The Central Link Project has been a hot topic on the Maltese Islands, after it was green lit despite various objections. A few short days ago, a protest group titled For OUR Trees was set up on Facebook to combat the removal of a number of mature trees as part of the Central Link Project. But who's the brains behind the group? Meet local artist Sasha Vella.

Who is Sasha Vella?

Sasha is a 19-year-old BFA Digital Arts student who says she has had a deep love and respect for the natural environment ever since she can remember. So, why did she start this protest group? “I initially started the group with the intention of finding 50 people that could participate in a symbolic, non-partisan demonstration. The idea was to find like-minded people that would be willing to be tied to trees, as a way to protest against the ongoing destruction of our natural environment. We are all breathing the same air, we all need trees, regardless of political preference,” she says, referencing the demonstration that his happening this weekend.

“I never expected anything like this to happen” 

She achieved her goal in a very short span of time. “Now we have together started this movement and we have a platform where our voices can be heard. Through this group, we represent the trees, the farmland, the farmers, the residents… we represent the people that are fed up with seeing their environment degrade.”

Sasha says that growth and interest in the group was incredibly unexpected. “I never expected anything like this to happen,” she admits. “At the start I didn’t even think finding 50 willing people was feasible, let alone to get such a wave of interest and support. It confirmed to me what the Maltese people have been feeling, that it’s not just what I was feeling.”

“We need to start worrying about air pollution"

Outside of the Central Link plans, what is Sasha’s take on the local environment? “I think that the environment is not being given it’s deserved level of priority. The time has come for us to stand up for our environment, for our air, for our quality of life. It is the young people and our children that will truly suffer from the consequences of the country’s current actions,” she asserts. “I think that more needs to be done, to safeguard the environment, to work around it rather than bulldoze straight over it.”

Sasha also touches upon alternative methods that could leave a great and positive impact on the environment. “There is a dire need for us to look into alternate transport solutions, ones that are sustainable and do not cost us our environment. Private car usage needs to be discouraged, the transport system needs to be enhanced, bike lanes need to be made available.”

“We need to start worrying about air pollution, because it’s happening and it’s happening around us. We need to invest in a massive tree planting initiative all over our island, to compensate for what has been lost, so our children can have the air that we are fighting for now.”

In a concluding remark, Sasha comments on what can be done instead of Central Link. “I think that not enough has been done to invest in alternate transport solutions, and that this project just encourages private car usage. We need to find a way to combat our traffic issue long term, because this project is short sighted and in a few years it would have been for nothing.”

The protest group is organising a demonstration on site this Sunday between 9am and 11am. For more information on how to get involved, check out the event page.