Moviment Graffitti logo

Latest News

Overwhelming support by the general public to save Dwejra

Over €3,000 collected in less than two days, Environment and Planning Review Tribunal decision will be appealed in Court 

The 15 NGOs that united in one effort to save Dwejra from further development have been overwhelmed by the massive support by the general public in the past days. Following the scandalous decision by the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal to overturn the Planning Authority’s refusal for further development in Dwejra, this front of NGOs urged people to donate and raise funds so that a court appeal could be filed. In less than two days over €3,000 were donated. 

Dwejra in Gozo is iconic and needs protection. It is a Natura 2000 site and is designated as Dark Sky Heritage Area. It is one of the best diving spots, and is surrounded by sedimentary rocks with an array of fossils. Its beauty lies in the fact that it remains more or less pristine. At night this place can give spectacular views of the dark sky and stars while the iconic Scopoli’s Shearwater use the cliffs as their breeding habitat. Light pollution and increased development will damage this area. Both BirdLife Malta and the Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy had officially objected to the development proposed and hence have the right to appeal it at court. 

Not only does this successful fundraising campaign pave the way for the court appeal, but it also sends a clear message that civil society is strong and a force to be reckoned with. The NGOs would like to thank the people for their support which motivates them further to fight for this cause, while promising to remain fighting to safeguard the natural and cultural heritage of our islands for the benefit of all. 

__________________________________________________________

Appoġġ qawwi mill-pubbliku biex tkun salvata d-Dwejra:

Jinġabru ’l fuq minn €3,000 f’inqas minn jumejn, id-deċiżjoni tat-Tribunal tal-Ambjent u l-Ippjanar se tkun appellata fil-Qorti 

Il-15-il NGO li ngħaqdu fi sforz konġunt biex isalvaw lid-Dwejra minn aktar żvilupp m’għandhomx kliem biex jirringrazzjaw lill-pubbliku għall-appoġġ qawwi li wera fl-aħħar jiem. Wara d-deċiżjoni skandaluża tat-Tribunal tal-Ambjent u l-Ippjanar li qaleb id-deċiżjoni inizjali tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar li m’għandux isir aktar żvilupp fid-Dwejra, dan il-front ta’ NGOs talab l-għajnuna tal-pubbliku biex jagħti donazzjonijiet ħalli jinġabru fondi biex ikun jista’ jitressaq appell fil-Qorti. F’inqas minn jumejn inġabru ‘l fuq minn €3,000. 

Id-Dwejra hija ikona ta’ Għawdex u għandha bżonn il-protezzjoni. Hija sit Natura 2000 u hija kklassifikata wkoll bħala Dark Sky Heritage Area. Hija fost l-aktar postijiet imfittxija mill-għaddasa, u hija mdawra bi blat b’varjetà ta’ arzell u fossili oħra. Is-sbuħija tagħha tinsab fil-fatt li għadha ftit jew wisq mhux mimsusa. Bil-lejl dan il-post jaf joffri veduti spettakolari tas-sema mdallam u l-kwiekeb filwaqt li ċ-Ċiefa – għasfur tal-baħar ikoniku – tuża dawn l-irdumijiet bħala l-ħabitat fejn tbejjet. Kemm it-tniġġis mid-dawl kif ukoll kwalunkwe żieda fliżvilupp jagħmel il-ħsara lil dawn l-inħawi. Kemm BirdLife Malta kif ukoll l-Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy kienu oġġezzjonaw formalment għall-iżvilupp propost u għalhekk għandhom id-dritt li jressqu appell fil-Qorti. 

Il-kampanja ta’ ġbir ta’ fondi li saret b’suċċess mhux biss tippermetti li jitressaq l-appell fil-Qorti, imma tibgħat ukoll sinjal ċar li s-soċjetà ċivili hija b’saħħitha u hija magħquda b’vuċi waħda li ma tistax tiġi injorata. L-NGOs jixtiequ jirringrazzjaw lill-pubbliku għall-appoġġ tiegħu, appoġġ li jimmotivahom aktar biex ikomplu jiġġieldu favur din il-kawża. Inwiegħdu li jibqgħu għaddejjin bil-ġlieda tagħna biex inħarsu l-patrimonju naturali u kulturali tal-gżejjer tagħna għallbenefiċċju ta’ kulħadd. 

  1. Bicycle Advocacy Group 
  2. BirdLife Malta
  3. Din l-Art Helwa 
  4. FAA Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar
  5. Friends of the Earth Malta
  6. The IotL Magazine
  7. Light Pollution Awareness Group
  8. Moviment Graffitti
  9. Nature Trust – FEE Malta
  10. Ramblers Malta
  11. Archaeological Society Malta
  12. The Astronomical Society of Malta
  13. Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy – ISSA – University of Malta
  14. Wirt Għawdex
  15. Żminijietna – Leħen ix-Xellug

Latest from our blog

Several organisations have presented a list of proposed changes to a Bill which seeks to remove the minimal existing safeguards...

Moviment Graffitti is supporting residents as they oppose yet another mega development in the small town of Xemxija. A 13-storey...

Earlier today, women, non-binary, trans people and allies marched in the streets of Valletta to mark International Women’s Day. This...