Ecological haven

A beautiful aerial shot of Filfla, taken by Paolo Luogo. The tiny white specks in the upper half of the picture are seagulls and other species of seabirds. The Malta Independent chose to carry this picture instead of covering yesterday’s controversial fireworks display. We explain the reasons behind this in our editorial.

On our front page today we carry an aerial picture of Filfla in all its glory, with hundreds of seabirds circling the tiny speck of land that is an ecological haven.

We did not carry a photo of last night’s fireworks show called ‘Shell of Shells’. This was deliberate, and this is the reason why: Birdlife Malta – the country’s main organisation dedicated to the conservation of wild birds and their habitats – warned that setting off a 150cmwide fireball near an area that has been afforded the highest levels of environmental protection could potentially be harmful to the many species that inhabit Filfla.

The massive firework, when ignited, was expected to spread out over an area some 500 metres wide. Mariners were advised to stay at least 2 kilometers away.

Birdlife warned that the Scopoli’s Shearwater and the Mediterranean Storm-petrel, which are in their nesting phase, are particularly sensitive to light and noise pollution.

The organisation called on Environment Minister Jose Herrera to intervene but the minster quickly came out to say that the exercise had ERA’s blessing, and that the impact on wildlife would be “insignificant.”

Then, on Thursday in the evening, TVM, that enthusiastic government gatekeeper, ran an entire news item about how Wied iz-Zurrieq was the only viable option. TVM wanted us to believe that out of a coastline measuring over 136 kilometres, the spot between Filfla and Wied iz-Zurrieq was the only viable place.

We were told that ‘experts’ had determined that an area with a radius of at least 4 kilometers was needed. What does that even mean? What diameter? Why not do it somewhere with the entire Mediterranean sea at the back?

The report also claimed that studies have been carried out on the birds that inhabit the area and the entire process was carried in the most serious manner, “as required by the V18 foundation”.

Perhaps the most controversial part of that report was the pledge, by the organisers, that they would immediately pick up all the debris that falls into the sea.

The activity was held at 10pm, well after dark, so we cannot really understand how possible it was to find every last bit of debris that falls into the pitch black sea.

But let us for a minute say that this was possible. Even then, the choice of the site remains an odious one. Why did the authorities and organisers insist on blowing up this massive petard near Filfla when there were so many other options to choose from? Why not Smart City, off Sliema or Valletta, or at Bugibba or Marsascala?

Why do we always have to go for the most controversial option?

It might be the case that the birds and other wildlife were not harmed, but why did we take that risk when there were far safer alternatives?

We are not making an argument against fireworks and traditions here. Far from it. Most of us enjoy the colourful fireworks displays in summer, but we also believe that our environment and wildlife are more important than festas and fireworks.

We believe this wholeheartedly. This is the reason why we do not carry the photo of the Shell of Shells today, because we cannot be hypocritical; we cannot condemn the destruction of the environment – something we do on a weekly basis – and then go ahead and support illogical practices that contribute to that destruction.

What happened yesterday is not that different from what happened last week in Marsascala and again this week in St Julian’s, where plastic confetti were used during village feasts.

The mentality was not that different from when fireworks were launched just metres away from terrified animals at Ghammieri farm. And it is the same “uwijja, mhux xorta” attitude that led to the destruction of another super important ecological site – il-Maqluba – which was turned to ashes by a stray petard.

So once again, this is not a rant against fireworks. It is an appeal for logic and common sense to prevail.