Photos

A need to protect our rural heritage

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

Many times on my way to my grandmother’s house in Naxxar, I have passed by this old farmstead. It has always fascinated me as it is about 200 years old and I have always wondered how the life of our ancestors working in the fields nearby might have been very different to ours. About two winters ago, heavy storms hit this area, large parts of the farmhouse collapsed and stones trailed into the road below. Unfortunately since then nothing has been done to repair and conserve what remains of this farmhouse. Besides being a hazard to motorists passing by during heavy rainfall, it is such a pity to see this farmhouse which has fallen into such neglect. I appeal to whoever is conserved to intervene and save this part of our rural heritage.



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The ghost towns of Malta

submitted by St. Clare's College Girls' Secondary Pembroke : Janice Bugeja, Mariah Attard  for 11-14
dissemination(s): school magazine, website
filed under Photos

Anyone driving along Xemxija Bay can admire views of the beautiful Mediterranean Sea . Decades ago the road along the bay was lined with beautiful two storey sea side residences. Nowadays high rise buildings consisting of numerous apartments have sprouted, towering imposingly over the bay. Old properties have become vacant and many are in a dilapidated state. The national consensus, 2011, shows that there are around 70 000 vacant properties in Malta. It has been said that this is equivalent to 9 ghost towns. Some of these properties can be made habitable with some investment. Why do we keep constructing new buildings which claim more land? This issue needs to be tackled and people should be encouraged to rehabilitate old properties rather than build new ones.



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Standing in the hall of fame?

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

The Australia Hall in Pembroke, built for the benefit of wounded soldiers in the First World War served as a recreation centre in its glory days. Drama, bingo and stage productions were held in this hall which could accommodate some 2000 men. Today, almost one hundred years since its completion, this historic hall lies in a piteous state where the only culture being promoted is that of the occult. This derelict building is strewn with litter and bulky refuse which besides being an eyesore can be dangerous for youngsters who decide to explore the place. Legal action was taken some years ago by Lands department to recover the building but as yet no significant results have been achieved. How many more years must elapse before serious action is taken? Pembroke would benefit from having a restored town hall. Let’s hope it will not be too late!



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Waste Collection or the lack of it!

submitted by Mosta Boys Secondary School : Justin Clive Bugeja  for 11-14
dissemination(s): school magazine, school media, website
filed under Photos

Waste collection is part of the process of waste management. It is the transfer of solid waste from the point of use and disposal to the point of treatment or landfill. Waste collection also includes the curbside collection of recyclable materials that technically are not waste, as part of a municipal landfill Diversion program. Waste Collection considerations include type and size of bins, their positioning, and how often bins are to be serviced. Overfilled bins result in rubbish falling out while being tipped. Hazardous rubbish like empty petrol cans can cause fires igniting other trash when the truck compactor is operating. Bins may be stored in secure areas to avoid having non-paying parties placing rubbish in the bin. Truck drivers are now being trained in identifying and managing power-line hazards. Front lift garbage truck lift hooks may pull down power lines if left upright at the top of the trunk



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Il-kelb qed jagħmel il-ħmieġ u sidu mhux qed jiġbru…

submitted by Mosta Boys Secondary School : Nathaniel Camilleri  for 11-14
dissemination(s): school magazine, school media, website
filed under Photos

Kemm hu sabih li wieħed ikollu kelb bħala pett tiegħu. Hu annimal li jifraħ ħafna meta jara lil sidu. Dan jagħmlu dejjem, anke jekk sidu jittrattah ħażin. Mhux ta’ b’xejn jissejjaħ l-ikbar ħabib tal-bniedem. Imma li jkollok kelb għandha responsabilta ukoll. Waqt xi mixja il-kelb ġeneralment iħammeġ xi ftit għax jipporga. Jekk dan il-ħmieġ ma jibdiex jinġabar jibda jakkumula, u jkun hawn il-konsegwenzi tiegħu. Mhix xi ħaġa sabiħa li tkun miexi u tara ħafna rqajja ta’ ħmieġ, triq toqgħod b’seba’ għajnejn fejn tmidd saqajk. Konsegwenzi oħra hemm ir-riħa tintenn u d-dubbien. Huwa mportanti li meta wieħed joħroġ il-kelb u dan iħammeġ, għandu jinġabar mill-ewwel f’xi borża li wieħed jista’ faċilment iġorr miegħu u din tintrema f’reċipjenti apposta. Biex jenforzaw li wieħed jiġbor dan il-ħmieġ, jekk xi ħadd jinqabad iħammeġ jeħel multa. Mela kun responsabli, ġorr borża miegħek u jekk il-kelb iħammeġ iġborr warajh biex inżommu Malta nadifa.



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Jellyfish invasion – Where are the turtles now?

submitted by The Archbishop's Seminary : Benjamin Dalli  for 11-14
dissemination(s): newspaper, school magazine, website
filed under Photos

The “jellyfish problem” in Malta persists year after year, thus becoming a major concern of tourists and locals alike, therefore coming to one question: Where are the turtles now?  Ironically, turtles are becoming endangered due to waste left by the same people who complain about the increasing amount of jellyfish.  A turtle’s diet consists of many small sea creatures such as jellyfish.  This is a threat to marine creatures as these plastic bits are mistaken for jellyfish and swallowed.  Apart from this, the turtle’s habitat is secluded beaches, and the overexpoitation of sandy beaches is furthermore eliminating turtles.  Fishing is a traditional trade in the Maltese Islands and fishermen, together with their catch, have incidentally captured turtles.  After being injured by bycatch, they are then released, without any medical attention.  Hotels and restaurants sometimes dump untreated chemicals into the sea, jeopardising marine life.  Turtles are consequently protected to avoid extinction.



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Agriculture

submitted by The Archbishop's Seminary : Matthias Borg  for 11-14
dissemination(s): newspaper, school magazine, website
filed under Photos

I took this photo when I went on hike with my family. These are fields near the town of Siġġiewi. Agriculture is very important in our lives. Siġġiewi is a tipical agriculture village. Most of the crops and foodstuffs produced by the farmers are consumed dometicaly. Most local farmers harvest wheat and potatoes they also grow peaches and plums. Nowadays farmers use the drip irrigation system to water their crops. Most of the local farmers do their work manually due to the relatively small size of the fields. Agriculture is very important for us beacuse if we do not have fruits and vegetables we can not stay healthy and these products all come from agriculture.



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The Rainbow

submitted by The Archbishop's Seminary : Kieran Galea  for 11-14
dissemination(s): newspaper, school magazine, tv, website
filed under Photos

This wonderful metereological phenomenon is admired worldwide. Looking at the beautiful spectrum of colours one wonders how this can be created through a few drops of water. When these droplets are looked at from a particular angle in relation to the direction in which the Sun is shining, this spectrum of colours is seen. Nature’s best portraits are indeed original!



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The Gardener’s Friend

submitted by The Archbishop's Seminary : Kieran Galea  for 11-14
dissemination(s): newspaper, school magazine, website
filed under Photos

The Robin (Erithacus rubecula) is a regular visitor to the Maltese Islands. This bird species is one of the few bird species in which both male and female have very similar plumage – with the particular orange breast and face. Its top parts from its head downwards is usually of a greyish brown colour while its belly is white. It mainly feeds on insects and even worms and it hunts during both night and day.For a very long time it was considered to be a gardener’s friend and it was not harmed due to various legends!



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The Maltese Fresh Water Crab

submitted by The Archbishop's Seminary : Craig Cassar, Luca Micallef, Shaun Isherwood  for 11-14
dissemination(s): newspaper, school magazine, website
filed under Photos

The Maltese Fresh Water Crab (Potamon fluviatile ssp. lanfrancoi) is one of many endemic endangered species on the Maltese Islands. In fact it is only found in a few localities in Malta and Gozo. Its habitat usually consists of mud found along fresh water streams and since fresh water is quite scarce, such habitats are continuously decreasing. In the picture, the crab is literally trying to hide by camouflaging itself well with its surroundings, cautiously waiting for its prey to come along! Although it can feed on frogs, this specie also a scavenger.



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