Dr. Orville Taylor
IT IS just in the middle of July and we already have two hurricanes. I am not going to comment on 'Emily' who, despite her name, has nothing in common with my attractive broadcasting colleague. Anyway, let's get to the 'crux' of the matter. The increased hurricane activity is in my considered opinion, the result of poor global environmental policies.
Despite the fact that the powerful industrial countries, who have the largest petrochemical consumption, are the biggest culprits when it comes to the effects of global warning, the G8 countries have not addressed the topic. In fact, they have almost flatly refused to put the matter on the agenda. Yet, there is strong evidence that the increase in the number of global natural disasters is directly connected to the emissions from industrial production. Some of the immediate to long-term effects include the melting of the ice caps at the North and South Poles. In plain language, the 'developed' countries are messing up the world's climate.
On top of that, there is a massive rate of de-forestation, environmental degradation, and death and displacement of wildlife in the 'developing' world. Much of this is caused by the need to export large portions of forest to support timber consumption. So we chop down the wood and export it. Where? You guessed it, to the developed world.
HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP
It irritates me when people fail to understand that many of the problems that Third World countries such as Jamaica have are connected with their historical relationship with the metropolitan nations. During the colonial period, large amounts of Jamaica's natural resources became transformed into fuel for British production. In fact, Eric Williams, in his great work Capitalism and Slavery, demonstrated that the industrial revolution, which led to the development of capitalism and ultimately the rise of Britain, was due to the resources of Africa and the Caribbean. At the peak of the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700s to early 1800s, Jamaica contributed 20 per cent of English gross domestic product (GDP).
The very same process that created riches for Britain produced an inequitable system here where riches and land were concentrated in the hands of the lighter-skinned folk.
OK, so what does this have to do with the present problem in Jamaica? Well, many of the ex-slaves had no choice so they built in riverbeds and courses and on unstable hillsides. Did you know that one of the first free villages was "Slide-go-Ville?"
In the post-colonial period when we were shackled with the responsibility for our own destiny, there was no clear vision that environmental policies and development strategies were inextricably bound. Thus, after 43 years of independence, our Prime Minister is just seeing the need for legislation for the forced removal of persons in disaster-threatened zones. For the record, the previous prime ministers, all of them, were just as myopic.
After New Market in the 1970s and countless other communities, including Taylor Land (no! not named after me,) one would have thought that no prospective plan for communities and housing schemes could be approved unless there was assurance that they were not in disaster zones and that they had good drainage. Furthermore, they should not adversely affect the local fauna. Thus, any housing or hotel development should not seriously prejudice crocodiles for example.
For that matter, this should also be the case for governmental developments, including roads and highways. My suspicion is that Highway 2000 is taking a 'toll' on the local wildlife.
POOR ENFORCEMENT OF PROTECTION
For years, environmentalists such as Diana McIntyre and the 'well-rounded' Peter Espeut, have criticised the poor enforcement of protection for the environment. Thus, sand mining goes mostly unchecked and trees are cut down faster than the West Indies batting line up. Beyond that, even where we have protected species, there are few protected habitats. To illustrate, let us return to my favourite creature, Crocodylus Acutus mistakenly called 'halligetta' by Jamaicans. Despite their being classified as endangered since the early 1970s and being placed on the U.N.'s list of imperilled species in 1975, they have no protected range. What rubbish? So if you protect them and don't give them anywhere to live, won't they turn up in your gullies, 'calbuts' (culverts) and yards?
Nevertheless, it is not just the lack of serious effort by successive administrations. Local people are also to be squarely blamed. Too many of us dump in gullies and live in areas where we were warned not to move into and build without approved plans. These 'victims' are just like the brat who is warned not to tease the dog who subsequently rips off his pants, taking two ounces of 'butt-cheek' with them.
FIVE MORE HURRICANES
In this season, when the National Hurricane Centre in Florida warns that we could have 12 to 15 hurricanes, with at least nine of them dangerous, we can expect to see five more coming this way before the end of the season in November. I am pleased with the vigilance of Mayor Desmond McKenzie although he mistakenly accused the University of the West Indies (UWI) of dumping 'raw sewage' (say it slowly), in the gullies. In response the UWI declared that McKenzie was talking 'crap'. Thank goodness he does not have to eat his words. Nonetheless, my point is that that we can't skylark any longer on this environmental issue.
On another note, did you notice that hurricanes are formed off the west coast of Africa and follow the same path that the slave ships did? They also affect the countries or parts of countries, where there is a great concentration of ex-slaves and their masters? Check it! The Caribbean, Florida, Louisiana, The Carolinas and Georgia? Is it God's revenge?
Keep safe and tikkya!
Dr. Orville Taylor is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
