BluePrint for Sustainability

Papers & Publications

This Blueprint has been developed following requests for input on what BEST believes to be the critical ingredients of an environmental platform. It is intended to outline what it means to be a sustainable community and what it will take to get there.

Link to document

Letter Writing Tips

Letter Writing Tips

Here are a few simple letter-writing tips (adopted from Amnesty International).

1. Always be polite and respectful. This is essential and invariable. Your aim is to help stop the SDO, not to vent your own feelings. Government leaders don't respond well to abusive or condemnatory letters (however well deserved).
2. Always write on the basis that the recipient is open to reason and discussion.
3. Never use political jargon. Don't give the impression that you are writing because you are ideologically or politically opposed to or supportive of the government. It is far more effective to stress that your concern is not politically biased in any way.
4. Stick to two or three points, and make them well.
5. Be brief. Long letters are less likely to be read. Only in exceptional cases are long letters effective.

The Role of Agriculture in Bermuda's Future

Papers & Publications

Saturday, 04 December 2010 09:01

Recently a report on the role of agriculture in Bermuda's future was written by Aran McKittrick.  An excerpt of the Executive Summary is below.  Please see the below link to the full PDF report.

Bermuda has lost an estimated 87% of its agricultural land in the last 85 years. Of the 735 acres of arable land available for agricultural use, only 360 acres are being actively farmed. Although an estimated 40% of the population is involved in backyard farming, there are only 18 full time farmers and 33 part time farmers in the industry today.

This report, endorsed by the Environmental Coalition (ECO), sets out to explore some of the reasons the agricultural industry and agricultural land are in the critical state they are in.

Click here for full report

Cliff Erosion Study

Papers & Publications

As more development is being considered for Bermuda's coastal conservation areas, BEST encourages the Bermuda government and private developers to heed the advice of our local experts Former Government Conservation Officer Dr. David  Wingate has been observing coastal erosion for over 50 years. His study made predictions that were classically demonstrated during Hurricane Fabian, including erosion of tern islets in Harrington Sound undercut by the bioerosional notch.

The study also comments on the Government-funded coastal erosion study at the time it was put out to tender.

Click here for PDF article.