
The Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce
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Speech to Rotary, January 24, 2012 given by Stuart Hayward, BESTMedia coverage on the speech can be found at: http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120125/NEWS07/701259971#comments http://bermudasun.bm/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=135&ArticleID=56376&TM=41173.21 http://bernews.com/2012/01/hayward-on-economy-race-environment/
Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for this opportunity to talk a bit about BEST, the Bermuda Environmental sustainability Taskforce, and the work we do. Most often when people hear about BEST it is to do with some controversial issue. What many do not realise is that by far most of our work takes place “behind the scenes” as it were, and is hardly considered newsworthy Read more: Speech to Rotary, January 24, 2012 given by Stuart Hayward, BEST Zanzar Trust Press ReleaseBEST Media Release: Cabinet Minister upholds appeal from another Cabinet Minister, violating trust and process. The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) has just become aware that Cabinet Minister Walter Roban upheld the appeal by Cabinet Minister Zane DeSilva which would allow damaging construction to take place on lands with protective zonings. This decision is an affront to orderly development as laid out and accepted by Parliament in the Bermuda Plan 2008, and a blot on the Premier’s aspirations toward “good governance”. The key reasons this decision is problematic are: * Perceived conflict of interest * The proposal violates several aspects of the Bermuda Plan * The applicant, a Cabinet Minister, uses back door to effect zoning changes that were rejected at the Bermuda Plan 2008 Tribunal * Minister hinges decision on “conditions” * Independent Inspector decries lack of information * Every government stakeholder agency was handicapped by a dearth of information, including: The Department of Planning’s technical officers, the Department of Conservation Services (DCS), the Department of Environmental Protection, the Development Applications Board (DAB) even the Min of W&E AND the Independent Inspector. These are spelled out below: Wingate: Eroding Cliffs Under CondosDr. David Wingate gave an incredible interview with local news site, Bernews. Below is an excerpt.
"Dr David Wingate has warned that the cliffs underneath the new condos being built on South Shore are eroding. The conservationist said it is a vulnerable cliff that is diminishing at the rate of 1 -2 metres every decade, and that one single category 5 hurricane could cause the cliff to erode all the way back as far as the condos."
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Wangari MaathaiWe at BEST are saddened to hear of the death of Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmental activist and Member of Parliament who started the Green Belt Movement that spread through and beyond the borders of Kenya. Her leadership inspired the planting of an estimated 45 million trees in and around Kenya to counter the environmental degradation caused by deforestation in her homeland. The Green Belt Movement also empowered rural African women through educational and economic opportunities. Her books "Unbowed: a Memoir", "The Challenge for Africa", and "Replenishing the Earth" are worth reading. She is an inspiration to Environmentalists, Africans and women everywhere. The planet will miss her energy and guidance. Global Car Free Day BermudaGlobal Car Free Day Bermuda from BEST on Vimeo.
Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our car-dominated society.
But we do not want just one day of celebration and then a return to "normal" life. When people get out of their cars, they should stay out of their cars. It is up to us, it is up to our cities, and our governments to help create permanent change to benefit pedestrians, cyclists, and other people who do not drive cars.
Rural Lane, PagetConcerned members of the public reported the apparent dumping of rubble on arable land at Rural Lane.
Investigation by BEST revealed that the rubble had been dumped at the edge of the field to hide the cropland from public view, according to the land-owner, to curtail theft of crops from the plot, (sadly, a frequent occurrence). The rubble was intended to form a berm at the edge of the plot, be covered with soil and planted with a hedge. Several loads of rubble had been dumped closer to the centre of the plot, leading observers to believe the arable plot was going to be covered and destroyed. BEST was assured that all rubble will be moved to the edge of the field.
Whilst appreciating the problems facing the owner, alteration of land zoned Agricultural Reserve is prohibited by law unless approval is sought and granted by the Development Applications Board. The Department of Planning has been alerted and local residents have offered to keep an eye on developments at the site.
Bermuda's arable land is constantly under threat from development or destruction. BEST hopes citizens will continue to be alert to such violations and report them to officials and watchdog agencies.
Virtual Forum
BEST is proud to introduce Awareness NOW, the newest category of Voices of BEST! Awareness NOW is a virtual forum featuring content that is monitored and filtered by BEST, but published in the interest of Bermuda and Bermudians (i.e.: YOU!).
Value of a TreeIn parliament on Friday (July 15) Minister Zane DeSilva (Health) stated that if asked to choose between jobs and trees, he is going to choose jobs. Neither Stuart nor anyone else in BEST has asked Mr. DeSilva to choose between the two, and there is no reason why anyone should or will. However Mr. De Silva’s false choice should not be ignored as it reveals a lack of understanding of the relationship between humans and the ecosystem, and exemplifies the ease with which we tend to undermine the value of nature. Bermuda’s vegetation -- and trees especially-- contribute enormously not only to the beauty and health of our island, but also to Bermuda’s success as a tourism destination. Trees absorb carbon dioxide; they provide us with oxygen, fruits and shade. Without trees there would be no lumber for the construction industry, no deposits of oil required by the petroleum industry, and no overland transpiration of moisture that results in clouds and therefore rain. Jobs and trees are of equal importance and there is no reason why Bermuda can’t have both.
The following is an estimate of the monetary value of a single tree over its entire lifespan. Local Scientist Dr. Wolfgang Sterrer converted calculations made originally by Indian Biologist and Professor T M Das, of the University of Calcutta, to arrive at the figures for the local economy.
Press ConferenceCampaigns/Projects - Park Hyatt Hotel Read more for further information on the Park Hyatt Plans and to gain access to the contents of the Press Conference held at the BEST offices earlier this morning (14th July 2011).
Park Hyatt Hotel ObjectionsUPDATE: We have corrected our sample letter so that it does not include the BEST logo in the header. If you are yet to submit your own letter, please make sure that it only contains your address in header.
Friday the 15th of July, at 5pm is the deadline for commenting on the construction plans of the Park Hyatt Hotel, set to be built in the Town of St. George’s. The following sample letter (click link for document) includes a list of objections and concerns identified by BEST in regards to the plans. Please help support the interests of the residents of St. George’s and the Island of Bermuda, by printing and sending in your own version of the attached sample letter to the Department of Planning.
Things to keep in mind before submitting your letter:
The Director
Department of Planning Dame Lois Browne-Evans Building, 5th floor #58 Court Street Hamilton HM12
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