As the Government persists in pushing ahead with destructive planning laws that hand all power to developers, the Ġustizzja għal Artna campaign is calling on the people to join a protest on Monday 27th October. The protest will start at 5:30pm from the Law Courts and move towards Parliament.
It is neither our choice nor our pleasure to take to the streets, but we have no other option than to fend off this massive threat to our quality of life and democracy. We have repeatedly stated that we would much rather sit around a table to discuss the urgent planning and environmental reforms our country needs. However, despite the people’s cry for justice, including the thousands who took to the streets on Saturday 4th October, Prime Minister Robert Abela continues to refuse to listen.
This so-called planning reform is a Damocles’ sword hanging over the people’s heads. It is no coincidence that this protest will coincide with the presentation of the annual Budget. Our message is clear: this is not business as usual.
The two planning bills and three legal notices pose an imminent threat to our most cherished places, our communities, social justice, and democracy. They would dismantle all existing protections against unbridled construction by rendering planning regulations ineffective and placing full control in the hands of the corrupt Planning Authority. They would also severely undermine the public’s right to effectively appeal illegal decisions, and strip the Court of its power to revoke illegal permits. Additionally, the legal notices would grant a blanket amnesty for all sorts of illegalities committed up to last year, with no limits on type, size, or location.
We strongly believe that the people have the power to stop this assault on their quality of life and are the last lines of defence against the greed of developers. While reiterating our call on Prime Minister Robert Abela to immediately withdraw these laws, we also call on the public to intensify this fight against the bullies of this country – those who believe that money gives them the right to trample over the common citizen.
On Monday 27th October, we’ll show once again that we refuse to live under the reign of developers.
Together, we’ll stop them.
www.gustizzjartna.org
Organisations
BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Friends of the Earth Malta
Front Żgħażagħ għall-Ambjent
Għawdix
Moviment Graffitti
Nature Trust – FEE Malta
Ramblers Association
Wirt Għawdex
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Flimkien, inwaqqfuhom! Imħabbra t-tieni protesta minn Ġustizzja għal Artna għas-27 ta’ Ottubru
Hekk kif il-Gvern qed ikompli jippersisti biex jibqa’ għaddej bil-liġijiet tal-ippjanar qerrieda li se jixħtu s-setgħa kollha f’idejn l-iżviluppaturi, il-kampanja Ġustizzja għal Artna qed issejjaħ lin-nies biex jerġgħu jingħaqdu fi protesta t-Tnejn, is-27 ta’ Ottubru. Il-protesta se tibda fil-5.30pm minn quddiem il-Qorti u tibqa’ miexja lejn il-Parlament.
La hija għażla tagħna, u lanqas huwa xi gost u pjaċir tagħna li nerġgħu noħorġu fit-toroq, iżda m’għandna ebda għażla ħlief li nibqgħu nissieltu biex inwaqqfu din it-theddida kbira għall-kwalità ta’ ħajjitna u d-demokrazija. Aħna ripetutament stqarrejna li nippreferu npoġġu madwar mejda u niddiskutu r-riformi urġenti li pajjiżna għandu bżonn fil-qasam tal-ambjent u l-ippjanar. Madankollu, minkejja l-għajta tal-poplu għal ġustizzja — inklużi dawk l-eluf li s-Sibt, 4 ta’ Ottubru ħarġu jipprotestaw fit-toroq tal-Belt — il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela qed jibqa’ jirrifjuta li jisma’ lill-poplu.
L-hekk imsejħa “riforma” tal-ippjanar hija mannara mdendla fuq għonq in-nies. Il-fatt li l-protesta li jmiss se taħbat mal-jum li fih jiġi ppreżentat il-Baġit mhuwiex kumbinazzjoni. Il-messaġġ tagħna huwa ċar: dan mhuwiex ‘business as usual’.
Iż-żewġ abbozzi tal-ippjanar u t-tliet avviżi legali jippreżentaw theddida imminenti għall-postijiet li huma l-aktar għal qalbna, għall-komunitajiet tagħna, għall-ġustizzja soċjali, u għad-demokrazija. Dawn se jżarmaw is-salvagwardji eżistenti kollha kontra l-iżvilupp bla rażan billi jneħħu s-saħħa effettiva tar-regolamenti tal-ippjanar u jagħtu kontroll assolut lill-Awtorità korrotta tal-Ippjanar. Id-dritt tal-pubbliku li jappella deċiżjonijiet illegali b’mod effettiv se jiġi severament limitat, u l-Qorti se titlef is-setgħa tagħha li tirrevoka permessi illegali. Barra minn hekk, l-avviżi legali se jagħtu amnestija totali għal kull xorta ta’ illegalità li saret sas-sena l-oħra, b’ebda limitu fuq it-tip, id-daqs jew il-post li fih saret.
Aħna nemmnu bis-sħiħ li n-nies għandhom is-saħħa li jwaqqfu dan l-attakk fuq il-kwalità tal-ħajja tagħhom. Filwaqt li nerġgħu ntennu t-talba tagħna lill-Prim Ministru Robert Abela biex jirtira immedjatament dawn il-liġijiet, nerġgħu nsejħu lill-pubbliku biex insaħħu din il-ġlieda kontra l-bullies ta’ dan il-pajjiż — dawk li jemmnu li l-flus jagħtuhom id-dritt li jirfsu fuq iċ-ċittadini komuni.
It-Tnejn 27 ta’ Ottubru, se nerġgħu nuruhom li aħna mhux se naċċettaw li ngħixu taħt il-ħakma tal-iżviluppaturi.
Flimkien, inwaqqfuhom!
www.gustizzjartna.org
Organisations
BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Friends of the Earth Malta
Front Żgħażagħ għall-Ambjent
Għawdix
Moviment Graffitti
Nature Trust – FEE Malta
Ramblers Association
Wirt Għawdex
