First June 2021

ISSUE 325 JUNE 2021

A CAPSULE OF THE WORLD

THE ESF+

MEP DAVID CASA WHAT IT MEANS FOR EUROPE AND FOR MALTA

LIVING with INTENTION “You can ignore reality, but you can’t ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.”

AYN RAND

EDITORIAL “Mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things.”

Arthur Schopenhauer, philosopher.

Living with Intention

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e don't want to be at the stage where the loss of our natural habitat and well-being will lead us to appreciate the simple things in life, that make us happy and which we take for granted, but sometimes it's best to stop and think on what it would be like if that were the case. Not to depress ourselves, but to urge us to lead happier more fulfilled lives, even if it is by making do with less if it's for the well-being of everyone.

Intentionality in some ways sums up this whole methodology of thought or way of being.

Writing in her new book Provence Style, author Shauna Varvel writes “I was drawn to Provence as an escape... I was enchanted by photos of the idyllic countryside, picturesque markets and simple way of life. We decided to spend a month in Provence, renting a charming home in the middle of a vineyard.

That summer was everything we hoped it would be. Life was slower and more intentional. Days were spent shopping for fresh cheese, bread, and produce at the markets, picking grapes and relaxing by the pool. Time as a family happened naturally and we enjoyed cooking, sightseeing, and reading books together in the evening.”

ON THE COVER: MEP David Casa, photography Martin Lahousse – EPP Group.

PHOTOGRAPHY THIS PAGE: Taken from PROVENCE STYLE: DECORATING WITH FRENCH COUNTRY FLAIR by Shauna Varvel with Alexandra Black. Photograph © Nicolas Matheus, Richard Goullet, Laurence Dougier, courtesy of Vendome Press. See article page 46.

EDITORIAL CONTENT AND SALES MANAGER SEAN ELLUL SELLUL@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT DESIGNER CONRAD BONDIN CBONDIN@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PRODUCTION MANAGER ANDRE CAMILLERI ACAMILLERI@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PUBLISHER STANDARD PUBLICATIONS, STANDARD HOUSE, BIRKIKARA HILL, ST JULIAN’S. TEL: 00356 2134 5888, WEB: WWW.INDEPENDENT.COM.MT FACEBOOK FIRSTMAGAZINE PRINTER PRINT-IT. FIRST IS PUBLISHED AS A COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE WITH THE MALTA INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY AND IS NOT TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY. NO PART OF THE PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PRIOR AGREEMENT OF THE PUBLISHER. FIRST MAGAZINE SINCE 1993. ISSUE NUMBER 325.

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CONTENTS

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CONTE [ISSUE 325. JUNE 2021] 6

THE MEDICI

Medici Fashion, Power and Politics.

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FASHION & BEAUTY Coco Mademoiselle.

Collection Été.

MEDICI FASHION, POWER AND POLITICS. Eleonora di Toledo and Francesco de’ Medici.

Bronzino. Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Reale, Pisa. Image © Haltadefinizione ® Image Bank by permission of the Ministry of Cultural Activities and Heritage – Polo Museale della Toscana.

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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The ESF+ MEP David Casa on what it means for Europe and for Malta.

ENVIRONMENT

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Green space.

How much is enough, and what’s the best way to deliver it?

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Fighting Plastic Pollution.

Keeping litter out of our sea.

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Fighting Plastic Pollution.

Can we keep litter out of our sea?

62 The Grand Tour. China’s wandering elephants.

Photograph Yunnan Forest Fire Brigade via AP.

The Need for Urban Green.

Jardin des Tuileries, Paris.

Photograph Kirsten Drew.

ENTS 46

PRIDE MONTH. Everyone is Awesome. Photo: LEGO’s first LGBTQIA+ set, photograph Lego.

PRIDE MONTH

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Why Pride Season?

Equality remains elusive within the EU, writes Helena Dalli, European Union Commissioner for Equality.

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Everyone is Awesome.

LEGO’s first LGBTQIA+ set.

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A Malta of Colour, Pride and Integration writes Dr Edward Zammit Lewis, Malta’s Minister for Justice, Equality and Governance.

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Keeping it Together. Key initiatives by the SOGIGESC Unit.

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HEALTH & FITNESS Improving with Age.

46 Provence Style. Photograph Nicolas Matheus, Irene Silvagni, Laurence Dougier, courtesy of Vendome Press.

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COFFEE TABLE

Provence Style.

Decorating with French Country Flair.

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Summer Cooking with Mediterranean Culinary Academy.

Photograph Jessica Zammit.

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ART

Debbie Caruana Dingli’s new book The School Playground.

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NATURE

The Grand Tour.

China’s wandering elephants.

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SUMMER COOKING

Summer Crop with Mediterranean Culinary Academy.

Explosion. “An explosion of depressed women hurtling through the sky.” Extracts from Debbie Caruana Dingli’s new book The School Playground. Photograph courtesy Kite Group.

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OBSESSIONS

The Orchidelirium craze.

Orchidelirium. Orchid festival at Princess of Wales’ Conservatory, RBG Kew 2019.

Photograph Ines Stuart-Davidson © RBG Kew.

THE MEDICI

Some of the greatest portraits of Western art were painted in Florence during the tumultuous years from 1512 to 1570, when the city was transformed from a republic with elected officials into a duchy ruled by the Medici family. The key figure in this transformation was Cosimo I de’ Medici, who became Duke of Florence in 1537, following the assassination of his predecessor, Alessandro de’ Medici. Cosimo shrewdly employed culture as a political tool in order to convert the mercantile city into the capital of a dynastic Medicean state, enlisting the leading intellectuals and artists of his time and promoting grand architectural, engineering, and artistic projects.

Photography courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 6

THE MEDICI

Left: This red velvet garment (sottana) was found in the convent of San Matteo in Pisa, where for centuries it was used to dress statues of saints. Thought to have been given to the convent by Eleonora di Toledo or one of her ladies-in-waiting, it matches the dresses the duchess’s ladies wore when the court visited Siena in 1561 and resembles the style in which Eleanora was buried in 1562. Restored, it is in remarkable condition and preserves the lacings used to attach the sleeves and the embroidered bands applied to it. Petticoat with sleeves, ca. 1560, Velvet, height 150 cm. Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Reale, Pisa. Photograph Arrigo Coppitz, from the archive of the Regional Directorate of Museums of Tuscany. Above: Eleanora di Toledo was a Spanish noblewoman and Duchess of Florence as the first wife of Cosimo I de’ Medici. A keen businesswoman, she financed many of her husband’s political campaigns and important buildings like the Pitti Palace. She also ruled as regent of Florence during his frequent absences. Here in this pose, depicted as the ideal woman of the Renaissance, she wears a coat, zimarra, with the collar turned down of gold-embroidered silk fabric over a reticulated partlet and matching velvet bodice.

Eleonora di Toledo and Francesco de’ Medici. Bronzino (Agnolo di Cosimo di Mariano), c 1550, oil on panel, 116 × 95 cm. Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Reale, Pisa.

Image © Haltadefinizione ® Image Bank by permission of the Ministry of Cultural Activities and Heritage - Polo Museale della Toscana.

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THE MEDICI

Above: Portrait of a Young Man with a Book. Bronzino, probably mid-1530s, oil on wood, 95.6 x 74.9 cm. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929 (29.100.16). Right: Bindo Altoviti – the wealthy Florentine banker, was one of the most significant opponents to Cosimo’s rule and a staunch supporter of the lost Florentine republic. A friend of Michelangelo, and patron of the artists Cellini and Salviati. Bindo Altoviti. Francesco Salviati, c 1545, oil on marble, 88 × 72 cm. Private Collection. Photograph © Bruce M. White, 2020.

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THE MEDICI

T

he Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibition, The Medici: Portraits and Politics, 1512–1570 features an outstanding group of portraits by renowned artists – from Raphael, Jacopo Pontormo, and Rosso Fiorentino to Benvenuto Cellini, Agnolo Bronzino, and Francesco Salviati – to introduce visitors to the various new and complex ways

that artists portrayed the elite of Medicean Florence, representing the sitters’ political and cultural ambitions and conveying the changing sense of what it meant to be a Florentine at this defining moment in the city’s history.

“Throughout history, art and imagery have been used to promote cultural and political agendas – a strategy that continues to be prevalent in our world today,” says Max Hollein, Marina Kellen French Director of The Met. 9

THE MEDICI

Above: Cassandra Bandini’s family was involved in the silk industry, evidenced by the display in this portrait. Portrait of a Woman (probably Cassandra Bandini).

Bronzino, c 1550-55, oil on panel, 109 × 84 cm. Galleria Sabauda, Turin. Image: Scala/Art Resource, NY. Top right: The outstanding poet Laura Battiferri, reconfigured here as a modern female Dante. Laura Battiferri. Bronzino, c 1560, oil on panel, 87.5 × 70 cm. Museo di Palazzo Vecchio, Florence; Donazione Loeser Image: © Musei Civici Fiorentini-Museo di Palazzo Vecchio. Bottom right: Lodovico Capponi. Bronzino, 1550-55, oil on wood, 116.5 × 85.7 cm. The Frick Collection.

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THE MEDICI

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his exhibition celebrates the achievements of the painters and sculptors responsible for these memorable masterpieces from Renaissance Italy, as it also explores the historical, social, and political context of these works, inviting us to more fully appreciate their artistic relevance and their role in culture and society.”

This major exhibition features more than 90 works of art in a wide range of mediums, from paintings, sculptural busts, medals, and carved gemstones to drawings, etchings, manuscripts, and armour. By bringing together works from The Met’s holdings and collections throughout Europe, North America, and Australia, it marks the most ambitious presentation of this material ever mounted in the United States.

The exhibition unfolds in six sections, each devoted to a defining moment or theme that helps to illustrate the impact of Cosimo’s autocratic rule and cultural initiatives on Florentine artists and the sitters they portrayed. The first section, “From Republic to Duchy, 1512–32,” looks at the years leading up to Alessandro de’ Medici becoming the First Duke of Florence. Most Florentine artists during this period practiced an austere style that reflected the traditional moral values of the republic. Portraits featured a somber colour palette and absence of decorative embellishments, and details of objects served to indicate a sitter’s profession.

Following the traumatic siege of Florence by Spanish troops and the installment of Alessandro as duke in 1532, a shift in artistic style became evident.

Next, “The Medici and Florence, 1513– 37,” introduces some of the key figures of the Medici dynasty – protagonists in a political game played from Rome, where members of the family held positions of power in the Catholic Church. Among the works Raphael’s sumptuous portrait of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Duke of Urbino.

At just 17 years of age, Cosimo succeeded Alessandro (who was assassinated by his cousin in 1537) as Duke of Florence and began consolidating power and laying the foundations for transforming the city into a Medicean court. The third section, “Cosimo I de’ Medici: Lineage and Dynasty,” explores how the duke cultivated his image as the inheritor and preserver of the glory of the entire Medici line, weaving a connection to his illustrious relatives in various ways.

Portraits of the ducal family were intended to project power, assert the continuity of the dynasty, and convey cultural refinement.

Depictions of Cosimo are joined by Bronzino’s compelling portraits of his wife, Eleonora di Toledo, whose red velvet dress is on loan from the Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Reale in Pisa.

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THE MEDICI

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osimo harnessed the artistic and literary legacy of Florence to enhance the prestige of his court throughout Europe and, in 1542, he established an important literary institution called the Accademia Fiorentina. “A Poetics of Portraiture” highlights the ways in which this literary culture, reaching back to Dante and Petrarch, shaped the conventions of portraiture in which sitters are often shown holding small volumes of poetry.

Beyond indicating a sitter’s literacy, these small volumes signified the sitter’s patriotism, social affiliation, and partisan allegiance or dissent. Bronzino’s extraordinary portrait of the accomplished female poet Laura Battiferri is displayed in a small gallery dedicated to “Cosimo and the Politics of Culture.”

Cosimo’s transformation of the city and relentless efforts to assert Florence as the epicenter of the visual arts and the capital of the Italian Renaissance is evidenced in Giorgio Vasari’s famous Lives of the Artists, which was dedicated to Cosimo and for centuries imposed a Florencecentered narrative of Renaissance art. This astute propaganda campaign ensured that the reputation of Florence and the Medici would live on long after Cosimo’s death in 1574.

The sixth and final section, “Florence and Rome: Bronzino and Salviati,” offers a comparison between the two competing styles at Cosimo’s court: Bronzino’s insistently Florentine-based art and the pan-Italian style of Salviati. At Cosimo’s behest, the two artists worked concurrently in the Palazzo Vecchio – the seat of the old republic that the duke transformed into his residence – but his preference for a distinctively Florentine literary and artistic language led to Bronzino’s portraits becoming the official style of the ruling elite.

This provides a unique opportunity to compare the qualities of these artists. The exhibition concludes with a painting by Salviati – of the wealthy Florentine banker Bindo Altoviti, who remained one of the most significant opponents to Cosimo’s rule, and a staunch supporter of the lost Florentine republic.

The Medici: Portraits and Politics, 1512– 1570 features more than 90 works of art by some of the most celebrated artists of the Italian Renaissance, including Bronzino, Pontormo, Cellini, and many others. The exhibition is featured on The Met website which includes a Primer – a dynamic, immersive look at the exhibition, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using the hashtag #MetMedici. The exhibition runs until 11th October 2021. www.metmuseum.org

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Top: Portrait of a Man (probably Pierantonio Bandini). Bronzino, c 1550-1555, oil on wood, 106.7 x 82.5 cm. Purchased 1930, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Image: NGC. Bottom: Lorenzo de’ Medici, Duke of Urbino. Raphael, 1518, oil on canvas, 97.2 × 79.4 cm. Private Collection. Image: Private Collection/Bridgeman Images.

FASHION & BEAUTY

COCO MADEMOISELLE COLLECTION ÉTÉ

COCO MADEMOISELLE switches to summer mode. Specially devised for the warmer days, the COCO MADEMOISELLE Collection Été reveals a fresher and fruitier aspect of the fragrance with two new limited edition releases in 100ml format ideal for travelling: COCO MADEMOISELLE L’Eau, a formula as light as a perfume mist and COCO MADEMOISELLE Le Gel, a shower gel for body and hair.

A summer variation that allows fans of COCO MADEMOISELLE’s boldness to enjoy its citrus and floral notes without moderation.

Photography courtesy CHANEL.

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“I

wanted to highlight the summery side of COCO MADEMOISELLE: an oriental-fruity wake full of sensuality and whose freshness lasts,” emphasizes Olivier Polge, CHANEL In-House Perfumer Creator. “COCO MADEMOISELLE L’Eau is a light and generous mist that can be sprayed liberally on body and hair, perfuming them delicately. This airy and luminous trail is also present in COCO MADEMOISELLE Le Gel, the 2-in-1 after-sun essential on a hot summer day, which can be used for both body and hair. Its texture glides on the skin like a caress. Its light and delicate foam leaves on the skin and hair a fragrant veil of softness.”

FASHION & BEAUTY

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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

THE ESF+ What it means for Europe and for Malta The European Union is an audacious project. It was remarkable when it was conceived, and it continues to defy expectations. Admittedly, there is far from a consensus on what those expectations are, probably because the actual functions of the EU can be mysterious even to those familiar with it. Its constitutional build-up may be weird to anyone on either side of the ‘federalist spectrum’, but it has certainly outperformed the unwavering predictions of its wholesale implosion. These gloomy prognoses have been offered by people in response to each bump in the road since the 1950s. You say ‘EU’, they say ‘EUlogy’. They intensified after the financial crash in 2009, again with Brexit. A cacophony ensued with the coronavirus. If the EU is an audacious project, imagine the boldness of a Social Europe remaining strong against the currents of the worst global crisis in living memory. This is exactly what twentyseven member states have agreed to uphold. Not symbolically, through an impassioned speech, but by concluding a €90 billion fund: the new European Social Fund Plus writes MEP David Casa.

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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ESF+ for 2021-2027, our social credentials are intact going into this historic conference. We must and we will be prepared to listen and do more to ensure our economy and society are ever fairer. Moreover, funds received by member states must be used for projects that respect the core values and fundamental freedoms of the European Union. In short, there can be no economic welfare without meaningful respect for democracy and the rule of law.

When the ESF+ was being negotiated, the pandemic was not meditated by any living soul. Its sudden and forceful disruption of every aspect of our lives means that the stakes have risen considerably. Much more now hangs on the balance of what the ESF+ seeks to address. But the core principles and aims have remained exactly the same: more opportunities for education, better access to training, better access to employment. These are vital if Europe as a whole is to recover and to recover sustainably. Nobody must be left behind.

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he European Social Fund was not born of the pandemic, even if it is adopted at the opportune time. In fact, it predated not just the accession of many member states, but the independence of some of them, too. Since 1957, the ESF had been the principal financial tool geared toward delivering initiatives to promote social inclusion and investment in education and employment. It was the oldest of the Structural Funds, whose aims are to bolster the social cohesion and economic health throughout Europe.

This scope etched in the Treaty of Rome continues to live on in the European Social Fund Plus, a creation resulting from the merging of the ESF with other European Funds with similar aims. FEAD (EU Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived) and EaSI (EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation) are now grouped in one coherent budget and will be administered by national

governments according to the same conditions.

The point is to provide a safety net for those worst hit by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. People have lost friends and family, but they are also losing jobs and access to work and education. FEAD projects are aimed at helping people who are in the most critical of circumstances, those who were already in precarious situations but which the pandemic exacerbated further. However, this is by no means a criterion to benefit from ESF+ projects.

For this 2021-2027 cycle, the identified priorities are intended to reach more people.

Past data shows us that ESF funds principally target unemployment, and this is true now.

The ESF+ will fight against unemployment by assisting three main groups: youths, seeking training and work experience; older workers facing redundancies, seeking to invest their experience into new skills; and women, especially mothers seeking to return to work after absences. This fits squarely with a commitment to invest in the future of Europe, but more importantly to bolster equal opportunities in the workplace, including for those with disabilities.

A chief priority is unemployment. Working hours dropped significantly with the pandemic, a statistic linked to mass unemployment. It is too early to say that the trend of declining youth unemployment has been reversed by the shock of the pandemic.

Between 2013 and 2020, European nations managed to pull down the youth unemployment rate by an impressive 10 points.

To help keep this up, ESF+ dedicates resources toward educating, training, and employing young people, no matter their background or education.

As regards women, gender inequality remains one of the key gaps in the market.

Unfortunately, but predictably, women were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

We need to ensure that the ESF does what it is designed to do, to bridge the gap and create the conditions for a better overall quality of life.

Above: David Casa participating at Freshers' Week at the University of Malta. Photograph Roberto Runza.

Below: Delivering the message in a radio programme. Photograph Roberto Runza.

his is a hugely important achievement, for the individuals, the families, and the communities that will be reached by ESF+ initiatives. It will lift the values and principles enshrined in the European Pillar of Social Rights and affect them in the real world. It is also important for the idea of a Social Europe, especially as we begin to recover from the pandemic. The success of the negotiations that will start delivering billions to better Europeans’ lives attests to the shared belief of the role of Europe for its citizens. This means that a Europe with a social heart is not as contested an idea as many believe is the case.

With the upcoming Conference on the Future of Europe, our political enterprise can look its citizens in the eye with a sense of pride and achievement. Europe, despite its knack for convolutions and bureaucracy, has delivered when it mattered the most, where it matters the most. With the conclusion of the 17

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

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hile funding will be received directly by individuals, community organisations, and local government, money is not the only way the European Union is supporting families during the pandemic. Other initiatives, namely the Work-Life Balance Directive (WLB), work hand in hand with this.

As lead rapporteur for the WLB, which was adopted in 2019, I can observe strong parallels between both the WLB and the recently adopted ESF+. For starters, both are important tools that European citizens will benefit from.

Both were drafted and negotiated, at least in

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Top: Recording in Voxbox of a programme for Net TV Malta in March 2019. Topics discussed included latest developments in the European Parliament, priorities for EU elections and political developments in Malta. Photograph Philippe Buissin © European Union. Top facing page: European Parliament President David Sassoli with David Casa after he was elected Quaestor of the European Parliament. Photograph Daina Le Lardic © European Union. Left: David Casa with former President Antonio Tajani, after signing the Work Life Balance Directive was signed into EU law in 2019. The rights introduced included the introduction of 10 days of paid paternity leave, 2 months of paid parental leave, 5 days of annual carers leave and the right to request flexible working arrangements. Photograph Daina Le Lardic © European Union. Centre: A 2019 EMPL Constitutive meeting – Election of Chair and Vice-Chairs, 9th parliamentary term. Photograph Mathieu Cugnot © European Union.

part, without the pandemic in mind. Both will be essential to support workers in the European economy.

With the WLB transposition deadline slowly approaching, in August of next year, it is worth noting the sheer resilience of our working families. We are confident that the WLB offers protection for workers to manage their lives in a healthier way, not at the expense of productivity. In fact, studies confirm that healthier private lives enhance productivity, and not dent it. While remote working has been a lifeline for the economy, for businesses, and for families, the challenge of the WLB is to continue the fruitful success

of flexible arrangements without undermining the importance of healthy, meaningful distinctions between their working and private lives.

Stepping back a bit, the European Union really is an audacious project.

For any piece of legislation, reaching an agreement is difficult. For such a massive project that seeks to fend off the colossal effects of the pandemic to succeed the way it did is certainly notable. It is impossible to say exactly how funding will be used throughout the thousands of communities that will benefit, but we know that it will be used for good.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

As a final note, €90 billion is a large number to fathom, as is a continent of 445 million people. If a week is a long time in politics, a lot can happen in the 7 years the ESF+ is mandated to run. Let’s not forget the change that ESF+ funded projects on the micro-level can have for people, for children and students, mothers and fathers, for families, workers, businesses, NGOs, and entire communities, through applications that challenge the imagination.

The ESF+ is more than a sum of money: it means better training for professionals that contribute to the community, including care workers; it means better opportunities for the workers’ academically talented child to pursue

postgraduate study, a first in her family.

The ESF+ means more social cohesion, better economic wellbeing, and a better standard of living for everyone.

Published in collaboration with the European People’s Party Group in the European Parliament.

Above: A 2021 EP plenary session - FEAD: specific measures to address the COVID-19 crisis.

Malta will receive € 125 million from the European Social Fund for the next seven years.

The Maltese Government can now start launching various schemes, in particular to address the social and financial crisis brought about by the pandemic. The money from this fund will be invested in people to tackle unemployment, to give protection to workers willing to adapt to the environmental and digital economy.

Photograph Jan van de Vel © European Union.

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ENVIRONMENT

This page: Paris’s oldest and largest public garden is the Jardin des Tuileries, its formal layout traced with gravelled paths around perfectly manicured lawns. Created by Catherine de' Medici as the garden of the Tuileries Palace in 1564, it was eventually opened to the public in 1667 and became a public park after the French Revolution. Photograph Kirsten Drew.

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ENVIRONMENT

GREEN SPACE

How much is enough, and what’s the best way to deliver it?

Half of the world’s people now live in urban areas. This creates competition for resources and increases pressure on already limited green space. Many urban areas are still experiencing active degradation or removal of green space. To reverse this trend and ensure the multiple benefits of green space are realised, we urgently need to move toward on-ground action, write researchers Anne Cleary and Ruth Hunter.

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ENVIRONMENT

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owever, there is no clear guidance on how to translate the evidence base on green space into action. There is limited information to guide green-space practitioners on how much is “green enough”, or on how to manage and maintain green space. There is also a lack of guidance on how to deliver the multiple benefits of green space with finite resources.

WHY WE NEED GREEN SPACES

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This page: New York's Central Park is an urban park located between the Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan. Following proposals for a large park in Manhattan during the 1840s, it was approved in 1853. In 1857, landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition for the park with their "Greensward Plan". Construction began the same year; and the park's first areas were opened to the public in late 1858. Additional land was purchased in 1859, and the park was completed in 1876. Its size and cultural position make it a model for urban parks worldwide. Photograph Hector Argüello Canals.

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recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report (Urban green space interventions and health: A review of impacts and effectiveness) aims to provide guidance on how to tackle the uncertainties of providing such spaces. There is a substantial evidence base to show that green space is good for us. It is associated with many health benefits, both physical and mental – including

ENVIRONMENT

reductions in illness and deaths, stress and obesity – and a range of positive social, environmental and equity outcomes.

Providing adequate green space within our urban areas is therefore paramount. We need to preserve, enhance and promote existing green spaces and create new spaces.

Various political frameworks underscore the need for these spaces in our cities. For example, the (United Nations') New Urban Agenda calls for an increase in safe, inclusive, accessible, green and quality public spaces. The (United Nations) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development pledges to: 'provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular, for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities'.

MOVING TOWARD ACTION

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he WHO report carried out a systematic review of the published evidence on

green-space interventions. The review found a variety of intervention types have strong evidence for delivering a range of health, social and environmental outcomes.

These intervention types range from smaller green spaces, such as street trees and community gardens, to larger, more interlinked spaces, such as parks and greenways. This signals the need to think beyond the traditional urban park when considering how to meet the demand for green space among growing urban populations.

Another finding of the review was that urban green-space interventions seem to be most effective when a physical improvement of the space is coupled with social engagement.

This highlights the importance of understanding the intervention’s target audience. Sufficient time and resources must be devoted to engaging with this audience. This should happen both during the design and implementation phases and when the intervention is completed – and promoted.

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ENVIRONMENT

Left: Rome's Villa Borghese gardens contain a number of buildings and museums. It is the third largest public park in Rome after the ones of the Villa Doria Pamphili and Villa Ada. The gardens were developed for the Villa Borghese Pinciana ("Borghese villa on the Pincian Hill"), built by the architect Flaminio Ponzio, developing sketches by Scipione Borghese, who used it as a villa suburbana, or party villa, at the edge of Rome, and to house his art collection. Photograph Rossella Bianchi.

Bottom: Ibirapuera Park was the first metropolitan park in São Paulo, Brazil and was designed along the lines of other great landscape gardens built in the 20th century in major cities around the globe. It is often compared to New York's Central Park because of its size and popularity. Photograph Anderson Santos.

LEARNING FROM OTHERS

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Anne Cleary is a Nature and Health PhD Candidate, Griffith University, Australia. Ruth Hunter is a Lecturer, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast. Originally published on The Conversation.

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he WHO report compiled case studies of urban green-space interventions from across Europe, and documented the common lessons from these. This unearthed a range of findings. For example, fostering multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborations during planning, implementation and evaluation is a key factor in creating a successful green space.

Another key finding was the importance of understanding that urban green-space interventions are long-term investments.

They therefore need to be integrated within local development strategies and frameworks – such as urban masterplans, transport policies and sustainability and biodiversity strategies.

An example of an urban green-space intervention that showcases good practice, and which features as a case study in the WHO report, is the Connswater Community Greenway in Northern Ireland. This project adopted a bottom-up approach and emphasised community engagement. A full-time community support officer was employed.

Having public engagement embedded from the start ensured the local community’s needs were well understood.

The intervention’s design was responding to these identified needs. Coupling this local understanding with the latest thinking on good practice led to an evidence-based design that was fit-forpurpose in the local context. The project was also understood to be a long-term investment. A 40-year management and maintenance plan for the greenway was developed from the outset.

The WHO report represents an important step forward. As worrying trends in mental ill-health, obesity, social isolation, health inequalities and environmental degradation grow globally, there is a pressing need to implement equitable solutions – and green space has a key role to play in this.

Urban green-space interventions can deliver health, social and environmental benefits for all population groups – particularly among lower socioeconomic status groups. There are very few – if any – other public health interventions that can achieve all of this.

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For more information contact us on: energyefficiency@gov.mt or call on 22 292 558 Applications are online now at energywateragency.gov.mt/schemes

ENVIRONMENT It is our responsibility to keep litter out of our sea and to do our utmost to be part of the solution and not the pollution... Saving Our Blue!

FIGHTING PLASTIC POLLUTION The COVID-19 pandemic and related repercussions have changed not only the way we live and work, but also our social and economic activities and their effects on the environment. While some of us took the opportunity to adapt to a more sustainable way of life, others increased the use of single-use plastics or continued to litter albeit associated health risks and environmental impacts, resulting in consequent repercussions on waste and quantities of marine litter produced more than ever, writes the team at The Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning.

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ach year, tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans, constituting almost 60 to 90% of the litter that accumulates on shorelines, the sea surface, and the seafloor. The most common items are cigarette butts, bags, remains of fishing gear, and food and beverage containers.

The outcomes of such irresponsible disposal of waste are severe!

Marine litter harms marine species, it impacts coastal economies and it can enter the human food chain through fish consumption.

If no action is taken, by 2050 there could be

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more plastic than fish in our oceans, a situation which has been made even worse with the increased use of single-use plastics as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning (MECP), together with its entities is committed to restore, enhance and protect our ecosystems. Only healthy ecosystems can support rich biodiversity and therefore a sustainable environment.

MECP is working on multiple fronts to ensure such protection, including the recent designation of eight Marine Protected Areas, the implementation of the Single-Use-Plastic import ban at the beginning of 2021, and through the various platforms and initiatives as

part of the Saving our Blue campaign.

The Saving Our Blue campaign is a national Campaign run by MECP with the aim of raising awareness about the impacts of marine litter, and disseminating information and education about the ongoing transition from the use of single-use plastics to more sustainable products.

The campaign, launched for the third consecutive year on 8th June, on the occasion of World Ocean’s Day, is actively supporting a wide range of activities, targeting various segments of the public to foster engagement and direct participation, in order to encourage everyone to reconsider unsustainable behaviours in favour of more conscious lifestyles.

ENVIRONMENT

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he Saving our Blue campaign focuses not only on raising awareness on important aspects related to marine litter, but also suggests and promotes practical solutions to drive environmental impactful changes.

On a similar wavelength, MECP is actively collaborating with relevant stakeholders such as the Environment Resources Authority (ERA) the national regulator on the environment, and Ambjent Malta - the department responsible for the preservation and enhancement of Malta’s natural capital and biodiversity.

Crucial to the success of the campaign is also the collaboration with the private sector, NGOs and local communities, as policy and legislation cannot solve the marine litter issue on their own.

Only by joining forces can a change be made possible.

Therefore, MECP is welcoming initiatives from every individual, company or NGO with the aim of tackling the problem of marine litter from various perspectives, and leading to a more sustainable environment through changes in methods for building capacity, improving infrastructure, education, citizen engagement, and developing innovative solutions on modes of production and consumption.

In view of this, MECP is inviting interested individuals and businesses to pledge and commit to the implementation of sustainable actions.

Sign up your pledge here and reach the Saving Our Blue to collaborate directly on environmental initiatives: environment.gov.mt/en/decc/Pages/ environment/savingOurBluePledge.aspx

Facing page: What happens to sea turtles that eat plastics? The outlook is bleak - for 22% even ingesting just one plastic item can be a death sentence, and can puncture or clog the gut. Plastics and remains of fishing gear can also entangle turtle leading to their death. Top: For the third consecutive year on 8th June, on the occasion of World Ocean’s Day, the Saving Our Blue campaign was launched by The Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning. Below: Typical items found during a beach cleanup – marine litter harms marine species, it impacts coastal economies and it can enter the human food chain through fish consumption.

For more information on the environmental damage caused by marine litter and plastics in particular, and on what you can do to prevent it, follow the Saving Our Blue campaign on Facebook and Instagram.

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PRIDE MONTH

WHY P PRIDE SEASON? The month of June marks the beginning of Pride season, with multiple events organised around Europe and the world. A season dedicated to the visibility of LGBTIQ people, awarenessraising on the impact of discrimination and exclusion, as well as a push for greater equality for all. Despite the progress achieved over recent decades, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency’s LGBTI Survey results and the ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map show us that equality for LGBTIQ people remains elusive within the EU, writes Helena Dalli, European Union Commissioner for Equality. Photograph courtesy European Parliament.

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iscrimination, hatred, violence, and dire economic and financial situations remain a daily reality for too many.

LGBTIQ people continue to face restrictions to their rights all over the world simply because of who they are. The reality is that there is no safe place, and this is a failure of our societies. The transformation towards a better EU will not happen by itself.

Change will continue to be the result of a struggle at the grassroots, and the taking of the right decisions at the top.

More concerning is the fact that in some EU countries, regressive practices, such as the socalled ‘LGBT ideology-free zones’, restrictions on trans persons’ rights, and restrictions on visibility of LGBTIQ issues in schools and the media, have gained traction, are challenging the mere existence of LGBTIQ people and are driving an European identity crisis. As the EU Commissioner for Equality I have no intention of allowing any backsliding during my mandate. Any infractions of EU law in the area of equality must be addressed directly and without delay.

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ublic opinion is not always on the right side of history. For instance, before I became a minister, 80% of the Maltese population was against parental equality for same-gender couples. Then Parliament passed a law on civil unions aligned with the law on marriage. Later, we introduced the law on gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics to make it easier for transpersons to change their legal documents via a notarial procedure, while we introduced legal protections for intersex persons against involuntary treatment. We also made conversion practices illegal amongst several other measures intended to do away with all discrimination that existed between people based on sexuality and gender.

We did this because it was the right thing to do. During debates, we were often told that we were going to introduce much harm to Maltese society. Nonetheless, contrary to these predictions, no-one’s life changed for the worse. Rather, the quality of life of improved as we progressed as a society and undid previous legal discrimination.

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights has since reported that more people in Malta believe their country effectively combats prejudice and intolerance. Indeed, Malta has the lowest number of people who feel they have to avoid certain places and is second only to Portugal for the lowest percentage of people subject to anti-LGBTI attacks. Our efforts in pushing for change together with the LGBTIQ Consultative Council paid back.

This experience is very useful for me as a Commissioner. I work closely with equality ministers from across the EU and highlight how what appeared to be very difficult at first became possible and widely supported.

Last November, the Commission delivered its first-ever LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 20202025, which, amongst other actions, aims to include hate crimes and hate speech in the list of Eurocrimes, thus enabling us to table EUwide legislation in this area. We also call on EU countries to do their part and adopt national LGBTIQ equality strategies to complement and enhance EU action, particularly in those areas where the EU has limited competence.

Last month, on IDAHOT, and following the European Parliament’s lead, 15 member states joined forces and declared their national territory as an LGBTIQ freedom zone. Malta was one of these. This symbolic gesture is significant and must serve as a platform for further change rather than be understood as a point of arrival.

For this Pride season, and in this march towards equality, we must remember every historical milestone. Rights and freedoms were won following several struggles and sacrifices by so many LGBTIQ people. The Stonewall riots 52 years ago were a watershed moment, but so many brave persons continued to struggle in their respective countries, social setting and their inner circle. It is important

that all of us partake in it regardless of our sexuality and gender. We will all be stronger in a world of equality. There is enough equality for everyone. This is not a zero-sum game.

For the European Commission, this is a year for action, a year to look forward and an opportunity for real progress. As Commissioner for Equality, I stand by the diversity and uniqueness of all European citizens in our societies.

I wish all LGBTIQ people a happy Pride and remain as resolved as ever to progress the equality for all agenda as far as I can.

Why Pride Season? Because progress never happens by itself.

PRIDE MONTH

“For this Pride season, and in this march towards equality, we must remember every historical milestone. Rights and freedoms were won following several struggles and sacrifices by so many LGBTIQ people. The Stonewall riots 52 years ago were a watershed moment, but so many brave persons continued to struggle in their respective countries, social setting and their inner circle. It is important that all of us partake in it regardless of our sexuality and gender. We will all be stronger in a world of equality. There is enough equality for everyone. This is not a zero-sum game.”

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PRIDE MONTH

Everyone is Awesome C

oinciding with Pride Month this year, the Danish toymaker LEGO has launched its first LGBTQIA+ set, “Everyone is Awesome”, celebrating fans' diversity. The buildable display model is inspired by the iconic rainbow flag which is used as a symbol of love and acceptance by the LGBTQIA+ community, and features 11 monochrome mini-figures each with its own individual hairstyle and rainbow colour.

The toy company's designer Matthew Ashton wanted "to create a model that symbolises inclusivity and celebrates everyone, no matter how they identify or who they love.

Everyone is unique, and with a little more love, acceptance and understanding in the world, we can all feel more free to be our true AWESOME selves! This model shows that we care, and that we truly believe 'Everyone is Awesome'!”

"The set is also a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community within the LEGO Group and amongst the brand’s adult fans. I am fortunate to be a part of a proud, supportive and passionate community of colleagues and fans. We share love for creativity and self-expression through LEGO bricks and this set is a way to show my gratitude for all the love and inspiration that is constantly shared.”

This page: Lego's new “Everyone is Awesome” set. Writing on their website Lego says "this set is not just for the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s for all of the allies – parents, siblings, friends, schoolmates, colleagues etc. - out there as well". Photograph Lego.

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PRIDE MONTH

A Malta of Colour, Pride and Integration Just ahead of commemorating the Stonewall riots which took place from 28th June to 3rd July 1969, it is important to remind ourselves that this was the very revolution that changed the way the Western world perceived the LBGTIQ+ Community. A revolution that continued to make its way to the European Union, and indeed Malta - the same country which made same-sex activity legal in 1973, today leads the scoreboard. We lead the scoreboards at a European level as well as on an international level; for the sixth year running, we are the leaders on matters related to equality on the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Index. In addition to this, we shall host the largest celebration of colour favouring human rights and the right to live and love freely - EuroPride 2023, writes Dr Edward Zammit Lewis, Malta's Minister for Justice, Equality and Governance. Photography Clifton Fenech and Reuben Piscopo.

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PRIDE MONTH

promised that the Cohabitation Law would pass in the same year, however, months later this was shelved. Fully aware of the impact it will have on citizens, the Party in Government today, ensured that the Cohabitation Law entered into force. Thereafter we continued working in favour of civil unions, same-sex marriage, and the right for same-sex couples to foster and adopt. This further paved the way to an inclusive, welcoming and all accepting Malta.

This is a Malta that our children together with future generations deserve. In doing so, we are improving our reputation as a country.

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s Minister responsible also for Equality, I am determined to ensure that minority groups are represented to the best extent possible - to protect them, their families, and their rights. We are a Government of Civil Liberties, and this is a pivotal part of my work.

It is reflected in the Bills and Acts of Law we have presented and passed in the House of Representatives, from the Cohabitation Law of 2020 to the Divorce Bill of 2021 - we have always ensured that all the rights endowed on heterosexual couples can also be given to couples forming part of the LGBTIQ+ community. This is reflected even in history when in 1973 the socialist Government legislated for the removal of the Britishintroduced sodomy law. This readiness to stand up for minority groups continued to be something which the Social Democratic party continued to shoulder with pride and a sense of responsibility to its core values.

In 2012, the Administration at the time had

aving said that, it is important not to be fooled into believing or that this status quo is enough. We are far from done. It is my innate belief that as Members of Parliament we owe it to those who have suffered discrimination (be it because of their sexual orientation, disability or ethnicity, or any other form) to make sure that our law fully protects them and grants them speedy and effective remedies. It is against this backdrop, that I shall continue working with stakeholders to close Bill No. 96 and 97 - two historic Bills which are the first of their kind not only in Maltese Legislation but across the European Union. A concept which is also being mirrored in the United States of America, following President Biden’s announcement on 15th June 2021, that he intends to draft an Equality Act. This goes to show that we are leaders, not only in the European Union but also globally.

Safeguarding minority rights is indeed an

obligation we all share. Nowadays, many of us share a common reality - it is very likely that at least one of the people we know identifies as LGBT and over and above that, we have many youths who identify as such. Hence, we owe it to our children and future generations to give them the shelter they require to come out, be free to be themselves, and in doing so, possibly saving the lives of many.

The Malta I live in is a Malta founded on values, with respect for Fundamental Human Rights and integration. I, together with the Prime Minister and all those aiming for a progressive and inclusive Malta, shall continue working steadily to further safeguard the rights of all, equally, without favour or discrimination and to truly achieve what the European Commission President, Ursula Von Der Leyen, described as “Equality for all in all aspects.”

Facing page: In July 2017 the Maltese Parliament approved the Marriage Equality Bill during its third and final reading, making Malta the 25th country in the world, and the 15th in Europe, to approve such a law.

Photograph Clifton Fenech. Below: The Ministry for Justice, Equality and Governance has signed a €300,000 financial assistance agreement with Allied Rainbow Communities - ARC as the organizers of EUROPRIDE Valletta 2023. This grant will be awarded over a period of three years. EUROPRIDE Valletta 2023 serves as an opportunity for Malta to continue its efforts to raise awareness and share the country’s experiences and best practices in this field. Photograph Reuben Piscopo.

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PRIDE MONTH “Different though the sexes are, they intermix. In every human being a vacillation from one sex to the other takes place, and often it is only the clothes that keep the male or female likeness, while underneath the sex is the very opposite of what it is above.”

Virginia Woolf, Orlando.

Keeping it Together June is generally considered to be PRIDE Month with LGBTIQ manifestations and events happening in many cities around the world to promote LGBTIQ equality. Legislative and policy measures introduced since 2013 have put Malta at the forefront of this endeavour The EU-LGBTI Survey II conducted by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights in 2019 has found that the government’s efforts in advancing the quality of life of LGBTIQ persons have been fruitful and acknowledged by the community in Malta, writes the team at The Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIGESC) Unit within the Human Rights Directorate (HRD). Images courtesy SOGIGESC Unit.

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PRIDE MONTH TRANSFORM

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Above: A banner promoting the website www.transhealth.gov.mt which provides information on trans-inclusive healthcare.

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fter years where advocacy and awareness raising efforts were mainly shouldered by civil society, in June 2018 the government established the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIGESC) Unit within the Human Rights Directorate (HRD). The mission of the Unit is to assist government in reaching its goals in the fields of civil liberties, equality and antidiscrimination with regards to LGBTIQ persons, working across all relevant Ministries and Entities. The HRD reports to the Ministry for Justice, Equality and Governance (MJEG) and operates from its offices in Paola.

The work of the unit is governed by the commitments set out in the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy and Action Plan 2018 - 2022, and here we have outlined four of the key initiatives that were undertaken by the Unit over the past months towards the implementation of this strategy.

esearch shows that LGBTIQ persons experience health inequalities due to the discrimination and stigma they face in their daily lives such as being at higher risk of experiencing poor mental health, certain types of cancer, higher rates of drug use and obesity. Health practitioners also often assume heterosexuality (that one is attracted or in a relationship with someone of the opposite sex) and that a patient is cisgender (that one’s gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth), using language accordingly which often leads to LGBTIQ persons feeling excluded and invisible.

Doctors may also lack knowledge on the health needs of trans persons resulting in refusal to provide treatment or avoidance of healthcare and increased health risks for the trans person.

In order to ensure that LGBTIQ persons enjoy equal and nondiscriminatory access to health services the HRD was awarded funds through the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme of the European Union to enhance the awareness and capacity of those involved in mainstream healthcare provision to meet the health care needs of LGBTIQ persons. This ongoing project is titled TRANSFORM: Raising standards of health care service provision for LGBTIQ people.

The main aims of the project is to better address the health needs of LGBTIQ persons through training of health care professionals and reception staff working within health care settings. The project is a collaboration with a number of partner organisations, including the Ministry for Health, Ghent University Hospital, MCFD, MUMN and Steward Health Care as well as ILGA-Europe and Transgender Europe.

Just this month the project launched a website, adapted from that of our Belgian partners, providing information to health practitioners on trans health care.

Training to over 100 general practitioners (family doctors) and GP trainees and 25 emergency personnel focusing on trans-specific health care was carried out last year by Ghent University Hospital and the Gender Wellbeing Clinic. This year it aims to train 60 practice nurses, 120 health practitioners and 300 reception staff working in healthcare settings.

Far left: Given that most asylum seekers come from countries where being out as an LGBTIQ person may give rise to persecution, the SOGIGESC Unit also wishes to communicate that Malta is a safe place for LGBTIQ persons. This campaign image was part of a leaflet that provided information about LGBTIQ equality legislation to migrants. Centre: Despite equality legislation being in place which places responsibility on employers in ensuring inclusive and safe workplaces, trans persons still report being subjected to discrimination in their daily lives at work. This leaflet was part of a campaign promoting trans-inclusive employment practices.

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PRIDE MONTH

trans persons employed in both the private and public sector representing trans men, trans women as well as non-binary identities occupying various roles, including with the Malta Police Force, the Retail and Services Sectors, Social Services and the Volunteer Sector.

The awareness campaign is also accompanied by a leaflet aimed at employers providing information and good practice guidelines in relation to trans persons in employment. This resource provides information on the implications of the law on recruitment practices, use of gendered spaces, data protection requirements and record-keeping among others.

LGBTIQ MIGRANTS

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he HRD seeks to promote equality and respect towards LGBTIQ persons in an intersectional manner.

This includes LGBTIQ persons who, whether due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and/or sex characteristics or other reasons, seek asylum in Malta.

Given that most asylum seekers come from countries where being out as an LGBTIQ person may give rise to persecution, the SOGIGESC Unit also wishes to communicate that Malta is a safe place for LGBTIQ persons.

For this reason, in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Malta, the SOGIGESC Unit has developed information leaflets in 6 different languages which provide information on different equality laws and practices in Malta and information on where to access LGBTIQ-related services.

This initiative forms part of a wider campaign being implemented in collaboration with various national entities which also aims to build the capacity of those working with migrants in reception centres on how to better cater to the needs and well-being of LGBTIQ asylum seekers.

LGBTIQ ELDERLY Above: A poster promoting visibility of same sex couples in elderly care settings.

TRANS INCLUSIVE WORKPLACES

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he time spent at the place of work constitutes a significant part of our daily life, which is the reason why equality legislation places a responsibility on employers in ensuring inclusive and safe workplaces. Despite this legislation being in place, trans persons still report being subjected to discrimination in their daily lives at work (FRA LGBTI Survey II, 2019).

Aware of this reality the SOGIGESC Unit teamed up with Jobsplus in launching a campaign targeted at trans job seekers and their employers. The campaign aimed at promoting positive representation of trans workers and inclusive employment practices.

The campaign involved the portrayal of 6

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xperience and research in other countries indicates that older LGBTIQ persons often go back into the closet when entering Institutional Care settings. During 2019, discussions with the Department for Active Aging and Community Care, led to two training sessions with employees in managerial positions working in day and residential centres frequented by the elderly. The sessions dealt with how to be more aware that LGBTIQ people are present in all spheres of life, the fears and concerns that might prevent them from coming out, and how to signal that these services aim to be inclusive and safe spaces for LGBTIQ elderly.

The success of these sessions led to communication with St Vincent de Paule and the private sector. All private residences for the elderly run by Care Malta have undertaken training, which was attended by both management and care staff.

Further information on the work of the SOGIGESC Unit or access to any of the resources mentioned in this article can be obtained from the Unit’s web portal: www.lgbtiq.gov.mt.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

IMPROVING WITH AGE

Our perception of growing old needs some get up and go. “Weak”, “sick”, “immobile”, “decrepit”, “lonely”, “depressed”. If the prospect of growing old brings thoughts like these to mind, you are not alone. It seems that many people – of all age groups – have a preconceived idea of what being old will be like. And it’s generally not good writes Cassandra Phoenix, Reader (Associate Professor) at the Department for Health, University of Bath.

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hese negative perceptions of ageing are hugely problematic. They can support ageist attitudes, negatively impact on relationships with older adults and cause a deep anxiety about the future. So how do we find ourselves in a position where the later chapters of our life can often feel like a foregone conclusion of deterioration and misery?

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Right: Dorothy McLennan, a retired bank clerk, took up athletics after watching a man in his 80s complete a marathon. This image appeared on the cover of the September 2019 Women's Sport Supplement with The Daily Telegraph, photographed by photographer Alex Rotas. The headline ran that her son begged her to give up the pole vault (Dorothy was a world champion pole vaulter up to the age of 77). So, at 83 she took up the heptathlon. Image source: Instagram TelegraphWomensSport. Below: Latvia’s Masters Athlete Leontine Vitola, born 24th December 1937, photographed by photographer Alex Rotas. Vitola's speciality – the 400m race. Image source: Instagram TelegraphWomensSport.

HEALTH & FITNESS

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HEALTH & FITNESS encountered when we see or hear about the older body doing something unexpected.

This is an intention of professional photographer Alex Rotas with her images of masters (or veteran) athletes.

Then there is the work that veteran athletes themselves might do. Research with mature natural (drug-free) bodybuilders has demonstrated the different ways that these older adults use their hyper-muscular physiques to resist stereotypical images of frailty and deep seated ideas about age appropriate behaviour.

THIS SPORTING LIFE

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Above: India's Man Kaur, photographed by Alex Rotas, became involved in athletics at 93. In 2017 she made history at the World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand, as the oldest female athlete to win a gold medal in the 100-meter race.

Image source: Instagram TelegraphWomensSport.

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he images of ageing that are encountered on a daily basis go some way to explain. Adverts, birthday cards, health information leaflets, even road signs all provide us with clues and cues as to what growing older apparently entails.

We read news stories warning of the burden that “baby boomers” are placing on pension reforms and already stretched healthcare systems.

Stereotypical images are widespread, showing the empty, haunted eyes of the Alzheimer’s patient, or the solitary, lonely figure who sits in the window gazing out wistfully. Loneliness, poverty, neglect and abuse. It’s all there. And these are real issues which need attention and resolutions.

But what’s also needed is much greater acknowledgement and awareness of the diverse ways that people can, and do,

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grow older. As wise, experienced and knowledgeable elders, volunteering, caring, running marathons, travelling, mentoring, creating, falling in love, pursuing new hobbies and continuing with old ones.

It’s a long list and one that reflects a shift in what can be expected from a now extended middle age (or “third age”), particularly in Western societies.

As those birthday cards remind us, “60 is the new 40”.

When it comes to running marathons – and less arduous sporting goals – our research shows clearly that physical activity – walking, swimming, cycling, bowls – can have positive influences on people’s experiences of ageing. It has also shown how physically active older adults can challenge other people’s negative perceptions of ageing.

How exactly does this happen? One way is via the “shock factor”,

f course, people do not need to notch up a list of completed marathons or start pumping iron to loosen the hold of negative stereotypes.

Emphasising the many different feelings of pleasure that being physically active can evoke – be it the “exhilaration” of zooming downhill on a bike, cake and coffee with fellow swimmers after a dip in the pool, or the process of documenting a favourite walk – can move discussions of older bodies within the context of physical activity, beyond the current fixation on disease and illness.

In a similar vein, we might stress how in certain physical activity settings (the culture of Parkrun being a perfect example), growing older can bring a sense of liberation. An ability to care a little less about identities developed (or indeed imposed) long ago around “not being the sporty type” and give something new a try.

Rethinking this life stage as a time where new skills, whatever they are, can be learned is helpful. It shifts the focus from loss to ideas of growth, interest, experience and wisdom.

All this is not to champion sport and physical activity – nor those who engage in it – as the cure for all real and perceived social ills that accompany growing older in the 21st century. Being physically active in older age can bring feelings of fulfilment to the lives of many who engage in its numerous forms. It can also act as a site for social change by enabling negative stereotypes of ageing to be challenged.

But to think about how sport and physical activity can impact upon perceptions and experiences of ageing, is to create and support lifelong opportunities. It is not to pursue a new template for “ageing well”, where those who don’t (or won’t) conform are less valued.

Striving for different ways of thinking about a life stage involves celebrating diversity, not replacing one damaging story with another.

Originally published on The Conversation.

PROMOTION

Above: Water workouts allow for low impact and low weight-bearing movements to minimise the risk of injury or undue stress on the joints. Middle picture insert: The Imperial adopts the Casa Antonia values and principles established over the past 20 years of providing personalised care to residents and consists of single rooms, double rooms and suites. Bottom: Carefully renovated to preserve the magnificent architecture and grandeur of the old Imperial Hotel, the residence encourages independence, dignity and respect, which enables you to lead a full and active lifestyle.

THE IMPERIAL STEPS UP FOR ACTIVE AGEING St George’s Care, the operator of elderly care homes Casa Antonia and The Imperial, are committed to active ageing as it results in increased wellbeing. Remaining active does not only help quicker recovery from illnesses, but also reduces the risk of chronic disease development, explain Matthew Camilleri, Lead Physiotherapist at Thrive Physiotherapy Clinic in The Imperial, and Marisa Baldacchino, Activity Co-Ordinator at The Imperial – a qualified Pilates and Fitness Instructor, who also teaches for the Department of Active Ageing and Community Care.

Photography by Jonathan Wrigley.

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o varying degrees, sarcopenia and muscle loss are normal parts of the ageing process. “As we grow older, the loss of muscle mass may have a profound effect on our quality of life. We may experience the loss of independence or an inability to complete activities of daily living,” explains Matthew.

However, research shows that regular exercise helps delay the onset of osteoporosis, muscle loss, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Therefore, consistently graded exposure to exercise has been found to have extremely beneficial effects on retaining muscle mass as people grow older.

Both the Casa Antonia’s and The Imperial’s physiotherapists are highly trained in making plans to keep people active. “The belief that the elderly are too frail to complete physical activity is wrong.

The more a person keeps physically active, the more they can enjoy a high-quality life. We do not stop moving because we grow old; we grow old because we stop moving,” Matthew adds.

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ilates can help to develop and maintain strength, coordination, and range. “We encourage seniors to overcome physical challenges while maintaining their independence, via enjoyable sessions including simple tasks, such as breathing exercises and mobility, linked to everyday actions and functional movements,” says Marisa.

“Additionally, we hold gentle flowing pool exercise sessions to the benefit of our residents with limited movement. Water workouts allow for low impact and low weight-bearing movements to minimise the risk of injury or undue stress on the joints.”

The Imperial and its sister home Casa Antonia offer excellent, encompassing care and service options to suit one’s particular needs. Arrange a visit or for more information phone on +356 2149 6277. We look forward to welcoming you and your treasured family.

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A UNIQUE LUXURIOUS CARE HOME IN THE HEART OF SLIEMA The Imperial is an exclusive and professionally managed nursing and residential home located at the heart of Sliema where we adopt the Casa Antonia values and principles established over the past 20 years. We provide personalized care to residents, encouraging independence, dignity and respect, and enabling residents to lead a full and active lifestyle.

Tastefully decorated in a traditional style, the home houses single rooms, double rooms and suites with 6,000 square meters of facilities including: • a state-of-the-art wellness centre; • a heated indoor hydrotherapy swimming pool; • a three-storey underground car park; • a coffee shop; • a hair and beauty salon; and • an onsite convenience shop.

At the Imperial we will support you and advise you in making the best decision for you or your loved one.

Whether you are completely independent or require round the clock care, we will tailor your stay with us to your specific needs.

Ultimately, what we want is for our residents to live happy, healthy and independent lives with us. Our dedicated team is waiting to meet you so why not contact us today to make an appointment to come and view our beautiful home.

GETTING THE CARE YOU DESERVE

INTRODUCTORY OFFER – STARTING FROM €50/DAY

For more information: info@theimperial.com.mt The Imperial, Rudolph Street, Sliema, SLM 1279 | 2145 6440 | www.theimperialmalta.com.mt A member of St George’s Care Limited – LIVE LIFE WITH US

COFFEE TABLE

Gardens in Provence are a rich source of design ideas for gardeners everywhere. Photograph © Nicolas Matheus, Irene Silvagni, Laurence Dougier.

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COFFEE TABLE

“The first time I visited Provence it was clear it was going to be a life-long love affair. As I watched the burnt orange sunset melt through to pale violet, I appreciated the fascination this beautiful region held for Van Gogh, Cézanne and Matisse. The exquisite light and soft colours change this varied landscape into an ethereal dreamscape – and I was similarly caught in its spell.”

Shauna Varvel

PROVENCE STYLE DECORATING WITH FRENCH COUNTRY FLAIR An intimate tour of quintessential Provençal style, featuring chic homes and interior details inspired by this picturesque region in this new book by Shauna Varvel with Alexandra Black.

Photography by Luke White, courtesy of Vendome Press.

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COFFEE TABLE

Above: In this generously proportioned entrance hall, a long console table houses a large collection of antique terracotta urns. Photograph © Tim Beddow, Marie-France Brown.

Facing page top left: A narrow corridor leads into the tiled entrance hall in this restored 18th-century property. Photograph © Gilles Trillard, Aurelien Deleuze. Facing page top right: The living room or ‘salon’ has been furnished with French antiques found in local flea markets and auctions. Photograph © Mark Luscombe-Whyte, David Hare. Facing page bottom left: A traditional sitting room with neutral painted walls with gilded mouldings. A simple, modern coffee table is placed in front of a day bed with a blue cushion. A built-in mirror hangs above the marble fireplace. Photograph © Montse Garriga, Pascale & Olivier Gisclard. Facing page bottom right: A traditional sitting room with painted walls and, unusually, a concrete floor. A sofa with a maroon red cushion stands in one corner. Photograph © Montse Garriga, Pascale & Olivier Gisclard.

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hirty years after Peter Mayle documented his farmhouse renovation in bestseller A Year in Provence, the French southeast continues to seduce interior design devotees. But the era of colourful rusticity and shabby chic has since been replaced by a far more nuanced approach in line with contemporary tastes and needs.

Provence Style showcases this new direction, featuring Shauna Varvel’s eighteenth-century Rhône valley farmhouse - Le Mas des Poiriers - as an exemplar. Named for the working pear orchard on the grounds, the property was reimagined by Varvel and noted local architect Alexandre Lafourcade, who transformed an outdated structure into a luxurious and contemporary expression of Provençal style, referencing historical influences, rural traditions, and Parisian taste. Alexandre’s mother, renowned landscaper Dominique Lafourcade, designed the extensive gardens.

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Left: The corner of a traditional, yellow dining room with a wood floor. Tableware is stored in a cupboard with a distressed paint finish. Photograph © Montse Garriga, Pascale & Olivier Gisclard. Bottom left: A view through a pair of open double doors into a dining room decorated in turquoise blue. Cane back chairs are placed around a round table. Photograph © Montse Garriga, Pascale & Olivier Gisclard. Bottom right: In this kitchen/dining room warm terracotta tiles, shining copper pans and a large open fireplace add to the rustic charm. Photograph © Tim Beddow, Marie-France Brown.

“I

was drawn to Provence as an escape”, writes Varvel. “Living outside New York City with my husband and five children, I was enchanted by photos of the idyllic countryside, picturesque markets and simple way of life. We decided to spend a month in Provence, renting a charming home in the middle of a vineyard. That summer was everything we hoped it would be. Life was slower and more intentional. Days were spent shopping for fresh cheese, bread, and produce at the markets, picking grapes and relaxing by the pool. Time as a family happened naturally and we enjoyed cooking, sightseeing, and reading books together in the evening. After that first trip we visited almost every summer for ten years before stumbling upon our own piece of Provence, when we rented what would become Le Mas des Poiriers, a 65acre pear farm on an island in the Rhône River... In May 2015 we began the long process o purchasing the property; six months later, we owned a farm in Provence and I was registered as a French farmer.”

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Right: A pair of high-backed kitchen chairs in front of the large blue dresser in the kitchen displaying a collection of ceramics from North Africa, Andalucia, China and Holland. Photograph © Tim Beddow, Elisabeth Koetsier.

Facing page: A pair of single beds in this high ceilinged panelled bedroom is fitted into an alcove upholstered in a Bracquenie document Indian cotton. Photograph © Tim Beddow, Catharine Hamilton. Below: A traditional bedroom in tones of pink and red with rich floral pattern wallpaper and fabrics. A gilt mirror hangs above the fireplace.

Photograph © Montse Garriga, Henri Quinta.

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ith her exquisite home serving as an archetypal starting point, Varvel goes on to explore the architectural and interior elements that are part of the reinvented Provençal aesthetic. Featuring a selection of homes created by noted interior designers, Provence Style beautifully illustrates the textures, furnishings, fabrics, colour pairings, motifs, and accents that define each area, from kitchens, living spaces, bedrooms, and bathrooms to garden terraces and courtyards.

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BOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS. Shauna Varvel began her career in public relations with Estée Lauder in New York and Tokyo. After many years of renting summer homes in Provence, Varvel and her family finally chose one to call their own, taking on the renovation of a 200year-old farmhouse outside Avignon, France.

Alexandra Black has written widely on cultural and material history. She is the author of Living in Cuba, The Japanese House, Dusk Till Dawn, and The Fashion Book, and has contributed to Elle, Vogue Living, and Gourmet Traveller.

Luke White has published seven photography books on architecture and design and his work is featured in magazines worldwide. White began his career as an assistant to fashion photographers - including Mark Le Bon and Mario Testino - in London, Paris, and New York.

Provence Style: Decorating with French Country Flair by Shauna Varvel with Alexandra Black, Photography by Luke White.

Published by Vendome Press. Hardcover with jacket, 256 pages, 200 colour illustrations, 23.5 x 30.5 cm.

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Top left: The corner of a bathroom decorated in neutral and grey. A mirror hangs above a washbasin, which is draped around with a fabric cover. Photograph © Montse Garriga, Pascale and Olivier Gisclard. Left: Surrounded by olive trees a table is laid for lunch in this garden. Photograph © Nicolas Matheus, Laurence Dougier, Veronique Lecomte.

ART

Left: Book cover The School Playground.

Above: The Giant, one of a limited edition of hand painted dust jackets by Debbie Caruana Dingli that have been produced for The School Playground.

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ART

Facing page: Metamorphosis, oil on canvas, 200 x 100 cm, 2004, private collection. “This painting is about women and the way some sink under life’s pressures whilst others choose to remain afloat.” Right: Fear, oil on canvas, 100 x 100 cm, 2004, private collection. “This painting is inspired by my fear as a little girl of somebody hiding under my bed. At night I used to take a running jump into bed just in case that somebody would grab my legs. As an experiment, I painted people looking down at the young girl larger and larger as they receded. This made them seem more threatening. I threw in a devil somewhere. I was also petrified of the devil as a child and had nightmares of him chasing me through the streets.”

The School Playground "Debbie Caruana Dingli in action is a sight worth seeing," writes Francesca Balzan in the preface to Caruana Dingli's new book The School Playground. "For several years I have attended regular portrait sessions, painting alongside Debbie where I have been constantly distracted by her great skill in pinning down a resemblance in less than three hours. Commencing with some broad marks with a paint brush, this initial sketch, generally already bearing a strong resemblance to the sitter, would be quickly covered forever in her painterly strokes of vibrant colour that built the work into a finished painting. The loss of the sketch was compensated by a completed work that fizzed with life and immediacy. But not all her sketches are buried without trace in this way. It is not often that one is permitted an insight into the creative process that leads to a finished painting," and this new publication allows you to step inside this process, giving access to her rarely seen sketches.

Sketches and paintings Debbie Caruana Dingli, courtesy Kite Group; excerpts from Caroline Miggiani’s study published in the book, with Debbie Caruana Dingli's notes on her artwork.

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ebbie Caruana Dingli has been a recognised presence on the local art scene for the past thirty-five years and her accomplishments in portraiture and cartoon painting have played a significant role in establishing her solid reputation. Her interest in observing people from all social strata, both collectively as well as individually, has continually provided her with a rich and varied stock of imagery. There is no doubt that her artistic compass is oriented towards sketching and drawing people. Whilst her portraiture has until now been executed in a realistic vein, her cartoon paintings draw freely on both her imagination and on her personal memories.

Caruana Dingli’s realistic style as well as her imagined scenarios originate from the same well of ideas and are inspired by people from all walks of life. Her personal observations go beyond mere ‘people watching’ and affirm an enduring interest in the human condition.

They also indicate an awareness of topical social issues as well as a genuine concern for nature and the environment on our island.

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ART

Above: Saw, oil on canvas, 60 x 90 cm, 2012, private collection. “Tonio, my partner, has a very rusty old saw which is almost a work of art in itself. It inspired this painting.”

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ART

Left: There are Crooks Everywhere, oil on canvas, triptych, 100 x 200 cm, 2017, artist’s collection.

Right: There are Crooks Everywhere. “The idea for Daphne’s painting came to me whilst playing scrabble with my mum. We always have a good competitive game after Sunday lunch at home.”

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rtists’ sketches are generally private and are very rarely meant to be viewed alongside the finished works. In The School Playground, the intention was to peel the layers off the creative process and give the viewer a glimpse into the stages involved in presenting a finished work to the public, as well as providing an insight into the corresponding mental and physical process involved. Sketches identify the source of the artist’s inspiration and in today’s world they could be likened to a prequel of a popular film series as they provide information about the ‘genesis’ – or the original source – of the artistic idea. By placing some of Caruana Dingli’s sketches alongside finished paintings, the reader can follow a thread from the artist’s nascent ideas right through to the finished work and, in this way, is able to immerse himself or herself into the artist’s world of thoughts.

All the drawings featured in the publication function mainly as an aide-memoir for the artist and represent an image she could later refer to when embarking upon painting an oil cartoon. They consequently bear a more personal imprint than a preparatory drawing for a portrait-commission which she, more often than not, sketches directly onto the paper or canvas and then overpaints in watercolours or oils.

Above: Control, oil on canvas, 80 x 100 cm, 2003, private collection. Below: Control. “Men sometimes control women through their anger and tantrums.”

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Top: Explosion, oil on canvas, 80 x 100 cm, 2004, private collection. “An explosion of depressed women hurtling through the sky.” Above: She can make her own Friends, watercolour on paper, 30 x 70 cm, 2012, private collection. Below: Underwater Swimmers. “I was swimming at Wied iż-Żurrieq, which is my normal swimming spot. I swim with goggles. I realised that looking at figures underwater, a lot of the swimmers had a similar body shape and many of them were wearing a black bathing costume. I use both watercolour and oils for my cartoon painting. It depends on the subject or my mood.”

here are some paintings included within The School Playground that have more than one small compositional sketch related to them. Most of the preliminary drawings however do reflect the key features of those paintings which were later completed. Also included within the publication are a few sketches which never materialised into finished works.

The male and female figures featured in her oil cartoons are painted in a way that is far from an idealised form. There is an abundance of robust, naked women with sagging, oversized breasts; goggle-eyed, big-eared and angry-looking men as well a mixed bag of figures bearing prominent ‘Pinocchio’ noses in her cartoon painting. Caruana Dingli has intuitively understood that the beauty of a drawing or a painting does not necessarily lie in the beauty of its subject. The tongue-in-cheek manner with which she examines the body suggests the artist believes that aspirational beauty is not the preserve of thin, goodlooking and twenty-something-year-old youth but is contained within those people who radiate passion, empathy and are basically honest about themselves. In order to place her genuine type of person in focus Caruana Dingli opts to focus upon quite the opposite of moral perfection and to sketch, and then paint, themes that spotlight the vices of hypocrisy, insincerity, greed and vanity.

The cartoon sketches and paintings encapsulate many elements of her artistic spirit – her anger at injustice, her empathy towards others in need, her love of nature as well as her natural curiosity.

Despite the apparent dichotomy between her realist and the fantastical styles, Caruana Dingli’s paintings remain a homage to human compassion and to humanism itself. It is art that speaks volumes and tells the viewer that all human life can be found within her sketches, preparatory drawing and canvasses.

Copies of The School Playground are available from www.kitegroup.com.mt and leading bookstores.

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Add colour to your spaces and canvas Visit us in-store or at www.vgb.mt

NATURE

“The future of humanity and indeed, all life on earth, now depends on us.”

“The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?”

Sir David Attenborough

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NATURE

THE GRAND TOUR Elephants have captivated humans for generations. Perhaps this is because, like us, they are social creatures. The seventeenth-century French dramatist Pierre Corneille wrote that "if anyone wants to know what elephants are like, they are like people only more so." Now China’s famous wandering herd have been fascinating people around the world. Over the course of nearly 16-months they have made a 500 km journey from their natural habitat in a wildlife reserve in mountainous southwest Yunnan province to the outskirts of the provincial capital of Kunming. A team of eight people are tracking the 15-member herd, 24 hours a day, both on the ground and by drone from the air. Elephants have top level of protection in China, allowing their numbers to increase even as their natural habitat shrinks, and by law farmers must exercise maximum restraint when encountering them. While the motivation to make their epic journey remains a mystery, they appear to be especially attracted to corn, tropical fruit and other crops that are tasty and easy to obtain in the lush tropical region. Asian elephants are loyal to their home ranges unless there have been disturbances, loss of resources or development, and although it is unknown why they left, there has been significant habitat loss due to agriculture and conversion of forests into plantations within that range in the last few decades. Possibly, in a search for new habitat, they got lost along the way and kept going.

Photograph Yunnan Forest Fire Brigade via AP.

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SUMMER COOKING

SUMMER CROP Summer brings along an abundance of ripe and juicy fruits and vegetables. At times we can get carried away with adding one too many ingredients to our dishes. The truth though is that a lot of the time, when using local fresh seasonal ingredients, keeping it simple actually results in the most beautiful bursts of flavour, say the team at The Mediterranean Culinary Academy.

Photography and styling Jessica Zammit.

GAZPACHO Gazpacho is a great example of simple ingredients coming together perfectly. This dish represents many of the characteristics that define the Southern Spanish region of Andalusia. Served cold this soup is widely eaten during the hot summers that the region experiences as it is cool and refreshing.

SERVES 4 1 kg plum tomatoes, chopped roughly 1 medium size red onion, chopped roughly 1 green pepper, chopped roughly 1 red pepper, chopped roughly 200g cucumber, chopped roughly (30g can be used for garnish) ½ garlic clove, chopped roughly 1 slice stale Maltese bread 1tbsp sherry vinegar 2tbsp local extra virgin olive oil FOR AN OPTIONAL GARNISH cherry tomatoes, cut in half cucumber, chopped into small cubes basil, chopped roughly local extra virgin olive oil 1. Combine chopped tomatoes, red onion, green pepper, red pepper, cucumber and garlic in a large bowl. Add bread, season with salt and pepper.

2. Add sherry vinegar and a couple of tablespoons of local extra virgin olive oil and combine. To maximise flavour, you can set this mixture aside for 30 mins or even overnight.

3. Transfer all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Add a couple of ice cubes to ensure that the blade doesn’t heat up the ingredients. Puree until the desired consistency.

4. To serve, pour gazpacho into bowls and sprinkle with garnishes. Drizzle with olive oil to finish.

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ORECCHIETTE WITH ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES Orecchiette meaning ‘little ears’ in Italian has grown in popularity and not just because of the adorable name. The unique concave shape allows sauce to gather in little pools resulting in bursts of flavour with every mouthful. We are sharing a simple cherry tomato recipe sauce that promises to bring saltiness and sweetness into every bite.

SERVES 2 300g cherry tomatoes 2 cloves garlic 220g orecchiette 20g rucola 120g goats feta extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper

1. Preheat oven to 120C/150C fan assisted.

2. Combine garlic, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper in a large baking dish lined with baking paper.

Roast for 1 hour or until caramelised and wrinkly.

3. Once tomato mix has cooled with a fork press down and squeeze garlic and a few tomatoes to create a bit more liquid.

4. Cook pasta in well salted boiling water, drain leaving 100ml of starchy pasta water.

5. Add hot pasta, starchy water and roasted cherry tomato mix to a dish, toss together.

6. Break up feta with your hands, add to pasta while still warm.

7. Allow to cool, add rucola and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil to finish.

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SUMMER COOKING

WATERMELON ICE CREAM This fresh watermelon ice cream recipe made with Greek yoghurt is delicious, light and refreshing. it's also a very pretty pink.

MAKES 2KG 1.5kg watermelon diced, deseeded and frozen 2tbsp Maltese honey 300g Greek yoghurt a handful of strawberries 1. Add Greek yoghurt, Maltese honey, strawberries and frozen watermelon to a blender or food processor.

Blend.

2. Transfer mixture to a container and freeze for 3045mins.

3. Transfer the mixture back to blender. Process. Once smooth transfer back to container and freeze.

4. Before scooping allow ice cream to sit for a few minutes.

Recipes are from The Mediterranean Culinary Academy's collection developed by their chef instructors from their workshops and courses available throughout the year. For more recipes, or to book a cooking class visit www.mcamalta.com or email contact@mcamalta.com.

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Gio. Batta Delia ESTABLISHED 1901

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OBSESSIONS

Orchidelirium In the 1800s orchids were enjoyed exclusively by the very rich who could afford them. At the time a fascination for collecting the flowers erupted into hysteria in a craze dubbed “orchidelirium”.

Photography courtesy Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.

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he desire to collect and discover new orchids reached extraordinarily high levels in the 19th century as wealthy orchid fanatics and companies sent collectors and explorers from Europe to almost every part of the world, financing collecting expeditions, in search of new varieties to return and be kept in ornate, private greenhouses. The expense however was often exorbitant, and with Victorian-era technology could take up to a decade to get a plant, waiting for the orchid to be large enough to divide, growing and nurturing orchids in special Wardian cases - an early type of terrarium - and transporting the orchids across long ocean voyages. Collectors would travel for months in expeditions that were often shrouded in secrecy and misinformation on the locations where rare new species were found and new exotic orchids would often be sold at

auction in London, fetching extravagant prices. The problem was however that at the time little was known about the cultivation of orchids and their survival rate was dismal.

Fast forward 200 years when 'common' orchids can easily be purchased at supermarkets and garden centres. Rare wild orchids are still very much the rage and the very Victorian obsession has taken on a new form today, with social media “orchid influencers" at the heart of a modern "orchidelirium" fuelling illegal trade, with single wild orchids selling for thousands of euros. While international trading of orchids harvested in the wild is banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora adopted in 1973, many orchid species are still endangered and orchid smuggling is thought to contribute to the loss of some species of orchid in the wild.

This page: Now in its 26th year, Kew Gardens’ annual festival, Orchids, will celebrate the richness of Costa Rica in 2022. Orchid festival at Princess of Wales’ Conservatory, Kew Gardens 2019.

Photograph Ines Stuart-Davidson © RBG Kew. 70

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