15-18

It’s Just Something to Think About

submitted by Private candidate : Joslyn Falzon  for 15-18
dissemination(s): newspaper, website
filed under Photos

This photo was taken at an old abandoned house in my locality. I think that it’s easy as ABC, if everyone does his or her own part in contributing in keeping litter to a minimum, but it takes vigilance. For starters, never let trash escape from your car, and make sure household garbage bins are sealed tightly so animals can’t get at the contents. Always remember to take your garbage with you upon leaving a park or other public space. If you smoke, it isn’t saving the environment, a compelling enough reason to finally quit. In addition if that stretch of roadway you drive every day to work is a haven for litter, offer to clean it up and keep it clean. Don’t forget that litter is bad for the environment, bad for the economy and can even kill you!



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Don’t let litter get you down, you can make a difference

submitted by Private candidate : Joslyn Falzon  for 15-18
dissemination(s): newspaper, website
filed under Photos

The litter problem in various locations in Malta is getting worse. Here we see trash accumulating along certain walking paths in ‘Triq Tal-Hotba-Bulebel’. “What can we do?” While the situation is unfortunate, there is plenty we can do. I bet we can help each other to bring a better future. In my experience, not only good people are eager to pitch in, but trash will accumulate less rapidly afterwards. You may cry the following week as there will be more trash disposed, but I bet and I hope that next year it will be vastly improved from the current situation. So please, I beg you to stop this problem and to give more awareness to your relatives because by just giving a few time for this problem you can make a massive difference, even in doing the small basics.



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More Than Meets The Eye

submitted by Giovanni Curmi Naxxar Higher Secondary School : John Charles Fenech  for 15-18
dissemination(s): newspaper, radio, school magazine, school media
filed under Photos

Chadwick lakes can be said to be one of the few places in the Maltese Islands through which a valley watercourse flows. It harbours the endemic frog Discoglossus pictus pictus and other species. All that has just been said is what people expect to hear but in reality, if one takes a closer look, Chadwick lakes is a polluted zone which shows signs of eutrophication. Last time I went, I could not see any frog, but it makes sense. How can a frog exist in such a polluted zone. The Maltese Islands’ freshwater environment is already scarce as it is and many species that depend on this type of environment are already on the verge of extinction. Chadwick lakes, like other natural zones, is a remarkable natural place which has been let down by humanity. It is still not too late to make a difference. We can all help if we try.



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A Path of Garbage

submitted by Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School Naxxar : John Charles Fenech  for 15-18
dissemination(s): newspaper, radio, school magazine, school media
filed under Photos

This photo shows one of many abandoned barbeques with waste left at L-Ahrax Tal-Mellieha. It is pity since l-Ahrax tal-Mellieha is a marvellous zone full of unique landscapes to the Maltese Islands and various ecosystems. The amount of barbeques left in this zone is uncanny. One cannot walk in this place for 5 minutes without seeing at least 6 abandoned barbeques along with other waste materials. I shot images of each abandoned barbeque and other waste I managed to see. This endeavour of mine felt like it was never going to end because each time I turned, I saw more waste. From what I saw it is crystal clear that nobody is doing anything about this, if there would be someone doing something about this I would not have seen a car within a crack of Upper Coralline Limestone. Apart from the car, as I already stated, the amount of abandoned barbeques is phenomenal so it is impossible not to see one. It is time we stop talking and act. If anymore waste will be added at L-Ahrax tal-mellieha, it will start flowing down the cliffs.



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Pure but stained

submitted by Giovanni Curmi Naxxar Higher Secondary School : John Charles Fenech  for 15-18
dissemination(s): radio, school magazine, school media
filed under Photos

“L-Ahrax tal-Mellieha” – a remarkable zone. A clean, pure place where to walk, inhale the smell of the sea, relax, and admire the natural beauty. But look closely. Are you seeing this pure thing is stained? Yes I can see one stain. . . . . and another . . . . and another . . . . and another! Pity! How can we humans not enjoy the beauty without staining it? Why do we dispose of our car / bike / rubbish in our pristine countryside? Why do we put our mark on building? Can’t we realise we are staining our own lives? At times we don not look closely enough to realise the damage we are doing. This place is an example from many. We live in a remarkable world but we do not appreciate its purity and uniqueness, so we end up staining it with unwanted waste.



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Revoking Separation

submitted by St. Aloysius College : Martina Mifsud  for 15-18
dissemination(s): other, Sent to a local newspaper but no reply as of yet
filed under Photos

It is an oxymoronic scene visible in this picture. On one hand, bring in sites are shown; some even with multiple bins (such as the brown bin- denoting glass disposal), whilst on the other hand; rubbish is seen strewn on the floor carelessly just a few inches away from their respective bins. The culprit to blame is us humans. Our carelessness and thoughtlessness is resulting in these vile acts which could be potential threats to nature and its contained life. Education of the masses should take place, because very clearly; the respective bins are empty. Therefore; with some thought we can fix this! If it would still be a recurring problem; then we could at least propose that the recycling waste is collected more frequently.



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The Perfect Way to Protect Our Countryside

submitted by Giovanni Curmi Naxxar Higher Secondary School : Steve Zarb  for 15-18
dissemination(s): other, school's notice board
filed under Photos

Is this the best way to protect our fields? Is barb wire better than rubble wall? Could this barb wire be dangerous to animals and other species? Does it rust and the residue ends up in our soil, in our water table, eaten by organisms that carry the harm along the food chain? Or perhaps it is a decoration – a flower arrangement to remind us that our lives is full of flowers but then we opt to add the thorns? Adding pollution and dangerous things in our own countryside means adding problems to our own lives.



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Isn’t Malta decorated enough with concrete?

submitted by Giovanni Curmi Naxxar Higher Secondary School : Steve Zarb  for 15-18
dissemination(s): on school's noticeboard, other
filed under Photos

Everyone knows that the Maltese islands are very highly populated and built. Are we so irresponsible as to decorate the only few countryside areas that we still have with such concrete? Do we humans not understand that we are destroying even more parts from our own lungs? Apart from the fact that producers (plants, trees etc) produce food for the food web, they also remove carbon dioxide and give us oxygen. Kill more green areas and kill our own lungs.



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Oil Tanks in Fields

submitted by Giovanni Curmi Naxxar Higher Secondary School : Qualin Mifsud  for 15-18
dissemination(s): on school's notice board, other
filed under Photos

Oil tanks do a lot of harm to the ecosystem becuase when they rust, this ends up in the soil and can be very harmful to living things that eat it. Barb wire is also very dangerous. All these things should be removed from the fields and countryside and apart from removing danger, eyesores will also be removed as they are very ugly.



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What’s on the Menu?

submitted by St. Aloysius College : Martina Mifsud  for 15-18
dissemination(s): no reply as of yet, other, sent to a local newspaper
filed under Photos

The current domestic waste collection system is different than before; where it used to be collected on a daily basis, since it is currently being collected three days weekly. Albeit, there is a larger produce of rubbish to be collected. Due to this, people have blatantly felt the need to discard their waste so as not to leave it degenerating in their own private homes. Therefore; they dispose of their domestic waste in nature’s homes; that is; the surrounding environment, which houses a lot of creatures. Also, if instead of the burden of dumping this along the promenade on the way to Delimara; they could have done a better job and disposed of it accordingly; the people responsible would have done themselves and nature a gratifying favour.



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