"Important Pubic Notice"

Yesterday, walking with a friend along the waterfront from the Breakfast Shed to the Hyatt, I saw this sign. My eyes first fell on "Pubic Notice" and I chuckled. Some idle person had removed the "l" from "Public" to be funny.

As I read on, the message began to take on disturbing undertones. It seemed like a warning message to parents and guardians "of all children" to "be extremely vigilant" and "be alert & careful" in open public spaces where who knows what can happen. Suggestions of predators/male exhibitionism ("while he front off") and nuances of incest/child abuse (perhaps because cases of such are prevalent in Trinidad and Tobago) seemed to be at the core of this warning.

Did someone deliberately rip these letters off in fun ... or to sound a warning?
Did those particular letters just happen to peel off for themselves in all the rain we've been having?
Did I happen to read "more" into what is actually there?

Whatever the answer, the fact is, parents and guardians do need to be extremely aware and vigilant of what is happening with their children ... in public and private spaces.

Out of the Box (the online launch)

First there was Invisible: Children Living with HIV/AIDS - an awareness-raising mini documentary created for TTCRC (Trinidad and Tobago Coalition for the Convention on the Rights of the Child).Now there is "Out of the Box".

Five secondary school students meet an openly HIV positive woman (Lorna Henry) and discover that the face of HIV doesn't always hide and doesn't always fit the stereotype. Under the guidance of multimedia artist Elspeth Duncan, the girls created this mini film during their experience.

Out of the Box (2009), created for TTCRC (Trinidad and Tobago Coalition for the Convention on the Rights of the Child), was funded by UNAIDS and UNDP.


ABOUT TTCRC
The TTCRC is an umbrella organisation comprised of individuals and groups who are interested in realizing the full implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in T&T through advocacy, education and collaboration at all levels, with the aim of developing each child's fullest potential and keeping at the fore all things that are in the child's best interest.

For more information and to get involved: ttcrc1999 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Welcome to Trinidad and Tobago, President Obama

Source of photo

President Obama flies into Trinidad today for the Fifth Summit of the Americas
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The Fifth Summit of the Americas is upon us ... focusing on the theme: "Securing Our Citizens' Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability."

How ironic.

T&T GOVERNMENT: Citizens? What citizens? All we care about is hurriedly spending at least $500 million dollars to fix up the country so that it looks good for Obama ... and the rest of the world.

Quick! He's flying in today! Forget about the global financial crisis. Let's dish out about $1 million US to rehabilitate the airport so we can accommodate the US Presidential aircrafts and the other jets that are bringing in our important guests!

Paint all the lines, roadsigns, lightpoles, tree trunks ... in fact, paint every and anything on the road along the route from the airport to Port-of-Spain! We can't afford to let Obama see any of our infrastructure looking old and ratty! And never mind if the citizens are stuck for hours in traffic while we spruce up. They're used to it.

(... i.e. the traffic, not the sprucing up).

Pave the roads and fix any potholes in areas where Obama and other foreign Heads of State have to pass! Build a wall (... and call it a 'berm') to hide the 'slums' in the Beetham so our important guests won't see the poverty!

And on that note, drive around and pick up all the vagrants so it will look like we don't have a problem with homelessness and madness. Some of these social outcasts are running away, but hopefully not in the direction of the Summit centre!

Get rid of all the dogs on the street too ... whether they belong to people or not! Well ... maybe leave one or two in honour of Obama's canine 'mutterings'.

Pick up all the garbage on the roads and remove whatever's been clogging the drains for so long! Can't risk having Obama stuck in raging flood waters if it starts to rain.

Transplant some trees in strategic locations to make it look like we're environmentally conscious. But first let's massacre all vegetation that poses a security threat to the President of the US and valued delegates!

Quick! Dip into our limitless coffers! We said we would spend only $500 million, but let's take it to $1 billion! At any cost, we must put plasters over our festering sores! And we'll spend more if we have to. Got to make sure we look good.

He'll be here soon!

"Out of the Box" stimulates youth discussion

Production still: One of the young girls who worked with me on the film "Out of the Box".
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The theme of this year's National Poetry Festival is "Defying the Disease through the Power of the Word: Resisting Stigma and Discrimination". The organisers are focusing on identifying innovative ways of addressing problems associated with HIV/AIDS. One of their points of focus is the role which can be played by the media in the reduction of stigma and discrimination.

In light of this, I was asked by the organisers to use one of the HIV-related films I've worked on for TTCRC. The first was Invisible.

I gave them the second and most recent film, Out of the Box, which I worked on with girls aged 12 - 17 over the 2008 Christmas holidays and into January 2009. The festival organisers screened it on Monday as part of National Poetry Week, at an event/panel discussion for school children at the National Library.

"Out of the Box" was the catalyst which stimulated a vital discussion post-screening. Read more in this media release from the Idakeda website, which outlines the event (see below):


Media Release

Young people speak frankly about dealing with HIV and AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago

A touching film about a family living with the discrimination caused by HIV and AIDS was the catalyst for an open and frank dialogue among young people attending the Poetry Festival Panel Discussion on Monday. The film 'Out of the Box' by Elspeth Duncan depicts an HIV positive mother and her children who do not have the virus, talking about the reactions from the rest of the community to their situation.

In discussing the main theme of the session 'The Role of the Media in Resisting Stigma and Discrimination' a number of important and concerning points came out. According to the young people present there is still a high prevalence of unprotected sex among their age group. Additionally, they admit that young people do not educate themselves about HIV and refuse to get tested either out of embarrassment, fear or simple ignorance.

They pointed out that another important reason for young people not being as proactive as they should be, is the perceived general lack of tolerance to the issue. This lack of tolerance they say, leads to insensitivity in the community and lack of confidentiality.

At the end of the discussion some very real solutions were recommended:

1. Use community centres and spaces more effectively as sources of counseling and real help for young people
2. Retrain health care workers. The young people complained that they would meet surly and unhelpful health care staff, who actually would not treat them with sensitivity or care once they know about your HIV positive status.
   
3. Develop programmes specifically targeted towards parents to help with their knowledge, empathy and general awareness
4. Increase the number of targeted programmes in schools
   
5. Incorporate education about HIV and AIDS in the school curriculum, even at the primary level as a means of breaking down uninformed opinions and prejudice
   

We would like to thank the young people for their contributions and at Idakeda will continue to do our part to make a difference.

Stay with us on our journey ...

Press Releases and Camping

'Greetings on Behalf of Our Environment' got some good visibility in the press yesterday. There was this press release in the Guardian (featuring four of the photos) and Newsday also printed a release , but I can't find the link to that one online. I'm looking forward to people purchasing the cards and sending their environmental messages out. Looks like there may only be the 13 original handmade ones available, since I have not yet seen or heard more about the 100 cards promised by the sponsor ... but the thought was good while it lasted.

Source of this image
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Speaking of 'while it lasted', camping and stargazing was also fun. Saw Saturn clear as day through the telescope, as well as some massive star clusters and other planets. Then the stars all disappeared ... covered by rain clouds.

As glad as I am for rain, why, out of all of these dry, hot, almost desert-like days of dry season did nature decide to bring a tropical depression this weekend? The unexpected pitter patter in the darkness became something of a downpour with flashes of lightning, heavy mist rolling from the sea and the drums of distant thunder. To cut a long story short ... the army (who was there protecting us) eventually made us leave, stating: "you all have to go because everyone else going home!" Most of the people there had driven off as the rain started ... and I guess our protectors wanted to go home too.

So much for camping and braving the weather ...

We ended up camping anyway (i.e. sleeping in our sleeping bags) on a friend's verandah. Not the same, but still fun.

Good news and fun things to do this weekend

(Today is World Environment Day, by the way ... but that should be every day)
The stamps I bought for the cards are all environmentally themed.

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Work continues on the new lamp, but for now I want to share some good news about the environmental activism greeting cards (see the whole range here).

A kind sponsor (Lonsdale/Saatchi & Saatchi) has offered to print 100 postcards featuring all of the images in the series. Eight of some images and seven of others will be printed, with the Minister's address printed to the back. Thanks to Ian Royer of Lonsdale who, upon hearing of the concept from Magella (Red Earth Festival organiser), was excited about it, thought that more cards should be made available to the public and pitched the idea to his company.

As with the original handmade set, stamps will be adhered to these postcards, so that they are ready for posting to the Minister, along with people's messages.

These postcards will be sold at $10 each, with the total $1,000 from sales going to WORC (the Wildlife Orphanage and Rehabilitation Centre).

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If you are looking for something different and enjoyable to do this weekend in a beautiful natural setting, check out the Red Earth Eco-Arts Festival. There will be security, in case you feel worried about that aspect. See info below for list of events ... and please spread the word.

******

RED EARTH ECO-ARTS FESTIVAL

Tickets for all events are available at:
*The Cotton Tree Foundation on Ariapita Road in St Ann’s,
*Paper Based bookstore in the Normandie Hotel in St Ann’s,
*Gayelle-the Channel in St James
*the Chaguaramas Development Authority in Chaguaramas.

Friday 6 June

* Schools hike to Edith Falls with CDA - from Golf Course car park, 8.30am (Schools contact 633-6992)

* Workshop for schools, Bellerand Park, Golf Course Rd - 10am to 2pm (Schools contact 633-6992)

* 6:30pm -Open-air cinema (Whale Rider) followed by Stargazing with the Caribbean Institute of Astronomy - Tracking Station - Cost $30.00
(N.B.: you can pay at the tracking station on Friday evening)



Saturday 7 June

* 7.30am-11.00am -Covigne River hike with CDA (must book! 634 4364)
Cost: $50 (children) $65 (Adults)

*10am - 5pm Exhibitions in - The Mystic Masseur Old Wooden House & St Chad's Church.

* 10am Childrens Zone -Art Workshops and story-telling for children, Bellerand Park, Golf Course Rd - (contact Shurland 7832046)

* 3pm First Citizens of the Red Earth - First Nation People of the Americas Cuesua River bed Ritual blessing of the Performance space
Incl: Smoke Ceremony

*3:30p “ W ” - Continuum Dance Project - Cuesua River bed (Choreography Sonja Dumas)

* 4-6pm Songshine Poetry event, Cuesua River bed - (contact Gillian Moor 7604655)

* 7pm - 10pm Rock the River Bed - live performances in the Cuesua River bed cost-$120


Sunday 8 June

* 8am- Beach Clean up-Chacachacare (free) - (Must book, mystichemp@hotmail.com tel: 625 0295)

*10am - 5pm Exhibitions in - The Mystic Masseur Old Wooden House & St Chad's Church, Maqueripe - all day from

*9Am - Nature Tours-Gasparee Caves-
Cost: $125 (Adults) $110 (Children)
(by bookings only – 634 4364CDA)
meeting at:Island Homes

*10Am - walking tour of medicinal plants, Mt St Catherine.

* 5:30pm - 8pm - Fundraising event for The Cotton Tree Foundation - Wine Under the Stars With Poetry and Pan - wine and cheese evening, Bamboo Cathedral cost: $250.00

Please, really do this

The Three Boys (Steven, Paris, Stephen) 2.
Image on one of the of 13 cards from the interactive series:
Greetings on Behalf of Our Environment.

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These blank cards offer us a unique opportunity to seriously speak up on behalf of our Environment. The stamped envelope for each card is addressed to 'someone in power' (i.e. our Environmental Minister). I know there are those of you out there who want to see certain areas become protected zones, who have ideas about recycling that need to be put in place on a larger scale, who want and need funding to get important environmentally-related projects done for raising of awareness, who want to see TT cleaned up a lot more ...

Whatever it is you would like to say (whether 'simple' or 'complex'), say it, ask for it, suggest it. Send the message now.

Don't be apathetic and think that 'this won't work'. Don't be disillusioned and think "Those Ministers never do anything anyway". We never know what the smallest and simplest actions can achieve. Even if you don't know what to say or don't have anything to say on behalf of our Environment, you must know someone who does. Tell them about this initiative and seriously encourage them take part.

The cards will be on display, available for purchase (only $20 TT each) at the Red Earth Art Exhibition in Chaguaramas on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June. Purchase a card, take it home, think seriously about what you want to say, write your message or your letter in the card, get people to add their signatures in support of your message if you wish, slip it into the stamped envelope provided (addressed to the Minister of Housing, Planning and the Environment) ... and drop it in the nearest postbox. Don't wait too long. She will get the full impact of the cards with everyone's messages if they all arrive around the same time.

Please really do it.

Thanks.

Elspeth
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RED EARTH ART EXHIBITION
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June 2008
Chaguaramas (along the road to Maqueripe)
10.00am - 5:00 p.m.
* Photographic & Art Exhibition - various artists
Location: Mystic Masseur Old House
*Art Installations - Various artists
Location: St Chad’s Church
Cost: FREE

Paula

Greetings on Behalf of Our Environment
(Subject of image, writer of piece: Paula Obe)
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i hide morning in my gaze
so that i may remember
the scents and sights
of green early morning reflections.

R & S

Greetings on Behalf of Our Environment
(Subjects of image, writers of piece: Reshmi and Shireen)
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*

So will the Sun?

Fields of green are turned to debris and dust.

Trees uprooted in an upward thrust.

I look at myself, turning barren & bare…

I wonder where is my future – I know it’s not here.

Corruption & greed, trust is violated.

Murder, rape, steal, lie, kidnapping, terrorism, hate,

Rage is the cry of our age!

Mine, theirs, ours, yours - teardrops grace history’s page

Penned in blood of those animals hunted down…

Then there is nowhere to plant, all is gone.

But, profits have risen, and…………………..so will the sun?

I never pray to find out what will happen when this is all over and done.

I tried to breathe, and a deep breath I took.

But I couldn’t afford the price asked to inhale open air…I can only look.

So a mask I wear to survive this world…

And dream of a brand new day, a new life, a new existence to unfold.

- S. Ali & R. Ramnarine -

'Anonymous'

Greetings on Behalf of Our Environment

(Subject of image, writer of piece: Anonymous)
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I hide my face in shame. We have failed our children. What's going on in this place? We hide our faces behind masks. We are afraid to show ourselves. We cannot correct other people's children lest we get 'shot up'. So we keep losing our precious little ones. They are growing up not knowing right from wrong.

Do you think we should remove our masks and be brave? I say we should try.

- Anonymous -
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Note: Subsequent to the story of 8-year old Hope's gruesome end, the subject of this photo chose to write not about our natural environment, but about our rapidly decaying social one.

Steven, Paris and Stephen

Greetings on Behalf of Our Environment

*
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Stop cutting trees.
Stop burning grass.
Stop catching birds.
by
- Steven, Paris and Stephen -

(Three little boys, cousins, who had wandered by one day when I was shooting for this project)

Andrea

Greetings on Behalf of Our Environment
(Subject of image, writer of piece: Andrea)
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Wearing the mask, I saw haze rising above the mountains and I knew that one day that haze will not be from the dust of the dry season, but from pollution not fit for human lungs. One day there will be nowhere in the world we can go to escape it.

- Andrea -

Dara

One of the cards in my interactive Greetings on Behalf of Our Environment photo-series
(with image of Dara Njeri and poem below by Dara Njeri)
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We of Superior Intelligence
Who run amok in blissful negligence
innate genius creating computers
and pyramids
and machines that fly
yet cannot understand the concept of Finite Supply.
We Human Beings
whose upright gait and sense of entitlement
have made us too proud
we
cocky creatures
who
send men to the moon and proclaim out loud
that our achievements are vast
before cleaning up our own home,
maaan, we going nowhere, fast
cuz it’s
soaring food prices and no one asking why
so they dump needed food just to keep their profits high
while hair falls in clumps til scalps shine and glisten
and young bellies filled with clay pies swell from malnutrition -

when will we ever listen…

To the whisperings between leaves
warning us to take heed
cuz you can’t reep tomato
when you plant pepper seed
unsettling rumours of war
Karma come to settle She score
An’ She doh fight nice
weather conditions reclaim our much-needed rice
and so
from tsunamis to
quakes
to global warming records hit
can’t drink the water anymore
so instead we swallow spit
see we shit where we eat
and yet shocked at defeat but
Earth’s cry was ignored so Her vengeance is untold
watch us scatter like ants as the pell-mell unfolds
drop to our knees, we too weak to even breathe
as UV rays brand our backs with the planet’s boiling seethe
best hope for that Mother Ship to wisk us away
pour libations with foul water and mobilize to pray
for Earth to find it in Her mercy to somehow self-heal
and for us to find clean food to make our next meal.

Who doh hear, go ha’ tuh feel.
Yes,
all who doh hear, go really ha’ tuh feel.

Greetings on Behalf of Our Environment (online and offline exhibit)

This year I am a participating artist in the Red Earth EcoArts Festival, Trinidad (see info below). The 2008 theme is 'Air' and I have interpreted it through photographs.The photographs, made into greeting cards to enable the interactive aspect of my piece
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I have a few hundred surgical face masks, given to me in 2006 by some young activists (when we were actively involved in the anti-smelter movement). At first, I started taking portraits of people wearing the masks - to make a statement about air pollution created by smelters and all of the industrial 'parks' so rapidly being established here. But as I continued taking the photos, I realised that the masks speak about more than just air pollution. In T & T there are so many other elements stifling the lives of the people who live here. Crime, corruption, ignorance, rising cost of living, ineffective leadership ... the list goes on.

ONLINE EXHIBITION
I invite you to check in on this blog over the next five days as I feature a 'mask photo' per day and an accompanying statement provided by the subject of each image. I will feature only five of the sixteen images online. The rest can be viewed at the off-line exhibit.

OFF-LINE EXHIBITION (interactive)
I will exhibit the photos at the Red Earth Festival as a series of sixteen limited edition 'activist greeting cards' (Greetings on behalf of Our Environment), each with a stamped envelope addressed to relevant 'people in power' ... i.e. those who are supposed to have the ability to put policies in place to help 'save' our environment. Those who purchase a card (or cards) at the exhibit are asked to not keep the card, but to write a heartfelt message on behalf of our environment and post it (stamp already provided) to the addressee on their envelope. Getting a multitude of people to sign the card on which you write your message should add impact.

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The following is a release from the Red Earth Organisation, providing more details about the 2008 festival:

The Red Earth Festival is organised by the non-profit organization - Red Earth, which was founded by a group of environmentally motivated artists, administrators and other professionals, to promote environmental consciousness - through the arts. The Red Earth Festival will be held from 6 – 8 June 2008 under the theme: ‘Air’ the media through which we experience light, sound and ultimately, through which all life on our Red Earth travels.

Red Earth Unplugged The Red Earth Festival presents acts that can be staged with a minimum of disturbance to the natural acoustic environment. Red Earth is Unplugged. The three-day festival of the performing arts will be held in the beautiful natural environment of Tucker Valley in the Chaguaramas National Park. Performances will be staged in the open air at multiple locations throughout the park – the Bamboo Cathedral, Maqueripe Beach, Mango Grove, Samaan Park and other scenic sites in the valley.

The Festival Programme The Festival programme will feature an eclectic mix of Aboriginal performances and contemporary work by local and regional artists with a preference for acts that are more acoustical and organic in nature. In 2007 the Festival included: Jazz under the stars, urban spoken word performers, contemporary dancers from Brazil, Suriname and French Guiana, the work of Salvadorian photographer Ludwig Rosales whose photographs of indigenous children have won him international acclaim, a smoke ceremony performed by the Carib Community of Trinidad, and outdoor cinema from Cuba. The Festival also included star-gazing, nature tours, beach clean-ups, children’s events, workshops and symposia.