“ODZ and empty property are our priorities”, AD tells Developers’ Association
In a meeting between AD and the MDA, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “The Maltese people are really worried at the attack from various fronts on pristine ODZ areas and marine protection areas, with projects in these areas being encouraged by government itself, that same government that is supposed to be the guardian of these sensitive parts of Malta so that they can be enjoyed by future generations. Another source of worry is the increasing stock of uninhabited Maltese buildings, which now amount to around 30% of total houses. We do hope that the Developers’ Association concentrates on upgrading existing derelict property rather than contribute to further eating up the ever decreasing open spaces in our country”.
Carmel Cacopardo Deputy Chairman and spokesman for Sustainable Development stated that we do not live in an economy but in an eco-system. It is hence imperative that social and environmental impacts are factored into our decision taking structures. The financial deficit which the country faces is insignificant when compared to the accumulated environmental deficit resulting from long term greed.
Future development policies should be based on the need to address this environmental deficit to which over-development throughout the years has contributed substantially. It is only in this manner that we can really contribute to a better quality of life for all concluded Carmel Cacopardo.
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“L-ODZ u l-bini vojt huma l-prijorita’ taghna”, tghid AD lill-Iżviluppaturi Maltin.
Waqt laqgħa bejn AD u l-MDA, iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, il-Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Il-poplu Malti huwa mħasseb ħafna dwar l-attakki varji fuq inħawi li jinsabu barra ż-żoni tal-iżvilupp (ODZ) u nħawi protetti fl-ibħra tagħna. Proġetti bħal dawn qegħdin jiġu ppreżentati mill-Gvern stess, l-istess Gvern li xogħolu huwa li jħares dawn il-partijiet sensittivi ta’ gżiritna minflok jeqridhom biex b’hekk ikunu jistgħu jitgawdew minn ġenerazzjonijiet futuri. Punt ieħor li jħasseb lin-nies huwa l-ammont dejjem jiżdied ta’ bini vojt, li bħalissa jgħodd madwar 30% tad-djar kollha. Nittamaw li l-Assoċjażżjoni tal-Iżviluppaturi tikkonċentra fuq il-ħtieġa li dawn il-binjiet jiġu rranġati minflok jitħallew fl-istat li jinsabu fih minflok tkompli tikkontribwixxi biex jittieklu aktar spazji miftuħa li dejjem qegħdin jonqsu”.
Id-Deputat Chairman u kelliem għall-iżvilupp sostenibbli ta’ AD, Carmel Cacopardo qal li aħna ma ngħixux f’sistema ekonomika imma f’sistema ekoloġika. Huwa għalhekk importanti ferm li meta jittieħdu d-deċiżjonijiet, fatturi soċjali u ambjentali ikunu ikkunsidrati bis-serjeta`. Id-defiċit finanzjarju li qed jiffaċċja l-pajjiż huwa ħmerija meta jitqabbel mad-defiċit li dejjem qiegħed jikber u li huwa riżultat ta’ kilba għall-ġid fuq medda ta’ snin.
Il-politika futura tal-iżvilupp jeħtieġ li tkun ibbażata fuq il-bżonn li jkun indirizzat dan id-defiċit ambjentali kif ukoll l-iżvilupp bla rażan matul is-snin li kkontribwixxa għalih sew. Huwa biss b’dan il-mod li nistgħu noffru kwalita` ta’ ħajja aħjar lil kulħadd ikkonkluda Carmel Cacopardo.