Mur Lura

Celebrazzjonijiet tal-Millenju

PR0175

11/02/1999

Dan li jsegwi hu taghrif mghoddi lill-istampa, il bierah, 10 ta' Frar 1999, dwar Celebrazzjonijiet tal-Millennju

ĊELEBRAZZJONI TAL-MILLENNJU

M'hemmx dubju li jixraq li nagħmlu preparattivi ko-ordinati fuq skala nazzjonali għaċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-bidu tat-tielet millennju ta' l-era Kristjana fl-istorja tal-bniedem.

Il-motiv ewlieni taċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet għandu jkun li jagħti lill-poplu Malti u '?awdxi l-okkażjoni li jssaħħaħ l-għarfien ta' postna fil-mixja ‘l quddiem tal-bniedem u r-rieda li nwie'bu għas-sejħat li joħor'u minn dan l-għarfien b'entużjażmu 'did.

Vanta'' korollarju taċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet għandu jkun li jgħinu biex tkompli tikber ix-xejra lejn turiżmu ta' kwalita` ogħla kif ilna nixtiequ.

'?alhekk inħatar Kumitat biex jieħu ħsieb il-ko-ordinazzjoni ta' l-attivitajiet di'a` maħsuba kif ukoll il-ħolqien ta' inizzjattivi 'odda fiż-żmien qasir li baqa` u fil-limiti stretti l-oħra tac-cirkostanzi li qegħdin fihom. Il-Kumitat hu presedut mill-Ministru ta' l-Edukazzjoni.

It-termi ta' riferenza tal-Kumitat huma dawn li 'ejjin:

li jara li tingħata sura adatta lill-okkazjoni ta' darba kull elf sena;

li jeżamina l-pro'etti eżistenti, kemm privati kemm pubbliċi, u jagħti l-appo'' meħtie' biex il-pro'etti jkollhom suċċess;

li jidentifika l-attivitajiet internazzjonali li hemm ippjanati għas-sena 2000 u li jistgħu jkunu ta' interess għal Malta;

li jifli ma' l-awtoritajiet tal-Knisja liema pro'etti jistgħu jitfasslu bi sħab;

li jfassal celebrazzjonijiet speċifiċi fil-perspettiva ta' għarfien aħjar tagħna nfusna;

li jagħmel kull attivita` oħra li tixraq liċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet.

LOGO: DISINN U '?SIEB

'ejjieni f'suret il-Bniedem

Din hija t-tema proposta għaċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet għall-millenju. Il-ħsieb huwa meħud mill-ktieb universali, il-Bibbja, fejn fil-Ġenesi, Kap 1 vers 26 insibu li Alla qal: "Nagħmlu l-bniedem fuq suritna u xbiehitna…"

L-ewwelnett, illum li qegħdin ngħixu fi żmien li hu ddominat mill-progress teknolo'iku, mill-produzzjoni, irridu nagħrfu li ma nissagrifikawx il-persuna umana iżda, fl-istess ħsieb tal-'?allieq, il-bniedem jibqa` ogħla mill-istess xogħol li joħloq.

It-tieni nett, hekk kif il-bniedem hu intelli'enza, spiritwalita` u fiżiku minsu'a f'armonija, hekk ukoll beħsiebna naħdmu biex il-villa'' globali jiddominaw fih l-intelligenza u l-valuri għolja minsu'a f'armonija u sliem, bis-saħħa tat-teknolo'ija ta' l-informazzjoni u tal-kommunikazzjoni.

It-tixbihat li qegħdin jintużaw huma iċ-ċirku tal-ħajja u s-salib ta' Malta. Dawn 'ew magħżula biex jirrapreżentaw l-espressjoni kulturali, it-twemmin tal-poplu tagħna u l-miri tagħna għall-'ejjieni. Is-salib magħmul mill-ħa'ar u l-ispirali mingħajr tmiem jirrapreżentaw il-ħidma tal-bniedem kif ukoll il-viżjoni għall-futur li għandna nibnuh fuq suret il-bniedem.

Kunċett u disinn ta' Mario Muscat

'ejjieni f'suret il-Bniedem

L-Art Maltija, blata f'nofs il-Mediterran, port għall-vja''aturi, kenn għal dawk li riedu jitfgħu l-ankri u li ħallew il-wirt tagħhom fl-identita` mżewqa tagħna.

Il-Maltin, ulied il-vja''aturi li 'ew mill-erbat irjieh tad-dinja u rabbew l-għeruq, ħadmu l-art u bidluha f'art għammiela.

Il-Mediterran, l-eqdem rotta baħħara, fejn il-popli salpaw u partu l-kulturi, id-drawwiet u l-għerf fil-portijiet ta' xulxin.

Il-Poplu Meditteranju, vja''atur ta' dejjem:

Il-Pellegrin Neolitiku, li ssaffa fil-wens tat-tempji 'uf;
Ulisse, li meraħ u sab, bejn Circe u Calipso it-triq ta' l-għerf;
Il-Fenici, li nis'u r-rotot tal-kummerċ sa truf l-Ewropa;
Kristu, il-Lhudi li terraq u żera` l-imħabba u xettel it-tama;
Pawlu ta' Tarsu, l-Appostlu tal-Ġnus, li vja''a bla heda biex iwassal il-Kelma;
Ġwann' Pawl II, li mill-port fiss tiegħu fil-Mediterran, firex xibka ta' paci mad-dinja kollha.

Il-Poplu ta' l-Ewropa, li sawwar iċ-ċivilta` tiegħu minn 'uf tal-baħar ta' identitajiet u kulturi diversi li jixxiebħu.

L-Umanita` li tivja''a fuq il-meded ta' l-art, fuq il-firxa ta' l-ibħra u fil-ftuħ ta' l-ispazji; li tivja''a fil-ħolm u fl-imma'inazzjoni; u llum ukoll fil-wesgħat ta' l-ispazji taċ-ċibernatika fejn jinsebaq kull żmien u spazju. Vja''i li l-esperjenzi u t-tagħlimiet tagħhom se jkunu l-imnajjar li jdwalulna il-pass li jmiss: it-tielet millennju.

X'QIEGHDIN NICCELEBRAW

Bħala parti mill-umanita`, aħna ukoll qiegħdin niċċelebraw il-ħiliet tal-bniedem biex joħloq, jiżviluppa, jtejjeb l-għajxien tiegħu u b'hekk sawwar 'rajjietu. Qegħdin niċċelebraw l-avvent ta' epoka 'dida, b'ħolm 'did, b'tamiet 'odda, b'fiduċja fil-bniedem-il-bniedem sħiħ.

Bħala Maltin, se niċċelebraw il-wasliet tagħna. Tagħna lkoll, li wettaqna flimkien.

Mill-mi'ja ta' l-ewwel nies li rifsu gziritna u kattru fl-għerien għaddew sitt millenji. Mill-'uf ta' l-art tagħna slitna l-ħa'ar u bnejna t-tempji, bnejna l-knejjes u s-swar, l-irħula u l-bliet; mill-ħamrija taflija xettilna ħxejjex u qmugħ li temgħuna. '?alenija middejna għonqna għax-xogħol u b'ħidmietna għa'inna ‘l ħobżna ta' kuljum'. Bil-għaqal ta' poplu li 'arrab frixna s-sisien li fuqhom kuljum nibnu l-'ejjieni għalina u għal uliedna.

Bħala Maltin, se niċċelebraw il-fidi, il-valuri, is-solidarjeta` li dejjem saħħewna fl-għazliet tagħna u dejjem għaqqduna fiż-żmien ta' prova.

Bħala Maltin, se niċċelebraw il-vja'' tagħna mill-ħakma tal-barrani għall-għarfien ta' identita` Nazzjonali; minn poplu servili għall-Ġens li kapaċi jieħu rajh f'idejh.

Bħala Maltin, niċċelebraw il-patrimonju u l-identita` tagħna li huma magħ'una fil-kultura Mediterranja u moħmija mill-istorja Ewropea.

Bħala Maltin, se niċċelebraw il-qsim tal-ħsieb tagħna mal-komunitajiet internazzjonali. Mhux biss biex inservu ta' pont ta' djalogu li jqarreb flimkien kulturi diversi iżda wkoll biex nippropagaw iniżżjattivi li jservu ta' 'id komuni għall- 'enerazzjonijiet kollha, bħal ma kienu: Il-proposta biex qiegħ l-ibħra jitqiesu wirt komuni tal-bniedem, u l-proposta dwar id-dmir tagħna lkoll llum li nikkonservaw u ngħaddu l-wirt kollu tal-lum lill-'enerazzjonijiet tal-'ejjieni.

B'dawn iċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet irridu:

mmorru lura fil-medda kollha ta' l-imgħoddi biex nifhmu min aħna, u kif aħna l-Maltin ħarisna u għadna nħarsu l-identita` tagħna;
nixtarru kif din tissawwar fl-ambitu ta' identita` akbar u usa` –Mediterranja u Ewropeja;
nsaħħu l-forom ta' kollaborazzjoni bejnietna, bejn bliet u rħula u bejn gruppi socjali diversi, biex tassew it-tielet millennju nilqghuh flimkien, art waħda, poplu wieħed;
nħe''u u nikkoordinaw l-inizjattivi kemm dawk li huma di'a` maħsuba kif ukoll oħrajn li jistgħu ji'u ssu''eriti fil-lokalitajiet; kemm fuq livell individwali kif ukoll fuq livell ta' gruppi, biex kemm jista` jkun jissawwar impenn komuni u kollettiv;
noħolqu inizjattivi fejn inkattru il-qsim ta' ideat u ħiliet kemm artistiċi, kulturali u ta' l-għerf bejn il-Maltin u l-popli l-oħra;
nagħtu spinta 'dida lill-kalendarju kulturali u folkloristiku ta' pajjiżna, b'mod speċjali lill-festi Nazzjonali u tradizzjonali;
inħe''u inizjattivi li jħaffu il-proċess li jsawwar lis-soċjeta` tagħna f'waħda kompletament inklussiva;
naħdmu id f'id, fil-paċi ma' xulxin u mal-popli ta' madwarna, ħalli b'hekk nidħlu flimkien fit-tielet millennju bi spirtu ta' għaqda u ta' 'ieh.

Dawn l-attivitajiet u inizjattivi għandhom jin'abru fi tliet kategoriji:

espressjonijiet mumentarji
o''etti li jibqgħu; u
inizjattivi li jkomplu.

Il-Kumitat tal-Millennju hu ffurmat mil-persuni li gejjin:

Il-Ministru ta' l-Edukazzjoni bħala President
Il-Ministru ta' l-Ambjent
Il-Ministru tat-Turiżmu
Is-Sur Richard Cachia Caruana, rappreżentant tal-Prim Ministru
Is-Sur Kevin Sciberras, rappreżentant tal-Ministru għal '?awdex
Is-Sur Wilfred Kenely, rappreżentant tas-Segretarju Parlamentari fil-Ministeru ta' l-Edukazzjoni
Is-Sur Joseph J Mifsud, Direttur tal-Kultura
Is-Sur Richard Muscat, konsulent dwar il-Kultura fil-Ministeru ta' l-Edukazzjoni
L-Avukat Ian Micallef bħala rappreżentat ta' l-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Kunsilli Lokali
Is-Sur Anton Attard
Dr Vicki Ann Cremona
Is-Sur Joe Saliba
Is-Sur John Schranz
Is-Sur Charles Stroud
Is-Sur Albert Callus bħala Segretarju.

Millenium Celebrations

Following is Press Handout re Millennium Celebrations released yesterday, 10 February 1999.

MILLENIUM CELEBRATIONS

The beginning of the third millenium of the Christian era in the history of mankind is at hand. It is only fitting that celebrations to mark the event should be organised and coordinated on a national level.

These celebrations provide us, the people of Malta and Gozo, with an opportunity to increase our awareness of our nation's participation in the journey undertaken by mankind, and generate renewed enthusiasm in the way we respond to the new stimuli that this should raise.

These celebrations should provide the added benefit of further enhancing the ongoing trend which encourages quality tourism.

A committee has therefore been appointed to coordinate those activities which have already been planned and to create new initiatives in the short space of time left and within the limits of the present situation. The committee is chaired by the Minister of Education.

The committee has the following terms of reference:

to ensure that this occasion, which can only be celebrated once every thousand years, be given the proper significance;
to examine all existing projects, both private and public, and provide the necessary backing to contribute to their success;
to identify any activities, to be organised on an international scale, planned for the year 2000 and which could be of particular interest to Malta;
to consult with the Church in order to examine which projects may be planned jointly;
to plan specific celebrations with the aim of getting to know ourselves better;
to organise any other activity that may be considered fitting for the celebrations.

LOGO : DESIGN AND CONCEPT
Gejjieni f'suret il-Bniedem (The Future in the image of Man)

This is the theme proposed for the Millenium celebrations. The idea was inspired from the following verse in the Bible: "Then God said: ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.'"(Genesis, 1:26).

Today we are living in an age dominated by technological progress, by production. We have to ensure the human being is not sacrificed to this but, as God had willed, that man continues to dominate over the work he creates.

Man is harmony resulting from intelligence, spirituality and matter. Taking this into consideration, all our efforts should strive to guarantee that in today's global village, intelligence and higher values are blended into harmony and peace, through information and communications technology.

The images that are being used are the circle of life and the cross of Malta. These images are intended to convey the cultural expression, the faith of our people and our aims for the future. The cross is made of stone, and the endless spirals show man's efforts and vision for the future, which should be created in the image of man.

Concept and design: Mario Muscat

THE FUTURE IN THE IMAGE OF MAN

The land of Malta, a rock in the centre of the Mediterranean sea, a port for travellers, a harbour for those who wished to anchor here and who bestowed their heritage upon our varied identity.

The People of Malta, descendants of the travellers who came here from the four corners of the earth, stayed, tilled the ground and transformed it into a fertile land.

The Mediterranean, the oldest shipping route, where people set forth and shared cultures, customs and knowledge in each others' ports.

The People of the Mediterranean, eternal travellers:

The Neolithic pilgrim, who sought purity in the protective womb of the temples;
Ulysses who, through Circes and Calypso, discovered the road to wisdom;
The Phoenicians, who traced the routes of commerce up to the corners of Europe;
Christ, the roving Jew who sowed love and provided hope;
Paul of Tarsus, the Apostle of Nations, who travelled untiringly to spread the Word;
John Paul II, who from his harbour in the Mediterranean, has thrown a net of peace around the world.

The People of Europe whose civilisation came forth from the sea of different yet similar identities and cultures.

Humanity, who travels across the vast expanses of land and sea, and within the boundlessness of the universe; who travels in dreams and imagination; and today even in the immensity of cybernetic space, going beyond time and space. The experience and lessons to be derived from these journeys are the beacons to the next phase: the third millenium.

WHAT ARE WE CELEBRATING?

As part of humanity we too are celebrating man's ability to create, develop and better his living and shape his history. We are celebrating the advent of a new epoch, with new dreams, new hopes, our trust in man : man as an integral being.

As Maltese, we are celebrating our achievements. Those we have attained as a people.

Six millenia have passed since man first came to our country. From the entrails of the earth we extracted our stone and built our temples, we built churches and bastions, towns and villages; from our soil we produced wheat and vegetables to feed us. We resolutely set to work and the fruit of our toils provided us our daily bread. Armed with the wisdom derived from our experience, we laid the foundations on which every day we build the future for ourselves and our children.

As Maltese, we are celebrating the faith, values and solidarity which have always provided the backbone to our choices and helped us out in times of trial.

As Maltese, we are celebrating our journey away from foreign domination towards the recognition of a national identity; from a submissive people to a Nation able to take its future in its hands.

As Maltese, we are celebrating our heritage and identity which are moulded in the culture of the Mediterranean and shaped by the history of Europe.

As Maltese, we are celebrating the sharing of ideas with the international community. We intend not only to serve as a bridge for dialogue bringing together different cultures, but to develop initiatives which can be of common good to all generations such as Malta's proposal to consider the seabed as the common heritage of mankind and also its proposal concerning the duty of man to preserve today's heritage and pass it on to future generations.

DURING THESE CELEBRATIONS WE INTEND TO:

retrace our history in order to understand who we are, and how as Maltese we have upheld our identity through time;

ponder upon the way our history has been built within the framework of a vaster identity: that of the Mediterranean and of Europe;
strengthen the forms of collaboration between our people, between towns and villages, and between different social groups, so that we can truly welcome the third millenium together as one land and one people;

encourage and coordinate all activities, both those which have been planned as well as those which may be suggested in any scenario; on an individual and on a collective level, so that a common and collective effort may be generated;
create initiatives to foster the sharing of ideas and abilities between the Maltese and other peoples on the level of art, culture and knowledge;
give more life to the cultural and folkloristic calendar of our country, especially with regard to national and traditional feasts;

encourage initiatives which will hasten the process of building our society into a truly inclusive one;

work hand in hand, in peace with each other and with the peoples surrounding us, in order to enter the third millenium together in the spirit of unity and joy.

Activities and initiatives should fall under three categories: