Dear Editor,
The Qatari hotel in Georgetown highlights a growing disconnect between talk and walk as it relates to embracing eco-development and green spaces in Guyana. Surely that hotel could have been built somewhere else, possibly even outside of the capital where land space would enable an eco-building surrounded by greenery? Just look at other Caribbean nations, none of which have hotels congregating in the capital city, but instead dispersed throughout the lands. Some time ago I wrote a letter about green schoolyards (see Green Schoolyards America) where that is possible. To date no new or renovated school has incorporated. Will the government now incorporate such schoolyards as part of the new schools being built? Such schoolyards are a fabulous way of enabling the young to be imbued with the understanding of and desire to be part of the climate change mitigation journey.
What about all the new buildings being built across the country? To date none of them is a green building. Perhaps the government can still start by designing all the houses being handed over to citizens by incorporating elements of green buildings. With respect to sustainability perhaps consideration should be given to ceilings to mitigate the heat of sun when it hits the zinc roofs. And constructing these buildings to enable farming of rain water would set a great example with respect to dealing with drought and managing water resource sustainably. As well perhaps there are some lessons from those nations that are using local materials, and combing modern technology with traditional practices, such as this example from Burkina Faso: ‘We don’t need air con’: how Burkina Faso builds schools that stay cool in 40C heat – ecofriendly, adapting to keep cool when hot and warm when cold without the need for AC or heating.
Yet another aspect of climate change mitigation is tree planting. Yes the government is doing some work in this respect but much more needs to be done. There should be an ongoing tree planting campaign such as is happening in Jamaica (National Tree Planting – PSOJ) and this campaign can incorporate fruit trees and flowering plants. Those of my generation would recall growing up, when literally every yard had a bunch of fruit trees and such trees even dotted the ‘back dam’, rice fields boundaries and parapets bordering the trenches. Beyond providing plentiful fruits, these trees allow for other greenery to spring up around them thereby preventing soil erosion while fostering birds, insects and even small animals, all of which are critical for environmental sustainability and people’s survival. In fact there is so much that can and needs to be done including:
• Incorporating more plant based foods into the school feeding program, diets for police, prison, army and so on along with sustained national sensitisation campaign
• Laws to mandate that fish, crabs, shrimp beyond a certain size be released back into water, if caught, with strict implementation of such laws
• Composting and recycling to become part of the social behaviour landscape, the former fostered by government at every level, the latter encouraged as part of the replanting, farming and a resurgent kitchen garden culture, as existed not too long ago
• Imbuing the population about the value of all greenery and non-human life so that these will not be neglected or willy nilly destroyed
• Stricter enforcing of laws against animal trafficking and cruelty supported by a sensitization campaign.
The bottom line is that development should be inclusive of the demands for sustainable life and always cognisant of the need to enable future generations to live lives not significantly affected by climate change. And that culture has to be fostered now, not tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Annan Boodram
