| Alternattiva Demokratika-The Green Party Nifs Gdid-Nifs Nadif 149,Archbishop street, Valletta. tel no : 21255330 http://www.alternattiva.org.mt Media Release: 15/6/02 AD ON GOLF GREENWASH Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party referred to the latest public relations campaign of AX Holdings regarding the proposed Golf Course as Tal-Virtu' as "another example of greenwash regarding an unsustainable proposal." Green Party Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo said "Whatever AX Holdings says, the Golf Course proposal remains unsustainable. The Environment Impact Assessment shows that the proposal should be rejected as it will cause negative impacts on the agricultural land in the area and will cause major negative social effects on the farmers. The EIA also states that the golf course proposal violates the structure plan and the international agreement between the Maltese Government and the Vatican." "The Planning Authority Directorate had already recommended outright refusal of the golf couse proposal as it violates Malta's structure plan. Should the golf course be approved, the role of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority would be reduced to that of a rubber-stamp committee." Dr Vassallo added "AX Holdings is trying to give the impression that vineyards can only be grown if the golf course is developed. This is a far cry from the truth, as the Tal-Virtu' farmers are ready to grow vineyards themselves without the need to destroy agricultural land. AX Holdings is also stating that 78,000 cubic metres of water will mostly be obtained from rainwater for golf purposes. This is unacceptable from the environmental, economic and social points of view as Malta is characterised by a lack of water, as pointed out by the WWF. Other islands such as Ibiza are facing alot of problems due to excess water consumption for golf purposes. Use of water should be prioritised to cover the country's most pressing needs, which include agriculture and domestic use." Green Party spokesperson for the Environment Mark Causon added "Many environmental, social, religious and political organisations oppose the development of the Golf Course at Tal-Virtu'. These include Din l-Art Helwa, Progressive Farmers Union, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Nature Trust, University Chaplaincy, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Eco - The Ecological Foundation, Moviment Graffitti, Vegetarian Society, Pembroke Residents Association, Zminijietna, Alternattiva Demokratika Studenti, Move! Organisation, Inizjamed, International Animal Rescue and Kopin." "In this regard Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna's agreement with the development of the golf course stands out like a sore thumb. Perhaps this is not surprising as Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna benefits from sponsorship by AX Holdings. Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna therefore cannot act as an independent monitor as it has been funded by AX Holdings." Mark Causon added that AX Holdings greenwash strategy has already proved to be devoid of credibility as the Verdala Mansions development project has already been characterised by numerous enforcement notices by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. "If AX Holdings has already carried out a number of infringements, how can one trust the company's portrayal of the project as an environmentally-friendly one? "Alternattiva Demokratika insists that the golf course proposal should be rejected by the MEPA board on economic, social, environmental and legal grounds. It is high time that sustainable development and quality of life be given more importance than the strong arm of lobbies," added Mark Causon. Michael Briguglio Public Relations Officer Stqarrija Media: 15/6/02 AD DWAR PROPAGANDA DWAR IL-GOLF Alternattiva Demokratika irreferiet ghall-kampanja ahharija ta' relazzjonijiet pubblici ta' AX Holdings dwar il-proposta ghal zvilupp ta' korsa tal-golf f'Tal-Virtu', bhala 'ezempju iehor ta' propaganda taparsi ambjentali dwar proposta' ta' zvilupp insostenibbli.' Ic-Chairperson ta' AD Dr Harry Vassallo qal "Jghidu x'jghidu AX Holdings, il-proposta' ghal zvilupp ta' korsa tal-golf tibqa' wahda insostenibbli. L-Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) juri li l-proposta ghandha tigi irrifjutata minhabba li ser thalli impatt negattiv fuq l-art agrikola u ser ikolla impatt socjali negattiv fuq il-bdiewa. L-EIA juri wkoll li l-proposta' ghal korsa tal-golf imur kontra l-pjan ta' struttura u kontra l-ftehim internazzjonali bejn il-Gvern Malti u l-Vatikan." "Id-Direttorat ta' l-Awtorita' ta' l-Ippjanar kien diga' irrakomanda li l-proposta' ta' zvilupp tigi rrifjutata minhabba li jmur kontra l-pjan ta' struttura. Jekk din il-korsa tal-golf tigi approvata, ir-rwol ta' l-Awtorita' Maltija ghall-Ambjent u l-Ippjanar jigi ridott ghal dak ta' kumitat ta' approvazzjoni akkost ta' kollox." Dr Vassallo zied "AX Holdings qed jippruvaw jaghtu l-impressjoni li jistghu jiktabbru d-dwieli biss jekk tigi zviluppata korsa tal-golf. Din hi l-boghod hafna mill-verita' minhabba li l-bdiewa f'Tal-Virtu' huma lesti li jkabbru d-dwieli huma stess minghajr il-bzonn li tinqered art agrikola. AX Holdings qed jghidu wkoll li 78,000 metru kubu ta' ilma ser jingieb l-iktar mill-ilma tax-xita. Dan hu inacettabli ambjentalment, ekonomikament u socjalment minhabba li Malta hi karatterizzata minn nuqqas ta' ilma, kif gie elenkat mill-WWF. Gzejjer ohrajn bhal Ibiza qed jiffacjaw problemi kbar minhabba uzu eccessiv ta' ilma ghall-golf. L-uzu ta' ilma ghandu jinghata priorita' biex iservi l-iktar bzonnijiet importanti tal-pajjiz, li jinkludu l-agrikoltura u l-uzu domestiku." Il-Kelliem ta' AD ghall-Ambjent Mark Causon zied "Numru kbir ta' ghaqdiet ambjentali, socjali, religjuzi u politici qed jopponu l-izvilupp ta' korsa tal-golf f'Tal-Virtu'. Dawn jinkludu Din l-Art Helwa, Ghaqda Bdiewa Progressivi, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Nature Trust, University Chaplaincy, Il-Moviment Malti ghall-Agrikoltura Organika, Eco - Il-Fundazzjoni Ekologika, Moviment Graffitti, L-Ghaqda Vegetarjana, Ghqada Residenti ta' Pembroke, Zminijietna, Alternattiva Demokratika Studenti, Move! Organisation, Inizjamed, International Animal Rescue u Kopin." "F'dan ir-rigward il-qbil ta' Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna ma' l-izvilupp ta' korsa tal-golf tistona bi kbir. Forsi din m'hijiex sorpriza minhabba li Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna tgawdi minn sponsorship ta' AX Holdings. Ghalhekk, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna ma tistax taghmel monitoragg indipendenti ghax ibbenefikat minn fondi ta' AX Holdings." Mark Causon zied li l-istrategija ta' propaganda ta' AX Holdings diga' uriet li hi nieqsa ghal kollox mill-kredibilita' minhabba li l-progett ta' zvilupp ta' Verdala Mansions diga' hija karatterizzata minn numru ta' enforcement notices mill-Awtorita' Maltija ghall-Ambjent u l-Ippjanar (MEPA). "Jekk AX Holdings diga' kisru xi regoli, kif jistghu jigu fdati meta jghidu li huma favur l-ambjent?" "Alternattiva Demokratika tinsisti li l-proposta ghal zvilupp ta' korsa tal-golf ghandha tigi rrifjutata mill-bord tal-MEPA ghal ragunijiet ekonomici, ambjentali, socjali u legali. Wasal iz-zmien li l-izvilupp sostenibbli u l-kwalita' tal-hajja jinghataw iktar importanza mill-interessi ta' min hu b'sahhtu." Michael Briguglio Ufficjal Relazzjonijiet Pubblici |
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