Small Islands Voice aims to change environmental behaviours in 2009
By Melissa Bryant
Reporter~SKNVibes.com
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SINCE its inception in April 2002, members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Chapter of Small Islands Voice (SIV) have consistently drawn attention to pressing environmental issues and their mandate in 2009 promises to be no different.
SIV, which is one of the many United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) initiatives implemented in St. Kitts and Nevis, is comprised of forward-thinking youth from the Federation’s secondary schools and sixth forms.
The group’s main objectives are to lend a voice to the social problems facing the Caribbean and to give young people a greater stake in the kind of lifestyles they would want to perpetuate in the future.
The destruction of the natural environment has always been an issue of concern for SIV; therefore, SIV Coordinator Gary Morian informed SKNVibes that the group intends to pursue a major environmental project in 2009.
He further stated the project would probably focus on stopping the mismanagement of natural resources and identified this as a serious problem for the twin-island Federation. ~~Adz:Right~~
“This is a strong concern for the organisation and we recognise the need for immediate action to be taken. It is only through changing people’s behaviour that we will see an improvement.
“Most notably, our waste management procedures need to be improved. We cannot continue to just have our garbage lying out on the street. We need to look seriously at implementing proper recycling and waste management and reduction programmes. St. Kitts is not too small to have a recycling plant; it has been done in smaller countries such as the Cook Islands. And until we become serious about trying to protect our environment, outbreaks such as the recent one of dengue fever will continue,” warned Morian.
He noted the specific details of the project had yet to be finalised and that there was no implementation schedule in place. However, he did reveal that some of the project’s activities would include SIV members visiting schools and using their annual newsletter to inform and sensitise persons about the matter.
“What we are aiming to do is to transform the mentality of young persons so their minds are broadened and opened to world views and how other small island developing states deal with the same environmental challenges we are facing,” said the Coordinator.
Morian also stated that the group would be travelling to Anguilla in early February in order to learn more about the island’s culture and their methods for dealing with developmental issues.
