PPOD expresses concern over climate change

Dear Dominican Brothers and Sisters,

We are experiencing what has been termed by climatologists, geologists, and other scientists, as a more rapid-than-expected pace of climate change. The effects are felt not only in the Caribbean, but also in places like Bangladesh and Nepal, where floods are currently wreaking havoc, and in the USA in Oregon and California where wildfires are burning out of control. Texas is still far from beginning to recover from Hurricane Harvey.

We have no one to thank but the Almighty Father for sparing Dominica from the wrath and intensity of Hurricane Irma. When we think back about the short history of Irma, the pace at which she gathered wind speed/intensity is mind blowing. She went to being a Category 3 storm just days after Hurricane Harvey affected Texas. The fact that Hurricane Harvey was still active, and the amount of energy required to sustain Irma at a Category 3 baffled many meteorologists and climatologists. When Hurricane Irma was churning her way across the Atlantic towards land, tropical disturbances and depressions were forming in the Atlantic.

We are now familiar with the 27 deaths attributed to the impact of the hurricane in Barbuda, St. Martin, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Irma slammed the northern Caribbean islands as a category 5 hurricane. We grieve with our Caribbean brothers and sisters. We bear witness to the devastating, savage side of Mother Nature as she unleashes wretched torrents of rain and wind upon helpless populations, especially now in Florida. We see firsthand through social media and television, that other parts of the world are just as vulnerable as we are in the Caribbean to the unmitigated consequences of climate change.

As of this writing, climatology experts are wondering if the Saffir-Simpson scale should be extended to include a sixth category. They are well aware of exponential changes in Earth’s climatological and geological systems. In spite of mounting evidence, a large swathe of climate change deniers stand firm against the insurmountable proof. Deniers are mostly divided into two camps – Those against global warming, but who believe that what is happening is a natural process; and those against global cooling, but believe that what is happening is a natural process. Clarity should be brought in at this point, to state that it is neither entirely global warming, nor entirely global cooling. A lot of man’s actions – the disregard for environmental concerns through dumping; large scale fossil fuel extraction; and attempts at and manipulation of Earth’s atmosphere, largely contributes to the factors responsible for climate change.

Thus, what measures can we in Dominica take to mitigate the like impact of a disaster caused by Hurricane Irma? First of all, the Office of Disaster Management and the National Emergency Planning Organization (NEPO) need to formulate and implement ongoing strategies which simulate real disasters – earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, etc, in order to prepare Dominican citizens for a real strike. Mock drills should be held with public participation at intervals through out the year, so that a certain level of preparedness becomes embedded within the population. That being said, a larger portion of the budget should be allocated to disaster preparedness organizations – groups like the Boy Scouts and cadet corps should be thoroughly trained in emergency rescue procedures, and the construction of makeshift centers.

Secondly, we as Dominicans need to be aware of our environment interaction habits. No longer can we resort to burning all rubbish and refuse in hopes that the disposable cycle ends there. We have to distinguish between the types of garbage that need to be disposed of, and institute proper procedures to ensure final disposal. We also have to be aware of our spending habits – fuel expenditures, automobile purchases, etc, and cut down on some of the non-biodegradable items that we purchase.

Last but not least, in times like these we need to put aside all petty political differences and realize that the rebuilding of our nation is priority number one. For in times like these when nature tests our very existence, we as an intelligent but humane and compassionate species should rise above ingrained selfishness and extend a helping hand to our fellow brothers and sisters.

 

 

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6 Comments

  1. %
    September 12, 2017

    Good literature,though you all are a dead party..I also believe that instead of using CBI money to buy votes,this WICKED DLP regime,myopic,inept,lazy and corrupt,should contribute money towards a fund to relocate some of the thousands who live on the coastlines across the country.The planning division also has a vital role to play.They should refuse the granting of permission to those who want to build too close to the sea/rivers,etc.
    SKERRIT MUST GO
    SKERRIT MUST GO
    ERRIT MUST GO NOW

  2. Fr. Franklyn Cuffy,
    September 11, 2017

    Thank you PPOD for a well written piece. It was in 2005 that the United Nations designated the Last Sunday in September of every year as “wORLD RIVERS DAY”. This September, Sunday 24 will mark the 12 Anniversary of World Rivers Day. We market our Nature Isle as having 365 Rivers. I think that it is more than time that we in Dominica become aware of the impact of climate change on Dca. and especially on our Water Resources.
    Trinidad & Tobago observed their 1st. World Rivers Day in 2016 and plans are well on the way for this year’s events. As a result of the Adopt-A-River program in that Country, they became aware that 65% of their water resources are polluted… Today is the time in DA for all concern to join the pace to protect our Rivers and Watersheds for this generation and the next. . The theme for our 40 Anniversary of Independence 2018 is: My Love, My Home, My Dominica! Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si, say: “taking care of our common Home (Earth) is our…

  3. Martin from Canada
    September 11, 2017

    I am reminded way back of the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change Project (CPACC) project, which included work in Dominica. It seems like some things are still needed, more than 15 years later. It’s too bad that as a species we often prefer to fix damage than avoid it. It usually costs much less to avoid problems (or build resilient communities) than it is to repair them.

    http://www.caribbeanclimate.bz/closed-projects/1997-2001-caribbean-planning-for-adaptation-to-climate-change-project-cpacc/pdf.html

  4. Real possi
    September 11, 2017

    Great job PPOD. They ain’t no UWP.

    Keep the people informed. They don’t just say what the problem is , they give the solutions to the problem.

  5. J.John Charles
    September 11, 2017

    People’s Party of Dominica ,the climate will continue to change,even the experts are changing. Just a few years ago the mantra was “Global warming ” now is climate change.What really needs to be done is the people of this earth, first tuned to the One who have the earth in His hands then we can truly pray to Him for our protection…amen

    • Anonymous
      September 12, 2017

      Global warming causes climate change. They aren’t separate.

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