Social Impact with Emma » UNESCO : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

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 […]

2019: A Year of Internet Shutdowns, Disinformation, and Distrust

December 28th, 2019

2019 has been the year of “Internet shutdowns.” No, I am not talking about Jamaican companies that fail to deliver the services that we pay for. I am talking about shutdowns initiated by governments that are afraid of their own citizens. The Internet has become the lifeblood of many societies in almost every country you […]

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 […]

Those Neglected Places That We Don’t Want to Care About

May 14th, 2017

Here’s an important question, in this “information age” where we try to know everything about everywhere (at least superficially): How is it that there are some parts of the world that we simply ignore? No matter what disasters befall these places, we just shrug shoulders and move on. That is, if these places ever make […]

The Kingston Book Festival is On The Horizon: March 5 – 12, 2016

February 26th, 2016

Does your brain need refreshing after all the politics? I know mine does. I am feeling weary. What better way to indulge in mental relaxation and pleasure, then, than to participate in the Kingston Book Festival? The first public event, a “Love Affair With Literature,” will be on Sunday, March 6 (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 […]

Literacy: More Than A Simple Sentence

September 11th, 2015

“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope,” said Kofi Annan. Mr. Annan is Chair of The Elders, a group of thoughtful statesmen and women who have had much to contribute to the global dialogue on key issues affecting the world. I recommend you listen to what they have to say. For many Jamaicans, learning […]