Policy Papers
· Water, water runoff and desalination
· Urban land use
· Drinking Water
· Air Pollution
· Sustainable development
· Paper
· Historical heritage
· Ozone Layer
· Wires and cables in the urban environment
· Rubble walls
· Coral in Malta and Overseas
· Use of limestone and recycling
· Use of tal-Qawwi stone.
· Ozone and the use of halons and methyl bronide.
· Use of tins
· Use of glass bottles
· Transport
· Hard Plastics
· Wood and Tress
· Natural Gas
· Light Pollution
· Electricity
· Soil
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 articles explaining
the EEA.
Published a series of 7 articles on environmental
protection and the European Union on the local press, as well
as an article on how EU laws would benefit the environment in
Malta, as well as possible financing.
Issued a study of funds given by the
EU to a Tunisian Project
The Federative Council of the Young European
Greens supported Malta's EU membership application (and sent
a letter to the Commission).
Together with 30 other Mediterranean
NGOs ECO prepared a proposal for the EuroMediterranean conference.
Lobbying and Law Enforcement
ECO conducted scientific research on
the separation of waste. 800 persons were interviewed in 60 localities.
From the survey the main result was that 79% of the population
were ready to separate waste, although these varied from region
to region and depending on the system used. A detailed report
was presented to Dr Stanley Zammit, Parliamentary Secretary for
the environment.
ECO lobbied against the Gozo airstrip
for a number of reasons including land use, noise pollution,
historical heritage, and sustainability.
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:
illegal dumping; illegal buildings (photos of 30 illegal buildings
in Gozo and 16 in Malta were published throughout the year);
the construction of the Xaghra in Floriana; the fish farm in
Qormi; the illegal dumping of soil; the permit to extend the
Isopu quarry, an illegal wall in Xewkija, illegal dumping in
Maghtab, the marina at the Hilton Hotel; illegal building in
Mellieha; the French Embassy in view on its policy on nuclear
energy and the use of plastic in agriculture. ECO lobbied for
the demolition of illegal boathouses
ECO proposed an alternative site for
the waste oil plant; the transfer of the bus terminus in Valletta;
free transport in Valletta and Floriana; as well as the protection
of the canons of the Order of St John.
ECO commented on the North West Local
Plan, after consultation with the local councils of the region.
The Mediterranean Water Year was celebrated
through a roundtable on Fresh Water Management in the Maltese
Islands. Dr Stanley Zammit, Parliamentary Secretary for the environment
and Prof. Scoullos, Mediterranean Information Office were among
the guests that participated in the Roundtable.
ECO lobbied in favour of referendums.
79.5% of the Maltese wanted propositive referendums according
to a study carried out by ECO in 60 localities with a sample
of 800 persons.
Environmental Education
and Campaigns
ECO organised the III Ecological
Summit. Participants included Prime Minister Fenech Adami;
Dr Alfred Sant, leader of the opposition; Dr Stanley Zammit,
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Environment; as well
as local council representatives.
The ECOlogical Youth Parliament was organised
over a number of weeks through workshops, and ended with a session
attended by Various Ministers, and parliamentarians of both sides
of the house, as well as all the youth participating in the project.
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. 3,721
students participate in the Saghtar competition. Prizes were
presented by Dr Stanley Zammit, Parliamentary Secretary in the
Ministry of Environment.
Environmental education activities were
carried out on these themes: internet and the environment; solar
energy; sustainable development; food in the 3rd world; quarries;
food production in Malta; population; water; paper; pre-recycling;
tins; motor cycles, frogs, the aqueduct, fishing, Agenda 21the
sea and wood.
The Fjuri
fil-Gallerija competition was held. Hundreds of households
decorated their verandas with flowered pots. Dr Stanley Zammit,
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Environment distributed
the prizes to the winners among the c1000 participants.
+1baby=+1
tree campaign was organised together
with F.Zammit Nurseries. 5000 tress were offered to the 67 local
councils to plant one for each baby born in their locality. The
campaign was launched by Dr Stanley Zammit, Parliamentary Secretary,
and thousands of postcards and posters were distributed. Tree
planting sessions were held in various localities.
Articles on the new world economy and
the environment; alternative sources of energy, water, paper,
animal rights, food resources in the world, tropical rainforests
and the re-use of various materials were published in the local
press.
A series of articles entitles Logiku,
ECO logiku were published on the local press. These articles
dealt with simple things that can be done by one and all to help
the environment.
The Save
Our Seas campaign was launched by ECO in the presence of
the Minister of the Environment, Francis Zammit Dimech, who promised
that all sewage treatment would take place till the year 2000.
Thousands of posters printed for the occasion were distributed
throughout the Islands, with a special focus on the loggerhead
turtle. The results of a survey held among 800 individuals in
66 localities in the Maltese Islands was published.
500 books were donated by ECO to the
seminary in Gozo.
ECO participated in the Clean Up the
World activities, and celebrated Earth Day and World Environment
Day. Various clean ups were organised in collaboration of the
scouts.
ECO invited local students to attend
a environment conference on sustainable development in the UK.
The Use
Solar Energy campaign included a survey on 800 persons in
51 localities. 63.5% knew what solar energy was and 58% for what
it could be used. ECO proposed that EneMalta gives a 15% refund,
or discount on electricity bills for persons who install solar
water heaters. 3000 posters and 5000 stickers were distributed.
ECO underlined the fact that in Malta the use of solar water
heating was below 1% when compared to Israel that was above 90%
and Cyprus above 50%.
A drawing competition was organised in
conjunction with the United Nations Environment Project.
One Race Human Race (Campaign
on Racism)
Call for the abolition of the death penalty.
A campaign entitles Open Borders Open
Minds was organised throughout the year (with UNITED).
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).
International Activities
and Miscellaneous
The Clean up the Mediterranean campaign
was organised on behalf of LegaAmbiente.
A tree planting session was organised
on Arbor Day.
Various activities were held as part
of the National Clean Up the World Campaign.
Attended various meetings and conferences
organised by MED Forum, EYFA, YEE, PETA, YEU, BB Foundation and
FYEG of whom ECO is a member.
ECO continued offering individuals a
service by which they could purchase acres of tropical rain forest,
mostly in Costa Rica.
ECO official attended a conference on
environment education in Greece.
ECO official attended the Mediterranean
Forum meeting in Barcelona to discuss the Mediterranean, especially
the Barcelona Convention.
