Zminijietna - Voice of the Left
P.O. Box 35, Sliema, Malta
zminijietna@yahoo.com
www.zminijietna.org
Tel. / Fax: 00356 21223537

Press Release - 20/12/11 - Various Leftist organisations criticise Government’s position

Żminijietna - Voice of the Left, Moviment Graffiti, Moviment Azzjoni Xellug (MAX), Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust, Third World Group and the Communist Party of Malta, expressed their disapproval to the rigid position taken by the Maltese Government, against the financial transaction tax in the EU Summit.

“This is another example of Governments’ lack of solidarity,” said the organisations.

“While the Maltese Government spoke against this ‘just’ taxation, other bodies, such as the European Parliament, the Confederation of European Trade Unions and the Vatican spoke in favour. In Malta , Alternattiva Demokratika had also declared its full support for this proposal”.

“The leftist organisations view Government’s position as one that benefits only the upper classes. The Government’s position is not backed by socio-economic studies to justify the position taken”.

“As it appears, the Maltese Government has also failed to recognise that the European Union is undergoing economic and social crises, and in this particular moment solidarity should have been a priority.

“Government should give clarification about its alternative proposal to the financial transaction tax. The other EU proposals were an increase in VAT taxation, more reduction in social spending and more austerity measures”.

“The Government has also failed to recognise that neo liberal economic policies permitted speculations especially in banking and financial sector, which led to the collapse of the economic system. To save banks from bankruptcy, governments and EU institutions have issued trillions of Euros of taxpayers’ money”.

The organisations reiterate that Government should not obstruct this proposal, and we appeal other organisations and political parties to support this ‘just’ taxation.

Michael Camilleri
President
Mob: 7928 2983

Press Release - 26/12/11 - "Malta should shift to renewable energy and gas" Zminijietna

Żminijietna - Voice of the Left reiterated its stand in favour of sustainable energy use in Malta. The organisation declared its opposition on dirty energy based on fossil fuels as is the case with heavy fuel oil and carbon capture storage. Żminijietna said that people’s health and the environment come before profits of big businesses.

“Dependency on dirty fossil fuels will only postpone problems related to climate change and to the ever-increasing price of such limited sources of energy. Malta should shift to gas, as a transitional energy, as early as possible and investment much more in clean renewable energy, such as solar and wind to reach the 10 per cent target committed with the EU by 2020. We also believe that renewable energy use should increase further after the 2020 target”.

“As regards gas, even though it is a finite fossil fuel, which, like oil, is expected to increase in cost, the truth is that it is much less polluting than other fossil fuels, though being more expensive”.

“The use of such fossil fuels means CO2 will increase. In what sounds too good to be true, the difference is that the CO2 is supposed to be captured forever”.

“Heavy fuel oil might be cheaper than other fossil fuels, but its negative impacts on the environment and on people’s health are too big to ignore. Besides, its price will keep increasing given that oil has limited supply. As regards Carbon Capture Storage (CCS), its use is too risky, and the world is already late in the battle against climate change. Captured CO2 through CCS needs to be transported to its storage, emitting CO2 in the process. Once the CO2 is dumped, CCS leakage could cancel out any climate benefit as do the increased energy requirements of CCS technology. Zminijienta is also concerned about the hidden costs of using this technology, which depends on fossil fuels such as coal and oil”.

David Pisani
Public Relations Officer
Żminijietna - Voice of the Left
Mob: 79536914