Dennis's Blog
With my recent activities centering mainly on research on global warming and climate change, expressly for the purpose of sharing critical information with youth who have been targeted as a part of the CHOGM initiative in public education, I have come to realise how much all life on this planet we share, is built on chance and powered by the sun look fabulously produced documentaries and reading the plethora of materials available on the environment, I have come to recognise and appreciate how the delicate balances of our world are faltering as the planet, the only one we know main universe to support life struggles to support our growing demands. I am now convinced that the time is now for us to take stock of what we have and what we stand to lose.
A recent visit to Mayaro and Manzanilla, two vast beach areas my childhood has brought in no uncertain terms, how serious the issue of global warming has become. Gone now are the vast expanses of beach and luscious sands. Instead there are the encroaching seas and swamps and hundreds of fallen coconut fronds; lying alongside each other, the fallen soldiers in the sands; collateral damage as a consequence of sea level rises. We have all been told that over the year’s global sea level has risen between 1-2mm per year and that recently the rate has increased to about 3mm primarily due to thermal expansion of warming oceans and fresh water flowing into the water from melting ice. From a documentary I recently viewed about the plant earth I have come to appreciate how the magnificent polar bear have become a sad and endanger emblem of the state of our plant and for all the beautiful creates that are struggling to live along side us humans who are mainly responsible for all unnatural influences that negatively affect the global environment. Most of us, especially my fellow citizens in tropical t7t tend to think that the issue of polar ice caps melting as a result of climate change is not our problem. However, the potential consequences of climate change are profound; particularly its devastating effects of people living in developing countries and small island states. The questions therefore, is not weather climate change is happening but what to do about it.
There are untold consequences that could result of recalcitrant of humanity. Melting ice caps contribute to sea level rise and increased ocean temperatures, coastal erosion, coral bleaching and lost of beaches. There is also the recent phenomenon of fish migration and temperature changes affecting weather patterns, causing violent storm hurricanes and extensive rainfalls and resultant flooding.
Many of us recall the recent situation Vanuatu, a fellow commonwealth member; the first to be relocated as sea levels rise the habitants of low lying islands inundation and ominous warning of this for me is that beach on Manzanilla. Too many examples of negative change have become apparent for us to remain in denial or complacent. With the upcoming 21st meeting of the commonwealth heads of government in my country Trinidad and Tobago in November and with the recent success of “MOCK CHOMG “held in Hyatt Regency Port of Spain, I am holding out hope that we have collectively how precarious is the state of our once lucky planet.
If we are to go on sharing this beautiful earth with such a rich variety of like and relatively perfect climate and conditions and preserve its fragile balance for our children; the Commonwealth’s future more now than ever…..it is in our hands. A window of opportunity is here…let is save ourselves and our only known home…………..Beautiful planet EARTH
Dear Your Highness,
Dear Your Highness,
This is the first time ever that I have ever been written to by a Royal person. I should very much like to know more about you.
I suspect that you are another young environmental enthusiast.
Today, Saturday, the CHOGM is going apace with much productivity with regard to supporting Copenhagen in December and reaching a substantive agreement on a vision for climate change and sustainable development.
There are now 90 countries who have agreed to attend and the Danish prime minister who is here in Trinidad and Toabgo is encouraged by all of this.
Please let me know how you feel about these important issues and more about yourself.
It is important that our leaders reach consensus on a strong attitude to change for the betterment of people everywhere. There is now a window of opportunity for us to make a difference for mother nature and our quality of life.
I thank you much for inviting me to write to you.
best regards and much prosperity to you and yours.
Dennis McCOMIE
SPOKESPERSON
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT
CHOGM
Dennis, while I commend any
Dennis, while I commend any efforts to care for and protect the environment in which we live, we must also engage our minds through logic and reason.It seems that you may have overlooked the recent events concerning climate change.The UN and EU's agenda have been exposed after a hacker broke into the computers at the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit (aka CRU) and released 61 megabytes of confidential files onto the internet.
These files needless to say indicate that the global warming industry is based on a massive lie. The CRU’s researchers were exposed as having “cherry-picked” data in order to support their untrue claim that global temperatures had risen higher at the end of the 20th century than at any time in the last millenium. CRU was also the organisation which – in contravention of all acceptable behaviour in the international scientific community – spent years withholding data from researchers it deemed unhelpful to its cause.Do you really think these so called Heads of State care about the Caribbean apart from it being their private playground.
No doubt you will probably dismiss this as a "conspiracy theory", but the facts still remain. The truth is still out there for anyone interested.
I totally agree with you and
I totally agree with you and we all have a part to play. At school we teach the kids about protecting the environment, about ecosystems, food-chains and food webs, habitats, marine pollutants etc. We try to teach by example.In Social Studies they are learning about earth concepts, about the globe, continents and oceans etc and where to locate our home, T&T on the globe. They are also finding out about the importance of keeping the environment pollution-free if they are to enjoy clean drinking water, clean beaches so that they can play on the sand with their bucket and shovel, making sand-castles.
Could you tell me why in heaven's name is our Government going ahead with the smelters. Does he think that the rest of the world does not know?
I have just come across your
I have just come across your Blog whilst looking for info on the Global warming aspect of CHOGM2009.
Your photo of Mayaro/Manzanilla brings back my early years in T & T whilst working in POS in 1955/59 I was a frequent visitor to the 2 beaches you mention these were a vast expanse of sand and Coconut Palms. Your photo makes me realise the effect of Global warming. Have the beaches really been reduced to this? or is the after effects of a storm?
Keep Blogging!!!!
If our leaders are to become
If our leaders are to become change agents for conserving our environment, then the decisions they make must fall in line with that conservation.We need to look closer at the impact on our environment re "over-industrialization".
Our swamps act as barriers that shield us and protect our islands and also act as a sieve. When these are removed, we become vulnerable and predisposed to disaster.
On another note, our children imitate what we do, so to help them to learn to protect and save our environment, we must act wisely and do the same. Just look at our surroundings after heavy rainfall, the waters seem to give back what we throw into them, garbage!
When children are educated about conservation, they become advocates for its protection.
you are certainly right
you are certainly right dennis. my son who is 11 is conscious of the environment and is always pointig out things we can do as individuals. i hope he remains that way because they are the future and we need to preserve the environment for them
Dennis, Please write His
Dennis,
Please write His Royal Highness an e-mail when you can.
The World Creative Youth Forum is happening in Costa Rica
September 2011.
the website is www.childrenoftheworld.us
Wish you well with the CHOGM Youth Forum etc.
Paul H-Borger
Executive Assistant