Senglea Grim Reapers Were Protesting Air Pollution In Grand Harbour
A group of people dressed as Grim Reapers raised eyebrows when they were spotted strolling through Senglea.
It now turns out that it was a symbolic protest by the Cottonera resident group Azzjoni: Tuna Artna Lura against air pollution at the nearby shipyard.
“Air pollution from shipping activity has drastically increased in the Grand Harbour, where respiratory disorders and chronic illnesses are rampant,” Azzjoni said.
“Azzjoni urgently demands that authorities make public information on shipping operations, so that the situation can be effectively regulated and residents’ health and their quality of life safeguarded.”
They warned that between 2019 and 2021, the number of hours that passenger ships weighing over 50,000 tonnes docked at the Palumbo/MSC shipyard alone increased by nearly 600%.
“In Isla – where the video was shot – there are often two to three cruise liners docked, and up to five berthed simultaneously in the Grand Harbour.”
“In contrast, cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam and Venice have banned cruise liners from their main harbours altogether, due to their proven devastating impact on human health and the environment.”
They went on to warn that people in the Southern Harbour Region are the largest user-based for three different types of inhalers analysed during a recent investigation. Additionally, the Southern Harbour region was the only region in Malta to have an even higher rate of asthma discharges post-COVID – where the diagnosis hit record numbers.
“Due to the acute rise in shipping operations and dire health statistics in the area, ‘Azzjoni’ demand that the bi-annual government report on the Palumbo/MSC shipyard operations – which is stipulated as a requirement in the concession between the shipyard and the government – be made public,” they said.
“Once there is an understanding of these operations, which constitute a majority of the cruise liners’ docked time, there can be a discussion followed by the implementation of effective regulation for the Grand Harbour area. Anything less would be a flagrant infringement of the residents’ right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.”
READ NEXT: Naxxar And Mosta Hit By Power Cut Moments After Miriam Dalli's Declaration
