Looking back on the past decade, one would think that these last years were indelibly marked by war, desolation and economic depression: from 9/11 and the threat of terrorism, to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, to the worsening prospects from climate change and the continued recession… the turn of the century certainly doesn’t conjure merry prospects for the immediate future.
The resilience of society proves how resourceful the human spirit can be, and how we strive for better things and soldier on even in the most adverse of conditions. Perhaps it is this inner resilience of humanity in general that proves to be the most striking characteristic we have in our lives.
From the ravages of life in war-torn areas like Baghdad and Gaza, right here to the relative stability and comfort of our lives, people strive to move on against the adversity they encounter every day. At all times, people try to survive and make ends meet in dire conditions of poverty, starvation, disease and war. Even underneath the comforting patina of our own consumerist lifestyle lie the unspoken fears of illness, loneliness, anxiety, and economic uncertainty. Many of us trudge onwards, without ever sharing a word of the hardship we battle against… and many of us also walk on, never enquiring about the hardship being faced by others.
2010 will no doubt be a difficult year. Employment in general faces a trying time, the country’s energy needs will have to be reassessed if we are to shake off our dependency on oil and maximise on renewable alternatives, the hiked energy costs also raise fears of new inflationary pressures… after the subdued merriment of this week’s Christmas, the New Year brings with it with ominous prospects. Businesses will also be challenged by next year’s energy hike, and they will also face some difficult decisions.
It is not a customary message to impart from the columns of a newspaper editorial: but it is hoped that we can move on into the next year with a renewed sense of concern, tolerance, respect and charity for others. It is hoped we can prove to be as resilient as possible when we take on the challenges life throws at us, and that we will be there to help others.
When faced with dire economic conditions, it is usually the most vulnerable people who tend to suffer. Take for example the depiction of single mothers as a ‘drain’ on the economy right before the Budget. Political tactics like these exploit the vulnerability of unpopular groups of people to use them as scapegoats during harsh times. When faced with such declarations, it is only true and factual information that helps us understand the veracity of such political claims.
***
Throughout this year, MaltaToday has constantly sought to deliver unfettered, off-diary news reports. We kept up a tradition of investigative journalism and no-nonsense political analysis. The pressures faced by the government of the day have certainly proven to be much fodder for any self-respecting newspaper. We have also talked about an Opposition that is keen not to appear too confrontational or controversial, an attitude that has made short shrift of its leader’s claim of progressiveness. Here at MaltaToday we jealously guard our editorial independence, and it has been the hallmark of our journalism from the inception of this newspaper.
The downside is that much of our reporting often results in some harsh criticism: after all, keeping politicians and decision-makers accountable and bringing them to book often means striking at the heart of the comfortable networks of friends and associates. Faced with this zeal to point how conflicts of interest, nepotism, and politically motivated decisions lead to abuse, wastage and injustice, it is no wonder that critics are uncomfortable with the existence of this newspaper.
Time and again, we have sought to serve readers with reports and stories about political decisions that affect them personally. From direct orders issued indiscriminately by government ministers, to the environmental disaster taking place beneath us in our underwater supplies, our lives are affected by the decisions taken by politicians. They determine the amount of tax we pay at the end of the year… and by the same token, they determine the quality of life we will have.
From this perspective, it is difficult to understand how some people can continue to insist that the political class – or at least, one half of it – ought to be somehow above criticism or reproach, when by the very nature of their profession, politicians are supposed to be accountable to the general public before anyone else.
We shall therefore take the opportunity of the New Year festivities to wish all our readers the best for 2010, and to renew our newspaper’s commitment to a more transparent, accountable and open country at all levels.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Search:
MALTATODAY
BUSINESSTODAY
Download MaltaToday Sunday issue front page in pdf file format
