Since the 1960s, people’s complacency has allowed so much of our cultural heritage to be submerged or stripped away from our towns and villages. The ‘uglification’ of Malta speaks for itself… because the citizens have not. It’s time for a change. If we, the people, take notice, come together, and positively object, we will see we are not powerless, we will show that we can change things.

We, the undersigned, ask our friends and neighbours across Malta to join with us and the voluntary non-governmental organisation (NGOs), in calling for a halt to over-development and the ruining of our open land and cultural landscape.

Our environment, our culture, our livelihood through tourism and our well being are being threatened by the following:

• Major building projects that replace old houses, ruin our residential cores and fill our countryside with concrete.
• The degradation of residential areas by workshops, commercial and other incompatible developments, reducing the residents’ quality of life.
• Misuse of open land for speculative projects like golf courses.
• Poor planning on waste disposal as well as dumping everywhere.
• Lack of enforcement against illegal hunting and trapping that close off large areas of land to the public.
• Large-scale near-shore aquaculture, fish farms that ruin the enjoyment of beaches and sea.

These are not just questions of aesthetics or sentimentality, they are critical to our health and that of our children, as well as to our identity as a Maltese people.

We believe that the vast majority of Maltese want something much better. For too long we have deluded ourselves with excuses that we cannot change anything, saying for example, that it’s too late to save certain areas, that old houses will be demolished, golf courses built and country pathways closed whatever we say or do.

Although we are many, we still feel helpless against the few who take these decisions. This can only change when we choose to act, to pull together. Together we can promote the common desire for a better quality of life.

We appeal to you to look around at all the unsightliness that has scarred our once-beautiful land, and then join us.

Join us by exercising your rights as concerned citizens. Speak up where it is heard by writing letters to your newspapers. Become active in relevant NGOs. Attend protests when they are called. Pressure your Local Council to block offending new developments. And, above all, find out how the candidates who want to represent you stand on these issues before you commit to voting for them.

We will remain quiet no longer. New policies are needed which integrate all aspects of the island’s administration rationally and with long-term vision. Existing laws and regulations must be enforced with new vigour. Where needed, clear and unambiguous new legislation, like the amendment of outdated rent laws and a new Structure Plan for Malta, must be passed and enforced expeditiously. Elected officials must prove their commitment to policies that meet the people’s rightful expectations on the protection of our birthright. All political parties, please note: we will vote to protect Malta’s birthright. We will vote according to our consciences, according to who has put our well-being and the protection of Malta's environment before party interests. It’s said, “People get the governments they deserve.” We deserve much better. By standing together we intend to get it.

This is a concerned citizens’ initiative.

Published as a full page advert in The Times of Malta on Saturday, 4th March, 2006