Mural: Lowther's Lane, St. George's, Grenada

These photographs are of a mural I painted along with Suelin Low Chew Tung, in St. George's Grenada. Suelin was the mastermind behind the project, working for over a year to get permission from the Government of Grenada to paint the wall, preparing the tile work around the border, procuring donations for our art supplies, and then in composing the mural layout.

Suelin asked me to assist her by painting the people in various spots on the wall - according to her desires (what poses, location, etc). After that, I continued to assist her by painting animals, figures, waterfall and foliage.

The experience of painting the mural was great!

In the beginning we met in the early morning hours and painted until the sun got too hot to continue (usually 7 am to 10:30 am). Then we would break for a few hours and return around 4 pm. Our painting began as a weekend committment, which quickly changed to weekday evenings after work.

The challenge in painting on weekday evenings was the heavy traffic! Lowther's lane is a very smoothly paved road, that serves as an effective by-pass to the town of St. George's. As a result there are a lot of trucks and commuters that use the route during rush hour.

Sure, we had our little orange cones out there, but we only had four, and the wall was long so we often found vehicles weaving in and out of them! The other challenge for our evening painting was that the wall took a direct hit by the afternoon sun, which meant that as we got closer to the summer months, the wall was so hot the paint literally baked onto the wall as we applied it! Not good!

Then, when the sun was setting, we got eaten by mosquitos.

By the time night fall came, the traffic died down, we'd be well into our creations...so we found ourselves painting in the dark quite often. You probably don't have to be an artist to appreciate how difficult it is to paint in the dark! It's impossible to see your colours right!

I found a headlamp I'd purchased at Moutain Equipment Co-op in Canada years earlier...so I scraped off the battery heads, put in new batteries and found myself much more comfortable painting in the modest beam of light the headlamp provided. Suelin continued to rough it in the dark.

My mother and husband came out on more than one occaison to assist us with painting and that was a lot of fun. It's really nice to share a project like this with your loved ones.

Suelin and I hope to paint more murals around Grenada when the dry season returns - so we can depict more of Grenada's history, while beautifying the city. We hope that next time, we'll be able to raise enough money in sponsorship that we don't have to make it another volunteer effort like it was this time.

Quite honestly though - even if we didn't earn a cent of money for all the long hours and hard work we put into it - the joy of creation was worth it.

Enjoy :o)

FAIR TRADE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY MARKET FOR GRENADA

For the last few decades, the world has seen a rapid expansion in global trade. This ‘trade’ can be deceiving however: In the 1970’s trade did mean buying and selling goods that were owned and produced in different regions and countries.

But in the 1980’s and 1990’s trade took on a new meaning as companies expanded beyond national borders, and began to produce their products in developing countries where they could exploit lower costs; saving money in wages, and regulatory standards.

In its most extreme form, the exploitation of developing countries need for foreign capital and economic investment has resulted in the creation of economic phenomena such as export processing zones, which are reputed to be rife with human, and labour rights violations, poor regulatory environments, and virtually no environmental standards. However, these problems are not limited to these ‘zones’.

Some call it slavery, and for those who measure it in these terms, slavery may arguably be more pervasive today than it was 300 years ago.

There is an alternative to this exploitative path towards economic growth. Fortunately the concept is catching on quickly enough to find that fair trade markets boasting growth rates far in excess of traditional markets; although quite a bit smaller in terms of their total dollar value.

Fair trade, is trade that is characterized by a few basic principles: Paying workers a fair wage for their work, ensuring respectable labour standards, establishing stable commodity prices (which is very helpful to farmers) and reducing the number of ‘middle-men’ involved in trade, where most of the profit goes in traditional trade structures.

Grenada, as a small nation has many assets that could embrace the fair trade market. Many farmers still use traditional, non-mechanized (and therefore labour intensive) farming practices, pesticide use is still quite limited and organic farming is widely practiced. Heritage seeds are still in the possession of farmers, which means that farmers are not dependant on buying seed every year.

Artisans have a wealth of resources to develop craft, such as soaps, candles, spice, art, sculpture and more.

Items like these, which foster fair wages and prices for the producer, and protect the environment, are becoming increasingly popular in the northern consumer markets. There are markets for things like the organic chocolate that is produced by the Grenada Chocolate Factory, for the soaps produced by Caribbean Naturals, and the natural insect repellants and colognes made by Arawak Islands.

With these examples in mind, Grenada arguably already has a fair trade market, which if successfully marketed overseas offer limitless potential as an export market for Grenada, while also offering other benefits that promote domestic economic stability.

One Man's Blessing: Another Man's Curse

The Eastern Caribbean could thank God for Sahara dust, because this is what has prevented any significant storms from forming so far this season. With warm ocean temperatures, a lot of tropical waves, weak upper level winds and a lot of high pressure above us; if it were not for the Sahara dust, we would be experiencing a record breaking storm year.

When dust from the Sahara region gets into the air and travels with wind currents, it keeps the air around it dry. Many meteorologists believe that the dust prevents storm formation, and when observing satellite data and finding clear skies where there is dust and rain where there isn’t: it’s a pretty believable hypothesis.

But Sahara dust in our skies may be a blessing where hurricanes are concerned, those where the dust originates, ‘Sahara dust’ is not just plumes of sand blowing off barren dunes with little to no impact on others. It is also dried topsoil blowing off land that’s supposed to feed villages. It is also a critical indicator of what is going on in the environment on our sister continent; as the sun bakes the ground.

This is bad news for everyone: Sunlight is absorbed by plant life and moisture is added to the environment through a process called evapotranspiration. This is what makes the Amazon Basin the ‘lungs of the planet’. In Africa, the natural process of evapotranspiration has been interrupted by human activity.

As the vegetation has been reduced, the sun enters the atmosphere, bounces off the barren landscape back into space – and clouds don’t get a chance to form. This phenomenon is called the ‘Albedo’ effect. When clouds don’t form, vegetation can’t grow, when vegetation can’t grow, people and livestock go hungry, and thirsty, and the topsoil blows away.

Dust clouds have grown tenfold over the last half century and while this may provide a saving grace for those of us who look east to storms that could unfold upon us; The blessing that is sparing us, comes at the price of the suffering of others who need their soil and their environment just as much as we do. Having massive plumes of dust in the air, instead of on the ground supporting life, is saving lives on this side of the ocean: but taking lives on the other.

Germans Sponsor Solar Energy Project in Grenada

“When we succeed in this, all of Grenada will succeed”, were the words of Sir Daniel Williams, Governor General of Grenada, while he spoke about renewable energy at the launch ceremony of a solar system for Presentation Brothers College, in St. Georges, Grenada on June 4th.

According to the Governor General, the long term cost savings in solar energy far exceed the initial investment; which ultimately results in a net financial gain. For business, investments in solar energy could make companies more profitable as their energy costs decline the Governor General explained.

The Federal Republic of Germany provided the funding to install the photovoltaic system with a $29,000 cheque that was handed over by German Ambassador, Dr. Helmut Ohlruan at the ceremony. The German government is also encouraging the expansion of sustainable energy use through the Caribbean Renewable Energies Development Project.

While the effects of climate change are increasingly visible worldwide, and is expected to worsen, investments in sustainable energy technologies in Grenada, could position the country to be a highly competitive and prosperous country in the future.

Grenada is in the position of being able to exploit renewable energy to drive it’s economic growth, without the price tag of dismantling the outdated industries, more wealthy nations are facing.

For the students, this is already providing the kind of inspiration that drives innovation. After proudly pointing out plaques on wall that were won at the science fair for a project on alternative energy, three young visionaries from Form One insisted that being exposed to solar energy in a learning environment will drive innovation in Grenada.

Kishon Francis remarked that by learning about solar energy and seeing the effects (such as cost savings), Grenadian youth will soon be inventing even better energy systems for the future.

Mario Redhead also believed that exposure was a key to inspiration. “It is better technology, and they [students] will want to be like the person who made it”. Naquam Gilbert pointed out that solar energy would also be very helpful after a hurricane, to provide power.

The solar voltaic system that has been installed at Presentation Brothers college was provided by a local sustainable energy company called Grensol. Terry Pierre, Head of the Science Department, School Principal Mr. Jeremiah and Grensol are keen to foster inspiration and learning: So they hooked up the energy meter to a computer in the school so students can analyze the energy production, cost savings, and in the near future the data will also be available on the internet for others to use.

FAIR TRADE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY MARKET FOR GRENADA

For the last few decades, the world has seen a rapid expansion in global trade. This ‘trade’ can be deceiving however: In the 1970’s trade did mean buying and selling goods that were owned and produced in different regions and countries.

But in the 1980’s and 1990’s trade took on a new meaning as companies expanded beyond national borders, and began to produce their products in developing countries where they could exploit lower costs; saving money in wages, and regulatory standards.

In its most extreme form, the exploitation of developing countries need for foreign capital and economic investment has resulted in the creation of economic phenomena such as export processing zones, which are reputed to be rife with human, and labour rights violations, poor regulatory environments, and virtually no environmental standards. However, these problems are not limited to these ‘zones’.

Some call it slavery, and for those who measure it in these terms, slavery may arguably be more pervasive today than it was 300 years ago.

There is an alternative to this exploitative path towards economic growth. Fortunately the concept is catching on quickly enough to find that fair trade markets boasting growth rates far in excess of traditional markets; although quite a bit smaller in terms of their total dollar value.

Fair trade, is trade that is characterized by a few basic principles: Paying workers a fair wage for their work, ensuring respectable labour standards, establishing stable commodity prices (which is very helpful to farmers) and reducing the number of ‘middle-men’ involved in trade, where most of the profit goes in traditional trade structures.

Grenada, as a small nation has many assets that could embrace the fair trade market. Many farmers still use traditional, non-mechanized (and therefore labour intensive) farming practices, pesticide use is still quite limited and organic farming is widely practiced. Heritage seeds are still in the possession of farmers, which means that farmers are not dependant on buying seed every year.

Artisans have a wealth of resources to develop craft, such as soaps, candles, spice, art, sculpture and more.

Items like these, which foster fair wages and prices for the producer, and protect the environment, are becoming increasingly popular in the northern consumer markets. There are markets for things like the organic chocolate that is produced by the Grenada Chocolate Factory, for the soaps produced by Caribbean Naturals, and the natural insect repellants and colognes made by Arawak Islands.

With these examples in mind, Grenada arguably already has a fair trade market, which if successfully marketed overseas offer limitless potential as an export market for Grenada, while also offering other benefits that promote domestic economic stability.

ALL OF GRENADA WILL SUCCEED WITH SOLAR ENERGY, GOVERNOR GENERAL SAYS

“When we succeed in this, all of Grenada will succeed”, were the words of Sir Daniel Williams, Governor General of Grenada, while he spoke about renewable energy at the launch ceremony of a solar system for Presentation Brothers College, in St. Georges, Grenada on June 4th.

According to the Governor General, the long term cost savings in solar energy far exceed the initial investment; which ultimately results in a net financial gain. For business, investments in solar energy could make companies more profitable as their energy costs decline the Governor General explained.

The Federal Republic of Germany provided the funding to install the photovoltaic system with a $29,000 cheque that was handed over by German Ambassador, Dr. Helmut Ohlruan at the ceremony. The German government is also encouraging the expansion of sustainable energy use through the Caribbean Renewable Energies Development Project.

While the effects of climate change are increasingly visible worldwide, and is expected to worsen, investments in sustainable energy technologies in Grenada, could position the country to be a highly competitive and prosperous country in the future. Grenada is in the position of being able to exploit renewable energy to drive it’s economic growth, without the price tag of dismantling the outdated industries, more wealthy nations are facing.

For the students, this is already providing the kind of inspiration that drives innovation. After proudly pointing out plaques on wall that were won at the science fair for a project on alternative energy, three young visionaries from Form One insisted that being exposed to solar energy in a learning environment will drive innovation in Grenada.

Kishon Francis remarked that by learning about solar energy and seeing the effects (such as cost savings), Grenadian youth will soon be inventing even better energy systems for the future.

Mario Redhead also believed that exposure was a key to inspiration. “It is better technology, and they [students] will want to be like the person who made it”. Naquam Gilbert pointed out that solar energy would also be very helpful after a hurricane, to provide power.

The solar voltaic system that has been installed at Presentation Brothers college was provided by a local sustainable energy company called Grensol. Terry Pierre, Head of the Science Department, the Principal, Mr. Jeremiah and Grensol are keen to foster inspiration and learning: So they hooked up the energy meter to a computer in the school so students can analyze the energy production, cost savings, and in the near future the data will also be available on the internet for others to use.

On June 4th, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Helmut Ohlraun presented a cheque for $29,000 to the Presentation Brothers College to cover the costs of installing the first photovoltaic electricity system to be used as an alternative source of energy.

The Governor General, Sir Daniel Williams clearly understands the value of renewable energy, and took great care to explain the long term financial benefits and cost savings of investing in renewable energy such as solar power. In his words, “When we succeed in this, all of Grenada will succeed”

NEW EVIDENCE SHOWS CLIMATE CHANGE WORSE THAN FEARED

When history books are written, 2007 is likely to be considered the year the world woke up to climate change. It began with the release of the UK Commissioned Stern Report early in the year that elaborated on the economic effects of climate change. Then the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a summary report for policy makers, while other reports shook the world with predictions of an ice free North Pole in the summertime as early as 30 years from now.

Now the National Snow and Ice Research Centre at the University of Boulder Colorado has released more information that reveals that the situation is far worse than has been reported thus far. Scientists at the Research Centre report that measurements taken over the last 50 years demonstrate that artic ice is actually melting three times faster than we thought.

According to real data taken from the field, we have lost an average of about 9% of the ice mass every ten years.

The implications of this are staggering. It reveals that the projections contained in the IPCC Report and the Stern Report and virtually all the computer models are not aggressive enough. At a rate of ice loss of nearly 9% per decade, polar ice caps will disappear much sooner than we thought, and as the melting continues, the global warming trend will speed up in a phenomenon called ‘The positive feedback loop’.

The best way to appreciate the impact of the positive feedback loop is to imagine a line of dominoes on a table, where when one is pushed over, the rest of the line of dominoes fall one after the other. Water absorbs more heat energy from the sun than ice does, because light penetrates water, while ice bounces the light rays back into space. As sunlight energy is absorbed by the water, more heat is trapped on the earth’s surface which in turn speeds up global warming.

Grenada’s Climate Change consultant, Leon Charles has explained in his draft of Grenada’s Climate Change Policy and Action Plan that the melting of the Greenland ice sheet alone would result in an estimated 7 metre sea level rise. To visualize that, picture a height almost equal to two stories in a house.

As we follow the global developments on climate change, and consider that the UN Security Council discussed climate change as a global threat to security for the first time on April 17th, and a possible emergency Climate Change Summit may be held in September of this year; we can only be thankful that Grenada is keeping pace with the rest of the world and will soon have a Climate Change Policy and Action Plan to help ensure our survival in this rapidly changing world.