Zminijietna - Voice of the Left – Lehen ix-Xellug
14/8 Vincenti Buildings, Strait Street, Valletta VLT1432
Press Release – Stqarrija Stampa
03-01-08
(Verzjonijiet bl-Ingliz u bil-Malti)
"Mountains of Plastic Bottles Await" Zminijietna
Zminijieta - Voice of the Left said that the introducion of plastic bottles for soft drinks shall result in mountains of plastic waste, thus causing damage to the environment and people's health.
Zminijietna said
"The European Union did not allow Malta to retain its previoussystem whereby plastic bottles where banned for soft drinks. This system was ecologically sensible, as glass bottles had a high return rate. In the name of free market neo-liberalism, the EU argued that Malta was discriminating against plastic bottles. The result shall be millions of plastic bottles which shall fill Malta's landfills, which are already overburdened with tonnes of waste. Apart from being a financialburden on the state, this is ultimately harmful to the environment and to people's health".
"It does not make much sense to defend the environment yet topromote neo-liberal economic policy at the same time. Commodification and ecology do not mix. Half-hearted apologetic arguments about the recycling of plastic bottles are stuck in a capitalist mindset ofendless cheap production, which is ultimately causing much damage to the environment. Capitalismis the major cause of climate change".
Zminijetna – Voice of the Left added that it is against flat-rate taxationon plastic bottles ifpeople have no option but to consume such bottles.
"Ultimately,it isthe working class which will bear thelargest burden of such taxation.Rather, pressure should be made within the EUfor the eventual phasing-out of plastic bottles. This is the only honest policy which will save the environment from further harm".
"Responsibility should ultimately be on the state and producers", added Zminijietna – Voice of the Left.
Michael Briguglio
Public Relations Officer
Zminijietna – Voice of the Left
Mob 99894634
"Malta qed tistenna muntanji ta’ fliexken tal-plastik " Zminijietna
Zminijieta – Lehen ix-Xellug qalet li l-introduzzjoni ta’ fliexken tal-plastik ghal xorb minerali ser jirrizulta f’muntanji ta’ skart tal-plastik, li johloq hsara ambjentali u lis-sahha tan-nies.
Zminijietna qalet
"L-Unjoni Ewropea ma hallietx lil Malta zzom is-sistema precedenti fejn ma setax ikun hemm fliexken tal-plastik ghal xorb minerali. Din is-sistema kienet ekologikament sensibbli, ghax hafna fliexken tal-hgieg kienu jigu ritornati lura. F’isem is-suq hieles u neo-liberalizmu, l-UE qalet li Malta kienet qed tiddiskrimina kontra fliexken tal-plastik. Ir-rizultat ser ikun miljuni ta’ fliexken tal-plastik fil-landfills ta’ Malta, li diga’ ghandhom piz kbir hafna fuqhom minhabba skart eccessiv. Minbarra l-piz finanzjarju fuq l-istat, dan ser jirrizulta fi hsara lill-ambjent u lis-sahha tan-nies”.
"Ma tantx hemm sens li tiddefendi l-ambjent u fl-istess hin tippromwovi politika ekonomika neo-liberali. Il-kommodifikazzjoni u l-ekologija ma jithalltux. Argumenti b’nofs qalb u apologetici dwar ir-riciklagg tal-fliexken tal-plastik huma mwehhla f’mod ta’ hsieb kapitalista ta’ produzzjoni bla razan u rhisa, li fl-ahhar mill-ahhar qed taghmel hsara kbira ambjentali. Il-kapitalizmu huwa l-ikbar kagun tal-bidla fil-klima”.
Zminijetna – Lehen ix-Xellug qalet li hi kontra taxxa ‘flat-rate’ fuq fliexken tal-plastik jekk in-nies m’ghandhomx ghazla hlief li jixtru dawn il-fliexken.
"Fl-ahhar mill-ahhar, hija l-klassi tal-haddiema li ggor l-ikbar piz ta’ din it-tip ta’ taxxa. Minflok ghandu jkun hemm pressjoni fl-UE sabiex il-fliexken tal-plastik eventwalment ma jibqghux jintuzaw. Din hi l-uniku politika onesta li permezz taghha ma jkunx hemm hsara ambjentali akbar”.
"Ir-responsabilita’ ghadha tkun fuq l-istat u l-produtturi”, ikkonkludiet Zminijietna – Lehen ix-Xellug.
Michael Briguglio
Ufficjal Relazzjonijiet Pubblici
Zminijietna – Lehen ix-Xellug
Mob 99894634