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'Jamaicans litter too much!'
Ladies for change - Pt 2
Monday, September 14, 2009
TWO weeks ago we heard from entertainers Cameal Davis, K'Alee and Boom Dawn, three of seven women chosen to participate in a project to sell the idea that a lifestyle change for Jamaicans will impact climate change.
This week we hear from another two - Pam Hall and Audrey Reid - who are also advocates of the message about <span style="font-weight: bold">how everything from burning garbage to chopping trees, from using aerosol can hairsprays to burning energy-sapping bulbs helps in the deterioration of the environment and links back to changes in the climate.</span>
The other female participants are Queen Ifrica and Gem Myers.
Around 25 entertainers are being used for the project - a national public education campaign on climate change. The project falls under the Voices for Climate Change Project being implemented by Panos Caribbean and the National Environment Education Committee (NEEC) with partner support from Christian Aid.
The package of information produced by the artistes include a theme song and a series of public service announcements.
The next phase of the 18-month project will include sector workshops as well as school tours and community visits.
Here, Hall and Reid share the results of the journey so far.
AW: Have you made any personal changes since becoming more familiar with the impact of climate change?
PH: I have always been familiar with and very concerned with the impact of climate change and have not had to make any significant change. I expressed my concern in song a few years ago. I submitted it to a producer with an alternative song which was more commercial and he chose the more commercial song. My computer went down so I lost the original tracks but I still have the song and will rebuild another rhythm.
AR: Yes, I started taking more care with disposing of my garbage and saving energy.
AW: What is one thing that you hope Jamaicans will understand and change about how they live after listening/viewing the work you've done on this project?
PH: Actually, there is more than one thing I would love them to change: (i) burning fires at random; (ii) throwing garbage on the streets and in gullies; (iii) sand mining the beaches and river beds; (iv) chopping down trees (deforestation).
AR: I hope Jamaicans will start educating themselves about climate change and the effect it will have on Jamaica - more hurricanes, beaches reduced, less tourism, fish getting scarcer which will dampen the fisherfolk's income and changes in people's diet etc.
AW: What were your individual contributions to the project?
PH: My individual contribution to the project was very small. I was actually at a function one night when Grub asked me to sing a line or two on the project. I was very happy to do so and went straight to the studio that night after the event and sang my part. I am hoping to complete my song and have it added to the project. I think it's important to get the word out.
AR: I attended the training sessions that I could. I've been sharing what I learnt with friends and family, which is important as we can learn from each other. I am also willing to do as much as I can, such as making appearances with other artistes on behalf of the project.
AW: Why was it important for you to be involved in this project?
PH: I think it was important to be involved in a project such as this because climate change is an urgent matter and sadly, most people are not really aware of the issue. We have to use creative and catchy means to get the public to be more aware of the issue and its impact on them.
AR: Anything to make earth a safer and healthier place, I'll definitely jump at the opportunity - not just for me, but also for my children and their children to come.
AW: What kind of impact do you think you can make as an artiste in getting the importance of the message across?
PH: I think I can apply my musical creativity to the subject. I can compose music and lyrics about the subject and put them out with the hope that they will help to heighten general awareness and concern about the subject. I think there needs to be a really heavy-duty campaign on the matter. It is very urgent.
AR: Artistes have influence, people listen to us, we can help to set examples. I think it's of utmost importance that we send positive images out, being part of the project is one way of doing this. Also I can use what I have learned in some of my performances.
AW: What is your major dissatisfaction with the way Jamaicans care for the environment, now that you've been educated on the impacts of climate change?
AR: I think Jamaicans litter too much. We need to be more clean and disciplined, we also waste energy not realising that when we waste energy we pay more. We are also contributing to polluting the air as more impurities (harmful gases) are sent into the atmosphere
Source
I wish they would ban the stuff everywhere! Littering is a huge problem and hopefully by educating the young it will help.
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