Category: Africa

How far back can you go? Some family trees have broken branches.

January 15, 2023

This was our recent Bloganuary post… How far back can you go in your family history? My father did a lot of delving into genealogy. He worked on it, painstakingly and diligently, without the benefit of a computer or the Internet. He dug up records and family documents and made phone calls and took copious … More How far back can you go? Some family trees have broken branches.

On the Rio Cobre, Cockpit Country, and their Jamaican people

December 21, 2022

As the year draws to a close, there are more issues hanging in the balance. I sometimes feel the future of the Planet, including our small, sometimes green, rocky island, is in the balance, too. As the delegates to COP15 – the critical UN conference on biodiversity – pack up their laptops, check out of … More On the Rio Cobre, Cockpit Country, and their Jamaican people

A Feral Commons: An exciting new arts project will highlight the busy hidden life of our city Kingston

October 18, 2022

I have long believed that the arts and culture have a powerful role to play in explaining and expressing the depths, and the breadth of our ongoing climate crisis. Now, Andrea Dempster Chung of Kingston Creative dropped me a line to tell me about a really exciting project in which downtown Kingston is involved – … More A Feral Commons: An exciting new arts project will highlight the busy hidden life of our city Kingston

Wattle and Red Earth Collective kicks up its heels for National Heritage Week

October 2, 2022

October is always the month when Jamaicans turn their attention to their cultural heritage. National Heroes Day is Monday, October 17, 2022, at the end of Heritage Week, which begins on October 8 with an Interfaith Service at the University of the West Indies Chapel (I like this). President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, … More Wattle and Red Earth Collective kicks up its heels for National Heritage Week

Richard and Tyrone are two young Jamaicans who inspire me. Sail on!

September 3, 2022

These are complicated and indeed challenging times for young people. All kinds of clichés are trotted out about the youth being “our future.” But as former President Barack Obama – who used to talk a great deal about the future in his campaigning – pointed out, simply put: The future belongs to young people with … More Richard and Tyrone are two young Jamaicans who inspire me. Sail on!

It’s “now or never” for our oceans: Part One on the Global Ocean Treaty

August 25, 2022

In just two days, one of the most critical UN conferences in the past decade or so will come to an end. It is likely to be the last in a series of discussions leading up to the signing of a Global Ocean Treaty in New York. It’s the fifth and final round of negotiations. … More It’s “now or never” for our oceans: Part One on the Global Ocean Treaty

Climate Democracy Action Program: training and support for advocates and policymakers

July 10, 2022

On June 29, 2022, the Climate Democracy Action Program was launched. It is a training and support program aimed at developing effective, participatory initiatives that will propel climate justice, urgent action and an inclusive and equitable climate transition. It’s all about people! The CDA Program is a collaboration between People Powered, FIMA, and the World … More Climate Democracy Action Program: training and support for advocates and policymakers

Only One Earth: World Environment Day 2022 is full of mixed emotions

June 6, 2022

I confess, I have been preoccupied by family matters and rather low key. This World Environment Day I found it hard to focus; the issues are crowding in. In particular, climate change weighs heavily. I looked up the hashtag on Twitter, finding more and more semi-hopeful messages, “we’re doing something” videos, and “let’s do something!” … More Only One Earth: World Environment Day 2022 is full of mixed emotions