Our Belize • Forum

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Belize to Benefit from US Program to Combat AIDS

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:49:54 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: Belize to Benefit from US Program to Combat AIDS
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:49 pm

Good points Stokke. My experience in the USA and the UK is that most children in deprived or rural areas get most of their sex education from TV. The same seems to apply here. In San Pedro, kids are pretty sex aware but this is a latino/mestizo culture in San Pedro and they are pretty open about sex and sexuality. My impression is that other communities in Belize (and there are so many cultures here) such as the Garifuna and Maya, are much more conservative about sex and don't talk about it much at all. When we were in Hopkins, we were also stunned as to how little the young people there knew about HIV/AIDS. I don't know how active their AIDS Commission is there or if they even have one, because ours is very active and works closely with the schools. Also, even the religious educators here in San Pedro (including the Sister) teach kids about safe sex and condoms - except for the silly older ones who still live in the fantasy land of abstinence.

[Belizean Politics and News] Beware - Land Scammers

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:37:42 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Beware - Land Scammers
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:37 pm

SCAM ARTISTS HIT PROSPECTIVE LAND OWNERS IN THE BELIZE AND TOLEDO DISTRICTS

July 29, 2010 - LOVE FM

Scam artists have been hard at work in the Belize and Toledo districts and tonight two prospective landowners are out of cash and real estate as a result. According to businessman Nicholi Noel Alvarado, he was approached by a man identified as Julius Martinez who offered his service to facilitate the acquisition of title for lots located at Tropical Park near Hattieville village. Alvarado told police that the initial contact was made in March of this year and that on several occasions since, he handed over a total of six thousand dollars in cash to Martinez. Alvarado says that last month, Martinez handed over seven titles, purportedly for land in Tropical Park. However, when Alvarado made checks at the Lands Department in Belmopan, he got the bad news: the documents were not genuine.

http://www.lovefm.com/ndisplay.php?nid=12409

[Belizean Politics and News] Business in Belize suffering

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:29:04 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Business in Belize suffering
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 10:29 am

http://www.belizetimes.bz/2010/07/30/wh ... n-trouble/

[Biology] Re: Crayola Katydid

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:29:53 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: Crayola Katydid
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:29 am

Yes I know Zelda. We've been doing the research. It still doesn't mean we're entirely convinced although someone told us yesterday that there are great variations amongst the females and that colours may change when they swarm, so who knows. We're happier calling it the 'Disco Bug'.

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:27:19 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:27 am

Here here Miss Zelda. What is so disgraceful is that this is a cause that could gain a lot of support just by using the truth and real facts. All this sort of propaganda does is make people close their ears and turn away.

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Belize to Benefit from US Program to Combat AIDS

info@operacesky.net (Stokke) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:06:41 GMT

Author: Stokke
Post subject: Re: Belize to Benefit from US Program to Combat AIDS
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:06 am

The last time Deb & I went together to Belize, we met up with an acquaintance of ours who is stationedin a clinic in Dangriga working through a Peace Corps program to educate students in outlying areas about AIDS. We were shocked to learn according to him how abysmally ignorant most students were about safe sexual practices, i.e.: condoms, etc., and about sex in general. What we took for granted about teaching our children here in the U.S. about sex and related subjects from our conversation seemed to be woefully lacking in Belize according to his experiences. I'm talking about elementary sex knowledge, and it made me wonder why. From my experience, it seems as though in Hispanic or C.A. culture in general, this topic isn't discussed as openly as it is here in the States. Maybe it is tied to a privacy or respect issue, which I know is extremely important to C.A. people; maybe much more so than in the U.S.. That is too bad, because that lack of knowledge is literally killing people. I'm not stating this as a blanket statement for all non-westernized 2nd or 3rd world people's, but I think maybe it it could be an important cultural issue, this matter of privacy or respect, or taboo subject material. On the one hand, hugging, kissing, and other mannerisms or demonstrations of friendliness are quite different, and not as open from the accepted U.S. norm. But beyond that, in the area of what children are taught on a societal level, maybe sex education in the non-U.S. areas of the world isn't as openly discussed, and this could be part of the reason why AIDS is so rampant in these areas. I'm certainly no expert on the subject, but I thought I'd throw this out there for consideration.

[Biology] Re: Crayola Katydid

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:14:53 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Re: Crayola Katydid
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:14 pm

but... but... they consulted an expert!

********

We are going to check with international Katydid expert Piotr Naskrecki to see if he recognizes your species.

That is wonderful, thank you so much. Will you please let me know what you find out? I’ve never seen such a beautiful colorful bug !

Hi Daniel,
This is a female of the Crayola katydid, Moncheca pretiosa (Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae), one of the few katydids that probably uses chemical defenses. Although this species has not yet been tested, its closest relative, a similarly colored genus Vestria, produces volatile pyrazines that are known to act as repellants to monkeys and birds.
Cheers, Piotr

********

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:02:02 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:02 pm

personally, I lost quite a bit of interest in the story when I saw too many exaggerations...

responsible reportage attempts to stay as factual as possible.

the problem here is, exaggerating DISCREDITS a valid cause, as does overblown rhetoric and inflated numbers.

I know Dave, in person... and if he says he knows the guy who runs Kolbe, and that GOB no longer pays the prisoner per diem (only the guard salaries) then I'd tend to believe that over someone who collects random (undated) information off the web, and claims it's a matter of public record.

all that said, the facts are... trafficking is an evil thing, and Belize is part of the corridor, moving women and children northwards, BUT this kind of "reportage" and red-flagging, and boycotting does more harm than good, by alienating people who would join in.

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:04:18 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 7:04 pm

Huh. San Pedro welcomed 200 odd drug boats to its shores??? I'd love to see the references for that one. I was very sympathetic when I first read these articles, but it seems more and more that Ms. Trill has an agenda and is doing her best to damage a small community that is already suffering. Where on earth does she get some of these figures?

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:58:07 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:58 pm

Just in case Ms Trill reads this and doesn't believe that the community takes this seriously.

http://www.sanpedrosun.com/news/human-t ... san-pedro/

[Biology] Re: Crayola Katydid

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:52:29 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: Crayola Katydid
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:52 pm

Hey! That's our picture! LOLOL My friend took that in Mountain Pine Ridge last week. We've been trolling the internet to get an ID. Still not convinced it is a Crayola Katydid and much prefer our own name 'Disco Bug'.

[Environment] Phytoplankton In Big Decline

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:43:09 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Phytoplankton In Big Decline
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:43 pm

Plankton, base of ocean food web, in big decline

By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer – Wed Jul 28, 1:01 pm ET

WASHINGTON – Despite their tiny size, plant plankton found in the world's oceans are crucial to much of life on Earth. They are the foundation of the bountiful marine food web, produce half the world's oxygen and suck up harmful carbon dioxide.

And they are declining sharply.

Worldwide phytoplankton levels are down 40 percent since the 1950s, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature. The likely cause is global warming, which makes it hard for the plant plankton to get vital nutrients, researchers say.

The numbers are both staggering and disturbing, say the Canadian scientists who did the study and a top U.S. government scientist.

"It's concerning because phytoplankton is the basic currency for everything going on in the ocean," said Dalhousie University biology professor Boris Worm, a study co-author. "It's almost like a recession ... that has been going on for decades."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100728/ap_ ... g_plankton

scary news... especially in combination with the news about massive flooding in China, and RECORD heat in Russia:

Floods Trap 30,000 in China's Northeast

Published on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 by Agence France Presse

BEIJING - More than 30,000 people are thought to be trapped by floodwaters in a town in northeast China, state media said Wednesday, as torrential rain that has killed over 300 in two weeks continues.

China is struggling with its worst flooding in a decade that has left 1,405 dead or missing since the beginning of the year and caused at least 26 billion dollars in damage, and authorities have warned of more to come.

In the central city of Wuhan, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated as authorities brace for flood crests from the Yangtze River and one of its tributaries to converge there.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/07/28-3

Drought Adds to Regions Declaring Emergency

19 July 2010 - Combined Reports

Soaring temperatures across large swathes of Russia have destroyed nearly 10 million hectares of crops and prompted a state of emergency in 17 regions, the Agriculture Ministry said Friday.

Also on Friday, the state-run Moscow region weather bureau said it expected the heat wave, which has gripped the country since late June and is estimated to have already cost the agricultural sector about $1 billion, to continue into next week.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/ ... 10588.html

* * * * * * * *

seems to me... I read an OLD sci-fi novel about the possibility of running out of AIR recently... lemme think...

ah yes, The Last Gasp, by Trevor Hoyle

Have you read Trevor Hoyle’s The Last Gasp - SF novel?

Jul 21, 2010 12:25am by Beth Schmillen

There’s quite a bit of discussion about the environment and will Earth survive what Mankind has done or will the death be to humans? I wanted to bring up the idea in an old SF novel that has to do with Phytoplankton and Oxygen availability in our future. It is a well told story. Interesting read and based on some solid science.

http://bethsventures.amplify.com/2010/0 ... -sf-novel/

that's what happens in The Last Gasp, heat waves, massive flooding, and a severe decline in phytoplankton, culminating in an ecological disaster of epic proportions.

[Biology] Crayola Katydid

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:31:28 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Crayola Katydid
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:31 am

people send in photos to "What's That Bug?" for help in identification...

this one came from our neck of the woods, but I've never seen anything like it... it's cool:

Insect from Belize…
Location: Mountain Pine Ridge in Cayo, Belize
July 28, 2010 10:21 am

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/category/katydids/

[Biology] Coati - Escape Artist

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:03:41 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Coati - Escape Artist
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:03 am

Escaped coati still missing from Belfast Zoo

28 July 2010 Last updated at 14:51 GMT - BBC

A racoon-like creature which absconded from Belfast Zoo more than a week ago is still on the loose, the zoo has confirmed.

The white-nosed coati from Belize escaped on Monday 19 July. A spokesperson for the zoo said there had been no reported sightings of it. The mammal was being held in quarantine after just arriving at the zoo. It had been hoped the female would take part in a breeding programme with several other coatis recently imported.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10794086

[Belizean Politics and News] Kendall Reconstruction

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:48:24 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Kendall Reconstruction
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:48 am

KENDAL RECONSTRUCTION

posted (July 28, 2010)

In 2008, Southern Belize was cut off from the rest of the country when the Kendal Bridge was completely washed away after the floods of Tropical Storm Arthur. A temporary causeway was built to replace the bridge in order for access. In June of 2008, Cadet Henderson, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Works told the media the US Government's Department of Defense had offered to supply a 275 foot long bridge which was to be delivered in 45 days.

The military bridge to replace the Kendal for the medium term never happened, because the bridge turned out to have been the wrong size. Since then, every time the weatherman calls for rain, concerns about flooding at the low lying Kendal Causeway come to mind. But today, the Minister of Works says construction of a new bridge is in the works.

Anthony Boots Martinez, Minister of Works: "The Kendall is at the opening tender stage now. On August the 4th there will be the public opening of which we will be inviting the media. The closing tender date was the 15th of July. The opening tender will be the 4th of August and from there we are ready to go in terms of breaking ground around September and that should be my estimation about one and a half years before the completion of Kendall Bridge."

A government press release sent to us late this afternoon says an International bridge consulting firm has been retained to design the replacement bridge and the new bridge will be constructed at an elevation of 14 feet higher than the previous bridge deck level.

http://7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=17444

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:39:21 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:39 am

ORT Escalates Belize Tourism Boycott Charging Drug Trafficking

Published July 29, 2010 by: vivian trill

Part of the two-stage process that sends drugs, mostly cocaine, to the US, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye welcomed 257 drug boats last year to its island landings. The island and the Town of San Pedro, which are not limited to freight port status on the US-bound drug routes from South America, experiences dangerous spillover of the trade into its community.

"ORT condemns in the strongest possible terms the danger to local residents and tourists resulting from drug-related crime in San Pedro," said Trill. "We are expanding our Belize tourism boycott to include an anti-drug trafficking awareness drive, complementing our founding anti-human trafficking cause. We feel responsible tourists want to know that Belize, and in particular San Pedro, are dangerous double offenders."

The actions of the San Pedro Anti-Drugs Unit do not follow accepted police protocol. Last year the unit, claiming information from a local resident, were tipped off to a 25-kilogram cocaine find with a street value of $500,000 (Belize). Five men were killed in the aftermath; the drugs disappeared along with the money. There has been no follow-up investigation of the drug and money disappearances.

Further spillover of drug-related crime into the San Pedro area involved torture, gunfire and murder for small time operators who got caught by higher-level dealers. To-date, there are no arrests and no convictions related to this case.

Previously red-flagged as tourism no-go human trafficking zone under the ORT Belize tourism boycott, San Pedro Ambergris Caye is a concentration zone of ficha bars that offer human trafficking victims in forced prostitution. The Town of San Pedro, population 12,000, supports 90 ficha bars and is a Central American human trafficking hub.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/articl ... ycott.html

90 bars with prostitutes? REALLY ?? seriously?

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Belize to Benefit from US Program to Combat AIDS

info@operacesky.net (Lucywu2012) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:30:27 GMT

Author: Lucywu2012
Post subject: Re: Belize to Benefit from US Program to Combat AIDS
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:30 am

I agree with you!

[Help] Re: Little request

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:06:27 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: Little request
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:06 pm

Nice job. Keeping it updated will hopefully attract new people. x

[Help] Re: Little request

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:02:59 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Re: Little request
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:02 am

Okay, how's that ?

I rarely use the "Announcement" feature, or the Global Announce dealiebopper, 'cause I try not to be an attention whore...

[Belizean Politics and News] Hideous Crime near Corozal

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:48:54 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Hideous Crime near Corozal
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:48 am

Stabbed, castrated, then set on fire in a quiet village

Jul 27, 2010 - News 5

We have covered stories about gruesome murders, but tonight the slaying of a forty-one year old man in the north is one of the most horrific to report. Philip Hall was stabbed multiple times, his private parts were severed and then he was set on fire in a small house a few miles outside Corozal Town. It is believed it is a crime of passion and the suspect is well known in the otherwise quiet village.

http://edition.channel5belize.com/?p=36167

[Food] BDF Barracks Robbed - Food Shows Up In Grocery Stores

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:27:57 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: BDF Barracks Robbed - Food Shows Up In Grocery Stores
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:27 am

BDF Barracks Robbed

posted (July 27, 2010)

The last time the Belize Defence Force came under major scrutiny from the public and the press, it was about stolen M-16's and 9 millimeter pistols. But this time the force is making headlines, not for stolen guns and ammunitions, but stolen food supplies that feed an estimated 1000 of its soldiers. And, where were the thousands of dollars of food items ending up? Monica Bodden has the story on why it's possible you might have just purchased recycled military food items at your neighborhood grocer.

The Belize Defence Force ration store - which house's food supply for soldiers countrywide has been robbed. The accused culprits - 3 BDF soldiers.

http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=17439

[Weather/old Hurricane threads] Mother Nature Strikes

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:12:10 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Mother Nature Strikes
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:12 am

Mother Nature Strikes

posted (July 27, 2010) - Channel 7 News, Belize

Yesterday's freak storm that brought the city of Belize to an almost grinding halt left commuters and motorists dashing for high ground. Twenty four hours later, the powerful and dazzling effects of Mother Nature have come to light. Roaring thunder shook fragile nerves and interrupted many a business moment. A lightning bolt unleashed its fury during the storm and caused this palm tree in the Lopez Mateos park on the Northside of the city to catch on fire, while at the neighborhood K-Park Grocery store located in Kings Park, a jarring hole at the front top of the building is another way in which Mother Nature again left its mark.

http://www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?id=10109

[Announcements] Offshore Drilling - Green Light

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:30 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Offshore Drilling - Green Light
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:00 am

Offshore drilling still has “green light”: Prime Minister Barrow

Posted: 27/07/2010 - 09:52 AM - Author: Adele Ramos - adelescribe@gmail.com

Last week, the Opposition People’s United Party joined the call made by the Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage for the government to put into effect a ban on offshore petroleum exploration, “…until Belizeans can be assured that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure that there will be no damage to our marine environment as a result of such drilling.” The position, said the party, was formulated after consulting with 31 constituencies across the country.

Responding to the PUP declaration, Barrow said that all but one of the contracts were given out when the Opposition PUP was in power, and they have also allowed offshore petroleum exploration. (As we have previously informed, Island Oil was allowed to drill an exploration well off Monkey River back in 2007. A total of 16 wells have been drilled offshore Belize since 1958, according to the Department of Geology and Petroleum.)

http://www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?id=10109

[Announcements] Re: Shyne Samples Notorious B.I.G & Bob Marley on “Belize”

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:12:07 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: Shyne Samples Notorious B.I.G & Bob Marley on “Belize”
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:12 am

have a listen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XZ66-cT09w

[Announcements] Re: Shyne Samples Notorious B.I.G & Bob Marley on “Belize”

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:01:49 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Re: Shyne Samples Notorious B.I.G & Bob Marley on “Belize”
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:01 pm

Shyne To Debut New Single "Belize" With Bob Marley & Biggie

Shyne will be debuting a new single named after his homeland "Belize" featuring the great Bob Marley and Biggie. The former Bad Boy artist was deported to his homeland after he was released from prison. Shyne made headlines earlier in the year when producers began flying to Belize to work with him. The song samples Bob Marley's "Sun Is Shining" from his Kaya album released in the 1970's. The song will bring both Biggie and Bob Marley back to speak from beyond the grave alongside Shyne. Check out the trailer for "Belize" below, which features scenes of Shyne in his native land.

http://dimewars.com/HipHopNews/Shyne-To ... 292d0f3b72

[Help] Re: Little request

info@operacesky.net (PaulS) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:59:43 GMT

Author: PaulS
Post subject: Re: Little request
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:59 pm

I just peek at the Menu on the right and click 'View new posts' if there are any shown in (brackets).

[Announcements] Shyne Samples Notorious B.I.G & Bob Marley on “Belize”

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:57:28 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Shyne Samples Notorious B.I.G & Bob Marley on “Belize”
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:57 pm

Shyne Samples Notorious B.I.G & Bob Marley on “Belize”

| New Music - 2 hours ago... July 28, 2010 by Tahirah Edwards Byfield

Apparently I’m posting this to highlight exactly how terrible it is. Shyne abuses reggae legend Bob Marley‘s “Sun Is Shining” and Notorious B.I.G‘s line from Puffy’s track “Young G’s”. I never understood the comparisons between Biggie’s voice and Shyne’s – aside from the fact they both sound on the brink of a heart attack, I thought it was a great insult to the late hip hop icon and wondered why Shyne would be happy settling as a bit of a poor impersonator. On “Belize” it becomes clear just how much Shyne isn’t like Biggie.

http://www.soulculture.co.uk/blogs/musi ... new-music/

I can't get it to play... anybody else ??

is it as terrible as the reviewer says?

[Help] Re: Little request

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:56:54 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: Little request
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:56 pm

That's what your loyal followers are here for - to keep you abreast (i love that word) with everything. Now that we've brought this to you attention, we look forward to seeing what you'll put up as a recent announcement.

[Help] Re: Little request

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:50:45 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Re: Little request
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:50 pm

ooops, I never go to the Portal page, 'cause I have the Index page bookmarked.

sorry kiddies... I'm a lazy admin, busy with the farm pigs, blah-betty blah blah blah... LOL

[Help] Re: Little request

info@operacesky.net (woodsman) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:23:43 GMT

Author: woodsman
Post subject: Re: Little request
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:23 pm

It's been a while since a post was marked as an "announcement" - that's what puts it there. We'll have to correct it

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:25:58 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:25 pm

Interesting further response from Ms. Trill here http://www.complaintsboard.com/complain ... 58900.html

While I am well aware that trafficking goes on here, as it does rampantly in the UK, where I'm from, I have a few issues with the way Ms. Trill has been campaigning. Firstly, she isn't very clear about her sources. Good researchers can back up their arguments with facts that are verifiable. Secondly, her presentation does not come across professionally. It has the feel of an activist (and I say this having been an activist for many years of my own life) who has a great passion for the issue but who may be willing to use arguments that are not necessarily factual to support a position. This always undermines arguments and usually does more harm than good as people are put off and don't believe any of it. It is very important, when undertaking a campaign involving human or non human animal rights that information is presented in a manner that cannot be picked apart easily by those who wish to do so. Additionally, very few Belizeans have access to the message board, so you are often already preaching to the converted.

I don't think that using local message boards is going to be effective or helpful and may alienate some who might otherwise be sympathetic. These campaigns usually have to have two elements - grass roots organising, which means getting local people (not the very tiny minority of -usually expats on a message board) who have voting power (most expats don't) involved and educated. At the same time, international pressure needs to be brought to bear and maintained. The impression I have of Ms. Trill is that she cares deeply about this issue, which is indeed a good thing, but doesn't really understand how Belize operates. It is an absolutely tiny country and everyone is related to everyone or knows them. People, are afraid to stick their head above the parapet, particularly when there are very nasty people involved and a lot of money. Belize is the wild west and has long been like that. Human trafficking is just one of many very serious issues, this country has to deal with. Gun crime, a corrupt police and judicial system, poverty, poor education, HIV/AIDS, environmental concerns - the list goes on and on..so it is unlikely anyone is going to be prepared to be the standard bearer for this issue and put themselves and their family at risk. She suggests going to the police - well when we go to the police, they don't take reports and they don't often show up. When they do take reports, those often go missing. They are underfunded and undervalued and as a result, easily corruptible.

Belize has many challenges to face and this more a symptom than a unique problem. Without a change in the attitude of a corrupt and shameless government, very few of these issues, including human trafficking, are going to change. I know ex sex workers in Belize who were brought here from other countries under false pretenses. Some of them have done quite well for themselves, but as long as men will pay for women and children, the problem will never go away. Even in so called civilised countries in North America and Europe, human trafficking and child sex exploitation are huge industries, so placing all of her focus on Belize, does make me wonder a little bit about Ms. Trill's agenda.

[Help] Re: Little request

info@operacesky.net (Stokke) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:02:10 GMT

Author: Stokke
Post subject: Re: Little request
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 1:02 pm

I agree

[Help] Little request

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:50:40 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Little request
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 5:50 pm

When you come to Our Belize Forum, at the portal the first thing you see is 'Recent Announcements'. That is a wonderful thing......but.....the announcement that shows is about the earthquake and that is hardly recent. If I were a new person looking for forums to participate in, I'd steer well clear because I'd assume that no one has posted here since then. I wonder what everyone else thinks. Thanks. Colette

[Homesteading] Re: 3 little piggies

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:39:43 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Re: 3 little piggies
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 2:39 pm

[Homesteading] Re: 3 little piggies

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:37:10 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: 3 little piggies
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 2:37 pm

I suggest Hally, Burton and Beepee.

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting

info@operacesky.net (woodsman) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:31:38 GMT

Author: woodsman
Post subject: Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 11:31 am

catdance62 wrote:We watched that a few months back. That was a good movie, but heartbreaking yes. People that perpetuate that slave trade ought to be exterminated.

Not so fast. This is a medieval crime that requires medieval measures for a satisfactory redemption.

I'd start with torture, not really medieval - something like exposing a nerve in every tooth and stimulating it . Then promise them no pain for one day if they rape repeatedly one of their slave-trader buddies.

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting

info@operacesky.net (catdance62) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:38:13 GMT

Author: catdance62
Post subject: Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 7:38 am

We watched that a few months back. That was a good movie, but heartbreaking yes. People that perpetuate that slave trade ought to be exterminated.

[Homesteading] Re: 3 little piggies

info@operacesky.net (Miss Kenni) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:43:29 GMT

Author: Miss Kenni
Post subject: Re: 3 little piggies
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 5:43 am

Morgan will work for a female -- remember Morgan le Fay?

Or one of the girls could be Fannie and the other Mae ... but then you'd almost have to name 2 of the boys Freddie and Mac .

And what about Ginnie Mae and Sally Mae? They haven't been in the news, but they're certainly family ...

[Homesteading] Re: 3 little piggies

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:17:30 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Re: 3 little piggies
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 4:17 pm

I forgot to say, two are female, one's male... this time we're going to try to breed them.

and yes, the females came from a different farm than the male, lol.

I was thinking about Fannie Mae... but couldn't come up with another in the same vein... Aggie, that's GOOD, Kenni !!

* * * * * * * *

then, I was kinda thinking about namin' 'em Meg and Carly...

Meg Whitman, ex-eBay head honcho, richest female CEO in HISTORY... and now mostly self-funded GOP candidate for gov in CA... and definitely a leedle PIGGIE if I ever saw one!

Having gobs of personal cash to toss into a race seems to be especially potent in California and Florida, with their expensive media markets. The governors’ races are a prime example. In California, Meg Whitman, a Republican and former chief executive of eBay, has swamped all other self-financed candidates across the country, using $90 million of her own money to trounce Steve Poizner, who contributed $24 million from his own pocket, in the Republican primary.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/23/us/po ... espolitics

a bit of amusement for you:

Five Questions for Meg Whitman

Chris KellyWriter, Real Time with Bill Maher - Posted: September 22, 2009 12:23 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kel ... 94784.html

* * *

and Carly Fiorina, also a piggie... running for senate, also in CA

Carly Fiorina, a Republican who is challenging Senator Barbara Boxer in California, declares on her Web site that she will “fight for every job” if elected, as chief executive of Hewlett-Packard in 2003, she cut about 18,000 jobs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/23/us/po ... espolitics

[Homesteading] Re: 3 little piggies

info@operacesky.net (Miss Kenni) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:57:42 GMT

Author: Miss Kenni
Post subject: Re: 3 little piggies
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 10:57 am

Morgan, Stanley, Lynch, Barney; not sure what you can do with AIG -- Agnes, maybe?

[Homesteading] Re: 3 little piggies

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:37:08 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Re: 3 little piggies
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:37 am

in related news:

Federal Report Faults Banks on Huge Bonuses

By ERIC DASH

Citigroup and Goldman Sachs are among 17 companies said to have made lavish and unmerited payouts.

• NYTimes.com Homepage - 07-23-2010

as Goldman, Sachs, and Merrill are almost full-grown, last week, it was time for another trip to 7 Mile, to get three NEW little piggies...

any contributions or ideas for NAMES ???

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting

info@operacesky.net (Zelda) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:14:18 GMT

Author: Zelda
Post subject: Re: Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:14 am

last night, we watched "Trade" a heartbreaking story about human trafficking centered in Mexico City.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399095/

the statistics listed at the close of the film were disturbing.

The International Labor Organization, (the UN agency charged with addressing labor standards, employment, and social protection issues), estimates that 12.3 million people worldwide are enslaved in forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor, sexual servitude, and involuntary servitude at any given time

* * *

Belize - current situation: Belize is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; the most common form of trafficking in Belize is the internal sex trafficking of minors; some Central American men, women, and children, particularly from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, migrate voluntarily to Belize in search of work but are subsequently subjected to conditions of forced labor or forced prostitution
tier rating: Belize is placed on Tier 2 Watch List because it does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; despite efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking and provide protection services for trafficking victims, the government did not show evidence of progress in convicting and sentencing trafficking offenders last year (2009)

https://www.cia.gov/library/publication ... /2196.html

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Dengue Outbreak

info@operacesky.net (catdance62) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:21:37 GMT

Author: catdance62
Post subject: Re: Dengue Outbreak
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:21 am

good to know Colette, thnx for the info.

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Dengue Outbreak

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:07:49 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: Dengue Outbreak
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 5:07 pm

Dengue mosquitoes are the ones that come out in the daytime and they have to have bitten someone with Dengue to carry it.

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Dengue Outbreak

info@operacesky.net (catdance62) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:59:00 GMT

Author: catdance62
Post subject: Re: Dengue Outbreak
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:59 pm

I will definitely be using mosquito repellent!

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Dengue Outbreak

info@operacesky.net (collyk) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:36:39 GMT

Author: collyk
Post subject: Re: Dengue Outbreak
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:36 pm

I know two people personally who have died in the last year from Dengue, one in the last few weeks. Both are from San Pedro and caught it here. Both had other health issues and so were vulnerable. I know about a half a dozen people in San Pedro who have had Dengue in the last year. When we moved here, just over 4 years ago, it was not prevalent. It seems to be now.

[Belizean Politics and News] Re: Dengue Outbreak

info@operacesky.net (Miss Kenni) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:49:17 GMT

Author: Miss Kenni
Post subject: Re: Dengue Outbreak
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:49 pm

It's reappearing here too -- Fla. Keys and Tex/Mex border areas. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66C65X20100713