Future Generations Guardian must be dismissed following his racist comments

JOINT NGO reaction to comments made by the Guardian of Future Generations

The undersigned non-governmental organisations strongly condemn the racist comments by Mr. Maurice Mizzi, nominated as Guardian of Future Generations by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

According to Government’s mission statement, Mr. Mizzi’s role is to “endeavour to facilitate closer collaboration between all stakeholders in the pursuit of the right balance between socio-economic development and environmental stewardship in the Maltese Islands”.

Finding a balance between socio-economic development and environmental stewardship is achievable by fostering inclusion, and certainly not by condemning difference, or singling out any particular religious belief. Mr. Mizzi seems to forget the responsibility that comes with his role and the essential point that the most important factor to achieve development and guarantee future generations is peace.

We, the undersigned, firmly believe that peace relies wholly on acceptance and inclusion; this means that people are entitled to have their own religious beliefs, or no religious beliefs at all. Singling out one religious belief as impeding development is untrue. It foments hate, something we can ill afford to increase in our small country because it only leads to violence, death and destruction, as very recent incidents in Malta have shown. 

We remind Mr. Mizzi that migrants are generally fleeing from war, socio-political persecution and economic hardship, often induced by interests beyond their countries’ borders. Mr. Mizzi’s declaration contradicts the Prime Minister’s statement about the need for more workers, irrespective of religion, origin or colour.

Finally we remind Mr. Mizzi that it is his role to ensure that no person’s work is exploited in the name of socio-economic development, and protecting our environment from over-exploitation is part of his job. 

The undersigned do not tolerate any form of racist discourse. There can be no space for this kind of ideology or language in our country.

In the light of such racist declarations, we demand his immediate resignation or removal by the Prime Minister as his position is no longer tenable.

This statement is endorsed by:

  1. aditus foundation
  2. African Media Association
  3. Allied Rainbow Communities
  4. Catholic Voices
  5. Cross Culture International Foundation
  6. Department of Gender Studies (University of Malta)
  7. Drachma LGBTI
  8. Drachma Parents Group
  9. Eritrean Refugees community Association in Malta
  10. Fondazzjoni Sebħ
  11. Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants
  12. Integra Foundation
  13. International Association for Refugees
  14. JRS Malta
  15. KOPIN
  16. Malta Emigrants Commission
  17. Malta Humanist Association
  18. Migrant Women Association Malta
  19. Moviment Graffitti
  20. National Foster Care Association Malta
  21. People for Change Foundation
  22. Platform of Human Rights Organisations in Malta
  23. Repubblika
  24. Richmond Foundation
  25. Solidarity with Migrants Group
  26. SOS Malta
  27. Spark15
  28. Sudanese Migrants Association
  29. The Critical Institute
  30. Troupe18:45
  31. Dr. Elena Tanti Burlo
  32. Dr. Colin Calleja
  33. Ms. Louise Chircop
  34. Professor Peter Mayo
  35. Professor Duncan Paul Mercieca
  36. Dr. Josephine Milton
  37. Professor Paul Pace
  38. Ms. Jacqueline Zammit

We’ve launched Our Island II: Personal Accounts of Refugees in Malta!

It is a book about integration and the paths that people follow — voluntarily or otherwise — as they slowly make Malta home, their island.

Neil Falzon, aditus Director, talking to the Times of Malta

On Friday, May 10, at the Casino Maltese, Valletta, aditus foundation launched Our Island II: Personal Accounts of Refugees in Malta with the support of the European Parliament Office in Malta, UNHCR Malta and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles. The publication of Our Island II, the second in the Our Island series of migration books, was funded through the President’s Award for Creativity, which is managed by Arts Council Malta.

The launch was a great success, with the upper gallery of the Casino Maltese full of friends and fans of the project, and books flying off the tables. Our guests included civil society colleagues, members of the press and many figures from Malta’s diverse migrant community.

Mary and Ousmane, two contributors to Our Island II, as well as aditus Director Neil Falzon, Senior Communication Coordinator at ECRE Villads Zahle and European Parliament Office in Malta Acting Head Anna Zammit addressed the gathered guests at the start of the evening.

Neil, in his opening speech, contemplated the value of Our Island as a vehicle for the revelation that is migrant voices and first-person migrant stories: new arrivals making Malta their own and explaining how that endeavour continues to unfold in their own words — rather than either being rendered anonymous and invisible by generic news coverage, public discourse and government policy, or being spoken for through the work of their NGO advocates.

In closing, Mary, originally from Sierra Leone, offered humour and encouragement. She arrived in Malta as a war refugee, wife and mother. She is now a Mater Dei Hospital paediatric nurse, homeowner and proud taxpayer studying for a master’s degree — having started her university education in Malta. Mary insisted, “Malta gave me a chance, a second chance at life… So, brothers and sisters, do not be disheartened. To be a refugee is not a disease. You can make it. If I can make it, you can also make it.”

How can I obtain my copy of Our Island I and II?

For a copy of Our Island II (or Our Island I) against a nominal donation, write to us or give us a ring.

To see the album of Elisa Von Brockdorff’s fabulous photos from the launch, visit our Flickr page.

Lassana’s death: A call to action

Joint Civil Society Statement

We are shocked and saddened beyond words by the confirmation that the drive-by shooting on April 6th which left Lassana Cisse dead and two other men seriously injured was an act of racial hatred.

That the two men suspected of committing this heinous crime are members of the Armed Forces of Malta – a state institution that is there to protect us – makes it even more reprehensible.

It would be tempting to disassociate ourselves from this crime, to dismiss it as a random act, perpetrated by one or two deranged individuals. But we know that it is not, because we daily come in contact with people who are treated as less than human, by individuals and institutions, because of their religion or the colour of their skin.

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