The executive committee of ADPD – The Green Party has approved three candidates, Dr Ralph Cassar, Sandra Gauci, and Mina Jack Tolu, for the European Parliament elections which will be held in 2024.
Carmel Cacopardo, chairperson said “we are honoured to present 3 excellent candidates for next year’s European Parliament elections, each of them known for their engagement and representation of green politics on the local, national and European levels. They reflect a future of Europe that focuses on the needs of people and the environment, that is clean, transparent and does not bend to the wills of corporate greed.”
“At a time when we observe centre-right parties intensifying their links with the far-right across Europe, it is important more than ever to have three strong candidates who stand for diversity, equality, and an awareness of the intricate link between humanity and the environment. I thank Ralph, Sandra, and Mina Jack for their commitment. We do not exclude approving more candidates in the future,” concluded Cacopardo.
The candidates
Dr Ralph Cassar is currently the Secretary General of ADPD. He has been active with the Greens in Malta since 1992, serving for four terms as a Green local councillor in Ħ’Attard. In that role he worked on the recyclables collection scheme, educational, cultural and sports activities, tree planting, the defence of open spaces and a new public library. Ralph has worked in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in various roles related to process validation, quality and product development. He recognises the urgency of an ecological transition in industry. He has also taught chemistry in secondary schools and worked briefly in regulatory affairs on medical devices with a public agency. He holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry with computer studies, a Masters in Management (MBA) from the University of Malta, a Masters in Science from the Open University (UK), and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Glasgow. Ralph Cassar is a lecturer at the Institute of Applied Sciences at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology. His interests include green energy and mobility policy development, wellbeing and the transition to an ecosocial economy.
Sandra Gauci is currently Deputy Chairperson of ADPD. She has been active in Green politics for three years and is known for being a voice of the people through her weekly videos “ABS news”. Sandra holds a Bachelor of Education in Italian, and a Masters in Italian Literature, thanks to a scholarship by the University of Siena on teaching Italian through film. Sandra is a teacher of Italian with 21 years of experience. Her interests include rule of law, social justice, and media freedom.
Mina Jack Tolu is currently the International Secretary of ADPD, committee member of the European Green Party, and advisory member to the Federation of Young European Greens. They have been active in Green politics since 2017 and as an LGBTQI activist since 2010. Mina Jack holds a Bachelor of Communications and a Masters in Conflict Resolution and Mediterranean Security from the University of Malta, and a Masters in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University (USA). They are self-employed and work as a trainer on gender, feminism, communications and campaigns to LGBTQI and youth NGOs, and also as a sensitivity reader and character consultant on trans and non-binary inclusive storylines for Italian TV series, and international digital games. Mina Jack’s interests include human rights, mental health, foreign policy, arts, cultural, and sports policy.
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ADPD tippreżenta tliet kandidati għall-Parlament Ewropew
Il-kumitat eżekuttiv tal-ADPD-The Green Party approva tliet kandidati – Dr Ralph Cassar, Sandra Gauci u Mina Jack Tolu – għall-elezzjonijiet tal-Parlament Ewropew li se jinżammu fl-2024.
Iċ-Chairperson tal-ADPD, Carmel Cacopardo qal li “aħna kburin li nippreżentaw tliet kandidati ta’ ħila għall-elezzjonijiet tal-Parlament Ewropew tas-sena d-dieħla – kollha kemm huma magħrufin għal ħidmiethom fil-qasam tal-politika fuq livell lokali, nazzjonali u dak Ewropew. Huma jħarsu lejn futur ta’ Ewropa li tiffoka fuq il-bżonnijiet tan-nies u l-ħtieġa ta’ ambjent li huwa nadif u transparenti u li ma jbaxxix rasu għall-kilba tal-flus.”
“Fi żmien meta fl-Ewropa qegħdin naraw partiti taċ-ċentru-lemin jingħaqdu aktar ma’ dawk b’politika estrema, huwa importanti aktar minn qatt qabel li għandna tliet kandidati li jħaddnu l-prinċipji tad-diversità, ugwaljanza u għarfien sħiħ tar-rabta intrinsika bejn il-bniedem u l-ekoloġija. Nirringrazzja lil Ralph, Sandra u lil Mina Jack għall-impenn tagħhom. Mhux eskluż li aktar kandidati jiġu approvati fix-xhur li ġejjin, temm jgħid Cacopardo.
Il-kandidati
Dr Ralph Cassar huwa is-Segretarju Ġenerali tal-ADPD. Ilu attiv fi ħdan il-Ħodor f’pajjiżna sa’ mill-1992, inkluż bħala kunsillier f’Ħ’Attard għal erba’ darbiet. Hemmhekk kien ħadem fuq skema ta’ ġbir ta’ materjal riċiklabbli, attivitajiet edukattivi, kulturali u sportivi, tħawill ta’ siġar, ħarsien ta’ spazji miftuħa u librerija pubblika ġdida. Ralph ħadem fil-qasam tal-industrija tal-manifattura farmaċewtika f’diversi rwoli relatati mal-proċess ta’ validazzjoni, kwalita’ u żvilupp tal-prodott. Jagħraf l-bżonn ta’ tranżizzjoni ekoloġika urġenti fil-qasam industrijali. Għallem ukoll il-kimika fi skejjel sekondarji u għal żmien qasir ħadem m’aġenzija pubblika fil-qasam ta’ regolamentazzjoni ta’ prodotti mediċi. Għandu Baċellerat fix-Xjenza fil-kimika u studji tal-kompjuter, Masters fil-Management (MBA) mill-Università ta’ Malta, Masters fix-Xjenza mill-Open University u Dottorat fl-Edukazzjoni mill-Università ta’ Glasgow. Ralph huwa lettur fl-Istitut għax-Xjenzi Applikati fi ħdan l-MCAST. Huwa għandu għal qalbu l-aktar suġġetti bħal enerġija sostenibbli u żvilupp ta’ politika għal mobilità, il-benesseri, kif ukoll l-ekonomija eko-soċjali.
Sandra Gauci hija d-Deputat Chairperson ta’ ADPD – The Green Party. Ilha attiva fil-politika għal dawn l-aħħar tliet snien u magħrufa bħala l-vuċi tan-nies bis-saħħa tal-videos li ittella’ onlajn ta’ kull ġimgħa imsejħin ‘ABS news’. Sandra għandha Baċellerat fl-Edukazzjoni fit-Taljan u Masters fil-Letteratura Taljana mill-Universita’ ta’ Siena frott ta’ borza ta’studju fuq it-tagħlim tat-Taljan permezz taċ-ċinematografija. Hija għalliema tat-Taljan b’21 sena esperjenza. Jinteressaha l-aktar oqsma bħal ma huma l-istat tad-dritt, il-ġustizzja soċjali u l-libertà tal-istampa.
Mina Jack Tolu huwa s-Segretarju Internazzjonali ta’ ADPD – The Green Party, membru fil-kumitat tal-EGP (European Green Party) u membru konsultattiv għall-FYEG (Federation of Young European Greens). Ilu attiv fil-politika mal-Ħodor mill-2017 u bħala attivist fi ħdan il-komunità LGBTQI sa mill-2010. Mina Jack għandu Baċellerat fil-Komunikazzjoni u Dual Masters f’Conflict Resolution mill-Università ta’ Malta u George Mason University (USA). Hu jaħdem għal rasu u jagħmel xogħol ta’ taħriġ fil-qasam tal-ġeneru, femminiżmu, komunikazzjoni u kampanji lil għaqdiet mhux governattivi. Jaħdem ukoll bħala konsulent dwar is-sensibilità f’serje televiżivi Taljani u logħob diġitali internazzjonali biex jinkludu stejjer inklussivi ta’ persuni trans u non-binary. Mina Jack jinteressa ruħu l-aktar fid-drittijiet tal-bniedem, is-saħħa mentali, il-politika barranija, l-arti, il-kultura u l-politika dwar l-isport.
