Social Impact with Emma » United Nations : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

Feeding Ourselves: Healthy Diets for a Zero Hunger World

October 19th, 2019

Are Jamaicans overfed and under-nourished? In Jamaica, World Food Day (October 16) was a rather low key affair. Agriculture Minister Audley Shaw attended an event in his own constituency of Christiana, Manchester, co-sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Jamaica, and there were photo-ops. According to the FAO, poor nutrition causes nearly half […]

From a Cause to a Purpose: The Private Sector and Climate Change

November 24th, 2018

A few days ago, I attended a meeting, organized by the Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. Towards the end of every year, this seminar highlights the key issues of concern for Jamaica (as part of its negotiating group of island states, AOSIS) as they go off to the […]

Thoughts on Bastille Day

July 15th, 2018

In Jamaica, many parties and evening receptions are held outside, with stark shadows and artificial lighting. The annual celebration of Bastille Day (or Quatorze Juillet) on July 14 at the French Embassy is no different. The guests stand stiffly, almost in rows, while speeches are made, their faces turned slightly upwards. Then they begin to […]

The Deforestation of Our City

March 31st, 2018

I love my city of Kingston. I have my favourite spots, that I always enjoy. One of these is that little corner on the intersection of Old Hope Road and Lady Musgrave Road. A small church (the “Babbins Church,” founded in 1900 by Rev. Francis Bavin of the United Free Methodists) nestled there comfortably for 88 years, […]

Downtown Kingston: Has Its Revival Time Finally Come?

December 7th, 2016

Last week, I was at the official opening of UN House (where all the UN offices in Jamaica will shortly be residing, under one roof) at the International Seabed Authority Building. A sight glimpsed through an empty office window really moved me. Beyond rows of corrugated roofs, barbed wire and satellite dishes and flanked by […]

There is No Perfect System, But I’m Going to Exercise My Democratic Right

November 16th, 2016

It’s been quite a year for elections. Speaking for myself, I will be glad when it’s all over and done with. Once our own General Elections were past, many Jamaicans (though not all) were already in the thrall of the exhausting slog of U.S. presidential elections. Jamaica’s campaign seemed like a quick sprint (or perhaps […]

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