“International aid and trade watchdog, Probe International, is asking Stanley Marshall, President and CEO of the Newfoundland-based power company Fortis Inc., to start accounting to the people of Belize and its shareholders about contamination of the Macal and Belize Rivers in Belize by the company’s Chalillo dam.
Aerial photographs released in early August show that the dam is discharging sediment-laced water and contaminating the downstream river with turbidity levels hundreds, if not thousands, of times higher than the standards set by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The contamination has now reached the Caribbean Sea.
Turbidity contaminants are especially worrying, says Patricia Adams, the author of the letter and Executive Director of Probe International, because (more…)
There are some bold plans afoot to get everyone into electric cars (at least those who aren’t already on public transport or using their own power to travel). At least 30% of the world’s carbon emissions come from using fossil fuels in our vehicles. With carbon emissions contributing daily to global warming and the destruction of our reefs among so many other living things, we need to do something to stop this immediately. On Caye Caulker, we only have a short distance to travel on land, and almost everyone is foot, pedal or electric powered. We have the clean, breathable air to prove it. Red Mangrove uses low-emission, low fuel consumption boat engines too. Sadly not all the boats here are similarly equipped.
Of course there are problems with electric cars (and golf carts). (more…)
This may only affect us here in Belize on a small scale in comparison, but nonetheless, is an important global environmental issue that many people just don’t consider. When we buy a new cell phone/computer/games console/TV or throw away batteries that we use to power all our electronics, what happens to the old ones?
Buy it, use it, break it, junk it, it’s toxic – this is an excellent Greenpeace video explaining some of the toxic e-junk issue
How does it affect us in Belize? Well we’ve been embracing the technological age as everywhere else. What happens when we junk these products and the batteries? We have no recycling, so they go straight into our unprotected landfill. In Caye Caulker, as in many small communities, the trash is burnt to reduce the volume. Of course that doesn’t reduce the problem of toxins. Because our groundwater level is close to the surface, and there is no lining to the landill area, these toxins leach straight into our groundwater (still used by many for washing) and eventually into the sea, where we all know what needs protecting!
What can you do as a visitor to this fragile ecosystem? Take home your batteries, and other electronics, and recycle them responsibly. What can we do as residents? We try to use rechargable batteries, but even those eventually end up as waste. We donate old electronics to those who can use the parts. We read all the instructions and try to maximise the usability and lifetime of the products and batteries. Keeping them cool enough in this heat is a big issue. We try to research a greener alternative when we need to replace our products. There’s not much out there though, and there won’t be until consumers demand it. It’s time for the manufacturers to produce more environmentally-friendly products. It may be physically impossible to cut out all the toxic metals from these products, but they can certainly be reduced, built to last longer and with biodegradable casings etc.
provides news and info on all the issues that affect our beautiful Belize Barrier Reef. Our company Red Mangrove Eco Adventures is on sabbatical right now, but we'll be back when the economy improves. In the meantime, keep up to date with the blog!
Diversity of Corals, Algae in Warm Indian Ocean Suggests Resilience to Future Global Warming: - http://tinyurl.com/y9dz86e http://twitter.com/Red_Mangrove
