St. Maarten Private Eye

GEBE, EcoFest and Climate Change

Island Vision long ago lost my respect and I don't plan to be sending in nominations this year for their enviro awards, I just can't be bothered, sorry. It's not that I can't think of people to nominate, the usual crowd spring to mind along with a few newcomers like Laura Bijnsdorp and her team. There are people out there who deserve to be recognized for sure.

It's not the lack of transparency with the nominations or votes, nor is it the plagiarizing. No, it's more to do with the people he invites to present awards and make speeches, it's partly to do with Stephane's desire to 'be Someone" and his enabling politicians, officials and businesses to fraudulently portray an environmental image when they have none. I cringe and feel ill just being in the same room as some of the people he invites. No thanks.

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Flipper calls it the The Lean Green PR Machine, I call it the the Lean Green BS Machine, and Environews is a willing enabler.

EcoFest is sponsored by the Tourism Office and GEBE, both headed by Roy Marlin, a regular guest at the event and someone I consider to be St. Maarten's environment's worst enemy. His speech at the awards in 2006 was a poke in the eye at those genuine environmentalists present. For what he has done, for what he is responsible for, either through intent or ignorance, you pick, he should be ashamed to show his face there.

Last year William Brooks, the Managing Director of GEBE was invited to speak at the event, this is what he said about renewable and clean energy:

"Renewable energy is being explored by GEBE, but there is much to be seen in the near future, because solar energy requires too much space for the installation of solar panels and wind energy is fickle, as it depends on wind speeds, he noted. An area in Statia has been identified for a possible wind energy experience."

When questioned later by an audience member, Mr. Brooks stated that he saw no real opportunities or ways for SXM to change to cleaner energy. Clearly Mr. Brooks is not the man who should be turned to for ideas when it comes to planning SXM's future energy needs, he has no vision at all and although he talks about change, it's really just Lean Green BS that falls far short of what is needed. Has he really never heard of solar roofing and grid connections? Where people put solar panels on their roof and reduce their consumption from the grid, and when they go out or use less than they generate they feed it back into the grid and get credit? When does GEBE intend to introduce this possibility to the public?, because until they do, solar will struggle to get established. Why doesn't GEBE lead with this, offering energy savings in exchange for roof space?, instead of generators, buy solar.

Some people worry about hurricanes. Just to clear this up, solar cells are now made to be built into a roof as tiles. You may lose one or two, but if you lose them all it's probably because you have a lousy roof to start with. They can also be installed so they are easily taken down. Hurricanes are not a problem for solar.

Mr. Brooks has been invited again to Ecofest and this time the theme is Climate Change.

It's a Circus, I'm sorry. Stephane, Environews and the Ecofest awards are being used by some of the worst environmental offenders as cover and PR. I have not forgotten Dawn Beach or Cupecoy Beach, I have not forgotten the Lagoon, I see Indigo Bay, Red Pond and Barbaron, I drive through Cupecoy, I smell the overflowing dump and the not so Great Salt Pond, the sewage on our streets, I see the garbage in our trees and bushes, the traffic and concrete congestion, the fumes over Cay Bay, I remember the water deal, the Belvedere land deal, the scrap metal deal.

Sorry, but I have no interest in wasting my time or subjecting myself to attending this event.

On a more positive note, it appears that Maria Buncamper Molanus has finally concluded that Global Warming and Climate Change are a big concern for the island and it's future. I hope she spends some time educating and enlightening Roy and William about it too. Personally I think time has run out, that no matter what we do now we will be paying the price of our excesses. Preparing for that future should be on every politician's mind and in every govt policy and investing in renewable and clean energy is a very important aspect of those preparations. The World is going to change, wait and see.

LH

Roy - Businesses should conserve energy - 4th April 2008

Gas hike - 5th April 2008

Today Editorial - Energy saving - 4th April 2008

GIS - Health and Climate Change - 3rd April 2008

GIS - Climate Change and Health - 3rd April 2008

GEBE and Ecofest - 2nd April 2008

GEBE shareholders get tour - 13th March 2008

GEBE General Assembly - 11th March 2008

GEBE general assembly focuses on 'Change' - 10th March 2008

GEBE shareholders reps tour facilities - 8th March 2008

Curacao to use windmills to desalinate - 6th March 2008

Climate Change | Energy and Water | Environment | Local Hero's blog | 18 comments | read more