10 September 2007 Rating 5% No Comment  

During a Press Conference held in front of the Gozo Curia, officials of Alternattiva Demokratika Gozo Regional Committee together with Chairperson, Dr. Harry Vassallo, presented a book entitled, 'Greening the Church'. The author, Fr. Sean McDonagh, is a world renowned theologian who lectures on how churches ought to respond to environmental ruin. Dr. Vassallo said that "The Ceratonia Foundation, AD's cultural wing, sought and received permission from Fr. McDonagh to put this book on the party's websites for free download. Gozitans and Maltese are invited to read this feely available book on www.adgozo.com... or www.alternattiva.org....mt to learn about Church teachings on the care of the environment." Dr. Vassallo said "Following a visit to Malta in 2001, Fr. McDonagh witnessed first-hand the many environmental challenges faced by Gozitans and Maltese and was prompted to author 'Greening the Church'. In his introduction, he notes that it is very clear, even to the casual visitor, that the islands of Malta are facing many exacting environmental difficulties. Apart from the question of how to deal effectively with waste, access to clean, unpolluted water is becoming increasingly problematic. He noted that Malta's disproportionately high rate of car ownership bodes ill with its consequent implications for global warming. All of these, Fr. McDonagh stresses, are serious issues which need to be addressed by the Christian community." Dr. Vassallo affirmed that "All citizens, including Christians, must respect the common good, such as the material resources as well as the cultural and environmental heritage of our nation. Alternattiva Demokratika encourages the Gozo Diocese to establish, right away, an Environmental Commission similar to the one in the Malta Archdiocese. Another option is for the Gozo bishop to ask the Malta Diocese Environmental Commission to be responsible for both dioceses. Alternattiva Demokratika feels that the sooner this is done, the better." Spokesperson for Gozo, Mr. Victor Galea, echoed this view, emphasising that "It is imperative that the Gozo Curia take action now, given the various applications being made for construction development by Gozo parishes and Church organisations in areas outside the development zones. It is admirable that the Environmental Commission of the Diocese of Malta expresses itself about matters that damage or enhance the nation as a whole. AD sees the need for the Diocese of Gozo, together with other interested entities, to be vocal about issues that worry Gozitans deeply, such as the pending concerns about of Ramla l-Hamra, Hondoq ir-Rummien, and Ta' Cenc, as well as other severe social problems deriving from the exaggerated prices of homes for first time buyers and young people."