A Discussion Site for Good Governance and Corruption in Public Life Issues in the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla in the West Indies, moderated by Don Mitchell CBE QC, of PO Box 83, Anguilla, British West Indies. Email me with your comments and contributions at: idmitch@anguillanet.com.
04 December, 2008
Kyoto
Minister announces in House of Commons that Anguilla is not a party to the UK ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.As every Anguillian schoolchild knows, the greenhouse gasses consist of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride.
The UK is obliged to report on its and its dependencies’ and territories’ emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.The Protocol was adopted on 11 December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, and came into force on 16 February, 2005. This is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC).It is an international treaty that was produced at the UN Conference on Environment and Development.The Earth Summit, as it is informally known, was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.The treaty is intended to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.That means caused by humans, mainly by burning coal, oil, and other inflammable material.As of 2008, 183 countries, including the UK on behalf of itself and its dependencies and territories, have ratified the protocol.
Someone has drawn to my attention that, in answer to a question asked in the House of Commons on 26 November 2008, Joan Ruddock, the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, has indicated that Anguilla is not included as a party to the UK ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar and Montserrat, for example, are there.But, not Anguilla.What reason, I wonder, could there be for that?[A search of wildlife and environment treaties indicates Kyoto is not the only one.]
Perhaps it is just as well.I might otherwise be overwhelmed by guilt about burning my light household garbage and garden cuttings, as I have religiously done every week for the past 26 years.
Two representatives from Environmental Health were on The Elkin Show a few months ago. They said that burning garbage, both at Corito and elsewhere, is illegal.
Your weekend experience tells us about the level of enforcement provided by our diligent environmental health officers.
Lack of enforcement, failure to sign treaties, continuing sand mining, imprisoned wild dolphins and general disregard of our environment or those who come after us have become accepted practice in Anguilla. Our leaders don't even bother to give hypocritical speeches about such things any longer.
Scotty has caught the Hubert disease, seeing an evil conspiracy in everything the UK does. The sad truth is that the Overseas Territories have a very low priority in the Foreign Office. What little attention we do get is too often characterised by sloppiness and negligence. But these are different from a conspiracy.
Things will improve. Their attention is being diverted by TCI, Cayman and St. Helena. They will get to us eventually. Maybe not until Governor Smiley finish.
Meanwhile, get used to secret meetings and documents on the constitution, and continued sand mining.
What are we teaching our children? How can we expect things to get better in the future when we do not lead by example--GOOD example. Why is there no attempt at recycling in Anguilla? Why is there no public deriding of environmental "transgressions"? Are we teaching the future generation to simply "not care."?
Recycling what? Who wants our waste? How much will they pay for it? What will it cost to get it there? Who will pay if we fail to break even? Why doesn't Environmental Health recycle glass any more? (Or is that another State Secret?)
And of greatest importance, how many Anguillians want to work at Corito, separating the aluminum cans from the glass bottles, from the different types of plastic, from the non-ferrous metals, and from the used diapers?
Perhaps I'm stupid but why can the Government of Anguilla not make it's own laws regarding the environment; why do we have to wait until we are told to do it by the UK, UN or another International Body? By that time all will be lost and the wonderful island of Anguilla will be feet deep in debris and the tourist industry will have collapsed.
Every day without action is a day lost in teaching the children how they can made amends by recycling and generally cleaning up the island - especially old cars and other old metallic dangerous objects left lying around.
I think it has to do with international obligations rather than local clean up campaigns. Anguilla, as an Overseas Territory, cannot sign up to international treaties and conventions. The Overseas Territories depend on the UK doing it for us. What is required is for the government of the particular territory to ask the UK government to extend the treaty to us. The UK will not do so unless the local authorities express an interest. We in Anguilla have simply never got around to making the request.
Anonymous on belonger Well this is controversial. What about people who parents are from Anguilla? My both parents are "Anguillians" but I was born elsewhere. ... (more)
idmitch on roads Yes, in my experience it is the norm in Anguilla for government to take private property to create or to widen a public road without paying... (more)
Anonymous on roads Don, Is it the norm for the Government of Anguilla to take ones property create a public road without paying compensation to the owners?... (more)
Anonymous on orders in council Good day as i stream through the many post on what was once a great island of incredible people its quite apparent that Anguillians have lost sight... (more)
Anonymous on construction Those interested in promoting transparency and accountability in the construction sector will be interested in the Construction Sector Transparency... (more)
Anonymous on end It's very disappointing to see the end of this blog. As much as I love Anguilla, this blog is one of the few things that I actually admire &... (more)
Anonymous on end Don if we lose your blog it could be very detrimental to Anguilla.Just imagine if we lose axareality.com as well then the peoples voices will not be... (more)
Anonymous on end Don, We are very saddened that you feel forced to end this blog. You have been a voice of reason and have provided a forum for discussion on so many... (more)
Anonymous on end Don Mitchell is sued to shut him up because someone in power doesn't like what he is saying. John Benjamin's radio program, Talk Your Mind,... (more)
Anonymous on end UK (thus Anguilla...) is 19th in press freedom worldwide. US is 20th.http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2010,1034.html... (more)
Anonymous on business licence To the photographer who posted the above question on 10/22/10:Unfortunately, this blog is not currently active so I don't who may see it, and... (more)
Anonymous on end So, all agree this blog is needed, who will step up and continue it ?... (more)
Tim Halberg on business licence I'm a little late to the chase... but curious, as an American visiting Anguilla to photograph a wedding, do I need a business license to do this?... (more)
Anonymous on end As a lover of Freedom of Speech and a detestor of Censorship, it saddens me that this has happened to you.You were the only voice of reason that... (more)
Anonymous on end Truth? What media outlet ever promised us the truth? Well,I suppose they've all made that claim at one time or another,but who in Anguilla has... (more)
Anonymous on end Don, your blog is vitally important to Anguilla and is widely read beyond its shores. Everyone - even those who may occasionally disagree with you -... (more)
Anonymous on end Come on Don, a man of your experience ought to be able to phrase your postings carefully enough to avoid any real threat of a defamation action.... (more)
Anonymous on end Oddly enough, one's word choices are holographic. Also, "did you write this?" asked under oath is a pretty strong deterrent to known... (more)
Anonymous on end And if all else fails, just invent a screen name and start your own headings on axareality... (more)
of Commons that Anguilla is not a party to the UK ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. As every Anguillian schoolchild knows, the greenhouse gasses consist of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride.
Two representatives from Environmental Health were on The Elkin Show a few months ago. They said that burning garbage, both at Corito and elsewhere, is illegal.
ReplyDeleteYour weekend experience tells us about the level of enforcement provided by our diligent environmental health officers.
Lack of enforcement, failure to sign treaties, continuing sand mining, imprisoned wild dolphins and general disregard of our environment or those who come after us have become accepted practice in Anguilla. Our leaders don't even bother to give hypocritical speeches about such things any longer.
ReplyDeleteIt would appear that the UK is trying to shield the environmental disaster we call Anguilla from further international scrutiny.
ReplyDelete- Scotty
Scotty has caught the Hubert disease, seeing an evil conspiracy in everything the UK does. The sad truth is that the Overseas Territories have a very low priority in the Foreign Office. What little attention we do get is too often characterised by sloppiness and negligence. But these are different from a conspiracy.
ReplyDeleteThings will improve. Their attention is being diverted by TCI, Cayman and St. Helena. They will get to us eventually. Maybe not until Governor Smiley finish.
Meanwhile, get used to secret meetings and documents on the constitution, and continued sand mining.
What are we teaching our children? How can we expect things to get better in the future when we do not lead by example--GOOD example. Why is there no attempt at recycling in Anguilla? Why is there no public deriding of environmental "transgressions"? Are we teaching the future generation to simply "not care."?
ReplyDeleteRecycling what? Who wants our waste? How much will they pay for it? What will it cost to get it there? Who will pay if we fail to break even? Why doesn't Environmental Health recycle glass any more? (Or is that another State Secret?)
ReplyDeleteAnd of greatest importance, how many Anguillians want to work at Corito, separating the aluminum cans from the glass bottles, from the different types of plastic, from the non-ferrous metals, and from the used diapers?
Perhaps I'm stupid but why can the Government of Anguilla not make it's own laws regarding the environment; why do we have to wait until we are told to do it by the UK, UN or another International Body? By that time all will be lost and the wonderful island of Anguilla will be feet deep in debris and the tourist industry will have collapsed.
ReplyDeleteEvery day without action is a day lost in teaching the children how they can made amends by recycling and generally cleaning up the island - especially old cars and other old metallic dangerous objects left lying around.
I think it has to do with international obligations rather than local clean up campaigns. Anguilla, as an Overseas Territory, cannot sign up to international treaties and conventions. The Overseas Territories depend on the UK doing it for us. What is required is for the government of the particular territory to ask the UK government to extend the treaty to us. The UK will not do so unless the local authorities express an interest. We in Anguilla have simply never got around to making the request.
ReplyDelete