Currently, we’re experiencing many electricity cuts in Malta in several localities, which are undoubtedly very frustrating for everyone experiencing them. However, observing all the complaints and discussions on social media, I couldn’t help but wonder, are we too careless with how we use electricity?
In Malta, there’s power cuts every year, especially in summer, because the demand for electricity of course increases, which is for a number of reasons. Of course, we use more power; everyone turns on their ACs because it’s pretty difficult to breathe or live without having your AC on in Malta’s heat. Not to mention, there’s a rather large influx of tourists in the summer months, so of course there are more people on the island who will therefore generate more of a demand.
After observing all this as well as the rising traffic on the island, all contributing to more pollution and a further dive into climate change, I start to wonder. What are we doing, as civilians to prevent the situation from getting worse? The answer seems to be ‘well, not much’. I notice in general, a lot of people use electricity quite frivolously. They don’t use AC only when it’s needed, no, they will use it for a whole day on 18C. Is this really necessary? It is usually more than enough simply to turn it on for an hour or two, then grab a fan and turn it off. The room will still be cool for quite a while after that. Let’s not forget the multiple offices in the country where the AC must be left on at a very low temperature – so low that most people in the office would be freezing, but their main office abroad would be forcing them to keep that temperature? Are we actually insane as a species?
You go to several shops and offices in Malta – the door? Wide open. Heat coming straight in, and the AC is on all day. So they are not only increasing their electricity bill for no reason, but also adding more pollution to the air just to avoid closing a door. Why? Why, oh why?! Then we wonder how there are power cuts?
A lot of us, at least in Malta are the first to point fingers at the government, and of course, like any institution, it has its faults; whatever party is ruling, it will always have its faults. However, can we stop pretending like us civilians are not responsible for anything happening on the island? Is the large influx of traffic not our own fault, after all? How many people do you know who ACTUALLY make an effort to carpool, who make an effort to use a bus whenever possible, for short distances for example? Must we depend on such luxuries all the time when they are literally causing our demise?
Let us not forget that climate change is very, very real, as we are clearly experiencing with the very high temperatures in summer. And yet, we continue to push such polluting luxuries into the forefronts of our lives, we continue to use them frivolously and without any thought to the effect they are causing.
We talk a lot about rights nowadays, but not once do I hear people talk about our duties as civilians and as human beings of this planet. We all use our cars all the time as much as possible without any thought (because why walk or use a 5 minute bus to get somewhere close instead, right?), we use electricity as if it’s completely free and doesn’t pollute our air to generate it.
When I was a kid, I remember being constantly taught about not only our rights but also our duties towards one’s country, one’s planet and one’s friends/colleagues etc. I really never hear this anymore. I remember being taught to think of the effect you have not only on yourself, but on the people around you, on the world around you. But unfortunately, nowadays, individualism is becoming the mainstream thought process of the world.
Individualism is LITERALLY killing our planet and we really need to stop, the temperatures are only going to get worse if no one puts in that little effort to reduce pollution wherever needed. I’m not saying throw your car away, but if you’re going 5 minutes down the road, can you not just walk or catch a free bus? While buses on the island are definitely not excellent, for short distances, honestly, they’re fine. We cannot expect governments (globally) to solve all our problems, when we, as humans are choosing to ignore our own place in the environment. The environment, in return, is fighting back. And frankly, I don’t blame it one bit. I would too.
This is not to say that governments have no hand in all of this, however. Our public transport has never been a priority to improve on the island, and although they made many attempts at creating ‘better’ routes, they never made sure to get the basics right like; that the bus actually shows up at all, that the bus is clean, that the bus is good in wintry weather too with no water coming in. Of course, if public transport is not prioritized and made well and efficient; everyone will resort to using their own cars.
On a global level, the European Union and United Nations are coming up with ‘quotas’ to combat climate change and pollution in the environment. Yet – we do not go to the problem at the root. Why is it, for example, that trees can be so easily demolished? They are the literal direct solution to the problem of pollution. They give us clean air to breathe, and YET? We destroy them to build new roads, to build new land; whatever, it doesn’t matter right?
The time when trees could be cut without care has passed, long ago, and we need to start actually caring about our planet instead of just complaining about it.
Small things that will help reduce pollution from a civilian’s perspective;
- You don’t need to keep the AC on all the time, use a fan. It wastes so much less electricity; just use the AC to cool down the room then switch to a fan. It works, I swear.
- Whenever possible, carpool. It saves you the headache of parking, and also helps the environment. 200 people a day on the island carpooled, there would be 200 less cars in a day which would make a surprising difference in our roads.
- If you’re going somewhere relatively nearby, there’s probably a bus that can easily take you there. Again, this will also save you on parking, petrol and add some steps to your day easily. It’s understandable that one cannot use buses all the time, but when we can, we should.
- If you own a car, buy a sun visor to use while it’s parked. It educes so much heat that gets into the car, and you won’t have to use as much power to get the AC cold enough in the car. This will also save you on fuel in the long run.
Scribbles by Mar 