Population growth as a social and environmental issue

The population growth has become an important concern for the academic and scientific field during the last years. Currently, we are more than 7.4 billion in the world and according to forecasters, the world will reach 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion in 2100. This seems to be an unstoppable number, but there are several aspects that have to be considered to understand the tendencies that are now days happening regards of this matter.

In the documentary “How many people can live on earth”, the naturalist Sir David Attenborough investigates whether the world is heading for a population crisis and how we, as human beings, are the cause, but at the same time the solution to this tendency. It is important to highlight that water, food and energy will not be renewable resources, if they are not able to restore at a rate exceeding the consumption by humans. So either we slow down the speed of reproduction, or we change the feasting habit to make possible the supplying of the people living in all the world.  

In the last years, the rate of consumption per person has become more inequitable and at the same time the nature is not able to satisfy and cover those high levels. One argument that supports this statement is the fact that right now there is more than one billion people who don’t have access to water, thus, it’s not alarmist to claim that “in the future, water will be the reason for wars”, as Sir David Attenborough states.

But before this collision happens, still several issues can trigger, such as high rates of mortality, especially in children. If people is not able to access to a proper health system and the State can’t hold a politic in which every citizen can receive a proper service, the demand will be higher than the offer, making impossible the chance to ensure in a 100% the quality of a fair system.  This can also lead to a higher feasibility of spreading diseases along communities, becoming a public health problem.

So the issue is not having enough food, water or resources such as energy, but the way we are consuming, making them inequitable and disproportionate in the different countries, according to their condition of being industrialized or producers of raw materials. Taking this into account, there are three possible solutions to mitigate the impact: first, change the consumption habits, second, change the current technology, and third, reduce the high rates of human reproduction.

This last point leads to a key fact in demographic growth which is related to women and their condition of beings who give birth to life. The journalist Robert Engelman, Senior Fellow at the Worldwatch Institute, delves into this topic in his article The world at 7 billion: can we stop growing now? Empowering women is to me, one of the most important challenges for the XXI century, and relationships, sex, birth, education and capacity of taking decisions are some of the most important aspects that must be considered. Throughout history women have been relegated from politics, social scenarios, job and education opportunities. Now days this tendency continues, regardless the evolution and development on so many others conditions. Sexual reproduction is an example of the lack of empowerment: more than two in every five pregnancies are unwanted.

It has been studied that the if women have more chances to get educated, not only as a basic or elementary aspect, but in a professional level, the birthrates fall. This appreciation has two important facts: one is mitigating the population growth and the other one refers to having more people supporting the labor force, the economy within a family, a community, a country and worldwide.

All though culture and religion doesn’t enable women of many countries choose their sexual behavior and care, this battle should continue in order to support their empowerment. The Indian philosopher, economist and Nobel prize Amartya Sen explains that elementary liberties show the real development of human beings and in this line the conception should be the most basic liberty any woman should have.

Meeting the local people: a chance to understand their realities

The 6^th of July we had one of the most valuable experiences since we arrived: meeting the vincentians from the villages of Chateaubelair, Rose Bank, Petit Bordel and Rose Hall. For me, communities and the people must be the most respected assets of any place. They know the story, the roots and the social bonds that have been created along time, sharing their culture through generations. We could see a small part of all these concepts when we were able to talk to them. All though we didn’t have that much time, it was such an enriching experience. We were able to talk to them about what they had lived during the night of the 23^rd of December of 2013, date in which a strong rainstorm left terrible environmental consequences like earth erosion, landslides and contamination. Unfortunately, this episode also caused the death of five members of a family.

The first local man we met was in Chateaubelair. All though it’s easy to judge by a first impression, this guy confirmed how wrong that attitude is. Without a doubt he knew what he was talking about, and how wouldn’t he, if he is a journalist from the city. In honor of his job, he told us about the human and environmental consequences after the five-hours storm that happen one night before Christmas, back in 2013. The most interesting fact was seeing one of the four bridges donated by the Ecuadorian Government, as a partnership in which engineers of the army came to St. Vincent to work during six months to reconstruct this pedestrian and vehicular passages. At that moment, Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, said: “we were victims of climate change with this rainstorm that has no precedents in our land. All though the countries of the south are not responsible of this catastrophes, we support each other and take the needed actions”.

The second person we met was Doris, who lives in the village of Rose Bank. Unfortunately, she was very close to this natural disaster: five members of her family died drowned by 10 meters of water and mud. Even though it was a felt lost, she highlighted the advantage of this happening during the night, because if it had been during the day, many more people would have died.  

The last person we talked to was in Petit Bordel. Acibam was the name of this kind man who hinted a very special piece of Vincentian culture: the celebrations of funerals. Regardless he could save his kids from the river flow, seeing how homes and land were destroyed was a tough experience that he will never forget. And either Aciabm or the community will forget the people who died. The best way to say the last good bye was with music and a big party in which the celebration of life takes place.

Doris from Rose Bank

Acibam from Petit Bordel

Having the chance to know them was wonderful because it let us see the human side of what natural disasters imply, but we have to keep enhancing these meeting spaces. If we really want to create a bond with the vincentians, and mostly, with the locals from the closest villages, we have to be involved in their daily life. We can’t pretend that they open their doors without knowing us; if they perceive us as scientists that want to study them like mice from a laboratory, they will never feel comfortable among us, leading to an evident failure for any project we want to implement. 

In sociology there is a concept called Social Capital, which refers to social relations that have productive benefits. When a community is able to create a Social Capital, eight consequences comes out: sense of belonging, networks, feelings of trust and safety, reciprocity, participation, citizen power and proactivity, values or norms, and diversity. All these concepts are totally in line with what we want to do in our Climate Compliance program, but it will only be possible if we engage ourselves not only as a part of Richmond Vale Academy, but as an added value and a strategic ally for the vincentians, or at least, of the local people from the closest villages. Once we can create and strength this bonds, we will be able to make sustainable processes within communities, reaching a real development for the region.

The importance of second chances (Part I)

The first time I rode a horse was almost 10 years ago. It was in a very nice landscape in La Calera, a village in Colombia where people usually make horse rides within groups. Chapagne was the name of the horse that was taking me. She was white and had a beautiful blondish hair. After few minutes, Champagne started to run really fast, having me on top of her back. She had bolted, so I could control her, making me lose the stability.

After this experience, I hadn’t had the chance to be close enough to any horse, and to be honest, I didn’t feel like searching for a second time either. That was until the past two weeks when I arrived to Richmond Vale Academy where nature is the mail character of the scenario. Among others animals I found horses. Not one, but five, and the first thing that made me curious about them was that they were out in the garden, like pets. They didn’t’ have strings attached and they were totally used to people, dogs and cats, all going around. That called my attention and decided to have a one on one class with them and Stina, from whom I had heard the special relationship and language she shares with them.

When the day finally came I felt anxious and nervous. We went to see the girls: Magic, Moonlight and Elena. At first it was quite intimidating because the three of them started to walk upon us and I didn’t expect that. But after making them know who had the control of the situation, without making any harm or aggressive manner, I realized the importance of using a proper body language.

Elena was my favorite. She behaved like a princess: polite and discreet. She made eye contact with us and approached in a very nice way, ready to smell my hand and recognize who was standing in front of her. Then I understood the importance of having a mutual empathy with animals. Just like it works with humans, we both have a specific energy and feeling with the ones whom which we interact, and they also need to take time to feel you and accept you, no matter if the interlocutor turns to be an animal or a human. It works like a rebound effect: if you introduce yourself diplomatically, the horses will do so. But if you present yourself aggressively and challenging, the payback will not be quite good.

After this first approach, we went even more bold: pamper her. At first it was quite intimidating because her head was huge. I’m a petite person whose height is 1.50 meters, so I felt really small compared to her size. But when I started to tickle her, she showed the joy with her mouth just like when a child gets to see a candy. Even it was unbelievable to see how she reacted if I stopped rubbing her hair: she asked for more twisting her head towards Stina’s chest.

And like if this was not enough surprising, the class finished giving Elena a ride from one garden to another. She was put a collar and a rope, just like an owner who takes his dog to the park, and stared walking. At first she wanted to make a stop every two steps to eat some grass, and it was fine. But after a while that I was staying behind from Moonlight and Magic, I understood by Stina that we have to show them who’s in charge of the situation and whom should follow who. Elena understood that easily and then she continued the path without any problem.

After this three main corporal expression: hand’s smell, tickles or rubbing and walking, I understood the importance of making a presentation and a calm first approach with animals, specially horses. Now I understand that I probably did something incorrect the day I met Champagne and that’s why she reacted aggressively. Now I understand the importance of giving second chances, especially when it comes to animals like horses, which have a heart as big as their corporal body.

Una parada técnica en Barbados

San Vicente y las Granadinas son islas pertenecientes a las Antillas Menores, ubicadas en el mar Caribe, rodeadas por un paisaje paradisiaco que podría considerarse el común denominador de la región. Al norte colinda con Antigua y Barbuda, Dominica y Santa Lucía; al sur, Granada y Trinidad y Tobago y al oriente, Barbados. Éste fue el lugar elegido para realizar una parada técnica antes de llegar a Kingstown, capital de San Vicente y las Granadinas. Desde Bogotá es un vuelo directo. En tan sólo 3 horas y 10 minutos se llega a este destino turístico que cada vez toma más fuerza y que es reconocido por ser la cuna de Rihanna, factor que parece trivial, pero da un gran peso a la isla en términos de visibilidad hacia los viajeros.

Aeropuerto Internacional Grantley Adams

El aeropuerto internacional Grantley Adams - su nombre en honor al primer líder de gobierno de Barbados – es pequeño, pero su gente lo llena de calor humano. No imagino otro lugar, diferente al Caribe, en donde el personal sea tan amable que incluso cante el nombre de sus visitantes con alguna anécdota mientras realiza sus trámites aeroportuarios. Para ir hacia el hotel nadie se abalanza sobre los recién llegados turistas y la calma del atardecer se ve reflejada en la actitud de sus nativos.

Si por algún motivo no llega el transporte del hotel, no dude en tomar un taxi de los lugareños. Tienen un rústico sistema de asignación de vehículos y la amabilidad es una característica innata de los barbadenses. Además, es la perfecta oportunidad para preguntar acerca de los mejores lugares turísticos, los platos típicos, las mejores playas o incluso otras islas aledañas recomendables para extender por unos cuantos días el viaje. Sin embargo, hay que afinar el oído pues su acento es complejo de entender. Al igual que un costeño de Cartagena hablándole a un extranjero que a duras penas se defiende en español, es posible quedar totalmente perdido al cruzar las primeras palabras y verse en la necesidad de pedir la repetición del mensaje. La afabilidad de los locales les permitirá repetir, explicar o incluso casi gritar lo dicho, hasta que la cara del turista demuestre (así sea por cortesía) que ha entendido el mensaje.

Si bien Barbados es conocido por ser una isla paradisiaca, una parada técnica de menos de 24 horas no permite adentrarse lo suficiente. Sin embargo, sus paisajes con un mar helado, las costas llenas de arrecifes y las palmeras que no dejan de bambolear sus ramas por el fuerte viento que ruge son encantadoras. Es el cuadro perfecto para tomar un desayuno típico que hace explotar los sabores al degustarlo: jugo de naranja natural, una bandeja de papaya, patilla y piña como si fuese una ración familiar, omelette de tomates secos y albahaca con un toque único, bananitos asados inigualables, papas sofreídas en cubos y tostadas de pan crujientes con mantequilla y mermelada de fresa recién hecha. Este banquete cumple con el refrán de “barriga llena, corazón contento” pero además, con la satisfacción de la autora de tal manjar que con sus amplias caderas, piel canela y sonrisa resplandeciente goza al ver la felicidad de sus comensales.

Una caminata por los alrededores es la cereza en el pastel y un panorama de contrastes se apodera de la cámara. Casas de todo tipo y distintos colores, pero con un patrón: parecer completamente abandonadas. Realmente es difícil identificar qué construcción está habitada y cuál ha sido consumida por la historia. Sin embargo, la mayoría tienen aparcados carros que casi en su totalidad son lujosos. Es una divergencia que revela tímidamente el estilo de vida y cultura de la isla, sin pretender generalizar lo que hacia el norte de la región se encuentra.

Nuevamente llega puntual un conductor a recoger las maletas y el recorrido de unos cuantos kilómetros hacia el Grantley Adams. Su gente, su amabilidad y las abundantes porciones de comida dan la despedida a un destino que sin duda merece la pena ser recorrido con calma. Por ahora esta parada técnica se convierte en un abrebocas más que interesante hacia una experiencia de seis meses en un paraíso llamado San Vicente y las Granadinas. 

Dream it... But make it happen

There is a saying that everything in life happens for a reason, and I strongly agree on that. I love what I currently do: working at a Real Estate firm as a social communicator. I’ve been here for one year and a half and I’m lucky to say that I have enjoyed every day, just like if it was the first one. But when people ask me about my experience in college, the first thing that comes to my mind is how much I enjoyed working with students, kids, elders or women, using communication as a wonderful tool to achieve development, not for people, but with people. All though I ended up working at big companies during these last years, my professional emphasis is Communication for Development. But this is not only a title printed on a paper diploma, it’s a vocation and strong conviction that fills my spirit.

I´ve been unbelievable blessed: I’ve had the chance to study, travel and work doing what I love. I have the best family I could ask for and friends with whom I have soulmates bonds. So giving a little bit of this blessings to others is a personal compromise that makes me absolutely happy. This is why I’m choosing to spend the next six months of my life doing something that will be incalculable enriching, not only for me, but for all the people that will meet at this heavenly place called St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

I won’t be close to my beloved ones, but new people will become my family. I won’t have my car to get everywhere, but I’ll walk amazing landscapes surrounded by nature, just like if they were taken out from a fantasy book. I won’t receive a monthly payment on my bank account, but being able to see all the smiles upon hundreds of people, learning from them and with them, will be priceless.

This experience might be challenging, new and even scary, not knowing what exactly I'll find, but that is what makes this upcoming chapter of my life become unforgettable and I can’t wait to start living it!