Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Greenify your life!

June 2009

Of sardines and red herrings

Posted Tue, 30/06/2009 - 05:52 by Monique

Julian Kenny
Tuesday, June 30th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_opinion?id=161498645

We are merely ten and a half years away from Mr. Manning's 2020 vision and I wonder whether a scientifically aware people are part of this vision noting with cynical despair what passes for science in this country, at least what may be reported. Recently there was a fish kill or fish kills at certain beaches on the south coast. Now fish kills are common in various parts of the world in rivers, lakes and marshes and not infrequently in coastal waters. There have been several in this country over the past several decades. Fish kills and their causes are well known scientifically and those that have been documented scientifically have been shown to be caused by different factors and sometimes a combination of factors.

End of the world

Posted Sun, 28/06/2009 - 22:06 by Monique

http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/cartoon/end-world

Asa Wright gets assistance from UTC

Posted Sun, 28/06/2009 - 22:04 by Monique

Published: 29 Jun 2009
http://guardian.co.tt/features/life/2009/06/29/asa-wright-gets-assistance-utc

Asa Wright Nature Centre is destination No 1 for bird watchers and tropical rainforest enthusiasts visiting T&T.
The Centre once again benefitted from the work of staff from the T&T Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) when a team of 22 volunteers visited the centre in early June to assist in preserving trails at the 1,500 acre facility.

Fisherfolk at sea over Icacos fish kill

Posted Sun, 28/06/2009 - 08:43 by Monique

Yvonne Baboolal
Published: 28 Jun 2009
http://guardian.co.tt/features/life/2009/06/28/fisherfolk-sea-over-icacos-fish-kill

A line of dead fish stretched as far as the eye could see on the south coast Icacos beach on Monday. A few vultures cautiously eyed the fish, and a flock of sea ducks stood on the sand, watching seaward as if anxiously awaiting something. “The corbeaux are afraid to eat them, and the sea ducks, which normally feed on small fish, are not getting their food,” fisherman Shane Dalbarry told the Sunday Guardian.

'EMA clearing up smelter issues'

Posted Sat, 27/06/2009 - 12:11 by Monique

Anna Ramdass aramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Friday, June 26th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161497187

The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) is working to clear up issues raised in the High Court judgment which deemed the Certificate of Environmental Clearance for the construction of Alutrint's aluminum smelter at La Brea unlawful, Energy Minister Conrad Enill said.

Speaking at the post-Cabinet press conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's yesterday, Enill said a river at the back of the aluminium smelter site was being prepared to prevent any possible disaster and this did not require a CEC.

Smelting and regional integration

Posted Sat, 27/06/2009 - 12:09 by Monique

John Spence
Friday, June 26th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_opinion?id=161497149

I have written some 15 articles in the Express during 2006 and 2007 on aluminium smelting. In this article I shall revisit some of these articles and relate some of the issues discussed therein to the proposal to integrate this country with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

I have not been able to obtain a copy of the Prime Minister's address to the PNM's Convention on June 21, or the Vaughn Lewis report on the integration of this country with the OECS so my comments have to be based on newspaper reports. When these documents become available I will discuss these issues in more detail.

The EMA's challenge

Posted Sat, 27/06/2009 - 12:07 by Monique

Saturday, June 27th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_opinion?id=161497808

There are many challenges that face the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) as it discharges its responsibilities. But Opposition Leader Mr Basdeo Panday's call for the resignation of its board is certainly not one of them and can only cloud the issue for many persons who recall the court ruling on the Rowley challenge to the Integrity Commission, which led to the commission's collective resignation.

Close off beaches to protect turtles

Posted Sat, 27/06/2009 - 12:04 by Monique

Published: 26 Jun 2009
http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/letters/2009/06/26/close-beaches-protect-turtles

I have learned of an extremely disturbing and neglectful case of animal cruelty and abuse against leatherback sea turtles nesting on Trinidad beaches. Nightly, the turtles are being harassed by crowds of people using flashlights and flash photography, both of which can disorient a nesting female or hatchlings.

Some people are even carelessly climbing onto the turtles to take rides. There is also evidence that turtles are still being killed by poachers.
As these occurrences become more and more common, the only sensible thing to do is shut down the beaches completely during evening hours while the leather-backs move in and out of the water to deliver their brood—or any other measures that can be taken to prevent the abuse of the sea turtles.

Smelter battles being fought around the world

Posted Sat, 27/06/2009 - 12:02 by Monique

By Camille Bethel South Bureau
Wednesday, June 24th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business_mag?id=161495762

Anti-smelter activists and La Brea residents celebrate as the smelter plant was ruled unlawful on Tuesday. -Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK

The battle has been won, for now at least. The court has stopped the aluminium smelter. But the war will likely be lost- if the fight ends the way it did in other countries.

In Australia and Iceland, First World countries- developed and environmentally conscious- the mega industries won over the concerns of their citizens.

La Brea kids falling ill

Posted Sat, 27/06/2009 - 12:00 by Monique

By STACY MOORE Wednesday, June 24 2009
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,102606.html

DUST from the Alutrint construction site in La Brea has taken a toll on the health of nearby residents, with at least three children falling ill and doctors telling their parents that they (the children) developed throat infections as a result of the dust.

One of the children, Daniel Nathaniel, five, has been bed-ridden since coming down with the infection. The affected families live at Square Deal in La Brea, where residents have been protesting against the dust from the Alutrint construction site.