Now, many Jamaicans seem to feel that fires start all by themselves; unless, that is, it’s a building that is on fire, in which case there is always the possibility of it being deliberately set. Truth be told, many fires are started by us humans, whether vengefully or not. … More The burning hills and the Kingston chain saw massacre
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?
Is our democracy being watered down? I am beginning to wonder. On Thursday, January 19, 2023, the Parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure and Physical Development will meet at Gordon House in Kingston. The committee (which last met in November 2022 after a hiatus of one whole year) will consider the 2017 Provisional Development Order for Kingston … More Don’t stifle our voices, says citizens’ group to parliamentary committee
In my last blog post, I mentioned the submission made to the Infrastructure and Physical Development Committee of Jamaica’s Houses of Parliament, dated November 9, 2022, by Citizens Rights to the City (a conglomeration of 29 citizens associations and communities). The citizens had made a submission in November, 2021. The submission was not discussed at … More Submission by Jamaican citizens to Parliament regarding developments in Kingston and St. Andrew
Do we want participatory governance, or is it just a box that our government likes to check? Do government officials even want to bother with that box marked “consultations,” at all? Citizens Rights to the City (CRC) is a grouping formed fairly recently, comprising no less than 29 already well-established citizens groups and communities in … More Jamaican citizens call for consultations with government over planned urban developments
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
The saga of the Rio Cobre, one of our island’s major rivers, is a long and sad one. Neither this beautiful river, nor those who depend on it for their food, their livelihoods and their families, deserve the poor treatment they have received over the years. The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) and other groups have … More Jamaica’s Rio Cobre continues to suffer, and so do those depending on it
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
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
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..
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