Have we all gone blind? Is not what happened at one of the most picturesque bays in Gozo yet another outrage? Have we become that insensitive towards the environment?

It is sad, very sad, that despite all the national talk about the need to safeguard the environment, we are still so neglectful, so destructive, so utterly insensitive.

We try to destroy some of the most beautiful Neolithic temples still standing in the world, a heritage that other countries much larger than Malta would dearly wish to have if only to be able to speak of long-standing cultural roots in their part of the world.

Instead of guarding them with all our might, instead of ensuring that they are held as jewels, we seek to vent our anger at something we do not agree with by striking at the country`s heart and soul - the temples.

Stretches of garigue and most picturesque parts of the island have been ruined by building material or buildings to satisfy our greedy thirst for the best sites.

The scars to the environment we have committed in so many places over the years are there for all to see, evidence of our collective neglect, of our inability to appreciate the value of our heritage.

Not only that, some feel they have a right to occupy, even illegally, prime sites next to shore or on ridges in the middle of the country.

The caravan dwellers fight for their rights, with many of them ignoring the rights of others. Hunters, a force to reckon with politically, are dealt with with kid gloves.

We have lost priceless stretches of the coastline to development. We have the police, authorities, boards, councils and what have you, and yet building material is still being dumped at sensitive places.

When we raised the Dwejra scandal in May last year, we thought that at last we were about to make a beginning. Today, so many months later, only part of the rubble has been removed.

No doubt, those who in one way or other share responsibility for this and for the Mgarr ix-Xini scandals have much to answer for. But they, including the minister, shamelessly pass the buck on to others.

No heads have rolled, and no heads will ever roll, whatever crime is done against the environment in Malta or Gozo. This is part of our culture too. Shameful, but true.

There is no doubt that those who decided on covering the beach at Mgarr ix-Xini with quarry sand had good intentions in doing so. But instead of beautifying the beach, the ruined it. At least the council should have sought the advice of others before doing what they did.

There does not seem to be an end to the wanton damage we do to the environment. We have become barbarians in our own land. Too strong a comment? Maybe, but it reflects our utter frustration at seeing all this damage being done to the island.

What part of the environment, or of our heritage, is due next for an `attack`?