Nassau, The Bahamas — Minister of the Environment and Housing, Ken Dorsett, handed over the comic book, “Who tief muh conch?”, on September 17, to Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Jerome Fitzgerald. The informational pamphlet details the possible effects of climate change in The Bahamas.
The handover took place at the Ministry of Education Conference Room, Thompson Boulevard.
“You will recall that our Charter for Governance states that our Government will continue to emphasise the importance of the protection of our environment and the conservation of our natural resources, oceans, and undeveloped land; Continue to see fit to safeguard our environment; and continue making a concerted effort to keep the country clean and to ensure that we leave The Bahamas in a state that is fit to be passed on to future Bahamians,” said Minister Dorsett.
“The protection of our natural environment is not a responsibility of only one minister or one ministry, but one that in the Westminsterian tradition we share, as a collective responsibility. This is also not a responsibility that the technical agencies for which we both have responsibility can be achieved without working in a collegial atmosphere to achieve one common goal; the education of this nation’s children. Climate change is a subject that we must explain to generations of Bahamians who will be responsible for living through its impacts.”
Minister Dorsett further explained that science determines how climate change is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to the natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. He said The Bahamas is fortunate to be bordered on one side by the deep Atlantic Ocean, however the Great Bahama Bank and Little Bahama Bank, which provides for most of the fisheries, would be the most likely threatened environments of the increasing sea water temperatures.
“Comic Book: “Who tief much conch?” The Possible Effects of Climate Change in The Bahamas” was officially launched on September 22nd, 2011, as part of the outputs for the preparation of The Bahamas Second National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The book seeks to give children and adults a clear understanding on how climate change has already affected and will continue to impact our coral reefs and integrated ecosystems,” said Mr. Dorsett.
The book seeks to educate a target group of students in the 7th to 9th grades on the effects of Climate Change and it’s impact in The Bahamas. It is available in hard copy and can be downloaded to make it accessible to the wider national and international community.”
Minister Dorsett commended the collaborative effort to produce the book, which involved the National Climate Change Committee, the Public Education Outreach Sub-Committee, the College of The Bahamas, Small Island Sustainability School, The Ministry of Education, the Department of Meteorology in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and its director, Mr. Rolle, as well as the BEST Commission in the Ministry of the Environment and Housing.
The storyboards were created by artist, Stevie Burrows, and finalised by the Public Education and Outreach Subcommittee, Lisa Benjamin, Michael Stevenson, and Sonya Wisdom of The College of The Bahamas, as well as Portia Sweeting and Shacara Lightbourne of The Bahamas National Trust, and Rhianna Neely, a PhD Candidate, associated with Climate Change Awareness in The Bahamas. The booklet was drafted on the request of the BEST Commission.
“The non-governmental community played a critical role in the process and I would, on behalf of the government, acknowledge the support provided by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Bahamas National Trust (BNT), The Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation (BREEF), The Island School at Cape Eleuthera, reEarth and the National Coastal Awareness Committee,” said Minister Dorsett.
“This comic book was modelled after a similar effort of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and was developed through the extensive efforts to further expand the objectives of the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisations (UNESCO) SIDS Global Conference. It also promotes our national efforts to reduce the adverse effects of climate change.”
The Charter for Governance for Education states that Education is the key to empowerment. This cannot and must not be understated. Our educational system must afford our children every opportunity to identify and prepare for a career choice best suited to their interests and strengths and which will allow them to be self-sufficient, contributing members of society.
By GENA GIBBS
BAHAMAS INFORMATION SERVICES
Caption: Minister of the Environment and Housing, Ken Dorsett, gives the comic book, “Who tief muh conch?” to Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Jerome Fitzgerald. (BIS Photo/Raymond Bethel)
