Nineteen school children today addressed the Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs, George Pullicino, to air their concerns about the environment during a Children's Hearing held at the Pope John Paul II Centre in Attard as part of an activity within the Dinja Wahda programme run by BirdLife Malta and its Education Partner the Bank of Valletta.

Dear Minister is one of the 30 activities contained within a guide prepared by BirdLife Malta and distributed to all primary school teachers providing them with all the necessary material which allows them to participate in the Dinja Wahda programme and collect points over the academic year. [1] This particular activity subverts the popular belief that many children may have that what they do or think matters little to the country's policy makers and legislators. Through Dear Minister children are encouraged to make their voice heard by writing a letter to the Minister of the Environment expressing a wish they have to improve a situation related to nature or the natural environment.

This year, 55 students sent in letters with 19 of them being short listed by BirdLife Malta's Education Committee to be read during today's Children's Hearing. All the 55 children who had submitted a letter were invited to attend the hearing.

Desire� Falzon, BirdLife Malta's Education Coordinator explained: "One of the aims of Dinja Wahda is for children to learn that the environment is everyone's responsibility. It is everyone's duty, including children's, to be aware of environmental crime and speak out against it. Dinja Wahda teaches children that not protesting means accepting a situation. Through Dear Minister," Ms Falzon stated, "children get the opportunity to raise their concerns with the relevant authority and to feel that their opinion makes a difference."

BirdLife's Education Partner BOV was represented by Alan Cassar, Executive Head Sales & Product Development, who said that the Dear Minister event was another excellent opportunity to continue to raise awareness on environmental issues. Addressing the students, he said that through their participation in this dialogue, the participants were leading by example. "Your participation is an important testimony to the responsibilities that we all have in protecting our environment and working towards sustainable development," said Mr. Cassar

This year's letters centred around 5 main themes: waste separation, alternative energy, afforestation, wildlife concern, and sea pollution. Amongst the letters read out during the hearing, Ian Duivenvoorden from St. Theresa's College Annibale Preca Primary School C in Lija suggested that exams should be carried out on computers. "In this way, paper use will decrease in schools and the examiners can also correct the work via computer and send the results home by email," said Ian. Chiara Darmanin from St. Ignatius' College Patri Guz� Delia Primary School Siggiewi proposed that unused quarries in her area are turned back into fields or playing fields for children. Chiara added: "Those who cause damage through the quarries should be held responsible and should be obliged to clean up behind them and to fix any damage."

Soraya Said from St. Margaret's College Dr Frans Chetcuti Primary School B Zabbar expressed her concern with potential sea pollution due to a new drainage system that is about to be installed in a bay in Xghajra. "My concern is that this beautiful bay is going to be ruined and contaminated by the drainage, thus this would mean that no one can enjoy this beautiful bay anymore, which would be a great pity for everyone," Soraya wrote. Roberto Buttigieg from St. Clare's College St. Bernardette Primary School B in San Gwann tackled the issue of climate change. "People should really know how their misuse of energy is destroying the world and how easy it is to help a little bit by being more responsible in managing energy," explained Roberto.

A judging panel deliberated after hearing all the 18 children's letters and the Minister's replies and awarded the top prize to Jacqueline Licari, from Paola Primary B St. George Preca College, whose letter focused on Wildlife Concern (2).

Notes:

[1] The Dinja Wahda programme has been running since 1994 on a biennial basis. As from this cycle, it will be held on a yearly basis. This is the second time running since Dinja Wahda started that school children had the opportunity to address the Minister for the Enviornment with their concerns.

[2]. The judging panel was composed of: Josephine Vassallo (Education Officer, Democracy and Values Education) Carmel Busuttil (Assistant Director, non-state schools), Victor Fiott ( Education Committee representative) and Joe Sultana (ornithologist and environmentalist).