KINGSTON, Jamaica, July 22, 2010 (Panos Press Release) - Ocho residents braved the rainy weather and hilly terrain to watch their favorite entertainers rock the stage at the Voices for Climate Change mini concert held in Clarendon, Jamaica at the Lennon High School last Friday (July 16, 2010).
Eight passionate entertainers including Pam Hall, Lloyd Lovindeer, One Third and Cameal Davis belted out hits after popular hits and had the crowd singing and dancing into the night as they demanded more from the vocal climate champions. Also among the acts were upcoming artistes K’Alee, Amique, Pompi Judah and Heather Harding also known as Boom Dawn. The eight are among a group of 24 artistes from the Voices for Climate Change Education Project who have dedicated their talent and time to record songs aimed at educating the population on climate change issues.
“People listen to music, people listen to artistes and what they are saying. So if we are enthused about reducing climate change, people will be enthused about this as well” said 2008 Rising stars winner Cameal Davis at the community discussion held in the farming community of Mocho.
The day started with a community discussion on Mocho’s experience with the impacts of climate change and an interactive session on what climate change is and the adaptive strategies that can help to mitigate its devastating impacts.“Many people here in Mocho burn their garbage instead of properly disposing it and this is partly due to the fact that we do not have a reliable garbage collecting system,” said Gaulia Reeves, a resident of Mocho. She said that she has seen evidence of climate change in her beloved community “I remember a time when I used to experience winter in Mocho, where I had to wear a cardigan, now I’m just sweating all year round.”
“The Voices for Climate change Education Project is really teaching persons about the seriousness of climate change and we are becoming more careful of how we treat the environment,” said Devon Brown, principal of the Mount Airy Primary School. His institution has also taken steps to adapt to the impacts of climate change. “The community has problems getting good portable water so we (the Mocho Community Development Association, Panos and the Peace Corps) have constructed a bio-sand water filter to help to purify our water at the school,” he continues.
Residents also say they have observed evidence of a dwindling Crow population in Mocho. “What we see happening in Mocho is that the John Crows are dying out, this is happening because the harmful pesticides that are being used on crops kill animals that feed on them,” said Henry Mullings, Dean of Discipline at Lennon High School. “The crows then feed on their carcasses and they die as well.”
The artistes journeyed to the Mount Airy Primary school and planted over ten shade trees with the help of Mount Airy and Mocho residents on the grounds of the school. These trees were donated by the Forestry Department of Jamaica. The Voices for Climate Change Education Project, which is a national communication and education strategy is using the voices of popular artistes to spread the message of climate change and how it affects the environment.
The project was implemented by lead agencies, Panos Caribbean and the National Environmental Education Committee (NEEC) and funded by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), Christian Aid, the Bureau of Standards, the Meteorological Office of Jamaica and other key sponsors.
