It is election time. It is silly season. And a million promises always emanate from this excitement. I am keeping everything crossed that this time it will be forthcoming. The promises of agriculture taking the spot it should in the scheme of things….but sustainable agriculture…clean agriculture…devoid of Monsanto and its Round Up…without GMO seeds being planted into our soil…is a dream I would like to see come true!! Kamie…I know your interest in this. I also am aware of Mia Mottley’s love of the land and Dr. Chandler and even Dr. Brathwaithe…so I know the future could look bright…but I am not hearing the word ‘clean’…we do not have to (cannot!) use organic because our soil is already compromised…but we can clean up our food…so good clean food will reduce not only our food bill but could even completely reduce our health bill to a minimum. I look forward to some positive action. At this point I do not care where it comes from. As I attend one funeral after another of young women and men who have succumbed to cancers of all types…I know the answer is clean food. So anyone who gets this done is welcome in my estimation! This is not about party politricks…this is a serious problem that needs addressing if you love your people and your country and are not so keen on the undertaker. Simple!

I will continue to fight. There is no stopping me short of death. Have made up my mind of this. Nearly given up several times but I am renewed. It is important! Thanks David for making me stop and think about forgetting the fight. It is on!

Rosemary, come and have your say. This is a very public meeting its outdoor and the public will be able to have their say on what’s bothering them.

Boarded Hall? Where in Boarded Hall?

WHAT ABOUT THE 1,000 PRECAST HOUSES (OVENS) BEING BUILT AT RIDGE / STAPLE GROVE PLANTATION AND THE 2,500 HOUSES (OVENS) APPROVED BY NHC AT BUSHY PARK?

Why the issue of protecting arable land is important:

Trade Off: Financial system supply-chain cross contagion – a study in global systemic collapse

Overview

This study considers the relationship between a global systemic banking, monetary and solvency crisis and its implications for the real-time flow of goods and services in the globalised economy. It outlines how contagion in the financial system could set off semi-autonomous contagion in supply-chains globally, even where buyers and sellers are linked by solvency, sound money and bank intermediation. The cross-contagion between the financial system and trade/production networks is mutually reinforcing.

It is argued that in order to understand systemic risk in the globalised economy, account must be taken of how growing complexity (interconnectedness, interdependence and the speed of processes), the de-localisation of production and concentration within key pillars of the globalised economy have magnified global vulnerability and opened up the possibility of a rapid and large-scale collapse. ‘Collapse’ in this sense means the irreversible loss of socio-economic complexity which fundamentally transforms the nature of the economy. These crucial issues have not been recognised by policy-makers nor are they reflected in economic thinking or modelling.

As the globalised economy has become more complex and ever faster (for example, Just-in-Time logistics), the ability of the real economy to pick up and globally transmit supply-chain failure, and then contagion, has become greater and potentially more devastating in its impacts. In a more complex and interdependent economy, fewer failures are required to transmit cascading failure through socio-economic systems. In addition, we have normalised massive increases in the complex conditionality that underpins modern societies and our welfare. Thus we have problems seeing, never mind planning for such eventualities, while the risk of them occurring has increased significantly. The most powerful primary cause of such an event would be a large-scale financial shock initially centring on some of the most complex and trade central parts of the globalised economy.

The argument that a large-scale and globalised financial-banking-monetary crisis is likely arises from two sources. Firstly, from the outcome and management of credit over-expansion and global imbalances and the growing stresses in the Eurozone and global banking system. Secondly, from the manifest risk that we are at a peak in global oil production, and that affordable, real-time production will begin to decline in the next few years. In the latter case, the credit backing of fractional reserve banks, monetary systems and financial assets are fundamentally incompatible with energy constraints. It is argued that in the coming years there are multiple routes to a large-scale breakdown in the global financial system, comprising systemic banking collapses, monetary system failure, credit and financial asset vaporization. This breakdown, however and whenever it comes, is likely to be fast and disorderly and could overwhelm society’s ability to respond.

We consider one scenario to give a practical dimension to understanding supply-chain contagion- a break-up of the Euro and an intertwined systemic banking crisis. Simple argument and modelling will point to the likelihood of a food security crisis within days in the directly affected countries and an initially exponential spread of production failures across the world beginning within a week. This will reinforce and spread financial system contagion. It is also argued that the longer the crisis goes on, the greater the likelihood of its irreversibility. This could be in as little as three weeks.

This study draws upon simple ideas drawn from ecology, systems dynamics, and the study of complex networks to frame the discussion of the globalised economy. Real-life events such as United Kingdom fuel blockades (2000) and the Japanese Tsunami (2011) are used to shed light on modern trade vulnerability.

http://www.feasta.org/2012/06/17/trade-off-financial-system-supply-chain-cross-contagion-a-study-in-global-systemic-collapse/

Why not have Mia Mottley as a speaker?

“The Assault On Arable Land Continues Under Both Political Parties”

THIS HEADLINE IS EITHER MISLEADING OR MISCHIEVOUS SINCE OUR SYSTEM ONLY ALLOWS FOR ONE POLITICAL PARTY TO GOVERN BARBADOS AT A TIME. THE PURPORTED INDISCRINATE SALE OF LAND BY THE FORMER BLP ADMINISTRATION WAS AN ELECTION ISSUE AND THE BLP WAS THROWN OUT OF OFFICE. AS FAR AS I AM AWARE THE DLP HAS BEEN GOVERNING BARBADOS FOR OVER FOUR YEARS. THUS THE SALE OF LAND COULD NOT BE CONTINUING UNDER THE BLP.

As I attend one funeral after another of young women and men who have succumbed to cancers of all types…I know the answer is clean food”
to turnthe clock back a little bit, you first have to promote a vigourous campaign to stop the spraying of crops and weeds. the indiscrimate use of chemicals through spraying have slowly entered the water system and has slowly contaminated our bodies to the extent that usually dormant cancerous cells are multiplying faster than before.

@onions

Coming from you the family will forgive BU if we reach for the salt.

The whole issue is that Bajans equate “development” to “Concrete buildings”.

I have made a petition that still has yet to gain any kind of real momentum pertaining to the nation’s agricultural sector, only to fall on deaf hears and thickened (with ignorance) skulls. My sympathy is waning by the day as bajans persistently CHOOSE to ignore any kind of real practical solutions which could prove to be highly beneficial to the betterment of this society.

Let the bajans stay in the dark, they like it that way….

To those of you who will question Mia Mottley`s inclusion I will defend her inclusion fearlessly just as I have great confidence in the Minister of Health Donville Inniss the son of the fisherman from Bayfield, just as I think Minister Stephen Lashley idea of making Broad Street an Art Gallery on Weekends brilliant. However, I will also say his pronouncement on the alleged Rihanna concert was very un entrepreneurial if such a word exist. So who want to be blind partisans go right ahead as my conscience of is not for hire. When we invite DLP and BLP to event and only BLP show its partisan. Well I respect your opinion.

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
Source: Future Centre Trust (FCT)
Contact: Ms Nicole Garofano +1 246 836 6163
info@futurecentretrust.org

Bridgetown, Barbados (June 19, 2012)

Agriculture has come under the spotlight in recent weeks with the Minister of Agriculture himself standing up for his portfolio threatening resignation if Agriculture was not taken more seriously. With a greater dependence on internationally sourced food supplies, the country is putting itself at threat. “Pricing, supply, freshness of supply and access are all outside our control when imported food is on the shopping list!” says Nicole Garofano, Administrative Director of the Future Centre Trust. “Like a dependence on imported oil for the supply of the country’s electricity, dependence on external food crops simply because we are not recognising the value of our lands and improving those lands to feed ourselves, is detrimental to development in the long term,” she added.

During World War II, the late Sir John Saint spearheaded a national initiative which ensured that the agricultural lands of the time were able to supply food to the population. The region’s supplies were under threat with U boat activity across the Atlantic. Sir John recognised the threat and implemented this national initiative which enabled the people of Barbados to sustain themselves during that time. A brave move for the time, but it worked. Can Barbados learn from such innovative plans of old and work towards attaining some measure of food sustainability again?

There is the argument that speaks to the use of agricultural lands and that many acres of land which used to produce food and sugar crops are now lying dormant, so why can’t we just turn those over the money generator which housing is? The change of use of these lands is not just about agriculture. People need to work in agriculture; support from many levels needs to be in place to continue agriculture; encouragement for the revitalisation of the industry from all sectors needs to be in place to successfully continue agriculture. All of these points are valid. But we must also consider the many other benefits of leaving agricultural lands as they are – they reduce loss of valuable rainwater which recharges our aquifers; they reduce run off; they reduce something called the ‘heat-island effect’ which increases heat in the local area when there is so much concrete in place. More concrete is more heat, is more electricity to run fans and air conditioners, is less water available, is less open spaces where the population can improve their peace of mind.

Speakers at the event include Senator Dr Frances Chandler O.B.E., Dr Chelston Brathwaite, Retired Senator and agricultural specialist Mr Keith Laurie, Ms Mia Mottley, and Ms Keeley Holder. The public are invited to hear presentations by the speakers and engage in discussion with a view to deliver the public view to Minister Estwick in support of his pleas in recent weeks.

We have 166sq miles to make this country home, to feed ourselves, to dispose of our waste, to provide jobs, to welcome the 1.1 million visitors per year, to make a sustainable use of the resources we are blessed with and to enhance our general well being. Land use policies must be fervently considered to ensure a sustainable future for all those living now, and those to come, if Barbados is to continue to prosper in a holistic manner. What we do to our lands, we do to ourselves.

All are welcome to the public meeting to be held on recently transferred agricultural land in Lower Greys Tenantry, St George at 4pm on Sunday June 24.

About Future Centre Trust

The Future Centre Trust is an environmental Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) and registered charity providing environmental education to the public of Barbados. Its mission is “To stimulate awareness and encourage responsible management of the vital relationship between people and nature leading to a sustainable future for all”. This is achieved through various programmes, activities and presentations to the community which are included and highlighted at http://www.futurecentretrust.org.

Is this the same goodly Senator Chandler who was bold to declare yesterday in the Senate of Barbados that she would dearly love to see a war that would create starvation and that she would like to see all Barbadians starve?

This takes me back thru the years when the plantation and slave owners could decide who should eat today and who should not eat, it is a very sad day, when in the year of our Lord 2012 a Senator could wish for we Barbadian people to starve to death, it is worst than sad it is pathetic indeed.

@ Brudah-Bim | June 20, 2012 at 7:22 AM |
“Let the bajans stay in the dark, they like it that way….”

You are probably now realizing what you are up against in your unflagging enthusiasm to get Bajans to see the light regarding agriculture and productive use of the limited land the Island has.
All I can say, Brudah, that one day coming soon the people will wake up from their darkness.
Bajans will continue to ignore these clarion calls until the following scenario is played out: The Governor of the Central Bank must finally admit that the country is fast running out of foreign exchange.
A system of “Rationing” must be instituted. The Bank has earmarked the following imports for special review:
• Fuels & oils
• Medicine and medical supplies.
• Educational supplies and overseas university payments
• Profit remittances and management fees
• Car and motor accessories
• Agricultural inputs
• Building & Construction materials and supplies
• Food & Drink

Then you will see what would happen when the foreign exchange cat is thrown among the fat pigeons.

Anonymous42
I was just lent a copy of “War Time Recipes for use in the West Indies”. What a treasure.

Barbados was self sufficient during the war and was well able to feed its people”

Please bear with me. i am not trying to be facetious or difficult but i respectfully ask ” self-sufficient in what’?

“Please bear with me. i am not trying to be facetious or difficult but i respectfully ask ” self-sufficient in what’?”

Food! Barbados fed its people during the war.

I think we need to look at our food imports and try to imagine what would happen if the ships carrying the supplies did not come. We, at least I, already know what happens if the ship carrying cooking gas is late.

We depend far too much on imports.

Imagine what would happen if all our imports were hampered. It is not necessarily war that could cause this. Natural disasters, over which we have absolutely no control, could put is in serious trouble. What would we do?

@Amazing

Truly amazing.

In the same way the government has tried to mess with HOAD the institution. Now an attempt to do same to CHANDLER another institution.

Well this government ever learn?

I know the parcel of land at issue . It acts as a screen to the housing district lying immediately south of it . If ever there was a piece of agriculture land that should be approved for housing , this piece of land fits the bill . As a matter of fact the land has been lying fallow for some time since it was last cultivated some years ago ; a crop of peanuts was the last crop planted . In addition the land can be no more than 10 acres .

JUst Asking

What is this thing with you and Corrie Scott in Times square. Did you guys win a competition or something …? Just Asking …

@ Rosemary Parkinson .
RE :Agriculture land / agricultural land . Your very limited command of the English language puts you in no position to be trying to talk down to me on correct English usage . The choice between AGRICULTURE and AGRICULTURAL depends on whether one wishes to use the word as a noun or an adjective . A peep at a grammar primer should allow you to understand why I have preferred ” AGRICULTURE LAND ” as opposed to the rather clumsy ” AGRICULTURAL LAND ” . Your interest in agriculture is no good reason why your us of English should be so agricultural .

@BAFBFP

Isn’t that a stretch?

The statement was made in the context of what has unraveled in days.

Isn’t it interesting what is unfolding given that BU has been accused as racist?

checkit-out

Simply making the point that Dick Hoad and Frances Chandler are two people who command enormous respect across Barbados.

Are you saying that the technical program does not fall under the purview of a ministry? When the farmer who was being sold the milk went out of business who would have made the decision to sell the milk in government?

@ Rosemary Parkinson .
I hope for your sake that you would not refer to the Agriculture Minister the Hon Dr David Estwick as the AGRICULTURAL MINISTER …..Enough said.