Is this justice for the citizens of Rio Cobre?

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?

Submission by Jamaican citizens to Parliament regarding developments in Kingston and St. Andrew

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

Jamaican citizens call for consultations with government over planned urban developments

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

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

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

Jamaica’s Rio Cobre continues to suffer, and so do those depending on it

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

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

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

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

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..

On World Wildlife Day, the Animal Kingdom is not thriving

There comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness . . . that time is now. Wangari Maathai Last week (March 3) was World Wildlife Day with the theme “Recovering Key Species for Ecosystem Restoration.” In Kenya, it was also Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day – … More On World Wildlife Day, the Animal Kingdom is not thriving

Citizens Associations call for Moratorium on High Density Developments in Low Density Communities

It has become a nightmare in many areas of uptown Kingston. Many of our old single-family homes have been torn down, to be replaced with cold, ugly high-rise apartment blocks, squeezed into small spaces. And no. This is not just about upset, better-off citizens who are seeing their once quiet, green neighborhoods transformed almost overnight … More Citizens Associations call for Moratorium on High Density Developments in Low Density Communities