Category Archives: News to use

Useful news for all to advance knowledge of the world and how it works

Alabaster – Haiku 2024

Advent’s splendid dawn alabaster silhouette — a swan’s mindful pose In response to Moonwashed Weekly Prompt – Splendid – 3 December 2024

Alabaster – Haiku 2024

JPS Foundation’s Climate Action Conference and Expo was a great success ‹ Petchary’s Blog ‹ Reader — WordPress.com

Although I didn’t make it (we were having a huge community cleanup that day, courtesy of our diligent Member of Parliament and Councillor – we were completely exhausted) I have received many accounts of the success of the JPS Foundation’s Climate Action Conference and Expo, which took place in Kingston last Saturday. Although the Foundation’s press release below focuses on the opening speechifying by important people, I understand the participation was enthusiastic and it was well attended by Jamaicans young and old – with a particular emphasis on youth. This is critically important; young people are going to “live climate change.” This is always a sad and painful thing to acknowledge, to me.

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) established its Foundation in 2012. It focuses on Climate Resilience, Community Empowerment and STEM Education. We have a long, long way to go in getting on board with renewable energy; we need to“embrace” it (to use Minister Samuda’s word) with vigour and with purpose. However, as noted below, the Development Bank of Jamaica was recently accredited under the Green Climate Fund and discussions with partners are taking place to establish a “Blue Green Facility”; and on July 30, the Jamaica Stock Exchange launched its Green Bond Guide. Steps in the right direction, it would seem.

Speaking of climate change, this coming Sunday December 8, a group of us is walking/running for climate justice – under the human rights umbrella of Jamaicans for Justice. We hope you will be joining us. There’s still time to register. See details here!

Roxanne Valentine-Donegan, Programme Manager of the Blue Green Facility at Development Bank of Jamaica, poses with Adrian Watson, Executive Director of the Jamaica Environment Entrepreneur Advocacy Network, following their engaging fireside chat on “Financing Climate Solutions.” (Photo: JPS Foundation) 

Source: JPS Foundation’s Climate Action Conference and Expo was a great success ‹ Petchary’s Blog ‹ Reader — WordPress.com

‘Bodies are piling up’: Reporter finds GOP-led states are hiding abortion ban death toll – Raw Story

…”An analysis published in September by the Gender Equity Policy Institute found that, from 2019 to 2022, the rate of maternal deaths in Texas increased by 56%, compared with 11% nationwide,” wrote Rinkunas. “But rather than investigate, the state is essentially admitting that the bodies are piling up faster than the state can address them…

“Source: ‘Bodies are piling up’: Reporter finds GOP-led states are hiding abortion ban death toll – Raw Story