Viewpoints

Times of Malta, 21st August 2008 – George Debono in his Talking Point, Surcharge Cap Promotes Waste (August 16) argued for the removal of the surcharge capping. As one who is involved in both the environmental and business lobby I can see where he is coming from. However, there are some relevant points which need to be made. Productivity is based on...

Sunday Times of Malta, 10 August 2008 – The recent controversy on the proposed extension to the museum of St John’s Co-Cathedral raises a number of issues on the conduct of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). There is no doubt that the idea behind the proposal is genuine. Anyone in Valletta on any morning, especially when there is a cruise liner or two...

Sunday Times of Malta, 27th July 2008 – During May, 14 per cent of outside development zone (ODZ) applications (17 out of 123) submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority proposed extending the development boundaries further out onto uncommitted land. In June, such applications rose to 20 per cent (24 out of 118). The lion’s share of all ODZ applications is...

John Ruskin claimed that we know more about the lives of the ancient Greeks from the ruins of their buildings than from anything else they left behind. Anyone who has visited Pompei near Naples, a town frozen in time by the scorching heat of an explosion of the volcano Vesuvius, knows the fascinating experience of being transported back into the...