Tag: bauxite mining

Congratulations to Jamaica’s Margarette May Macaulay, elected President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

March 12, 2023

Jamaican Margarette May Macaulay has been elected President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for the 2nd time. Congratulations to her! But why is the Jamaican Government so unresponsive to the Commission’s concerns about environmental and LGBTQIA+ rights? … More Congratulations to Jamaica’s Margarette May Macaulay, elected President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

“Deep Sea Matters”: Young Jamaican activists take a dive into the issue of deep sea mining

February 10, 2023

The ambitious event organised by a group of collaborators to highlight the issue of deep sea mining was highly successful. On a warm and very breezy lunchtime on Thursday, January 26 at the University of the West Indies Mona campus in Kingston, there was a full house audience consisting of university students, high school students, … More “Deep Sea Matters”: Young Jamaican activists take a dive into the issue of deep sea mining

Is this justice for the citizens of Rio Cobre?

February 4, 2023

There is something called “environmental justice.” It’s not just another clever catch phrase. It is a real, and growing concern. When this release from Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) landed in my inbox recently, I saw this as a classic example of the struggle that citizens worldwide are engaged in for their environmental rights. And a … More Is this justice for the citizens of Rio Cobre?

Has the Jamaican Government responded to the IACHR regarding human rights of citizens near bauxite mines?

January 4, 2023

I rarely “copy and paste” editorials or articles in our local newspapers, if at all. However, I see this Sunday Gleaner editorial, published on January 1, as related to a recent post – where I pointed out that, as it appears, the Jamaican Government has not yet responded to Resolution 65/22 of the Inter American … More Has the Jamaican Government responded to the IACHR regarding human rights of citizens near bauxite mines?

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

Urgent statement re: mining-related activities in SML173 – Cockpit Country, Jamaica

November 19, 2022

The lobby group Freedom Imaginaries is raising the alarm. Please read their statement below carefully. This morning I attended a conference which provided valuable updates on the Kingston Harbour Ecosystem Adaptation Measures Project (KHEAM). This impressive project, spearheaded by the GraceKennedy Foundation, embraces several partners and is ensuring full community involvement and buy-in. I met … More Urgent statement re: mining-related activities in SML173 – Cockpit Country, Jamaica

Some events to look out for on climate justice, the environment, and the Caribbean

July 12, 2022

There are a few rather important dates in the summer calendar to keep in mind related to climate change, extractive industries, and more. This week, Greenpeace USA will hold a hybrid press briefing in Kingston (Thursday, July 14 at 10:00 a.m. at the AC Marriott Hotel) as the International Seabed Authority (ISA) reaches a critical … More Some events to look out for on climate justice, the environment, and the Caribbean

“They’ve left us to eat stones now:” The latest Vice News film on the impacts of bauxite mining in Jamaica

May 2, 2022

Last month, the U.S.-based Vice News posted a second video on the community response to bauxite mining in Jamaica. The Jamaica Environment Trust is reminding us to watch it; the YouTube link is here. The 20-minute report is a follow-up to their 2021 feature, which you can find here. As of May 2, the video … More “They’ve left us to eat stones now:” The latest Vice News film on the impacts of bauxite mining in Jamaica

JET acknowledges the declaration of the Cockpit Country Protected Area, but..

March 23, 2022

On March 17, during the Budget Debate in Parliament, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that the Cockpit Country Protected Area has now been officially designated and gazetted. Is that the end of this long story, with its many twists and turns? Well, not quite. You can find the Environmental Impact Assessments on the National Environment … More JET acknowledges the declaration of the Cockpit Country Protected Area, but..

Cockpit Country, Jamaica: “This is an environmental and social justice issue”

January 8, 2022

There is much more to be said about the recent announcement on bauxite mining in the Cockpit Country, which I wrote about in a post earlier this week. Now environmental activist and Founder of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) Diana McCaulay (@dmccaulay) has shared her thoughts in a fairly long Twitter thread, which I am … More Cockpit Country, Jamaica: “This is an environmental and social justice issue”