STQARRIJA

25 ta' Novembru 1999

BUDGET LI JOLQOT HAZIN LILL-'WAGE EARNERS'


Dan il-Budget rega ffoka fuq l-'wage earners' u t-tassazzjoni tax-xoghol
(taxes on labour). Xhieda ta' dan hija z-zieda fl-income tax fuq min jdahhal
bejn il-Lm5,500 u l-Lm10,000, li m'huma hadd hlief nies bil-paga li qed
irabbu familja. Kurjuz ghalhekk kif ir-rati tat-taxxa fuq d-dhul baqghu
l-istess ghal min idahhal minn Lm10,000 il' fuq.

Din it-'tradizzjoni' li l-gvern idur fuq min qieghed bil-paga u ta'
tassazzjoni fuq ix-xoghol ghandha tieqaf. Alternattiva Demokratika
tipproponi li l-emfasi tat-tassazzjoni m'ghandhiex tibqa' fuq ix-xoghol izda
ghandha tmur fuq t-tniggis u fuq l-uzu ta' l-energija. Dan billi jonqsu
t-taxxi fuq id-dhul u jizdiedu fuq affarijiet li dak li jkun jistgha
jikkontrolla l-konsum tieghu. F'dan il-budget il-gvern qaras lill-impjegati
miz-zewg nahat, billi intaxxa aktar id-dhul mix-xoghol taghhom u fl-istess
waqt zied it-taxxa fuq l-energija (ez. Il-petrol).

Il-bidla ta' enfasi minn fuq it-tassazzjoni tax-xoghol ghal ghal
eko-tassazzjoni tkun tfisser li l-konsum bazinku tas' per ezempju l-ilma u
l-elettriku ikun b'xejn mentri konsum oltre l-bzonn baziku ikunu intaxxati b
'rati reali. Fl-istess waqt it-tnaqqis ta' tassazzjoni fuq l-income
jaghmilha aktar irhis lill-employer jimpjega n-nies u ghalhekk jincentiva
l-kreazzjoni ta' mpjiegi godda.

Alternattiva Demokratika tipproponi ukoll li fl-istess waqt t-taxxa fuq
'renewable energy' titnehha kompletament.

FL-ahharnett Alternattiva Demokratika turi t-thassib tagghha
mid-dikjarazzjonijiet tal-Ministru Dalli li qal li jrid inaqqas in-nefqa
pubblika f'oqsma importanti socjalment bhall-edukazzjoni u s-sahha.


Ralph Cassar
PRO

Ralph Cassar
Email1: racas@...
Email2: cssrrlph@...
ICQ#: 33195963

----- Original Message -----
From: ARNOLD CASSOLA <acas2@...>
To: <racas@...>; <markc@...>;
<hcvassallo@...>; <cachia@...>;
<mariomallia@...>
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 1999 4:29 PM
Subject: Stqarrija urgenti Arnold


MOTION IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HIGHLIGHTS NEGATIVE STATE OF ENVIRONMENT
IN MALTA
>
by Dr Arnold Cassola
European Union Affairs Spokesperson
Alternattiva Demokratika

   A resolution to be presented in the European Parliament plenary
session next week mentions the negative state of the environment in
Malta, the serious problems of waste management, and the possibility of
such problem aggravating with the substitution of glass bottles by
plastic ones.
   In a long motion for resolution, which includes various topics, The
Greens in the European welcome the beginning of bilateral negotiation
talks with the candidate countries, ask for all candidate countries to
be given permanent observer status at the forthcoming Intergovernmental
Conference(IGC) and recommend transitional periods on a case by case
basis to safeguard the specific social, environmental and economic
concern of each country.
   The part of the motion for a resolution concerning enlargement is to
be found below

Dr Arnold Cassola




> Motion for a resolution «On the preparation of the meeting of the European
Council in Helsinki on 10-11 December 1999»
>
> Pursuant to Rule 37(2) of the Rules of Procedure
> By Mrs Hautala, Mr Lannoye and Mrs Maes
> On behalf of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament
>
> The European Parliament,
>
> having regard to the statement by the Council and Commission on
preparations for the European Council meeting in Helsinki on 10 and 11
December 1999,
>
> having regard to the work done by the Finnish Presidency;
>
> having regard to the agenda of the European Council in Helsinki;
>
> Having regard to the conclusion of the European Councils of Copenhagen,
Essen, Madrid, Luxembourg and Cologne,
>
> Having regard to its resolutions on the strategy for the European Union
with regard to its enlargement, in particular to its resolution on the
Communication from the Commission 'Agenda 2000 * For a stronger and wider
Union' (A4-0368/97),
>
> Having regard to the Commission communication of 13 October 1999
containing the 1999 regular reports on the applicant countries' progress

[omissis]

Enlargement
>
> Welcomes the proposal of the Commission to open bilateral negotiations
with all applicant countries which comply with the political criteria for
accession, whereas the current practice to negotiate only with those
countries that are supposed to be able in the medium term to take on all
membership obligations has proven to be damaging in both political and
economic terms for the countries excluded from bilateral negotiations and
has frustrated the hopes of the population in these countries;
>
> Calls upon the Council to lay down the conditions for the strengthening of
the European Conference as an essential multilateral forum for political
cooperation on issues related to the Common Foreign and Security Policy and
to Justice and Home Affairs, as well as for the involvement of the applicant
countries in the development of EU policies including the institutional
reforms;
>
> Believes that the conclusion of bilateral readmission agreements has to be
based on the respect of the right of asylum, calls further upon the Council
and the Member States to consider the suspension of their bilateral
agreements with the applicant countries on the readmission of refugees as
long as, due to the lack of financial and institutional resources, the right
of asylum can not be guaranteed by the applicant countries; calls equally
upon the Council to exclude the so-called clause type;

draws its attention to the lacunae existing in many candidate countries
regarding protection of minorities;

> insists further that EU financed investments and projects are inscribed in
an integrated and self-sustained development approach, thus providing that
the occupational, and environmental impact as well as the use of regional
resources are determinant for the selection of projects to be financed,
whereas available financial resources have to be re-oriented in order to
allow investments for small scale infrastructural projects adequate to the
needs of local and regional communities,
>
> believes that a very sensitive time balance must be held between the
integration in the internal market and the adoption of the acquis in the
social and environmental field, recommends therefore that agreements on
transitional arrangements in areas of environment and energy shall be
concluded on a case-by-case approach and after the evaluation of their
impact in the light of the social, environmental and economic concerns
common to both the EU and the applicant countries;
>
> Calls upon the Commission and the Council to provide the appropriate
financial and technical assistance to accelerate the closing down of
non-upgradable nuclear reactors in the applicant countries,with regard in
particular to social and economic implications; urges, in this respect, a
more strict approach to be taken in insisting on agreement to previously
agreed closure dates;
>
> Proposes to confer the status of permanent observers to representative
parliamentary delegations of the applicant countries, thus to strengthen
interparliamentary cooperation, mutual understanding and to support the
public debate on enlargement in the applicant countries;
>
> Welcomes the proposal of the Commission to grant the candidate status to
Turkey provided that the EU lays down a concrete strategy to prepare this
country for accession and engages in a genuine dialogue aimed at bringing
about the necessary changes in the Turkish society and legislation with
regard, in particular, to the development of democracy, the abolition of the
death penalty, the respect for human, peoples and minority rights and of the
rule of law;
>
> Stresses the negative environmental situation in Malta as stated by the
Commission in the relevant progress report but points out the contradictions
of the EU policies towards this country with the request to abolish the law
on recyclable glass bottles which outlawed the importation of mineral drinks
in plastic bottles that if implemented can only aggravate the present
situation;
>
> Welcomes the decision of Mr. Denktash to attend the proximity talks
organized by the UN in New and insists  on the Council and the Commission to
make every effort so as to involve the representatives of the Cypriot
Turkish community in the ongoing negotiations between Cyrpus and the EU;
>

[omissis]

> Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European
Council, the Council, the Commission and the different parliaments of the
Members States.
>
>

harry vassallo wrote:
>
> From: "harry vassallo" <hcvassallo@...>
>
> For completeness I must add that I did not attend the meeting with George
> Vella( bi-location is not yet one of the chairperson's many talents ! I was
> running around preparing press statements and the Checnya protest letter).
>
> However, reading left to right, one comes to the inevitable conclusion that
> before the PN drags us all kicking and screaming into the EU, the MLP has
> sneaked us into the U.S. of A - politics with no discernible left !!
> Harry
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Stephen Cachia <cachia@...>
> To: <Alternattiva@onelist.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 6:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [Alternattiva] New Labour: Cheap Labour? Xenophobia?
>
> > From: "Stephen Cachia" <cachia@...>
> >
> > Dear Michael,
> > Gavin Gulia did not say this in such explicit terms but the implications
> > were clear, when he implied that Labour agreed with the security aspects
> of
> > the Schengen treaty. However this is my reading of Gulia's speech. Others
> > can perhaps confirm or clarify...
> >
> > George Vella did not attend the conference. However during a meeting on
> > Friday with Thierry Boumedienne, the Green MEP attending the conference,
> he
> > implied that Malta could not afford to adopt certain aspects of the social
> > charter so as not to lose our competitiveness. Arnold and Harry, who were
> > present for the meeting, can furnish you with more details.
> >
> > Gavin Gulia seemed to have a prepared speech. Mario Mallia may have a
> copy.
> >
> > To conclude, as James debono noted during the conference: 'What's left of
> > the left in Labour?' So true!
> >
> > Stephen Cachia
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: michael briguglio <mbrig@...>
> > To: <alternattiva@onelist.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 12:19 PM
> > Subject: [Alternattiva] New Labour: Cheap Labour? Xenophobia?
> >
> >
> > > From: "michael briguglio" <mbrig@...>
> > >
> > > Is it true that during the conference re. immigration Gavin Gulia stated
> > > that New Labour is anti-EU but pro-Schengen Treaty?
> > >
> > > Is it true that during the same conference George Vella stated that New
> > > Labour is against the EU's social charter?
> > >
> > > What next from New Labour????
> > >
> > > Did New Labour present any papers for the conference? If so, can I
> obtain
> > a
> > > copy? You see, my M.A. dissertation is about the Ideological and
> Strategic
> > > Shifts from Old Labour to New Labour....
> > >
> > > Cheers, and congratulations for the conference.
> > >
> > > Michael
> > >
> > > > Community email addresses:
> > >   Post message: Alternattiva@onelist.com
> > >   Subscribe:    Alternattiva-subscribe@onelist.com
> > >   Unsubscribe:  Alternattiva-unsubscribe@onelist.com
> > >   List owner:   Alternattiva-owner@onelist.com
> > >
> > > Shortcut URL to this page:
> > >   http://www.onelist.com/community/Alternattiva
> > >
> >
> > > Community email addresses:
> >   Post message: Alternattiva@onelist.com
> >   Subscribe:    Alternattiva-subscribe@onelist.com
> >   Unsubscribe:  Alternattiva-unsubscribe@onelist.com
> >   List owner:   Alternattiva-owner@onelist.com
> >
> > Shortcut URL to this page:
> >   http://www.onelist.com/community/Alternattiva
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Community email addresses:
>   Post message: Alternattiva@onelist.com
>   Subscribe:    Alternattiva-subscribe@onelist.com
>   Unsubscribe:  Alternattiva-unsubscribe@onelist.com
>   List owner:   Alternattiva-owner@onelist.com
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
>   http://www.onelist.com/community/Alternattiva

Being two in one is already a good step towards divinity, harry.
Ciao,
Arnold

For completeness I must add that I did not attend the meeting with George
Vella( bi-location is not yet one of the chairperson's many talents ! I was
running around preparing press statements and the Checnya protest letter).

However, reading left to right, one comes to the inevitable conclusion that
before the PN drags us all kicking and screaming into the EU, the MLP has
sneaked us into the U.S. of A - politics with no discernible left !!
Harry

----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Cachia <cachia@...>
To: <Alternattiva@onelist.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Alternattiva] New Labour: Cheap Labour? Xenophobia?


> From: "Stephen Cachia" <cachia@...>
>
> Dear Michael,
> Gavin Gulia did not say this in such explicit terms but the implications
> were clear, when he implied that Labour agreed with the security aspects
of
> the Schengen treaty. However this is my reading of Gulia's speech. Others
> can perhaps confirm or clarify...
>
> George Vella did not attend the conference. However during a meeting on
> Friday with Thierry Boumedienne, the Green MEP attending the conference,
he
> implied that Malta could not afford to adopt certain aspects of the social
> charter so as not to lose our competitiveness. Arnold and Harry, who were
> present for the meeting, can furnish you with more details.
>
> Gavin Gulia seemed to have a prepared speech. Mario Mallia may have a
copy.
>
> To conclude, as James debono noted during the conference: 'What's left of
> the left in Labour?' So true!
>
> Stephen Cachia
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: michael briguglio <mbrig@...>
> To: <alternattiva@onelist.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 12:19 PM
> Subject: [Alternattiva] New Labour: Cheap Labour? Xenophobia?
>
>
> > From: "michael briguglio" <mbrig@...>
> >
> > Is it true that during the conference re. immigration Gavin Gulia stated
> > that New Labour is anti-EU but pro-Schengen Treaty?
> >
> > Is it true that during the same conference George Vella stated that New
> > Labour is against the EU's social charter?
> >
> > What next from New Labour????
> >
> > Did New Labour present any papers for the conference? If so, can I
obtain
> a
> > copy? You see, my M.A. dissertation is about the Ideological and
Strategic
> > Shifts from Old Labour to New Labour....
> >
> > Cheers, and congratulations for the conference.
> >
> > Michael
> >
> > > Community email addresses:
> >   Post message: Alternattiva@onelist.com
> >   Subscribe:    Alternattiva-subscribe@onelist.com
> >   Unsubscribe:  Alternattiva-unsubscribe@onelist.com
> >   List owner:   Alternattiva-owner@onelist.com
> >
> > Shortcut URL to this page:
> >   http://www.onelist.com/community/Alternattiva
> >
>
> > Community email addresses:
>   Post message: Alternattiva@onelist.com
>   Subscribe:    Alternattiva-subscribe@onelist.com
>   Unsubscribe:  Alternattiva-unsubscribe@onelist.com
>   List owner:   Alternattiva-owner@onelist.com
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
>   http://www.onelist.com/community/Alternattiva
>

>Worth one minute of your time....
>
>The Hunger Site at the U.N.

http://www.thehungersite.com

>
>Hi Friends,
>
>This is a really an amazing website. All you do is click a button and
>somewhere in the world a hungry person gets a meal to eat at no cost to
>you. The food is paid for by corporate sponsors. All you do is go to the
>site and click. But, you're only allowed one click per day so spread the
>word to others. A good idea would be to make this your browser start up
>page and click once just before starting the rest of your browsing. It
>won't get in the way, I assure you.
>
>Visit the site and pass the word.
>

Michael,
Waqt il-konferenza l-aktar diskors favur kontrolli sar minn Gavin
Gulia.....Mario Mallia qed jipprova igib kopja ta' l-intervent tieghu....kif
ikollna nghaddulek....sa l-ahhar tas-sena nkunu nistghu intuk ukoll report
qasir dwar il-konferenza............Rigward George Vella, iltqajna mieghu
jien, Arnold, l-MEP u l-adviser taghha..........(mhux fil-konferenza)....qal
li certi aspetti tas-social charter ma jghoddux ghal Malta semma bhala
ezempju li f'ditta partikolari (kienet ovvja li qed jirreferi ghall-SGS
Thomson (issa ST Microelectronics)) in-nisa jahdmu 12 il-gimgha, 12
il-siegha is-sibt u 12 il-hadd xi haga hekk) u ma jahdmux mit-tnejn
tal-hamis u qal li dan ma jkunx possibbli fl-UE minhabba is-socila chartet
li jillimita s-sieghat ta' xoghol u l-overtime.....semma iz-ziediet
fil-costs tal-produzzjoni minhabba zidiet fil-pagi etc........sar xi
rapportagg fuq TVM (20 November), izda press ohrajn ma gewx forsi
tistghatakkwista l-iscript..........jekk trid forsi tistgha tkellem lill-MEP
ALima Boumedienne Thierry ghal veduti taghha fuq is-suggett ghat-tezi
tieghek!(Arnold ikun jaf kif tistgha tikkuntattjha)

Ralph
----- Original Message -----
From: michael briguglio <mbrig@...>
To: <alternattiva@onelist.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 12:19 PM
Subject: [Alternattiva] New Labour: Cheap Labour? Xenophobia?


> From: "michael briguglio" <mbrig@...>
>
> Is it true that during the conference re. immigration Gavin Gulia stated
> that New Labour is anti-EU but pro-Schengen Treaty?
>
> Is it true that during the same conference George Vella stated that New
> Labour is against the EU's social charter?
>
> What next from New Labour????
>
> Did New Labour present any papers for the conference? If so, can I obtain
a
> copy? You see, my M.A. dissertation is about the Ideological and Strategic
> Shifts from Old Labour to New Labour....
>
> Cheers, and congratulations for the conference.
>
> Michael
>
> > Community email addresses:
>   Post message: Alternattiva@onelist.com
>   Subscribe:    Alternattiva-subscribe@onelist.com
>   Unsubscribe:  Alternattiva-unsubscribe@onelist.com
>   List owner:   Alternattiva-owner@onelist.com
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
>   http://www.onelist.com/community/Alternattiva
>

Dear Michael,
Gavin Gulia did not say this in such explicit terms but the implications
were clear, when he implied that Labour agreed with the security aspects of
the Schengen treaty. However this is my reading of Gulia's speech. Others
can perhaps confirm or clarify...

George Vella did not attend the conference. However during a meeting on
Friday with Thierry Boumedienne, the Green MEP attending the conference, he
implied that Malta could not afford to adopt certain aspects of the social
charter so as not to lose our competitiveness. Arnold and Harry, who were
present for the meeting, can furnish you with more details.

Gavin Gulia seemed to have a prepared speech. Mario Mallia may have a copy.

To conclude, as James debono noted during the conference: 'What's left of
the left in Labour?' So true!

Stephen Cachia

----- Original Message -----
From: michael briguglio <mbrig@...>
To: <alternattiva@onelist.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 12:19 PM
Subject: [Alternattiva] New Labour: Cheap Labour? Xenophobia?


> From: "michael briguglio" <mbrig@...>
>
> Is it true that during the conference re. immigration Gavin Gulia stated
> that New Labour is anti-EU but pro-Schengen Treaty?
>
> Is it true that during the same conference George Vella stated that New
> Labour is against the EU's social charter?
>
> What next from New Labour????
>
> Did New Labour present any papers for the conference? If so, can I obtain
a
> copy? You see, my M.A. dissertation is about the Ideological and Strategic
> Shifts from Old Labour to New Labour....
>
> Cheers, and congratulations for the conference.
>
> Michael
>
> > Community email addresses:
>   Post message: Alternattiva@onelist.com
>   Subscribe:    Alternattiva-subscribe@onelist.com
>   Unsubscribe:  Alternattiva-unsubscribe@onelist.com
>   List owner:   Alternattiva-owner@onelist.com
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
>   http://www.onelist.com/community/Alternattiva
>

>From: "moviment graffitti" <movgraff@...>
>To: info@..., mahniexxiwilde@...,
>choppy@..., JZAMMIT@..., tmid@...,
>editorial@..., lcac001@..., aleks@...,
>cory@..., digest@..., thevoice@...,
>we@..., xarabank@...
>CC: mbrig@...
>Subject: BUDGET
>Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 07:53:34 PST
>
>MOVIMENT GRAFFITTI
>PO BOX 24 SLIEMA MALTA
>www.geocities.com/movimentgraffitti
>
>STQARRIJA MEDIA: 24-11-99
>IL-BUDGET
>
>Il-Moviment Graffitti  minnkejja li japprezza il-mizuri ta’dixxiplina biex
>jikkontrollaw l-abbuzi fin-nefqa pubblika, isostni li l-budget ma kienx
>socjalment gust u kien nieqes minn mizuri favur is-sostenibilita
>ambjentali.
>
>L-impatt socjali tal-budget kien wiehed li jivvantagja lill-dawk li
>jaqilghu l-aktar ghax dawn ma gewx affetwati mir-riforma fl-income tax.
>Minnkejja li naqblu mal-fatt  li r-riforma fl-income tax ma laqtitx
>lill-klassi tal-haddiema u laqtet principalment lil dawk li jaqilghu
>salarji ta’ l-fuq minn 5,500 lira fis-sena, ma nistghux nifmhu ghaliex dawk
>li jaqilghu l’fuq minn 10,000 lira fis-sena se jibqghu bl-istess rata
>ta’taxxa.  Il-Moviment Grafitti jinnota wkoll li permezz tas-sistema
>ta’refunds fil-VAT, in-negozjanti mhux ser jigu affetwati miz-zieda
>fil-prezz tal-petrol u t-telefon. Il-piz ta’dawn iz-ziediet flimkien
>maz-zieda fir-rata tan-National Insurance  se  jgorruh l-aktar il-klassi
>tal-haddiema u gruppi socjali ohra li m’ghandhomx sahha ekonomika.  IL-lira
>zieda fil-Gimgha u l-ghotja ta’ darba ta’ 10 liri lil kull persuna mhix se
>tkun kumpens xieraq ghal dawn il-mizuri.
>
>Il-budget kien nieqes minn kull konsiderazzjoni ambejntali. L-ispekulaturi,
>li huma fost l-aktar klassi ta’nies sinjuri f’Malta u li jaghmlu l-akbar
>hsara lill-ambjent, wkoll ibbenefikaw mil-budget minnhabba t-tnaqqis
>fil-boll fuq trasferiment ta’propjeta.  Kien ikun jaghmel aktar sens kieku
>l-gvern impona taxxa fuq propjetajiet mizmuma vojta mill-istess spekulaturi
>tal-art.
>
>Il-Moviment Graffitti jaqbel kompletament ma kull mizura li tikkontraolla
>s-serq minn fondi pubblici li jaghmlu dawk li jabbuzaw mill-beneficji
>socjali tal-qghad, mis-servizzi tas-sahha u mill-overtime fejn m’ hemmx
>bzonn.  Nistennew ukoll mizuri konkreti kontra l-evazjoni fiskali
>specjalment fost il-proffessjonisti u n-negozzjanti.
>
>Dwar il-privatizazzjoni il-Moviment Graffitti isaqsi:  Din ser tkun
>privatizazzjoni li tbiegh pajjizna bic-cicri li taghti kontrol assolut
>lill-kumpaniji multi nazzjonali kif gara fil-kaz tal-bejgh tal-Mid Med Bank
>jew ser tinvolvi strategic partners biex iziedu l-efficjenza ta’certi
>azzjendi pubblici?
>
>James Debono
>Ufficjal Relazzjonijiet Pubblici
>Moviment Graffitti
>
>

>From: "moviment graffitti" <movgraff@...>
>To: AGITPROP_NEWS@..., BARNSLEYCAMPAIGN@...,
>cubasc@..., mahniexxiwilde@...,
>j18discussion@..., choppy@..., Snide@...,
>JZAMMIT@..., mail@..., mclibel@...,
>lcac001@..., nattyreb@..., ni@..., aleks@...,
>cory@..., digest@..., we@...,
>xarabank@..., yabasta@..., europa@...
>CC: mbrig@...
>Subject: EUROPEAN UNION
>Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 07:50:45 PST
>
>MOVIMENT GRAFFITTI
>PO BOX 24 SLIEMA MALTA
>www.geocities.com/movimentgraffitti
>
>Please find enclosed a review by James Debono (International Secretary and
>P.R.O.)of the recent internal discussion which Moviment Graffitti held
>regarding Malta's EU membership bid.
>
>Michael Briguglio - General Secretary
>

Is it true that during the conference re. immigration Gavin Gulia stated
that New Labour is anti-EU but pro-Schengen Treaty?

Is it true that during the same conference George Vella stated that New
Labour is against the EU's social charter?

What next from New Labour????

Did New Labour present any papers for the conference? If so, can I obtain a
copy? You see, my M.A. dissertation is about the Ideological and Strategic
Shifts from Old Labour to New Labour....

Cheers, and congratulations for the conference.

Michael

----- Original Message -----
From: Planet Ark <wenremote@...>
To: <racas@...>
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 11:15 AM
Subject: World Environment News - November 23, 1999 from Planet Ark


> ================================================================
> World Environment News - November 23, 1999 from Planet Ark
> =================================================================
>
> Here are today's Reuters 'World Environment News' headlines.
>
> Click on the link below the headline to check out the full story,
> or go to the Planet Ark news page at http://www.planetark.org/news/
>
>
> FEATURE - GM soybeans putting deep roots in Illinois farms - USA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4785
>
> UK shoppers distrust food safety pledges - survey - UK
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4783
>
> UK to host international GM meeting in Edinburgh - UK
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4787
>
> S.Korea to start GMO labelling before April, 2001 - SOUTH KOREA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4786
>
> Dutch environmental groups to appeal dam decision - NETHERLANDS
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4781
>
> FEATURE - Tasty earnings fuel European organic sector - NETHERLANDS
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4784
>
> Partial lifting of ivory trade ban too soon - Kenya - KENYA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4778
>
> Dense smog chokes Cairo again - EGYPT
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4779
>
> China imports GMO soybeans - U.S. trade group - CHINA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4788
>
> FOCUS - Ottawa to block water exports from Great Lakes - CANADA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4780
>
> Spirits low as Brazil alcohol car in trouble anew - BRAZIL
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4777
>
> FEATURE - Austria snubs GM crops as "forbidden fruit" - AUSTRIA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4782
>
>
> Check out the latest Reuters Environment News Photographs:
> http://www.planetark.org/envpicshome.cfm
>
> Remember to click on the small pics to see the bigger ones!
>
> Listen to the latest 'Pulse of the Planet' radio broadcast.
> This needs RealPlayer G2 available via Planet Ark -
> listen to the show in mono 28kbps or stereo 56kbps formats:
> http://www.planetark.org/pulse.cfm
>
> Want to recycle your steel cans?  Check out:
> http://www.steelcans.com.au
>
> Want to recycle your milk cartons?  Check out:
> http://www.planetark.org/cartons/carton.html
>
>
> This service is brought to you thanks to sponsorship from
> U.S. says environment will be priority in WTO talksReuters and The Body
> Shop - check them out via:
> www.reuters.com and www.bodyshop.com
>
> =================================================================
> 'World Environment News' is copyright (c) Planet Ark 1999
> All headlines are copyright (c) Reuters 1999
> =================================================================
>
>
>

It is very difficult to talk of privatisation without reference to concrete
cases.

In fact I am convinced that every case has to be addressed separately. In
general one must assume that a privatised industry will function better because
it is directly subject to market rules and has to serve its customers or sink.
It will also be free of the interference of politicians who have a history of
featherbedding their clients in public corporations rendering these enterprises
inefficient and burdening their productive workforce with a wide spectrum of
unproductive, politics-generated employment unrelated to the needs of the
industry. The sooner the politicians get out of it the better.

Ownership of such Public Corporations - Once privatised it is clear that
excellent arguments exist to (a) encourage private ownership by small local
investors and (b) the idea of acquiring the benefits of being associated with a
strategic investor being a world player in the industry. At the end of the day
it is not possible to restrict the sale of shares once an industry has been
privatised and the small local investors may choose to sell out the next day to
foreign investors if they choose.

A significant consideration is that, as it is, Maltese investors already own an
estimated 2 billion dollars in foreign companies.They should be allowed to
invest wherever they think they will earn best, directly in Malta, abroad in
industires unrelated to Malta and possibly in stocks of the foreign investor
participating in the privatisation of Maltese corporations. So from this point
of view Maltese ownership of Maltese Corporations is a rather narrow and
possibly untenable stance. On this subject it would be of value to attract
Maltese money to local investment, whether privatised corporations or otherwise
by promoting viable and attractive investment opportunities in Malta. Maltese
investors know the territory and are more likely to invest here , all things
being equal, than foreigners who feel that they may be at a disadvantage without
good information of the local situation.

Except for the privatisation of Maltapost, which did not improve postal
services, it is reasonable to expect that the consumer will gain by
privatisation where it is conceiveable that public corporations will be exposed
to competition. Where government will be rid of a loss making
enterprise(unlikely) this will be of clear benefit to public accounts and will
free tax revenues for use in socially useful investment.

The major buts to privatisation relate to the shedding of excess workers and to
the security considerations that must be made in relation to energy and water
production. Omitting for the moment the major consideration of human hardship
involved, it would be unwise for the government to lose a source of revenue in
exchange for a one-off capital gain combined with a long term revenue loss
arising from the payment of unemployment benefits and the other social/welfare
costs that will be generated from a sharp rise in unemployment. I need not
stress that the horrors of unemployment must be avoided as far as possible.

It is generally omitted from public discussion that a small island state with a
population density as ours and no natural resources has to consider matters such
as the energy and water generation, air transport etc. as strategic security
issues besides being major economic issues. The failure, physical or economic,
of the power generator, however owned would lead to catastrophe incomparable to
that feared from the Y2K bug in many countries


Because of our size it is also difficult to imagine that privatisation can be
combined with free competition since many enterprises are natural monopolies in
this territory. In many cases it has been the experience of private industry to
suffer from excess capacity because of the small internal market. In such
circumstances the centralisation of certain services such as milk processing
energy/ water production are destined to remain monopolies and privatisation
will not bring the benefits to the consumer that free competition should bring
and will remain ,if privatised, subject to the control of a regulatory
body/authority with government and therefore political influence.

Privatisation inevitably means selling off the crown jewels. Can you imagine
investing your money in Malta Drydocks today? Lame ducks (elephants) will not be
snatched up by investors. It is pointless to talk of privatisation with regard
to the country's major economic problems, MDD and MSCL unless and until they are
economically viable: a catch 22 situation. With regard to the sale of crown
jewels the major misgivings arise with regard to how the capital gain to
government is employed. If it goes into the bread and circuses we are used to,
it would be plainly suicidal;  if it is employed to reduce the national debt or
to bring thousands of under/unemployed persons to productive employment
generating revenue and avoiding unemployment benefits, it begins to make sense.
Does government have the energy,imagination and political will to pursue such a
policy to success?

Another major consideration is the question of revenue: the figures quoted for
government employment vary from 30,000 to 55,000. Whatever the case, there is a
need for government to retain sufficient revenue to meet this recurrent
expenditure. It is already failing to do so. Making up for a growing shortfall
by taxing the productive portion of the working population risks depressing that
part of the ecomomy that carries all the rest.

In this context one must keep in mind that, even if the government can shift its
burden of excess staff to private industry, it will always require a number of
civil servants forming a much larger proportion of the total work force than
other larger countries. I add to this that even if the trick can be pulled so
that government only employs the staff it actually needs, the reduction in
numbers may be countered by the increase in total wage bill since the need is
for skilled and professional staff.

The global fashion of small government and privatisation has its clear
attractions especially for large countries. Malta is not and will never be the
United States and the idea of applying undiluted US macro-economic medicine to a
small island state such as ours, can be poisonous.

I remain of the opinion that AD's attitude to privatisation ought not to be
determined a priori but is to be formed on a case by case basis in the light of
the country's peculiar economic features and with a clear relation to the manner
in which such privatisation is to be conducted to obtain the best economic
reward to government in capital, to the economy by introducing the best
international players to this economic backwater and to invest the capital
generated in the best economic and social interests of the country.

Finally and vitally, greens must address the core question of the guesstimated
4-6000 jobs at risk in the process of restructuring the economy (EU or no EU).
There can be no debate on whether to restructure. No matter what the MLPN say
the country faces the dark abyss otherwise and the jobs at risk would be counted
in the tens of thousands. The question is how, when, how much, by what means.
And we are back to case by case proposals and responses.

It would be a dereliction of duty if we opt out of this major national issue.
Our stance as greens has to be based on the perception of un/under-employed
persons being a wasted resource primarily for themselves and their families and
secondly to the rest of the community. Our committment to a better quality of
life for all must be interpreted in whatever action we can take to promote the
retraining to productive employment of all persons. I do not advocate an
anti-privatisation stance as a matter of principle. I do urge for a national
programme of retraining particularily to assist unskilled labourers before
during and after any privatisation in order to avoid the result of any such
operation being a technical success at the cost of the patient's life.

Harry Vassallo

Ralph Cassar wrote:
>
> Naqbel perfettament.....anke kumpaniji li jhallu qliegh (jew
> dipartimenti) e.g. public lotto ma jaghmilx sens li
> jinbieghu..........
> dawk lli jinbieghu jkun tajjeb li jinbieghu lil hafna shareholders
> zghar........
> importanti il-'golden share' tal-istat.............
>
> JEKK JOGHOGOBKOM AGHTU L-VEDUTI TAGHKOM...ghandna bzonnhom ghax irridu
> naghmlu policy dwar is-suggett u ghandna laqgha ma' ufficcjali
> tal-World Bank dwar is-suggett nhar it-tlieta (22 Nov.)
>
> RALPH
>
>      ----- Original Message -----
>      From: Stephen Cachia
>      To: alternattiva@onelist.com
>      Sent: Sunday, November 21, 1999 7:35 PM
>      Subject: [Alternattiva] privatisation
>
>      Off the cuff, these are two points which I feel we should
>      emphasise re privatisation:
>
>      - essential service providers such as Water Services
>      Corporation and Enemalta should NOT be privatised;
>
>      - the HSBC/Mid Med model of privatisation should NOT be
>      adopted again. Privatisation by giving the opportunity of
>      buying shares to as wide a spectrum of people as possible
>      should be the model adopted.
>
>      Stephen Cachia


X'ghandu jkun ir-rwol ta' partner strategiku ta' fama internazzjonali?
Per ezempju, fil-qasam tal-Airlines u tat-telekomunikazzjonijiet,
l-ikbar kumpanniji qeghdin jinghaqdu bejniethom.
Jekk l-Air Malta u l-maltaCom ma jinghaqdux ma' dawn il-blokki
internazzjonali, ikunu jistghyu jissoppravvivu???

Arnold

Basically,

I believe that essential service providers such as Enemalta, Water Service
Corporation, Hospitals, etc.. should not be privatised. However they should
be made more efficient and accountable (f.eg consumers, environment, etc...)

The government should try to retain as much golden shares as possible.

The HSBC takeover type of privatisation should never be utilised again.

Michael Briguglio

----- Original Message -----
From: Planet Ark <wenremote@...>
To: <racas@...>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 1999 11:11 AM
Subject: World Environment News - November 22, 1999 from Planet Ark


> ================================================================
> World Environment News - November 22, 1999 from Planet Ark
> =================================================================
>
> Here are today's Reuters 'World Environment News' headlines.
>
> Click on the link below the headline to check out the full story,
> or go to the Planet Ark news page at http://www.planetark.org/news/
>
>
> Tax credit seen key boost for wind power industry - USA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4767
>
> Alaska may review BP/ARCo natgas, environment terms - USA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4768
>
> Lead, nickel, zinc rivals in electric vehicles - UK
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4766
>
> UK food scares boost organic sales 40 percent - UK
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4770
>
> FEATURE - Gene foods highlight worldwide splits on labels - UK
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4776
>
> FEATURE - CITES seen approving S.African ivory sale - SOUTH AFRICA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4771
>
> Mexico saltworks could harm environment - UN report - MEXICO
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4773
>
> Japan nuke town mayor laments 'polluted' stigma - JAPAN
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4769
>
> India should exploit non-GMO material-trade - INDIA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4764
>
> FEATURE - Indian tigers in danger of extinction - INDIA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4765
>
> Fischer urges German Greens to show unity - GERMANY
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4762
>
> German utility says anti-nuke law won't work - GERMANY
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4763
>
> Endangered cranes get refuge in Khmer Rouge dam - CAMBODIA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4774
>
> EU clamps down after dioxin found in German clay - BELGIUM
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4772
>
> FEATURE - Labels & labs - mission impossible in GM war - AUSTRALIA
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=4775
>
>
> Check out the latest Reuters Environment News Photographs:
> http://www.planetark.org/envpicshome.cfm
>
> Remember to click on the small pics to see the bigger ones!
>
> Listen to the latest 'Pulse of the Planet' radio broadcast.
> This needs RealPlayer G2 available via Planet Ark -
> listen to the show in mono 28kbps or stereo 56kbps formats:
> http://www.planetark.org/pulse.cfm
>
> Want to recycle your steel cans?  Check out:
> http://www.steelcans.com.au
>
> Want to recycle your milk cartons?  Check out:
> http://www.planetark.org/cartons/carton.html
>
>
> This service is brought to you thanks to sponsorship from
> U.S. says environment will be priority in WTO talksReuters and The Body
> Shop - check them out via:
> www.reuters.com and www.bodyshop.com
>
> =================================================================
> 'World Environment News' is copyright (c) Planet Ark 1999
> All headlines are copyright (c) Reuters 1999
> =================================================================
>
>
>

Wara l-izball tal-Mid Med, wiehed irid joqghod attent hafna li ma nkomplux
nbieghu l-ghamara ta' pajjizna.  Veru li on the short term inaqqsu d-dejn
tal-pajjiz izda din hija xi haga One off.  La darba tlifthom tlifthom.
Fejn jidhlu dipartimenti li ghandhom valur jew skop socjali dawn assolutament
m'ghandhomx jinbieghu.  L-Istat ghandu d-dmir li jipprotegi dawn is-servizzi
mill-kilba ta' dawk li mohhhom biss biex jaghmlu l-qligh.

Possibli li fil-laqgha mal-World bank, tissemma l-issue tad-dejn tal-Pajjizi
tat-tielet Dinja.  Veru li m'ghandhiex x'taqsam izda tajjeb li nuru l-pozizzjoni
taghhna daqstant vicin il-millenju l-gdid.?

James Camilleri
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Ralph Cassar
   To: Alternattiva@onelist.com
   Sent: Sunday, November 21, 1999 8:25 PM
   Subject: Re: [Alternattiva] privatisation


   Naqbel perfettament.....anke kumpaniji li jhallu qliegh (jew dipartimenti)
e.g. public lotto ma jaghmilx sens li jinbieghu..........
   dawk lli jinbieghu jkun tajjeb li jinbieghu lil hafna shareholders
zghar........
   importanti il-'golden share' tal-istat.............

   JEKK JOGHOGOBKOM AGHTU L-VEDUTI TAGHKOM...ghandna bzonnhom ghax irridu naghmlu
policy dwar is-suggett u ghandna laqgha ma' ufficcjali tal-World Bank dwar
is-suggett nhar it-tlieta (22 Nov.)

   RALPH
     ----- Original Message -----
     From: Stephen Cachia
     To: alternattiva@onelist.com
     Sent: Sunday, November 21, 1999 7:35 PM
     Subject: [Alternattiva] privatisation


     Off the cuff, these are two points which I feel we should emphasise re
privatisation:

     - essential service providers such as Water Services Corporation and
Enemalta should NOT be privatised;

     - the HSBC/Mid Med model of privatisation should NOT be adopted again.
Privatisation by giving the opportunity of buying shares to as wide a spectrum
of people as possible should be the model adopted.

     Stephen Cachia

Hello,

There is a new survey for the Alternattiva community.

Liema tahseb huma l-issues li gandna naghfsu
fuqhom bhala AD?

----

Possible answers are:

o Unjoni Ewropea
o GMOs - Genetically Modified Organisms
o Land use - e.g. golf course
o Waste management and Maghtab
o Privatization of State Owned Companies
o Other - (specify by sending e-mail message!)


To vote, please visit the following web page:

http://www.onelist.com/surveys/Alternattiva

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Survey votes are not collected
via email. To vote, you must go to the ONElist website.


Thanks!

Alternattiva Owner

----- Original Message -----
From: harry vassallo
To: EFGP@onelist.com
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 1999 3:20 PM
Subject: [EFGP] EFGP Med Network AD Cechnya Protest


Dear Friends,

Attached and below (for good measure) the text of an open letter presented to
the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Malta on Sat 21 November by me as
Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika (Malta Greens) and Alima Boumedienne
Thierry MEP (Les Verts France) for the Mediterranean Network of the EFGP meeting
in Malta (Seminar on Schengen and Migration in the Mediterranean). The letter
was also signed by representatives of NGOs and persons active in the field of
migration issues attending the seminar. The action was covered by print , radio
and TV media in Malta and was related to protests of EFGP member parties on this
issue.

Harry Vassallo
Chairperson
Alternattiva Demokratika





Alternattiva Demokratika together with the Mediterranean Network of the European
Federation of Green Parties meeting in Malta bring to the notice of his
Excellency the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Malta


That


Whereas the said organizations have cognizance of the military action undertaken
by the Russian Federation on the territory of the Cechen Republic;


Whereas the said military action has rendered hundreds of thousands of Chechen
civilians into refugees from the current conflict and caused thousands of
casualties among the said civilian population


Whereas there has been made no satisfactory correlation between terrorist
bombings which have been perpetrated in the Russian Federation raised in
justification of the Russian Federation's attack on Chechnya, which correlation
even if satisfactorily made would not justify the indiscriminate bombing of
unarmed civilians


Whereas the Khasav'yurt Agreement of 31st August 1996 on the principles of the
relationship between the Chechen Republic and the Russian Federation and the
Peace Accord of 12th May 1997 bind the parties never to use force in solving any
contentious issue and instead to develop their relationship according to
recognised principles of international law.


Whereas the military action of the Russian Federation is not sanctioned by any
organ of the UNO and constitutes an act of aggression in breach of treaty
obligations.


Whereas the claim of the Russian Federation that the current military action is
an internal matter intended for the eradication of terrorist groups is
unjustified in fact and in law and is belied by the very fact that thousands of
regular troops armed with missiles and heavy armaments are being employed and
have caused the death of thousands of civilians, rendered hundreds of thousands
of civilians into refugees from war and caused the destruction of villages,
hospitals and infrastructural facilities such as pipeline stations.


Whereas the current military action of the Russian Federation in Chechnya
threatens the neighbouring republics with environmental destruction, a danger
which arises from the fact that the said military action is taking place in
disregard of the fact that within the same area there exist a number of nuclear
waste storage sites which threaten to contaminate Chechnya and neighbouring
countries with radioactive fallout if they are hit by the missiles and other
weapons currently employed;




Whereas the said military action being in flagrant disregard of international
law and the treaty undertakings of the Russian Federation, cause a lasting
mistrust of the said Russian Federation in all States having relations with the
same Russian Federation to the detriment of the community of nations and in
particular to the States and Republics of the Russian Federation in the area


The said orgaizations actively condemn the current aggression of the Russian
Federation against Chechnya and call on the Russian Federation to suspend
immediately all military operations in Chechnya and immediately to undertake to
safeguard the lives and property of all Chechen people if necessary by asking
for the support of all states willing to assist in addressing the present
situation of the Chechen war refugees in Chechnya and neighbouring Republics in
terms of the decision of the OSCE Summit at Istanbul permitting that
organization to take action with regard to internal matters of member states and
in particular by permitting access to the area to journalists and members of
NGOs such as Amnesty International allowing a free scrutiny of the conduct of
affairs in Checnya

Naqbel perfettament.....anke kumpaniji li jhallu qliegh (jew dipartimenti) e.g.
public lotto ma jaghmilx sens li jinbieghu..........
dawk lli jinbieghu jkun tajjeb li jinbieghu lil hafna shareholders zghar........
importanti il-'golden share' tal-istat.............

JEKK JOGHOGOBKOM AGHTU L-VEDUTI TAGHKOM...ghandna bzonnhom ghax irridu naghmlu
policy dwar is-suggett u ghandna laqgha ma' ufficcjali tal-World Bank dwar
is-suggett nhar it-tlieta (22 Nov.)

RALPH
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Stephen Cachia
   To: alternattiva@onelist.com
   Sent: Sunday, November 21, 1999 7:35 PM
   Subject: [Alternattiva] privatisation


   Off the cuff, these are two points which I feel we should emphasise re
privatisation:

   - essential service providers such as Water Services Corporation and Enemalta
should NOT be privatised;

   - the HSBC/Mid Med model of privatisation should NOT be adopted again.
Privatisation by giving the opportunity of buying shares to as wide a spectrum
of people as possible should be the model adopted.

   Stephen Cachia

Off the cuff, these are two points which I feel we should emphasise re
privatisation:

- essential service providers such as Water Services Corporation and Enemalta
should NOT be privatised;

- the HSBC/Mid Med model of privatisation should NOT be adopted again.
Privatisation by giving the opportunity of buying shares to as wide a spectrum
of people as possible should be the model adopted.

Stephen Cachia

WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT PRIVATIZATION OF STATE-OWNED COMPANIES
BY MONDAY!!

PLEASE PASS ON YOUR COMMENTS TO alternattiva@onelist.com


Ralph Cassar
Email1: racas@...
Email2: cssrrlph@...
ICQ#: 33195963

19 November, Friday

Press Conference re. Waste Management, Bahar ic-Caghaq, near ice-cream
'gabbana', 4pm, Green European Member of Parliament Alima
Boumedienne-Thiery, addresses the conference.

Seminar on migration, Milano Due Hotel, Gzira
Opening 6pm.


20 November, Saturday

Seminar on migration, Milano Due Hotel, Gzira (from 9.00am)

IMPORTANT: 12.45pm Russian Embassy Kappara, presentation of open letter to
Ambassador re. situation in Chechnya.


21 November, Sunday

Seminar on migration, Milano Due Hotel, Gzira (9.30am)





Ralph Cassar
Email1: racas@...
Email2: cssrrlph@...
ICQ#: 33195963

>From: "moviment graffitti" <movgraff@...>
>To: mahniexxiwilde@..., choppy@...,
>JZAMMIT@..., tmid@..., lcac001@...,
>aleks@..., cory@..., digest@...,
>thevoice@..., we@..., xarabank@...
>CC: pulseuniv@..., sdm104@...
>Subject: UNJONI EWROPEJA
>Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 09:03:33 PST
>
>MOVIMENT GRAFFITTI
>PO BOX 24 SLIEMA MALTA
>movgraff@...
>www.geocities.com/movimentgraffitti
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>STQARRIJA MEDIA: 17-9-99
>MOVIMENT GRAFFITTI DWAR L-UNJONI EWROPEJA
>
>Il-Moviment Graffitti beda process ta’ diskussjonijiet interni dwar
>is-shubija ta’ Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropeja. Dan il-process beda b’diskussjoni
>nhar it-Tlieta 16 ta’ Novembru, fejn gew prezentati argumenti dwar oqsma
>varji bhax-xoghol u l-qghad, ambjent, newtralita’, health and safety fuq
>il-post tax-xoghol, drittijiet tal-konsumatur, identita’ nazzjonali,
>levies, alternattivi ghall-shubija fl-E.U., u argumenti ohra.
>
>Fl-ahhar tal-laqgha, b’mod demokratiku, ittiehed vot sigriet bejn il-membri
>tal-Moviment Graffitti li kienu prezenti ghall-laqgha. Il-vot gie hekk:
>
>NAQBEL LI MALTA GHANDHA TISSIEHEB FL-UNJONI EWROPEJA: 57.9%
>
>MA NAQBILX LI MALTA GHANDHA TISSIEHEB FL-UNJONI EWROPEJA: 5.3%
>
>NASTJENI MILL-VOT: 36.8%
>
>Din il-laqgha kienet l-ewwel minn sensiela ta’ laqghat demokratici li
>l-Moviment Graffitti qieghda torganizza sabiex eventwalment il-Moviment
>Graffitti, permezz ta’ voti demokratici tal-membri taghha, tasal
>ghall-decizzjoni finali dwar is-shubija ta’ Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropeja.
>
>
>James Debono - Ufficjal Relazzjonijiet Pubblici
>
>Michael Briguglio - Segretarju Generali
>

For your information.

Intom mistednin ghas-seminar dwar il-migrazzjoni (jiftah il-gimgha fis-6pm,
Milano Due) u ghall-attivita quddiem l-ambaxxata russa (kappara) dwar
ic-Chechnya li se ssir is-sibt fis-12.45pm.

Ralph

EFGP-  Mediterranean Network

        Schengen and Migration in the Mediterranean (Malta, 19-21 November
1999)

  Friday 19 November, 18.00 - 20 hrs

  Opening of Seminar on: "Schengen and Migration in the Mediterranean"

  Welcome by: Dr Harry Vassallo (Alternattiva Demokratika -Maltese Green
Party), Dr Paul Micallef (Ceratonia Foundation), Arnold Cassola (EFGP
Secretary General), Alima Boumedienne-Thiery (Greens in EP)

  Debate: "The Politicians' Perspective"

           Lawrence Gonzi- Maltese Minister for Social Policy (Christian
Democrat)
          Gavin Gulia - Shadow Opposition Minister (Labour Party)
          Mario Mallia - (Alternattiva Demokratika)

  20.00 p.m. - dinner in hotel

  Saturday 20 November

  9.00- 10.45  "Touching the Reality of Migration" -

              "The Politicians' and Experts' Perspectives"

              Alima Boumedienne-Thiery MEP
              Jean-Luc Robert (Green Group Adviser)
              Fatima Alaoui (Morocco Greens)
              Malika Horchani (Reseau Maghrebin de Recherche sur les
Migrations Internationales, Tunis)
              Joanna Apap (ECAS Lobby Group; Odisseus Network - Universite'
Libre de Bruxelles)

  10.45-11.10 Coffee Break

  11.10-12.45  "The European Green Parties' Perspective"

     Phani Eliadou ("Cyprus Greens"), Sebastien Lepladeur ("Les Verts"),
Gaetano Prisciantelli ("I Verdi"), Guillermo Fernandez Obanza ("Los
Verdes"), Melitta Gourtsogianni ("Politkoi Oikologia"), Stephen Cachia
("Alternattiva Demokratika").

  12.45-14.15  Lunch in hotel

  14.15-15.45  "The Migrants' perspective"

             A debate between three and four migrants (of different
nationalities) recounting their experiences and a representative of the
"General Workers' Union" (who are just setting up an immigrants' section)

15.45-16.15 Coffee Break

  16.15-18.00  "The NGOs' perspectives"

              Dr Kathrin Camilleri (Jesuits' Refugee Service); Representative
Emigrants' Commission; Adrian Grima (Third World Group), Alistair Farrugia
(Amnesty International) and James Debono(Graffiti)

  20.00  Dinner in restaurant

  Sunday 21 November

  9.30 - 11.00  Evaluation of the Bari Document on Migration.
                       Follow up.

11.00-11.30 Coffee Break

11.30-13.00 Discussion amongst all participants and Drawing up of the Malta
"Green Document on Migration in the Mediterranean".

Sent: Friday, November 12, 1999 6:14 PM
Subject: [EFGP] Figures from the Russian Military Operation in Chechnya


Figures from the Russian Military Operation September to November 1999:


   a.. 43 Chechen military personnel killed, 112 injured.


   b.. 2,631 peaceful inhabitants of Chechnya killed (mostly women and children).


   c.. 8,632 peaceful inhabitant injured (mostly women and children).


   d.. 66 villages and settlements in Chechnya destroyed.


   e.. 245,000 people made homeless.


   f.. About 190,000 refugees, mainly in Ingushetia.


   g.. About 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the northern and
eastern regions of Chechnya to Grozny and southern villages.


   h.. Energy blockade: electricity and gas supplies completely cut off.


   i.. Economic destruction: Almost all oil refineries and oil drilling fields,
water supply facilities, hospitals, schools, have been bombed and destroyed.


   j.. Grave danger to human health: polluted water, air pollution, lack of
sanitation, Hospitals are full and are operating without enough medicine. Mass
psycho-social trauma.


   k.. Humanitarian catastrophe: the population is suffering from hunger.


   l.. Environmental threats: leakage of chemicals and toxic substances, and some
radioactive substances.


   m.. Danger of nuclear disaster: if the nuclear storage facilities near Grozny
are bombed an environmental catastrophe engulfing the whole North Caucasus will
become unavoidable.

Information blockade: Russia prevents the international community knowing the
truth about Chechnya.

Compiled by:

  A. Dinaev, R. Bagaev - LAMAN AZ Community Organization of Chechnya

G. Dartsimelia - SAEM, Georgia Youth EcoMovement

----- Original Message -----
From: EISD Centre "Rio"
To: EFGP@onelist.com ; Dmitry Lisitsyn (Sakhalin Environment Watch) ; Diogene ;
Giorgi Dartsimelia ; Claudia Coman ; CIPDD ; Umit Cilingiroglu ; Chris Hunter ;
Maka Chichua ; Richard Chambers ; Keti Chachibaia ; CENN@... ;
cenn@... ; Levan Butkhuzi ; Katherine Buckley ; Christopher Le Breton ;
Boris Vasilkovsky (Eco-Pravo -Kiev) ; Ivan Blokov ; David Bekoshvili ; Juan
Behrend ; Merab Barbakadze ; Tamriko Bakuradze ; Eka Badridze ; Azerbaijan_CENN
; Avp ; Askhat Kaumov ; Artashes Sargsyan (Ecoteam Armenia) ; Armenia_CENN ;
Anna Syomina (Mama 86) ; Anita@... ; Andrey Artov ; Alexei
Triumfov ; Alexander V. Fyodorov ; Alexander Shubin ; SARKE Information Agency ;
Gia Abramia ; Paliko Abaiadze ; Charles BBC
Cc: Zeleni Svit ; Sviatoslav Zabelin ; Vladimir Mamaev ; Vladimir Lagutov ;
Victor Khazan ; Veleslava Tsakova ; Vano Vashakmadze ; Veronica Vann ; Umit
Cilingiroglu ; Tomohide Yasuda ; Mara Silina ; Sibel Sezer ; Irakli Shavgulidze
; Nickolai Shadrin ; Radio Fortune ; Olga A. Ponizova ; PhilHillGr@... ;
Pavel Khazan ; David Nikoleishvili ; NGO ; MDBs CIS List ; Mzia Lolishvili ;
Lisa Jordan ; Caucasus Links ; Linas ; Vladimir Lay ; Laurie Udesky ; Inesa
Kuzanowa ; CHCA Kutaisi ; Sergiy Kurikin ; Henri Kuprashvili ; Ia Kupatadze ;
Zaal Kikvidze ; Dato Kikodze ; kiazo@... ; Eka Khvedelidze ;
Malkhaz Khurtsidze ; Igor Khodjamberdiev ; Zaza Kheladze ; Hannah Kegel ; Van
Baar Kees ; George Kalandadze ; Maka Jorjadze ; Jeremy Wates ; Kote Jandieri ;
James Hindson ; Jakub Gawlikowski ; Maka Jakhua ; David Berdzenishvili Ivliane
Khaindrava ; Irina Usacheva ; ilucius@... ; Igor Kiriltchuk (Greenpeace
Ukraine) ; Idil Eser ; Nana Iashvili ; John Hontelez ; Heidi Hautala ; Hans
Inberg ; Mamuka Gvilava ; Nino Gvenetadze ; greencrs@... ; Green
Party - Bulgaria ; Sylvie Goyet ; gile_inf@... ; Gevork Pogosian ;
Germain Dufour ; Georgia_CENN ; Georgia Greens ; George Droppa ; Gareth Jenkins
; FoE Scotland ; Sergey Fedorinchik ; Evgeny Zagorsky, Nadezhda Maiboroda ;
ENVCEE-L (Environmental Issues in Central and Eastern Europe List) ; Enid
Schreibman ; Emmanuel Bergasse ; Peter Emerson ; eko@... ; EFGP@onelist.com
Sent: Friday, November 12, 1999 6:26 PM
Subject: [EFGP] Figures from the Russian-Chechen war of


Figures from the Russian-Chechen war of

1994 -1996:

   a.. 120,000 peaceful Chechens were killed as a result of the military
operations of that time
   b.. Tens of thousands of injured
   c.. About 1,500 missing persons
   d.. Destroyed houses leading to homelessness
   e.. 1,200,000 landmines on agricultural land across Chechnya
   f.. Water supply and other communal systems destroyed
   g.. Communication systems destroyed
Environmental damage posed a grave threat to human health



Compiled by:

  A. Dinaev, R. Bagaev - LAMAN AZ Community Organization of Chechnya

G. Dartsimelia - SAEM, Georgia Youth EcoMovement

----- Original Message -----
From: EISD Centre "Rio"
To: EFGP@onelist.com ; Dmitry Lisitsyn (Sakhalin Environment Watch) ; Diogene ;
Giorgi Dartsimelia ; Claudia Coman ; CIPDD ; Umit Cilingiroglu ; Chris Hunter ;
Maka Chichua ; Richard Chambers ; Keti Chachibaia ; CENN@... ;
cenn@... ; Levan Butkhuzi ; Katherine Buckley ; Christopher Le Breton ;
Boris Vasilkovsky (Eco-Pravo -Kiev) ; Ivan Blokov ; David Bekoshvili ; Juan
Behrend ; Merab Barbakadze ; Tamriko Bakuradze ; Eka Badridze ; Azerbaijan_CENN
; Avp ; Askhat Kaumov ; Artashes Sargsyan (Ecoteam Armenia) ; Armenia_CENN ;
Anna Syomina (Mama 86) ; Anita@... ; Andrey Artov ; Alexei
Triumfov ; Alexander V. Fyodorov ; Alexander Shubin ; SARKE Information Agency ;
Gia Abramia ; Paliko Abaiadze ; Charles BBC
Cc: Zeleni Svit ; Sviatoslav Zabelin ; Vladimir Mamaev ; Vladimir Lagutov ;
Victor Khazan ; Veleslava Tsakova ; Vano Vashakmadze ; Veronica Vann ; Umit
Cilingiroglu ; Tomohide Yasuda ; Mara Silina ; Sibel Sezer ; Irakli Shavgulidze
; Nickolai Shadrin ; Radio Fortune ; Olga A. Ponizova ; PhilHillGr@... ;
Pavel Khazan ; David Nikoleishvili ; NGO ; MDBs CIS List ; Mzia Lolishvili ;
Lisa Jordan ; Caucasus Links ; Linas ; Vladimir Lay ; Laurie Udesky ; Inesa
Kuzanowa ; CHCA Kutaisi ; Sergiy Kurikin ; Henri Kuprashvili ; Ia Kupatadze ;
Zaal Kikvidze ; Dato Kikodze ; kiazo@... ; Eka Khvedelidze ;
Malkhaz Khurtsidze ; Igor Khodjamberdiev ; Zaza Kheladze ; Hannah Kegel ; Van
Baar Kees ; George Kalandadze ; Maka Jorjadze ; Jeremy Wates ; Kote Jandieri ;
James Hindson ; Jakub Gawlikowski ; Maka Jakhua ; David Berdzenishvili Ivliane
Khaindrava ; Irina Usacheva ; ilucius@... ; Igor Kiriltchuk (Greenpeace
Ukraine) ; Idil Eser ; Nana Iashvili ; John Hontelez ; Heidi Hautala ; Hans
Inberg ; Mamuka Gvilava ; Nino Gvenetadze ; greencrs@... ; Green
Party - Bulgaria ; Sylvie Goyet ; gile_inf@... ; Gevork Pogosian ;
Germain Dufour ; Georgia_CENN ; Georgia Greens ; George Droppa ; Gareth Jenkins
; FoE Scotland ; Sergey Fedorinchik ; Evgeny Zagorsky, Nadezhda Maiboroda ;
ENVCEE-L (Environmental Issues in Central and Eastern Europe List) ; Enid
Schreibman ; Emmanuel Bergasse ; Peter Emerson ; eko@... ; EFGP@onelist.com
Sent: Friday, November 12, 1999 6:17 PM
Subject: [EFGP] Report on the Current Russian Military Campaign in Chechnya


RUSSIAN GAMBLE IN CHECHNYA


Report on the Current Russian Military Campaign in Chechnya


September - November 1999

INTRODUCTION

For the second time in 5 years the Chechen people are suffering ethnic
cleansing. The Russian aggression of 1994-1996 cost 120,000 Chechen lives, for
the most part peaceful and innocent inhabitants of the Republic. In addition,
the list of injured, missing persons, and those tortured in Russian
concentration camps runs to tens of thousands. Then of course there were the
hundreds of thousands of refugees, destroyed towns and villages, ruined
hospitals, schools, kindergartens, libraries, industrial buildings and
factories. The Russian side called this bloody aggression "the restoration of
Constitutional order" and it was later recognised as a "mistake".


Today, again under the excuse of - "the fight against international terrorism" -
the Russian military has disregarded both the Khasav’yurt Agreement of 31st
August 1996 on the principles of the relationship between the Chechen Republic
and the Russian Federation and the Peace Accord of 12th May 1997. The latter was
signed by the presidents of both sides and states that the parties agree never
to use force in solving any contentious issue and will instead develop their
relationship according to recognised principles of international law.


But now the territory of Chechnya has been invaded and all types of weapons are
used against innocent people. Again innocent children, women and elderly people
are dying in the face of Russian agression. Tens of villages and towns have been
utterly destroyed. Thousands of peaceful inhabitants have been killed, tens of
thousands injured. So-called "precision bombing" strikes on terrorist bases are
destroying peaceful villages and the lives of innocent citizens. People are
afraid to gather even for the funerals of those killed to avoid becoming targets
of the "precision bombing" of Russian pilots.

THREE YEARS OF PEACE: AUGUST 1996 - AUGUST 1999

During these three years, the government of Chechnya tried to restart normal
life – rebuilding houses, the decimated economy, agriculture, the social welfare
system, and the education system - everything that was destroyed by the war. But
in fact even during this period the war carried on. Russia continued to provoke
social tensions in Chechnya. Many Chechen families have had to leave their homes
and most of them now try to survive in the regions of Russia.

But was this period really peaceful? Hundreds of people were kidnapped in
Chechnya during this time. This was a source of easy money and a way to
destabilize the situation. The question is who gains from these kidnappings? Who
is organizing those Chechens who are now kidnapping people?


The Russian government tried to do everything to destabilize Chechnya. It was
still impossible to rebuild the country. Landmines remained, but Chechnya could
not solve this problem because of Russia's protests to the international
community about giving aid to Chechnya even for this.

The health situation has not improved. Hospitals and other medical institutions
remain in a critical condition. The severe shortage of medical personnel,
medicine, medical equipment and money to purchase them has meant the worsening
of heath problems in Chechnya. The rate of infant mortality and tuberculosis is
among the highest in the world.


Most international organizations left the country because of the well-publicized
security situation. There is no need to mention here who did it and who gained
from this.


The environment was also damaged by the war. Fires on oil drilling fields, the
leakage of chemical substances from oil refineries, and decimated water supplies
and sanitation systems were all commonplace. All this affected the health of
population of the republic. Furthermore, there were no purification facilities
for drinking water. This made the water impossible to drink.



RUSSIA’S NEW MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN CHECHNYA

The failure to punish causes further injustice. Because of the impunity of the
Rusisan government in the face of their crimes of 1994-96, the campaign
continued in the same way. But now Russia has replaced the old justification for
its aggression - "the restoration of constitutional order" with a new one -
"fighting with international terrorism".


Who does the Russian government think it is fighting? Terrorists or innocent
people?


Since this new Russian aggression began, mainly peaceful people have died. Most
of them are children and women. Comparing the numbers of civilian victims to
military ones, it is easy to see who the Russian government is really fighting.

Not satisfied with blocking the reconstruction of those buildings damaged in the
previous war, Russia decided to cause additional destruction by bombing about 70
Chechen towns and villages.

Russia calls this "precision strikes on terrorist bases". Certainly their
strikes are precise if the "terrorist bases" are hospitals, schools, factories
and the whole social infrastructure.


Even refugees are now considered by Russia to be ‘terrorist groupings’ and
therefore legitimate targets to be shot by tanks and bombed from the air.
Unfortunately, the deaths of thousands people and the destruct on of tens of
villages is not enough to satisfy the Russian military.



CONCLUSION


When discussing the situation in Dagestan and the terrorist attacks in Russian
cities (Moscow, Buinaksk, Volgodonsk, Ryazan), many Russian political analysts,
famous politicians, and journalists have blamed Chechnya. In this way they are
moulding public opinion to think that Russian society and the government have
two choices: isolating Chechnya, or all-out war against the "Chechen bandits"
until the entire people is wiped out.


But neither of these solutions can solve the problem of Russia and Chechnya, and
the present aggression is only causing the suffering of hundreds of thousands of
innocent people. The international community needs to take action now in order
to prevent the ethnic cleansing of the Chechen people. It must put pressure on
Russia to:



   a.. Cease military actions immediately.


   b.. End the bombing of peaceful villages and towns and the indiscriminate
killing of innocent civilians.


   c.. Allow for the immediate provision of international assistance to
vulnerable people inside the Chechen Republic.


   d.. Avoid ecological catastrophe by ending the bombing around potentially
hazardous radioactive sties.


   e.. End the information blockade in Chechnya by restoring communication links
and allowing access by the international media.


   f.. Begin repairing essential infrastructure and restoring services such as
electricity and water to the people of Chechnya.


We call upon the international community at large, international organisations
and the political leaders of all states to take action to prevent the further
serious violation of human rights in Chechnya. We stress that the peaceful
population of Chechnya should not be denied their right to life.The
international community cannot stand by while the people of Chechnya suffer.


Finally our appeal goes directly to the OSCE and its member states. In 1994 you
became engaged in the Chechen problem. You set up a mission and gave it a
mandate. You helped organise elections which you called fair. The OSCE has both
the moral authority and the moral responsibility to stop the genocide in
Chechnya and to help in finding a negotiated political solution with the
participation of the legitimate leaders of Chechnya.

Prepared by:

A. Dinaev, R. Bagaev - LAMAN AZ Community Organization of Chechnya

G. Dartsimelia - SAEM, Georgia Youth EcoMovement

----- Original Message -----
From: EISD Centre "Rio"
To: Heidi Hautala ; Peter Emerson ; CIPDD ; Chris Hunter ; EFGP@onelist.com ;
Christopher Le Breton ; SEU DISCUSS_LIST ; Charles BBC ; Eliso@...
Cc: Gareth Jenkins ; Georgia_CENN ; Umit Cilingiroglu ; SEU DISCUSS_LIST
Sent: Friday, November 12, 1999 6:19 PM
Subject: [EFGP] FYI - EFGP Committee Resolution on Chechnya in 1995


EUROPEAN GREENS
European Federation of Green Parties

London, 12th February 1995

RESOLUTION

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST
ACT TO BRING PEACE TO CHECHNYA
The Committee Meeting of the European Federation of Green Parties discussed the
military operations of Russia in Chechnya, which, during his meetings in
Strasbourg, Sergei Kovelev, the commissioner for human rights of Russian
Federation classified as genocide.

Although the official appraisals of Russia’s policy in "Chechen crisis" continue
to be moderate the military actions inflicted tangible damage on Russia’s image
in Europe and in the rest of the world. Russia’s entry into the Council of
Europe has been put off indefinitely.

Although the weakly polls show that Russian society condemns the use of force in
Chechnya the military actions still go on and is growing in a social and
ecological catastrophy.

Therefore we call on international community to protest the war in Chechnya and
pressure Russia to :

1. stop military operations

2. begin the political process

3. help in preparing elections and restore democratic institutions

4. give proper assistance to refugees

5. guarantee their peaceful return home.



Niki Kortvelyessy
Spokesperson


Pekka Sauri
Spokesperson