Deep sea mining: an undercover video, the French say “Non!” and an upcoming event you cannot miss

Quite a lot has been happening regarding the ongoing campaign against deep sea mining. Here goes… First, a quick reminder of an exciting event at the University of the West Indies Mona campus (Undercroft) on Thursday, January 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It will include a Panel Discussion (starting at 12:00 noon), booth … More Deep sea mining: an undercover video, the French say “Non!” and an upcoming event you cannot miss

National unity needed more than ever, say Advocates Network… How to achieve it, is the question

What’s gone wrong? A few days ago, I watched footage of the laughable, but sad spectacle of German police officers, weighed down with their riot gear – stuck in the mud while trying to defend a coal mine from angry, jeering protesters. The struggle has been going on for weeks against the demolition of a … More National unity needed more than ever, say Advocates Network… How to achieve it, is the question

Partnering for women’s advocacy in Guyana under the Spotlight Initiative

Progress continues, steadily and surely, on issues relating to sexual and reproductive rights, gender equality (my thoughts from 2020 here) and gender-based violence in the Caribbean (in addition to LGBT rights, to a much more limited extent perhaps). It may seem rather patchy, here and there, but sometimes small battles, as well as the large … More Partnering for women’s advocacy in Guyana under the Spotlight Initiative

Jamaica’s Diana McCaulay wins Commonwealth Short Story Prize for the Caribbean, for the second time

Huge congratulations to Jamaican writer and environmentalist Diana McCaulay, who is the Caribbean winner for the 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize – her second win (she first won ten years ago). The regional winners were announced on May 23 (London time). Diana’s strong competitors were fellow Jamaican Sharma Taylor and 2019 winner Alexia Tolas from … More Jamaica’s Diana McCaulay wins Commonwealth Short Story Prize for the Caribbean, for the second time

Scientists come together in Jamaica to launch the H3ECaribbean Initiative

One thing scientists are very good at is collaborating across borders. Caribbean scientists are no exception. So tomorrow (Thursday, April 8, 2021) a small gathering will take place in the beautiful setting of Norse Hill, Portland in Jamaica to launch a very significant project that will ensure the inclusion of Caribbean people in health research, … More Scientists come together in Jamaica to launch the H3ECaribbean Initiative

Leo, Aliya, MLK, and the Parrots: A Lesson in Mentorship

Dr. Leo R. Douglas, a Jamaican ornithologist, conservationist, and all-round extraordinary scientist and person, was a recipient of The New York University Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Faculty Award, which was presented to him on February 2, 2021. Leo (can I call him Leo, please?) is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Liberal Studies at NYU. … More Leo, Aliya, MLK, and the Parrots: A Lesson in Mentorship

ICYMI in Jamaica: February 16, 2021: The Hanging In There Edition

The last two weeks have been busy (I skipped last week) and the weather is bright and breezy. However, as COVID-19 numbers have begun to really take off this month (an extended “spike”) the mood of cautious optimism in January seems to have evaporated – although we have had some lighter moments in the past … More ICYMI in Jamaica: February 16, 2021: The Hanging In There Edition

ICYMI in Jamaica, December 15, 2020: The Vaccine Edition

The big news has been not only the COVID-19 vaccine, but the fact that the very first person to receive it was a Jamaican American. A cold front arrived, bringing strong winds and lower temperatures for a day; our moringa tree took a beating, and has not recovered yet. And behind everything else the crime … More ICYMI in Jamaica, December 15, 2020: The Vaccine Edition