Photos

Bring in sites ignored

submitted by St. Margaret College Boys Secondary Verdala : Eman Aquilina, Rainer Abdilla  for 11-14
dissemination(s): newspaper, school media
filed under Photos

Passing by a busy street in the locality of Gzira one immediately notices lots of dump waste and rubbish outside the bring in sites. It’s shamful seeing plastic bottles, cans, glass bottles, paper and lots of other rubbish littering this locality and so ignoring the bring in sites. Surely dump waste and litter make the local environment less hygienic and stinking badly especially on hot summer days. Apart from being illegal, dumping waste leads to many illnesses. On contacting the Local Council I was told that the daily clean up of the locality and the regular blockages of the drainage system caused by litter costs lots of money to the community every year. The Mayor of Gzira, Mr Roberto Cristiano, promised more control of the situation to guarantee the health of the local residents. My recommendations for more CCTV street cameras and regular vigilance by local wardens were highly appreciated.



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We’ve got Rubble Trouble on our Hands!

submitted by St. Margaret's College Girls' Secondary School Zejtun : Erika Gatt  for 11-14
dissemination(s): assemblies, Notice boards and social media, other, school magazine, school media, website
filed under Photos

Urbanisation has become one of the major elements for loss of habitats in our environment. This is because construction waste has become an issue in places like Malta. Before July 2003, 80% of waste came from construction sites so it was decided that all construction waste should be transferred to landfills or unused quarries. This not only saved habitats but also helped in the reclamation of land. A construction site in Marsascala makes you think if this theory has been put into practice.



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Save the Sea Turtles

submitted by St.Benedict College Girls' Secondary School Tarxien : Ann Marie Magri  for 11-14
dissemination(s): newspaper, other, school media, Special School Assembly Celebrate Earth Hour, website
filed under Photos

These photographs were taken during a Turtle Release activity held last November in the Blue Flag beach of Paradise Bay Hotel at Cirkewwa, Malta. These turtles were found injured by fishermen. Fishing hooks and nylon were found in their mouth and internal organs. Plastic bags are also a threat to turtles as they mistake them for their favourite food, jelly fish. The injured turtles were given the necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation before release. As a young reporter for the environment, I strongly recommend that a public campaign should be launched to increase awareness about the consequences of marine debris on sea creatures. Moreover, the general public, especially fishermen, should immediately contact Nature Trust’s Wildlife Rescue Team when finding injured sea turtles.



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Chadwich Lakes in the Mud

submitted by St. Margaret College Boys Secondary Verdala : Kyle Farrugia, Kyran Camilleri  for 11-14
dissemination(s): newspaper
filed under Photos

On visiting Chadwick Lakes I got struck by green patches of muddy water on both lake banks with lots of litter coming afloat. Unfortunately people visiting the lakes leave lots of rubbish behind especially on Sunday walks and after picnics. Most of the toxic waste contains extra nutrients that go down to the bottom of the lake. Once these extra nutrients dissolve in water, they serve as fertilizers and make tiny plants called algae grow. Then on summer these algae grow drastically making the lake water look green and turn the lake into muddy water. Also soil fertilizers that derive from nearby fields within the lakes catchment area are ending up in the freshwater of Chadwick lakes. On contacting the Local Council, I recommended more work with landowners to reduce the use of fertilisers in their fields and making them aware of extra nutrients causing muddy water in our lakes.



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Pollution Free Harbour

submitted by St. Margaret College Boys Secondary Verdala : Jake Cauchi, Logan Formosa  for 11-14
dissemination(s): newspaper
filed under Photos

The only Grand Harbour sandy beach in Malta is being polluted with toxic liquids and oil spills from passing ships. In Rinella Bay there’s a Tank Cleaner Farm meant to clean ships which dock in our harbour risking contaminating the beach. Discharges of sewage, dumping of rubbish from vessels, as well as spills of oil and other harmful substances cause Marine Pollution in our Grand Harbour. Also ballast water offering stability in empty ships is problematic. Before every voyage, ballast water is pumped into the ship tanks risking taking in tiny stowaways in the form of marine organisms. Then when the ballast water is pumped out of the ship into the sea, some of these organisms may become pests, contaminating our sea harbour, beaches and fisheries. Unfortunately there is not adequate awareness in keeping our sea harbour clean and local authorities should intervene to safeguard our marine environment and ecosystem.



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Marine Mayhem

submitted by St. Margaret's College Girls' Secondary School Zejtun : Erika Gatt  for 11-14
dissemination(s): assemblies, newspaper, Notice boards and social media, other, school magazine, school media
filed under Photos

These pictures of spoilt seacoast depict a reality can be found in the limits of Xghira. These are not only an eyesore but also contribute to many toxic chemicals and substances leaching the soil and the surrounding environment. Such harmful chemicals are likely to end up in the sea, causing more pollution.



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Wildfire Prevention

submitted by St. Clare's College Secondary Pembroke : Nicole Vella  for 11-14
dissemination(s): school noticeboard, school magazine, website
filed under Photos

These photos show an area in our school grounds consisting of many coniferous trees mainly of the Aleppo Pine species. Refurbishment of our school has resulted in some workers disposing of replaced window panes in this area. A particular window pane can still be seen intact while in other areas the glass has been shattered into many small fragments. As a group of Biology students, together with our teacher, we decided to clean up the area from this waste and at the same time help prevent a wildfire which is not uncommon in this area in the approaching summer months.



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A flicker of melted ice

submitted by St. Clare's College Secondary Pembroke : Kaya Cachia  for 11-14
dissemination(s): school noticeboard, school magazine, website
filed under Photos

What could be better than an ice cold drink after cycling through the coastal area of Pembroke on a hot summer’s day? FRIDGEFREEZERS? Not a welcome sight! These together with the remains of a twin tub washing machine were observed strewn by the wayside. Pembroke boasts of a large area of garigue known for its ecological importance. Fortunately, R- 12 used as a modern refrigerant appears not to concentrate in soil or water as it is very volatile, however such refuse is extremely unsightly. Special thanks go to the local council who took care of removing these eye sores.



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Come, Rest awhile

submitted by St. Clare's College Secondary Pembroke : Sharona Debono  for 11-14
dissemination(s): School notice board, school magazine, website
filed under Photos

Trekking through the area of Chadwick Lakes with my friends in mid -November, we stopped for a rest in the surrounding beautiful countryside. It never occurred to us that armchairs and mattresses would be available. Some careless individuals disposed of these items in an area which in this particular period is full of little freshwater ponds offering a habitat to many aquatic creatures. Foam in these items may contain volatile organic compounds which leak into the water causing harm to this miniature ecosystem. Responsible action is called for; bulky refuse collection is just a phone call away from your doorstep!



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Want to Talk Trash?

submitted by St. Margaret's College Girls' Secondary School Zejtun : Erika Gatt  for 11-14
dissemination(s): newspaper, Notice boards and social media, other, School assemblies, school magazine, school media, website
filed under Photos

How would you spend a Sunday afternoon in the countryside? Watching television, whilst drinking beer or soda? Or maybe having a chat with your friends on an armchair with a blanket on your legs? This might sound strange, but these pictures illustrate the reality found in some rural areas in Malta; that people don’t dispose of their junky things properly and put it in fields instead, damaging the countryside in the process. All photos can be viewed here:



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