Just over a week ago – and the day before Earth Day 2023 – I had the great pleasure of attending the awards ceremony for this year’s competition, organised annually by the Natural History Museum of Jamaica’s (NHMJ) Education Department for students aged 12 to 19 years. It’s an arts competition, including poetry, poster art, video, and photography – now in its 23rd illustrious year! The NHMJ is a division of the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ).
There were two contrasting moods at the event, which took place in the lovely old-fashioned IOJ Lecture Hall. There was a great deal of joy: smiles on all the faces, laughter, and a complete absence of bitter competition and sour grapes. Everyone – students, teachers, IOJ officials, and a few parents – was happy to be there. On the other hand, there was an underlying seriousness, as the high school students reflected on the future of our “Planet A” (no Planet B). There was a passion in the poetry, an urgency in the art, and a sharp enquiry in the photography.
The overall theme for the competition was “Earth Today, Earth Tomorrow” – and the question was, how will the Earth look tomorrow? Will Earth forgive us humans for what we have done to it? This was a common theme in the poetry section: Mother Earth, you were kind to us, but we used you up – and abused you. The overall theme for Earth Day 2023 was “Investing in Our Planet” and this video shares the genesis of Earth Day and the threats of climate change.
First of all, I must say I was happy to see more sponsors this year (ten of them), so the students were richly rewarded – not only with school and individual trophies, but also cash prizes from Trans Jamaican Highway and Jamaican Infrastructure Operator Ltd (Highway 2000 East-West); and the Pesticides Control Authority; ice cream from Devon House; passes for Hope Zoo and Dolphin Cove; horseback rides from Chukka Cove; a dinner at Tryall Resort (nice!), and gift packages from Carlong Publishers and Things Jamaican (the Jamaica Business Development Corporation).
The recently appointed Executive Director of the Institute of Jamaica, Mr. Leslie Harrow, enjoyed himself thoroughly. He made a good speech (not too lengthy!) organised photo-ops, and chatted with the students, teachers and IOJ staff. On behalf of the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, Permanent Secretary Denzil Thorpe observed that individual efforts to preserve the environment can make all the difference.
Professor Ronald Young is Emeritus Professor of Human and Comparative Physiology and Retired Pro Vice-Chancellor for Graduate Studies at the University of the West Indies Mona. He also chairs the Board of the NHMJ. He stressed that a Call to Action is very important. We cannot just talk. We must walk the talk. That is, after all, how Earth Day was conceived in 1970, by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson. Denis Hayes, who as a Harvard Law student helped coordinate the original 1970 demonstrations, founded the Earth Day Network twenty years later, “internationalising” the movement. Now, over 190 countries have joined. The NHMJ began hosting activities in 1999. Professor Young observed:
The NHMJ has sought to commemorate Earth Day each year to engage Jamaicans in exploring a range of themes surrounding the preservation of Earth’s natural resources through harnessing the creative talents of our youth. The theme for IOJ’s Earth Day 2023 is: “Earth Today, Earth Tomorrow” and signals to every individual the responsibility we all share in replenishing the Earth, while we enjoy the use of its resources – not just now, but for countless future generations. Just think what the theme sounds like – It sounds like “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow”. And this is surely what we will be if we do not look after this one little sphere that we happen to live upon.
Earth Day celebration, Institute of Jamaica, 2023.
There was also a very good short video on moving towards a Circular Economy – clearly expressed. You can follow the NHMJ on YouTube.
Mario Galbert is Interim Coordinator of the Caribbean Youth Climate Council. He is also a member of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration Youth Task Force and Secretary General of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN). And he is Executive Director of the Global Sustainable Development Network. That’s quite a mouthful, isn’t it! Most importantly, to me, is that Mario connected really well with the students, getting instant feedback, as guest presenter for the occasion. He started with that dramatic video of a dinosaur walking ponderously in to an international meeting, with the tag line: Don’t Choose Extinction.
He also spoke up for the youth – as he always does – from his own personal experience at various meetings. There is a tendency, he observed, for the adults to say “Oh yes, we have met with the youth” (that box has been checked). However, they forget that the youth are well informed, educated and read the same reports as the “grownups.” They have a significant voice and they have a lot to say about the ill treatment of our Planet. I have to say I feel strongly that young people should not be “compartmentalised” in this way, but should have a seat at the table alongside older people – at every single meeting on the environment and climate change. They should also be encouraged to take action – with or without the grownups. After all, it’s their future.
Perhaps some missed this point; but I think the young people understood it very well, having expressed themselves so ably and done their homework for this competition. It is important for “youth” (that is, young people in all age groups) to enjoy meaningful participation in all these discussions. They must be there.
And the most interesting part, to me, was the students themselves. Mckoyah Patterson, from Knox Junior School, won third place in the Poetry Competition. She recited one of the entries – a long poem – with a beautiful Planet Earth balanced on her head, and a long shimmering dress depicting the sea, with a cloak of dry desert and sun. When I congratulated her on her performance, she simply said: “I was nervous.” I couldn’t tell.
The students of York Castle High School, in their daffodil yellow uniform, had bright smiles to match. The rather sophisticated young women of St. Andrew High School for Girls were very supportive of each other, and everyone.
Below I have posted a little photo gallery from the event.
