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45-529: The Jerma Palace Hotel was built on a headland called il-Ħamrija , close to the 17th-century Saint Thomas Tower . The land originally belonged to Franciscan Conventuals and Ivan Burridge, who sold it to San Tumas Holdings. In 1976, San Tumas sold the plot to the Libyan Foreign Investment Company . The Jerma Palace Hotel was subsequently built, and it was opened in 1982. The hotel was managed by Corinthia Hotels International through

90-468: A campaign for rent regulation in February 2018. Several proposals were put forward including: A tax regime that incentivises long-lets through lower tax rates for longer leases; The possibility for landlords to increase rent-prices yearly during the duration of a contract by a percentage that does not exceed the cost-of-living-increase percentage; A tax on empty rentable property that disincentivizes rent on

135-477: A campaign on access to Manoel Island in which the group cut through the gates and fences providing access to the public. Over 2018 and 2019 the organisation coordinated a series of successful direct actions asking for a change in the law which allowed fuel stations to be relocated on ODZ. In 2020 the law was amended as demanded. In 2018, Moviment Graffitti joined local residents in Pembroke in opposing

180-567: A common front on issues such as racism, destruction of natural landscape and animal rights. It has regularly supported workers' struggles and voiced its stance in favour of workers' rights. Moviment Graffitti frequently holds awareness-raising campaigns where it distributes information and engages in discussions in public spaces and other venues such as universities, schools, and youth centres via film-nights, talks, and discussions. The movement has no formal organisation and decisions are taken during regular assembly meetings where anyone who shares

225-587: A living income, while almost 40% of the two-parent household earn less than the established living income. In 1996 Moviment Graffitti started a campaign against a proposed development for a Hilton hotel. This campaign started when the Tumas Group bought the land for Lm191,000. A later investigation by the Ombudsman found that there were a number of irregularities in the planning permit. In 1998 Moviment Graffitti and several other organisations established

270-472: A management agreement. Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi had a presidential suite within the hotel. A 1982 parliamentary resolution decreed that the area could only be developed for touristic purposes. The Jerma Palace was the largest hotel in the south of Malta , and its opening contributed to transforming Marsaskala from a traditional fishing village to a small resort. The hotel closed down in March 2007, and

315-552: A number of student organisations in protesting against announced changes to the stipend system in 1997. Moviment Graffitti and its members led the Front Against Censorship which started in 2009 following the ban of a satirical student newspaper Ir-Realta, edited by Mark Camilleri , then a member of Moviment Graffitti. In 1997 a Moviment Graffitti activist was arrested and charged for throwing green paint on top of an American warship USS La Salle. Activists from

360-613: A proposed golf course at Verdala by developers AX Holdings in 2002, as well as at Xagħra l-Ħamra near Għajn Tuffieħa in 2005 and once again at Ta’ Ċenċ. Moviment Graffitti was included in the coalition against the golf courses which included organisations such as the Gaia Foundation, Nature Trust, Friends of the Earth, Birdlife Malta, and the Ramblers Association as well as farmers from the areas. The organisation

405-500: A proposed yacht marina in Marsascala, and commercial activity on Comino . In August 1995, the group held a sit-in against Malta's stand on abortion, calling for it to be legalised. In 2019, the group were co-founders of the coalition in favour of decriminalising abortion: Voice for Choice. Later that year, the coalition held the first pro-choice rally which has been held yearly since. In 2016, Moviment Graffitti, together with

450-498: A regular turnover of activists throughout three decades. Journalist and former member James Debono describes the movement as "playfully left wing , anti-racist , socially liberal and largely focused on land use issues", listing French philosopher Louis Althusser and the musical activists Rage Against the Machine as influences in the movement's early formation and inspiring members' counterculture-based sense of identity. In

495-500: Is a left-wing radical environmentalist non governmental organisation and pressure group in Malta . Moviment Graffitti promotes an amalgamation of leftist sociopolitical ideas, mainly human rights , equality , environmentalism and anti-fascism . It was founded in 1994. Founded in 1994, the movement has maintained a central message promoting anti-racist, socially liberal and environmental sustainability ideologies despite

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540-544: Is a large bastioned watchtower in Marsaskala , Malta . It was built in 1614, the third of six Wignacourt towers . An artillery battery was added to the tower in the early 18th century. Saint Thomas Tower holds the record as the largest watchtower in Malta. Saint Thomas Tower was built above the shore on the seaward face of the headland of il-Ħamrija in Marsaskala . It is a substantial fortification intended to prevent

585-459: Is now in a derelict state, with parts of it having collapsed and others being in danger of collapsing. Its interior has been stripped of everything of value, with carpets, marble floors, doors, tiles and even bricks being stolen. The walls are covered in graffiti. The building is occupied by squatters, and it is popular with drug addicts. The former hotel also became an illegal dumping ground, with people disposing of their garbage there. Rubbish left at

630-528: Is still partially intact and it is the only original one to have survived in Malta. The tower is surrounded by a rock-hewn ditch. After the De Redin towers were built, St Thomas had Żonqor and Xrobb l-Għaġin Towers in its line of sight. Currently, these are now either in ruins or completely demolished. In 1715, St Thomas Tower was reinforced by the addition of a battery on the seaward face. Construction of

675-526: The divorce referendum , campaigning for a yes vote. Moviment Graffitti's most visible activities are direct actions to draw public attention to specific issues, including protest demonstrations, banner-drops, and sit-ins . Actions have included activists chaining themselves to the trucks and barges, and carrying out hunger strikes. While remaining autonomous from economic interests or political parties, Moviment Graffitti has regularly built coalitions and networks with like-minded stakeholders to work as

720-691: The 1990s, members largely relied on leaflets and pamphlets distributed at the University of Malta campus to communicate, as later captured in Guze Stagno 's novel Inbid ta’ Kuljum and in Karl Schembri 's Il-Manifest tal-Killer . Both Stagno and Schembri are former members of the organisation. The organisation initially used the premises of the defunct Maltese Communist Party in Strait Street, Valletta . Current prominent members of

765-483: The 1996 stipend protests. Its main campaigns have been on land use issues, consistently protesting overdevelopment under any government, and building coalitions with different allies. In terms of political positions, Moviment Graffitti opposed the 1994 Maltese concordat on marriage, called for the decriminalisation of abortion, endorsed Alfred Sant 's Labour at the 1996 elections, and in 2000 supported Malta's EU accession bid. In 2011 Moviment Graffitti participated in

810-627: The 2006 local plan had identified the site to be mainly used for tourist accommodation. JPM also faced a massive €40 million loan call-in which forced them to scale down their ambitions. In July 2015 the Marsaskala local council also wrote to the Planning Authority that “the council is opposed to any application which includes the development of apartments”. Following a request by the Marsaskala Local Council and

855-458: The Front against Golf Course in response to the proposed Ta’ Ċenċ golf course, arguing that against the “development of golf courses located on land used for agricultural uses or on land which has ecological value”. This campaign continued for years with numerous articles, demonstrations and protests. Moviment Graffitti was also active in later successful campaigns against golf courses, including

900-632: The Maltese government in early 2020, in the last days of the Joseph Muscat administration, permitted development over a staggering 100,000 square meters, 40% of which for apartments. A second development brief approved by the Robert Abela government in August 2020 downscaled the total investment to 65,000 square meters and a development of up to 8 storeys including for residential use, doubling

945-680: The Restoration Unit. Plans were made to open the tower as a museum about piracy in the Mediterranean, but it has not opened yet. The battery's gun platform was also restored, and its parapet and embrasures were rebuilt to a design based on modern interpretative lines. In 2014, the Marsaskala Local Council organized exhibitions, re-enactments and other events in the tower to commemorate its 400th anniversary. Moviment Graffitti Moviment Graffitti

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990-545: The Women's Rights Foundation, campaigned calling for full access to the morning-after pill . The organisation also campaigns on issues related to domestic violence and femicide. The group has called for the introduction of divorce since its inception and supported its introduction in 2011. In 1997, it called called for the rights of trans people to be able to have gender affirmation surgery. It also participated in Malta's first pride march in 2004. Moviment Graffitti joined

1035-619: The battery cost a total of 382 scudi, 8 tarì, 11 grani and 1 piccolo, which was less than the cost of construction of other batteries around the coast. During the French blockade of 1798–1800 , the tower was stormed and captured by Maltese insurgents. The tower was used by the British until the 19th century. They did not make any major alterations to the tower (like they did in Saint Lucian Tower ), other than some minor changes to

1080-515: The black market and increases the amount of properties for rent; and Regulation of Agencies and a legal standing to a Tenants’ Union. The new law including some of these proposals was passed in 2019 and came into force in 2020. September 2022 saw the launch of a living income study which Moviment Graffitti commissioned together with General Workers Union and the Alliance against Poverty. The study found that 76% of single parent households do not earn

1125-401: The centerpiece of a plaza around its shoreward face. For some time, it was used as a restaurant and pizzeria . In 2008, it was handed over to Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, a heritage foundation. A couple of weeks after it was handed over, the tower was cleaned of debris, and some modern structures which had been added when it was a restaurant were removed. Further restoration work was undertaken by

1170-641: The development of a hotel by developers DB group on what was the grounds of the Institute of Tourism Studies. In September 2019 Moviment Graffitti organised a national protest titled Iż-Żejjed Kollu Żejjed (Enough is Enough) demanding a more environmental-sensitive construction industry and radical changes in Malta's planning policies. The organisation has led campaigns against the building of roads on arable land in Dingli , private development in Balluta bay,

1215-447: The environment and animals", and for "social justice, equality and sustainability", "with a vision of freedom and radical democracy". Moviment Graffitti is known to campaign for issues related to fairer workers’ rights (such as an increase in the minimum wage), promoting economic and social equality, and protesting environment destruction, illegal developments and the privatisation of public space. The organisation has also advocated for

1260-401: The footprint of the estate from the current 8,700 to 17,700 square metres. In June 2020, Marsascala local council voted in favour of a 13-storey building on the side. Seven NGOs initiated legal action against the decision, deeming that the Planning Authority had "arbitrarily increased the area of the development brief". Moviment Graffitti denounced the risk of further congestion in the area and

1305-502: The former hotel and replace it with a massive development of two high-rise residential towers of 44 and 32 storeys, and a 22-storey hotel on reclaimed land in the vicinity. The "three towers" proposal was later downscaled to units of 12 and 13 storeys, including an apartment complex; in December 2017 the Marsaskala local council, including Labour Mayor Mario Calleja, voted overwhelmingly in favour of this new project, in contradiction with

1350-586: The government to stop new applications, given the oversupply in hotel beds. In March 2020, the music video for All of my Love , the Maltese 2020 Eurovision Song Contest entry, was filmed onsite. In 2021, the Jerma Palace was shown as a fictive alien architectural background in the Foundation series . Saint Thomas Tower Saint Thomas Tower ( Maltese : Torri ta' San Tumas ), also known as Fort Saint Thomas ( Maltese : Forti San Tumas ),

1395-659: The hands of the Israeli state. Moviment Graffittii used to be close to the activists of Żminijietna (Voice of the Left), a similar left-wing organisation, for a brief period around 2000. While before 1996 it was openly supportive of the Malta Labour Party , it later switched to closeness to Alternattiva Demokratika , Malta's green party, for whom it also worked as recruitment pool. Yet, it also cooperated with other organisations such as Studenti Demokristjani Maltin during

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1440-399: The hotel caused a number of fires. In July 2008 the Jerma Palace was sold for €18.6 million to the brothers Jeffrey and Peter Montebello (Jefpet Limited, JPM Construction), who planned to transform the former hotel into apartments, a 5-star hotel and a yacht marina. However, then Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi stated that only a hotel, and not apartments, could be developed on the site, since

1485-505: The increase in utility rates. Starting from October 2016, Moviment Graffitti launched a campaign attempting to increase the minimum wage and wages in ġeneral tilted the, Decent Wages Tour. The organisation toured several localities to inform the public about the campaign and get their support. In April 2017, the government increased the minimum wage by a weekly €8, however activists said that it fell short of their expectations. Together with 16 other organisations, Moviment Graffitti launched

1530-485: The introduction of a 35-hour work week. In August 2008, Moviment Graffitti joined the campaign against the privatisation of the shipyard. Following the lead of the General Workers Union who represented the workers, Moviment Graffitti showed its support and participated in the mass rally held by GWU. Later that year, on the 13th of November, Moviment Graffitti also joined GWU in its protest march against

1575-623: The issue of an enforcement notice, on 20 August 2016 the Planning Authority ordered the hotel's owners to demolish the building. On that same day, the building caught fire, which was put out by the Civil Protection Department. The Jerma Palace, which had been valued at €20.8 million, was to be sold at a judicial auction in October 2016. The demolition of the dilapidated hotel buildings was to cost around €1.5 million. The same year, PN local councillor Charlot Cassar suggested that

1620-433: The lack of respect for a historic site like Saint Thomas Tower . Portelli has not yet filed an application with specific plans and designs with the Planning Authority, but has stated that he intends to develop on site a complex of 130 apartments, a 500-room hotel and a public square in front of Saint Thomas Tower . The Greens have called for the government to revise their plans. The Malta Chamber of Commerce also called on

1665-516: The landing of troops in the sheltered anchorages of Marsaskala Creek and St Thomas' Bay . Construction of the tower was approved in July 1614, at the time of the Raid on Żejtun , in which an Ottoman fleet managed to land at St Thomas' Bay. The tower was named after a chapel dedicated to St Thomas, which stood close to where the tower now lies. It cost 13,450 scudi , 6 tarì and 4 grani to build, making it

1710-427: The movement include Andre Callus (since the early 2000s) and sociologist Dr Angele Deguara. Ex-prominent members of the movement include LGBTI and pro-Palestine activist Alex Caruana. The organisation's ideological references shifted between Marxism and anarchism , green politics and new left throughout the years. Moviment Graffitti describes itself as standing "against the oppression and exploitation of people,

1755-446: The organisation's vision and principles can attend and contribute. Their activities are self-funded through membership-payment and fund-raising events held throughout the year. In 1996, Moviment Graffitti held its first anti- McDonald's day, protesting against multinationals' exploitation of workers and the "brutal way in which animals are raised" and butchered. The event occurred yearly until 2010. In 1997 Moviment Graffitti proposed

1800-500: The right of migration for all and against a world with man-made borders, as well as working to eradicate racism and xenophobia by organising actions and information campaigns as well as pushing for migrants’ rights. Moviment Graffitti has also campaigned for international solidarity with the plight of Palestinians in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , arguing that they face cruel and constant injustice and discrimination at

1845-504: The same local council's July 2015 position. The development would have had a 7,000 square metre footprint with a floor area of 61,000 square metres, as well as a 10,500 square metre public park around Saint Thomas Tower . The proposal had not been submitted to planning process, so no environmental impact assessment was prepared. The project was withdrawn after Camilleri had sold the site to Gozitan property magnate Joseph Portelli for €90 million in summer 2019. A development brief approved by

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1890-432: The second most expensive Wignacourt tower, after Saint Mary's Tower . The tower's architect is unknown. The claims that it was designed by Vittorio Cassar are disputed, since Cassar was probably dead when work on the tower began. The tower has very thick walls and has four pentagonal bastioned turrets projecting outwards on each corner. Its entrance was through a vaulted doorway with a wooden drawbridge. The drawbridge

1935-509: The site be bought by the Maltese government and turned into an open space for public enjoyment. In September 2016 the owners appealed against an enforcement order by the Planning Authority. In May 2018, the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal upheld an appeal and annulled the demolition order. In 2016, the new owner, developer Charles Camilleri through his company Porto Notos Ltd (co-owned with lawyer Pierre Lofaro) applied to demolish

1980-415: The structure. At some point, the tower was also used as a prison. Today, the town of Marsaskala has expanded, surrounding the tower with modern buildings. In 1982, the four-star Corinthia Jerma Palace Hotel was built between the tower and the coast, effectively ruining the tower's relation with the sea. The hotel closed in 2007, and is now in a dilapidated state. Meanwhile, the tower itself now forms

2025-669: Was active in campaigns against development in the Kalkara valley, the development of villas in Ramla l-Ħamra, Malta's Planning Authority, and the extension of a power station. In 2015 Moviment Graffitti was part of Front Ħarsien ODZ, a group protesting against the proposed development in the Żonqor area in Marsascala by developers Sadeen as part of the American University of Malta . In 2016 Moviment Graffitti conducted

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