#Economy of Malta

[factflow]

Learn about the fascinating secrets of Malta, a gem tucked away in the Mediterranean.

This movie reveals 8 fascinating facts about this island nation, including its historical heritage and gorgeous architecture.

Discover the city's rich history, which includes everything from ancient empires to the Knights of St. John, and be in awe of the magnificent baroque and neoclassical structures.

Explore the Maltese archipelago, where three inhabited islands form a singular patchwork, and succumb to its fascination.

Join us as we explore Malta's wonderful attractions, including its pleasant weather, booming economy, and UNESCO-recognized monuments.

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Malta's Constitution

8. Promotion of culture, etc

The State shall promote the development of culture and scientific and technical research.

9. Safeguarding of landscape and historical and artistic patrimony

The State shall safeguard the landscape and the historical and artistic patrimony of the Nation.

10. Compulsory and free primary education

Primary education shall be compulsory and in State schools shall be free of charge.

13. Hours of work

The maximum number of hours of work per day shall be fixed by law.

The worker is entitled to a weekly day of rest and to annual holidays with pay; he cannot renounce this right.

17. Social assistance and insurance

Every citizen incapable of work and unprovided with the resources necessary for subsistence is entitled to maintenance and social assistance.

Workers are entitled to reasonable insurance on a contributory basis for their requirements in case of accident, illness, disability, old-age and involuntary unemployment.

Disabled persons and persons incapable of work are entitled to education and vocational training.

34. Protection from arbitrary arrest or detention (Part of it)

No person shall be deprived of his personal liberty save as may be authorised by law in the following cases, that is to say -

for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of a court or before the House of Representatives in execution of the order of that House;

in the case of a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years, for the purpose of his education or welfare;

for the purpose of preventing the spread of an infectious or contagious disease;

Any person who is arrested or detained shall be informed at the time of his arrest or detention, in a language that he understands, of the reasons for his arrest or detention:  Provided that if an interpreter is necessary and is not readily available or if it is otherwise impracticable to comply with the provisions of this sub-article at the time of the person’s arrest or detention, such provisions shall be complied with as soon as practicable.

Any person who is unlawfully arrested or detained by any other person shall be entitled to compensation therefor from that person.

35. Protection from forced labour

No person shall be required to perform forced labour.

For the purposes of this article, the expression "forced labour" does not include -

any labour required in consequence of the sentence or order of a court;

labour required of any person while he is lawfully detained by sentence or order of a court that, though not required in consequence of such sentence or order, is reasonably necessary in the interests of hygiene or for the maintenance of the place at which he is detained or, if he is detained for the purpose of his care, treatment, education or welfare, is reasonably required for that purpose;

any labour required of a member of a disciplined force in pursuance of his duties as such or, in the case of a person who has conscientious objections to service as a member of a naval, military or air force, any labour that that person is required by law to perform in place of such service;

any labour required during a period of public emergency or in the event of any other emergency or calamity that threatens the life or well-being of the community.

37. Protection from deprivation of property without compensation (Part of it)

No property of any description shall be compulsorily taken possession of, and no interest in or right over property of any description shall be compulsorily acquired, except where provision is made by a law applicable to that taking of possession or acquisition -

for the payment of adequate compensation;

securing to any person claiming such compensation a right of access to an independent and impartial court or tribunal established by law for the purpose of determining his interest in or right over the property and the amount of any compensation to which he may be entitled, and for the purpose of obtaining payment of that compensation; and

securing to any party to proceedings in that court or tribunal relating to such a claim a right of appeal from its determination to the Court of Appeal in Malta:

Provided that in special cases Parliament may, if it deems it appropriate so to act in the national interest, by law establish the criteria which are to be followed, including the factors and other circumstances to be taken into account, in the determination of the compensation payable in respect of property compulsorily taken possession of or acquired; and in any such case the compensation shall be determined and shall be payable accordingly.

Nothing in this article shall be construed as affecting the making or operation of any law so far as it provides for the taking of possession or acquisition of property -

in satisfaction of any tax, rate or due;

by way of penalty for, or as a consequence of, breach of the law, whether under civil process or after conviction of a criminal offence;

by way of the taking of a sample for the purposes of any law;

where the property consists of an animal upon its being found trespassing or straying;

as an incident of a lease, tenancy, licence, privilege or hypothec, mortgage, charge, bill of sale, pledge or other contract;

by way of the vesting or administration of property on behalf and for the benefit of the person entitled to the beneficial interest therein, trust property, enemy property or the property of persons adjudged bankrupt or otherwise declared bankrupt or insolvent, persons of unsound mind, deceased persons, or bodies corporate or unincorporate in the course of being wound up or liquidated;

in the execution of judgments or orders of courts;

by reason of its being in a dangerous state or injurious to the health of human beings, animals or plants;

in consequence of any law with respect to the limitation of actions, acquisitive prescription, derelict land, treasure trove, mortmain or the rights of succession competent to the Government of Malta; or

for so long only as may be necessary for the purposes of any examination, investigation, trial or inquiry or, in the case of land, the carrying out thereon -

of work of soil conservation or the conservation of other natural resources of any description or of war damage reconstruction; or

of agricultural development or improvement which the owner or occupier of the land has been required and has without reasonable and lawful excuse refused or failed to carry out.

Nothing in this article shall be construed as affecting the making or operation of any law so far as it provides for vesting in the Government of Malta the ownership of any underground minerals, water or antiquities.

Nothing in this article shall be construed as affecting the making or operation of any law for the compulsory taking of possession in the public interest of any property, or the compulsory acquisition in the public interest of any interest in or right over property, where that property, interest or right is held by a body corporate which is established for public purposes by any law and in which no monies have been invested other than monies provided by any legislature in Malta.

97. Tenure of office of judges

Subject to the provisions of this article, a judge of the Superior Courts shall vacate his office when he attains the age of sixty-five years.

A judge of the Superior Courts shall not be removed from his office except by the President upon an address by the House of Representatives supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members thereof and praying for such removal on the ground of proved inability to perform the functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity of body or mind or any other cause) or proved misbehaviour.

by Dunilefra, working for State Policy

[maltezer-ruben]

Yesterday was more of a day with some practical info. Today was my first day of work. I got my laptop with the necessary materials. Also a Sim card with unlimited calls, texts and data that we can use. My task is to make a PowerPoint presentation on the 'GO Malta' website, evaluating the products. I also have to give positive and negative feedback. I then have to present that presentation in front of my colleagues on Friday.

[asalescommunity]

A real estate business without a basis of a law property can be proven to be based on an organized crime.

Russians and Ukrainians who bought the property using an amount of monies from the organized crime can represent a terror network that is selling narcotics and a weapon without a license.

An administration can qualify such gangs as leads who are qualified for a confiscation of a property.

Entrepreneurs can be qualified for the confiscation of the property, partly, or completely depending on a source of an income.

An author Piotr Sienkiewicz

+48 721 951 799

[limitlessmalta]

Hey everyone, I'm going to give you a quick mid-week catchup about what we've done and what's more to come this week.

The week started off with me (and most of the other guys) being very tired and exhausted because of the exploring we have done in the weekend. Work wise I went on with the same task I had last week because I wasn't finished yet and there's no deadline. When I was finished with the task I needed to make a PowerPoint about it and present it. What I didn't know is that I needed to present it for 15 people. I was a bit shook at first but managed to do my best and it resulted in very good feedback from my mentor but also the people who I presented it to. I was very happy and didn't know that the things I did were so useful to them but apparently they are. We also can't forget the absolute embarrassing performance Real Madrid put up against the greatest team in Europe, Manchester City. Lovely to watch on a wednesday night!

For the coming days we are obviously going to work but also explore the island(s) a bit more because we can't miss out on the beautiful experiences this internship (and Malta) has to bring. We are planning to go out again because we found it very amusing and had a great time. Obviously we will be behaving ourselves and will be causing no trouble whatsoever. We are also going to Comino if the weather is suitable to swim because it has been a bit rainy and dull since we've been here.

Comino is a small and picturesque island located between Malta and Gozo. Known for its stunning beauty, it offers crystal-clear turquoise waters, pristine beaches, and the famous Blue Lagoon which hopefully we'll be swimming in and you guys will be the first to know! With limited development, it provides a peaceful escape, ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying the calm atmosphere.

[head-post]

EU Commission reaffirms possible funding for Malta gas pipeline

The European Commission has re-added Malta’s TransGas pipeline project to its sixth list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI), despite the pipeline’s links to corruption and murder.

The pipeline will link Malta to Sicily, replacing the current LNG tanker anchored off the coast of Delimara. The Maltese government has asked the Commission for its contribution at an estimated cost of €400 million.

The pipeline leads to the Delimara power plant, which is operated by Electrogas. Yorgen Fenech, one of the beneficial owners of the company, is imprisoned pending trial for his involvement in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, while others involved are suspected of money laundering and corruption.

Read more HERE

[psychicreadsgirl]

Pick a Novel: Keywords/prominent themes in your life

Pick the novel that draws your attention the most. If you can't decide between two, then look at the 2 readings. This is a general reading, so not everything will apply. Please take what resonates and leave what doesn't behind!

#1

Keywords: love, lust, passion, fun, temperament, cafe, sweet, bicycle, pen, books, music, loyalty, winter, sofa, furniture, thoughts, light, intuition, soulmate, art, obsidian, cake, carbonated water, skincare, socks, cooking

Celebrities/Public Figures: Audrey Hepburn, Min Yoongi, IU, Claude Monet, Angela Merkel, Andrew Carnegie, John Johnson, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, Howard Schultz, Sam Walton, Amancio Ortega, Queen Elizabeth I, Jane Austen, Jennie Kim

Countries: Italy, Canada, South Africa, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Greece, Madagascar, Qatar, Sweden, Zambia, Taiwan, Solomon Islands

Numbers: 11, 1, 5, 9, 80, 888, 6

Brands: Hermes, Tiffany, Apple, Instagram, Taobao, Lamborghini, Deloitte, Microsoft, Chopard, Givenchy, Patek Phillipe, Chloe, Alaia, Kraft,

Kpop songs: Young Forever by BTS, Shine by PENTAGON, Me Gustas Tu by GFRIEND, Run to You by DJ DOC, Love Lee by AKMU, Deja vu by TXT, Back Down by P1Harmony, Love shot by EXO

#2

Keywords: economy, job loss, new opportunities, play, drama, anger, frustration, lost, compass, computers, battery, feet, head, brain, summer, pearl, avocado, junk food, fried chicken, challenge, frugal

Celebrities/Public Figures: Grace Kelly, Billie Eilish, Keanu Reeves, Rosé, Jung Hoseok, Salma Hayek, Pablo Picasso, Princess Diana, Thomas Edison, Sergey Brin, Mary I, William Shakespeare, Lee Nayeon

Countries: New Zealand, USA, Maldives, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Lithuania, Nepal, Portugal, Poland, Lebanon, Mali, Netherlands

Numbers: 4, 99, 101, 33, 13, 14, 0

Brands: Masion Margiela, Amazon, facebook, Shein, PWC, Missoni, Moschino Couture, Toyota, citi bank, Chaumet, Polene, Pizza Hut,

Kpop songs: Love Dive by IVE, Shangri-la by VIXX, Sweety by Clazziquai, I NEED U by BTS, The Chaser by Infinite, Magnetic by ILLIT, My House by 2PM, ICY by ITZY

#3

Keywords: tales, gossip, lies, funny, movies, theatre, cell phone, cool, kpop, magenta, ancient, history, claws, cats, tiger, fall, jealousy, games, aquamarine, lemons, makeup, pencil, groceries

Celebrities/Public Figures: Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Morgan Freeman, Kim Seokjin, Jang Wonyoung, Matt Damon, Napoleon Bonaparte, Shinzo Abe, Steve Jobs, Voltaire, Kim Jisoo,

Countries: Ethiopia, France, Russia, Ireland, Argentina, Afghanistan, Libya, Rwanda, Nigeria, Pakistan, Morocco, Malta, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Iraq,

Numbers: 2, 7, 69, 25, 55, 79, 1182

Brands: Saint Laurent, miumiu, Starbucks, Mercedez-Benz, Nestle, Oracle, Tod's, Bulgari, Rolex, KFC, SUBWAY, Carrefour, Kellog's

Kpop songs: Supernova by aespa, Maestro by seventeen, Not by the moon by GOT7, Alone by Sistar, Hip by MAMAMOO, Good Day by IU, Bite Me by ENHYPEN, Work by ATEEZ, The Feels by TWICE

#4

Keywords: foreign, spicy, peppery, rice, no, objection, resistance, control, storms, thunderstorms, shower, tension, crush, pop, paper, mango, legs, fragrance, emerald, clothing rack, tomatoes, defeat,

Celebrities/Public Figures: Judy Garland, Margot Robbie, G-Dragon, Jeon Jungkook, Pharrell Williams, Emmanuel Macron, Bill Clinton, King Charles, Warren Buffet, Cleopatra, Kim Mingyu

Countries: South Korea, Philippines, Scotland, Spain, Albania, Guatemala, Malaysia, Iran, Romania, Honduras, Georgia, Croatia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Gambia, Guinea

Numbers: 31, 75, 412, 43, 486, 640

Brands: Chanel, Prada, Bentley, Gucci, Samsung, Disney, BMW, Hyundai, cisco, Van Cleefs & Arpels, Dior, Loro Piana, Shake Shack

Kpop songs: Gee by SNSD, If you by BIGBANG, Antifragile by LE SSERAFIM, Up and Down by EXID, OMG by NewJeans, Lion by (G)I-DLE, Hello by TREASURE,

#5

Keywords: death, mystery, mirror, reflection, shadow, black, grey, white, funeral, video, sprint, pool, gym, streets, metro, subway, chocolate, broken, knees, moon, ruby, surgery, teeth, race

Celebrities/Public Figures: Marilyn Monroe, Barack Obama, Kate Winslet, Kim Taehyung, Aamir Khan, Marie Antoinette, Elon Musk, Robert F Kennedy, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, Edward VIII, Charles Dickens, Abraham Lincoln, Park Bogum,

Countries: North Korea, China, Vietnam, Brazil, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Germany, India, Israel, Laos, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Mongolia

Numbers: 3, 97, 17, 19, 52, 98

Brands: Ralph Lauren, Celine, Ferrari, Huawei, Uber, intel, UPS, Calvin Klein, Piaget, Guerlain, Berluti, Pepsi, Cadbury

Kpop songs: Shut down by Blackpink, Seven by Jeon Jungkook, God's Menu by Stray Kids, Love Love Love by Epik High, Very Nice by SEVENTEEN, Birthday by Jeon Somi, Psycho by Red Velvet,

#6

Keywords: travel, toxic, break away, departure, memory, dreams, truth, unveil, diary, journal, coffee, jacket, shoes, hands, social media, news, competition, autumn, diamonds, electricity, TV, cheat, fashion

Celebrities/Public Figures: Jane Birkin, Kim Jiwon, Gigi Hadid, Charlize Theron, Park Jimin, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Maximilien Robespierre, Bill Gates, Queen Elizabeth II, Vladimir Putin, Henry Ford, James Joyce, Lalisa Manobal

Countries: Japan, Australia, Mexico, Iceland, Finland, Eritrea, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Bolivia, Botswana, Bahamas,

Numbers: 8, 646, 152, 37, 49, 22

Brands: Louis Vuitton, Lexus, Tesla, Fendi, Walmart, Nike, Siemens, Google, Cartier, Burberry, Ferragamo, Burger King, Unilever

Kpop songs: ROCKSTAR by LISA, Cherry bomb by NCT 127, Move by Taemin, Dramarama by MONSTA X, Love Scenario by iKON, Get a Guitar by RIIZE, Replay by SHINee, Candy Sugar Pop by ASTRO, Mr. Simple by Super Junior

[i-m-van-goghing-now]

Earth 92164- New Melita

With the unfortunate collapse of the USA, many of its citizens emigrated elsewhere to find better opportunities and stability. Many of these nomads discovered the Mediterranean gem of Malta in search of brighter horizons.

Known for its historical landmarks, this island once home to the crusader knights of the Hospital seemed like the perfect place to set up new roots. The islanders are primarily English-speaking, the property is affordable, and the government is more than happy to offer visa... in exchange for some generous investment, of course.

Sure the island's lifestyle is a bit...slow...for many of these American city folk, but that's nothing a little adjusting couldn't fix.

The year is 2064 and New Melita is the swingingest, hippest place to be. A (small) country-sized city of marvel and wonder. The island was so flooded with new investors and traffic that they had no choice but to build...and build..and build, until we got the metropolitan beast of the Mediterranean. The lights are so bright you have people all the way from Italy complaining about it!

The 60s are making a come back and the economy is booming! So put on your Shien brand go-go boots and hit the town!

Of course, there's still a simmering tension amongst the Maltese locals, who grow more disgruntled with every new skyscraper that gets erected. It feels like every year the apartments get more and more compact and they get stacked on top of one another like lego bricks. Last week riots broke out over the government planning to tear down another historical-

Who's that over there!

Well, it's your friendly neighborhood spiderman of course!

Hoping around from building to building ready to save the day! (no web-shooters needed. This might be the swinging 60s but everything's too dense to actually swing.)

You know, for an island where everyone knows everyone...its strange that no one can figure out who this illusive Spiderman really is...

[four-leafed-queer-gal]

I've been doing some research on Malta, for a school project-

If anyone knows stuff about Malta (Like, been there, or lived there, or lives there, or anything like that, or has also done a project on Malta, or lives pretty close to there), I'd love to talk to you about it and learn more.

The project is about the politics in Malta, so my main questions are:

Civil Rights, especially LGBTQ+ and Immigrant rights, and the general public opinion on those two groups

And the economy of Malta, like how expensive things are, and general cost of living there.

[ltwilliammowett]

Expensive signals

During the 17th century the giving of salutes by warships became so excessive and wasted so much gunpowder that it placed a real financial burden on the England of Charles II. Ridiculous as it may seem the gunners resorted to their weapons every time every time anyone went ashore, and if it should be a lady the sailors would fire 7 guns and play a tune on the drums. In 1675 a merchant ship in the Thames failed to give an adequate salute to a man o'war, whereupon the warship fired a shot at her to make her stop and apologize. On this occasion, the gunner went aboard and fined the merchant captain six schillings and six pence for the cost of the powder.

British Man o'war with other shipping at anchor, by John Thomas Serres (1759–1825) (x)

The matter of wasting powder was raised in the House of Commons. Apparently East Indianmen meeting English warships in the Channel had to salute with 7 guns, while the man o'war replied with 5. At Plymouth Castle each man o'war saluted with 9 guns, the castle replied with the same and then the warship fired 3 more to express its thanks. And so it went on.

An English Captain named Holden, invited to dinner on one of the ships he was escorting to Tangier, was given a 5 gun salute when he left her, to which he replied with 3, apparently on the basis that between Englishmen the vote of thanks required two guns less. But with foreigners the English insisted on having a reply to a salute with the same number of guns. When one Venetian ship saluted an English vessel with 11 guns, she was snubbed with a reply of just 5. On the King's birthday every ship in the fleet - and there were hundreds, large and small - fired 13 guns. When one British admiral entered Malta the Knights of St. Johns gave him a 45 gun salute, lasting two hours. Every English ship then replied with 21.

On the St. George's Day, after the King's health had been drunk, every ship in the fleet fired 25 rounds. And if a ship's captain should die his gunners might fire anything between 40 and 100 rounds. It was an expensive folly which imposed an unnecessary burden on the fragile economy of the Stuart state- but it must have been fun. Unfortunately, this fun was curtailed in the course of the 18th century.

[darkmaga-retard]

08/05/2024•Mises Wire•Aaron Sobczak

Europe has had trouble balancing its relatively large number of spending commitments with lackluster economic growth. The European economy remained basically stagnant in 2023, compared to 2.5% growth in the United States. Economic subsidies, a large welfare state, and a new push to increase defense spending means that all but four EU members are left with budget deficits in 2023. While having a deficit is not abnormal amongst developed countries, the number of members with a deficit above 3% is troubling and may require action on the part of the European Commission. As of the last report, 11 states violated EU member state rules by having budget deficits above 3%. EU members must ultimately decide if deficits are a necessary evil or if some spending commitments must be decreased.

Part of this decision will depend on if the European Commission will launch excessive deficit procedures on the members in question. This review has begun already for many members of the EU. As of now, Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia now have reviews open to determine necessary steps to tackle their deficits. So far this has simply meant that the European Commission is analyzing the situation of each member to determine recommendations or required corrections. These reviews take into account external circumstances and corrective measures which are already put into place.

Corrective reviews like this are not a new occurrence in the European Union. In fact, these reports have come out every year, with reports during the covid era including even more members with excessive deficits. What is especially alarming is that the European Union as a whole ran a deficit of 3.5% in 2023. Additionally, while eight members are under review for high deficits, all but four have budget deficits in general. Excessive debt is also becoming a serious problem for the EU. The 2023 ratio of debt to gross domestic product was 81.7% across the union.

High levels of debt and budget deficits have made some members begin to return to a level of economic austerity. Finland and France have cut spending, and Spain has begun to significantly raise taxes. These measures may not be enough as defense and “green” spending have outpaced spending cuts and tax increases. The EU’s second largest economy, France, is running a budget deficit of 5.5% but is still projected to allocate an increased €26.4 billion to green spending in 2024. In recent years, Germany has been especially dedicated to transforming its economy to meet certain environmental goals. In part due to this, increases in new spending and investment have created holes in the German budget, with tens of billions missing from proposed spending. The German high court has even had to restrict spending as the governing coalition attempted to pull billions out of a special emergency fund as a way to go around the constitutionally mandated debt brake.

Hefty investments in “green” spending have played a large part in Europe’s current woes. It is not the only culprit, however. France especially has ramped up protectionist economic policies meant to artificially protect certain domestic industries. These barriers to investment and foreign cooperation only further hamper the already indebted French economy. Rather than discouraging investment, the French government should aim to welcome outside investment, competition and advancement.

[fatehbaz]

Interesting example of empires being affected by ecological degradation and climate change: How Ottoman Istanbul was pummeled by climate change in the nineteenth century. The publicized, alleged increase of “fever of Constantinople” was not just Orientalist discourse, as the imperial capital was threatened by excessive heat, drought, and regional deforestation marked by disease outbreak. Recent tree-ring data suggests large scale of drought during the century; drought decreased water availability for irrigation and cleaning. The city was forced to pay large sums to import coal from England. In 1829, locally-sourced charcoal prices tripled in one year. The cost of public baths sky-rocketed, making hygiene and sanitation inaccessible. In 1840, a General Directorate of Forests was founded to harvest local timber; within a few years, nearly two-thirds of Kocaeli’s forests were torn down. Simultaneously, the city’s population was quickly rising (500,000 in 1856 to 800,000 in 1885), and rural residents in nearby regions were exhausted by imposed mandatory labor to accommodate the city’s need for fuel.

---

Charles MacFarlane, the Scot known for his historical and travel writing, visited Istanbul in 1828. MacFarlane, who suffered for years from “fever of Constantinople” (Brucella) after his visit, mentions how he could not understand why previous observers had described the city’s climate as “pure and healthy” [...]. Ottomanists Daniel Panzac and Nukhet Varlık also point to a “climate of epidemics” referring to other nineteenth-century accounts that showed disease as a boundary marker between Europe and the Orient. Indeed, the city experienced significant infectious disease outbreaks such as that of the plague in 1801, 1811–1812, 1831, 1853, and 1876, and seven cholera outbreaks in 1831, 1847, 1854, 1865, 1870, 1876–1877, and 1893. 

What changed? We know that, like other industrial city population movements, dense settlement and inadequate infrastructure worsened health conditions in Istanbul. The number of inhabitants rose from over five hundred thousand in 1856 to over eight hundred thousand in 1885. However, there was also another factor: climate change. The recent tree ring-based hydroclimate June/July precipitation reconstruction of the Old World Drought Atlas confirms a significant decrease in nineteenth-century precipitation values. [...]

---

Drought worsened living conditions. It turned rivers into marshland and decreased available water sources for turning water mills used for irrigation and cleaning. Waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera increased. Excessive heat, swamps, and deforestation triggered the spread of vector-borne diseases such as malaria. Moreover, water scarcity worsened sanitary conditions. Diseases that are transmitted from animals to human beings through direct or indirect contact by contaminated food (often milk products), like Brucella (fever of Constantinople, Malta fever, or Mediterranean fever), also increased.

---

The stress on the economy was also enormous. Excessive heat affected load-bearing animals and people, making transportation more difficult. [...] Extremely hot conditions increased the stress on seafaring oarsmen. A lack of sufficient charcoal and firewood resulted in ships being fuelled with coal from England, which was costly. Problems of transporting wood and the cumulative long-term effects of deforestation made firewood supplies an enormous issue. The Ottoman state set prices and imposed mandatory labour on rural regions, which absorbed the burden of providing food, firewood, charcoal, and construction material to Istanbul and the city’s palace. Charcoal, which had previously been supplied as taxes from villages in some Balkan countries after the Russian War, was not available. As a consequence, charcoal prices rose from 3.8 Akçes in 1829 to 13.6 Akçes in 1830. In the second half of the century, numerous fires, some of which coincided with scorching temperatures, increased timber demand and prices multiplied.

---

The state took measures against this severe firewood shortage. Necessary institutional action was taken. Laws were changed to regulate the organization of forests under the General Directorate of Forests founded in August 1840. And silviculture was established. Once supply from the Balkans was no longer forthcoming, the stress on regional supplies increased. The demand for timber from Kocaeli, a neighbouring district located east of Istanbul, was almost four times higher. Nearly two-thirds of forests were cleared by 1847. Life became desolate for villagers; some even sold their buffaloes to relieve themselves of the burden to supply wood. Until Ottoman coal began to arrive from Zonguldak on the Black Sea in 1850, Istanbul’s firewood and coal supply was a significant problem.

---

Firewood and water scarcity increased the cost of public baths, which were essential for the well-being and health of inhabitants. The number of public baths did not increase in line with the doubling of Istanbul’s population. [...] For example, during the 1811–1812 plague, ship crews carrying firewood and charcoal as well as food to Istanbul fled the city. This increased labour and transportation costs. Some public baths, whose furnaces were heated with charcoal and firewood, went bankrupt. [...]

---

The first municipal institution (Şehremaneti), founded in 1868, was given the urgent mandate of ensuring public hygiene. The effect of climate change on the landscape, economy, and institutional changes was significant. Indeed, climate is an important factor to consider for the history of the era. Disease was not only a result of Orientalist discourse. Environmental conditions also changed Istanbul’s healthscape. Thus, unbeknownst to Charles MacFarlane, the discrepancy between the earlier accounts of Istanbul and his own experiences can, at least partly, be ascribed to climate change.

---

Image, caption, and text by: Özlem Sert. “Water, Firewood, and Disease in Nineteenth-Century Istanbul.” Environment & Society Portal, Arcadia no. 45. Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society. Autumn 2020. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Italicized first paragraph/heading in this post added by me.]

[dunilefra]

Facts of Malta's Constitution

2. Religion

The religion of Malta is the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion.

The authorities of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church have the duty and the right to teach which principles are right and which are wrong.

Religious teaching of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Faith shall be provided in all State schools as part of compulsory education.

41. Protection of freedom of expression

Except with his own consent or by way of parental discipline, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference (whether the communication be to the public generally or to any person or class of persons) and freedom from interference with his correspondence.

Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subarticle (1) of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision -

that is reasonably required -

in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or decency, or public health; or

for the purpose of protecting the reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons, or the private lives of persons concerned in legal proceedings, preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of the courts, protecting the privileges of Parliament, or regulating telephony, telegraphy, posts, wireless broadcasting, television or other means of communication, public exhibitions or public entertainments; or

that imposes restrictions upon public officers,

and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.

75. Sessions of Parliament (Part of it)

There shall be a session of Parliament once at least in every year, so that a period of twelve months shall not intervene between the last sitting of Parliament in one session and the first sitting thereof in the next session.

by Dunilefra, working for World Politics

[maltezer-ruben]

GO Malta is a telecommunications company that provides a wide range of services to customers in Malta. Founded in 1975, GO Malta was the first telecommunications company in Malta and has since become one of the leading providers in the country.

GO Malta offers a range of services including mobile phone plans, broadband internet, fixed-line telephone service, and television service. They also offer a variety of packages and bundles to help customers save money while getting the services they need.

In addition to their telecommunications services, GO Malta is committed to the community and the environment. They sponsor various events and initiatives in Malta and have implemented various eco-friendly policies to reduce their carbon footprint.

One of the things that sets GO Malta apart from other telecommunications providers is their focus on customer service. They offer 24/7 customer support and have received numerous awards for their customer service, including the Customer Service Excellence Award for three consecutive years.

Overall, GO Malta is a reliable and customer-focused telecommunications provider in Malta, offering a range of services and competitive pricing to meet the needs of their customers.

[eurovision-revisited]

Dublin 1997 Wrap Up

Dublin 1997 is a strange year in Eurovision history. It falls between eras. It comes after the first challenge to the ballad hegemony misfired and before the full televote-era. For some it's the final year in a golden period before the onset of the Dark Times. It certainly marks the end of Irish dominance. The good results of all the English-speaking countries of Ireland, the UK and Malta are coming to an end.

There's a strange conformity of uncertainty. No country really knows what to do, so they sort of go with what they know as they wait for firmer footing.

Germany felt aggrieved about 1996, but then managed not to send Leon despite almost engineering their national final for him to win. Sweden sent almost the archetypally Swedish band Blond when there were far more interesting songs in Melodifestivalen. France chose a national sweetheart who probably didn't want to be there. Ireland and the UK went as conventional as possible at a time of full-on pomp and joy at home (and still won).

Italy accidentally entered, then their representatives became the bookmaker's favourites. RAI tried everything they could do to ensure that Jalisse didn't win amid chaos and scandal. Many of the countries with the most interesting national finals had been relegated or withdrawn. No Belgium, Macedonia, Israel, Romania or Finland.

The contest was a good one - a classic even, but the sense of floundering, caught in limbo with little in the way of direction hangs over everything.

Yet among this there are gems and glimpses of brighter days ahead. Türkiye have their best result ever with something authentically Turkish, Denmark bring rap in, Poland maintain their excellent selection streak, and Iceland blow everyone's minds showing just what it is possible to do on the Eurovision stage.

Seven of the songs make it into the most recent ESC Radio/songfestival.be top 500, maintaining the good record of the last few years.

The hosts basked in the glory of having their Eurovision back again. The budget was a step back after the riches of Norway, but Ireland was keen to show that their economy was on the rise, the Celtic tiger in full roar via their set dressing, but the wide open stage of 1994 and 1995 was gone to be replaced a smaller circle and a huge arch of lights.

An end of an era then. What would Birmingham and mass televoting actually bring? Would the broadcaster stride firmly in the brave new world with experimentation, left-field choices and stage-climbing chaos, or would they retreat even further back to what they knew?

[catboygretzky]

THREE-WEEK honeymoon in Malta? In this economy? WITH A SICK SON? It just keeps getting worse.