Social Impact with Emma » Small Island Developing States : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

Living Online with Humans and Birds: NAOC 2020

August 12th, 2020

In this COVID-19 life (yes, we’re “living with COVID,” aren’t we?) I, for one, am mostly living online. Whether it’s writing blog posts, posting on social media, or attending Zoom meetings, I spend a lot of time in front of a screen. It is actually quite tiring, sometimes. But I am staying home. This is […]

COVID-19 and Talking to the Press in Jamaica

May 5th, 2020

Many of us might not have noticed it: Sunday, May 3 was World Press Freedom Day 2020. The theme was Journalism Without Fear or Favour. The day is usually observed with some kind of public forum organized by the Press Association of Jamaica. With the pandemic on, obviously that was not possible. The Prime Minister […]

In The Age of Climate Change, a Virtual Summit To Connect Islands

September 23rd, 2019

Air travel has become so commonplace that we take it for granted, these days. But as your plane touches down at your destination, do you ever wonder how much fuel it uses and what impact that has on our environment? For some time, scientists have known that planes are indeed a contributor to greenhouse gas […]

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 […]

Our Ocean is a Collective Responsibility

June 10th, 2018

Is the world going through a “sea change” – or are these swirling tides heading nowhere? With the G7 (or as I prefer to call it, the G6 plus 1) officially over, and World Environment Day and World Oceans Day passing us in quick succession, it might be a good idea to take a breath […]

Bird Notes, Part 2: Of Small Islands, Hurricanes and Opportunity Grabbers

April 16th, 2018

This is about the other side of the Caribbean. It’s not entirely about birds – it is more about humans, and what we call “natural disasters” (although they are quite unnatural, these days, since they are a consequence of humans’ actions). I would like to discuss two tiny islands, specifically. Quite frankly, these kinds of situations, […]

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