sustainability – The Malting Pot

Maybe Prince Charles will educate Malta about sustainability during the CHOGM?

·November 10, 2015
·Antoine Borg Micallef
·0 Comments

Malta is set to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting for the second time in late November this year. With Queen Elizabeth heading the CHOGM, and accompanied by her husband Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of…

Idiot’s guide to ‘National Interest’ in Malta

·June 8, 2015
·Antoine Borg Micallef
·0 Comments

'National Interest' is a concept that has been profusely used to describe a nation state's economic, cultural or military goals and ambitions. The term is often exclusively used in relation to a country's foreign policy, and is vital in the sphere of international relations. In Malta, this phrase is generally…

The Malting Pot’s guide to ODZ development in Malta

·June 5, 2015
·Antoine Borg Micallef
·1 Comment

Happy World Environment Day everyone! To celebrate this special day, I have drawn up a comprehensive overview of contentious planned and allowed ODZ development across the Maltese Islands. In a country where its Governments have absolutely no respect for its environment and for the public that would like to enjoy…

King Joseph and his armies of zombies?

·June 3, 2015
·Antoine Borg Micallef
·0 Comments

If you watch Game of Thrones, you must have heard of the 'true enemy' beyond the wall. He is called the Night's King, and together with his fellow White Walkers and their army of reanimated corpses, they are the main and often disregarded antagonist in this fictitious universe. I cannot…

Coca Cola takes 40% of its water for free, yet consumers and the environment pay the full price

·May 19, 2014
·Antoine Borg Micallef
·1 Comment

A recent article brought to light how General Soft Drinks Ltd (the main suppliers of Coca Cola and affiliated products in Malta) extract 40 per cent of the water it needs to produce its beverages free of charge from public freshwater resources. While other major beverage companies in Malta prefer…

Do you like Nespresso/Dolce Gusto? The environment doesn’t

·March 20, 2014
·Antoine Borg Micallef
·0 Comments

One of the fundamental strengths of capitalism is its ability to prey upon people's desire to having homes equipped with the latest technology. As of 2012, European markets have seen an unprecedented rise in popularity of coffee pod machines, with Nestle leading the market with its Dolce Gusto and Nespresso…

Hunting Organisations? #DramaQueens

·February 4, 2014
·Antoine Borg Micallef
·0 Comments

The closer Malta etches towards a referendum on the abolishment of spring hunting, the more sensational and downright ludicrous the hunting community is acting in the public eye. The most recent event by far ranks in my Top 5 of "Are you Serious?" comments released to the press, in which…

Malta: Seemingly blind to environmental tragedies

·January 10, 2014
·Antoine Borg Micallef
·0 Comments

Despite my innate sense of patriotism, I am finding it increasingly challenging to keep a positive demeanour when I speak to people about the Maltese environment. Such is expected when exposed to a foreign ideology in which environmental issues and environmentalists are not frowned upon and dismissed as irrelevant. While…

Environmental concerns of sale of Maltese citizenship

·November 7, 2013
·Antoine Borg Micallef
·0 Comments

The soon to be legally implemented 'Citizenship by Investment' programme, or 'Direct Citizenship purchasing' programme, will provide an unknown influx of immigrants to our country. While opposing factions continue their debate on whether this move by the government is justifiable or not, I ponder on the possible environmental repercussions (if…

Polymer money – Sustainability in your pockets!

·September 10, 2013
·Antoine Borg Micallef
·0 Comments

Throughout history, humans developed interesting ways of securing things that they require. Ancient civilisations practiced trading and bartering as a means of acquiring goods, until this very unreliable method was replaced with the introduction of money - a distinguishable object that carries a fixed value. Early civilisations minted coins of…