara mit-tibdil tal-klima.

Biex ngħid kollox, jien ma nagħtix tort lill-gvern attwali li jieħu din il-pożizzjoni. Kien magħruf minn qabel l-elezzjoni li għaddiet li ma jaqbilx ma' ETS. Tony Abbott qasam il-partit Liberali lejliet li kien se jivvota favur din is-sistema fil-2009, dakinhar imsejha Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - CPRS. Illum jgħid li l-bniedem għandu sehem fit-tibdil tal-klima, imma qatt ma jgħid li għandu s-sehem prinċipali f'dan ħlief meta jkun barra mill-Awstralja.

Aħna ivvutajna lill-Koalizzjoni biex ikunu fil-gvern, u għalhekk aħna irridu ngawduhom.

It-tort prinċipali tas-sitwazzjoni preżenti ntiha, paradossalment, lill-Partit tal-Ħodor, l-iktar li jitkellmu favur l-ambjent. Fl-2009, dan il-Partit ivvota mal-Koalizzjoni kontra s-CPRS, għax kellha wisq kumpens lejn min kien l-iktar li jniġġes, u riedu sistema aħjar.

Il-Ħodor ma fehmux il-mument storiku li konna qegħdin fih, u li kien hemm kunsens fil-pajjiż favur sistema simili. Ma fehmux li ħafna drabi aħjar ikollok sistema imperfetta li sejra fid-direzzjoni t-tajba, milli xejn. Sistema mgħawġa tiddrittaha bl-għaqal u l-esperjenza. Meta timmira għall-perfezzjoni mall-ewwel, tista' tfalli.

Dan ma jfissirx li l-Laburisti ma kellhom tort ukoll. Ma ninsewx li l-Prim Ministru ta' dak iż-żmien Kevin Rudd, wara l-fjask tas-CPRS, u l-fjask l-ieħor tan-neġozjati f'Kopenħagen tal-Ġnus Magħquda fuq it-tibdil tal-klima, iddeċieda qabel l-elezzjoni tal-2010 li kien se jipposponi li jilleġisla fuq dan is-suġġett. Il-messaġġ li ngħatajna kien li m'għadux urġenti li tittieħed azzjoni fuq it-tibdil tal-klima.

Bħal ma nafu, wara l-elezzjoni tal-2010, il-Laburisti u l-Ħodor għaddew ETS bi prezz fiss għall-ewwel snin, li hija ekwivalenti għal taxxa fuq il-karbonju. Xi prezzijiet kienu mistennija li jogħlew, u l-gvern kien ta' kumpens għal dan. Imma iż-żmien kien għadda, il-poplu kien tilef l-interess, u ftit ġimgħat ilu l-gvern ta' Koalizzjoni neħħa din l-iskema.

Issa fuq naħa għandna l-Ġnus Magħquda twissi li t-tibdil fil-klima ġej mill-ħruq ta' sorsi ffossilizzati tal-enerġija, u li qed jirriżulta fil-klima li qed issir irriversibbilment iktar estrema.6 Fuq in-naħa l-oħra għandna lill-Prim Ministru Abbot għidilna li l-faħam huwa tajjeb għall-umanità u għandu jibqa' jintuża fil-produzzjoni tal-enerġija,7 u jgħaddi l-leġislazzjoni flimkien mal-partit ta' Clive Palmer, li għandu interessi kbar fil-produzzjoni tal-faħam.8

X'jimporta jekk l-aċidifikazzjoni tal-oċejan jagħmel ħsara lill-Great Barrier Reef, u jegħrqu xi gżejjer fil-Paċifiku? X'jimporta li l-industrija tal-enerġija sostenibbli tal-futur tistabbilixxi ruħha kullimkien ħlief fl-Awstralja? L-aqwa li l-prezz tal-elettriku naqas b'5%!


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