Local environmentalist, Atherton Martin, has expressed concern over the killing of a fellow environmentalist in Mexico.
Isidro Baldenegro López was shot to death on Wednesday. An indigenous activist, his struggle to save the pine-oak forests of Mexico’s Sierra Madre range won him the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize. His killing highlights the danger faced by environmental defenders around the world.
Martin said the killing of López comes at a time “when we are all being urged by Pope Francis in his Encyclical “Laudato Si”, to stand up and be counted as a protector and defender of our ‘common home’ …the Earth.”
“I believe that we should be giving wide publicity to such tragic acts and draw the lessons for us locally as there are environmentalists in Dominica who stand up for the protection and care of our island and who so far have been under intense verbal attack,” he said.
He queried whether Dominica is just one step away from the murder of environmentalists by persons especially when there are special interests promoting actions that destroy the Nature Island.
“The pursuit of construction by private and public ‘developers’ without complete Planning Permits as with the hotel now being built at Cabrits and the Geothermal Project in the Roseau Valley are examples of the violation of the integrity of Dominica and of Nature,” Martin stated. “Where are the members of the Catholic flock who could take direction from Pope Francis and stand up for sensible and sustainable development instead of watching silently while the natural, God-given wealth of Dominica is destroyed and squandered in the name of development?”
It amazes me at times how quick some people rather comment minor pointless statements in regards to attacking the messenger.
But regardless of who it is, that is one of the main features of Dominica that we fail to appreciate.
Dominica is infact the nature island (not just of the caribbean), as there are few islands who share the wealth of resources that we have in addition to having a population that can be sustained by its very resources.
I guess, we don’t truly value; clean water, clean air, fresh ‘real’ food, high standard of health and a long life.
I frankly don’t care who died, but not one comment has gone down the route of discussing the benefits that our environment in dominica can play in our economical and societal development.
I suppose we will all suck salt when we are drinking desalinated water.
LOL – If nature was your God and not a white man, maybe we’d consider it more seriously.
Jah Guide.
Be careful when you use that word “sustainable” Athie, because of what it really signifies.
hooray martin,
you make news again
Arthur you fought for independence for Dominica ,then left the country in it’s mess.Only the late Pierre Charles who stayed in the mess.Sorry to hear of the loss of this young man but sweep in front of your door step first before you moan over what is happening out side of our boarders..
Mr Artherton Martin of Jewel Street how many gallons of pure, fresh Dominica nature island water have you exported to date? Can you confirm that EXOTICA is repaying the loan(s) from the Poor Peoples Purse and local indigenous financial institutions? Do you regret resigning and running away when the Interim All Party Government lead by Labour Party Leader Oliver J Seraphine and the Free-Lab Government led by Roosie Douglas,needed your massive brain- power, wisdom and international contacts to develop Dominica? You must cut off this crap and leave Malzaire -Thomas-JohnLewis,Jolly and their flock alone! Hope to see you at the GABAU Demonstration in 15 days!
I heard that a man killed some people in Mexico at an outdoor music festival. Among them, a Canadian was killed and two injured.
It is said the murderer’s acts were on behalf of ISIS. Would it be that the environmentalist was among the dead?
I cannot remember hearing specifically that an environmentalist was murdered in Mexico.
May his soul rest in peace.
Dominica is a small place. There is a price to pay for progress.
Where could the Geothermal, hotels and bridges be constructed?
Like Freedom Party, Minister of Sports, what a disgrace to the legacy of the DAME. SHAMELESS Rupert, for vrumbs
Sorry to hear of his death, but Arthie just comes off as a do-gooder who will see to it that much isn’t done in D’a if he doesn’t approve. Geothermal? you have to be a nut case not to support this renewable energy with potential to save poor people lots of money (that’s if Domlec will let lower rates happen). Thanks for being a watchdog but you have to let some things develop.
The geothermal project never was about lowering electric rates in DA. Time for a reality check. Do you have any idea of how much money that project costs to begin with? And it is still far from producing anything. Try solar.
Correction. nature island of the Caribbean. And sacrifice to develop our country
Nature Island of the Caribbean
Dominica is the Nature Island of Dominica. Known for our forests, rivers waterfalls etc. our only sin is not keeping our island clean enough. There must be a balance we need development and some sacrifices have to be made. We have to clear some bush to development our country. We are not all first cousins of Jane and Tarzan.
Alice that is practically the same sentiments I shared with Athie a little less than twenty years ago, when his intent was to have no other form of tourism in the Dominica besides Eco (ecology) tourism. I suggest that part of the country could be designate to ECO tourism which might attract the old and aged.
However, the young traveling tourist is not interesting in that sort of thing! The idea of ECO tourism was born in Mexico, it did not actually take root there. Tourism is high on the Mexican, the economy of Mexico depends on Tourism immensely, and as such they give the tourist what the want, and surely, they do not insists on ECO tourism; that is a failed concept in it birth place Mexico, and any place where the idea was adapted.
Example: in a place like Bora Bora in the South Pacific with all is white sandy beaches could not attract many tourist because of this nonsense talk about ecology tourism By ask Athie what has done with Dominica International…
Athie, don’t worry no one will waste time to murder you.
Athie,thanks for your service to country…You saw the glory days of Dominica,and maybe you never thought that we would degenerate into this fetid mess that we are in today!!But with incompetence,greed,and ineptness,my island Dominica is doomed to be mired in poverty for a long time!May his soul RIP!
What glory days? Could u give the years those glory days happened. I am a Dominican and can’t recall glory days, we were always a country struggling to get out of porverty. The glory days when Castle Bruce co-op failed under Athie Martin. We never had a decent airport our roads were in a constant state of disrepair. You mean the glory days when higher education was available to select few. Again what glory days?
Looking for anything or way to gain political advantage. Was the environmentalists killed because of his job? DNO gave you your senior moment, now find another job..
Could not have said it better
“His killing highlights the danger faced by environmental defenders around the world.”(Athie Martin).
Athie that statement might not be entirely correct. There are environmentalist all over the world, true!
However; there is no history of environmentalist being murdered around the world, so I have to oppose you on this one. Now, I remember you were associated, and might be still associated with “Green Peace.” What did members of Green Peace do in Oregon, and up into the Red Woods where you visited years ago?
They rigged many trees so that when the Lumber-Jacks go to work cutting the trees they get murdered by the traps your friends set in the trees.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
How about that my illustrious friend Athie?
I suggest you do some research. There are plenty of environmentalists that have been killed for their stance over the years. You just may not have knowledge of them.
Well-said, Athie! Like so many other wrongs taking place in Dominica, the multitude prefer to eat the crumbs that fall from the table of the DLP rather than seek to protect the whole bread. It is so shameful for many of us who recall the days when integrity, morality and ethic and values meant something here. Grown men and women, once revered for their stance on values, have become dumb so that they can at least get the crumbs. What a shame.
Maybe these men who fought have grown tired for lack of support from the multitude.
what is your point?