This past year was notable for many reactions to the continuing global economic crisis, not least the beginnings of a public response in the “big countries” to the excesses of the international banking and financial corporations.  There were also some amazing examples of people-powered change in the Middle East.  On issues of the environment, however, at a global level or even at the local level there was little to provide much hope for change from the status quo.

In Durban, the 2011 UN Climate Change Conference dragged on for an extra day and a half in order to reach agreement on a proposal that would not take effect until 2020, despite all the warnings of the climate scientists from around the world that this would lead to at least a 20°C rise in global temperature where, according to a spokesperson from Greenpeace, “we pass from danger to potential catastrophe”.  So much have the people of the US been persuaded by the doubt machine of the corporate oil lobby that one of their senators can still get away with the appallingly ignorant statement describing man-made climate change as “a hoax”.

At the local level, there were some glimmers of hope that the government was beginning to look seriously at the escalating oil prices and to putting some fresh emphasis on the development of alternative energy sources.  However, until the government is willing to change laws, so that others besides APUA may lawfully generate electricity, it’s very hard to see how much progress and innovation can be generated.  But let’s hope 2012 brings new resolve to the government to tackle the very real threat of oil prices reaching well above US$150 per barrel in the not too distant future – shale oil and tar sands notwithstanding.

In the realm of biodiversity management and efforts to stem the ever escalating loss of species from this planet, it seems that the message has not yet sunk in that unless radical changes to our development models are made, the battle will be lost.  At the local level, it took 13-year-old Mehalah Spencer to raise a voice about the threatened abandonment of wilderness protection for a significant part of our oldest terrestrial protected area – the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park.  Her facebook campaign raised some of the issues that have to be dealt with if this nation is to be able to sustain any environmentally protected area in this country whether it be the National Parks, Mount Obama or the Marine Management areas. The campaign resulted in a swelling response, only to have it cut off before those discussions could really begin – the result of intimidation and politicisation of the cause by others with interests other than the sustainable wealth of the nation.

The only silver lining around that dark cloud was the National Youth Award presented to Mehalah...

We hope there will be many more Mehalahs with courage and love of country – its diversity and beauty – who will speak out in 2012 and other years to come.

On a similar note, it was good to see the regionally lauded and respected but locally almost ignored, recycling company, Antigua and Barbuda Waste Recycling Company (ABWREC), back on its feet in 2011.  This Rotary Sundown-sponsored NGO has done the impossible over the last few years and, with hard won grants from various funding agencies and little support from Government, has exported container loads of waste plastic and aluminium for recycling, thereby relieving much stress on the sanitary landfill at Cooks.  We should, of course, recognise, the assistance of the CBH and the NSWMA (whose unfortunate withdrawal of most of its support in 2010 almost led to the collapse of ABWREC) as well as the many volunteers and others who collect and bring waste to the plant at Powell’s.

Let’s hope 2012 brings lots more persons to contribute their recyclable waste and to volunteer for the very important work that ABWREC is doing for the beauty, health and economy of this country.  We should be proud of them – there is no other organisation like them in the whole of the OECS.

One last positive event to mention is the presentation of the National Land Zoning Plan to Cabinet in November 2011.  There will no doubt be many battles to be fought over this if it ever becomes part of our laws. But at least there will be something to defend and to cause important debates to be held.  Many of our current problems stem from the absence of such planning from 20 or 30 years ago.  Let’s hope it augurs well for a new resolve in the New Year to think more than 5 years ahead! 

Wishing the Nation a happy, sustainable and innovative 2012.