Malta could lose 16% of groundwater volume due to climate change

Nov 4 2021

Despite our island being one of the poorest countries globally in terms of water resources, Malta could lose 16% of its groundwater volume due to the climate change crisis. Groundwater supplies almost half of the portable water in Malta, and 16% could be lost within the next 80 years, a study reports. The study was carried out by scientists from the Universities of Calabria and Malta, lead by Professor Aaron Micallef.

With three-dimensional geological and groundwater models developed for the Maltese islands, there were three predicted effects considered. These involve reduction in precipitation, increase in water demand and the sea-level rise. Water demand plays the most prominent role in reducing groundwater volume, with sea rise being the least impactful. With new measures introduced in the COP26, it remains to be seen whether this crisis could be averted.

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Classic cars could become the next big electric vehicle trend

Nov 4 2021

As we all consider making the move towards a more sustainable mode of transportation, it seems as though classic cars are making a massive, and environmentally friendly, comeback. Lunaz, founded in 2018 in Silverstone, England, specialises in electric engine conversions of high-end classic cars. Whether it’s a six-seat Rolls-Royce Phantom to an Aston Martin DB5, this is one of the growing number of businesses providing such a service.

Lorenz goes as far as to claim that electric engines can make classic cars low-maintenance and user-friendly to preserve these cars for future generations. So, however you feel about the conversion to electric vehicles, it seems as though the aesthetic won’t be too far gone. It will instead be part of the revolution and will offer a variety of benefits.

Engineering PhD researcher at Cardiff University Dominic Dattero-Snell said that electric vehicles (EVs), with no tailpipe emissions, are less polluting and cheaper to refuel than petrol or diesel cars. There might be a catch however – despite new EV producing overall lower CO2 emissions than petrol cars, manufacturing can account for anywhere between 20 to 95% of the emissions associated with an electric vehicle.

EV conversions aren’t an easy alternative to scrapping schemes yet however, as they are expensive and take up thousands of hours. Still, classic cars are the perfect testing ground for these conversions, as the benefits in terms of increased reliability and usability are more evident. Not to mention sentimental value – which make owners more likely to invest.

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Photo Source: CNN

Students park in football field as University car park used for graduations

Nov 4 2021

The University of Malta has issued a statement revealing that students will have an alternative space to park their cars as Car Park 6 is being used for graduation ceremonies – the football pitch area. A post on Facebook however criticized the decision, posting an image of the football pitch filled up with cars and captioned – ‘Came to run at the state of the art university track only to find it being used as a car park. Lets inhale some exhaust. Yes, lets promote sports’.

Newsroom Lovin Malta reported how the UM made temporary arrangements for students to park in the pitch area. ‘The problem has been addressed and there should not be any shortage of parking bays for the duration of the set-up, graduation ceremonies, and eventual dismantling of the marquee.’ They did however ask for people to ‘keep in mind that close to 800 guests will be attending each ceremony and it is impossible to accommodate all these guests at the Sir Temi Zammit Hall.’

‘Marquees are currently being set up in car park 6, to host the guests of graduates, as they will be watching a live stream of the ceremony of these tents’ the statement continued. Addressing concerns of bad weather, the statement assured everyone that the marquee will be closed on all sides and is weather resistant.’ The system was received with mixed responses, with some commending the university for finding an alternative for everyone but also criticisms for using a sports area for such events. What do you think?

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Photo Source: Fabio Spiteri FB

Is this the Malta we love? – Facebook post reveals frustration

Nov 4 2021

A post uploaded to Facebook assessing the current state of Malta resulted in many commenting venting their frustration about what they deem to be the loss of what the island once was. A post uploaded by Alexa Mifsud rhetorically asked; ‘I genuinely wish to ask what is happening to our country’, pointing out several factors which were troubling her.

‘You look around you and all you see are ugly buildings, no matter where you are, whether in Bahrija or in the middle of Sliema. Traffic everywhere and at all times of day (just an hour to make it from Fgura to Rahal Gdid).’ She went on to highlight the massive spike in cost of living, despite pay remaining the same. ‘You need to spend the rest of your life paying a loan to buy an ugly flat (and to get a loan in of itself) – all you need to do is sell a kidney to a bank.

The post highlighted more concerns – corruption at the highest level, third country nationals everywhere, customer service which got even worse over the years and an end to Maltese culture. She ended the post asking, without bringing in politics, is this Malta we know? ‘Because for me – this isn’t it’ she said. The post was met by a whopping 1.5K likes and reacts (as of time of writing), with comments backing up the poster’s concerns.

Many exclaimed how they miss the Malta they once loved, despite there being no room for them here left. ‘The underdog continues to suffer as the top guys benefit’ said one. Another said that, despite totally agreeing, the cause for this is that everyone is out to acquire more and more, not taking into consideration the future of our youth and upcoming generations. ‘They violated Malta with every injustice, they wrecked all the work done by our forefathers and sold it off to foreigners’ another said.

What do you make of this?

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