11-14

Spot the Difference

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

These photographs show the difference between clean and polluted seawater. One of the pictures was taken at Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq. Although hardly visible, the presence of foul smell in the area, possibly indicated contaminated seawater due to sewage discharge. In contrast, the other photograph was taken at Sliema, where the sea was clear and unpolluted. As a young reporter for the environment, I recommend the launch of an awareness campaign such that more people reduce, separate and dispose of waste responsibly. For example, people should use the waste separation bins found on different beaches around Malta. Furthermore, the authorities should ensure that the local waste water treatment plants are working in an efficient manner to safeguard the marine environment.



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Keep Our Seas Clean

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

As young reporters for the environment, we were invited to attend the Turtle Release event organised by Nature Trust (Malta) and its Wildlife Rescue Team. This educational activity was held at the Blue Flag beach of Paradise Bay Hotel at Cirkewwa-Malta. These photographs show one of the injured turtles which was found by local fishermen after swallowing fishing hooks and nylon. The turtles were first taken in at the Malta Aquaculture Research Centre, Forti San Lucjan Marsaxlokk. Further medical treatment was provided by Nature Trust and its Wildlife Rescue volunteers and veterinary surgeon Dr.Anthony Gruppetta. Other serious threats to marine turtles include marine debris such as floating plastic bags and oil spills. A public campaign should be launched such that ship operators and boat owners do their utmost to keep our seas clean, thus protecting these marine creatures.



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Duckling in a poisonous pond

submitted by St. Margaret College Boys Secondary Verdala : Corben Lee Gatt, Gareth Blundell  for 11-14
dissemination(s): newspaper, school media
filed under Photos

Along ‘Gardiel’ street in the locality of Marsascala there is a small natural pond called ‘il-Magħluq tal-Baħar’ which is supposed to be a natural park for ducks and fish. Withstanding the natural beauty of this pond, passing by people use it as dumping zone contaminating the pond with toxic wastes. On holding a brief investigation at the pond, I observed dirty water and toxic products coming afloat. Some toxic products are flame retardant chemicals which when in touch with other toxic chemicals thrown in the same pond can literally poison the water risking killing most of our local ducks and fish. Solid waste is also observed floating in the pond contaminating both freshwater and the pond bank vegetation. On contacting the Marsascala Local Council, I recommended regular pH tests of the water, more recycling bins and law enforcement with secret cameras to conserve the pond and protect the local ducks.



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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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