Tag: forests

“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

Cockpit Country: Government decides to permit a reduced mining area, but concerns remain

January 5, 2022

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) announced yesterday (January 3, 2022) that a reduced area will be offered to the Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners II for mining close to the Cockpit Country under the highly controversial Special Mining Licence (SML) 173. Here’s the full text of NEPA CEO Peter Knight’s statement. This will exclude … More Cockpit Country: Government decides to permit a reduced mining area, but concerns remain

Hillside destruction near Green Island, Hanover, Jamaica

November 15, 2021

The parish of Hanover is the smallest on the island, but has a distinct charm of its own. As the road winds along the coastline, there are lovely views of small coves, the calm waters fringed deeply with mangroves on one side. On the other side of the road are hilly pastures, some with Spanish … More Hillside destruction near Green Island, Hanover, Jamaica

The Reimagining Nanny Project: An open call for artists to participate

November 7, 2021

Nanny is the only woman among Jamaica’s National Heroes, and in many ways the most mysterious. When I think of Nanny, Queen of the Maroons, I think of mountain mists and waterfalls and dark hiding places and ambushes in the rain. Now there is an open call for artists to “reimagine” and interpret her spirit, … More The Reimagining Nanny Project: An open call for artists to participate

“Keep fighting the good fight”: On World Ranger Day, a message from a Jamaican Blue Mountains National Park Ranger

July 31, 2021

You would not believe how much work goes on in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These beautiful mountains encircle the (not so beautiful) capital city of Kingston, Jamaica – my home. Sometimes wrapped in shawls of cloud, sometimes blurry with rain, sometimes bright and clean … More “Keep fighting the good fight”: On World Ranger Day, a message from a Jamaican Blue Mountains National Park Ranger

“Nature is our lifeline”: A young indigenous Surinamese woman speaks during Caribbean Tree Planting Week

July 15, 2021

Caribbean Tree Planting Week (July 5 – 11, 2021) was diverse, vibrant, packed with valuable information, and full of youthful energy. Two sessions per day for a week, it covered a great range of topics – centred on nature-based solutions and climate action in the form of tree planting. One of the participants on the … More “Nature is our lifeline”: A young indigenous Surinamese woman speaks during Caribbean Tree Planting Week

Help BirdsCaribbean rescue the St. Vincent Parrot

April 16, 2021

It has all happened so quickly… Quite apart from the humanitarian considerations as the eruptions of La Soufrière, the volcano on the island of St. Vincent continue (approximately twenty per cent of the population has been displaced) – there is the devastating impact on the environment. As noted by Trinidadian journalist Wesley Gibbings in his … More Help BirdsCaribbean rescue the St. Vincent Parrot

Soon Come

March 3, 2021

Happy World Wildlife Day! You may be wondering why I have gone so quiet on this platform. No, I am not going through any personal crisis. Just plain busy! I will soon be back on track, with a lot to catch up on. I haven’t even had a chance to update readers on the COVID-19 … More Soon Come

Make Peace With Nature: a Ground-Breaking Speech by the UN Secretary-General

December 3, 2020

What has been said about the deteriorating state of our Planet that hasn’t been said before? Well, there have been many words spoken (and less action). Moreover, many of our governments around the world are not just doing nothing – we seem to be deliberately heading in the wrong direction. I am not really big … More Make Peace With Nature: a Ground-Breaking Speech by the UN Secretary-General

Protect Puerto Bueno Mountain Jamaica from Quarrying and Big Development: An Online Petition

November 15, 2020

As concerns rise over the proposed limestone quarrying in Puerto Bueno Mountain (which now, it transpires, will also involve a commercial development and “eco-tourism”?) here is a petition on change.org opposing the ministerial decision to approve a permit. Prime Minister Andrew Holness signed off on this, and stoutly defended his decision in a speech in … More Protect Puerto Bueno Mountain Jamaica from Quarrying and Big Development: An Online Petition