I never prepared for this – watching my daughter, my baby, face such a difficult decision. I knew I couldn’t make it for her, nor did I want to. I didn’t want to influence her because, in the end, the choice was hers to live with. Still, it tore me apart. 

She was an adult, capable of making her own choices. But I still felt her weight, unable to carry it for her.

As a single mother, while she was growing up, I sacrificed so much to give her the best. I gave up dreams, made her my priority, and I did it all willingly because she was my world. I didn’t want her to go through the same struggles. Selfishly, I didn’t want my sacrifices to be in vain. I wanted her to have more freedom, more opportunities. Parenting is hard. Single parenting is even tougher. I know that first-hand. And as much as I would have supported her, I didn’t want her to be another single mother struggling to do it on her own. I wanted her to be able to put herself first. 

But then there’s the other side. When she was born, she became my purpose. She lit up my world. She is the best thing that ever happened to me. I knew she would make a wonderful mother and have that same feeling of complete love. I pictured a baby, a grandchild, who I knew would be loved. It would become her world and her purpose, just like she was mine. It would be my reward for the struggles and sacrifices I had made. I fought with that thought – was I hoping she would go through with the pregnancy because I wanted her to feel the same fulfilment I had? Or was I hoping she wouldn’t because I knew how hard it would be?

But beyond my own feelings, there was the reality she faced. There was the procedure itself. Would she be okay? Was she at risk? It’s such a big decision – how could she know it was the right one? Her hormones were on a rollercoaster. She was emotionally drained. How could she make such a decision? I felt useless, unsure of how to help her. What should I say? What should I do? I needed advice, too.

The practical help we needed was available; there was help in finding a clinic and funding the procedure – things you never think you’ll need until you do. And I was so grateful those resources were there. But what about emotional support? Where do you turn? It’s a minefield – there are legal issues, beliefs and biases. How do you find someone to talk to? Someone who won’t judge, who won’t bring their own beliefs and biases into it. This wasn’t just a medical procedure; it was a life-altering moment, and my daughter needed more than just access to care. She needed support to process it all. Thankfully, we eventually found a person who listened without judgment, but why is that so hard to find?

I don’t know if I did the right thing or handled it the right way. But I hope I was there for her. I hope she felt that. I hope she found comfort in knowing she didn’t have to go through it alone. My husband, not her father, was there for both of us, every step of the way. And I can’t help but be grateful for that too, because what if she had been alone? What if she felt she couldn’t talk to us? What if she had no one to talk to? What if she had been scared and sad with no one to turn to?

Too many women face this alone, and that breaks my heart. No one should have to make this choice in silence, fear, or shame.

Sign the petition created by My Voice My Choice Org to support safe and accessible abortion across the EU.

This article was sent to The Third Eye to publish on behalf of a mother who’s hoping to raise awareness around a situation too many experience.

The post Beyond the Choice appeared first on The Third Eye.

One of the main problems with student activism in Malta is that it often lacks a long-term perspective. Students may be motivated by a specific issue or incident but fail to consider the broader implications. This can lead to a lack of strategic planning and a failure to build lasting networks and coalitions that can affect real change over time. Another issue is the tendency to focus solely on symbolic gestures and symbolic victories rather than practical solutions. While symbolic gestures can be important in raising awareness and generating media attention, they are rarely sufficient on their own to bring about lasting change. Students must be willing to engage in more complex and long-term strategies, such as lobbying, grassroots organizing, and coalition building, in order to achieve real progress.

I can think of a number of examples of student-led movements that were sparked by a particular incident of injustice, that then quickly faded into oblivion once the hype died down. The first one that comes to mind is the ‘For Our Trees’ movement in 2019. This movement came about after it was revealed that the government would be uprooting a number of old trees in order to complete the Central Link project in Attard. A protest was organised that was met with an impressive turnout and a lot of media attention. A Facebook page was created that garnered over 3k likes.

But once the protest was over and the media turned its attention to the next breaking news item, the movement died. No subsequent protests were organised and the government uprooted the trees as planned.

A more recent example is that of the ‘Students Over Profit’ protest against the commercialisation of Campus Hub. I was sceptical of this protest for a number of reasons, the biggest one being that the students’ anger was sparked by a rise in parking prices, and given the huge problem we have in Malta with regards to traffic and environmental degradation, I don’t see a disincentive to driving cars as a necessarily bad thing. Also, there are plenty of places to park just outside university, and I know this because I park in San Gwann every day without issue. Seriously guys, just park outside uni and walk for 5 minutes. It’s not the end of the world.

Parking issue aside, the students that organised the protest claimed that they were doing so in opposition to the rampant commercialisation that has been brought about by Campus Hub. Okay, fine – I agree that such commercialisation and greed needs to be addressed. But I had a gut feeling that once the protest was over, the students would forget about it and continue to purchase their Starbucks and Burger King in between lectures. And I was right.

If the students organising the protest truly wished to make change, they would have ended the protest by calling for a boycott of the establishment. But they didn’t do that. They put down their placards, congratulated themselves for the media attention that they garnered, and within a week they were back to shopping at Welbee’s.

How can we complain that the authorities don’t take us seriously, when the only effort we are putting in is a symbolic one-time protest that the authorities themselves are well aware will blow over within a week?

I don’t want it to seem like I’m disregarding the effort that student activists put into their work. After all, going out to protest and getting your message out there is the first step, and these students have done a good job at that. But doing that and stopping there is unfortunately no good in making real change.

While student activism in Malta can be a powerful force for positive change, it is important for students to adopt a more long-term, strategic, and inclusive approach to their activism. This means focusing on practical solutions rather than just symbolic gestures, building lasting networks and coalitions, engaging with the wider community, and developing strong and consistent leadership. By doing so, students can help to build a more just and equitable society for all.

This article was written by an independent writer whose views are not associated with The Third Eye. The Third Eye strives to be the student’s voice, and that entails giving them a platform to voice their opinions.

The post The Problem with Student Activism in Malta – Katrina Cassar appeared first on The Third Eye.

Earlier this year, on the 3rd of May, the constitutional affairs committee proposed to reform
the European Electoral Act, defining common minimum electoral standards and a Unionwide constituency #MajorReform to EU electoral laws!

Transnational list: the what, the why, the what next?

To avoid all the heavy jargon that politics brings with it, this reform would have seen 28 additional MEPs that would be elected on an EU-wide list, but would not substitute for the Member State MEP list. The parameters of this transnational list would also ensure a balanced geographical representation, equal access to ballots with postal voting and gender-balanced lists, as well as a minimum age to stand for said election.

All this was brought forward in the hopes of building a real European public sphere that
would foster essentially political debates on key issues that we as EU citizens face, as well as
the threats that directly impact the Union.

While to some this might simply be pure idealism, the transnational list was also proposed to contribute to the solidification of a truly and democratic European political system. Essentially, we the voters, would have voted for the National list (our 6 Maltese MEPs) and voted for the European list (the one that is made up of said 28 MEPs).

This 2-ballot list is there to address the plethora of political issues, inefficiencies, and the needs of the people.

For the most part, its not uncommon that people do not give a rat’s arse to secondary elections. Can`t quite blame them completely if they do not understand nor feel as close to the EU as they wish. Why would they when Brussels is so far away in their hearts, since most of what goes on is not communicated that well. Then, you have the problem of secondary elections not given as much care, whereby the parties that start gobbling it up are the ones that instead of wanting to better the Union and the lives of its people, they want to cripple it. Our country, like many other EU states, has been faced with the rise of Euroscepticism, Nativist, and Far-Right tendencies. You see this with each EU election. In our very own
country, the ultra-far right party keeps gathering sizeable support.

Now this proposed reform would have given more validity to European elections, would have ensured that MEPs do not succumb to national bias, held accountable by all, and push for stronger European political families in parliament that would all translate into a more democratic parliament and EU.

Drafted Termination

According to the draft conclusion prepared in advance to the upcoming EU leaders gathering, the Council indicated that there was “no unanimity in favour of the European Parliament`s proposal as it stands”. Most of the delegation seemed to be opposed to the key political innovations. The worry is that this undermines “the principle of subsidiarity and proportionality concerning provisions which go in the direction of establishing a uniform procedure in all member states.

Concluding remarks

As citizens we have the duty to listen to the decisions taken by the ones we elect. It is our
duty to hold them accountable and educate ourselves to things that will inherently affect us,
whether we like it or not.

As students we should not shy away from reading, from understanding and whatnot the
realities of the world around us. To not let ourselves be cut off from those realities as we
submerge ourselves in our studies, as that will only dull us.

The intention of this piece was to bring EU Affairs closer to your attention, while hoping to raise awareness for the much needed activism, active citizenship, and EU reformation, for this Christmas, we are most likely going to see the once brightly lit up Spitzenkandidat Christmas tree, effectively getting the axe.

This article was written by an independent writer whose views are not associated with The Third Eye. The Third Eye strives to be the student’s voice, and that entails giving them a platform to voice their opinions.

The post Krampus goes to Brussels? The killing of the Spitzenkandidaten and the transnational list appeared first on The Third Eye.

Written by Miguel Azzopardi

Malta’s current political system is broken beyond repair – an unsurprising fact to careful observers. Meaningful debates are stifled by a two-party system and an entrenched partisan divide that seeks to spin issues into being in favour or against the interests of a particular party. For a growing number of people, disillusioned with the way local politics operates, there is no party that can claim to represent them.

The Problem with Two-Party Systems

Two-party systems are unsuited to reflect diversities of opinion. It is no surprise that countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom which also boast two-party systems have found themselves respectively intertwined with deeply divisive societal crises. As it stands, no major party, whichever that may be, is regarded as competent enough to solve. The Maltese reality is that a majority of individuals still consider family allegiances a significant consideration when it comes to casting their vote – something that is rather telling of the nature of partisan influence.

So too is the willful embrace of corruption and the acceptance of favour-trading by a notable part of the population as something desirable within the local political scene. A binary form of thinking which sees everyone representing one side or the other predominates, making it impossible to focus on the crucial issues at hand.

The Activist Lens

From an activist’s perspective, the two-party system currently in place is a poisonous context under which the country operates. Far too often, activists are deemed to be a threatening force against the Government or a particular party, reinforcing the reality that a poor outlook on activism exists and is a product of founded political bias. Education has failed to provide a meaningful space in which subjects of a political nature can be easily debated so much so that politics has become somewhat of a taboo subject, both at home and on school grounds. The national University itself is another example of such, afflicted by factionalism thus making cooperation between departments difficult at times. Partisanship, in the meantime, deflects the focus from significant issues and obscures similarities between the two major parties.

Why Neo-Liberalism in a Two-Party System?

Both of Malta’s major political parties have taken neo-liberal ideologies to heart, oblivious to the fact that neo-liberalism rests on extremely flawed and dubious theoretical foundations. Global inequality has risen to such extreme heights, it is now comparable – if not worse – to those present in France before the fall of the ancien régime in the French Revolution. Pursuing neo-liberal policies at home and entrusting public goods to the private sector risks replicating similar high levels of inequality which are present globally.

While the disadvantaged struggle to make ends meet, we look towards the notorious Mercury Tower in Paceville rising above Malta’s skyline feeding the property magnate’s – Joseph Portelli – corpulent pockets. With Portelli’s (continuously growing) property empire, it is hard not to feel that he, and others like him, have garnered a level of privileged power that is comparable to, if not more than, that of a feudal lord.

Two-Party Systems: A Hurdle for Change

It is not rare that lobby groups, like the MDA, pass on the burden of proposals we, as activists, have put forth onto the people. We were once told that if we wished for more stringent environmental requirements for buildings, the MDA would have to pass the extra costs onto the people. But, why must the MDA pass on this burden when they themselves have profited so much from lax (or non-existent) planning policies? For movements that seek to bring about transformative societal change – some being Extinction Rebellion Malta, Moviment Graffitti, and Young Progressive Beings – the two-party system is an unfortunate context in which these groups have to use their voice.

Few left-wing activists genuinely believe that political parties are capable of confronting powerful lobbies to bring about meaningful change. Grassroots activism is the main and most effective means of bringing about positive and progressive change. It is by creating significant connections with all people that broader movements and coalitions can be built as well as thrive, holding governments accountable. The demonisation of activists – in the name of defending the party, government or the nation – reduces the efficiency of these tactics but nonetheless, it is the best strategy we have.

Monetising Human Relationships

Political parties, but often also society, fail to discuss the issues that have led us to the situation we are in now. The monetisation of basic human relationships with ourselves, others, as well as the environment, is perhaps the main cause of the confluence of crises we find ourselves in right now: the pandemic, the climate crisis, rampant inequality.

It is telling perhaps that post-growth thinking – a school of thought that places societal and ecological well-being within the centre of public policy – has not yet made much of an imprint within Malta. In placing care work, the restoration of the commons, ecological limits, wealth redistribution, and greater autonomy at the centre of public policy, this school of thought is fundamentally at odds with the current economic and political framework and is likely to provoke the derision of vested interests.

If our well-being mattered to our politicians, the least they could do is talk about it but even on that front, they generally fail. We hear much about how we need to stimulate ‘economic growth’ and how we are a ‘strong nation’, with well-being rarely featuring, if at all. Black-and-white thinking (which is itself a symptom of a dysfunctional two-party system) frames complex geopolitical and socio-economic realities as questions of ‘us’ and ‘them’ while growth is presented as the antidote to a failed economic system. The repetition of these mantras, once again, deflects attention from deeper issues and stifles the debate.

Capitalism = Inequality + Environmental Degredation

Nowhere is there a local discussion with regards to how capitalism itself is a driver of inequality and environmental degradation. The IPBES recently identified encroachment into wilderness areas, industrial farming and unsustainable consumption as a driver of pandemics. Our unhealthy relationship with nature has initiated the current global pandemic, similarly to how it has aggravated and fueled the ongoing global climate crisis.

This applies to social contexts as well. When we assign everything a monetary value, we displace people and human relationships from our frame of understanding. Women, for example, end up with a disproportionate weight of work as they are expected to both contribute professionally while also being entrusted with an inordinate share of care work – an undervalued field precisely because it cannot be monetised. This creates reversion to socially constructed gender roles, especially in times of crisis similar to the present day. 

Closing Words

Social justice cannot be achieved within a capitalist system because capitalism itself is defined by inequality. Nowhere in our political spectrum is there an acknowledgement that the crises we face are systemic and that technocratic interventions are unlikely to go far. There is a profound spiritual and imaginative deficit in the way we talk and think about society, stifled by partisanship, vested interests and a broad acceptance of the status quo. A principal way of overcoming this is by playing a more active role in the creation of a better society.

Democracy is not just something we exercise every five years when we go to elect our politicians. In the words of Serge Latouche, there is an urgent need to ‘[liberate] the imaginary’ and to reimagine a fairer, better society for all.

The post Activism in a Two-Party System | XR appeared first on The Third Eye.

As part of SDM’s ‘Putting the Act in Activism: An Awareness Campaign’, The Third Eye is putting their fingertips to the keyboard and reaching out. We are here to remind you to actualise your potential as students and members of the youth community and get active ( we need it now, more than ever!)

We reached out to previous and current members from The Third Eye team for some insightful words of encouragement to explain why we think it’s time to put the ‘act’ back in ‘activism’.

Apathy or Activism?

SDM launched this campaign to invite students to get moving again, as they have been noticing a great amount of apathy from the student body. This lack of enthusiasm has student organisations concerned about their future. More importantly- it means that many students are not standing up for what they possibly believe in.

George Grima, The Third Eye’s President for the year 2019/20 shared his views on what ‘Activism’ means:

It means standing up for what you believe in by going out of your way to do something and make a change rather than waiting for others to do it for you, or for things to change on their own.

Maya Pollacco, our current Vice President shares this view;

Taken from the word “active”, activism to me means being active in your community. Being active sets the ball rolling to implement the change you want to see.

So, if you firmly believe in something and wish to see it come to fruition- be the agent of that change. Choose activism over apathy.

Room for Growth

Change is the driving force of growth. Being an activist will not only instigate change in the world around you, but also change the vast universe that lies within.

Kayleigh Cassar, The Third Eye’s Brand Marketing Manager for 2019/20 highlights this sentiment;

To me, activism is contributing to something that’s bigger than yourself in hopes of creating a better society. I would say that my experience as a student activist with The Third Eye allowed me to grow as a person and as a professional. I came out feeling like I had made an actual difference on campus.

The experiences gained through student organisations- which are a great platform that generate activism, are quite noteworthy as George Grima told The Third Eye:

Being in a student organisation fills you with purpose, you have a goal you’re working towards together with a team. Besides the skills you gain through this teamworking process, it also gives you great satisfaction to have helped out the student body, or made a change whatever it may be.

When you grasp the power you have to make even the slightest difference, you will continuously encourage yourself to keep going and growing. Which will instigate more growth in the world around you. As you can see, it’s a wonderfully cyclical effect!

Keep on Keepin’ On!

Like all things worth fighting for, getting into activism is, was and always will be met by defiance. You will come across all sorts of hurdles, but as Maya Pollacco, Vice President of The Third Eye notes;

Never ever get discouraged. Things will not always go as planned, it is going to be challenging, but I believe that’s the beauty of activism; you keep on fighting for what you believe in and striving for what you want to achieve. No one said it’s going to be easy, but it sure is rewarding.

If you’re frustrated by the invalidation we experience as students, then activism may pave the way for us being taken more seriously. Maya carried on by saying:

Ever since I joined The Third Eye, I realised just how powerful a media organisation which is run by students, can be. Seeing changes happening in front of you fills you with a certain pride and joy that just because we are students, it doesn’t mean we can’t make a difference.

Putting the ‘Act’ Back in Activism

If you’re intrigued by activism and want to find out more, we recommend that you look into SDM’s campaign. As part of the event, SDM organised a panel discussion with multiple activists from different backgrounds- discussing the overlaps between activism and politics, the impact of Covid-19 and much more. Check it out in the link here.

On that note, we leave you with the sweet words of George Grima (President 2019/20):

Be daring. Go out of your way to shake things up, challenge the system, and stand up for your fellow students- without thinking too much about the possible repercussions. We have got great power as a collective student body and it’s our job as activists to make sure it does not go to waste!

And Kayleigh Cassar’s (Brand Manager 2019/20) hard-hitting punchline:

Think about what you’d like to see happen around you and make it a point to try and make that happen.

To read more on student activism, check this piece out!

The post Putting the ‘Act’ back in ‘Activism’: A Closing Letter appeared first on The Third Eye.

The Executive Team is bidding farewell to outgoing executive members Christa Zahra and Martina Galea Mascari and giving thanks to Kyle Pace, Andreas Galea, Matthew James Debono, Andrew Camilleri, Liam Cassar, Luke Busuttil and Keith Grima for all the work they have put in this year. The executive has welcomed on board some fresh faces to keep building on the work of previous executives.

Here is the list of the new team for the year 2020/21:

• President: Sheldon Zerafa
• Vice President: Michela Pace
• Secretary General: Leona Cauchi
• Human Resources Officer: Tristan Azzopardi
• Finance Officer: Karen Scerri
• Public Relations Officer: James Balzan sultana
• University Coordinator: Michele Refalo
• Junior College Coordinator: Cleaven Muscat
• Assistant Junior College Coordinator: Jan Sammut
• Assistant Junior College Coordinator: Cleaven Cassar
• KPS: Chayenne Riolo
• KE: Alannah Zammit
• International Officer: Nicole Zammit
• Events Officer: Calvin Grech
• Media Officer: Kurt Said
• External Officer: Kurt Zammit
• Member: Glen Mifsud

Here is what Sheldon Zerafa had to say about his new role:

Looking forward to work alongside with the new team, a capable and dynamic one. This is a team that will aid me in leading SDM with a different perspective. This will be achieved thanks to the new ideas the new members will be bringing with them. I am looking forward to not only work with the University Executive but also with the new Junior College Executive. Apart from this, I am ready to listen to anyone who has new ideas, and ready to work with anyone who gives priority to students. I am confident that if we work together throughout the year, this will lead to positive results.

And here is what the former president, Keith Grima, had to say;

After over 7 years of hard work, my time at SDM has come to an end and I am very proud of all that we have been able to achieve together. It has been a truly memorable journey but now it’s time to move on to other things. Firstly, I would like to thank all students who supported me throughout this time. I would also like to thank all SDM members, candidates and friends who’ve been part of executive teams with me; you have taught me everything I know and I owe all of this to you. I would also like to thank my family for understanding how busy I was and for supporting me no matter what. Lastly, I would like to thank my girlfriend Sarah for always having my back. Thank you SDM. The experiences, the memories and the friendships will surely stay with me forever.

The Third Eye wishes the best of luck to the new executive!

The post Sheldon Zerafa to lead SDM for 20/21 appeared first on The Third Eye.

We are inclined to put people into ‘mental boxes’ based on what they do. And this categorisation process does not neglect ‘the activist box’. There is a tendency to look at members of activist groups like Moviment Graffiti, as “external to society” as student member Rafel Grima told The Third Eye, “as some distant activist with his/her own utopian ideas”. But this should not be the case.

What is an Activist?

To put it simply, an activist is a member of a community who sees the issues that overwhelm the society they live in. They use their “desire to see material change for the whole of society” as Rafel continued to tell The Third Eye, to get up and actually do something about it.

Why join activism?

There are ample reasons why an individual may engage in activism- be it environmental welfare, human rights, better governance or anything else that is in need of some change.  

One of the reasons why members join Moviment Graffiti is because they recognise that Malta’s society, “is run by a system designed for the few, not the many”.

They are dissatisfied with the biparty system under which Malta is being run. It is a system which has unfortunately let these people down in numerous ways. “The role of Moviment is to organise together various resident groups, NGOs and other entities in order to push for much needed changes”, Rafel carried on telling us.

The recognition of the existence of issues like this one, is the foundational motivation which drives activist groups like Moviment Graffiti to get up and actually do something to fight for change.

What kind of work do activists do?

“Moviment Graffitti is active against the oppression and exploitation of people, the environment and animals; with a vision of freedom and radical democracy. Recently our work has focused mainly on the environment, the construction industry, reproduction rights and economic justice. We strive to bring positive change by fighting for justice and equality. This is done in a number of ways: we carry out direct actions, organise protests and gatherings, build coalitions between different social forces and hold awareness-raising initiatives such as film-nights, talks and discussions.” Rafel Grima, member of Moviment Graffiti.

Why should students engage in activism?

 Although activism is essential for all individuals, a young person’s opinion particularly, matters- we bring fresh, innovative and unheard-of perspectives to the table.

Young Progressive Beings’ Emily Galea told The Third Eye, “It is our belief that activism ( or, more accurately, work/ volunteering in the humanitarian field) is an essential part of one’s youth that enables you to empathise with other and feel a connection to your surroundings.”

Emily is a core member of Young Progressive Beings (YBP) and is also a project co-leader of the Dear Decision Makers Campaign, which has been established for just under a year. In this short span of time, her and her teammates have worked relentlessly to grant women in Malta their reproductive rights. 

“YBP is a radical, intersectional, eco-feminist, pro-choice group”, Emily tells The Third Eye, “being a highly pressing issue, reproductive justice is currently at the forefront of our mission.”  Activism is something which Emily encourages greatly for young people, be them students or not as we, “are the driving force for environmental and social progression. Fighting for one’s own future, as others’ future is both a responsibility and a privilege”.

The Student Activist Lens

Mark Farrugia, another student member from Moviment Graffiti told The Third Eye, “students would still be in the process of learning about different political beliefs and would be able to voice their opinion with other students, join a particular NGO or pressure group, to implement the change they seek in. The younger generation of students tend to have a certain drive within them which will be of great help to maintain persistence. Activism can also bring about various perspectives to students on many different topics which will help them grow.

A concern that students may have about becoming ‘activists’ is the attention, or worse- the possibility of being penalised for participating in a protest or any kind of direct action. Mark told us, “this is subject to the lack of information that an individual may have.”  And it is also subject to the unfounded stereotypes attached to the word ‘activist’- being perceived as sensationalist is just one example.

“Everyone has the right to protest for something that is unjust.” So, even if being at a protest may give you some anxiety,  just know that, as Mark told us,  “that is the feeling of knowing that we would be standing up for our rights for a just cause”.

So, how can we redefine activism?

My personal recommendation- become an activist yourself. There is no right way to be an activist; you just need to convert your desires for change into realities and everything will follow. You could sign up to become a member of an NGO, offer up a couple of hours of your day to do some voluntary work or even use your talents to appeal to the cause you want to fight for.

It will not only help to tackle the many pressing issues which our society faces day after day, but in participating, you will also be:

1. Re-wiring some of the misconceptions you may have about activism
2. Converting the general public’s ideas on ‘activists’ by becoming part of the narrative.

Check out this article we had featured on What Students Think About Activism.

The post Youth activism is not what you think it is appeared first on The Third Eye.

Throughout the past five months that COVID-19 has been active in Malta, several digital activists have kept their pages online in full swing to voice the causes they believe in. Starting a Facebook page and saying you’re an activist may be easy enough. However, staying active and making your voice heard online is easier said than done. These five pages show how digital activism can be effective, even if in the middle of a pandemic.

Jimpurtana

A coupling of Betapsi alumni who fell in love with activism and want to end the stigma surrounding politics. They started their platform to endorse an open-minded perspective on politics, and look down on partisan politics.

Young Progressive Beings

Self-proclaimed “young, radical beings who want to challenge the status quo”. YPB are a group of youths who were frustrated with the bi-partisan media channels available. So, they created a platform for themselves to fight for social progress, starting with reproductive justice.

Bejn Żewġt Imħuħ

A new organisation that popped up over quarantine aimed at promoting “conservative ideals of liberty, life and culture, within the nation state”. They are an independent organisation wanting to encourage youths use their voice and engage in politics, without having to pick either side.

Dear Decision Makers

Unlike the above mentioned pages, this is an off-shoot of two other organisations in the form of a pro-choice campaign. The page aims to tell the story of the impact of the complete ban on abortion in Malta.

ADŻ Green Youth Malta

Perhaps, one of the older organisations, this page is the ‘youth wing’ better well-known political party, Alternattiva Demokratika. It actively works to push forward especially environmental and social causes and brings youth directly into the political sphere.

The post 5 Youth Activists that have popped up over the pandemic appeared first on The Third Eye.

Just because these events are happening far from home, does not mean they do not affect us. Racism is prevalent in Malta too. We see this from the immigrants left to die at sea and hate crimes like Lassana Cisse’s, amongst others. To do our part, we have compiled a list of organisations to donate to our support, information sources to educate yourself, and a number of action points to join the fight against racism in your own way.

Organisations to Donate to or Support:

Malta-based

• Jesuits in Malta 
• Migrant Women Association Malta 
• Aditus Foundation: Home
• Africa Media Malta
• Blue Door English
• Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants
• SOS Malta
• Integra Foundation

International-based

• Black Lives Matter
• Innocence Project
• Color Of Change
• American Civil Liberties Union
• More places to donate

Information sources to educate yourself:

To Read:

• me and white supremacy workbook
• Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race
• How to Be an Antiracist
• White Fragility
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
• The Color of Law
• So You Want to Talk About Race

To Watch: 

• Just Mercy
• When They See Us
• Dear White People
• 12 Years a Slave
• Moonlight
• 13th
• Green Book 
• Selma
• I Am Not Your Negro

To Listen: 

• 1619
• About Race
• Code Switch 
• The Diversity Gap 
• Intersectionality Matters! 
• Seeing White
• Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

Small things you can do that make a big difference

• Petitions to sign 
• Get in touch with friends and family of colour 
• Call out everyday acts of racism by friends and family 
• Educate others/help them understand

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The event was hosted by the Malta Law Student’s Society (GħSL) and welcomed the Minister as well as members of staff within the Ministry, and fellow law students.

Around 35 law students came together and gathered around forty bags of waste. The waste varied from cigarette buts, plastic bottles to organic waste and The Cleansing and Maintenance Division eventually gathered it. Minister Bonnici personally awarded certificates of participation to all those partook and congratulated GħSL for such taking such an initiative.

This event was one of many charity events GħSL’s Legal Aid Committee held this year, said GħSL President, Celine Cuschieri Debono.

Successive members of the Executive Boards have recognised the duty of this law student organisation to branch out of its comfort zone, but rather take a more active role within the society that we live in.

We encourage fellow student organisations, law students, as well as the general student body, to seek out further avenues for collaboration, with all interested bodies. We, students, are some of the most active members of our society, and it is high time that our charitable efforts expand further, and not simply remain within University and SixthForm grounds.

In turn, GħSL’s External Relations Officer Michela Galea Seychell stated that the role of the GħSL Legal Aid Committee was to be the charitable arm of the organisation.

As students, and as future members of the legal profession, we recognise that events such as the one of today do not only leave an immediate beneficial impact but also serves as a wake-up call to the rest of the student body to continuously strive towards a more proactive approach. Hopefully, this event will serve as the spark for further initiatives down the line.

GħSL also hopes that such a clean-up event will be used as a springboard for further discussion from an academic and policy point of view on the legal aspects related to waste management and other related issues.

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