Riħ min-Nofsinhar

it-tibdil fil-klima

skont Immanuel Mifsud u Adrian Grima

 

 

 

agħfashom

 

L-ewwel tnedija: il-Ħadd, 22 ta' Ġunju, 2008

It-tieni tnedija: is-Sibt, 15 ta' Novembru, 2008

World Literature Today publishes Antoine Cassar's review (May-June 09)

Taking the weather with them - Isabelle Vella Gregory (The Times, 13.3.09)

Prezz Qares - Intervista ma' Adrian Grima fuq In-Nazzjon Tagħna (13.1.09)

Filmat tal-intervista dwar Riħ min-Nofsinhar fuq Reporter (30.12.08)

Neville Bezzina's personal introduction to Riħ min-Nofsinhar (17.12.08)

Alan Deidun about Riħ min-Nofsinhar  (The Sunday Times, 30.11.08)

Carmel Cacopardo dwar Riħ min-Nofsinhar fit-tnedija (15.11.08)

Siem Gabir about Climate Change (15.11.08)

Read Evarist Bartolo's, “Cut a flower, build a room,” (Malta Today, 29.06.08)

Evarist Bartolo fil-Parlament dwar WorldFest 2008 u Riħ min-Nofsinhar (8.07.08)

Immanuel Mifsud, "Aqbad ħwejġek u itlaq," is-16 ta' Ġunju, 2008

Djalogu bejn Antoine Cassar u Adrian Grima (Ġunju/Lulju 2007)

 

 

 

Nhar is-Sibt, 15 ta' Novembru, fis-6.30pm

fil-Fiera Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb, Dar il-Mediterran, il-Belt Valletta 

 

Edizzjoni Skarta se tippreżenta t-tieni edizzjoni

tal-ktieb ta' poeżiji 

 

Riħ min-Nofsinhar

 

it-tibdil fil-klima

skont Immanuel Mifsud u Adrian Grima

 

Interventi dwar il-ktieb waqt it-tnedija ta'

Siem Gabir, Mario Cardona, Annalise Falzon, il-Ministru George Pullicino,

l-Onor. Leo Brincat  u l-Perit Carmel Cacopardo. Tmexxi Anna Zammit

 

Il-ktieb fih kummenti ta' Joseph Sciberras u Joe Galea

(bdiewa mill-Koperattiva Rurali Manikata), Mario Cardona (kittieb u edukatur), 

Annalise Falzon (ambjentalista), Kurt Sansone (editur tal-gazzetta Illum),

Ralph Cassar (politiku), Nathalie Grima (mill-Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust),

Christine Borg (mill-Malta Breastfeeding Foundation), u Angele Deguara (soċjologa).

 

Edizzjoni SKARTA - www.skarta.org

Distribuzzjoni: Sierra Book Distributors - www.sierra-books.com

 

 

OLA OLA OLA

 Immanuel Mifsud

 

Ma tridx għerf, ma tridx wisq skola

Sabiex tkejjel l-ultra-vjola,

Sabiex tisma’ t-tfal bis-sogħla

Jew biex tħoss il-baħar jogħla.

 

 

minn

ENERĠIJA NADIFA

Adrian Grima

 

Is-soluzzjoni l-qilla nukleari.

Ġa qed tinbet madwarna:

Franza, l-Italja, ’l-Libja...

u tista’ tixgħel id-desktop u l-laptop f’daqqa,

u f’Jannar tiġri bil-flokk taċ-ċingi

u tiksaħ f’Awwissu...

 

 

"F'dan il-ktieb ikompli proċess li naħseb m'ilux wisq li beda - il-ftuħ tal-poeżija Maltija

lejn l-artijiet u fuq kollox lejn il-popli tal-bqija tad-dinja (u mhux biss tal-Mediterran).

Mingħajr ma jneħħu l-attenzjoni tagħhom minn fuq dak li qed jiġri u dak li jeħtieġ li

jingħad rigward l-ambjent fuq il-Blata, Adrian Grima u Immanuel Mifsud iħarsu lejn

postijiet oħra u jisimgħu l-ilmenti tal-popolazzjonijiet tagħhom, u jsiru ilħna

tal-kuxjenza planetarja li tant hemm bżonn li nrabbu ma' l-erba' massi

kontinentali u s-sebat ibħra ta' din l-imsejkna dinja."

 

Antoine Cassar

poeta

 
   
   
 

 
 

Mix-xellug: Carmel Cacopardo, Anna Zammit, George Pullicino, Leo Brincat

waqt it-tnedija fil-Fiera Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb 2008
 
 

Riħ min-Nofsinhar

l-ewwel tnedija

 

Nhar il-Ħadd, 22 ta' Ġunju, 2008, waqt il-kunċert tal-WorldFest li jibda fit-8pm fil-Barrakka ta' Fuq, il-Belt Valletta, Adrian Grima u Immanuel Mifsud se jniedu l-ktieb tagħhom, Riħ min-Nofsinhar (Edizzjoni Skarta, 2008; ISBN: 978-99932-652-5-2), li jinkludi sensiela ta' poeżiji marbutin mat-tema tat-tibdil fil-klima.

 

Fil-kunċert ħadu sehem ukoll il-gruppi Maltin Trania u Zizza Ensemble u l-kantawtur Franċiż Rouage.

 

Riħ min-Nofsinhar, it-tibdil fil-klima skond Immanuel Mifsud u Adrian Grima jinkludi wkoll kontributi dwar it-tibdil fil-klima ta' nies minn diversi oqsma: Joseph Sciberras u Joe Galea, bdiewa mill-Koperattiva Rurali Manikata; il-kittieb u edukatur, Mario Cardona; l-ambjentalista Annalise Falzon; Kurt Sansone, editur tal-gazzetta Illum; il-politiku Ralph Cassar; Nathalie Grima mill-Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust; Christine Borg mill-Malta Breastfeeding Foundation; u s-soċjologa Angele Deguara.

 

Il-ktieb ta' 60 faċċata u qoxra bil-kulur.

 

 

Il-Werrej

 

Il-Ballata tal-Kiribati – Immanuel Mifsud
Siem jiftakar is-Siġar t’Afabet – Adrian Grima
Ix-Xemx Li Taħraq Kollox – Joseph Sciberras
Kollox Qed Jitħawwad – Joe Galea
Qilla Dejjem Tiżdied – Mario Cardona
Il-Poeżiji tas-Saħara – Immanuel Mifsud
Fejn il-Baħar Jiltaqa’ mal-Blat – Annalise Falzon
Tal-Ġelati, jew it-tropikalizzazzjoni tal-Mediterran – Adrian Grima
Il-Miti ta’ l-Agro-Enerġija – Adrian Grima
4x4 Ipparkjata fuq il-Bankina fil-Bajja ta’ San Ġiljan – Adrian Grima
Id-Darfur - Nina Brenjo
Is-Sħana Li Tkeċċi lit-Turisti – Kurt Sansone
OLA OLA OLA – Immanuel Mifsud
Is-Saħna tal-President – Adrian Grima
Malta Mħaxkna bejn Impjanti Nukleari – Ralph Cassar
Enerġija Nadifa – Adrian Grima
Il-Ħalib tat-Trabi u t-Tibdil fil-Klima – Christine Borg
Reminixxenzi ta’ Tifel fil-High Chair – Adrian Grima
Vittmi tal-Klima - Forza ta’ Bidla – Angele Deguara
Aqta’ Fjura w Ibni Kamra, jew iċ-Ċajta tad-Dollaru – Immanuel Mifsud
It-Tibdil fil-Klima u l-Ġustizzja Globali – Nathalie Grima
Todo relación – Adrian Grima

 
 
 

World Literature Today publishes review of Riħ min-Nofsinhar

World Literature Today has published Antoine Cassar's review of Immanuel Mifsud and Adrian Grima's Riħ min-Nofsinhar. Below is the full text of the review. Here is the shorter version published in World Literature Today (May-June 2009).
 

 

Immanuel Mifsud, Adrian Grima et al. Riħ min-Nofsinhar. Malta. Edizzjoni Skarta. 2008. 60 pages. €6. isbn 978-99932-652-5-2

 

Slowly but very surely, contemporary Maltese verse is garnering an ever-greater presence on the international scene, in a process running parallel to the broadening of Maltese poetic expression in terms of spirit and thematic scope. Whereas the Movement for the Promotion of Literature of the 60s and 70s, responsible for the generous import of literary currents from the European continent, was closely linked to political independence and the need to clamour away from a subjugated past and its Romantic escapism, as far as subject matter and tone are concerned, this second épanouissement of Maltese poetry is not such a joyous one, and necessarily so. The shift from insularity to the acute awareness of forming part of a worldwide jigsaw where the laws of cause and effect stretch far beyond political and geographical borders, particularly in view of the escalating changes suffered by the global environment and the peoples that inhabit it, in turn bridges Maltese writing with the growing supranational continent of ‘green’ or eco-literature.

 

Riħ min-Nofsinhar (Wind from the South) is an essential book of poetry on climate change by Immanuel Mifsud and Adrian Grima, two well-travelled, socially conscious authors who have fully understood Jonathan Bate’s reassertion that literature essentially works upon consciousness and leads to unpredictable long-term practical consequences (The Song of the Earth, 2002). Following in the steps of publications such as Earth Shattering (Bloodaxe) and Feeling the Pressure (an encouraging book published by the British Council, combining poetry on climate change with scientific essay), the poems of Riħ min-Nofsinhar are interspersed with prose contributions from a wide range of Maltese professionals and social actors, including farmers, free trade activists, educators and politicians. First launched during last June’s WorldFest, the local impact of the publication can be gauged by the two editions printed within the space of five months, as well as by favourable reviews from prominent members of civil society, and a speech in the national Parliament by an opposition spokesman quoting a Mifsud poem in its entirety.

 

Beyond the urgency of the message, a major reason for the success of this book lies in the poetry’s balance between planetary and local expression, which are necessary to equal degrees: planetary, for the poets lend their voice to peoples indelibly afflicted by the transformations of their habitats in a complex global web of cause and effect; local, for as Laird Christensen explains in his article Writing Home in a Global Age (WLT July-Aug 2008), “the feedback loops that once tied us to our habitats have stretched so thin we can longer see them”, and thus the need to reverse the dangers of placelessness and to refocus on the particularity of place. Indeed, central to the poetry and concept of Riħ min-Nofsinhar is the reclaiming of the idea that we live not in an economy with nature as a mere backdrop, but within an ecosystem of which we form a living, consequent part.

 

The opening poem, Mifsud’s Ballad of Kiribati, chants the predicament of an entire population threatened with the imminent prospect of becoming environmental refugees due to the rise of the ocean. With unveiled references to the selfish consumerism of ‘developed’ nations, the poem tells the factual story of the voluntary displacement from nature in oil-burning economies in the north of the world leading to the involuntary displacement of peoples from their habitat in the south. This episode is merely a prelude to the coming diaspora of island populations from the ocean to the continent: since the publication of this ballad, the Maldives have announced their wish to purchase land in India for the same reason, and parts of the Maltese archipelago itself are already succumbing to the advance of the waters.

 

The planetary meets the local in a series of short compositions by Mifsud entitled The Poems of the Sahara, in which a family of Maltese farmers laments the desert sand brought increasingly more often with the subtle, frightening noise of the southern wind, whilst the smell of cultivated fruit and vegetables in the fields is being replaced by that of the lotion worn by the farmers due to the fury of the sun. In another poem with a local setting, Adrian Grima speaks of The Ice-cream Man transferring his business from the abandoned beach to the front of a school, in plain language by no means devoid of a lyrical rhythm.

 

In Siem Recalls the Trees of Afabet and Todo Relación, Grima lends his voice to communities respectively enduring the desertification of northern Eritrea and the newly extreme rainfalls and droughts of the central Andes. In his particular style of gentle audacity, Grima employs the interesting narrative strategy of ‘complicity’, whereby fresh, direct observation of events and phenomena on the part of the poet is replaced by the intimate exchange of intuition and experience with a member of the community in focus. It is a fair, solidary, almost subversive compromise for an expression which risks exposing an inauthenticity that no lyricism can hide.

 

To a large extent, in most of the poems in this book, the authors appear to have consciously sacrificed aesthetic and metaphor in favour of a clearer, more direct message, in contrast to the more dense, probing poetry usually composed by the two of them, and perhaps rightly so, in view of the urgency with which this poetry needs to be communicated. Neville Bezzina of Friends of the Earth Malta has pointed out the sing-along quality of Mifsud’s poems as a sign that the effects of climate change are “a song we must all sing together”; meanwhile, Grima’s freer, journalistic diction in a number of his poems can easily be seen as bordering the naïve if not read in the correct key. That said, one particular poem by Mifsud deserves to be quoted in its entirety (together with an approximate translation that can only partly reproduce the effect of the original), a true stroke of genius whose very choice of title sets the ink running:

 

OLA OLA OLA

 

Ma tridx għerf, ma tridx wisq skola

sabiex tkejjel l-ultra-vjola,

sabiex tisma’ t-tfal bis-sogħla

jew biex tħoss il-baħar jogħla.

 

[It doesn’t take wisdom, it doesn’t take schooling

to measure the ultra-violet rays,

to hear the children whooping

nor to feel the rise of the waves.]

 

The highly suggestive title OLA OLA OLA serves a threefold purpose: (1) literally, in Italian or Spanish, the title translates to “wave wave wave”; (2) the utterance, reminiscent of the Spanish hola, could be heard as a cry for help, a call to see if anybody is listening; (3) above all, the title is a reference to the rhyme scheme of the original poem in Maltese, with each of the four lines ending in the sound -ola (the Maltese digraph għ is generally silent and denotes a lengthening of the preceding vowel).

 

In conclusion, Riħ min-Nofsinhar is a huge step forward in a process which, at least in Malta, began only very recently: as well as advancing collaboration between committed literature and the civil society it necessarily communicates with, Maltese poetry joins the global trend of becoming a voice for the planetary conscience and consciousness which ever-more urgently needs to be fostered across the four continental masses and the seven seas of our ailing Earth. Despite the overwhelming difficulty of avoiding a sense of cynical despondency or lack of hope in humanity’s will to halt and reverse the ravaging damage of climate change, Grima and Mifsud consolidate their faith in the power of poetry in a seminal volume which carries contemporary Maltese verse at once beyond and closer to home.

 

Antoine Cassar

 

 

↑ fuq

 

 
 

Taking the weather with them - The Times reviews Riħ min-Nofsinhar

 

Isabelle Vella Gregory

(The Times, Weekender, 14 March 2009)

 

RIĦ MIN-NOFSINHAR is an interesting collection of poems, thoughts and shortwritings that tackle climate change. Adrian Grima and Immanuel Mifsud provide the verse, while other authors, including teachers, journalists, politicians and environmentalists, weigh in with prose on the topic from their points of view. The result is a highly readable mix of genres that informs without preaching.


The poems on offer are written in a variety of styles, highlighting the diverse issues relating to climate change. Given the topic, it is no surprise that the poems are often explicitly political. The authors make it clear that climate change is (at least partly) driven by human intervention on the environment. Mifsud’s "Aqta’ Fjura u Ibni Kamra, jew Iċ-Ċajta tad-Dollaru" is particularly biting, and it delivers a damning verdict on uncontrolled development with stunning simplicity.While this poem is very particular to the Maltese context, Mifsud’s other poems tackle global issues, notably how economic policies in the West affect other countries.


In this context, it is not surprising that the volume also tackles immigration and population displacement, particularly when they are the result of Western policies. Indeed, the volume is dedicated to those escaping from hostile climates.


Mifsud beautifully intertwines these issues in "Il-Poeżiji tas-Sahara," which also aptly captures the fears faced by Maltese farmers today. While we should all be aware of these issues, and of the very real destruction of our cultural heritage and environment, poetry is possibly the most powerful medium for bringing these issues to the fore. Mifsud manages to do this using a simple language, which is far more effective than scientific jargon, accurate as it may be.

 

Grima’s poetry is equally biting and thought-provoking. "Siem Jiftakar is-Siġar t’Afabet" is an unapologetically macabre reminder of the Battle of Afabet, a watershed battle in the Eritrean War of Independence which resulted in numerous casualties and was possibly the largest battle in Africa since El Alamein.

 

"Is-Saħna tal-President" is testament to Grima’s razor-sharp wit that exposes the painfully naïve, and shockingly widespread, mentality of people to climate change. It is a skilful piece of poetry that should be required reading for all bureaucrats, in the hope that they somewhat widen their perspective.

 

The prose contributions make for equally interesting reading. I especially liked the contributions by members of the Koperattiva Rurali Manikata, and one can only hope that their voice will finally be heeded. They are the people who are rooted enough in the earth to understand what is happening to it, and they are also the people safeguarding what is left of our food culture and culinary heritage. They are also the people who understand what "Is-Saħna tal-President" is all about – maybe they should explain it to the bureaucrats.


This book is thus not simply a collection of very good poetry and prose. It encapsulates a very real problem we are facing today. More importantly, it offers a very Maltese outlook on a global problem. It would be foolish to ignore its message.

 

 

Ms Vella Gregory is an archaeologist and devoted foodie. She strongly believes that our heritage should be safeguarded and celebrated.

 

A review copy of this title was supplied by Edizzjoni Skarta
 

 

See the article as it appeared in The Times Weekender supplement, 14 March 2009
   
 
 

Evarist Bartolo

“Cut a flower, build a room”

 

Malta Today, 29 June 2008

 

Cut flowers. Uproot trees. Destroy fields to make room for more houses, villas and high towers. After all you have only wasted some earth. Let your boathouses devour more of our coast. Catch whatever moves in the sea even if few fish remain. Warm up the globe and make the ice caps melt and climb onto the high towers to escape from the rising sea. Swim in the pool as the sea is too polluted. You cannot stay in the sun. You cannot stay in the dark. Keep on doing what you are doing and then breathe your last and die.

 

This is my very poor translation of the strong poem recited in Maltese last Sunday by the poet himself – Immanuel Mifsud – at the Worldfest organized by Koperattiva Kummerc Gust (KKG) at the Upper Barakka. The organizers were rather ambitious to compete with the Spain – Italy match on the same evening and fewer people turned up. But I am sure those of us who attended enjoyed it even though perhaps the word ‘enjoyed’ is not the right word to use as the main themes of this year’s event were “Fair Trade and the Environment” and "Climate Change and Global Justice." 

 

Upper Barakka with the magnificent view of our Grand Harbour is a wonderful venue for such activities. On show and for sale in different stalls there were hundreds of Fair Trade handmade crafts and jewellery from disadvantaged communities in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean. There was also a wide range of foodstuffs, drinks, cds of world music, musical instruments, clothes, ornaments, and local agricultural products from Koperattiva Rurali Manikata.

 

During the evening people ate African food and listened to local poets reciting their own poetry and to the vibrant music of Renzo Spiteri’s band TRANIA, local funk band Zizza Ensemble and French singer-songwriter Rouage. Earlier on there was a public forum on ‘Climate Change and Social Justice’. One of the guest speakers was Eric van Monckhoven focuses mainly on culture, grass roots organisations, community empowerment and networking. He has worked in many different countries, mainly in Scandinavia, Italy, and West Africa. He says he is interested “in the normal citizen, in social and environmental issues. I try to find the connections between being a human being, our environment and where we come from. Somehow whole cultures have lost the memory of their past. So I'm interested in the most ancient cultures in the world where people have kept alive their traditions: indigenous people, aboriginals.”

 

KKG is trying to raise awareness about how climate change is affecting our lives: “It will affect both north and south, but on different levels. In southern countries over 1.1 billion people are living in absolute poverty. Already, they are living and working under harsh climatic conditions: natural disasters such as storms, droughts and floods threaten lives directly. As a result of climate change such events will happen more often and with greater intensity. It is lives in the South that will be most at risk.”

 

KKĠ defines itself as “a force for protecting the environment while promoting sustainable development. Fair Trade favours the sustainable use of natural resources and production methods that are not capital and oil intensive, favouring hand production and organic agriculture – to reduce the carbon footprint. Because Fair Trade is committed to paying a living wage and works in long-term partnerships, it enables producer partners to invest in environmentally friendly production. In turn, these initiatives promote environmental awareness locally and internationally.”

 

Last Sunday’s event reinforced my belief that non-government organizations (NGOs) play a precious role in our society and we must do all we can to enable them to strengthen their role. I believe we need a stronger civil society if we want an open democratic society where citizenship means much more than voting every five years and passively supporting or opposing what the political parties say and do.

 

I believe that the active role of civil society should be recognized in a new Constitution that we should create together for our country in the 21st century. Our civil society is still weak and underdeveloped and we must do our utmost to strengthen existing support structures for NGOs and create new ones to make it possible for them to have an effective say in the public debates and decisions that affect all of us. Members of NGOs should also be appointed on public boards. We should encourage and cultivate active citizenship from a young age so that our society will become more open, democratic and able to embrace and celebrate diversity.
   
 
 

 

Aqbad ħwejġek u itlaq

Il-Blobb tas-Sibt Filgħaxija - Immanuel Mifsud

 

Fis-16 ta' Ġunju, 2008, Immanuel Mifsud kiteb dwar Riħ min-Nofsinhar fil-blogg tiegħu. Dan il-kumment jinsab hawnhekk.

 

Fi tmiem din il-ġimgħa se nkun qiegħed naqra erba’ poeżiji li ktibt apposta għal attivita’ li se ssir fil-Barrakka ta’ Fuq, imsejħa l-WorldFest. It-tema ta’ din l-edizzjoni tal-WorldFest hija l-kummerċ ġust u l-ambjent. Minbarra jien se jaqraw ukoll Adrian Grima u Rouage, u l-gruppi mużikali Zizza Ensemble u Trania.

 

Biex ktibt il-poeżiji appost għal din il-lejla qrajt mhux ħażin dwar il-bidla fil-klima u s-sħana globali. Nistqarr li l-interess fil-bidla fil-klima ma bediex issa minħabba din il-lejla. Kont intrigat bi storja li qaltli l-mara tiegħi dwar grupp ta’ orsijiet fil-foresti Slovakki li jum minnhom fl-eqqel tax-xitwa qamu kollha mingħalihom li x-xitwa kienet għaddiet u kien sarilhom il-ħin li jqumu għall-ikel u għall-istaġun tar-rebbiegħa. Lakemm ma tinstemax tad-daħq l-istorja. Sakemm imbagħad tibda tifhem l-implikazzjonijiet tagħha.

 

Stejjer bħal din tista’ taqra kemm trid. U m’hemmx għalfejn taqra wisq. Min għandu l-eta’ tiegħi jiftakar kemm konna nistennew lil missierna ġej mix-xogħol fis-siegħa ta’ wara nofsinhar biex jeħodna l-baħar. Ħadd minna qatt ma ħassu ħażin bix-xemx u ħadd minna qatt ma sema’ avviżi fuq ir-radju biex jibqa’ ġewwa bejn il-ħdax u l-ħamsa. U l-bajjiet kienu jkunu mimlija sa ruħ ommhom għax ħin l-għawm kien appuntu wara l-ikel. U nistgħu niftakru wkoll kif ma’ Ottubru konna naqilbu għall-uniformi tax-xitwa u sal-Milied konna nkunu xbajna ntertru bil-bard.

 

U llum l-istorja hija differenti ħafna.

 

La Jegħrqu l-Kiribati

Iżda l-aktar storja li laqtititni - u laqtitni tassew - kienet id-diskors li Anote Tong (il-President tal-Kiribati) għamel fi New Zealand fil-5 ta’ Ġunju li għadda, appuntu l-Jum Dinji għall-Ambjent. Il-Kiribati kienu l-ewwel nazzjon li sebħu fil-millennju l-ġdid tmien snin u nofs ilu u għal din ir-raġuni kienu spiċċaw fuq fomm ħafna nies. Id-diskors ta’ Tong kellu l-mira li jerġa’ jpoġġi lill-Kiribati fuq fomm kulħadd, did-darba minħabba aħbar kerha u stramba li ta: il-bidla fil-klima tant effettwat b’mod negattiv lin-nies ta’ dawn l-inħawi li fi ftit żmien se jkollhom jagħmlu sorra u jitilqu.

 

Tong qiegħed jitlob l-għajnuna internazzjonali biex jitwettaq pjan ta’ evakwazzjoni tal-popolazzjoni kollha tal-gżejjer tal-Kiribati minħabba li l-livell tal-baħar għola tant li l-gżejjer qegħdin jegħrqu. Ħafna abitanti kellhom jinġabru f’arja densa ħafna minħabba li diġa’ hemm naħiet li għerqu u l-ħażna ta’ l-ilma (limitata ħafna għax ilha ma tagħmel xita tliet snin) qiegħda tiġi kkontaminata mill-ilma mielaħ tal-baħar.

Bażikament in-nies tal-Kiribati se jispiċċaw refuġjati minħabba l-bdil tal-klima. Gradwat mil-London School of Economics, il-president Tong kien rappurtat li qal li niesu lanqas jistgħu jemmnu li waslu f’din l-estremita’. Is-soltu nisimgħu bir-refuġjati li jitilqu minn pajjiżhom minħabba ġlied u gwerer, jew minħabba xi diżastri naturali bħal terremoti u marimoti. Dak li se jkollhom jagħmlu l-abitanti tal-Kiribati mhux żgur għandu preċedent. X’ħasra, ikompli Tong, li hemm ħafna mexxejja ta’ pajjiżi li għalissa m’humiex ibatu mill-bdil fil-klima li qegħdin iġibu l-ekonomija ta’ pajjiżhom qabel il-bżonnijiet tal-pjaneta kollha kemm hi. Tong ma semma ebda ismijiet imma min għandu widnejh ħa jisma’.

 

Is-Seħer Misħut tas-Saħara

Mhux l-ilma biss qiegħed jimxi fuq l-art: anki r-ramel. Iltqajna ma’ Seim, refuġjat mill-Eritrea, li rrakkuntalna l-istorja tal-Port ta’ Massawa u tal-villaġġi viċin li r-ramel tas-Saħara, li jaqsam il-Baħar l-Aħmar, qiegħed jidfen ftit ftit. Mhux hekk biss, imma hemm ukoll bdiewa Maltin li qegħdin jinnutaw li l-istess deżert tiela’ ftit ftit anki fuq Malta: ir-ramel tiegħu qiegħed jeffettwa l-ħamrija u l-uċuħ Maltin.

Quddiem għajnejja nara dan ix-xenarju Apokalittiku ta’ dinja fejn il-baħar jitħallat mar-ramel u l-art mgħarrqa taħthom it-tnejn.

 

Imbagħad xiħadd (min eżattament tgħid?) irid jibni diskoteka fil-Mistra! X’nitnejku mill-ħaxix u s-siġar; mit-tniġġiż tal-karozzi li jġorru liż-żeffiena tad-diskoteka SPIN? X’nitnejku mit-tniġġiż tal-ħoss u tad-dawl? L-aqwa li jkollna fejn nirrokkjaw u wara mmorru nieħdu waħda ta’ malajr maġenb il-baħar.

 

Ma tridx għerf, ma tridx wisq skola

Sabiex tkejjel l-ultra-vjola,

Sabiex tisma’ t-tfal bis-sogħla

Jew biex tħoss il-baħar jogħla.

 
 
   
 

Antoine Cassar u Adrian Grima dwar

Riħ min-Nofsinhar

 

Il-kumment inizjali ta’ Antoine Cassar

 

Riħ min-Nofsinhar hija pubblikazzjoni importanti ħafna għall-poeżija Maltija, fost l-oħrajn għax turi l-iżvilupp tematiku mill-aktar neċessarju li kellu u li qiegħed isir.

 

Għandi suspett li meta ngħidu bil-Malti "Poeżija dwar l-Ambjent", waħda mill-ewwel affarijiet li tgħaddi minn moħħ il-qarrej Malti ta' llum hi dak il-famuż kapitlu tal-Qawsalla, bl-għajn fil-misraħ, it-tradiment u d-dagħwa f'wiċċ l-art, u l-kaxxa ħdejn kaxxa saret kaxxa kbira. Poeżiji li jibqgħu minquxa f'moħħ u f'qalb aktar minn student wieħed, marbutin ma' l-imħabba tellurika u għaldaqstant mas-sogħba profonda li nħossu quddiem il-qerda ta' l-ambjent naturali li ngħixu jew aktarx m'għadniex ngħixu fih.

 

Iżda f'dan il-ktejjeb, ikompli proċess li naħseb m'ilux wisq li beda - il-ftuħ tal-poeżija Maltija lejn l-artijiet u fuq kollox lejn il-popli tal-bqija tad-dinja (u mhux biss tal-Mediterran). Mingħajr ma jneħħu l-attenzjoni tagħhom minn fuq dak li qed jiġri u dak li jeħtieġ li jingħad rigward l-ambjent fuq il-Blata, Adrian Grima u Immanuel Mifsud iħarsu lejn postijiet oħra u jisimgħu l-ilmenti tal-popolazzjonijiet tagħhom, u jsiru ilħna tal-kuxjenza planetarja li tant hemm bżonn li nrabbu ma' l-erba' massi kontinentali u s-sebat ibħra ta' din l-imsejkna dinja.

 

Il-fatt li dawk il-popolazzjonijiet wisq probabbli mhumiex se jifhmu l-poeżija tagħkom fil-lingwa oriġinali ma għandu l-ebda importanza, għax il-poeżija nnifisha hija lingwa universali, u d-destinatarju huwa sewwasew il-bniedem, ikun mnejn ikun.

 

Din twassalni għal mistoqsija li ilha x-xhur tberren f'rasi, marbuta mal-poeżija ġeografika (jew 'tal-vjaġġ') in ġenerali u ma' l-iżvilupp tal-mużajki b'mod partikulari. Napprezza jekk twieġbu meta ssibu ċans. Kemm taħsbu li huwa possibbli li wieħed jikteb dwar post li ma jkunx żar, mingħajr l-esperjenza friska u diretta tiegħu? Biex inkunu aktar speċifiċi, nistgħu nirreferu għall-poeżiji fuq il-Kiribati, Afabet, ir-reġjun Ayaviri tal-Perù. Meta ktibtu u issa terġgħu taqraw dawk il-poeżiji, tħossu li hemm xi ħaġa nieqsa?

 

27/6/08

 

 

Tweġiba ta’ Adrian Grima

 

Fil-film Il Postino ta' Robert Radford and Massimo Troisi bbażat fuq ir-rumanz ta' Antonio Skármeta, il-personaġġ ta' Pablo Neruda jgħid lill-pustier Mario Ruoppolo li ma jistax jikteb poeżija dwar xi ħaġa li m'għandux esperjenza diretta tagħha. Huwa kliem li jiswa mitqlu deheb għax f'dinja medjatika mimlija rakkonti superfiċjali, faċli taqa' fit-tentazzjoni li tikteb bla ma tkun għext, jew ġarrabt, inti stess.

 

Jien għaddejt minn din l-esperjenza b'poeżija bħal "Tibet" li tinsab f'It-Trumbettier (1999). Hija poeżija għal qalbi, ispirata mill-attivist Michael Alexander (li jgħix Malta) u minn ħafna qari, li wkoll huwa esperjenza importanti, imma xorta nħoss li l-poeżija fiha xi ħaġa nieqsa. M'hemmx mod wieħed kif tirrakkonta r-realtà, u mhemmx realtà waħda, naf, imma xorta nħoss li hemm kuntatt uman dirett nieqes fil-kitba ta' dik il-poeżija.

 

F'"Siem Jiftakar is-Siġar ta' Afabet" u xogħol ieħor nuża strateġija narrattiva differenti. Meta nirrakkonta Afabet, nirrakkontaha espliċitament mill-perspettiva ta' Siem, li kien hemm. Minkejja li qrajt kemm stajt dwar Afabet u l-Eritrea, naf li l-għarfien u l-esperjenza tiegħi ta' dawn il-postijiet hija limitata ħafna, imma l-punt tat-tluq tiegħi huwa li nirrakkonta kif għex Afabet Siem, mhux kif għext Afabet jien. Fil-fatt parti mill-eżerċizzju li għamilna Immanuel u jien f'Riħ min-Nofsinhar kien proprju li nirrakkontaw it-tibdil fil-klima mill-perspettiva ta' nies oħrajn.

 

Nista' ngħid l-istess affarijiet dwar "Todo relación." Ktibtha mill-perspettiva ta' Maria Julia Arditu u wara li lestejt l-ewwel abbozz iddiskutejtu magħha fit-tul - u biddilt partijiet importanti biex nirrifletti aħjar il-perspettivi tagħha u tan-nies li titkellem fuqhom u tgħix magħhom hi...

 

Meta ra din il-poeżija Patri Ġwann Xerri OP, li laqqagħni ma' Maria Julia, ħa pjaċir ħafna, mhux biss għax għoġbitu, imma għax ra fiha dak li hu jħobb isejjaħlu, b'kelma  sabiħa, sovverżiva, "complicidad": "Mi alegro mucho con esta colaboración, complicidad... de tantos lados y niveles!"

 

Nemmen ħafna f'din it-tip ta' poeżija ta' kompliċità bejn il-bnedmin, bejn l-esperjenzi... 

 

 

1/7/08

 

 

It-tweġiba ta’ Antoine

 

Adrian, għoġbitni ħafna din l-idea tal-kompliċità bħala parti essenzjali mill-proċess ta' kreazzjoni. Inħeġġek tfannad fiha kemm tista'. Tinteressani ħafna l-possibbiltà li l-jien poetiku - mhux sempliċement il-leħen - isir ta' ħaddieħor, jingħata u jitqassam ma' popli oħra li jeħtieġ li nagħtuhom widen.

 

Min-naħa l-oħra, fil-poeżija tal-4x4 ipparkjata f'San Ġiljan, kif ukoll fit-tieni taqsima tal-Ballata ta' Kiribati, għal ftit mumenti l-jien poetiku jsir l-għadu, f'dawn il-każijiet il-politiku u l-borgiż jiġu alażigghom mill-ħsara li qegħdin jikkawżaw konxjament f'artijiet "eżotiċi" (xi ħlew!) u mhux daqstant imbiegħda. Kemm hi kkargata dik il-kelma "naħrat" fil-vers "u naħrat Malta bih"...

 

B'dak il-mod tistabbilixxu ċerta oppożizzjoni jew dikotomija, u l-qarrej jaf isib ruħu f'taqbida sfiqa hu u jipprova jagħraf ma' liema jien poetiku jidentifika ruħu l-aktar. Dan joħloq skumdità, inkluż għal min forsi mingħalih għandu l-kuxjenza nadifa. Ir-reazzjoni ta' l-apatiku ma nafx xi tkun, imma nistħajjel li jekk jaqra jew jisma' l-poeżiji sew, talanqas ma joqgħodx daqshekk lura milli jibda jirrifletti. Oħrajn jafu jumbraw il-poeżiji mill-ewwel, u jibqgħu biss b'togħma superfiċjali tal-ftit versi li għoġobhom jifhmu...

 

F'dan is-sens, jidhirli li l-akbar periklu fl-iżvilupp ta' din it-tematika hu li d-dikotomija li semmejt tiġi simplifikata wisq, u l-qarrej jaf iħoss li l-intelliġenza tiegħu qed tiġi insultata. Jien ma ħassejtx hekk fil-qari tal-ktejjeb tagħkom, imma jibqa' r-riskju u ma għandix biżżejjed esperjenza biex ngħid fejn tinsab il-linja. Li nista' ngħid hu li personalment, nippreferi l-poeżiji li fihom il-jien hu dak ta' min iġarrab pjuttost milli tal-ħati jew taċ-ċuċ. Hekk kif pereżempju l-poeta klawstrofobiku jrid joħloq fi vrusu l-ftuħ innifsu aktarx milli jferra' l-kilba akkanita għalih (enerġija negattiva sublimata permezz ta' enerġija pożittiva), nissuspetta li fil-poeżija soċjali, umana u ambjentali, l-espressjoni (espliċita jew aħjar suġġerita) tas-solidarjetà u l-kompliċità taf twassal ħafna aktar 'il bogħod mill-ilment, l-akkuża jew it-tagħjir.

 

 

Il-Ġimgħa, 4 ta' Lulju 2008

 
   
 

Climate change in Maltese

Alan Deidun, The Sunday Times (30.11.08)


The Maltese language is not renowned for its ease of use to express scientific terminology and this has prevented many stalwart users of Maltese from venturing into writing about the scientific world. However, Immanuel Mifsud and Adrian Grima have had no such misgivings, and through their aptly-named publication Riħ min-Nofsinhar (The south wind) they have managed to marry the two seemingly incompatible worlds of Maltese and climate change.

It is a collection of exquisitely balanced excerpts from various media and the witty prose on different aspects of complex climate change issues, ranging from sea level rise, impacts on agricultural yields, production of biofuels, warming of seas, desertification and environmental refugees, yet is a pleasure to read, avoiding pedantic, often unintelligible scientific jargon.
 
 
 

MALTA  

  

 

DIBATTITI TAL-KAMRA TAD-DEPUTATI  

 

(Rapport Uffiċjali u Rivedut)  

 

 

 IL-ĦDAX-IL PARLAMENT  

 

 

 

Seduta Nru. 30  

 

It-Tlieta, 8 ta’ Lulju, 2008  

 

 

 

Stampat fl-Uffiċċju ta' l-Iskrivan  

Kamra tad-Deputati  

MALTA  

 

 

 

 Il-Kamra tad-Deputati ltaqgħet fil-Kamra tal-Parlament,  

il-Palazz, il-Belt Valletta, fis-6.01 p.m.  

 

 

Aġġornament

 

 

ONOR. EVARIST BARTOLO: Sur President, dan l-aħħar attendejt għal attività organizzata mill-Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust fil-Barrakka ta' Fuq. Nista’ ngħid li kienet attività tajba u kienet attività li turina kemm għandna għaqdiet mhux governattivi tajbin ħafna f'pajjiżna. Din hija waħda mill-ftit għaqdiet li għandha aspetti ta' żvilupp internazzjonali għax minn barra li qed jaħdmu ħafna sabiex idaħħlu l-kunċett ta' kummerċ ġust fostna, qegħdin ukoll jixtru prodotti minn diversi kontinenti fid-dinja, ibigħuhom hawnhekk u jiżguraw li min jagħmel dak il-prodott ikun qiegħed jitħallas b'mod ġust. 

 

Nafu li hemm ħafna każijiet fejn fil-kummerċ li jsir, anke dak li ngawdu minnu aħna bħal meta nixtru ħwejjeġ u prodotti maħduma f’pajjiżi barranin, ħafna drabi l-prodotti jinħadmu f'kundizzjonijiet tal-waħx. Il-ġimgħa li għaddiet fl-Asja ħareġ rapport li fih jingħad li ħwejjeġ, bħal qomos, li fl-Ingilterra jinbigħu b'żewġ sterlini, jiġu maħduma minn nisa li jaħdmu 66 siegħa fil-ġimgħa. U żgur li dak m’huwiex eżempju ta’ kummerċ ġust. Imma din il-koperattiva f'pajjiżna qiegħda tagħmel sforz sabiex iddaħħal dan il-kunċett. Għalhekk jiena nixtieq nagħtihom il-prosit tiegħi. 

 

Li għoġobni ħafna din id-darba wkoll huwa l-mod ta’ kif rabtu l-idea tal-kummerċ ġust mat-tibdil fil-klima. Forsi kien hemm min beda jistaqsi x'għandha x'taqsam ħaġa ma' oħra. Rabtuh ukoll mat-tibdil kbir li t-tibdil fil-klima qed iġib u li se jġib fis-snin li ġejjin anke fiċ-ċaqliq tan-nies. Fil-fatt diġà hemm min qiegħed jiġi mhedded. Per eżempju, jekk wieħed jieħu l-gżira ta' Kiribati fil-Paċifiku jsib li diġà hemm min qed ikollu jitlaq minnha minħabba li l-ilma baħar qiegħed jogħla u qed jgħarraq inħawi sħaħ ta’ din il-gżira. B’hekk in-nies mhux qed ikollhom fejn joqogħdu. Dawn qed jitolbu li jmorru jgħixu fl-Awstralja għax il-gżira se tispiċċa tegħreq minħabba l-effett tat-tibdil fil-klima.

 

It-tibdil fil-klima se joħloq tibdil ukoll fil-mard u fl-insetti li qabel kienu jeżistu f’ċerti pajjiżi tas-sħana. Anki l-persuni qed ikollhom jiċċaqilqu. Miljuni ta' persuni se jiċċaqilqu u dan se jkompli jżid il-problema taċ-ċaqliq tan-nies fid-dinja tal-lum. Laqtitni ħafna poeżija li nqrat għal din l-okkażjoni miktuba mill-kittieb bravu Malti Immanuel Mifsud. Din għandha x’taqsam ma’ kif aħna, fil-ħajja tagħna, kollha nistgħu nikkontribwixxu għal dan it-taħsir u t-tibdil fil-klima. Il-poeżija tgħid hekk: 

 

"Aqta fjura u ibni kamra, aqla' siġra u tella' dar,

Imxi metru u ibni villa, tinkwetax dak li sar sar.

 

Mur pass ieħor u ibni torri, itla' fl-għoli miss is-sħab,

Tinkwetax jekk sħaqt l-għelieqi, kulma ħlejt kien naqra trab.

 

Dur mal-kosta fittex rokna, arma boathouse fuq il-blat,

Anke l-baħar agħmel tiegħek u ħallik mill-pixxispad.

 

 

 

Tagħtix kas li l-baħar tiela', itla' fl-għoli anke int,

Bnejt it-torri itla' fuqu, ibda gawdi dak li ħdimt.

 

Issa isma' x'qed jgħidulek, ħdejn il-baħar tmurx fit-tul,

Hemm ftit metri ħdejn il-villa, li kont minnek nibni pool.

 

U jaqbillek tinsa l-baħar għax mid-dehra tah tal-qamar,

Tmurx fix-xemx u tmurx fid-dlam għax timtela' tilja bram.

 

Aqta' fjura u ibni kamra, jien nifhem agħtini widen,

Meta mbagħad tkun lest minn kollox, ħu nifs qawwi u mur indifen.” 

 

Sur President, naħseb li dawn huma versi qawwijin ħafna. Hawnhekk il-kittieb qiegħed juri r-responsabilitajiet personali li għandna aħna fit-tibdil tal-klima u x'għandna nagħmlu personalment fuq din il-kwestjoni. Dan għaliex aħna noqogħdu ngħidu x'messu jagħmel il-gvern, x'messu jagħmel dak u x’messu jagħmel l-ieħor u ma narawx x’nistgħu nagħmlu aħna. Noqogħdu ngħidu x'messha tagħmel l-Istati Uniti u noqogħdu ngħidu li messna ndaħħlu l-Indja u ċ-Ċina fil-Kyoto Agreement. Imma mbagħad l-inqas ħaġa li nagħtu kas hija proprju dak li nistgħu nagħmlu aħna personalment. Fl-opinjoni tiegħi għandna bżonn ta’ ħafna tibdil, mhux biss fil-klima imma anke fl-attitudni u fl-imġiba tagħna.

 
 
 

Have you read…? - Riħ min-Nofsinhar: It-Tibdil fil-Klima

 

Winter is to books what summer is to beach… so why not curl up with a fresh take on climate change, with a zest of Maltese literature? Neville Bezzina gives us a personal introduction to Riħ min-Nofsinhar: It-Tibdil fil-Klima skont Immanuel Mifsud u Adrian Grima
During last month’s book fair held in Valletta, Immanuel Mifsud and Adrian Grima unveiled the second edition of their literary-poetic approach on the issue of climate change, published by SKARTA, an independent initiative for the publication of e-books and limited editions of small books of research and literature.


The poems are unique to the poet who wrote them. Mifsud’s poetry is melodic, almost like lyrics to music, with easy rhyme and a mellow atmosphere. I found this to be pleasurable reading, flowing into the mind of the reader. He uses short verses and generally each stanza is only four lines wrong.  The general sense you get from his verse is that the fight against climate change is a song we all have to sing together. In “Ic-Cajta tad-Dollaru,” he ironically states,
 
"Aqta fjura u ibni kamra, aqla' siġra u tella' dar,
Imxi metru u ibni villa, tinkwetax dak li sar sar”
 
On the other hand I found Grima’s verse to be less concerned with structure and feels more jagged and journalistic. This makes the issue of climate change come out prominently- sometimes I almost felt as if I was reading the latest report concerning populations escaping the devastating effects of desertification or rising ocean levels. However, this not mere reportage, the use of short verses, of numbers and statistics, is  symbolic and effective, not simply used for their sake. They create an effect, an urgency while reading.

Through both poets’ work runs the central theme and ideology- the message is spelt out clear for us to see: Climate change is an important issue which all countries should unite to fight against. They do this with a social conscience, but also with energetic zest such as satiric jabs at the Western culture which we form part of, such as the poem “Is-Sahna tal-President,” a delightfully and surprisingly pun-filled piece of work which at the end still puts out the message that Malta’s mentality in regards to climate change is painfully naïve. In the end, climate change won’t go away.

All of this is done with through a very Maltese outlook; it is very much a local book with a wider, international outlook. It has a broad vision, sweeping from coral islands which are rapidly disappearing, to the desertification of lower Sahara nations, anchored down by the geographical presence of the locality of the language employed.

Although the two poets’ work is the focus of the publication, interspersed with their poetry, this edition includes contributions by a variety of people including farmers, sociologists, writers, and environmentalists. These take the form of short, accessible prose commentaries, articles and flashes of insight regarding the central topic without resorting to complex scientific terminology. This shift in favour of a factual and approachable style is easily commendable to readers who aren’t scientifically proficient. It delivers critique while highlighting the social-environmental implications and possible effects of the challenge of climate change.

For too long, climate change, and its local and international implications, has been simply a storm brewing at the edge of the Maltese consciousness. There was no engagement with it, whether scientific or artistic, with it as an actual fact. This publication is a small step which brings us closer to its epicenter, in the hopes of jolting us into action.
 
 
 

from Friends of the Earth, E-Newsletter, December 2008