Your rubbish dump we are not -- M'aħniex miżbla tagħkom

I’m referring to the decision taken by China in July 2017 to stop accepting some categories of rubbish by the end of this year, including recyclable plastic and other mixed rubbish, to protect public health and the environment.1

 

This is a significant decision, as China is the largest recipient of this kind of waste in the world.

 

The dependence of the global industry on recycling on this one country is remarkable.

 

In the United States, where a third of rubbish is exported, mostly to China, the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) said that tens of thousands of workplaces and many recycling enterprises in the US will be lost.

 

The European Union, which exports 87% of plastic waste to China, is expected to make more use of landfills or incineration.2  Australia, which exports to China about half a billion Australian dollars of waste a year, is still debating what do do with all that waste that previously used to be loaded onto a ship and Bob’s your uncle.

 

This startled reaction from countries exporting all this waste to China was remarkable, close to panic I have to say, which just indicates how dependent is the world on this country for its waste.  Nevertheless, it is clear that today China aspires to be the factory of the world, not its rubbish dump.

 

Up till today, developed countries were very used to getting rid of a large part of the end product of the system of unbridled consumption, by making it somebody else’s problem.  Now this will be more difficult, as the problem will need to be resolved closer to where the consumption actually occurs, and consumers, and their governments, will need more and more to face up to the consequences of the economic system they live in.  This can, maybe, hopefully, lead to better and more sustainable decisions for our culture of consumption.

 

It needs to be rememberedthat waste has an economic value, high even.  China used to look on this as a source of raw materials, sometimes easier to extract than for traditional sources (for example oil for plastic, forest timber for paper).  One of the problems arose when waste was contaminated, as in when it not separated to the requisite degree, or mixed with some other material, which lead to the need for manual processing.

 

Therefore, one of the solutions is a higher quality and better control in the collection process.

 

However perhaps the most positive impact will be when people come face-to-face with the mountains of waste that they themselves are generating, and now there is a better chance of getting a glimpse.  For example, in Australia, why do we drink from a beer bottle and then throw it in the recycling bin – isn’t it better to re-use?  And why are we still discussing whether we should use plastic bags or re-usable shopping bags in the supermarket – it it possible we cannot see the stupdity of plastic bags?

 

Knowledge of the heavy environmental impact of mankind’s comfortable lifestyle is increaing, by the grace of God.  One example is the ABC programme War on Waste. This year I’ve seen several documentaries and articles on the massive circulating islands in oceans of the world; fish, birds and turtles being caught and found to have plastic pieces in the stomach, having mistaken these for food; tiny pieces of plastic (microbeads) used mostly in cosmetics also finishing up in the sea, absorbing toxic chemicals and then be eaten by fish creatures3 (and ending up on a plate).

 

Although this Chinese decision will lead to difficulties in many countries, it seems to me that this is a process we have to have, as it will force us to mature in our attitude to waste.

 

We will no longer be able not to care what happens to waste when thrown in the rubbish or the recycling bin.  It will no longer be tenable to say this is somebody else’s problem and forget about it, as one way or another we will be paying a higher price.

 

Now it’s going to be our problem.

 

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Qiegħed nirreferi għad-deċiżjoni taċ-Ċina li ħadet f’Lulju 2017 biex sal-aħħar ta’ din is-sena ma tibqax taċċetta xi kategoriji ta’ skart, inkluż plastik reċiklabbli u skart ieħor imħallat, biex jipproteġu s-saħħa pubblika u l-ambjent.1

 

Din hija deċiżjoni sinjifikanti, għax iċ-Ċina hija l-akbar reċipjent ta’ skart ta’ dan it-tip fid-dinja.

 

Id-dipendenza tal-industrija globali tar-reċiklar fuq dan il-pajjiż wieħed huwa notevoli.

 

Fl-Istati Uniti, fejn terz tal-iskart jiġi esportat, l-iktar lejn iċ-Ċina, l-Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) qalet li se jintilfu għexieren ta’ eluf ta’ postijiet tax-xogħol u ħafna intrapriżi tar-riċiklar fl-Istati Uniti.

 

Fl-Unjoni Ewropea, li tesporta 87% tal-iskart tal-plastik tagħha liċ-Ċina, huwa mistenni li se jsir iktar użu minn landfills jew inċinerazzjoni2.  L-Awstralja, li tesporta lejn iċ-Ċina skart li jiswa madwar nofs biljun dollaru Awstraljan fis-sena, għadha ttella u tniżżel x’se tagħmel b’dak l-iskart kollu li qabel kien jitgħabba fuq vapur u Alla m’għamlu.

 

Kienet notevoli din ir-reazzjoni xxukkjata f’pajjiżi li jesportaw dan l-iskart kollu liċ-Ċina, viċin il-paniku jkolli ngħid, li jindika kemm id-dinja kienet dipendenti fuq dan il-pajjiż għall-iskart tiegħu.  Madankollu, huwa ċar li llum iċ-Ċina taspira li tkun il-fabbrika tad-dinja, mhux il-landa taż-żibel tagħha.

 

Sal-lum, il-pajjiżi żviluppati kienu draw jeħilsu minn parti sostanzjali tar-riżultat tas-sistema tal-konsum sfrenat, billi jagħmluha problema ta’ ħaddieħor.  Issa dan se jkun iktar diffiċli, għax il-problem trid tissolva iktar qrib fejn il-konsum qiegħed isir, u l-konsumaturi, u l-gvernijiet tagħhom, iktar u iktar se jħabbtu wiċċhom mal-konsegwenzi tas-sistema ekonomika li jgħixu fiha.  Dan jista’, forsi, nispera, iwassal għal tibdiliet għall-aħjar, iktar sostenibbli, fil-kultura tal-konsum.

 

Irid jitfakkar li l-iskart għandu valur ekonomiku, anke kbir.  Iċ-Ċina kienet tħares lejħ bħala sors ta’ materja prima, kultant iktar faċli li jiġi estratt minnu milli minn sorsi tradizzjonali (per eżempju miż-żejt għall-plastik jew minn injam tal-foresti għall-karti).  Waħda mill-problemi kienet lijekk l-iskart kien ikun kontaminat, bħal meta ma jkunx separat kif suppost, jew ikun imħallat ma’ materjal li mhux suppost ikun hemm, li jwassal għall-ħtieġa ta’ iktar proċessar manwali.

 

Għalhekk, waħda mis-soluzzjonijiet hija kwalità aħjar u iktar kontroll fil-ġbir tal-iskart.

 

Imma forsi l-impatt l-iktar pożittiv ikun meta l-bniedembnedmin jiġui wiċċ imb’wiċċ mal-muntanji ta’ skart li huma stess qiegħdin niġġeneraw, li issa iktar hemm ċans li nagħtuhom titwila.  Per eżempju, fl-Awstralja, għaliex flixkun tal-birra, nixorbu minnu u narmuh għar-riċiklar – mhux aħjar jerġa jintuża?  U għaliex għadna niddiskutu jekk għandniex nużaw boroż tal-plastik jew basktijiet li jerġgħu jintużaw fis-supermarkit – possibbli ma narawx l-istupidaġni tal-boroż tal-plastik?

 

L-għarfien tal-impatt tqil fuq l-ambjent tal-kumdità tal-bniedem qiegħda tiżdied, għall-grazzja t’Alla.  Eżempju ta’ dan huwa l-programm tal-ABC War on Waste (Gwerra fuq l-Iskart).  Din is-sena wkoll rajt diversi dokumentarju u artikli fuq gżejjer enormi ta’ skart jiċċirkolaw fl-oċejani tad-dinja; ħut, għasafar u fkieren jinqabdu u jinsabu b’biċċiet tal-plastik fl-istonku li jkunu kielu għax jaħsbuh ikel; biċċiet żgħar ta’ plastik (microbeads) li l-iktar jintużaw fil-kożmetiċi jispiċċaw ukoll fil-baħar, jassorbu kimika tossika u imbagħad jittieklu mill-ħlejjaq tal-baħar3 (u jispiċċaw f’xi platt).

 

Għalkemm din id-deċiżjoni taċ-Ċina se twassal għal diffikultajiet f’ħafna pajjiżi, jien jidhirli li dan huwa proċess li hemm bżonn li ngħaddu minnu, għax se jisfurzana nimmaturaw fl-attitudni tagħna lejn l-iskart.

 

Mhux se nkunu nistgħu ma jimpurtaniex iktar x’isir mill-iskart meta nixħtuh fil-landa taż-żibel jew fil-kontenitur tar-reċiklaġġ.  Mhux se nkunu nistgħu ngħidu li problema ta’ ħaddieħor u ninsewha, għax b’xi mod jew ieħor se jkollna nħallsu prezz iktar għoli.

 

Issa l-problema se ssir tagħna.

 

 

 

 

1http://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20170718/NEWS/170719892/china-to-wto-scrap-plastic-imports-banned-by-year-end, retrieved 11/12/2017

2http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1060480.shtml, retrieved 11/12/2017

3http://www.beatthemicrobead.org/faq/, retrieved 11/12/2017

1http://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20170718/NEWS/170719892/china-to-wto-scrap-plastic-imports-banned-by-year-end, retrieved 11/12/2017

2http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1060480.shtml, retrieved 11/12/2017

3http://www.beatthemicrobead.org/faq/, retrieved 11/12/2017

How sordid! -- Xi ħniżrija!

I still seethe when recalling the news from mid November, where a painting called Salvador Mundi, attributed to the Italian genius Leonardo da Vinci, was sold for half a billion American dollars.

 

HALF A BILLION!

 

Just to be precise, it was sold for US$450 million (equivalent to AU$600 million).

 

The article continued to say that those present ‘erupted in cheers and applause’.1  Even better.

 

The painting, if you please, is of a saintly person, the son of a poor carpenter, living about 2000 years ago, who gave his life, literally, fighting for the poor, the week and downtrodden and preaching the truth, a certain Jesus Christ.

 

Am I the only one to see some irony and obscenity in this economic transaction?

 

Fear not, assured us the Sydney Morning Herald, about the high price.  Firstly, the price truly reflects the high value of this piece of art; secondly, half the price represents profit to the previous owner; thirdly, whoever bought it today made a good business decision.2

 

Oh, it’s OK then.  This really set my mind at rest, all good.

 

What crap logic is this?  How does this transaction, where a painting of 45cm by 65cm changed hands for such an astronomical amount, contribute to a more just world or society?

 

Should I forget the pictures of all those babies all skin and bone in Yemen, due to its borders being closed by Saudi Arabia even for humanitarian trips?3  Should I forget that $10 can buy a live chicken that can provide protein over a long period to poor kids and their family, and a source of income?4

 

When I was younger, I was told that the socialist system was no good, as it did not encourage entrepreneurship.  I also learnt that communism wasn’t good either, as it did not permit property ownership.  I learnt that in these systems, a few find a way to accumulate all the wealth, and the rest remain poor.  The capitalist system is better.

 

And here we are today, where the capitalist system, and its variants, has spread around the world, and the few (1%) still have as much wealth as the rest of the population (99%).5  It is a system where a single soccer player (Neymar) can be transferred from one club to another for a third of a billion Australian dollars (€222 million) and get paid half a million Euro a week, just to kick a ball.6

 

Capitalism is the system in which wealth is supposed to trickle down to benefit everyone, say some economists.  Does this remind you, as it does to me, of the discussion of Jesus with the woman from Canaan (Mt 15:27), where she told him that even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table?  I do love dogs, but in a capitalist system, are the 99% considered dogs?

 

I feel a growing recognition around the world that the predominant economic system of today, capitalism, is only resulting in injustices and inequalities, where the few are able to gorge themselves, and the remaining multitude just have to make do and easily get some free advice like the declaration by the Australian ex-Treasurer, Joe Hockey, who advised those who were poor to get a better job!  Such insight!

 

I do fell that much of the poverty and misery around the world are possible to be solved, with available resources.  They are not resolved by the people that matter, and by leaders around the world, that good will is actually in short supply.

 

We should also not forget that in the democracies that most Maltese people live in, the leaders, who write the rules that our society follow, are selected by ourselves.  The ball is in our court, in fact.

 

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Għadni nitbabaq meta niftakar b’aħbar li qrajt f’nofs dan ix-xahar ta’ Novembru, fejn pittura msejħa Salvador Mundi, attribwita għall-ġenju Taljan Leonardo da Vinci, inbiegħet għal nofs biljun dollaru Amerikan.

 

NOFS BILJUN!

 

Ħalli nkun preċiż, inbiegħet għal $450 miljun Amerikan (ekwivalenti għal $600 miljun Awstraljan).

 

L-artiklu kompla li meta nbiegħet dawk preżenti nfexxew f’għajjat ta’ approvazzjoni u applaws.1 Ukoll.

 

Il-pittura, jekk jogħġbok, hija ta’ bniedem qaddis, iben mastrudaxxa fqir, li għex madwar 2000 sena ilu, li ta’ ħajtu, litteralment, jiġġieled għall-fqir, il-batut u l-magħkus u jippriedka s-sewwa, ċertu Ġesu Kristu.

 

L-ironija u l-oxxenità ta’ din it-transazzjoni ekonomika jien biss qed naraha?

 

Tinkwetaw xejn, qaltilna s-Sydney Morning Herald, fuq il-prezz għoli.  L-ewwel ħaġa, il-prezz jirrifletti l-valur għoli tal-biċċa arti; it-tieninett, li nofs il-prezz jirrifletti qligħ għas-sid ta’ qabel u t-tieletnett, li min xtraha llum għamel deċiżjoni tajba ta’ negozju.2

 

Eh, orrajt mela.  Serraħt rasi, kollox sew.

 

Din x’loġika bażwija hi?  Din it-transazzjoni, fejn pittura ta’ 45ċm b’65ċm bidlet l-idejn għal somma daqshekk astronomika, kif tikkontribwixxi għal dinja jew soċjetà iktar ġusta?

 

Jien għandi ninsa r-ritratt li rajt ta’ dawk it-trabi għadma u ġilda fil-Yemen, minħabba li l-fruntieri tiegħu huma magħluqin mis-Saudi Arabja anke għal vjaġġi umanitarji?3  Irrid ninsa wkoll li $10 tixtri tiġieġa ħajja li tipprovdi l-proteini għal ħafna żmien lil tfal u familji fqar, u ta’ sors ta’ dħul?4

 

Jien meta kont żgħir tgħallimt li s-sistema soċjalista mhix tajba, għax ma tħajjarx lil min jieħu inizjattiva.  Tgħallimt ukoll li s-sistema komunista mhix tajba, għax ma tippermettix li jkollok il-proprjeta.  Tgħallimt li f’dawn is-sistemi, jkollok il-ftit li b’xi mod jakkumulaw il-ġid kollu huma, u l-bqija jkunu fil-faqar.  Aħjar is-sistema kapitalista.

 

U hawn aħna illum, fejn is-sistema kapitalista, u varjanti tagħha, nfirxet madwar id-dinja, u l-ftit (1%) għandhom ġid daqs il-bqija tal-popolazzjoni (99%).5  Sistema fejn plejer tal-futbol wieħed (Neymar) jiġi trasferit minn klabb għall-ieħor għal somma ta’ terz ta’ biljun dollaru Awstraljan (222 miljun Ewro) u jitħallas nofs miljun Ewro fil-ġimgħa, biex jagħti daqqiet ta’ sieq lil ballun.6

 

Il-kapitaliżmu hija s-sistema li fiha l-ġid, jgħidu xi ekonomisti, jispiċċa jqattar l-isfel biex jibbenefika kulħadd (trickle down economics).  Intom din bħali tfakkarkom fid-diskussjoni ta’ Ġesu mal-mara ta’ Kana (Mt 15:27), fejn qaltlu li anke l-klieb jieklu l-frak li jaqgħu mill-mejda ta’ sidhom?  Jien inħobbhom lill-klieb, imma fis-sistema kapitalista, id-99% meqjusin klieb?

 

Jien qed inħoss mewġa ta’ għarfien madwar id-dinja li s-sistema ekonomika predominanti tal-lum, dik kapitalista, qiegħda twassal għal inġustizzji u diżugwaljanzi kbar, li l-ftit irnexxielhom jistagħnew, u bil-kbir ukoll, u l-kotra jkollha titqanna, u malajr tirċievi xi tgħajjira bħall-istqarrija tal-ex Ministru tal-Finanzi Awstraljan, Joe Hockey, li ta’ parir lil min huwa fqir biex isib xogħol aħjar!  Mur obsor!

 

Jien inħoss li ħafna mill-problemi ta’ faqar u miżerja ta’ madwar id-dinja huwa possibbli li jiġu solvuti, bil-mezzi li għandha llum.  Ma jissolvewx għax rieda tajba, minn min jista’, u mill-mexxejja ta’ madwar id-dinja, m’hemmx biżżejjed.  

 

U ma ninsewx ukoll li fid-demokraziji li ħafna mill-Maltin jgħixu fihom, il-mexxejja, li jiktbu r-regoli li s-soċjetà timxi bihom, aħna stess nagħżluhom.  Il-mazz f’idejna, fil-fatt.

 

 

 

1https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/nov/15/leonardo-da-vinci-salvator-mundi-auction, retrieved 28/11/2017

2http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/why-592-million-for-this-da-vinci-painting-is-a-good-business-decision-20171116-gzn4wa.html, retrieved 28/11/2017

3http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/15/50000-yemeni-children-will-die-end-year-aid-group-warns/, retrieved 28/11/2017

4https://www.worldvision.com.au/gifts/products/FoodIncome/18-CHICKENS-AND-EGGS, retrieved 28/11/2017

5http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35339475, retrieved 28/11/2017

6http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-04/neymar-completes-record-shattering-$333-million-move-to-psg/8773454, retrieved 28/11/2017

1https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/nov/15/leonardo-da-vinci-salvator-mundi-auction, retrieved 28/11/2017

2http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/why-592-million-for-this-da-vinci-painting-is-a-good-business-decision-20171116-gzn4wa.html, retrieved 28/11/2017

3http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/15/50000-yemeni-children-will-die-end-year-aid-group-warns/, retrieved 28/11/2017

4https://www.worldvision.com.au/gifts/products/FoodIncome/18-CHICKENS-AND-EGGS, retrieved 28/11/2017

5http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35339475, retrieved 28/11/2017

6http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-04/neymar-completes-record-shattering-$333-million-move-to-psg/8773454, retrieved 28/11/2017

Il-każ kurjuż tal-Katalonja -- The curious case of Catalonia

Lately we have followed developments in Spain, still under way, where the Catalonia region has attempted to change its autonomy within Spain to independence.  For those unfamiliar with the region, it is located in the north-east of Spain, on the border with France and Andorra, and whose capital is Barcelona.

 

The first step consisted of a referendum this year on the 1st of October, where 43% of the population  voted from whom 92% were in favour of independence, a referendum declared unconstitutional by the Spanish Constitutional Court and which was hampered even violently by the Spanish police.

 

Then on the 10th of October, the then President of Catalonia, Carles Pugdemont, issues a rather confusing statement which first declared that the Catalonian people had given a mandate for the region to become independent and then immediately declared he would be asking the Catalonian Parliament to suspend the effect of this declaration in order to enable talks with the Spanish government, talks that the latter had absolutely no intention of undertaking.

 

Finally, on 27th October, Catalonia’s Parliament passed a resolution where it unilaterally declared independence.

 

This all resulted in nought, as immediately the Spanish government sacked a number of Catalonia’s ministers and the President, took the running of the region into its hands and called a fresh election, while a Spanish court initiated proceedings against the region’s leaders for sedition.

 

This case seems curious for a few reasons.  Firstly, there does seem to be a strong sentiment in the region for independenc from Spain, however it does not seem to be predominant.  With all its defects, including disruption by the police and the declared Spanish anti-constitutionality of the exercised, the result of the referendum (92% in favour out of the 43% that voted) did not demonstrate a substantial majority in the region were actually in favour of independence.

 

Secondly, after the declaration of the 27th October, it seems that the region’s leaders did not take steps to implement the declaration itself.  For example, if the region is really independent, why did it accept decisions coming from Spain’s central government?  Why wasn’t there a mobilisation of Catalonia’s police and the local administration?

 

It does seem that the effect of the unilateral independence declaration was, and intended to be, only symbolic, whatever was the impression given to those who were in favour of this step.

 

Nevertheless, the Spanish government seems to be intent to respect neither the declaration of independence that has occurred, neither the strong independent sentiment in the region.  This sentiment will not fade away, not at all.  This region has long roots in history, starting at the start of the second century AD, where a number of counties in the north-east of the Iberian peninsula, united under the county of Barcelona to become the Principality of Catalonia.

 

We Maltese are perhaps not too familiar with the Catalonia region, but if we consider the Principality of Catalonia then combined with the Kingdom of Aragon under the so-called Aragon Crown, the bell in Maltese history rings of the Aragonese reign, between 1282 and 1530, when Malta then passed into the hands of the knights.

 

In those times, Catalonia already had its structure, traditions and language (Catalan) which is still spoken today.  It has a history of at least a thousand years, and this cannot be denied overnight, even if inconvenient to the Spanish government, and triggers shivers up the spine of other European countries that also have their ancient and proud regions that they’d prefer remain quiet.

 

In my view the independence declaration was premature, and the regions’ leaders did not give much importance to the impact of the Catalan region, which is the richest in Spain, on the rest of the country when it simply leaves.  Nevertheless I think there are legitimate aspirations, founded in history, that need to be considered and respected, even if unclear whether they reflect the will of the majority of inhabitants in the region.  Perhaps the steps taken by the pro-independence leaders of Catalonia were hurried and not well thought out.

 

On the other hand, I think that the response of the Spanish state, that of using the iron fist and rejecting all discussion on the subject, is also too hurried and not well thought out.  Why doesn’t the Spanish constitution permit the holding a referendum on Catalan independence, both in the region and in the whole country?

 

The aspirations of a substantial part of the populace, if legitimate and strongly rooted in the history of a people culturally distinct, cannot be extinguished with a flick of a switch, and if discarded peremptorily might lead to other, ugly, consequences.  The story of the Basque region is too fresh in memory, with the terrorism of the ETA group.

 

It’s better to have a political, democratic, civil, constitutional discussion, on possible forms of higher autonomy that were possible until yesterday, and/or other forms of cooperation, than the stomping of boots, brandishing of firearms, the use of truncheons and throwing people into jail.

 

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Dan l-aħħar segwejna l-iżviluppi fi Spanja, li għadhom sejrin, fejn ir-reġjun tal-Katalonja għamel attentat kontroversjali biex l-awtonomija tiegħu fi ħdan Spanja jibdilha f’indipendenza.  Għal min mhux familjari miegħu, dan ir-reġun jinsab fil-grigal ta’ Spanja, fuq il-fruntiera ma’ Franza u Andorra, u l-belt kapitali tiegħu hija Barċellona.

 

L-ewwel pass kien jikkonsisti fir-referendum tal-1 ta’ Ottubru ta’ din is-sena, fejn 43% tal-popolazzjoni ivvutat li minnhom kien hemm 92% favur l-indipendenza, referendum li kien iddikjarat kontra l-kostituzzjoni mill-Qorti Kostituzzjonali Spanjola, u li kien imfixkel anke bi vjolenza mill-pulizija Spanjola.

 

Imbagħad fl-10 ta’ Ottubru, il-President ta’ dakinhar tal-Katalonja Carles Pugdemont ħareġ stqarrija kemmxejn konfuża fejn l-ewwel iddikjara li l-poplu tal Katalonja kien ta mandat sabiex ir-reġjun isir indipendenti u immedjatament stqarr li se jsaqsi lill-Parlament tal-Katalonja biex jissospendi l-effetti ta’ din id-dikjarazzjoni sabiex isiru taħdidiet mal-gvern Spanjol, taħdidiet li dan tal-aħħar ma kellu assolutament ebda intenzjoni li jagħmel.

 

Fl-aħħarnett, fis-27 ta’ Ottubru, il-Parlament tal-Katalonja għadda riżoluzzjoni fejn unilateralment iddikjara l-indipendenza.

 

Dan kollu sfaxxa fix-xejn, għax immedjatament il-gvern Spanjol keċċa lil diversi ministri tal-Katalonja u l-President, f’idejh it-tmexxija tar-reġjun u għajjat għal elezzjoni ġdida, filwaqt li qorti Spanjola bdiet proċeduri kontra dawn il-mexxejja tar-reġjun għal sedizzjoni.

 

Dan il-każ narah kurjuż għal diversi raġunijiet.  L-ewwel ħaġa, jidher li hemm sentiment qawwi f’dan ir-reġjun għall-indipendenza minn Spanja, iżda ma jidhirx li huwa predominanti.  Bid-difetti kollha tiegħu, inkluż it-tfixkil mill-pulizija u d-dikjarazzjoni li kien kontra l-kostituzzjoni ta’ Spanja, ir-riżultat tar-referendum (92% favur minn 43% li vvutaw) ma weriex li kien hemm maġġoranza sostanzjali tar-reġjun li kienu favur l-indipendenza.

 

It-tieni nett, wara d-dikjarazzjoni tas-27 ta’ Ottubru, jidher li l-mexxejja tar-reġjun ma ħadux passi biex jimplementaw id-dikjarazzjoni infisha.  Per eżempju, jekk ir-reġjun verament huwa indipendenti, kif aċċetta d-deċiżjonijiet li ġew mill-gvern ċentrali ta’ Spanja?  Kif ma kienx hemm mobilizzazzjoni tal-pulizija ta’ Katalonja u tal-amministrazzjoni lokali?

 

Għalhekk jidher li d-dikjarazzjoni unilaterali tal-indipendenza li saret jidher li kellha biss effett, u intenzjoni li tkun, simbolika, kien x’kien l-impressjoni li ngħatat lil dawk li jappoġġjaw dan il-pass.

 

Madankollu, il-gvern Spanjol jidher li għandu l-intenzjoni li la jirrispetta d-dikjarazzjoni tal-indipendenza li saret, u lanqas tas-sentiment qawwi indipendenti li hemm fir-reġjun.  Dan is-sentiment mhux se jispiċċa fix-xejn, tutt’altru.  Dan ir-reġjun għandu għeruq twal fl-istorja, ilu ġej mill-bidu tat-tieni seklu w.K., fejn numru ta’ kontej fil-grigal tal-peninsula Iberika, ingħaqdu taħt il-konti ta’ Barċellona biex isiru l-Prinċipalità tal-Katalonja.

 

Aħna l-Maltin forsi m’aħniex wisq familjari mar-reġjun tal-Katalonja, imma jekk nikkunsidraw li l-Prinċipalità tal-Katalonja imbagħad ingħaqad mar-renju ta’ Aragon taħt l’hekk imsejjaħ Kuruna ta’ Aragon, iddoqq il-qanpiena fl-istorja Maltija tal-ħakma tal-Aragoniżi, li saret bejn l-1282 sal-1530, meta Malta imbagħad għaddiet f’idejn il-Kavallieri.

 

Matul dak iż-żmien, il-Kalalonja diġà kellha l-istruttura tagħha, it-tradizzjonijiet tagħha, il-lingwa tagħha (il-Katalan) li għadu mitkellem illum.  Għalhekk għandha storja ta’ mill-inqas elf sena, u dan ma jistax jitħassar mil-lum għall-għada, anke jekk hu inkonvenjenti għall-gvern Spanjol u jqabbad il-bard f’pajjiżi oħra Ewropej li għandhom ir-reġjuni antiki u kburin tagħhom li jippreferuhom li jibqgħu kwieti.

 

Jien ngħid li d-dikjarazzjoni tal-indipendenza li saret kienet prematura, u l-mexxejja tiegħu ma tawx importanza lill-impatt li r-reġjun Katalan, li hu l-iktar għani fi Spanja, ikollu fuq il-bqija tal-pajjiż meta sempliċement jitlaq.  Madankollu hemm aspirazzjonijiet narahom leġittimi, fundati fl-istorja, li jridu jiġu kkunsidrati u rrispettati, anke jekk mhux ċar li jirriflettu r-rieda tal-maġġoranza tal-abitanti tar-reġjun.  Forsi l-passi li ttieħdu mill-mexxejja pro-indipendentisti tal-Katalonja kienu mgħaġġla u mhux maħsubin fit-tul.

 

Mill-banda l-oħra, jien naħseb ukoll li r-risposta tal-istat Spanjol, li juża l-id tal-ħadid u jirriġetta kull diskussjoni fuq is-suġġett, huwa wkoll mgħaġġel u mhux maħsub fit-tul.  Għalfejn il-Kostituzzjoni Spanjola ma tippermettix li jsir referendum fuq l-indipendenza Katalana, kemm fir-reġjun u kemm fil-pajjiż sħiħ?

 

L-aspirazzjoni ta’ parti sostanzjali tal-poplu, jekk huwa leġittimu u b’għeruq b’saħħithom fl-istorja ta’ poplu kulturalment distint, ma jintefiex qisu swiċċ, u jekk jixxejjen mingħajr kumplimenti għandu mnejn iwassal għal konsegwenzi oħra, koroh.  L-istorja tar-reġjun Bask għadu frisk wisq fil-memorja, bit-terroriżmu tal-grupp ETA.

 

Aħjar diskussjoni miftuħa politika, demokratika, ċivili, kostituzzjonali, fuq forom possibbli ta’ iktar awtonomija milli kien hemm sal-bieraħ, u/jew fuq forom differenti ta’ kooperazzjoni, milli t-tisbit tal-istvali, tixjir tal-ixkubetti, daqqiet tal-lembubi u tfigħ ta’ nies ‘il-ħabs.

Nuclear energy -- L-enerġija nukleari

Just to be clear, I’ll be discussing nuclear fission, not nuclear fusion.

 

The latter is a process, still experimental after decades, where atoms of the element hydrogen, or commonly its heavier versions deuterium or tritium, are fused under enormous emounts of pressure and heat, with the product being another element (helium) and the release of lots of energy.  The difficulty is that the generated energy needs to be higher than the considerable energy used up to maintain the heat and pressure necessary.

 

Fission is the process in which the nucleus of uranium, a heavy element, and/or plutonium, is split into at least two smaller nuclei after absorbing a neutron, accompanied by a release of energy, radiation and other neutrons.  When this process is uncontrolled, these latter neutrons propagate the process by themselves which quickly ends up in smoke with a familiar mushroom shape, i.e. the process of an atomic bomb.

 

On the other hand, if the fission process is controlled, it can be used, for example, to heat water, generate steam, turn turbines and generate electricity.  It’s for this reason that there are a bit more than 400 centres around the world generating electricity using nuclear fission energy.

 

Disadvantages abound.  One of the largest is the fear that the control mentioned previously is found wanting, or an unplanned condition arises which converts the controllable to uncontrollable, like the scary incidents on Three Mile Island in the United States in 1979 (mechanical problem and human errors)1, Chernobyl in the Ukraine (ex-USSR) in 1986 (design defect and human errors)2 and the one freshest in our minds and still unfolding in Fukushima in Japan (an earthquake that generated a tsunami that knocked out all power sources feeding cooling systems to the reactors)3.

 

Another big disadvantage is that fission produces radioactive material that can be processed elsewhere to be used in nuclear armaments, as well as the radioactive decay of this material is measured in thousands of years, not in months, and so needs to be stored with great care and protection, as it is highly toxic and absolutely cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.  You can say no one wants this in his/her back yard.

 

Finally one might mention the cost for building a centre for nuclear fission energy is very high – figures of billions of dollars are talked about, not to mention running costs and also the final cost of dismantling when the plant is aged and no longer considered viable.  Critics point out that this amount of money should strategically be better spent in sustainable energy industries (sun, wind, waves), and not unreasonably.

 

Nevertheless I always remain marvelled how a country like Australia, that together with Kazakhstand and Canada have 70% of the world’s production of uranium, and alone has a third of known reserves of this element4, not only don’t have fission energy plants (except for one used for research and medicinal purposes) but doen’t have well known global firms that design and build these plants.  You could say that the uranium industry in Australia consists mainly of digging it from the ground and exporting it.

 

In other words, if Australia has a moral problem with the disadvantages I mentioned earlier, it seems it finds no problem with exporting these problems to other countries, as long as a tidy dollar is pocketed.

 

Although a number of countries, like Japan and Germany, have decided to press the brakes on the use of this technology, there are others lke China which are still undertaking new installations of fission plants.5

 

With the situation existing today, this development is happening outside Australia, with plants being built for example by Westinghouse from the US in projects in China, considered to be part of the third generation.  To have an idea of developments, the reactors in Fukushima are considered to be part of the second generation, with their cooling system being active.  In a third generation system, the cooling system is passive, and so less susceptible to the disaster that has occurred in Japan.

 

Australia can have a larger role in the industry than it has today.  At least it seems to want to collaborate6 in the research and design of fourth generation systems, which include a substantial increase in efficiency, a reduction in radioactivity of the waste by-product and, mostly interesting from my perspective, the use of existing nuclear waste as the main source material of the plant.  This latter point will lead to a reduction of the massive stockpile problem that the nuclear energy industry has today.

 

I don’t see anything wrong with Australia dedicating resources to contribute to increasing the efficiency and reducing the danger of this technology which, with or without us, will continue to progress, until better solutions are found and built for the insatiable needs of mankind for electricity.

 

As long as, I hasten to add, such a step is not used as an excuse to surreptitiously attempt to hold back the change of direction towards sustainable energy, a change that is globally well on its way!

 

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Biex niftiehmu, se nitkellem fuq l-enerġija nukleari tal-fissjoni, mhux tal-fużjoni.

 

Dan tal-aħħar huwa l-proċess, li ilu esperimentali għal għexieren ta’ snin, fejn atomi tal-element l-idroġenu, jew komunement il-verżjonijiet itqal tagħhomtiegħu id-dewuterju (deuterium) jew it-tritjum (tritium), jingħaqdu flimkien taħt pressjoni u sħana enormi, u l-prodott ikun element ieħor (l-elju – (helium) u l-ġenerazzjoni ta’ ħafna enerġija.  Id-diffikultà hija li l-enerġija ġġenerata trid tkun iktar għolja mill-enerġija konsiderevoli moħlija biex tinżamm il-pressjoni u s-sħana kbira neċessarja.

 

Il-fissjoni huwa l-proċess li bih in-nukleu tal-uranju, element imsejjaħ tqil, u/jew tal-plutonju, jinqasam f’mill-inqas żewġ nuklei iżgħar wara li jkun assorba newtronu, u apparti hekk jiġu ġġenerati enerġija, radjazzjoni u newtroni oħra.  Meta dan il-proċess ma jkunx ikkontrollat, dawn in-newtroni tal-aħħar jistgħu ikomplu l-proċess waħedhom li malajr jispiċċa f’daħna bil-forma familjari ta’ faqqigħ, ċioe il-proċess tal-bomba atomika.

 

Mill-banda l-oħra, jekk il-proċess ta’ fissjoni jkun ikkontrollat, jista’ per eżempju jintuża biex isaħħan l-ilma, isir il-fwar, idawwar turbini u jiġġenera l-enerġija elettrika.  Għalhekk hawn ftit iktar minn erba’ mitt ċentru madwar id-dinja li jiġġeneraw l-elettriku permezz tal-enerġija nukleari tal-fissjoni.

 

Żvantaġġi hemm, u mhux ftit.  Waħda mill-kbar nett hija l-biża’ li l-kontroll li semmejt qabel ma jkunx biżżejjed, jew ikun hemm xi kundizzjoni mhux ippjanata li tbiddel il-kontrollabbli f’inkontrollabbli, bħall-inċidenti tal-biża’ ta’ Three Mile Island fl-Istati Uniti fl-1979 (problema mekkanika u nuqqasijiet umani)1, Chernobyl fl-Ukraina (dakinhar l-USSR) fl-1986 (difetti tad-disinn u nuqqasijiet umani wkoll)2, u dik tant friska fil-memorja u li għadha għaddejja ġo Fukushima fil-Ġappun (terremot li kkawża tsunami li qered il-kurrent li jħaddem lis-sistemi li kienu jkessħu lir-reatturi)3.

 

Żvantaġġ ieħor kbir huwa li l-fissjoni tipproduċi materjal li jista’ jkun proċessat iktar x’imkien ieħor biex jintużaw fl-armamenti nukleari, kif ukoll li d-degradazzjoni radjuattiva ta’ dan il-materjal jitkejjel bl-eluf tas-snin, mhux ta’ xhur, li għalhekk irid jiġi maħżun bi protezzjoni kbira, minħabba li huwa tossiku u li assolutament ma jridx jaqa’ f’idejn ħżiena.  Tista’ tgħid li ħadd ma jkun iridu wara daru.

 

Fl-aħħar jista’ jissemma li l-prezz biex jinbena impjant tal-enerġija tal-fissjoni nukleari huwa għoli ħafna – jitkellmu bil-biljuni tad-dollari, biex ma nsemmux il-prezz biex jitħaddem u biex jiġi żmantellat meta jixjieħ u ma jibqax vijabbli.  Il-kritiċi jgħidu li dawn huma flejjes li strateġikament aħjar jintefqu fl-industriji tal-enerġija sostenibbli (xemx, riħ, mew[), u mhux mingħajr raġun.

 

Madankollu jien nibqa’ daqsxejn immeraviljat kif pajjiż bħall-Awstralja, li flimkien mal-Kazakhstan u l-Kanada għandhom 70% tal-produzzjoni dinjija tal-uranju, u fil-fatt għandha terż mir-riżervi magħrufa globali ta’ dan l-element,4 mhux biss m’għandux impjanti tal-fissjoni (ħlief wieħed għall-użu tar-riċerka u tal-mediċina), imma lanqas biss għandu impriżi magħrufa globalment li jibnu jew jiddisinjaw dawn l-impjanti.  L-industrija tal-uranju fl-Awstralja tista’ tgħid li tikkonsisti primarjament biex inħaffruh mill-art u nesportawh.

 

Fi kliem ieħor, jekk l-Awstralja għandha problema morali bl-iżvantaġġi li semmejt ftit qabel, jidher li m’għandha l-ebda problema li tesporta dawn il-problemi lil pajjiżi oħra, basta ndaħħlu d-dollari.

 

Għalkemm diversi pajjiżi, bħall-Ġappun u l-Ġermanja, iddeċidew li jagħfsu l-brejkijiet fuq l-użu ta’ din it-teknoloġija, hemm oħrajn bħaċ-Ċina li għadhom għaddejjin bl-istallazzjoni ta’ impjanti ġodda.5

 

Kif inhi s-sitwazzjoni llum, dan l-iżvilupp qiegħed isir barra l-Awstralja, bl-impjanti li qed jinbnew, per eżempju mill-Westinghouse tal-Istati Uniti f’proġetti fiċ-Ċina, meqjusin li qiegħdin fit-tielet ġenerazzjoni.  Biex intikom ideja tal-iżvilupp, ir-reatturi ta’ Fukushima jitqiesu li huma tat-tieni ġenerazzjoni, u s-sistema tat-tkessiħ tagħhom hija attiva.  F’sistema tat-tielet ġenerazzjoni, is-sistema tat-tkessiħ hija passiva, għalhekk inqas suxxettibbli għal diżastru bħal dak li seħħ ġewwa l-Ġappun.

 

L-Awstralja jista’ jkollha rwol f’din l-industrija ferm ikbar milli għandha illum.  Talinqas jidher li trid tikkollabora6 fir-riċerka u ddisinjar ta’ sistemi tar-raba’ ġenerazzjoni, li jinkludu żieda sostanzjali fl-effiċjenza, tnaqqis fir-radjuattività tal-iskart u, għalija interessanti ferm, l-użu ta’ skart eżistenti nukleari bħala l-materja prima tal-impjant.  Dan tal-aħħar iwassal biex inaqqas il-problema manja li għandha l-industrija tal-enerġija nukleari llum.

 

Jien ma nara xejn ħażin li l-Awstralja tiddedika riżorsi biex tagħti kontribut biex tiżdied l-effiċjenza, u jitnaqqas il-periklu ta’ din it-teknoloġija li, bina jew mingħajrna, se tkompli tavvanza, sakemm jinstabu u jinbnew soluzzjonijiet aħjar għall-ħtieġa insatjabbli tal-bniedem għall-enerġija elettrika.

 

Basta, inżid ngħid, pass bħal dan ma jintużax bħala skuża biex baxx baxx jipprova jitrażżan il-bidla fid-direzzjoni lejn l-enerġija sostenibbli, bidla li globalment bdiet sew!

 

 

1http://www.history.com/topics/three-mile-island, retrieved 1/11/2017

2http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/chernobyl-accident.aspx, retrieved 1/11/2017

3http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-accident.aspx, retrieved 1/11/2017

4http://www.efn-uk.org/l-street/economics-lib/rsources-reports/index_files/AUS-Uranium-facts.pdf, retrieved 1/11/2017

5https://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/nuclear/a-bittersweet-milestone-for-the-worlds-safest-nuclear-reactors, retrieved 1/11/2017

6https://archive.is/20160907131656/https://www.gen-4.org/gif/jcms/c_71564/australia-joins-the-generation-iv-international-forum, retrieved 1/11/2017

1http://www.history.com/topics/three-mile-island, retrieved 1/11/2017

2http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/chernobyl-accident.aspx, retrieved 1/11/2017

3http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-accident.aspx, retrieved 1/11/2017

4http://www.efn-uk.org/l-street/economics-lib/rsources-reports/index_files/AUS-Uranium-facts.pdf, retrieved 1/11/2017

5https://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/nuclear/a-bittersweet-milestone-for-the-worlds-safest-nuclear-reactors, retrieved 1/11/2017

6https://archive.is/20160907131656/https://www.gen-4.org/gif/jcms/c_71564/australia-joins-the-generation-iv-international-forum, retrieved 1/11/2017

Daphne

How sad to receive a phone call informing me of the barbaric murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a Maltese journalist specialising in alleged cases of corruption.  It seems she had some real enemies, as the bomb placed with the rented car she was driving after leaving her house threw it around 50 metres from where it exploded.

 

This story reverberated around the world, being mentioned on the ABC in Australia and The Guardian, not unexpected as she had been named by the Politico publication as among the top 28 persons ‘shaping, shaking and stirring’ Europe.1  No less a personality involved controversially in uncovering corruption, Julian Assange, still held up at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, has offered €20,000 for information leading to uncovering who committed this crime.

 

We have also just heard the Maltese Government offering €1 million for the same aim.

 

I had written about her investigations in issue 154 of The Voice.  That time, she was using documents from the Panama Papers as well as her own investigations to allege corruption at the highest echelons of the Labour government, an allegation reaching up to the family of the Labour leader Joseph Muscat.  That story is ongoing.

 

Since then, Caruana Galizia has penned harshly against the new Nationalist leader, Adrian Delia, about his and his wife’s close friendship with the partner of a personality convicted of drug offences,2 of benefiting financially from prostitution3 and having a large personal debt.

 

It is clear that Caruana Galizia had enemies within both major political parties in Malta, but not only.

 

From his part, Prime Minister Muscat seems to have taken steps to insulate himself from being accused of not doing enough for the investigation to have a positive outcome, by authorising police to seek the assistance of the FBI in the US,4 and forensic experts from the Netherlands.

 

On the other side, the Leader of the Opposition didn’t hold back from already partly blaming the Prime Minister and Labour government, where he described the murder as political.5  I think that such a declaration is premature.  Time will tell whether the investigation will highlight the shady role of people associated with Delia’s party.

 

I have never spoken to Caruana Galizia, with the only time I remember being close to her was when she sat down next to me during some conference in Malta.  I naturally recognised her, and remember being marvelled at her petite physique.  Truly wise is the Maltese saying roughly equivalent to ‘quality, not quantity’ - ‘l-essenza tinsab fil-fliexken iż-żgħar’.

 

This atrocious incident took me back to another time, in the eighties when political violence was part and parcel of life in the country.  This violence included beatings, buildings being burnt and killings, including notoriously at the general headquarters of the police.

 

Without a doubt this act has thrown Malta in a very bad light, and it would be good at this time for the Maltese people to get behind and support, in a non-partisan way, the investigation that has to occur.

 

I have can write nothing other than my profound condolences to the Caruana Galizia family.

 

I hope and pray, for Malta’s sake, that the fight against corruption is unwavering.

 

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X’dieqa llum nirċievi telefonata li nfurmatni bil-qtil barbaru ta’ Daphne Caruana Galizia, ġurnalista Maltija li kienet tispeċjalizza fil-kxif ta’ korruzzjoni allegata.  Jidher li għamlet għedewwa sew, għax il-bomba li tpoġġiet mal-karozza tal-kiri li kienet qed issuq wara li telqet mid-dar tefgħet lill-karozza xi 350 metru ‘l bogħod minn fejn ħadet.

 

Din l-istorja irriverberat madwar id-dinja, fejn issemmiet fuq l-ABC tal-Awstralja, u The Guardian.  Mhux ta’ b’xejn, wara li kienet issemmiet mill-pubblikazzjoni Politico fost it-28 persuni li l-iktar li jiffurmaw, jheżżu u jħarrku lill-Ewropa.1  Xejn inqas minn persunaġġ ieħor involut kontroversjalment fil-kxif tal-korruzzjoni, Julian Assange, li għadu miżmum fl-Ambaxxata tal-Ekwador f’Londra, li joffri €20,000 għal informazzjoni li twassal għall-kxif ta’ min wettaq dan l-att.

 

G]adna kif smajna wkoll bil-gvern Malti joffri €1 miljun għall-istess għan.

 

Kont ktibt fuq l-investigazzjoni tagħha fil-ħarġa numru 154 ta’ The Voice.  Dakinhar, kienet qed tuża dokumenti mill-imsejħa Panama Papers kif ukoll investigazzjonijiet tagħha biex tallega korruzzjoni fl-ogħla livelli tal-gvern Laburista, allegazzjoni li waslet sal-familja tal-kap Laburista Joseph Muscat.  Dik l-istorja għadha għaddejja.

 

Min dakinhar, Caruana Galizia kitbet bl-aħrax kontra l-kap il-ġdid Nazzjonalista, Adrian Delia, fuq il-ħbiberija kbira tiegħu u ta’ martu mat-tfajla ta’ persunaġġ misjub ħati ta’ offiżi ta’ droga,2 u li bbenefika finanzjarjament mill-prostituzzjoni.3 u li għandu dejn personali kbir.

 

Huwa ċar li Caruana Galizia kellha għedewwa fiż-żewġ partiti kbar f’Malta, imma mhux biss.

 

Min-naħa tiegħu, il-Prim Ministru Muscat jidher li jrid jieħu passi biex ma jkunx akkużat li m’għamilx kull ma seta’ biex l-investigazzjoni jkollha eżitu pożittiv, billi awtorizza lill-pulizija jfittxu l-għajnuna tal-aġenzija FBI tal-Istati Uniti4 u esperti tal-forensika mill-Olanda.

 

Min-naħa l-oħra, il-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni, ma qagħadx lura milli diġà jitfa’ parti mit-tort fuq il-prim ministru u l-gvern Laburista, fejn iddeskriva l-qtil bħala wieħed politiku.5  Jien jidhirli li stqarrija bħal din hija prematura.  Naraw ‘il quddiem jekk l-investigazzjoni titfax xi dell ikrah fuq persuni assoċjati mal-partit ta’ Delia.

 

Jien qatt ma tkellimt ma’ Caruana Galizia, l-uniku darba li niftakar li kont qrib tagħha kien meta poġġiet ħdejja waqt xi konferenza f’Malta.  Naturalment għaraftha, u bqajt sorpriż bl-istatura fiżika żgħira tagħha.  Tassew, bil-ħsieb jgħid il-Malti li l-essenza tinsab fil-fliexken iż-żgħar.

 

Dan l-inċident tal-għajb jeħodni lura fi żmien ieħor, fit-tmeninijiet fejn il-vjolenza politika kienet parti mill-istorja tal-pajjiż.  Din il-vjolenza kien jinkludi swat, ħruq ta’ bini u anke qtil, inkluż notorjament fil-kwartieri ġenerali tal-pulizija.

 

Bla dubju li dan l-att jirrifletti ikrah fuq il-pajjiż, u jkun tajjeb li l-poplu Malti jkun solidali u jappoġġja, b’mod mhux partiġġjan, lill-investigazzjoni li trid issir.

 

Ma baqagħli x’nikteb xejn milli nagħti l-kondoljanzi profondi tiegħi lill-familja Caruana Galizia.

 

Nitlob, għall-ġieħ ta’ Malta, li l-ġlieda kontra l-korruzzjoni ma tkun mittiefsa qatt.

1http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-10-16/local-news/Person-dies-as-vehicle-goes-up-in-flames-in-Bidnija-6736180314, retrieved 17/10/2017

2https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2017/10/opposition-leaders-wife-says-convicted-drug-dealers-girlfriend-one-closest-trusted-friends-drug-dealers-girlfriend-says-opposition-leaders-wife-close-friends-like/, retrieved 17/10/2017

3https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170824/local/adrian-delia-to-sue-caruana-galizia-over-overseas-funds-claim.656364, retrieved 17/10/2017

4http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-10-16/local-news/FBI-experts-have-been-contacted-for-assistance-Muscat-6736180317, retrieved 17/10/2017

5http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-10-16/local-news/Daphne-Caruana-Galizia-murder-Barbaric-attack-Muscat-political-murder-Delia-6736180316, retrieved 17/10/2017

1http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-10-16/local-news/Person-dies-as-vehicle-goes-up-in-flames-in-Bidnija-6736180314, retrieved 17/10/2017

2https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2017/10/opposition-leaders-wife-says-convicted-drug-dealers-girlfriend-one-closest-trusted-friends-drug-dealers-girlfriend-says-opposition-leaders-wife-close-friends-like/, retrieved 17/10/2017

3https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170824/local/adrian-delia-to-sue-caruana-galizia-over-overseas-funds-claim.656364, retrieved 17/10/2017

4http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-10-16/local-news/FBI-experts-have-been-contacted-for-assistance-Muscat-6736180317, retrieved 17/10/2017

5http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-10-16/local-news/Daphne-Caruana-Galizia-murder-Barbaric-attack-Muscat-political-murder-Delia-6736180316, retrieved 17/10/2017