Opinion • February 29 2004

Stonehenge vs Mnajdra!

Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando draws parallels between what is planned for Stonehenge and Mnajdra and points out that what Malta is planning is symptomatic of our lack of respect for each other
An issue which made the news in the UK as well as Euronews in the past days makes interesting reading. The British government plans to construct a road tunnel under Stonehenge. The prehistoric site, which is considered to be something of a national monument, has a busy road in the vicinity and campaigners have been urging government to re-route it for several years. Under the plans the A303, which is clogged with traffic in the height of the tourist season, would be widened and taken under the famous stones in a 1.3 mile long tunnel. The 183 million pound sterling scheme is designed to return the Salisbury plain in Wiltshire to its original, unspoilt and typically chalky appearance and would be accompanied by a new 57 million visitors’ centre built outside the World Heritage Site. English Heritage is backing the proposal. Some environmental NGOs, including Friends of the Earth, want the tunnel to be longer to distance traffic from the remains even further.
In Malta we are faced with a different kind of proposal for a World Heritage Site. Up to 3 million liri may be spent on developing a rubbish dump within the limits of a proposed Archaeological Park! The disused quarries where the proposed landfills would be set up would be an ideal site for a visitors’ centre. Any buildings constructed to house the centre in the quarries would have a minimal visual impact as they would be below ground level. Heritage Malta was not consulted before the temple landfill proposal was put forward, and it is completely and strongly against it.
The English experts commissioned to carry out the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Mnajdra landfill proposal were asked a very direct question last December. Would they ever contemplate the possibility of having a waste landfill next to Stonehenge? They were very evasive and stuttered to give an answer, citing Malta’s size as an excuse. The assessment they presented supports the claims that no damage would be caused to our prehistoric treasures by the gases which inevitably emanate from a landfill accepting mixed waste even up to fifty years after it is closed down. The impact of diesel fumes originating from the heavy increase in traffic concomitant with such activities is not even contemplated. These selfsame experts actually admit in the same report that they have not carried out studies to assess the effect of gaseous emissions on the limestone. Given this, how they can be so sure that we are not faced with a situation where we have to sit by and watch as irreversible erosion eats away at the megaliths is anyone’s guess. ‘Future generations will not only judge us by what we build but also by what we refuse to destroy.’
We have had, in the past days, several individuals arguing that our main industry, tourism, is being harmed because we don’t have enough golf courses on this tiny island. Others have been saying that if we prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants we will drive tourists away. Don’t these people realise that the main thing that’s putting tourists off is our lack of respect for our environment? Ours is a unique country. We are blessed with arguably the largest concentration of historical sites in the world yet we are contemplating turning them into garbage tips! We are blessed with crystal clear blue seas and yet we allow large fish farms to be developed at the mouth of our most popular bays. Our countryside, with its quaint wayside chapels, ancient farmhouses, rubble walls and narrow lanes is ideal for walks if you’re so inclined yet we’re allowing it to progressively disappear to satisfy our building frenzy. The traffic situation is chaotic, leading to high levels of air pollution, yet we continue to accept inefficient and monopolistic taxi and bus services. Wardens penalise us unmercifully for parking infringements, but never book anyone for the illegal tipping which is still rampant all over the islands.
If we really want to attract tourists we should start respecting our natural and historical heritage. We are failing miserably on both counts. Tourism is not the only consideration of course. Our quality of life is also at stake. Our lack of respect for our country is symptomatic of our lack of respect for ourselves.