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‘Good Morning From Assedju PA’: Environmental Protest Enters Second Day Camped Outside Planning Authority

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A demonstration occupying the entrance ramp of the Planning Authority has entered its second day as protestors continued to receive food, drinks and money from members of the public.

“People have been bringing food items like biscuits, packs of cakes, about five or six pizzas from a guy in Kiribati who ordered the pizzas from The Oven for us, as well as a sweet potato fries, gluten-free food, and coffee from other NGOs as well,” a protestor on the scene told Lovin Malta.

“It is very nice to get this support from the public, and everyone was really happy when it arrived, everyone was super grateful. To be honest, we were pretty stuffed with all the donations.”

Other members of the public have also passed by to give monetary donations, with one especially generous person donating €60 to the protestors among the other donations.

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“We spent the evening talking and strategising on how to move the action forward”

Scores of individuals showed up outside the Planning Authority building in Floriana yesterday morning at around 6am with tents and chains to demand action on the promised fuel stations policy revision that was meant to happen over a year and four months ago.

This is the third action organised by Moviment Graffitti in this regard, with the last protest infamously turning violent after members of the RIU stepped in to break the protest.

Today’s scene is a bit different: children run among drums and instruments as dogs play with the protestors, and some even catch a spot of acro-yoga in the sun.

But they remain focused on getting an answer from Minister for Infrastructure Ian Borg, who has yet to comment on the revision.

“At 3:30pm today, we shall be walking from the camp to Ian Borg’s ministry of transport and infrastructure to present a letter demanding the release of the policy review,” Moviment Graffitti explained on Facebook earlier today.

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The demonstrators are inviting members of the public to join in tonight’s Open-Mic session in their camping grounds outside the Planning Authority

“We’re inviting artists, poets, musicians, anyone who has anything to share or to speak about, to come and join in. There will be everything from dancing to music,” the demonstrator said.

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As for the vibe at the actual protest, it’s a little different than last time

“It’s like a camping site,” he said. “It’s an interesting environment with all the kids and dogs playing, and we’re drinking coffee and discussing the way forward.”

“Police aren’t even here anymore,” the protestor continued. “Apart from the police that are on guard as usual, there’s been no additional police presence.”

“If their intention is to downplay it, no hassles and no pressures, that’s fine from our end – we’ll be here for at least a couple more days,” he ended. “We’ve got a schedule of people coming through, and if we leave before, it’s because Ian Borg did something.”

What do you think of this latest protest?

READ NEXT: Protestors Spurn Planning Authority’s Tea And Coffee Offer As They Get Ready For Weekend-Long Camp

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]

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