maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 JANUARY 2011 THIS WEEK

32

We have all met her, maybe she lives on our roof too, indeed maybe she was there since before we were born! Like many of her cousins, she is slow to grow and slow to age: meet the Wall Xanthoria (M: Zantorja), one of our more eye-catching lichens. Lichens are those splashes of yellow, orange, pale green, grey or even black we often see on rocks and old walls. They are not plants in the usual sense - they grow no leaves or roots - but are actually a clever partnership of an alga and a fungus. Their trick is to survive in extreme environments, like stuck to an exposed rock baking in the sun for most of the year. Their Achilles’ heel seems to be air pollution. And so it is the same familiar story: the Wall Xanthoria and hundreds of other lichen species around us depend on us to keep their air clean.

Text and photo Victor Falzon

234. WALL XANTHORIAIncreased control of the

seed supply by a handful of

agrichemical biotechnology

giants is raising seed prices,

reducing seed choices, and

exposing farmers to ruin-

ous lawsuits for the “crime”

of seed saving. Misguided

U.S. court decisions permit-

ting seeds to be patented

have virtually outlawed the

millennia-old practice of farmer

seed-saving in the U.S, at least

for GM varieties.

Monsanto has exploited its

seed patents to extract tens

and perhaps hundreds of

millions of dollars from U.S.

farmers for the “crime” of

saving seed. Farmers, small

seed firms, and public sector

breeders once developed a multitude

of new seed varieties best suited to

local conditions. Today, Monsanto,

DuPont-Pioneer, Syngenta, Bayer

and a handful of other multinationals

own most of the world’s commercial

seed. Even the U.S. Department of

Agriculture admits that this seed

industry concentration has slowed

development of useful new crop

varieties.

Seed prices have risen dramati-

cally in the U.S. as companies push

expensive biotech seeds to maximize

profits. Farmers have ever fewer

alternatives, as these same firms

phase out more affordable conven-

tional seeds.

Since 2005, Monsanto became the

world’s largest seed firm, and in

2007 increased its control through

the purchase of the world’s largest

cotton seed company.

GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 134:

All purpose cleaner – Make your own Mild All-

Purpose Cleaner to clean dirt, food spills, stains,

and build up on most surfaces. Its deodorising

properties make it an ideal solution for cleaning

fridges, microwaves, tiles, even children’s toys.

Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 litre of

water, then wipe surfaces with a soft cloth.

BOOKS

THIS splendid series which started around ten years ago now tackles the most illustrious period in Malta’s history – that of the Knights of St John. With Thomas Freller’s fine text, one is trans-ported back to those days and ages of chivalry and although one can-not always approve of the Knights’ dictatorial and even at times, downright despotic style, the im-mense cultural heritage they bequeathed to the island is indisputed.

As in the other books, this one is split into narrative chapters with a good deal of commentary – some-thing which to me proves extremely stimulating as it avoids the patronizing style which occasionally perme-ates such books. Nowhere is Freller more direct than when he discusses the palpable decline into which the Order fell

in the last decades of the 18th Century and I hugely enjoyed his

footnote on the latter part of the Order’s post-Malta history – something which I had not much informa-tion upon. Freller is also an exciting raconteur of the highlights which you would expect to be glossed over in some detail such as the Great Siege and the building of Valletta.

The final part of the book is dedicated to the monu-ments which the Knights left behind and here one can really gorge oneself over almost hedonistic beauty culminating in the unique St John’s Co-Ca-thedral. The photography by the indefatigable Dan-iel Cilia is absolutely top notch in all departments. Surely an unqualified rec-ommendation for all lov-ers of local history but this is a book which is written with style and has different

takes on well worn episodes so the traditionalist should be warned.

Leafing through this book, one is reminded of that glorious 1950’s and 60’s heyday in Sliema – the town which was fast be-coming the urban metropolis post war for the jet set and high flying society. Sadly this feel has vanished in a maelstrom of ugly concrete blocks, the tear-ing down of old and beautiful houses and the onslaught of gridlocked traffic.

The author, Anna Maria Bu-hagiar, grew up in the late 60’s, at least according to this book and she magically recreates the unique atmosphere which permeated the world of the upper classes in those times. Stories like ‘Picking the juicy ones’ describes the quintes-sential snobbery of those classes to the letter – something which is so memorably described by Jer-emy Boissevain in his memoir on Kirkop in the 1960’s (KKM).

Buhagiar is also pretty tongue in cheek in several stories which are closer to our times such as ‘The Concert’ and Kenneth Zammit Tabona’s inimitable illustrations add spice and verve to proceed-ings. I wouldn’t wish to delve more

into the stories per se as that would ruin one’s enchantment with the pieces but it would suffice to say that they are extremely well writ-ten in well nigh perfect English. The subtle nuances and barbs are a joy in themselves. Hugely rec-ommended.

This book was kindly supplied for review by Sierra Book Distributors, Santa Venera

Transporting oneself back to the ages of chivalry

The glorious 1950’s and 60’s of Sliema

Gerald Fenech reviews ‘Malta: The Order of St John – Malta’s Living Heritage Vol IV’

Gerald Fenech reviews ‘A Very Decent Exposure – 42 short stories with a Maltese complexion’

Visit Friends of the Earth’s website for more informa-tion about our work, as well as for information about how to join us www.foemalta.org. You can also support us by sending a blank SMS donation on 50618070 (€4.66) or 50619223 (€11.65).

GMOs – Seed Control and Prices