Social Impact with Emma » Respect Jamaica : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

Human Rights Begin At Home

September 27th, 2016

It was a busy evening in Half Way Tree. A huge thunderstorm descended on the area, just as rush hour started. Rain fell in bucketfuls, and traffic slowed and started to pile up outside the Webster Memorial Church Hall. Yet, a group of women fought their way through the puddles, arriving on the doorstep somewhat […]

A Question of Respect

January 14th, 2016

Mr. Christopher Gayle, a highly esteemed Jamaican cricketer, embarrassed a woman reporter recently. As such, I feel he disrespected her. I have often thought about the word “respect,” a frequently used term in Jamaica. Many Jamaicans simply say “Respect,” in response to a comment, or in concluding a conversation. It’s a kind of acknowledgement of […]

#KickOutGBV: More Than Just a Hashtag

October 22nd, 2015

Where is Jamaica going in the campaign against gender-based violence? Are we getting anywhere? I asked myself this question repeatedly at a recent public forum on “Gender-Based Violence in the Caribbean,” ably organized by the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Model United Nations and the Department of Government in collaboration with Respect Jamaica. The […]

Down With Slacktivism! UWI Leads Seeks an Activist Voice

August 18th, 2015

A few days ago, I spoke to a group of University of the West Indies students about “Finding My Activist Voice Through Social Media: Activism vs. Slacktivism.” That last word was a new one for me, but I was honored to be invited to talk to such a bright group of young people, and it was […]