ECOLife Issue No.6 (January - April 2015) by CYEN Trinidad and Tobago

Issue No.6 (Jan-Apr 2015)

got water?

*ANTIGUA AND*BARBUDA * THE BAHAMAS * BARBADOS * BELIZEVIRGIN * BRITISH VIRGIN* ISLANDS * CUBA DOMINICA * DOMINICAN REPUBLIC * *ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA THE BAHAMAS * BARBADOS * BELIZE * BRITISH ISLANDS THE REPUBLIC OF*CUBA * DOMINICA * DOMINICAN REPUBLIC*

*GRENADA * GUYANA ^ HAITI * JAMAICA * PUERTO RICO * SURINAME * ST. KITTS AND NEVIS * ST. LUCIA * ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES * TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO *

*ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA * THE BAHAMAS * BARBADOS * BELIZE * BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS * CUBA * DOMINICA * DOMINICAN REPUBLIC *

CARIBBEAN YOUTH ENVIRONMENT NETWORK CONTACT US Via email at: cyen.tt.chapter@gmail.com executivecoordinator@cyen.org Visit our website at: www.cyen.org Like us: www.facebook.com/CYENTT https://www.facebook.com/CYENCaribbean

Or call us at: 1-868-739-6343 Or 1-868-718-7383

IJKLOR

The Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) is a non-profit, civil society, charitable body that focuses its resources on empowering young people and their communities. Mission: The Caribbean Youth Environment Network is a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to improving the quality of life of Caribbean young people by facilitating their personal development and promoting their full involvement in all matters pertaining to the environment and sustainable development. The organisation promotes education and training, Caribbean integration and community empowerment as tools to develop an ethic amongst young people that assists in the conservation and protection of natural resources within the wider Caribbean.

from the Editor It always puzzles and disturbs me when people echo the statement made by George Bernard Shaw that, “youth is wasted on the young.” Young people are accused of many things. Among the chief allegations made against young people is that they are prone to spending their days squandering opportunities and wasting energy on useless pursuits. It seems as though when humans reach a particular age, the general practice is to condescendingly view young people as imbecilic offspring who have no idea what is going on around them. While this generalisation, and others that exist, may not be entirely wrong, it is also not accurate. The young people of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) are here to challenge the aforementioned statement and show that they are highly aware of national, regional and global issues and they are equipped with the skills and capacity to make a difference. Welcome to the sixth issue of CYEN’s online magazine – ECOLife. If the world is to be truly inclusive, active youth participation must be a priority. CYEN continues to strive towards greater inclusion of young people in decision making at national, regional and international levels. We thank you for being part of this effort through your continued support of ECOLife. In ‘Limelight’, we highlight the major activities which CYEN has engaged in from the period January – April 2015. ‘Heroes Among Us’ shines a spotlight on the entrepreneurial initiative of Amira Odeh Quinones of Puerto Rico and ‘In the Hot Seat’ invites you into the world and experiences of CYEN’s Executive Coordinator, Mr. Reginald Burke. The articles by our Caribbean young people are diverse and address issues related to sustainable development, ecotourism, climate change, marine conservation, waste management, and more. This magazine is written and published by young people for young people. I urge you to read with an open mind as these young writers share their experiences and ideas with you. Do enjoy! If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for future issues please feel free to contact us at cyen.tt.chapter@gmail.com Happy Reading! Dizzanne Billy Editor-In-Chief - ECOLife Magazine Caribbean Youth Environment Network – Trinidad and Tobago Chapter

DIZZANNE BILLY

DARYLL GRIFFITH

JULIE LE GENDRE

RIANNA GONZALES

SPECIAL THANKS TO Editor-In-Chief

DISCLAIMER: Although the Caribbean Youth Environment Network has made every effort to ensure that the information in this magazine is correct, the organisation does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions in the content of ECOLife magazine.

Dizzanne Billy, dizz.billy@gmail.com

Associate Editors Julie Le Gendre, legendre.julie@gmail. com

06 Limelight

Rianna Gonzales, riannagonzales@gmail. com

08 Belize: How we view our future

Design & Layout

09 Dat soundin’ nice

Daryll Griffith, daryllgriffith@gmail.com

10 CYEN and World Water Day

Photography Daryll Griffith Rianna Gonzales

12 A step in the right direction

Contributors

14 A message to Youth : Our

Sherazade Ali

tomorrow today

Florian Alvarez Masaō Ashtine

16 50 Inspirational Caribbean

Elson’n Auquel

Women

Jonathan Barcant Stanton Belford Faheema Mohammed

18 Experiencing Haiti : A Country Rich In Culture

Ayesha Constable Karysse Clifton Pierre Jean Roosevelt Chateau

19 ECO-Tourism Considerations

Jessica Laura Florius

20 news from the cyen desk

Rianna Gonzales Delena Indar Elijah James

22 climate change : what is trinidad and tobago doing?

Marc Joseph Julien Julie Le Gendre Cathy Lewis

23 a revelation in waste management

Snaliah Mahal

24 word on the street

Karena Mahung Elon Mc Curdy Louis Molaine

26 the impact of rural exodus on the haitian agricultural sector

Zachary Moore Alexandra Pierre

29 the financial obstacles

Laurent Ernst Raymond Leyana Romain Jamilla Sealy Advira Shand Cherome Williams ECOLife logo designed by Issues and Ideas Designs, issues.ideas@gmail.com

of environmental

non-governmental

organisations in trinidad and tobago

Issue No.6 (Jan-Apr 2015)

CONTENTS 30 marine conservation in haiti 32 plastic T&T - and solutions 34 in the hot seat with reginald burke 36 vibes 38 earth hour 2015 with cyen grenada 39 youths practising sports for a bright future 40 creative advocacy :

mayah mohammed

42 cyen youth water forum : water matters most 45 cyen on the action 2015 committee 46 cyen in world water youth parliament for water in

south korea

47 the importance of corals : what citizens should

know about mutualism

50 youth and climate change 53 global connections:

a trinbago adventure

54 global connections : adopt a negotiator 56 las Islas Bonitas : barbuda - a nature loverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paradise

58 cyen interviews : ayesha constable 60 heroes among us 62 health and living : minimalism

L I M E L I G HT UWI VOLUNTEER OPEN DAY The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine hosted its “Engaging the Community” Volunteer Open Day on Thursday 26th February. The event was organised by the Student Advisory Services in order to facilitate an environment where staff and students can engage with volunteer organisations. This presented an opportunity to introduce CYEN to the population of UWI and increase membership.

CYEN and Good Media Eco Youth Leaders Julie Le Gendre of CYEN in Trinidad and Tobago conducted a presentation to the young people of the Good Media Eco Youth Leaders group in March 2015. She discussed the work of the organisation as well as the environmental projects that are taking place across the Caribbean region - projects that need young minds! The aim was to foster an understanding of how important their engagement in environmental and development work is. The Good Media Eco Youth Leaders programme aims to develop young eco-leaders through training in selected social media platforms and video production and to raise awareness of environmental issues in their communities.

CYEN in the UPS Newsletter In October 2014, CYEN in Trinidad and Tobago partnered with the Universal Package Systems Limited (Authorised Service Contractor for UPS) for our Junior Upcyclers project. This was held at St. George’s College and the event was highlighted in the February 2015 issue of the UPS Authorised Service Contractor Newsletter. This Newsletter has a wide international audience and we are glad to be a part of it. It was a pleasant surprise.

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CYEN on Gayelle TV CYEN had the pleasure of being interviewed live on Gayelle TV. Members were interviewed by the host of Day Prime, Kearn Samuel. As ambassadors for CYEN, Rianna Gonzales, La Tisha Parkinson, and Dizzanne Billy discussed the history of CYEN, World Water Day, and CYEN in Trinidad and Tobagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Youth Water Forum 2015.

CYEN 2015

at the

Youth Explosion

CYEN in St. Lucia participated in Youth Explosion 2015. This was an event organised by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports in commemoration of Youth Month. The St. Lucia Chapter took the chance to promote Earth Hour as well as to showcase CYEN activities to visitors and passersby. CYEN youth took a stand and encouraged others to make a pledge in support of CYEN and its activities and to also make a personal pledge in support of the environment.

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BELIZE: HOW WE VIEW OUR FUTURE Karena Mahung

s Belize, like other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean, in a current state of war for sustainable development? As a young Belizean citizen, my answer is a firm â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. It takes very little effort to draw up the analogy of a war with battles being waged at every corner imaginable to describe our countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pursuit of sustainable development. In the local media, in our workplaces, our schools and our homes, we are reminded daily of the realities of this war in the form of praised success stories, discouraging defeats, constant threats and hopeful solutions for economic, social and environmental victory.

Our willingness to engage in unhealthy partnerships that result in the degradation of our already burdened economic, social and environmental systems is a major factor in many of the battles we have lost and are in the process of losing. The recurring storyline in our history books and the battles that we are currently engaged in highlight our penchant for engaging with partners that significantly profit from deals that shortchange the Belizean people and exploit our natural, human and cultural resources. Such deals have contributed to and continue to impact our growing symptoms of economic, social and environmental deterioration, namely increasing external debt, rapidly rising rates of crime and poverty and habitat and biodiversity loss. How much longer will we allow poisoned partnerships to exploit our people and environment and deter our fight for sustainable development?

This reality is shared with the region and many other states around the world and, as such, platforms for global dialogue and exchange such as the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States held in 2014 are critical. The theme was - The Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States through Genuine and Durable Partnerships, and this conference aimed to provide insight into a key battle tool - partnerships.

Given that we face urgent threats from climate change and unique economic and social vulnerabilities, we can no longer afford crippling partnerships. We must acknowledge our past failings, embrace the lessons learned and move forward with a renewed commitment to seize the opportunity for growth and improvement. One such positive step forward would be the engagement of Belizean youth in partnerships that would undoubtedly bring forth youth perspectives, the unbridled energy and passion characteristic of our generation and a more holistic and interdisciplinary problem solving approach.

The focus was on the importance of partnerships for the success and longevity of initiatives that support sustainable development and was a timely reminder for Belize. Many of the challenges we face as a Small Island Developing State, including increased susceptibility to climate change and natural disasters, as economies of scale, are exacerbated by well as vulnerability to economic shocks, our failure to strategically use the battle social ills and limited opportunities for tool of genuine and durable partnerships.

There is a war to be won and in the pursuit of sustainable development we cannot be victorious without the participation and engagement of our youth. Moving ahead, we look forward to platforms and partnerships that enable input from the youth of Belize in creating and implementing interdisciplinary, inclusive and innovative approaches to guide the sustainable development of our nation.

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Dat

soundin’ nice Masaō Ashtine, Ph.D. student at the University of Cambridge

n our sweet Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), this phrase is usually followed by the word ‘but’. “But it will cost too much” and, of course, the classic “but elections right ‘round de corner!” are best friends to most ideas coming out of our nation, and it seems scepticism has permanently lodged itself into our perspective of change. I am no elusive know-it-all or scientific guru with impeccable journalist talent. I am simply a Trini who has seen T&T come very far but with a vast number of potholes up ahead. Change is coming, and the youth continue to be at the forefront! T&T has long basked in the economic glory of oil, becoming a global powerhouse before we even analysed the implications of this success. Our post-colonial life hit the ground running and we have enjoyed the comfort of seeming victory in a globalised world while leaving more than a few things behind in its wake. Whether rich, poor or simply in the middle, we enjoy the spoils of oil that are littered around the country. Few of us stop to fully understand the origin of this wealth or implications. How many of us, citizens of T&T, make concrete efforts to reduce our carbon footprint? We live in a ‘post-industrial’ world where being ‘green’ is more hipster than ‘man buns’ and still we haven’t taken active measures to diversify our economy. Many other Caribbean nations, in which oil is not only imported but also disproportionately expensive, have purposefully driven their energy sectors to a more eco-sustainable state where the power of the wind and sun is harnessed to fulfil consumer demand. Jamaica, Curaçao, Bonaire, Barbados and others lead the way in slowly loosening the fingers of fossil fuels that firmly grip their energy supply. T&T, on the other hand, dedicates a large amount of our national budget towards fuel subsidies, leaving our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grosser than the term ‘GDP’ intended. We hardly ever give forethought to the cost of energy and this shows in the lack of investment in alternative sources. “Dat soundin’ nice” excitedly rushes out most of our mouths when presented with the idea of a renewable energy sector within T&T, but we seem to be lost as to how to make this a reality. Do we picket on the Waterfront demanding that the government take action? No. Elections are always around the metaphorical corner and raising fuel prices is synonymous with political decapitation. We are standing at the precipice of change where the view of what is to come stops us from taking the leap. It would be remiss of me to tell you “no” or “but” over and over

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since I do think change is inevitable, and the vision needs to stop seeming so unattainable in our minds, particularly in the minds of youth. We exert ourselves complaining, but a fete in T&T is omnipotent in its ability to quickly distract us from the issues at hand. Many are unable to find a balance. While I simply put fingers to a keyboard, many youths are campaigning for solutions and change. We are standing up against highways and speaking out against plastic. We are debunking myths about oil pollution in our waters and protesting for the protection of the wildlife that inhabit our planet. Even our politicians in their political games have proposed the Wind Resource Assessment Programme (WRAP) project with a view to installing wind turbines along our coasts. The youths of our nation see further than the jaded among us and, strangely enough, have a tighter grip on reality even though our passion is often lost in a multitude of complications. We are slowly erasing the ‘dat soundin’ nice but’ from our campaign chalkboard and relishing the optimism that accompanies the sweet tone that ‘nice’ brings to the end of a statement. Don’t ignore the views of the community and the people among us as they are important too and are as much a product of the same political and cultural environment as we are. But we must continue to enlighten, engage and provoke to push these critical issues forward. We just have a few proverbial crosses to bear in the interim.

CYEN was here

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Trinidad and Tobago Learn and Flow Social Media Campaign Launch Water is important to our everyday lives but not everyone remembers this. We all need to stand up and take responsibility for our actions! Actions which reduce the quality of our water. Under the project Learn and Flow: The Arima and Courland Water Stories which is a part of the Water and Sewerage Authority’s (WASA) Adopt A River Programme, CYEN calls for all people to be Water Warriors! Youth Water Forum 2015: Water and Sustainable Development in Trinidad and Tobago Water’s fundamental importance for human development, the environment and the economy needs to feature prominently in the new post-2015 development agenda. It is vital that young people become engaged in the discussion as we are the ones who will inherit the decisions made today. It is in this light, that the Caribbean Youth Environment Network in Trinidad and Tobago hosted its second Youth Water Forum in recognition of World Water Day. This year, we were successful in sharing information and experience on relevant sustainable development planning, and water sector policies, laws, regulations and case studies in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean, providing some background on the main implementation challenges and tools related to the theme of “Water and Sustainable Development,” and ultimately create a platform for discussions between young people and leading experts.

Guyana CYEN in Guyana took a creative approach to celebrating World Water Day 2015 by hosting an Essay Competition. The winning essay was ‘Water and Sustainable Development,’ by Leanna Kalicharan. CYEN Guyana also had an article published in the United Nations Youth Flash Newsletter. This informative piece is entitled ‘Water: A key for Sustainable Development,’ and it was written by Stefan Knights. This Chapter also encouraged its members through social media to engage in advocacy by posting images showing the world what water means to them (#wateris). Here is what they had to say!

St. Kitts and Nevis http://foodtank.com/

A social media campaign was held in conjunction with The Ripple Institute. This featured the United Nations Secretary-General’s Message on World Water Day 22 March 2015 and a purpose created video.

Barbados CYEN in Barbados lead an on-line discussion which focused on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). From 1pm to 8pm, this virtual discussion celebrated what #wateris via Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines CYEN in St. Vincent and the Grenadines held a World Water Day Church Service. Engaging the Emmanuel Christ Gospel Church, on Paul’s Avenue in Kingstown, the SVG crew brought the message of World Water Day to the congregation through discussion.

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A Step In The Right

DIRECTION Advira Shand

conomists throughout the Caribbean have highlighted the substantial economic benefits that the region has derived from tourism. However, we often neglect to highlight the outrageous price that our environment has been made to pay for these economic gains. On a yearly basis, a plethora of tourists in search of pristine, blue waters, exquisite cuisine, and a warm and inviting atmosphere are drawn to our shores. However, many environmentalists argue that such extensive visits by tourists pose a serious threat to our wildlife and our marine and forest habitats. In my estimation, ecotourism is the only solution to this dilemma that our region is currently confronted with. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people”. In the Caribbean, several groups, such as the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, are actively promoting more sustainable tourism in an effort to reduce the negative impacts of tourism on the environment. In addition, several

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Caribbean states are now signatories to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity which has “a direct impact on the development of ecotourism in the Caribbean” (International Wildlife Law n.d.).

and preserving the environment, ecotourism will promote a greater understanding and appreciation among Caribbean nationals for their culture and nature, leading to better conservation practices.

What are the benefits that can be derived from ecotourism? Ecotourism can ensure an influx of nature tourists to the Caribbean region because of our beautiful wildlife and beaches. This can provide jobs for communities in close proximity to national parks and other protected areas through craft industries, food and transportation enterprises, tour and guide agencies which will help to foster economic growth. Ecotourism can also provide meaningful economic incentives for conserving and enhancing bio-cultural diversity. Governments within the Caribbean will become more inclined to protect and preserve the natural and cultural heritage. In addition, by recognising the importance of protecting

Several countries within the Caribbean have started to reap tremendous benefits from ecotourism through the creation of resorts and lodges that “cater to those interested in low-impact travel”. These countries include Trinidad (Asa Wright Nature Centre and Lodge), St. John (Concordia Eco-Tents), Anguilla (CusinArt Resort and Spa), and the Dominican Republic (Natura Cabanas and the Attabeyra Spa). It is now up to other Caribbean states that have not yet adopted a sustainable and progressive approach to ‘ecotourism’ to follow the path that has been paved for them so that we can all join in the fight to protect and preserve our beautiful region.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are who we are because of our environment. It shapes us and determines our standard of living. We would be nothing without it, so it is important to take care of itâ&#x20AC;? - Katrina Khan, CYEN member

A Message To Youth :

My Fellow

Youth,

Should we worry about our tomorrow or decide what our tomorrow will be today? Every day, in the Caribbean and abroad, there are decisions being made by our political leaders and other policy makers that will affect the future that the young people of our region will inherit. As such, now more than ever, it is imperative that we, as young people, take a more proactive role in the process of formulating solutions and policies to address the varying and mounting challenges facing our region. In this way, we will be able to ensure that our future and even the future of generations to come will be productive, peaceful and prosperous. As the future caretakers of our Caribbean home we must strive to be assertive and send a message that, as young people, we are not be taken lightly. We need to endeavour to make ourselves visible to our Caribbean governments and leaders and communicate the fact that we are integral stakeholders

who must be consulted and involved, on every level and in every aspect, in the day-to-day decision making processes on issues affecting our lives. We need to establish that we are not obstacles to development or charity cases to be appeased and forgotten. In light of this, I am of the view that in order for us to maintain the integrity of our societies and safeguard our Caribbean way of life that is gradually being eroded by the challenge to survive in a globalised environment, we need to act now on the following issues on a socioeconomic, cultural or political level.

Good Governance, Civic Awareness and Youth Participation Looking across the present landscape of the Caribbean, it is notable that young people dominate most Caribbean populations in number. However, despite this fact, the overall level of youth participation, directly or indirectly, in processes aimed at ensuring the accountability and transparency of our political leaders and the endurance of good governance is marginal. Therefore, I propose the establishment of a non-governmental electronic voting mechanism or system that would allow citizens of each Caribbean country to be able to initiate action, support processes and express their opinions on pertinent societal issues. Together with this, an ongoing civic awareness

Our Tomorrow Today! campaign to educate and engage youth and citizens on a whole about the political process is encouraged. This will contribute to an increase in the overall participation of the citizenry in the governance process and the results gathered from such a system could provide useful data for political leaders to make more informed decisions regarding the allocation of resources based on the needs of the people.

Greener Energy, Economic Environmental Protection

Growth

and

As Small Island Developing States (SIDS), we are very vulnerable to the consequences of environmental changes. These changes stem from climate change - intense natural disasters and coastal erosion - or even the economic pressure to utilise more and more green spaces as well as increasing dependence on fossil fuels to support economic growth. I would like to see governments and communities work closer together to ensure that legislation is put in place to protect and preserve the vulnerable areas of the environment in Caribbean countries. Moreover, we need to focus efforts on projects aimed at shifting our dependence on fossil fuels to alternative energy sources - solar, wind, biofuels - that can drive economic activity in our societies. Switching to these sources can also help to reduce the flow of currency overseas to oil conglomerates.

Unemployment and Education More and more young people are finding it difficult to secure employment when they finish their academic studies. One of the reasons cited for this is the fact that the education system has been training students to become employees instead of entrepreneurs. As a result, there is an abundance of workers for a limited number of jobs. Another barrier to youth entrepreneurship that has been identified is the lack of access to financial resources to invest in a business idea. I recommend that greater emphasis be placed on developing policies that promote systems for educating young people on how to become business owners and the provision of easier access to financing via traditional or innovative means. So fellow youth, while the issues I mentioned above are but a scratch on the surface of the current challenges faced by youth in Caribbean society, let us not forget that the future belongs to us and that effecting change to overcome challenges in every society is a constant struggle. Despite this reality, it is encouraging and exciting for us as young people to remember that our prospects for the future are bright thanks to our passion, imagination and ability to innovate. Our dreams of a better life and a better Caribbean can transcend mere wishful thinking - they can become our reality once we are willing to take responsibility and play our part in deciding what our tomorrow will be today.

Author: Elijah James is a young Caribbean social activist with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. He holds a special interest in communications, the environment, democracy and youth development. He currently serves as the focal point of Antigua and Barbuda for the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN)

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50 INSPIRATIONAL CARIBBEAN WOMEN Can you name an inspiring Caribbean woman who has left her mark on the region? In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2015, celebrated on March 8th, we highlight 50 Caribbean women from diverse fields who have made a positive contribution to Caribbean society. May you also be inspired to live a life of passion and positivity!

1. Celia Sánchez Manduley (Cuba) Cuban revolutionary, politician, researcher and activist

10. Dame Pearlette Louisy (St. Lucia) First Governor General of St. Lucia and lifelong educator

First female agronomist in Barbados and first agronomist to serve as an Independent Senator

2. Cher Corbin (Barbados) First forensic scientist in Barbados, actress, photographer, poet and novelist

11. Dame Ruth Nita Barrow (Barbados) Regional expert on public health and education, served as an Advisor for the Caribbean Area to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and as a health consultant to the World Health Organisation (WHO), appointed as Governor General of Barbados in 1990 and is the first woman to receive the Order of the Caribbean Community

17. Dr. Rosalind Ambrose (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) First trained female Vincentian radiologist, pioneer for advancement in medical imaging technology in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and founding member of the Caribbean Society of Radiologists

3. Constance Mitcham (St. Kitts and Nevis) Lawyer, champion for women’s rights and first female elected to the Parliament of St. Kitts and Nevis 4. Cynthia McLeod (Suriname) Surinamese historical writer and intellectual with novels of international acclaim that feature prominently in Surinamese school literature and society 5. Dame Dr. Doris Johnson (Bahamas) Teacher, leading advocate for women’s suffrage in the Bahamas, first female appointed to the Senate, first female President of the Senate, first female Minister of Government and author 6. Dame Elmira Minita Gordon (Belize) First Governor General of Belize, Patron of the Belize Girl Guides Association and Scout Association of Belize and trained psychologist 7. Dame Eugenia Charles (Dominica) First female lawyer in Dominica and first female to be elected as Prime Minister in the Caribbean 8. Dame Hilda Bynoe (Grenada) First Governor of Grenada and in the British Commonwealth, general physician and writer 9. Dame Louise Lake-Tack (Antigua and Barbuda) Lawyer and first female Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda

12. Dame Yvonne Maginley (Antigua and Barbuda) Lifetime pioneer of tourism development in the Caribbean, Director General of the Tourism Board in Antigua and Barbuda and Deputy Governor General from 1999-2004 13. Dana Seetahal (Trinidad and Tobago) Attorney-at-law (appointed Senior Counsel in 2006), served as State Prosecutor, Assistant Solicitor General, Magistrate and Independent Senator, university lecturer, newspaper columnist and author. Her first book “Commonwealth Caribbean Criminal Practice and Procedure” is the first of its kind to be published in the region 14. Dr. Camille Wardrop Alleyne (Trinidad and Tobago) Aerospace engineer and only woman of Caribbean descent to hold a senior management position at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) agency 15. Dr. Desiree Cox (Bahamas) First woman from the British Caribbean to win a Rhodes Scholarship, medical doctor, social entrepreneur, jazz singer, artist and writer 16. Dr. Frances Chandler (Barbados)

18. Ertha Pascal-Trouillot (Haiti) First woman in Haitian history to hold the office of President, first female lawyer in Haiti, first female Justice of the Supreme Court of Haiti, writer and teacher 19. Edwidge Danticat (Haiti) Haitian author of more than 10 books representing life in Haitian society and her experience as a Haitian in America 20. Ellen Peters (Montserrat) Pioneer of the labour movement in Montserrat, General Secretary of the Montserrat Trades and Labour Union 21. Gladys Bustament (Jamaica) Leading advocate for workers’ and women’s rights in Jamaica and prominent member of the Jamaican trade union movement 22. Heraldine Rock (St. Lucia) First female member of Parliament in St. Lucia, first female Minister of Government and Senator from 1982-1987 23. Her Excellency Menissa Rambally (St. Lucia) Youngest member elected to the Parliament of St. Lucia at age 21, youngest serving Minister and St. Lucia’s first female Permanent Representative to the United Nations

24. Isabella Ribeiro De Cabral (Trinidad and Tobago) First female pilot in the history of Trinidad and Tobago

33. Lorna Goodison (Jamaica) Jamaican poet, artist and writer who has represented the intricacies of Caribbean society in her work

25. Jacinth Henry-Martin (St. Kitts and Nevis) Appointed as the first female Ambassador to the United States of America, serves as the Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), calypsonian, poet and writer

34. Louise Bennett-Coverley (Jamaica) Jamaican poet, folklorist, writer and educator who used Jamaican Creole in her work and gave validity to the language of the people

26. Jacqueline Armony (St. Kitts and Nevis) Champion for the protection and conservation of the historical, cultural and environmental heritage of St. Kitts and Nevis and a key leader in the growth of the St. Christopher Heritage Society, the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park and the National Museum 27. Jamaica Kincaid (Antigua and Barbuda) Born Elaine Potter Richardson in St. John’s, Antigua, Jamaica is the internationally acclaimed author of more than 10 books representing Caribbean life 28. Janet Jagan (Guyana) First female Prime Minister of Guyana, first female President of Guyana and labour activist 29. Jean Rhys (Dominica) Born Ellen Gwendolen Rees Williams, Jean is a Dominican author of more than 10 books dealing with the role of women in society and her own experience growing up in the post-colonial Caribbean 30. Jocelyne Trouillot-Lévy (Haiti) Pioneering Haitian educator and author of several children’s books, textbooks and biographies 31. Justice Désirée Bernard (Guyana) First female High Court Judge of the Supreme Court of Guyana, first female Justice of Appeal, first female Chief Justice of Guyana and in the Commonwealth Caribbean, first female Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana and in the Commonwealth of the Caribbean and the first female Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice 32. Kowsilla ‘Alice’ of Leonara (Guyana) Estate worker and labour activist who was killed while protesting the exploitative conditions of the sugar industry

35. Magda Lois Muriel Pollard (Guyana) Lifelong advocate for women’s empowerment and women’s rights, appointed as the first Women’s Affairs Officer at the CARICOM Secretariat 36. Marijke Djwalapersad (Suriname) Politician, first woman to become Chair of the National Assembly of Suriname 37. Merlene Ottey (Jamaica) Caribbean sprinting legend, first woman from the English-speaking Caribbean to win an Olympic medal and holder of several sprinting records 38. Maureen Manchouck (Trinidad and Tobago) Dedicated her professional life to promoting science and technology in the Caribbean and her efforts have established her as a pioneer of the movement to improve science and technology education and literacy for the past 30 years 39. Mia Mottley (Barbados) Attorney-at-law, youngest ever Queen’s Council in Barbados, first female Opposition Leader in Barbados and first female Attorney General 40. Mirlande Hyppolite Manigat (Haiti) Educator, author, constitutional scholar and politician 41. Odette Roy Fombrun (Haiti) Advocate for Haitian education and development, educator, historian, activist, feminist and author 42. Olive Senior (Jamaica) Poet, novelist, short story and non-fiction writer. Her famous poetry collection Gardening in the Tropics has formed part of the education syllabus in the Caribbean and for the International Baccalaureate 43. Pearl Christian (Dominica) Cultural icon, musician and first female Calypso Monarch of Dominica

44. Professor Joycelin Massiah (Guyanese born, citizen of Barbados) Academic, researcher, advocate for women’s rights and development, first female professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences and first female Head of Department at the Cave Hill Campus of the UWI 45. Thelma ‘Lady Trinidad’ Lewis (Trinidad and Tobago) First woman to sing in a calypso tent and first female singer to record a calypso 46. Winifred Gaskin (Guyana) Activist for women’s rights and female empowerment, journalist, politician and founding member of Guyana’s first women’s political organisation – the Women’s Political and Economic Organisation (WPEO) 47. Zelma ‘Zee’ Edgell (Belize) Journalist, internationally acclaimed author most famous for her first book Beka Lamb, professor, served as Director of Women’s Affairs for the Belizean government 48. Zoila Ellis-Browne (Belize) First Garifuna woman in Belize to become a lawyer, women’s rights activist, environmental law practitioner, founder of the Garifuna Heritage Foundation Inc. and writer 48. Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa Mirabal (The Mirabal Sisters of the Dominican Republic) Led a resistance movement against the government dictatorship, assassinated in 1960 50. María Bibiana Benítez (Puerto Rico) Recognised as Puerto Rico’s first female poet and one of its first playwrights. She published her first poem La Ninfa de Puerto Rico in 1832 and La Cruz del Morro was the first dramatic play to be written by a Puerto Rican woman

Note: This list is not ranked and is by no means an exhaustive presentation of all the strong Caribbean women who have inspired and continue to inspire their families, communities, and the world.

Experiencing Haiti: A Country Rich in Culture

aiti remains one of the poorest countries in the Southern Hemisphere in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With the second highest population in the Caribbean (10,911,819 inhabitants in 2015 according to the Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics), Haiti is plagued by challenges such as poverty, unemployment, chronic hunger, and regular political crises all of which have negative social, environmental, and economic consequences. The country seems to be locked in the glorious past when its generals marked Haiti in history as the first independent black country of the world and established itself as a leading example in the 19th century for Latin America. Thus, the ‘Pearl of the West Indies’, as Haiti was referred to at the time when it was the most prosperous French colony in the West Indies, appears to belong far in the past. Still, one thing that persists - intact and powerful - in Haitian society and in the world is the Haitian culture. Anthropologist Dr. Edward Adamson Hoebel defined culture as “the integrated system of learned behaviour patterns which are characteristic of the members of a society and which are not the result of biological inheritance” (Anthropology: The Study of Man, 1972). The Haitian culture is among the richest cultures of the Caribbean. The most famous Haitian author, Dany Laferrière, was elected to the French Academy for his exceptional contribution to French literature. The wide variety of Haitian folklore music which includes konpa, twoubadou, and rasin produces a guitar and drum vibes you will not find anywhere else. Haiti is famous for its architecture. Its gingerbread houses with French windows and iron sloping roofs do resemble the other gingerbread houses of the Caribbean, but they are still unique to Haiti. They are unique because the architects had to deal with a tough geological context in the face of political instability. The ways in which these challenges were overcome gave a fantastic

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architectural result. Haiti’s palace monuments at the National History Park - Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers - became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. The Sans Souci Palace is the creation of the visionary Henri Christophe (King Henry I) who, at the beginning of the 19th century, erected the beautiful and magnificent palace at the top of a very high mountain to protect the Haitian population against the possible return of the French. Carnival and the rural feast (fête champêtre) are very popular in Haiti. Jacmel, a coastal town in the south of Haiti, is a popular town and hosts its own lively Carnival outside of the national Carnival celebrations. Haiti is a very religious society with a history of syncretism between Catholicism and Voodoo. Haitians are creative artists and this creativity can even be seen in the public transportation system in the form of the picturesque tap taps - buses or trucks painted in vibrant colours and intricate designs. Haitian cuisine, a mixture of rich flavours and strong spices, features famous dishes such as the national rice (yellow and white rice), green fried plantains, pumpkin soup and fried accra, to name a few. There is little need to emphasise Haiti’s already famous rum and beer and the beauty of its beaches! In the face of societal collapse and the pressing need to redraw the destiny of the nation, Haitian youths need to become a key pillar for creating change. The many educated youths who are involved in the life of Haiti are the best guardians of Haitian authenticity and represent the most sensitive thermometer of our rich Haitian culture.

Laurent Ernst RAYMOND Jessica Laura FLORIUS

cotourism is a business, albeit a business that enriches the lives of visitors and seeks to protect the natural and cultural environment. At the same time, it also provides numerous benefits to host communities by generating income, creating jobs in the local community, developing skills and promoting culture. It is this factor that sets ecotourism apart from nature-based tourism, green tourism and responsible tourism. The Caribbean, especially in the 20th century, was best known for its alluring combination of sun, sand and sea. However, it is globally recognised that mass tourism has negative effects on destinations in the long term, leaving communities helpless and natural sites in a fragile state. With increasing knowledge about environmental issues, ecotourism logically developed as a model to secure economic benefits while managing tourists sustainably by ensuring that the host environment is protected in a sustainable manner. With this in mind, many persons who now visit the Caribbean crave destinations that embody the principles of ecotourism. However, while many places have evolved to meet these needs, some that simply do not exhibit an understanding of the core principles of ecotourism are still marketed as such. So, what exactly should persons who want to support ecotourism be looking for? And what should businesses who want to attract ecotourists consider?

ECOTourism

Considerations Delena Indar Infrastructure development is another key element that must be considered. An ecotourism operator should not be enticed by consumers who spend more but require unsustainable luxury. There must be an efficient use of space and especially materials. Ecotourism sites, in perfect practice, utilise renewable energy sources such as solar water heaters and lighting, especially in the case of ecolodges. Waste should be disposed of with minimum damage to the surrounding environment. Therefore, ecosystem maintenance should take precedence over development considerations at all times. Monitoring of visitor impact should factor heavily in an ecotourism activity since visitors have environmental and social impacts. Areas that are particularly vulnerable and utilised the most as well

as locations where effects are unknown should be monitored frequently by the local community, field staff, researchers and even visitors themselves. For activities such as hikes, visitor guides can be the ones monitoring the impact of tourists. There is no secret recipe to establishing a successful ecotourism business especially since ownership of ecotourism typically falls into three categories - NGO, private and government. This generally determines which aspects get the most emphasis. However, best practice dictates that the major stakeholders are the direct community and that partnerships are critical to ensuring that all aspects - policy, cultural practices, conservation or income generation successfully intersect.

Ecotourism involves educating the Cultural aspects are integrated into community and visitors (ASA Wright an ecotourism theme (Cleaver Woods, Nature Centre, Trinidad) Trinidad)

The first thing to bear in mind is the definition of ecotourism. According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the wellbeing of local peopleâ&#x20AC;?. Essentially, all dimensions of sustainability must be met in the ecotourism framework environmental (positive impact on the natural environment), experiential (high quality of visit), socio-cultural (education/ knowledge and cultural benefits) and economic (stimulates economic activity and growth). Furthermore, site design is a major element to consider in an ecotourism business. Firstly, the determined carrying capacity of the natural area must be respected so that the natural habitat is not severely affected by human activity. The particular area where persons are allowed should be developed in a way that ensures that there is minimal impact as a result of visitor use while still allowing accessibility to the ecotourism attraction. The site/attraction should also be designed so that it incorporates cultural aspects of the specific community.

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Ecotourism involves responsible travel There must be a very active buy-in and to natural areas and show little impact involvement of the local community on the site (Saint Pierre, Martinique) (Island Safari, Barbados)

N EWS FRO M THE CYE N DES K

1 The Bahamas makes history with launch of CYEN Chapter - Canishka Alexander A Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) interest meeting held at Abaco Central High (ACH) School on February 25th led to the membership of four Abaco High School students in addition to the registration of four associate members. d’Shan Maycock, founder of ECOnnect and CYEN’s focal point for The Bahamas stated, “It is my duty to get The Bahamas on board, as the focal point for The Bahamas chapter, which will start right here on Abaco,” Maycock shared, “You will actually be making history in terms of becoming members of CYEN.” The students were informed about opportunities offered through CYEN inclusive of scholarships, job opportunities and overall improvement of their lifestyle. Maycock said CYEN is also a good opportunity to gain a better understanding of socio-economic issues. d’Shan highlighted that as members of CYEN, young people get to be the ones to make decisions, come up with their projects, learn how to find funding for your projects, and learn how to write proposals. “All of these are life skills,” Maycock reiterated and we agree. CYEN gives young people the chance to develop experience that is needed in real life, both personally and professionally. “Let your voice be heard now; don’t wait until you graduate from high school,” Maycock emphasised. “CYEN will empower you to raise your voices so that you can have active participation in what goes on in your community and your country.”

Welcoming new executive members of the CYEN team Barbados: National Coordinator - Sade Deane Deputy National Coordinator/Project Coordinator Jamilla Sealy Administrative Assistant - Kimberley Lawrence Public Relations Officer - Sharifa Yard Guyana: National Coordinator - Ms. Elon Mc Curdy President - Mr. Godfrey Scott Vice-President - Mr. Mahendra Doraisami Secretary - Ms. Dionne Cush Treasurer - Ms. Leanna Kalicharan Volunteer Coordinator - Ms. Nakasi Fortune

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Trinidad and Tobago

Member of the Quarter January - March 2015 - Renaldo Lewis Renaldo Lewis began studying Environmental Management at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTATT) in 2002 and continued his educational pursuits by reading for a BSc. in Environmental and Marine Biology from the University of the West Indies (UWI) in 2005. Upon graduation, Renaldo worked for two years at the Sugarcane Feeds Centre as an Assistant Livestock Technician/Extension Officer before beginning his MSc. in Environmental and Natural Resource Management. After teaching for a while, Renaldo started his Environmental and Agricultural Consultancy Company, where he monitors Tilapia fish projects for the Community Development Fund. Renaldo has been a member of CYEN for almost two years and he plays an integral role in the projects unit.

Advocacy through Design T-Shirt contest winner Lè Jay Lett Design Title - Our Green Imprint When asked what inspired him to design this image for CYEN, Lè Jay said “I believe that humankind is different from every other form of life on earth. As the most dominant, we have total control over who and what lives on this planet. Therefore, our decisions leave an imprint. By hurting the life on this planet we hurt ourselves. We need to realise that we are one and the same.”

PRO-Ms. Onika Stellingburg

Grenada:

Trinidad and Tobago:

President - Nickson Barry Vice President - Lynell Gilbert Secretary - Greg Redhead Communications Officer - Kerricia Hobson Project Coordinator - Leyana Romain Treasurer - Laurissa Mark Assistant Secretary Treasurer - Takima Gilbert

National Coordinator - Rianna Gonzales President - Dizzanne Billy Vice President - Ezra Bartholomew General Secretary - Adaeze Greeendige Treasurer - Odessa Fortune Communications Officer - La Tisha Parkinson Project Coordinator - Daniel Robinson Assistant Treasurer - Rhea Nelson Assistant Communications Officer Jewel Nelson Assistant Project Coordinator - Rondell Daniel ECOLife Magazine Page 21

CLIMATE CHANGE What is Trinidad and Tobago doing? Karysse Clifton

Climate change is real. The Earth’s temperature is rising at an unprecedented rate. According to the the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Agency, the year 2014 recorded the warmest temperature, ever! Furthermore, average global temperature is expected to continue to rise. Temperature rise is not the only impact of climate change; sea levels continue to rise all around the world, countries are experiencing drought, invasive species are running rampant, and natural disasters are intensifying.

2) Institutional arrangements to lead and direct climate change programming – the evolving role of the EMA, establishment of a Strategic Climate Change Programme Implementation Unit, and mechanisms for collaboration with other key stakeholders 3) Institutional arrangements to “mainstream’ climate change into sector planning/development – the role of the EMA and support required by sector agencies 4) Institutional arrangements to facilitate the engagement of private sector and civil society in climate change programming - role of the EMA and the support required by private sector and

Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) signed on to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, which require the monitoring and reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs in partnership with the National Gas Company (NGC), National Petroleum (NP) and the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) recently introduced buses that are fuelled by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). What else is being done? Apart from the Environmental Management Act (2000), T&T has introduced a number of policies which seek to address environmental issues at a national level. Some of these policies include the: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

National Environmental Policy (2006) National Climate Change Policy (2011) National Policy and Programmes on Wetland Conservation for Trinidad and Tobago (2002) National Protected Areas Policy (2011) National Forest Policy (2011) National Tourism Policy of Trinidad and Tobago (2010)

The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) has embarked on a review of the relevant legislations and policies encompassing environmental management and sustainable development in the context of climate change. In light of this, the EMA held a stakeholder consultation workshop on climate change on the 12th March, 2015. The aim of this workshop was to enable stakeholders to review the key findings of the Situation Analysis Report of the legislation and policy review conducted by consultants, de Romilly & de Romilly Limited. The stakeholders were divided into five breakout groups to focus on the following areas which were addressed in the Situation Analysis Report: 1) Institutional arrangements for improved inter-agency coordination on climate change policy implementation – legally establishing the National Climate Change Committee, its composition and mandate

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civil society 5) Financing for climate change programming – the needs (both domestic and international) and requirements to facilitate improved access to climate change financing. Following the breakout sessions, the stakeholders presented several recommendations and the CYEN representatives were sure to stress that youth consultation and involvement is necessary at all levels, from planning to implementation. Further to the stakeholder consultation workshop, the EMA is expected to include the relevant recommendations within the Situation Analysis Report to strengthen legislation and policy in the context of climate change.

A Revelation in

WASTE MANAGEMENT Cherome Williams

“

Did you know that Trinidad and Tobago is the second highest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita?

”

he day is here when people can come together and produce more useful things to save this precious planet guys! It is such an exciting topic that I have to share it with all you green buffs. Picture this - landfill gas to produce renewable energy. BOOM! I was taken aback by this news and had to kick myself for not having heard of this sooner. The rundown goes something like this. Listen up. The day to day routine of every individual is basically to wake up, work and then go back to sleep. There are several steps in between there that are just too boring to talk about. Let’s face it. Why would you want to know about people bathing or brushing their teeth? That may be too much information. Not the point though. Stay with me here. We all eat, right? So this means we all produce physical waste. As that bag of garbage leaves your house and you go on your knees to thank God for the scent of a fresh house, do you think about what happens to it?

http://galleryhip.com/

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Just as I have captured your interest, this question about waste also captured the minds of some brilliant and creative people some time ago. This question gave birth to ways of thinking about waste that I hope the Caribbean adopts and puts into meaningful action soon. The birth of Waste Management was the ticket the earth needed to escape the damage done to it. I’m telling you, I don’t think I can survive with aliens on Mars. I need my space. Get it? The average household produces an average of 5 kilograms of garbage per day. What in the world are we eating? Looking on the bright side, it is our filthy waste that now has the potential to power hundreds and even thousands of companies and homes today as a result of the methane gas emitted by waste products.

Over 499 landfills throughout North America have been changing to this magnificent solution to the waste challenge. Still don’t get it? Think about it this way. Imagine waking up to a an environment where there is cleaner air, reduced pollution, more trees, more green space! This is what the use of methane gas from landfills can give you. Did you know that methane gas is more toxic than carbon dioxide? However, this toxic gas can be used for a much greater purpose. Imagine not complaining about the price of gas because there will be no need to buy. Think about waking up and not having to hear a breaking news story on the latest oil spill that is killing our wildlife and poisoning our waters. To me, this could be our next best thing. Did you know that Trinidad and Tobago is the second highest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita? It is imperative that we adopt progressive waste management practices in this precious island. No more smelly Beetham or a blanket of smog over its environs. Think about a cleaner Trinidad and Tobago. The creative use of our garbage as a fuel can save our environment and our country. Don’t you agree?

pa l ab r a e n l a

Word on

ca l l e Stre

¿Qué significa CYEN para ti? What does CYEN

“I love CYEN. To me it represents a chance to lend my voice to a worthy cause. CYEN has passionate, dedicated, and intelligent individuals and this presents the opportunity to learn. Their enthusiasm and drive is very contagious!” - La Toya Jeffrey

“In my opinion, CYEN is one of the most important NGOs existing in the region. I value the chance to engage in discussions concerning the issues that are often reserved for policy-makers. It provides an opportunity to create a global movement to promote environmental sustainability.” - Amanda Perkins

“CYEN means a great deal to me because it affords me the opportunity to interact with youth from a plethora of Caribbean territories and it assists me greatly in my attempt to protect and preserve the environment around me.” - Advira Shand

“CYEN represents a positive change and influence for me. It provokes thought and action. CYEN is all inclusive. It incorporates many factors. My experience so far with CYEN-T&T has been breathtaking and remarkable. I would not wish for a more beautiful group of people to work with. THANK YOU CYEN-T&T!” - Adaeze Greenidge

“I joined CYEN for the purpose of improving my resumé. However, once I became familiar with the attitudes of the individuals who came before me and I saw the potential that this group of young persons has to change our local culture with respect to environmental issues, I was sold. CYEN is one of those institutions that fosters the growth and improvement of our youth locally and regionally and I have grown to love the members I work with.” - Odessa Fortune “I joined CYEN because I believe that we can change the mindset of individuals and teach them the importance of caring for, protecting, and preserving nature.” - Asha Biroo “CYEN means a lot to me as I am exposed to environmental issues from all over the world. I joined CYEN to be a part of a youth organisation within Trinidad and Tobago and I have no regrets!” - Vikki Ramdass

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n the

m ot s u r

e et la rue

N mean to you? Que veut-dire CYEN pour moi?

“The efforts that the young people of CYEN put in to what they do can give anyone hope that the coming generations will have something resembling a chance at redemption for the sins of our fathers.” - Daryll Griffith

“CYEN is family oriented and a very informative medium for research and development. Also, I appreciate the opportunities to interact with different types of organisations and groups. CYEN is a remarkable organisation and will continue its excellence.” - Jhon Pierre Maxwell

“La Red Ambiental Juvenil del Caribe (CYEN por sus siglas en inglés) significa para mí una plataforma de liderazgo y empoderamiento en materia ambiental, desarrollo sostenible, y otros temas relacionados, para la juventud del Caribe. Es un espacio de crecimiento, donde tenemos la oportunidad de aprender pero también de ayudar a otros que a que aprendan y tomen acción a nivel local, nacional, regional e internacional.’ - Gina Lisselle Rosario Diaz “CYEN is a platform for leadership and empowerment in environmental, sustainable development and other issues related to the Caribbean youth. It is a space of growth, where we have the opportunity to learn but also to help others to learn and take action at the local, national, regional and international level.” - Gina Lisselle Rosario Diaz “Pou mwen, Rezo karayibeen jèn pou lanviwonman (CYEN an Angle) se yon rezo ekstraòdinè kote ou genyen alafwa opòtinite aprann, fòme tèt ou e sitou aji. Infòmasyon ki pataje toutan e sou tout kalite sijè se youn nan pi gwo fòs rezo a. Anplis, CYEN se yon kote mwen rive vreman aprann konnen rejyon m sòti ladan lan. Tout zile yo ap sibi menm pwoblèm. - Alexandra Vanessa Destin PIERRE “For me, CYEN is an extraordinary network where you have the opportunity to, at the same time, learn, train yourself, be informed and most importantly to act. The sharing of information on any subject and at any time is one of the greatest strength of this network. In addition, CYEN is also a place where I have started to really know my region. All of the islands are facing the same problems.” - Alexandra Vanessa Destin Pierre

“Le Réseau caraïbéen des jeunes pour l’environnement est pour moi une opportunité qu’il faut saisir haut les mains, nous les jeunes, pour faire face à notre réalité environnementale. Notre culture, notre biodiversité, notre milieu de vie, notre mode de vie constituent également notre environnement.” - Stève LAURENT “CYEN is for me an opportunity that we, young people, shouldn’t miss to deal with our environmental reality. Our cultures, our biodiversity, our living, our way of life are also parts of this environment.” - Stève Laurent

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The Impact of Rural Exodus on the Haitian Agricultural Sector Elsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;n Auquel

Haitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy depends largely on agriculture. However, for many years the Haitian agricultural sector has been facing a major challenge - rural exodus. The terms rural depopulation, rural flight or rural exodus have been used for a long time to describe a particular type of internal migration. All of these terms refer to the movement of the rural population to the cities or, in other words, rural-urban migration. This departure is due in large part to youth migration to the cities and this poses a threat to agricultural productivity. In general, young people between the ages of 19 to 30 do not have a good view of agriculture. They are discouraged by the effects of climate change which result in reduced crop yields, natural catastrophes that destroy plantations and also the non-marketing of agricultural products. They prefer to move to Port-au-Prince to work in the clothing factories, engage in the trade of soft drinks or become a motorcycle taxi driver. For young people in modern society, it is more socially acceptable to work in urban centres than to labour in fields. Haiti is a developing country and in rural areas people usually take part in an agricultural system called family farming. In this system all agricultural activities are undertaken by the family. The rural agricultural production represents 68% of the Haitian economy (Institute for Haitian Statistics and Informatics). This is an archaic agricultural system which means that the different activities (plowing, ridging, sowing) are performed manually. With the exodus of young people to the city, rural agriculture suffers from a labour shortage because the manual work is

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often carried out by young people. This presents the difficult challenge of finding labour to work when it is time for land preparation and planting. Because of a lack of labour, farmers are forced to reduce the number cultivated areas each season which in turn affects agricultural production in the area. Haitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth population is large with an estimated 70% of persons under the age of 30 (Institute for Haitian Statistics and Informatics). Agriculture is a very interesting job and an important economic sector that provides nourishment for the population. Agricultural productivity cannot be assured if the responsibility is placed solely on the shoulders of the older generation. But in the opinion of the young, soil has no profit. Awareness campaigns must be organised in all rural areas to encourage young people to become more involved in agriculture. Strategies must be developed to create markets for the sale of their products which will allow them to earn money in order to stay and develop their rural communities. These measures could help to pause migration to the city and motivate young people to engage in agriculture to ensure food security for their families and their communities.

Our rivers, Our forests, Our people. - Kemba Jaramogi, CYEN T&T Youth Water Forum 2015 : Water and Sustainable Development

The Financial Obstacles of Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations in Trinidad & Tobago Faheema Mohammed

unding for environmental nongovernmental organisations (eNGOs) in Trinidad and Tobago is either a hit or miss. ‘Successful’ eNGOs that are currently in existence cannot stay afloat without financial assistance in the form of grants or funding from local or international environment-related institutions. In Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), the Green Fund, viewed as the golden egg in the environmental field, is the only source of major funding for T&T based eNGOs. However, due to the Fund’s rigorous process, it is not very easy to gain approval for project funding and many eNGOs and individuals have had their dreams dashed because their projects could not survive the scrutiny of the approval board. To put it simply, every eNGO or individual cannot look to the Green Fund for financial assistance to initiate environmental programmes, as should be the case since there are many pathways to receiving financial assistance. So what can eNGOs do besides knocking on the door of the Green Fund? Well, it is now up to eNGOs to look past traditional avenues of financial assistance, since financial assistance can take many forms. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are not new but they are certainly not a regularly used funding scheme for many eNGOs. When eNGOs understand that they cannot depend solely on governmentbased assistance, they will be motivated to find creative and innovative ways to financially support their programmes. Many new case studies have highlighted the advantages to eNGOs of exploring innovative ways of gaining financial assistance. Some of the ways to gain private sector buy-in that have proven successful include appealing to the social and environmental responsibility of businesses, especially large corporations. Partnering with like-minded businesses in mutually beneficial arrangements that guarantee the advertisement of their products and services is always a great way to reel in businesses. However, these products and services must not be in conflict with the vision

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and mission statement of the eNGO. A recent article from a business website (www.dynamicbusiness. com.au) stated that NGOs in a particular field were beginning to pitch ideas to various philanthropists in order to gain funding. This can be seen as a sort of ‘Dragon’s Den’ approach. Perhaps a ‘Green Dragon’s Den’ or a ‘Green Start-Up Weekend’ is more than overdue in T&T and the rest of the Caribbean. A regional Green Start-Up competition can attract many business regionally and internationally and will allow eNGOs in each Caribbean state to challenge each other by pitching their best ideas and strategies for a chance to gain the necessary funding and assistance to get their projects off the ground. There are already variations of this in the Caribbean but emphasis should be placed on creating similar events that specifically target green initiatives and projects. Another approach that can be taken is the collaboration of like-minded eNGOs and the pooling of resources in order to carry out joint activities and programmes. Collaboration among eNGOs can only increase the success of their programmes and activities. It may also assist in securing funds as the collaborative effort is in itself an advantage. It is highly likely that numerous persons have already suggested these and other alternatives. It is now up to eNGOs to determine if their projects are worth fighting for or if they will allow their ideas to be flushed away. Let us become innovative not just in environmental ideas but in the way we source and secure sustainable funding. Happy finance hunting!

Haiti is the second largest country in the Caribbean in terms of population and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Making the news this year was the aberrant and sad case of the humpback whale that surfaced at Fort Liberté Bay. Despite the diligent efforts of Haitian conservationists, local officials and international scientific research communities to save the whale, it did not survive as a result of its wounds. Efforts to get the damaged whale out to the Atlantic Ocean were futile because of the narrow entrance leading from Fort Liberté Bay. The fact that it was frightened and harpooned by Haitian fishermen did not help. The Haitian fishermen just saw the large mammal as an economic opportunity - more than 100 tonnes of meat waiting to be sold. Due to a lack of education and information, many fishermen are not aware of the importance of whales to conservation biology and the environment. Uninformed behaviour as displayed in the case above is not confined to Haitian fishermen. Generally, a lot is not known about the marine environment or it is simply ignored in the country due to a lack of education and also a cultural fear of the voodoo evil spirit called Simbi that lives in the ocean. This is why an estimated 95% of Haitians do not know how to swim and are severely afraid of drowning. The level of formal knowledge about the ocean is extremely low. Moreover, the ocean is used as a garbage dump of last resort and huge amounts of trash are dumped into drainage channels or are directly dumped by towns into the sea. Yet, despite the progressive deterioration of its marine environment, a group of Haitian youths decided not to lose hope and to lead action for marine conservation in Haiti. The group comprises about 15 young women and men based in Port-au-Prince who have dedicated themselves to the protection of marine life. After an intensive programme learning about swimming, diving and tropical marine biology, these dynamic young eco-divers are assigned to regularly survey the Haitian coast. Using the Reef Check monitoring protocol, they do a biological assessment of the Haitian waters which gives an overview of the percentage of substrates, tropical fish, tropical invertebrates and the touristic value of the Haitian seabed up to a depth of 20 metres. For a precise biological assessment, they use a transect line on which they count the various species to assess the indicators. For a quick and general assessment, they use the manta tow method in which the diver is smoothly pulled by a boat that stops about every 10 metres to allow him/her to enter the data observed in a waterproof sheet. The results produced from the group’s assessments in Haiti show that the fish are very small. There is a lot of seaweed which is a strong sign of marine pollution. Of course, there is also overfishing and sedimentation. But one great piece of news is that endangered species in the Caribbean are still alive in the Haitian waters. These 15 young women and men are not the only team working on marine conservation in Haiti, but they are the first. There is also a team based in Cap-Haïtien that is involved in a similar initiative. With each amazing discovery they make about the beauty and the diversity of marine life in Haiti, these young Haitians renew their commitment to assess the marine biodiversity of the country in order to promote better decision-making from the public institutions working in the field. They

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Marine Conservation in

Haiti

1. Port-au-Prince team of ecodivers 2. Alexandra diving with a young lobster 3. Endangered species (Acropora palmata) 4. Alexandra and Nicolas in the Port-au-Prince team 5. Use of transect line 6. Big fish going back to the Haitian coral reefs

3 5

Alexandra V.D. PIERRE Pierre Jean Roosevelt CHATEAU Marc Audrey Joseph JULIEN want to inspire communities to restore the social and environmental value of the ocean within Haitian society. We wish them success and continuity in their amazing work with the Reef Check Foundation-Haiti! Alexandra Destin Pierre and Nicolas Florestal, CYEN members in Haiti, are part of the Port-au-Prince team.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT A Journey 1962 Rachel Carson publishes ‘The Silent Spring’

Exposed the impact of pollutants on the environment and human health

1980 World Conservation Strategy released

Highlighted the need to achieve a stable global economy and address inequities, poverty and population pressure

1994 Barbados Programme of Action

1968 Paul Ehrlich publishes ‘Population Bomb’ Connected human population, resource exploitation and the environment

1987 ‘Our Common Future’ published

Defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development

1972 Club of Rome releases ‘The Limits to Growth’ The report forecasted the effects of uncontrolled economic and population growth using finite resources

1992 Rio Earth Summit

Produced the Declaration on Environment and Development and established a programme for action known as Agenda 21

2012 Rio + 20

Review of sustainable development action since the Earth Summit. A 14-point programme Renewed global Produced the “The Future focused on the sustainable commitment to sustainable We Want” document and development of SIDS and development and produced renewed global specific action for the the Johannesburg Plan of commitment to Principle unique challenges they Action 10 of the Rio Declaration face

1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment

International recognition of environmental issues. Led to the formation of the United Nations Environment Programme

1993 Commission on Sustainable Development

The Commission is established to follow-up on implementation of Agenda 21

2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Post-2015 Development Development Agenda is focused on a set of country targets that revolve around select SDGs www.uncsd2012.org

Plastic T&T And Solutions Jonathan Barcant

just had a lunchbox of stir fried veggies and noodles. I’m left with a big Styrofoam container and plastic fork in my hand.

I just had a piece of pizza and a drink of water after a little office presentation. Now I’ve got a gold plastic plate and a red plastic cup in my hands. I just bought two cartons of milk at the grocery store. I’m home now, but I have two more plastic bags that I don’t know what to do with – they double bagged my milk. If you think about it, almost every single meal we eat comes in some form of packaging, either indirectly, in the form of raw goods at the grocery store, or directly, as to-go boxes and disposable plastic knives, forks and spoons from takeaway restaurants. Think about your average lunch during a work day when you’re on the go or on a short break. You’re in and out of the restaurant in a matter of minutes to pick up your takeaway, and half an hour later you’ve finished eating. What you’re left with is a plastic bag, Styrofoam container, plastic knife, fork and maybe spoon too. If you had something to drink, then add a tall Styrofoam cup, plastic lid, and straw to the list. So your plastic bag is almost full! Of Styrofoam and other plastic waste. Now take a moment to stop and think. How many people live in your country? How many people live in Trinidad & Tobago? What if every person today also had a takeaway lunch or at least one of their meals in the day was takeaway? Now we have 1.3 million plastic bags, knives, forks, cups and containers being used and thrown away, in just one day. Now amplify. Think about how many meals we eat in a day and how many days there are in a month. Perhaps not everyone is having takeaway lunches but the majority of food we eat has been packaged at some point along the way. In our little analysis we’ve focused on to-go lunches, but what about ‘Squeezy’ bottles, beverage containers and packaging for just about every new item

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you pick up in any major store, other than a roadside fruit vendor in Las Cuevas or Toco. We’ve heard it said before that we have only one planet to live on and that we have to take care of it. And we’ve also heard it said that things are getting pretty serious because we haven’t been the greatest caretakers. We’ve heard some talk about climate change, because the scientific evidence which has been rolling in for the last 30 years is finally being taken seriously, and the public is speaking up. In light of all this, what do WE, Trinidadians and Tobagonians, have to say? We who live on a small island and have only so much precious space. We who are completely surrounded by water and might feel the most damaging effects of changing weather, oceans and sea levels. What do we have to say about the future of our young children and newborn babies? And about their children who will be born one day? Do we care if they have a country, and a world, still decent to live and grow up in? A world that is beautiful, uncontaminated and safe? The Caroni Bird Sanctuary, Oropouche Lagoon, Northern Range Rainforest, Tobago Reefs, Eastern Coastline Beaches such as Mayaro and Manzanilla, Bon Accord Lagoon, and Islands off the Northwestern Peninsula of Trinidad, are just a few examples of some of our nation’s treasures that we enjoy now and would do well to preserve for future generations. In some of these places we can already observe contamination taking place that could be signs of worse things to come. If we do care about these things, it is not too late, but what it takes is putting in a little thought into what we do now. Every single little piece of plastic that we consume (or rather, use temporarily and then throw away) is produced from fossil fuels, oil and gas. This means that every plastic and Styrofoam based item we consume takes energy to produce and contains energy. As a nation that runs on fossil fuels, it is our responsibility and in our interest to understand what that means and how best to deal with these issues of fossil-fuel based waste.

The three R’s for waste management are well known and continue to be our finest guidelines. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Efforts to Reduce and Reuse include: - Carrying your own personal and reusable containers - one of the best things you can do. If you can provide your reusable container and mug at your local take-away restaurant you will eliminate all garbage that you would have generated with that one meal - Taking reusable cloth bags to the grocery store can eliminate the 10 or 20 grocery bags that you would have taken home to add to your collection and will also send the message to your locale that you care about the environment and want to see the excessive use of plastic and Styrofoam packaging minimised - Packaging alternatives for food merchants. These include cardboard and organically biodegradable boxes which may cost only a few TT dollars more. Similarly, there are corn-based biodegradable forks, spoons, knives, cups and plastic bags. There is some comfort in knowing that these items will break down in several years and not several thousand years. Biodegradable packaging can be recognised due to their paper-based/cardboard nature, or in the case of cornbased ‘plastics’, by well marked

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packaging. Let your food providers know that you want to see and are willing to pay $2 more for biodegradable packaging. Let them know that it is hard for you to purchase a meal that will create a heap of waste in just one sitting! Where the first two R’s (Reducing and Reusing) fail to prevent continued generation of plastic and Styrofoam waste, Recycling is an essential and fundamental practice which is a landmark of any developed society. Recycling is any method for converting waste into a reusable material. A functional recycling programme depends on a nation which is educated and willing to practice thinking about and disposing of waste correctly with a unified sense of care to help promote and ensure a nation which is cleaner, healthier, and happier. In Trinidad, one of the biggest efforts we have seen so far in the move towards being a recycling nation has been Plastikeep’s plastic collection programmes. There have also been some efforts in collection made by the Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL). These are worthy efforts and signs that we are trying to move in the direction of proper waste management and are perhaps ready for real solutions that can be effectively implemented and accessible to the whole nation. Earlier we discussed the fossil fuel nature of plastic and Styrofoam waste and mentioned that as a fossil-fuel based nation we should understand what this means. Due to the fact that plastics and Styrofoam (and synthetic rubber too, like

tires!) are products made from fossil fuels, they effectively contain energy and are a source of fuel in themselves. Welcome Pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is a technology which can take a wide range of plastic types (with the primary exclusion of some, such as PET – plastic bottles, or “beverage containers”) and convert them back into a usable liquid fuel by using precise temperatures and conditions. This fuel could then be used for a range of things, such as electricity generation or to power certain types of machinery and engines. This is a technology which falls into the category of “waste to energy” although it is not the more common method of incineration. More common methods can be quite harmful to the environment and public health in terms of the release of toxic gases and pollutants. With pyrolysis, there is no incineration, and the toxic contaminants usually produced by burning are captured in solid form as biochar. Recycling programmes together with waste to energy programmes can be very effective and indeed economically sustainable, especially when indirect costs are accounted for, as they should be. One example is Sweden where only 1% of household waste ends up in landfills, and 99% of household waste is recycled in one way or another. In fact, for Sweden, importing garbage from abroad for energy is good business! Pyrolysis is only one method for taking fossil fuel based waste products and converting them into something useful. There are many other methods which could be equally good if an effective and sustainable programme could be implemented, and all are worth considering. However, as a nation which not only produces but consumes a large amount of fossil fuel energy, the ability to understand the value of fuel and energy should be ingrained in us. Therefore, we can instill in ourselves the ability to recognise much of the waste we generate as something valuable which can be easily converted into something useful. These ideas, win-win for all, present the sort of collective consciousness that we need to bring our nation closer to a solution - a solution which we desperately need.

In the HOT SEAT With Reginald REGINALD BURKE EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR OF CYEN 1. As a seasoned professional in the environmental and youth development area, what inspires you to continue working in the youth sector when others have moved on? The vast majority of people I have worked with in the environment and development field are still working or contributing in some way to environment and development. The same goes for professionals who work in the area of youth development. If you ask me why I thinking working with our young citizens is important then I would simply say that if you are a believer that development in the Caribbean should be sustainable then training minds and providing guidance to the upcoming generations becomes critical. 2. Serving in the role of Executive Coordinator for a youth-NGO that has chapters in 18 countries across the Caribbean region must be very time consuming. How do you find the balance and what did you have to sacrifice?

the domain of those who don’t have a social young citizens fail to understand that they to play in our society and its furtherance, th a people. Our young citizens need to beco is far more than partying and the myriad of superficialities that we place far too much im 4. In your opinion, what is one of the most facing the Caribbean as a region?

The Caribbean’s biggest challenge is that we lifestyle, values and taste of our colleagues fro we have descended into a type of consum inclusive of food, technologies, behavior and items that is not sustainable within the cont nations.

5. Do you think the environment is a priority development agenda? If not, what do you th change that?

I believe that the number of UN environm and charters that Caribbean nations have sig indication of the importance of the environm development. Consider the significant role t has played in the SIDS I am a natural resources manager is playing in the unfold “The going gets tough in every by profession and any manager saga. I think these a field and every sphere of life at worth his salt will tell you that of the intent of our management of the environment is some point. I was raised to stand challenge is that m the business of all. I see my role as follow these processe an informed citizen of the Caribbean up for what you know is right and governments to do it who has made the choice to assist not to give up at the appearance of sure if you could call the next generation to recognise unfounded sense of challenges.” and understand this. It is as simple reality is that you will as that. an environmental iss platform and that is the direction we need to 3. Young people today are consumed with numerous activities want to know the views of your elected o from school, sports and other extracurricular undertakings. environmental matters. So why should young people get involved in activities such as those promoted by CYEN and other environmental 6. NGOs are oftentimes overlooked as being organisations? in society. What do you think about that? How mindset can be altered? In the 1980s and 1990s young people also had numerous activities around that they could become involved in. What NGOs are part of the CSO community, not u has changed is the communications technology and access sector, trade unions etc. and these sectors to information through the Internet. So in reality things significantly to the development of the Carib happen at a faster pace. However, in broad terms things NGOs effectively stand up to government have not changed as much as you might think. The vast Caribbean territories. I believe that once the majority of young people in the Caribbean continue to be enough and is articulated and marketed largely disconnected from contributing to the development of significant support from any population. The policies or even the process of governance. My impression as I am concerned, the unwillingness of curre is that it is seen as unimportant, boring, not entertaining and speak out as they fear victimisation.

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Burke

life. However, if our have a critical role hen we are lost as ome aware that life other meaningless mportance on. challenging issues

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on the Caribbean’s hink can be done to

mental conventions gned onto is a clear ment to the region’s that the Caribbean S process and that it ding climate change are good indicators governments. The most people don’t es as we expect the all for us. I am not it blind faith or an f entitlement. The seldom hear about sue on a political o go in. You should officials on critical

g a force of change w do you think this

unlike the religious s have contributed bbean. I have seen ts in a number of e issue is important well, there will be challenge is, as far ent NGO leaders to

7. What challenges are you facing or have faced as a leader in your field? In working with a youth-focused NGO, two things spring to mind. The first is the stigma attached to the term youth in the Caribbean. Once the word youth is used, it appears that terms like irresponsible and unreliable spring to mind even if these are prefaced by “energetic but” or “talented but”. So generally youth are not taken seriously. The second challenge relates to the exuberance associated with being young. Far too often young people believe that they are far more knowledgeable than they actually are. The result is that they tend to hear and not listen. At times, young people can actually become their own worst enemy. 8. What motivates you to continue in this field when the going gets tough? The going gets tough in every field and every sphere of life at some point. I was raised to stand up for what you know is right and not to give up at the appearance of challenges. 9. What advice would you give to young people who are searching for ways to make a change? Prepare to be uncomfortable. Change does not come from the United Nations or other inter-governmental development agencies. Change happens from within. You have to change first and you have to work to change those immediately around you and get them to influence the people around them. It is an additive process driven by people’s desire to change. Learn to work with people you like as well as dislike and be weary of getting caught up in partisan politics, elitism and socio-ethnic issues.

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CARIBBEAN YOUTH ENVIRONMENT NETWORK

Vibes CYEN T&T Hike to Saut d’eau

“ TEAMWORK

MAKES THE DREAM WORK

”

- CYEN GUYANA

Nestled below the meandering hills of Paramin is a secluded paradise. Humans who dare to bear witness to the beauty of Saut d’eau unfailingly return with tales that inspire both dread and awe! On Saturday 11th April, an intrepid band of more than 20 CYEN T&T members and supporters led by the seasoned hiking guides of the UWI Health Fitness and Adventure Society ventured out on the most challenging hike ever undertaken by the Chapter. The trek to Saut d’eau beach, rated as strenuous, beckoned to the adventurous. They all survived – with newly discovered muscles, stories and memories to prove it. Saut d’eau which means “water jump” in French is a secluded beach on the North Coast of Trinidad. There are two ways to reach it – by boat or on foot. Of course, CYEN T&T took the adrenaline inducing path. Our journey began at the foot of the steep entrance to the village of Paramin. Everyone soon realised that the first hill was just the beginning of a long climb (with a chance of flat land) to the start of the hiking trail. From here, it was a downhill hike to the beach which meant there was only one way up…and up…and up… However, the peaceful simplicity of Paramin and the breathtaking view its hills offered of the capital and its urban surroundings was a sight for sore eyes and legs. With budding excitement, hikers briskly maneuvered the trail and they were not disappointed. A cozy picture of gentle green waves crashing on mossy rocks greeted us as our feet finally landed on the sands of Saut d’eau. It was like walking into a painting, an artist’s vision of paradise, discovered right at home. There is no way to sugarcoat the test of endurance that was the hike back up. Let’s just say that everyone returned with their own tale to tell but also memories to share. Saut d’eau was a reminder of the natural beauty around us that deserves to be preserved!

CYEN Guyana Retreat at Splashmin Eco Park CYEN Guyana held its first retreat and team building exercise at Splashmin Eco Park from April 11th-12th, 2015. It was a fun, exhilarating couple of days in which the inner playfulness of everyone was discovered. Smiles were plenty, physical and mental energy was exerted and lasting bonds were created. The retreat is one of many activities CYEN Guyana will be executing during the year to foster better communication and team spirit among members.

Hike to Mount Gimie

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The Caribbean island of St. Lucia has volcanic origins and is bisected from the north to the south by a central ridge of wooded mountains. The highest point is Mount Gimie which reaches 3,145 feet and is situated in the heart of St. Lucia’s rainforest. On Sunday 12th April 2015, a troupe of adventurous CYEN members ventured to climb the tallest peak in St. Lucia. Braving the rain and mud, they successfully made it up and were glad to have had such an exhilarating experience.

Paragrant Beach (Saut d’eau)

Mount Gimie

Saut d’eau lookout

Splashmin Eco Park

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Earth Hour is a global initiative hosted by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Since 2012, CYEN has been the official organiser for Earth Hour in Grenada, an event that spans over 162 countries and territories around the world. Earth Hour is one of the first open source Climate Change campaigns held every year to raise awareness about climate change and environmental issues. The event symbolises solidarity and action and encourages homeowners and businesses to turn off their lights for one hour to show support for a more sustainable world. This year, over 200 participants joined the celebrations for Earth Hour in Grenada on the night of March 28th with performances from local

dance groups, live bands and spoken word poetry. The theme chosen for Grenada’s Earth Hour 2015 “Multiplying Individual Actions” is a concept that converges upon the little things that everyone can do to make a big difference in terms of mitigating and adapting to climate change and adopting more sustainable lifestyle practices. This was demonstrated through CYEN Grenada’s Earth Hour Pledge Campaign in which the public was encouraged to reduce the use of single use plastics from supermarkets or

make alternative pledges to adopt a sustainable lifestyle practice. With the help of local celebrities like Mr. Killa, support from the Hotel and Tourism Associations and the Earth Hour global team, individuals and businesses from all over the world continue to take action through this pledge or their preferred oath.

through clogged drains and human health impacts, but it also symbolises our uncontrollable consumption patterns and the need to pay attention to the way in which we consume.

Earth Hour is not just an issue for the hour but transcends our generation. The use of single use plastic bags not only amplifies the effects of climate change, such as loss of wildlife, flooding

2015

EARTH HOUR

WITH CYEN-GRENADA

If you are interested in participating in CYEN-Grenada’s Beyond the Hour Pledge Campaign visit: http://www.earthhour.org/take-action

Youths Practising Sports for a Brighter Future

et’s practise sports for a brighter future (N’ap fè espò pou yon demen miyò). This was the theme of the walk organised on Sunday 15th March by the Youth, Sports and Civic Action Ministry of Haiti in order to raise awareness about the importance of sports in youth development and youth inclusion within Haitian society. The walk began in the morning after introductory remarks by the Minister of Youth who highlighted the importance of the initiative. More than 100, 000 walkers stepped together while proclaiming their thoughts, needs and actions about sports via meaningful posters from their respective organisations and/ or institutions. Among them were youths from public and private schools, colleges, organisations, sports federations and young professionals. This diverse group was united by a shared passion for youth development and positive action. All of them were publicly supporting sports, not only as a means of entertainment or exercise for a healthier lifestyle but also as an avenue for making a positive impact on the social life of Haitian youths through the promotion of values such as camaraderie, solidarity, tolerance, discipline. Of course, the CYEN Haiti Chapter was part of this movement and members covered the approximately 8 kilometres between the start and end points of the walk. During this 4 hour long walk, accompanied by rhythmic music, all the organisations within the CYEN Haiti

network represented with messages related to their field of interest such as: • • • •

Let’s walk to fight climate change –Global Power Shift Haiti Let’s practise sports to develop Haiti – Action 2015 Haiti With sports women will feel more concerned about the future of their country – PLURIELLES Water is life, Sport is health – World Youth Parliament for Water Haiti

Wearing their flashy green t-shirts printed with the CYEN Haiti logo for the occasion, members waved their posters with determination and enthusiasm. Encouraged and trained by the steering committee, they enjoyed affirming their position on the practise of sports on the streets of Haiti, in front of the cameras and in solidarity with youths across the nation. At the end of the walk, following the closing speech by the Prime Minister, Haiti CYENers were honoured to take a group photo with the Action 2015 Ambassador for Haiti, female rapper Chris Jay. Despite the heat of the sun, March 15th 2015 was a great day. As expected, the walk not only provided physical exercise but had a positive impact on the group cohesion among members. Going forward, our camaraderie is stronger. CYEN Haiti eagerly looks forward to participating in another activity organised by the Ministry of Youth as we seek to continue the CYEN mission.

Molaine LOUIS in collaboration with Alexandra Pierre Photo credit: Florian Alvarez

ADVOCACY

MAYAH MOHAMMED

CREATIVE

t nine years old, Mayah Mohammed has a keen interest in art and she was the youngest participant in the Caribbean Youth Environment Network in Trinidad and Tobago’s first t-shirt design contest - ‘Advocacy through Design.’ It therefore gives us great pleasure to display the artwork submitted by this young, budding artist. Creativity is important for economic growth and development as it is a seed which produces innovation and ideas. The seed of creativity lives in everyone and Mayah is fortunate to have her sprouting imagination be nurtured and developed. She is always planning something creative or letting her family know that she would like to create something. When asked to elaborate about Mayah’s character and her love for art, proud mother, Salina Mohammed has this to say. “When she was younger Mayah would draw pictures and at times we had no idea what it was about but we never asked her ‘What is that?’ in a derogatory way. Instead, we asked her to tell us about it, to describe to us the story she was trying to tell through her artwork. This always pleased her. There were many times we looked at her art with amazement because of the maturity of the pieces at her age.” A caring and gentle young lady, Mayah partners her love for art with her love for animals and has the strong desire to be a veterinarian in the future. “She is extremely passionate in anything she does everything with her heart. She is brave; she puts her work forward to anyone who has time to review it and is always open to hearing how she could be better,” Salina informed us proudly. “They say when you do something out of love you enjoy it more and anything Mayah does is out of love and with God’s guidance.”

A DIGITISED VERSION OF MAYAH’S ARTWORK CALLED ‘SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT’

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Indeed, it is important that we realise the importance of creativity and the arts in advancing the environmental cause. Our ability to express our deepest emotions as human beings is at the core of our needs as humans beings and we are our happiest when other people understand what we are trying to get across to them. Young people need to be encouraged to embrace their creativity and connect with each other through art. Congratulations Mayah and continue to strive for excellence as you show the world what young Caribbean people are capable of.

#WATERIS #WORLDWATERDAY2015 WHAT DOES WATER MEAN TO YOU? Water helps produce our energy. Energy helps produce our water; both quintessentially important for our life. - Kevonne Kerr Water is life - Melanie Gregory Water for me is the life source of the food which I eat - Luke Smith

#WaterIs my addiction. I don’t want juice or soft drink, just give me a tall glass of water and I’m happy. After all more than half our body is made of water and water covers about 71% of the earth’s surface. #GimmieWater #WataGwan - Karysse Clifton #wateris a commodity. Although it is a necessity, like the air we breathe, we have to pay for it. #wateris elusive to those who can’t afford it. #wateris the difference between life and death. If you look at a globe, you will see that #wateris everywhere but if you consider the reality that some people are faced with you will see that #wateris also nowhere. #wateris the most precious resource on earth. #wateris not to be taken for granted because you know what they say, “you only miss the water when the well runs dry” #action2015 #Iampotablewater #Iamwaterforeveryone - La Tisha Parkinson Water is the greatest equaliser; it can be just as potent a destroyer as it is a creator. All aspects of existence are dependent upon it and interconnected by its flow through all spheres. Where the Universe is a masterpiece, water is its crown jewel. - Renaldo Lewis Water for me is so cool, that you have to BE LIKE WATER - Xiomara Acevedo Water for me is a refreshing drink after a long run or exercise - Ezra Bartholomew Many live without love but none without water. Water is life - Stefan Knights Water is not dying during the dry season #climatechangeisathing - Andrew Wright Water for me is loving and caring for my body. #Daily8GlassesStruggle - La Toya Jeffrey

CYEN Youth Water Forum: Water Matters Most

Sherazade Curfew Ali

“The Youth Water Forum would be awesome” someone said So I got off my bed to hear what would be read Derrick Phillips speaker number one said “No metering leads to careless wasting” This concept is true if we want to be sustainably amazing! #“We have to be willing to pay the cost for a sustainable water supply” was my tweet!

So I decided to get on my feet. We have to be water warriors, I thought Like what La Tisha, Daniel and Rianna taught. “Captain Planet, he’s the hero” Renaldo Lewis sang He spoke about water quality and made us think about the role of water in Epidemiology 1400 people die each day due to poor water quality Are we going to just stand by idly? #”Women relate to water differently” said Fredericka Deare I agreed. Think about it. It’s true! Kemba Jaramogi, the girl who wants to hold a green fete She advised us to stay connected #Our River, Our Forests, Our People. Yes, it is we who destroy our forests and our rivers Dumping, polluting and cutting. Just remember what Rianna Gonzales said #No blue, No green, No food, No you! I left the forum singing Luke Smith’s “Conserve d water, when you use leave some for your neighbour...” Yes! The CYEN Water Forum was awesome So let’s reduce our water footprint And be a sustainable blueprint.

#ACTION2015 #DOMOREDOBETTER

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CYEN on the Action/2015 Committee

Action/2015 is a global campaign aimed at the mobilisation of regular citizens worldwide to combat poverty, inequalities and climate change by putting pressure on governments to be held accountable to the international agreements which they have signed on to. The campaign was launched on January 15th 2015 and CYEN members across the region took part by switching their profile photos on social media to the Action/2015 logo.

Jamilla thought that it was a great experience since it is important for persons to be aware of what our governments have signed on to and what responsibilities we have to our countries. 2015 is a significant year especially for the formulation of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and also a new climate change agreement. She took part in a youth stunt and also attended the youth workshops aimed to create strategies to mobilise youth on social media, media and ‘offline’.

Two representatives from CYEN were fortunate to attend and participate in the regional and global assemblies. They were Cathy Louis, Advisor of CYEN St. Lucia, who attended the Latin America and the Caribbean’s Regional Assembly held in Costa Rica (March 6th-7th) and Jamilla Sealy, Regional Chairperson and Project Coordinator of CYEN Barbados, who attended the Global Assembly in Tunisia (March 28th-29th).

As an outcome of the Assemblies, there are expected to be four (4) major global mobilisations occurring in the months of May, July, September and November/December to coincide with major international conferences such as the Financing for Development, Post-2015 Development Agenda and the Conference of the Parties (COP21).

Cathy thought that it was a great initiative to allow the youth to take part since they are among those most affected by the decisions to be made in 2015. The youth should hold world leaders accountable for their promises because their future will be at stake.

It is expected that CYEN will join the cause by developing region-specific strategies to mobilise youth across the region at those times, especially on International Youth Day (August 12th 2015). This will let the world know that youth are serious about development.

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CYEN in World Youth Parliament for WATER in

South Korea

The World Youth Parliament for Water is a network of young persons from around the globe who meet every three years to develop an action plan and strategy regarding water awareness and security. In this plan, there are countless projects that the parliamentarians pledge to recreate in their respective countries. The mission of the World Youth Parliament for Water is to advocate for youth action in water issues on both national and international levels. The parliament is held in collaboration with the World Water Forum, a platform where young professionals in the water sector can share and discuss creative ideas to correct some of the issues being faced today regarding water accessibility. Although we met on a formal basis, what occurred was an interactive, informal mixing of different cultures and perspectives. CYEN was represented by Kenzya Patterson of Barbados and Jimmy Fenelon of Haiti.

Kenzya’s Opinion This trip was a phenomenal one, a truly one of a kind experience. Existing in an environment filled with people from all over the world taught me more that I could possibly imagine, about myself and how I viewed others. My lesson began from my touchdown in Incheon, South Korea. On the plane to South Korea, I met up with three other participants going to the parliament. We introduced ourselves and from there I realised how amicable everyone was. It was as though I knew them from somewhere before. We laughed and ‘ole talked’ through customs and baggage claim until we met up with the other participants in the airport. By that time, everyone was already introducing themselves and getting to know one another, without shyness. We waited in the airport until a bus came to take us to the hotel. This was another 5 hour trip for me and I was exhausted after 21 hours of flying! Everyone else was tired also and the only thing I remember is waking up at the hotel, in a bus full of snoring people. We were given roommates and told to be down for breakfast by 6 A.M. It was 2:30 A.M. Nevertheless, when I went downstairs a few hours later, I saw both familiar and new faces in the cafeteria eating breakfast and mingling. After breakfast and my failed attempt to eat with chopsticks, we were shown to a boardroom where we began the Mug

Ceremony. Each participant was required to bring a mug from home and exchange their mug with a random person drawn from a hat. There was constant laughter throughout as people gave excuses as to why they forgot their mug and promised to buy one later. I shared my mug with a girl from Switzerland and received one from Cameroon. The diversity was amazing and it was interesting to meet people from countries I never knew existed. The following week consisted of long days and fun nights. During the day we had tight schedules full of workshops and discussions and ‘free nights’ that were not as free as they claimed to be. Nevertheless, it was certain that most, if not all, participants were in the karaoke, table tennis or pool rooms late in the night socialising. From the bike ride in Gyeongju to cleaning the river in Daegu, we shared amazing times with each participant and had tremendous fun with our new friends.

Jimmy’s Opinion The highlight of the first day, 6th April, was the ‘cultural evening’ during which we had to bring traditional food and clothing,and present our different cultures, dances, music. The next day, unfortunately, the Asian Parliamentarians had to leave to attend the Asian Youth Parliament for Water. On the fourth day, we had the Wall of Challenges, which was a new approach of presenting the issues of water and sanitation for each country. Each individual placed the issues of their country into the category outlined in the Wall and formed groups on the specific issue they would like to solve. Saturday 11th April, was the election night. This was an election for the World Youth Parliament for Water Representatives and I, Jimmy Fenelon, was elected as the Deputy Regional Representative for South America in the World Youth Parliament for Water. We marked the 7th World Water Forum by our motivation and creativity. The youth sessions were particularly interesting and filled with innovative ideas to solve water issues.

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The Importance of Corals: What Citizens should know about Mutualism Stanton Belford

Did you know that ‘sea water’ is nutrient poor relative to the food needs of animals living in this habitat? During low tide at Toco or Salybia Bays, you have the opportunity to visibly examine corals that show two distinctive characteristics. Firstly, you can view ‘hard corals’ while casually walking on the beaches. Although you will find rocks, shells, and small pieces of broken Carib or Stag bottles, you will also see white stony-like pieces of corals. Additionally, you can tell that there are a few different types of corals because of the variation in their shapes. For instance, finger corals like the Porites species are finger-like in shape. These fragments are the broken pieces of coral skeletons that were probably broken off by the continuous,

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battering waves that we Trinbagonians love when bathing at the beach. Secondly, both Toco and Salybia Bays have prominent brown mat-like coral colonies (Palythoa species) and green coloured Zoanthid coral species. These soft corals can be viewed anywhere in the shallow coastal waters. Upon close examination, they appear as flowers and one begins to see why corals have been called “flowers of the sea”. As a matter of fact, corals were first thought to be plants, but were later classified as animals, and more specifically Cnidarians or ‘stinging cells’.

Did you know that ‘sea water’ is nutrient poor relative to the food needs of animals living in this habitat? High coral reef productivity and species diversity in the ocean’s nutrient poor water is dependent on a type of association between two different species that is called mutualism. Coral reefs cover a little less than 1% of the ocean floor. However, the economic value of coral reefs to small Caribbean islands are great and sometimes intangible. A breakdown in mutualism between corals and their close associates (known as zooxanthellae) occur when the tissue densities of zooxanthellae, which averages 1 million cells per square centimeter of coral surface, decreases during a process called coral bleaching. Thus, coral bleaching is an indicator of failed mutualism in coral reefs and is evident when the host species become white (bleached) in colour. The term ‘symbiosis’ was first used by Anton de Bary in the mid-19th century, and is defined as two or more species living together for a prolonged period. Positive interspecific interactions that benefit both species are termed mutualism, one type of symbiosis. These interactions may be casual and indirect or highly integrated

associations that have coevolved over long periods of time as in the case of corals and zooxanthellae or as in another well-known example, clownfish and sea anemones. Mutualism is a relatively common phenomenon in nature. A wellknown mutualism occurs between ants and acacia trees in which the ants live in swollen bulbs at the base of thorns on the trees. The ants protect the tree by attacking herbivores that consume the leaves of the tree and the tree provides nutrients to the ants. Another example of mutual benefit between species is the cleaner shrimps that remove bits of food and parasites from the jaws and gills of fishes. Mutually positive benefits among species occur in all ecosystems and are essential to the survival of organisms that associate loosely, as in facultative mutualisms and those that associate tightly, as in obligate mutualisms. Currently, there are environmental factors that breakdown the mutualistic relationship in corals. Global climate change, ocean acidification, plastic pollution and overfishing are just a few of the plethora of issues that face coral reefs. The demise of mutualism is imminent if this trend is not reversed. Even more essential to the survival of our Caribbean small island paradise is the need for us to become stewards of the environment and mentors to our young upcoming nature conservationists. The key is education which, in an ironical sense, can be seen as a unique sort of human mutualism with nature. It is a vision that I yearn to see realised and a hope that I continue to pursue. (1) Green Mat Zoanthid (Zoanthus sociatus) is a soft coral that forms colonies, which you can see on reefs. I have seen them at Toco and even in the waters on the small islands, which Trinis call â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;down d islandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. (2) The two-band clownfish (Amphiprion bicinctus) is endemic to the Red Sea. There are about 29 clownfish species which associate with about 10 species of sea anemones. Although made famous by the movie Finding Nemo, clownfishes are obligate mutualists, which means that the clownfish or sea anemone cannot survive in nature by themselves (3) Brown Encrusting zoanthid (Palythoa caribaoerum) is a soft coral that inhabits major areas of the reefs, especially at Toco

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(4) My work as a marine biologist has taken me to study clownfish association with sea anemones in the Red Sea. These areas are prime areas where the ornamental aquarium trade has caused a depletion of wild stock. It is our hope that work continues to force many governments (including ours) to allocate more marine sanctuaries in the near future. (5) Hard corals are obligate mutualists with tiny protists called zooxanthellae.

Without zooxanthellae, corals bleach (become pale or white) signifying a breakdown in mutualism. This is usually caused by an environmental trigger. (6) Sea anemones also have zooxanthellae within their tissues which means that there is a mutualistic relationship between the sea anemone animal and the zooxanthellae.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Agriculture plays a pivotal role in the achievement of sustainable development in the Caribbean. The industry faces many obstacles, such as climate change, land tenure issues, high cost of production, extension, and praedial larceny. In spite of this, its importance and survival is necessary in the provision of foreign exchange, contribution to GDP, employment, environmental management,

and food security. The region has vast potential for growth through investments in new technology . We must think of agriculture not just as a social activity but as a business venture.â&#x20AC;? - Luke Smith, CYEN member

YOUTH AND CHANGE Ayesha Constable

s climate talks at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP20 in Lima, Peru entered the final hours in December of last year, environmental activists, researchers and scientists waited anxiously to find out what the elements of the new agreement would be. Some stakeholders were already making assumptions about the outcomes based on the trajectory of discussions over the last twelve days. For those who were in attendance at the COP, the talks were the centre of our existence for almost two weeks, and there was a sense that the entire world was just as focused on and concerned about the progress and outcomes. In reality it is possible that much of the world, if asked, might have enquired ‘What is a COP?’. There were different perspectives as to why awareness and interest in the Conference of Parties (COP) meeting varied so significantly globally and among different stakeholder groups, particularly among youth. The youth presence and voice at COP20 had been noticed, primarily because those present made every effort to be seen and heard. Youth sat on panels, made statements to delegates, and organised actions to demand climate justice. Efforts were made to include youth in conversations about an array of topics especially within the context of intergenerational equity. Proponents of youth inclusion deem it a matter of justice that young people be included in the discussions, as it is they who will inherit the challenges posed by climate change to the natural and man-made environment, food security and water

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resources. Some youth participants at COP20 viewed attempts to actively include youth with scepticism. Ruth Nyambura of the African Biodiversity Network described it as a tokenistic gesture stating it allowed the organisers “to be able to check the boxes of all marginalised groups to say they were represented”. She pointed to the fact that there was poor representation by young people from Africa and the Global South and no one from the Arab youth movement. Stefan Knights of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network also stated that young people were poorly represented at COP20 adding that the lack of inclusion was especially acute among developing countries. Many argue that youth were noticeably absent in ‘side events’ and some civil society events where youth would have been expected to be integrally involved. One participant at the renowned Climate March noted that despite the involvement of young people in the planning and implementation of the event, they were not given a space to have a real input by the official organisers of the event. Regarding the opportunities granted to youth to contribute to the process, Knights stated that the “participation of young people in the process was fair given the nature of a COP and the objectives of the COP”. He noted, however, that insufficient value is placed on youth contribution as they do not ultimately shape policy. Even as youth inclusion and participation in COP20 is debated, the issue of global youth engagement demands greater attention. There is evidence to suggest

that many young people are totally disconnected or remain unaware of the issues surrounding climate change. A survey conducted by the UN which allows youth and other stakeholders across the world to vote on their top six priorities shows that, of the 16 priority areas listed, climate change is the least of respondents’ concerns. The top five priorities identified by young people were good education, better health care, better job opportunities, honest and responsive government, and affordable and nutritious food. A spatial analysis reveals that climate change ranks at the bottom of concerns of youth from Africa and Asia. It ranks a few places higher for youth from Europe and the Americas. Its highest ranking is among the youth of Oceania at 8th place. In the Caribbean, a region highly vulnerable to climate change, it ranked 16th on the list of concerns. Climate change remained the area of least concern across all levels of educational attainment and both genders. Similar research conducted in the Commonwealth Caribbean revealed similarities between the global and regional preferences. The preliminary results of the research conducted by the Commonwealth Foundation showed that the top three concerns for youth in the Commonwealth Caribbean are unemployment, education, and crime and violence. Ruth Nyamburah noted that in her country of Kenya, despite the existence of an active youth-led climate change movement, the large majority of young

C L I M AT E

people were disengaged. She added that it has created something of an elitist group of environmentalists. She stated that “if we cannot show people why climate change should matter to them and how it will affect their lives then they will not be inclined to join the conversation”. Knights explained that in the context of the Caribbean island Guyana, there is a high level of unawareness even among youth with the highest levels of education. Guyana has a capital city that lies below sea level (at high tide) and is especially vulnerable to sea level rise associated with climate change – a fact which calls for greater concern and engagement among youth. Mr. Emmanuel Dumisani Dlamini of Swaziland, Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) noted that it was important for young people to be made more aware and become better engaged because “older folks will die and it is the youth who will have to deal with the problems associated with climate change”. His statement strikes at the core of the matter of intergenerational equity and underscores why many deem it unfair that youth will inherit problems that they did not cause.

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Nyambura suggested that in order to ensure youth participation at COP and similar events, accreditation and funding support need to be made available. She argued that the ability of young people to participate and contribute needs to be nurtured since there is a cadre of young people who are extremely knowledgeable and can act as resource persons, even on delegations. In the case of the Caribbean, research shows that young people are concerned with day to day existence and survival. To some youth climate change is merely a distant possibility and, therefore, does not warrant urgent attention. A similar situation is seen in many developing countries as youth are concerned with issues related to poverty and unemployment which arguably pose more immediate challenges. The long term implications of continued disengagement of youth in developing countries include the fact that negotiating power will remain stacked in the favour of developed countries as future negotiators and experts engage in the climate change decision-making process. Youth possess technical expertise and on-the-ground experience which makes them highly valuable as evidenced by the work of different youth led movements in

the Caribbean, China, Latin America and other parts of the world. The inclusion of youth is integral to promoting accountability and transparency. Youth also need to be empowered to understand the intricacies of the process and the politics of same. Additionally, they have spearheaded the development of various climate-smart agricultural tools, mobilised large numbers of young people and fostered increased awareness through social media tools while continuing to demand climate justice for other vulnerable groups. These realities render the work of such local groups such as the Caribbean Youth Environment Network increasingly relevant. More concrete efforts need to be invested in engaging and mobilising a wider cross section of young people from around the world to participate in COP meetings, to understand the politics and science of climate change and to speak on these issues. In a few years youth will occupy the leadership positions and develop the policies that set emissions targets and shape the future of the world. It is important, therefore, that we are allowed the opportunity to learn and contribute in such a way so as to ensure that we are effectively equipped to lead the decision-making process in the future.

“Coral reefs are one of nature’s natural wonders. I think it is a beauty beyond measure and a place full of treasure”. ~ Vanessa Williams, CYEN Member

GLOBAL CONECTIONS:

A Trinbago Adventure Zachary Moore (Austin Peay University)

“The memories made on this trip will last a lifetime. We experienced a culture unlike any other” Through hard work and a team effort, Austin Peay State University (APSU) students helped make a difference in Trinidad and Tobago in January 2015. Austin Peay is located in Tennessee in the United States. Third year students in the President’s Emerging Leaders Programme along with other Austin Peay students, selected through an interview process, journeyed to Trinidad and Tobago as part of the APSU Goes Global programme. Partnering with Habitat for Humanity in Trinidad and Tobago, these students helped to build the foundation for a home. However, it was much more than a home we were building. We were making possible a new beginning for the homeowner. We had a great time working with Habitat for Humanity, making memories while building dreams. One of the most amazing aspects of this trip was the opportunity we had to truly experience the culture of Trinidad and Tobago. Each day was dedicated to a different aspect of Trinidadian culture. We were immersed in the Indian heritage that thrives in Trinidad and visited three Hindu temples. Lunch at an East Indian restaurant in Port of Spain was a new experience for us and something that thrilled our taste buds. We had the opportunity to play badminton at the Chinese Association one evening and attended a rehearsal of a steel pan orchestra on another. The schedule was packed with an array of exciting cultural experiences. The multicultural nature of Trinidad and Tobago was evident to us all. I will never forget the chance we had to ‘lime’ with students from a local college. Bake-n-Shark and other Trinidadian cuisine is a not-to-be-missed when in Trinidad. The food in Trinidad is heavily influenced by the different ethnic groups on the island. While some students really enjoyed the different tastes of the Trinidadian dishes, others found them to be a little too foreign

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for their tastes. On the last night, we were all pleased to do some more ‘liming’ with local youth as we had dinner at a seaside restaurant with members of The Caribbean Youth Environment Network. They took us to Zanzibar By the Sea where we witnessed the moon’s bright light over the the ocean. It was truly lovely. After this, we went for a walk on the newly constructed Boardwalk in Chaguaramas which was akin to taking a long stroll by the seaside. Some students even took the opportunity to dip their toes in the sea. Through this and other experiences, the students expanded their horizons and created meaningful memories. The memories made on this trip will last a lifetime. We experienced a culture unlike any other. Whether the students were flocking to the nearby Burger King for Wi-Fi, making many sunburn jokes, or playing the ‘how much are your $TT worth?’ game, we bonded and grew as a team and as leaders. We will never forget Carl the contractor wearing flip flops on the jobsite or the crisis of trying to remember Waggoner Dodge’s name.

ADOPT A

NEGOTIATOR CYEN frequently represents the position of Caribbean youth at regional and international meetings and is undoubtedly the largest youth environmental network in the Caribbean. The motto of the Network is “Unity, Strength, Purpose”. In this globalised world in which we live, it is important to form connections all across the world. One such global partner is the Global Call for Climate Action (GCCA). The GCCA is a diverse network of more than 450 non-profit organisations in more than 70 countries with a shared goal — a world safe from runaway climate change. One of the programmes which operate under the GCCA is the Adopt A Negotiator Programme (AAN). The ECOLife team interviewed the Programme Manager of the AAN Programme, Chris Wright, to find out more about this programme that harnesses the skills of young people all over the globe.

1. What are the key thematic areas and objectives of the AAN programme? We focus on the UN climate negotiations and making sure that our negotiators are doing all they can to ensure a safe future for our generation and the next. Each and every Tracker for Adopt A Negotiator has different themes they want to focus on. Our Italian tracker last year, Federico, wanted to focus on Intergenerational Equity, and has done an amazing job pushing that through the negotiations. Other trackers focus on themes as broad as ensuring equity for vulnerable developing nations,

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Indigenous rights and strong renewable energy targets.

2. In what ways does the programme engage young people and why do young people form the majority? We always have been and always will be focused on young people. We, unlike most politicians, believe in long term development and that we can offer a platform for young people to not only develop their skills but realise their potential as environmental activists, policy makers and writers. Most of our alumni have gone on to big roles in environmental NGOs, within media organisations, or government negotiators in the UN. But we also realise one reason not many people know about the UN climate negotiations is because they can be very boring. That is why we believe young people are the ones we need to inject energy, passion, vitality and humour into the negotiations.

3. What sort of impact (if any), has the programme seen through the engagement of young people? What is the key role of young people in the development of climate change policies? We have seen impacts within the negotiations even this year. In Geneva, our trackers worked hard to highlight the importance of including Health and Intergenerational Equality. After partnering with the International Medical Students Association, our

articles were actually read out in the UN assembly and used to make sure Health became a critical part of the negotiations leading into Paris. A similar thing happened with our work on Intergenerational Equality, which saw it gain last minute support from Costa Rica. With both of these issues, they simply wouldn’t have been included without the energy and creativity of young people

4. What inspired the development of the Climate Tracker programme and has it impacted the negotiations tracked? If yes, then how and to what extent? The Adopt A Negotiator project began back in 2009, aiming to bring together some of the world’s best young environmental writers and activists and empower them to put pressure on their country’s negotiators at the UN climate negotiations. Since then we have expanded our scope and now hope to become a global platform for young people around the world to write about climate change as they experience it as well as offer training and support for young people to have a much bigger impact on their national climate change agenda.

5. Has AAN partnered with other environmental organisations? If yes, then which and what has been the outcome of these partnerships in terms of achieving the objectives of AAN? Adopt A Negotiator was born out of partnerships among some of the biggest NGOs in the world. Since then, we always do our best work when partnering with local organisations who have a real story to tell. This year, we have taken this a lot more seriously, and we have

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begun formal partnerships with organisations in the UK, France, China, Japan and Brazil. With all of these partnerships, we have to work at different speeds with different goals, but we have already seen some great outcomes, and are looking forward to a lot more soon!

6. Is there a link between technical information/writing/ creative expression/media and policy formation and implementation? If yes, then what is this link and do you think AAN has been able to make this link through the programme? There definitely is. But sometimes it’s not as clear as it seems. We have definitely had our ideas included in technical policy in the past - but it’s never as easy as simply writing an article. Often the article is just the first step. It opens the door. It tells the policy makers that you’re watching. What then needs to happen is the follow up, and the relationship has to build. That’s what we aim to foster with our Trackers. They don’t just write articles but they create relationships with negotiators.

7. What is the role of policy in making a change? Policy is key to making change. In fact, it is what we usually think of as change when it comes to government. But policy sets the framework for any changes that can happen. Look at the idea of a carbon price. It isn’t the change in itself but it sets the framework for a whole series of other changes that can happen.

8. Has AAN been able to involve young people from developing countries in the programme? If yes, which countries and what has been the outcome? If no, are there any strategies in

place for attracting young people from SIDS into the programme? Definitely. Last year we engaged young people from all around the world and ended up supporting more than 500 publications in over 73 countries, and 13 different languages. In our final team to Lima, we had young people from the Philippines, Bangladesh, India, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Kenya, Colombia. In the past we have also had Trackers on our teams from Fiji, and this year we are hoping to take our first Caribbean tracker to Paris.

9. What are the benefits of joining the AAN

programme? You will never have an experience like working in an Adopt A Negotiator team. We will bring together a team of 10 people from 10 different countries all working together with a passion that is contagious. I have never had an experience like being a part of an Adopt A Negotiator team at a UN negotiation session. Also, a number of our ‘graduates’ have used these experiences to then go onto high level positions in NGOs, media, and we even have 5 alumni who are now negotiating in the UN.

Martello Tower

Beac hes

Flight n i d e Bir Frigat

of Ba rbuda

ird B ate g i r F le Ma d Bir e at Frig

Antigua Coral Reef

Natural Wonders of Barbuda

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las islas bonitas

Pink sand of Barbuda

BARBUDA

A Nature Lover’s Paradise B

arbuda is located north of its sister isle in the twin island nation of Antigua and Barbuda and is renowned as a unique eco-destination in the Caribbean. The majority of the island’s small population (fewer than 2000 inhabitants) live in and around Barbuda’s capital, Codrington, and warmly invites visitors to join them in celebrating their annual cultural festival, Caribana, between May and June. This island paradise boasts miles of unspoilt pink, yes pink, and white sand beaches and in the

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northwest, Codrington Lagoon National Park is home to one of the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuaries in the world. With a wingspan of nearly 5 feet, the male frigate birds are a particularly delightful spectacle during breeding season when they inflate their scarlet throat pouch to the size of a balloon in order to attract a female mate. Along with almost 170 other species of birds and other indigenous flora and fauna, the Park is an integral component of not only Barbuda’s ecosystem but also its economic life, as it is considered a bird watcher’s heaven and attracts many tourists all year round. The interior of Barbuda is mainly flat

scrubland while its 62 square mile core bed is formed from coralline limestone, giving way to many caves and other natural canvases, such as “Darby’s Cave” or “Dark Cave”, for adventurous explorers to travel. In addition to its natural beauty, Barbuda’s landscape is dotted with must visit historical ruins such as Highland House and Martello Tower as well as an abundance of offshore charted shipwrecks and coral reefs, perfect for scuba diving or leisure snorkeling. Easily accessible in 30 minutes by plane or 90 minutes by ferry from mainland Antigua, Barbuda promises a memorable trip for all nature lovers.

CYEN INTERVIEWS

“ My motivation is

the recognition that I have a greater purpose ” Ayesha Constable 1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what pushed you into the areas of environmental and women’s advocacy? I like to own my roots as a ‘country girl’ having grown up in rural Jamaica. All my hobbies were connected to nature in some way - reading under a tree, picking whatever fruit was in season, catching fish at the river. It was in these spaces that I observed women who were stalwarts in the community. Interestingly, they were all married but walked miles to the fields, planted and reaped crops, carried them from the fields to home on their heads and then packed them and rode in trucks to the market where they would spend two or three days until all the produce was sold. At the same time caring for home and children was their responsibility or that of the eldest daughter. Years later, I realised that girls in rural Jamaica don’t have access to certain resources or opportunities. Because of my upbringing and experiences I am now a doctoral student researching climate change and agriculture, an advocate who understands how inequity and injustice marginalises people, a researcher with an interest in issues that affect people’s lived realities, a

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staunch nature lover and an explorer with a passion for life.

2. Do you think there is a connection between gender/ women’s issues and the environment? Please explain. Most definitely. There is a whole movement now around this with organisations such as the Women’s Environment and Development Organisation (WEDO) and the Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network (WECAN) championing the call for action around ecofeminism. I am involved in work and research that can be framed in that context. At the broadest level when we talk about gender and issues such as climate change what we want to know is how men and women are impacted by climate change as feminism is about equality and justice and to ensure climate justice. We need to address gender justice. There is a tendency to look more closely at women though because of the disproportionate impacts of environmental hazards on women. Women interact with their environment differently and have different concerns from men. How they perceive what is happening and how they respond is also different. Many women in poorer countries also rely

on the environment for an income. At the same time women possess a wealth of traditional knowledge about their environments and are extremely resilient to environmental change. I don’t think it is by chance that we say ‘Mother Earth’.

3. In December 2014 you participated in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP20 in Peru. How was that experience? Can you give one positive and one challenging experience that you may have encountered? COP20 was an amazing experience - an awakening. Getting there was itself a lesson in determination and resourcefulness as I had to raise funds to cover the related costs and supplement with personal funds. But it was so worth it. I can say I was fortunate to spend two very intense weeks with some of the most passionate young people in the climate change movement. A highlight was serving as a youth facilitator at the Global Landscapes Forum, arguably the largest COP20 side event. The not so positive experience was a needed reminder of the disadvantaged position of developing countries, and

particularly SIDS, in the climate change negotiations. It was clear that smaller, poorer countries will always be at a disadvantage and that decisions will most often, sometimes inadvertently, favour wealthy countries. I think I was disappointed to see the poor representation of youth representatives from the developing world. I understand that resources may be factor here but I would like to encourage governments, especially of the Global South, to make greater efforts to fund youth participants. It is a matter of inclusion, equity and sustainability. I am now more determined to do my part to strengthen the position of my country and region and engage stakeholders at all levels, particularly youth.

4. How do you think young people can be more involved in promoting issues such as climate change in the Caribbean? Before young people can start promoting the issue, the issue needs to be further promoted among Caribbean youth. There is still a huge shortfall in the level of awareness and knowledge about climate change among young people. While that is changing through efforts of organisations such

as CYEN, more needs to be done at the policy level to address the issue. In terms of leading the charge and helping to sensitise the wider public, youth are the main agents. More needs to be done to equip other youth NGOs to expand the scope of their work. The large youthful population of our countries demands that we capitalise on the use of social media to engage and educate our societies. The energy, creativity and innovative spirit of our young people will help to successfully promote climate change. Youth need to see their peers involved for them to get excited about it. Otherwise they will dismiss it as a ‘grown folks problem’.

5. As a young person do you think that enough is being done to push the climate change agenda forward, not only at the international level but also at the national level? I think at the international level the agenda is definitely being pushed and that may be due to various geo-political motives. On any given day all the major news websites have at least one climate change related story. When you look more closely, however, at the regional and national level the huge disparity in climate change awareness and funding becomes obvious. You realise that some countries are being left out of the conversation entirely, or are being sidelined. At the state level too it becomes clear that financial, cultural and social issues affect the way in which people interact with the environment and how they view climate change. So while most countries are pushing the agenda, not all are doing as much as is required. In Jamaica, there has been a significant thrust towards climate change mainstreaming, but at present it focuses on select sectors and does not sufficiently include people from ‘the grassroots’.

6. There is a perception that young people are not interested in environmental issues. Do you agree? How would you change

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this perception? We need to make the distinction between awareness and interest. I think at present most young people are aware - aware in the sense that they have heard of it but may not understand the long term implications. I think all of us who are interested in environmental issues can remember what got us here. There was a time when kids would play outside and catch bugs and frogs, or at least admire them from afar, and so develop a natural appreciation and concern for the environment. Now kids play with tablets and smartphones and those interactions are limited. It means more effort is required to build interest possibly through these same technological tools. It is about creating generations of young people who will accept responsibility for protecting the environment. A high level of youth unemployment also fuels a kind of apathy among our youth to environmental issues as they are more concerned about matters of survival, the bread and butter issues, and sometimes that means destroying some natural resource in order to make a living. We have to be bolder and louder about our work and celebrate ourselves and what we do to bring attention to our efforts and let people know that we are here and working and serious about what we do.

7. I remember growing up being told that “women should be seen and not heard”. As a young woman in the Caribbean do you think that this philosophy is counterproductive in grooming young girls to be future leaders in society? Indeed, and in a lot of ways this is still the case. I think it contributes significantly to some of the challenges in empowering young women who, in our matrifocal societies, become mothers who raise our men who will in turn perpetuate this ideology as husbands and spouses. The silencing of our girls

causes them to lose their voice. In time, they begin to value themselves primarily based on the physical and not on the substance of who they are. This also causes many young girls to not speak up when they are abused or wronged in any way. In general, Caribbean youth are told to be seen and not heard and that also has implications for our boys. Yet, I believe that in our systematically patriarchal societies it has greater and more far reaching implications for our girls and women.

8. Life can be tough and sometimes there might be moments when you want to give up. What motivates you to continue on the path that you have chosen? My motivation is the recognition that I have a greater purpose, one that I sometimes can’t even begin to understand. Oprah put it best when she said, “there is a vision for my life that is greater than my imagination can hold”. I am motivated because I have been given a lot and so I have a great responsibility to make the most of it. Paulo Coelho says, “our actions are motivated by either fear or love” and every day I ask myself, will I be a victim of fear or love? I am motivated by these messages and the lives of these people are an inspiration. And among my blessings are a great family, some amazing friends and a network of women and young people who inspire me to be the best version of myself.

9. Just for the fun of it, what is one weird or wacky thing that most people may not know about you? I have to decide which of the many I am comfortable sharing. I think they are more weird than wacky. I have very intense moments of introversion where I shy away from any interaction with others. But maybe that’s normal. We all need moments of solitude right? With all my love for nature, I am afraid of some common

animals and insects - frogs, cows, donkeys, cockroaches, croaking lizards and a few others!

10. What words of advice would you like to share with our young readers? There is so much I want to say but I will settle on this. Believe in the power of love. I think when you do that half the battle is won. Love for self, of country, of environment or whatever it may be will fuel you to do and be your best. It is that love that will wake you up each day wanting to be successful at all you do. It is love that will push you to pursue all your dreams. It is love that will cause you to stop and recognise the grandeur of this place we call Earth and make you want to help care for it. I would also say read the book, The Alchemist. In the book Paulo Coelho says, “when we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”

11. Name a Caribbean woman who has inspired you? There are many, of all ages, but I will choose Amina Doherty of the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID). I admire her spunk and zeal for life. She does not play by the rules and she lives in such a way that says it’s okay to not try to fit in. Her passion for her work with women and her energy are infectious. Her authenticity, vision and leadership are admirable. I don’t think she knows just how much I have looked on in admiration but I use this opportunity to say, “Amina, you inspire me”.

H E RO ES

AMONG US

Amira Odeh Quinoñes Highlighting young people who excel in entrepreneurship, show genuine initiative, and passion for environmental work. They inspire others to be their best by leading by example.

“I

have cared about the environment since a very young age but it wasn’t until I started to study at the university that I truly became an activist. I am passionate about conservation because I am part of this planet and I consume its resources. I want more people to be able to share the same space and appreciate the wonders that nature offers. It is also extremely important to me to act upon a problem that bothers me. When I learn about environmental issues, I feel a great need to do what I can to help solve these, instead of just talking about them and waiting for the government or other people to take action. For me, it is very important to act in the present and motivate others to love and take action to protect the space that offers us the commodities we need for a good life.” - Amira Odeh Quinoñes Amira Odeh Quinoñes is a 24 years old geographer, who graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. She has had an interest in the environment since childhood and has worked as a volunteer in several community efforts in Puerto Rico, helping and also leading events such as coastal cleanups and activities to protect the natural resources of her country. At the University of Puerto Rico, she was president of the Eco-Environmental Society, an organisation dedicated to environmental education, research, and promoting recreation in natural spaces. There, she led educational events, research projects, workshops and conferences, and designed some initiatives in development of sustainable activities on the campus. Odeh developed and led the campaign ‘No Más Botellas’ (No More Bottles),

which promotes sustainable water consumption and the reduction of plastic use and waste at the University. Amira has also been recognised for her leadership with a Brower Youth Award from the Earth Island Institute and she attended the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Warsaw, Poland. Adding to this list of inspiring achievements, Odeh volunteers as an environmental leadership trainer for the Sierra Student Coalition. ‘No mas botellas’ (No more bottles) is a campaign developed at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras Campus in 2010. This started out as a research project about the environmental problems related to bottled water and what the campus community knew about these. After analysing the results, it was surprising how little the students surveyed knew about this issue. This campaign started as an

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educational effort about the plastic problem and water accessibility. Soon after its beginning, ‘No mas botellas’ shifted towards action by asking the university administration to install new drinking fountains. During the development of the campaign, another two research projects were performed to examine the success of this effort and the areas where it was lacking action. Also, a proposal was written to ban the sale of bottled water at the university; it was approved on October 2014 and made official the ban of bottled water from campus. This made the UPR, Rio Piedras campus the first university in Latin America and the Caribbean to ban bottled water, joining the list of those institutions who had done this in the United States of America (USA), Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

When asked what message she would like to share with young people, Amira stated “I would like for other young people to know that everyone has the ability to make a difference for an issue they care about. It doesn’t matter how big the problem seems, by taking small steps it is

always possible to change something for the better. There will always be people somewhere who are ready to answer any questions or offer the support you need to start working on what you want.”

“Farmers have an important role in society but

people tend to think of manual labour as “poor people’s work” and not as being important or as prestigious as a “suit-and-tie” job. But we can reduce our import bill if we choose to make farming and farmers more important (i.e. make it a priority) in national dialogue.

”

~ Megan Nurse

Photo Credit : Luke Smith

“Our souls are not hungry

for fame, comfort, wealth or power. Our souls are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter.” – Harold Kushner

Minimalism. Some persons find joy in the idea of living minimally, others think that it is an unrealistic lifestyle and many are not sure what it means to be a minimalist. This is an exploration of an alternative way of living and an opportunity to reflect on the things we value most in life. I will try not to rail too much about capitalism and overconsumption because we already know that capitalism thrives on the fact that we consume more than we need. We shop impulsively but not unconsciously. We know that we do not really need some things but we buy them anyway. Sounds familiar? The world of marketing tells us that we can buy dreams, hope, happiness, pleasure, power and purpose. We are born into a society where progress is measured by the more we produce and the more what we produce is consumed. Success is still equated with wealth and influence. In effect, we are conditioned to be anything but minimal. Why is minimalism even a thing when it is possible to have everything we want? Is it possible to have everything we want though? The first thing I learned in my high school economics class was the concept of opportunity cost which I now realise is applicable to everything in life. Limited resources force us to make choices, to give up the next best opportunity, product or service. Because we live life on the go the things we forego may not always be apparent to us, especially when the resource in question is time. When I talk to people the conversation always tends to revolve around education and career goals. This does not mean that we do not talk about anything else but our lives and our aspirations are so intertwined with our qualifications and our jobs that it becomes inevitable. We expend a lot of time and energy in pursuit of higher qualifications and lucrative jobs with the

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Minimalism Julie Le Gendre

A Story

of More

hope of earning an income to support the lifestyle we want or the one we are conditioned to want. Yet, our lifestyle is not always a reflection of the life we yearn for. If you ask people what matters most in life to them, most will talk about family, friends, hobbies and dreams. In many cases, our lifestyle leaves us with little time for the things that matter the most. We make bucket lists and hope that we do not run out of time because there is a limit to what we can have and what we can do. This is not to say that money and the things that money can buy are utterly useless but life is more. Life is more than income and material possessions. You are more than a figure, an office space, a human resource or a consumer and it is this consciousness that is the core of minimal living. We hardly need

to be convinced of this – just reminded. Minimalism is a thing because we have always longed for that which the frenzy of modern life seems incapable of giving us – peace and happiness. You do not need to sell all your worldly possessions and become a hermit. Minimalism does not celebrate poverty but the mindful use of resources by living with awareness. It is a longing for conversations that revolve more around the joys of life and how we can bring the same to others. There are many stories about the lives of minimalists but the great thing is that you get to create your own. A good place to start is by reflecting on what you really need in life.

What matters most in life to you? What brings you the most joy?

# W AT E R W A R R I O R S # W AT E R I S L I F E

Be sure to take a moment to remember your environmental responsibility

ECOLife Magazine is a publication of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network and is produced and managed by the Caribbean Youth Environment Network in Trinidad and Tobago