I have been thinking about how these two things are connected. Anyone watching the progress of the oil spill knows it will do horrible damage to the coastlines in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. Dead fish are already washing up on beaches in Florida. This is only the beginning of the horrors we will see. Unlike a hurricane, the full extent of the damage from something like this will not be known for years. We do know the fishing business will be gone. We do know tourism will be severely impacted. We do know people will get sick from the pollution. We do know people will want to move, but they may not be able to afford to.

What is happening in Treasure Beach is similar but because it is happening so much more slowly and it is not part of the news you see on TV, a lot of people do not see what's happening as an emergency. It's a little bit like the story of putting a frog in warm water and then making the water hotter and hotter. By the time the frog realizes the water is too hot and he should have done something, it is too late.

People see a little bit of garbage on the beach and they don't pay attention. They see the dunes flattened and they don't do anything. They see people building too close to the sea and they ignore it. They see plants being destroyed and they do nothing. Fishermen bring in less fish and no one seems to ask what could be done to stop this trend because they want their fish NOW. Pollution is flowing into the sea but no one does anything to stop it. People burn trash and the air stinks. Nasty chemicals are used on lawns and crops and no one questions what happens when people breathe the air. People dump their old refrigerators in a ditch. No one thinks it is THEIR problem.

All of this is the problem of EVERY person. Stop turning your heads. Stop ignoring things while there is still time to fix them.

Step up. Stand up for your rights. TOGETHER we can stop what is happening to Treasure Beach. If we wait until it is an emergency, it will be too late.

I am saddened to say what Wake Up tells us is true. It is disgusting but it is true. Do not wait for someone to come and organize to fix things. Do not think you can do nothing. Everyone can do something. Everyone. Even the children. The tourists will not help. They will find a different place for their vacation. The villa owners will suffer too but they do not live there. This is a job for the people who live and work in Treasure Beach. It is a hard job but it is not an impossible job. Having no tourists and little food will be a lot harder. What will happen then?

stop the carwash at kingfish plaza!!!,same near Jakes,same across Jakes,Oil runs in the ground!!!

I just had a conversation minutes ago with my uncle in TB. He told me how terrible the fishing has been; gone from bad to worse. He told me one of the reasons fishermen are unable to catch anything these days is because divers are cleaning up everything on the bottom. If they see a lobster in someone's fishpot, they spear it and remove it from the pot. If they find a lobster with eggs, they rip out the eggs before coming ashore. He told me that he recently found an inumerable amount of fish floating after the divers had blown them up with dynamite (destroying hatcheries in the process). Many of them were too small to harvest; tomorrows catch destroyed today. He told me that many complaints have been made but nothing has been done by the authorities.

I fully agree with you Wake Up. The saddest part of what's happening in TB is that the damage is not being done by greedy multi-nationals. It's being done by our own people and allowed to continue by inept Gov't Agencies.

Stop blaming the government. Stop blaming the lack of laws and lack of enforcement. Start blaming the people who are doing the damage. If you see oil running into the ground and the owner is unwilling to change what they do, don't give your business to that establishment. Stand near it for several hours with a sign warning other people away.

The differences between the gulf oil spill and Treasure Beach actually make it WORSE for Treasure Beach. WHEN this happens to Treasure Beach, the Jamaican government will do NOTHING for you. No oil company will make any sort of payments. I know there are not many in Treasure Beach with computers but those who have them can spread the word. There are citizen action groups that can come together to do things. Everyone in Treasure Beach has a mouth and a heart, and that is what will make the difference.

The basic problem of pollution and destruction of the enviroment, is OVER POPULATION !!!!!
To many people chasing to few resources !!!
In my opinion, this will not stop until Mother Nature puts things back in balance by killing many of our species (humans) by introducing incurable diseases (bacteria and viruses), and more natural disaters (hurricanes, earthquakes, famine, etc). And we will kill more of ourselves from warring over the limited resourses !
Humans are selfish by nature, thus we will continue on our destructive ways, until Mother Nature stops us.
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

I abandoned a project years ago partly because a carwash was emptying it's contents into a pristine river delta.

If the carwash installed grey water collectors and cleaned their water for resuse using solar generated electricity, then I would learn from them and encourage others to emulate their actions.

Remember, when each of us washes their vehicle, the grey water goes into the ground same way. I started an oil digester long ago. Wanted to see if the right oil digesting bacteria/fungi would manifest after adding various organic mixes. My kids still don't understand.

Where do used oils go while we're at it?

Ideally, how can the carwash continue to feed the family without attacking Livity. We are part of Livity too.

Ideally, those granted the duty and responsibility for such situations would be awake and responsive. Who are they?

Too many people using resources inefficiently, wastefully and without taking responsibility for their actions.

If we lived sustainably, 7 billion would not be considered overpopulation.

Where does one learn how to live sustainably?

Thinktanks spend millions to tell us we need to do this, we read and hear about the need in the media.

Maybe it's like Pixie Dust, nice to dream about, just don't take it too seriously.

I do. Without the Pixies.

Lets look at another big problem in TB.This one is obesity.i have so much fear in my heart for some of these young people that they might not live along life because of obesity.Young people please get up and take a walk,u have to take the kids to school,after droping them off u can walk back home.

Most people are overweight because they eat more calories than they burn. Exercise helps. Eating the right foods helps. It costs more to eat a healthy diet. That's another big reason to not ruin Treasure Beach. How can people afford to eat healthy meals if there is no work or no fish or good fruits and vegetables to eat?

[edited by TB.Net] MM, overpopulation may be a problem, but it is not what is ruining the environment in Treasure Beach. What is ruining our environment are people who do not stop to think about what they are doing. This might be because they are lazy or selfish, but I believe most of it is unintentional.

MikeyMike, you sure have a way of expressing yourself that is the opposite of boring. I must say I disagree with a lot of what you believe including your theory that environmental ruin is the result of overpopulation. Maybe it is in some places but not in T/B.

It's hard enough to break out of destructive habits on ones own without guidance and encouragement. Some will mock and discourage what is unfamiliar, another hurdle.

Some eg's: "Compost heaps breed snakes and vermin best to burn it all".

"Where do I get info on starting a compost heap?"

"Why is so called garbage not separated?".

"Man fi bun...cough, cough.."

"A few trees for decoration is sufficient, cut the rest".

"Lignum vitae coal bun di best".

"Those damn environmentalists!".

"All that bush and wasteland sitting down and doing nothing".

"And they really love their island?".

THANKS for the compliment !!!
At least that is the way I took your comment :>)
Anyway, it is not about agreeing are disagreeing with someones comment. It is about "healthy debate" which means respecting someones comment (as long as they comment respectfully) !!!
I agree that in TB, over-population is not the problem, but the selfish ways of a few is. Most times these selfish ways are driven by greed !
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

It would be helpful if school children walked to school rather than use cab services. Back in the day we all walked to school and practically everywhere we went. We stayed healthy and the air was not polluted.

SYLVIA EARLE: The Ocean's Ambassador for Sustainable Seas, in Interview, aches about the Gulf Coast Oil Spill's Effects on Fragile Marine Ecosystems:

AUDIO + VIDEO (To Be Added)
www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/jan-june10/oil2_05-05.html


VIDEO PROFILE OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC OCEANOGRAPHER & PIONEERING WOMAN AQUANAUT: SYLVIA EARLE

Click on PLAY (After "Marine Ecosystems in Danger from Oil Leak")

www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/

PHOTOS OF THE "GREAT" BP OIL SPILL OF 2010

www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/30/louisiana-oil-spill-2010_n_558287.html

Friends, we never had a chance any way. There's more to it that doesn't involve humans but the {edited by TBNet} that does we can change. {edited by TBNet} Has anyone ever watched BURIED AT SEA. So much nasty dumped in the ocean in the last 100 years, ( we are what we eat ). I hardly eat fish any more and its not because I can't get it. {edited by TBNet} Anyone paying attention to the finding of Treasure at Pedro Key ( I can't find any current info). Jamaica you are being ripped off and its your own fault. No one to blame but We. We will all be one in mind when the problems of survival truly effects all and that's not far away JA. I know, should be more positive. There is no plan globally, not enough money to police the world away from pollution and so much more because its a vicious circle. Stop to think about how you get that black plastic bag and the items you put in it and maybe you will gain a little insight. The news line reads Asteroid will hit earth 2036. The long tail of a Star will signal the END.

In the meantime, I'm privileged to have been born in what many see as a Paradise. If I can maintain a seed of Livity in the midst of Livity being managed by MBa's, so be it.

Does my presence have any significance besides generating CO2? Have I lived with the animals, the greens, the minerals, the waters and atmosphere sensibly?

Have I left brown or green and blue in my wake?

Are we the Crown of Creation, or a failed parasitic species?

Are we parading naked and grotesque but insist, like the famous emperor, we are clothed in gold?

Look in the mirror. If the asteroid don't get yer, entropy will.

What will be my legacy? A peice of paper or sweet memories and green spaces?

One Love, Many Ideas.

SPILLCAM: Diving Into the Abyss

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/25/AR2010052505047.html