Leave Azure Window site alone, focus on what we can actually save, eNGOs tell government

The Azure Window is now no more and the government should strive to save our remaining environmental zones and historical buildings rather than play off sensationalism and come up with superficial statements, two environmental NGOs are insisting.

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar and Friends of the Earth were asked, by The Malta Independent, to react to statements by the government after the famous natural arch collapsed on Wednesday in stormy weather.

A day after the sad incident, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the government would launch an “international initiative” on what can be done in place of the fallen Azure Window.

Later on, four government ministers, announced that the government was considering various options, such as leaving the site as is, recuperating the rock pieces and exhibiting them, creating an interpretation centre, creation of an augmented reality, creation of an artistic installation, creation of an artificial recreation centre, and/or other ideas. They also made it clear that the Azure Window “will not be rebuilt” – a statement that was derided by many.

Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) has called on the government to take action on saving historical buildings in Malta, and to defend the island from the unfettered wave of greed by developers’ insatiable hunger for profits.

“After seeing the phenomenal wave of reactions from the public, the government should now act and take care of that which is in our control to protect, and not just play off the sensationalism created around the loss of the iconic window through the promise of superficial replacements that only stand to offend its memory.”

The eNGO added that, “nature took its course, and the Azure window fell. The protected historic buildings we are presently knocking down by choice are only threatened by developers hunger for bigger profit margins, for many were in a pristine state before being bulldozed into a pile of rubble.

“If heritage has any real value to this government, they need to step up and prove it tangibly and stop allowing the current wave of demolition of heritage properties across villages and towns all over Malta and Gozo to continue.”

Friends of the Earth (FoE), while maintaining that the site where the Azure Window once stood should be left alone, called on the government to help protect environmental zones that could desperately use the funding that would have otherwise been used for an alternative project related to the Azure Window.

“Sadly Malta lost one of its most iconic natural wonders in a Natura2000 site due to geological forces - the good news is that we can influence and stop other forms of environmental destruction which are destroying our nature at an alarming rate. The only reasonable thing to do in this case is to leave the site as it is. Dwejra and other Natura 2000 sites are in dire need of protection and any funds available should be used to safeguard our special nature sites and wildlife.”

The Dwejra Window had been deteriorating over the years, due to natural erosion. As a result, the authorities had identified the issue and banned people from walking on top of the window, punishable through a fine.

Many argued that this was not enforced, as could be seen through the numerous weekend images posted on social media by people expressing their anger at the volume of others blatantly breaching the new rules and walking atop the structure.

It is widely agreed that nothing could be done to stop the Azure Window from falling to nature, however geologists have argued that more could have been done to delay this natural occurrence.