Lobbying and Law Enforcement
ECO asked the MLP and the hunters association
to reconsider their position on hunting that was proving destructive.
ECO attended the meetings of the Planning
Authorities Planning Consultative Committee. The ECO representative
presented ECOs position on various occasions.
During the year ECO lobbied against:
fish farms, the destruction of trees to have "live"
Christmas trees, illegal buildings, 4 wheel drive activities
in ecologically important areas, historical heritage, against
the destruction and violence in the hunters protests, the dolphinarium,
the Gozo airstrip (due to agriculture, landscape, noise, safety,
fuel), racing boats in Malta (due to marine pollution) and private
beaches.
ECO commented on the Marsaxlokk Draft
Plan, valleys in Malta and Gozo, ta; Kenuna Tower in Gozo,, belvederes,
waste oil recycling, water resources, ta randun windmill, lack
of security at Mnajdra temples, Gozo breakwater, Wied Ghomor,
the polluter pays principle, urban development in village cores,
villa Blanched in Balluta, ghajn tiffueha and the access of cars,
pilgrims house in santa venera, the Santa Venera aqua dot, cancer
due to pollution, animal rights, and horse racing.
ECO applauded the Planning Authorities
decision not to extend the quarries in Qrendi, and attended the
various hearings to pronounce itself.
ECO lobbied in favour of referendums
and formed part of the Malta Referendum Group. A survey on 800
persons showed that 80% agreed with referendums and that 69%
wanted a referendum on whether Malta should join the EU.
Conducted a survey on sewage on 750 people
from 66 localities. The result showed that 94% of the Maltese
wanted sewage to be treated immediately.
Conducted a survey on 800 persons on
hunting that showed that 56.91% of the population agreed with
the new stricter hunting laws as well as their enforcement.
Environmental Education
and Campaigns
ECO organised the II Ecological
Summit titled Local Councils and the Environment. Participants
included Prime Minister Fenech Adami; Dr Alfred Sant, leader
of the opposition; Dr Austin Gatt, Francis Zammit Dimech, Jimmy
Magro, Wenzu Mintoof and Dr Stanley Zammit as well as local council
representatives, local NGOs and institutions.
As part of the "Making
One World" Campaign various articles were published
on National Newspapers and Radio and Television interviews carried
out. The very popular Xummiemu (a hedgehog) stories were published
on the children's magazine Saghtar on a monthly basis.
The ECO International Children's Hearing
was organised with the participation of various children and
youths that freely expressed their opinion on various issues.
The hearing included various Members of Parliament that listened
to the children and answered their queries.
Environmental education activities were
carried out on these themes: A sustainable energy future, Alternative
sources of energy, bats, industry and sustainable development,
local councils, acid rain, Use Solar Energy, pollution, against
the burning of trees in summer, technology and transport, fishing,
tropical rainforests, water transport,
The Hallini
Hieles campaign was organised together with the World Wide
Fund for Nature. Educational material was distributed to various
schools and local councils.
ECO participated in the Clean Up the
World activities, and celebrated Earth Day, World Consumers Day
and World Environment Day. Various clean ups were organised in
collaboration of the scouts.
ECO issued its Universal Rights of Animals
Declaration in 14 articles.
ECO and UNICEF published a poster on
education entitled "Its in your hands".
Go For
Glass. A widespread educational
campaign on the importance of glass reached 15,000 individuals
through personal contact. A survey was conducted on a further
1000 persons in 70 localities.
Articles and competitions were published
in the government publication "Il-Holqa".
A series of articles published in a Gozitan
publication.
The +1baby=+1
tree campaign included the distribution of 3000 posters and
proposed to local government to plant a tree for a every baby
born in their locality.
The prestigious Council of Europe magazine
Nature Europa praised the work of ECO in the field of environmental
education.
ECO collected and recycled overseas a
total of 50 truckloads in 1994.
ECO held meetings with youth organisations
to receive feedback on environmental matters.
Participated in the collection of information
for the United Nations publication "A children's history
of the United Nations".
One Race Human Race (Campaign
on Racism)
Call for the abolition of the death penalty.
Together with CMTU and KSU, ECO organised
a conference on the theme at University.
Participated in Voice of the Children
by giving a voice to various Maltese children to pronounce their
opinion.
A campaign entitles One
Race Human Race was organised throughout the year (with UNITED)
and educational material distributed.
Worked for the rights of children, especially
against child labour.
Celebration of the UN Day Against Racism
in March.
The International Day Against Fascism
was remembered on the 9th November through an informative article
(in conjunction with UNITED).
Celebrated the refugees' day (in conjunction
with UNITED).
The European Union and the
Mediterranean
Co-operation with the European Environmental
Bureau on a number of issues related to the European Union.
Requested the government to join the
European Environmental Agency, and published five articles explaining
5th EU Environmental Programme.
Published articles on situation of water,
soil, waste and life quality in the EU and how this would effect
Malta.
Celebrated the European Heritage Day.
International Activities
and Miscellaneous
The Clean up the Mediterranean campaign
was organised on behalf of LegaAmbiente.
Various activities were held as part
of the National Clean Up the World Campaign.
Attended various meetings and conferences
organised by EYFA, YEE, PETA, YEU, BB Foundation, Environment
Defence Fund and FYEG of whom ECO is a member. ECO was elected
on the YEE committee.
ECO continued offering individuals a
service by which they could purchase acres of tropical rain forest,
mostly in Costa Rica.
As a follow up of Rio 92 ECO published
a series of articles about the Cairo meeting.
