Category: Americas

The Caribbean Tree Planting Project forges a spiritual connection with Jamaica’s diaspora

July 4, 2022

It was a hot, dry Saturday morning in Kingston, and the polished pews gleamed at the New Testament Church of God on Eastwood Park Road. There was an air of calm. The Saharan dust blurred the sky. The traffic hustled on outside, but it was quiet inside. The people quietly moving around the edges of … More The Caribbean Tree Planting Project forges a spiritual connection with Jamaica’s diaspora

Growing backlash to deep sea mining is hurting companies in their pockets

June 22, 2022

A few weeks ago, I reported on the last meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, and interviewed Greenpeace USA representatives, who attended, on the looming threat of deep sea mining. Despite the ISA being headquartered right here, the issue has sparked very little interest among our local media, who are preoccupied with … More Growing backlash to deep sea mining is hurting companies in their pockets

BirdsCaribbean, American Ornithological Society fly over to Puerto Rico for their 2022 Conference

June 19, 2022

The Caribbean (and American) birds are flying again… This time to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where BirdsCaribbean will be partnering with the American Ornithological Society for their 2022 Conference. So this time, it will be really big! Caribbean birds are under threat as never before, with climate change impacts ever-present and growing. This is not … More BirdsCaribbean, American Ornithological Society fly over to Puerto Rico for their 2022 Conference

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

Meetings, speeches – and by the way, our fifth wave of COVID-19

May 28, 2022

Jamaica’s Health and Wellness Minister Christopher Tufton and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie have been very busy recently in Geneva, Switzerland, where the 75th World Health Assembly took place, ending on May 28. They have been talking a great deal about non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which as we know are rampant on the island – … More Meetings, speeches – and by the way, our fifth wave of COVID-19

Two rising stars in Jamaica’s art world go to AFJ Charity Gala through Kingston Creative

May 15, 2022

Kingston Creative “gets it”: Partnerships are key. American Friends of Jamaica is celebrating forty years (and I was happy to share a few of those years in helping to promote their charitable activities, at one time). They are “do gooders” in the best and most genuine sense of the word. This trip was a great … More Two rising stars in Jamaica’s art world go to AFJ Charity Gala through Kingston Creative

Mixed COVID-19 signals? Omicron BA.2 variant is in Jamaica, and there are questions about timing

April 22, 2022

I had asked whether we are “over” COVID-19 in Jamaica, since as of April 15 all remaining restrictions related to the pandemic have lapsed – including travel restrictions and mandatory mask wearing indoors. Well, we are not quite over it, after all. I think we could have seen this one coming. Or did we know … More Mixed COVID-19 signals? Omicron BA.2 variant is in Jamaica, and there are questions about timing