A protest walk from Gżira Aqualuna Lido to Fortina Hotel in Sliema is being organised this weekend to show how pedestrians have been put aside, with pavements completely taken over by businesses.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar and the Sliema Residents Association are urging the public to “fight for your rights”, adding this was not just about Sliema.
It was about the rights of all Malta’s residents to walk on unobstructed pavements and enjoy promenades in places like Marsascala, Marsaxlokk, Gżira, St Julian’s, Buġibba, Mellieħa, as well as Victoria, Marsalforn and Xlendi in Gozo.
Participants will be able to see how congested the Sliema promenade is with kiosks, ticket booths and restaurants, the organisers said, encouraging people to come with pushchairs and wheelchairs to see if they could actually pass “decently”.
With the MEP elections round the corner, the FAA team has been working in conjunction with other NGOs to organise events that highlight important issues.
“We stress that it is not enough to be keyboard warriors, complaining on social media; please lobby to protect your health and quality of life by attending these events. We must all stand up to be counted to make politicians sit up and take notice,” it urged.
Among its events and calls for action, FAA is also organising a talk on civil society activism by university lecturer Prof. Kevin Aquilina, an expert on the rule of law, to give practical advice on how citizens can make authorities and politicians listen to public’s demands.
Actions Not Words is the title of the talk being held on Tuesday, May 14, at 6.30pm at St Patricks School, Sliema.
The protest walk to protect pedestrians and pavements is being held on Saturday, May 11, at 5pm.
