Air for sale! - Umoja
On the show that aired September 6, 2012, on a local radio station, Mr. Smith aka Edju En Ka said that it is sad that the people of the Virgin Islands don’t understand enough to care about themselves, “I could just imagine when they cut down all the trees, we get oxygen from the trees and the trees get carbon dioxide from us, then we end up making oxygen in a lab and walking around with tanks on our backs with a breathing mask.”
In response, Mr. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru said “they gonna sell it; they’re going to sell air and poor people are going to just die. To be honest with you, we are not far from all that.”
Mr. Smith stated that when people come to the VI for vacation, they go snorkeling, diving, and to the beaches, and as a result of how residents treat the environment “we have sand erosion and depleted coral reefs”
He went on to say, that he is amazed to learn that the chemical that is turning female conchs into male conchs has not been banned in the territory, due to the fact that it has been banned all over the world.
“It’s been banned in the United States and all over the world and we are still allowing that chemical to be used at the bottom of boats here in the BVI.”
Sowande added that he is not surprised to learn this as well. He said “We have to give account for the type of negligence that they are subjecting the Virgin Islands, and the people themselves have to give account for why we stand on the side and allow it to happen. We have to spread the message; I hope people in the public realize that the way we are living right now is unsustainable, it cannot continue forever, it has to change at some point, so better sooner than later.”
He added that it is wrong that our economy depends on producing commodities, such as transforming trees and other natural resources into commodities.”
“We have to preserve the tress for future generations, the businessman is trying to make as much money as possible and they don’t give a crap about what the people are going to do 50-100 years down the road. It’s a very selfish way of life that we are practicing, it’s like we don’t have any compassion, any sympathy for our great-greats who we will never meet.”
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11 Responses to “Air for sale! - Umoja ”
If you want to use chemicals that kill reefs, that's fine, but don't expect no tourists to come and pay money to see your reefs. Same with the airport - no discussion about alternative approaches to tourism that didn't need a giant runway - they just plum straight for an option that even the experts said was dangerous and damaging to the environment. But no, Picko want to destroy a whole bay because he want some 'Wow' factor.
'Wow', that's a real stupid message to send out from a country that sold itself for years as one of 'nature's little secrets'.
All the cash frenzy, money-now people saying 'those environmentalists are against development and against the BVIslanders' - you talking hogwash. We are ALL environmentalists because its our environment that this economy is base upon. Its just a question of whether we are smart or dumb in our approach to the environment because, in terms of our future, everything hinges on it.
Small mindedness is believing that the only way you, 'wow', can make money, is to destroy the BVI.
What about intelligent approaches might allow for us to make money and NOT destroy the BVI's environment?
Is that too much of a stretch for your brain, wow?
Nonetheless, there is a tradeoff between protecting the environment and maintaining its sustainability and expanding the economy. The reality is that our environment will not be as pristine it once was. Nevertheless, to the maximum extent practicable, the BVI must employ the action(s) to preserve it for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations. Moreover, how much can we enjoy the money gain from polluting and destroying the environment if we cannot swim at our bays, eat the fish and other seafood or event breathe clean fresh air. Further, if a developed country(s) deem a product harmful to human health and the environment and ban it, so should we. Our health is no less valuable than the lives in developed countries.
In regards to trees, the BVI should have a tree management and mitigation policy. To the maximum extent practical, trees removed should be mitigated, i.e, trees should be replanted somewhere to replace those removed.
we should limit destroying and removing trees. And if trees need to be removed, the removal should be mitigated, I.e.,