When we talked about development, we are not talking mining. We seem to limit ourselves to just one concept of development. The Cockpit is the Bread Basket of Jamaica and importing agricultural goods and food won't sustain Jamaica. The tourist industry imports all its food from the USA and other countries. Not even a Plantain could buy in the local markets.
Commercial farming is not feasible, agribusinesses will depend on the produce from these mountains. Jamaica is over 80% mountains. Now, the issue of sustainability relates to the use of chemicals in land cultivation. which I think should be banned, as well as development pressures from the mining of bauxite.
Now there was a time when young people would leave the country and find jobs in the city, that's not the case today, this too is impacting the environment in the Cockpit Mountains. Most of the sinkholes are clogged with garbage and so flooding too is occurring in the higher elevations. Jamaica since the early eighties has seen an explosion in the youth population. The challenge is how do you create opportunities for a large restless youth population who have the rug pulled out from under them when all of Michael Manley programs were dismantled by Saega and PJ.?
So when we talk about balancing development and the environment, it has to do with how we plan for and manage population growth. Population growth is also development. Underdevelopment is the inability to provide opportunities to a growing population.. Jobs, food, housing, education and healthcare. There is a direct conflict between continued bauxite mining and our water resources management. Economic Development Diversity is the key to resolving these conflicts. We must grow and create good jobs in research, engineering and high technology. The subservient jobs within the tourism sector are not enough to build and sustain a strong middle-class which is the fabric of a democratic society.
We aren’t the first to fight for progressive change and we won’t be the last.
The Jamaica Diaspora Sustainable InitiativeApr 22, 2015 — We are a movement of Jamaicans both at Home and Abroad who are willing to fight for real and lasting change. This isn't for everyone — we're Changing Jamaica Through Leadership, and we're proud of it. If you’re someone who'd rather get involved than sit back, if you refuse to be cynical about what we can get done together, then you should be part of this at www.ourjamaicavote.org
Commercial farming is not feasible, agribusinesses will depend on the produce from these mountains. Jamaica is over 80% mountains. Now, the issue of sustainability relates to the use of chemicals in land cultivation. which I think should be banned, as well as development pressures from the mining of bauxite.
Now there was a time when young people would leave the country and find jobs in the city, that's not the case today, this too is impacting the environment in the Cockpit Mountains. Most of the sinkholes are clogged with garbage and so flooding too is occurring in the higher elevations. Jamaica since the early eighties has seen an explosion in the youth population. The challenge is how do you create opportunities for a large restless youth population who have the rug pulled out from under them when all of Michael Manley programs were dismantled by Saega and PJ.?
So when we talk about balancing development and the environment, it has to do with how we plan for and manage population growth. Population growth is also development. Underdevelopment is the inability to provide opportunities to a growing population.. Jobs, food, housing, education and healthcare. There is a direct conflict between continued bauxite mining and our water resources management. Economic Development Diversity is the key to resolving these conflicts. We must grow and create good jobs in research, engineering and high technology. The subservient jobs within the tourism sector are not enough to build and sustain a strong middle-class which is the fabric of a democratic society.
We aren’t the first to fight for progressive change and we won’t be the last.
The Jamaica Diaspora Sustainable InitiativeApr 22, 2015 — We are a movement of Jamaicans both at Home and Abroad who are willing to fight for real and lasting change. This isn't for everyone — we're Changing Jamaica Through Leadership, and we're proud of it. If you’re someone who'd rather get involved than sit back, if you refuse to be cynical about what we can get done together, then you should be part of this at www.ourjamaicavote.org
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