The Caribbean is the most tourism dependent region of the world and also one of the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

How does climate change affect us here in Jamaica? Jamaica is one of the world’s top 40 climate “hot spots”.

This means that we are one of the countries in the world that has been, and will be, worst affected by climate change. 25% of Jamaica’s population lives in a coastal area, and 90% of our country’s total income is produced within these areas, so we are all vulnerable to climate change.

There are several areas of concern about climate change for Jamaica:

1. More frequent and more severe hurricanes and tropical storms. Most scientists think that the increase in the number and strength of hurricanes and storms that we have been experiencing in Jamaica and the Caribbean is because of global warming. Jamaica is affected by a tropical storm or hurricane every 3.8 years; previously we were directly hit once ever 9.4 years.

2. An increase in the length of the dry season and a decrease in the length of the rainy season affects agriculture and the food supply. A shorter rainy season and a longer dry season will reduce the supply of water, including drinking water, to homes, communities and businesses.

3. A rise in sea levels and coastal flooding, and the increased likelihood of storm surges have implications for communities and built up areas along the coast, and for the tourism industry. Rising sea levels can also pollute underground water resources.

4. Intense rains and flash floods, which do not compensate for shorter rainy seasons. Intense rains are very damaging as they wash away top soil, and increase the amount of sediment that gets into the domestic water supply.

5. An increase in temperatures. Times will get hotter and hotter and our physical comfort will be affected. Warmer seas are damaging to our coral reefs, and to our supply of fish. Mosquito-borne diseases are also more likely to spread as warmer temperatures encourage mosquito breeding and thriving. (Diseases that mosquitoes carry, like dengue fever, are sometimes called “vector-borne” diseases.)

6. Environmental degradation. The natural environment provides important services such as flood control, storm surge protection, groundwater replenishment, and limits the impacts of sea level rise and droughts. The destruction of our wetlands, forests and coral reefs reduces the environment’s ability to protect itself and us.

7. Degradation of our natural beauty and the extinction of our native animals. We have birds and butterflies in Jamaica that are not found anywhere else in the world. We might not love lizards but they are very important creatures in the life cycle of the natural environment, and some of our lizards are rare and some are unique to Jamaica, which is something to be proud of. Climate change and shifts in weather threaten our natural environment, our animals, and our beautiful surroundings.

For more information on climate change in the Caribbean also check out the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre.

But we can take steps to be more climate change resilient. We can Build Better Jamaica.

Build Better Jamaica (BBJ) aims to develop design concepts to make our buildings in the Caribbean more climate change resilient.

BBJ’s main objective is to assess climate-change related risks and help increase resilience in the building stock of Jamaica and the Caribbean.

Their specific objectives are:

1. to develop new design and construction concepts using energy, water and resource-efficient material;

2. to improve the assessment of climate change related risks as it relates to infrastructure; and,

3. to increase awareness, knowledge and dissemination of information about climate resilient construction concepts.

The project is being funded by the IDB and implemented by the Institute of Sustainable Development, UWI, Mona.

Check out their facebook page for more information on BuildBetterJamaica and follow them on twitter at BuildBetterJA.

JOHNNY OSBOURNE AT ROCKHOUSE HOTEL OUTDOOR ACOUSTIC CONCERT SERIES

Johnny Osbourne Inna Campfire Acoustical Fashion

Hosted by Tifa and featuring DJ Max Glazer of the Federation Sound System

Tuesday June 18, 2013

Doors at 8pm

Performance begins promptly at 9pm

JA$1000

Rockhouse Hotel & Spa and Pushcart Restaurant in Negril are pleased to announce the second installment of their monthly outdoor, acoustic, concert series.

Each month, Rockhouse will honor Jamaica’s rich musical tradition by presenting important artists spanning the decades and genres of ska, reggae, and dancehall.

The series will showcase each artist with an intimate and elegant acoustic campfire performance taking place on the cliffs overlooking the Negril’s beautiful Pristine Cove.

Each installment of the series will feature international DJ / selector talent and will be broadcast live on Radio Lily, the online radio station of Rockhouse’s New York City sister property, the ultra-popular Miss Lily’s restaurant.

This second presentation of the series features legendary Jamaican singer and hit-maker, Johnny Osbourne.

Know as “The Godfather of Dancehall,” Osbourne encapsulates the very essence of this musical series with a career containing hits that have spanned Jamaican music’s most important eras.

Johnny has turned out hits for virtually every legendary reggae and dancehall producer including the Studio One classic, “Truths And Rights,” the Winston Riley / Techniques produced “Come Back Darling”, “Ice Cream Love” with Henry “Junjo” Lawes, the timeless “Reasons” for Steelie & Cleevie, and an arsenal of massive tunes with King Jammy including “Water Pumping”, “Rock It Tonight”, and, of course, “Budy Bye”. Always “Up to di time”, Osbourne’s classic, “Mr. Marshall” was even sampled within the last year for the Major Lazer hit, “Jah No Partial.”

Serving to spotlight the many facets of Jamaican music, each installment of this series will “tun up” after the acoustic performance with a DJ set by the world-renowned Brooklyn DJ, Max Glazer of the Federation Sound System.

Glazer has been the official tour DJ for countless artists including Rihanna, Sean Paul, Wayne Wonder, and Cham and the early mix CDs he has produced for artists including Vybz Kartel have played an integral part in boosting many artists’ careers, internationally.

Also a welcome addition to this installment of the series is dancehall star Tifa who will be hosting the festivities… and possibly doing a few tunes herself!

A portion of all proceeds from the event series will go to the Rockhouse Foundation, the hotel’s non-profit organization that has invested over US $2,000,000 in building and refurbishing public schools and libraries in Western Jamaica.

ABOUT ROCKHOUSE HOTEL

The Rockhouse Hotel is a boutique hotel situated along the cliffs of the breathtaking Pristine Cove in Negril, Jamaica.

The casually elegant escape was named at the World Travel Awards as the “Caribbean’s leading boutique hotel” and Travel + Leisure awarded Rockhouse their “Global Vision Award”, citing the hotel’s devotion to sustainability and community work through the Rockhouse Foundation.

Rockhouse has also been named in Conde Nast Traveler’s “Best In The World” list and the hotel is also featured as a must-visit place in Patricia Schultz’ best-selling book, “1000 Places To See Before You Die.”

rockhousehotel.com

ABOUT THE ROCKHOUSE FOUNDATION

The Rockhouse Foundation builds and refurbishes schools and libraries in Jamaica, transforming the places where children learn, and supporting the people who teach them. The non-profit organization that has invested over US $2,000,000 in building and refurbishing public schools and libraries in Western Jamaica.

rockhousefoundation.org

There’s a big sound coming out of South East London and it’s called Unit 137.

In their own words, Unit 1-3-7 is a “a collective of DJs, producers, vocalists, engineers and instrumentalists drawn together by a shared passion of conscious, forward thinking bass music,” consisting of Hylu, Jago, Zico, D-Tek, Galak Spiritual, Nãnci Correia, Papa B, Phoebe aka Irondread, and Sleepy Time Ghost.

And it doesn’t stop there. Unit 137 is also a record label, a recording studio, and now, a thumping 10,000 watt sound system. For Unit 137, the studio is where they make the sound, but their sound system is how they broadcast that sound, live and direct, to the people.

READ MORE at Animalnewyork.com

Jamaica’s beautiful mountains. 

Thanks to Chelsea Smallwood for this photo from the edge!

With her first public exhibition of work, Jamaican-born artist Raine Manley Robertson has created a two-part show entitled, Thank You & Come Again.

In Thank You, the artist presents a powerful and brilliantly-colored series of nude self-portraits.

The second component of the show, Come Again, spotlights Manley Robertson’s keen interest with life’s more subtle and overlooked beauties, namely, the pleading sentiments, salutations, gratitudes, and unintentional poetry found on common, discarded consumer receipts.

Exhibition Opening: June 12, 2013, 7-10pm

On exhibit from June 12 – July 12, 2013

Miss Lily’s Variety

130 West Houston Street

New York, NY 10012

misslilysnyc.com

About Raine Manley Robertson

Raine Manley Robertson is a Brooklyn-based artist and photographer. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Manley Robertson is the great granddaughter and granddaughter of iconic Jamaican historical figures Norman Manley and Michael Manley. Raine moved to New York City in 2008 to attend the Pratt Institute where she earned her BFA Photography degree. She currently works and resides in Brooklyn.

I love the colours of these fish at Tianna’s Fish Hut and Beer Joint  at Fort Clarence.

For more on Tianna’s see http://www.yardedge.net/good-food/tiannas-fish-hut-beer-joint-fort-clarence-jamaica

The Caribbean School of Architecture (CSA) will be hosting an event this Saturday, May 11 outside the Ward Theatre; “Re-Ward LIVE” which will feature an architectural intervention by students of CSA, street theatre performance (including and open mic) and opportunity for community involvement in creating sidewalk chalk art.

The objective is to re-ignite interest and appreciation of the Ward Theatre.

They are calling for volunteers this week to help with the installation and are stationed at the Caribbean School of Architecture between 1PM and 10PM everyday, in room 4A2.

The installation is being made primarily out of recycled plastic bottles.

The overall project is called the “Re-Ward Project”, birthed from an Architecture and Community Elective. Ms. Jarrett, the class lecturer has formed ties with Music Unites Jamaica’s Rosina Moder and students of the Edna Manley College and the University of the West Indies.

See facebook.com/pages/Re-Ward-Project/ for more info.

Building the model…

The current state of the Ward Theatre…

Please support the Re-Ward Project.

Part of our national heritage…

Bob Marley Beach, St. Thomas, Jamaica

Thanks to Steve Urchin for these photos of Bob Marley  Beach in St. Thomas, Jamaica.

The parish of St. Thomas has some  really nice secluded beaches. They are mostly black sand (which can be hot on the feet) but they are beautiful with dramatic views of the hills which fall right onto the beaches.

St. Thomas beaches are worth a visit for sure.

Doesn’t this photo just make you want to be there?

A short video on Jamaica’s sound system by Romain “Sherkhan” Chiffre.