Captured my attention
A number of issues captured my attention this week. Let me share some here:
Dr Andrew Azzopardi Dean Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta & Broadcaster – Għandi xi Ngħid www.andrewazzopardi.org
Malta Song
Loved being at the Malta Song for Europe. Kudos to John Bundy and the team at PBS for organising a great show. I liked Claudia Faniello’s song immensely (but please keep in mind I know nothing about music)! As for the comperes, much to be desired.
Bombs
It is terrible that we need to live in this fear that we might get maimed or killed because of a bomb that takes off at any time of the day. Whilst commendable that the government is reacting so quickly it should have taken one bomb to take this issue at another level and not half a dozen. That the government is now having to take direct responsibility for order and police organisation is indeed worrying and questionable.
PN
The PN, even thanks to the response of the government on a number of issues, seems to start garnering popular support. The diehard devotees are now starting to rally around the PN. It would be interesting to see if Dr Busuttil will manage to bring back the floaters and the ex-PN voters back to the fold, apart from the apologists.
Traffic
There is a serious accident in Msida (bomb detonation in a car) and there is traffic reaction in St Christopher Street in Valletta! Can’t we just admit that this situation is absolutely crazy and obscene?
Peppi
It is not that Peppi talks rubbish but the fact that he attributes all the positives that have happened in Malta and Gozo to his programme, yes, that gets at me. Peppi knows well enough that a three-hour programme does not leave the impact he wants us to believe that it has. It is the resilience of our communities, activism, civil society, research and our institutions that have made this country what it is today and yes his programme might have contributed a bit as well.
Journalism
Whilst I do understand that people need to be kept responsible for their actions however it is extremely dangerous when we start dabbling with journalism laws and slotting in subtle controls. In moments of serenity all is fine, in other situations when the State needs to take over people’s minds these laws come in handy for the wrong reasons.
ODZ
The way the ‘Honourable’ has embarrassed his Leader and his Party is to say the least despicable. I’ve heard so many of his colleagues that were ever so close to tell him that he should leave because politics is not only whether it is legal or not but has to be consistent with ‘one’s’ beliefs.
Research
Recently a colleague of mine at the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, Prof Saviour Formosa, was instrumental in getting EU funds for an important piece of research, SIntegraM. What is particularly engaging is that this research will bring so many disciplines together. I believe that is the way forward. Disciplines shouldn’t keep us away from each other but bring us together to maximise outputs.
Pavements
When are we going to have a plan on how to sort out our messy pavements a fundamental pillar in accessing our communities?
Prison sentencing
The inconsistencies in prison sentencing is astonishing. The ‘latest’ was the ‘teacher’ who was sentenced to jail. Can’t believe that we are so ready to ruin people’s lives in this way. Whilst responsibilities need to be shouldered, common sense needs to triumph in the rule of law.
Governance
If we want this country to be truly modern and European we need to make sure that we invest in the way we govern, in the way we behave, in the way we treat each other.
‘Pupazz’
Whilst I do understand that the PN feels short-changed because the police might not have responded in the way it would have hoped for in a myriad of allegations, I believe that repeatedly referring to the Police Commissioner as a Pupazz is uncalled for and risks pulling down the police force even more.
Institutions
If we keep undermining the in- stitutions because decisions don’t go our way we risk dismembering our democracy.
Carnival
The moment this country starts laughing at itself (and stops taking life so seriously) will probably be our best moment.
Garnishee order
Like many others I think basic decency and respect should be the rule of the day but a garnishee order is way out of order in respect to commentators and journalists. Nonetheless as a colleague of mine pointed out it is indeed strange that hardly any criticism has been directed at the Judiciary in all of this matter.
Malians
This is indeed a sad story that clearly shows our laws need to be polished. When innocent gets mixed up with guilty it is the moment we need to re-think our procedures.
PL
After it took the PM a year to reply to the allegation that he has a company in Panama, it was now the turn of Minister Konrad Mizzi to apologise. When the people ask questions, politicians and public personalities are duty bound to answer straight away.
AD
Sadly, it seems that this Party has vanished in thin air.
Migrant commits suicide
Right before sending this piece to the editor, the media is reporting that a 32-year-old man from Ghana has committed suicide because of the fear that he will be deported. Like every other suicide the community needs to carry the weight of this tragedy.