Audubon hosts children for Earth Day
It may be the smallest of the nation’s protected areas, but Guanacaste Park was an ideal venue for the Belize Audubon Society and Minister of Natural Resources to reinforce Belize’s commitment to the environment. Ann-Marie Williams was on hand this morning to take in the sights and sounds.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
Earth Day may have come and gone, but today’s outing, sponsored by the Audubon Society for area school children at Guanacaste Park is no less meaningful.
The message was all about ways to maintain a green planet. Audubon’s executive director, Osmany Salas, used the activity’s venue, as an example of what can happen when we take care of our environment.
Osmany Salas, Executive Dir., Belize Audubon Society
“Most of this park was once an open pasture, not too long ago, but it was given a chance to regenerate, and now we are surrounded by beautiful trees, which are part of the lungs of Belmopan and Roaring Creek. We should be proud because this belongs to all of us. So let us extend hope beyond this park, let us extend hope beyond our homes and beyond our neighbourhoods, and let us celebrate everyday as Earth Day and so demonstrate that we love, respect and we care for the earth; our mother, our home.”
U.B. student Dirk Francisco had a few tips on how to make Earth Day everyday, instead of just one day per year.
Dirk Francisco, U.B. Student
“You can do this simply by being environmentally conscious, by not polluting the environment, by looking into alternative solutions to most of our environmental degrading lifestyles, pass on the message that there is better life in a greener planet.”
One person who dedicated part of her life to ensure a green planet was businesswoman and Audubon member–the late Jean Shaw.
Johnny Briceno, Minister of Natural Resources
“Many of you might not know this, especially the school kids, but she passed away two years and I’d like us to just give one minute of silence to the memory of Jean Shaw.”
It was American Gaylord Nelson who decided to take care of mother earth thirty-one years ago. After three decades of thinking globally; Earth Day affords us the opportunity to reflect locally.
Johnny Briceno
“We were doing conservation, protecting of our environment way before it was in vogue. Just look at the history of the Belize Audubon Society, it’s over thirty years, so we have a proud record. Now with programme like this, we could start at an even younger age, bringing the kids to appreciate what we truly have. When we look at television, looking at the consumer products of the United Sates and the more developed countries, our kids can be easily enamoured into that kind of lifestyle. We don’t appreciate what we truly have, that we truly have a beautiful country.”
The school children toured the trails of Guanacaste Park, mainly to learn more about the three hundred and fifty-year old Guanacaste or Tibruce tree that forms the area’s centrepiece.
Taren Belisle
“I hear a lot of insect songs and birds singing.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“What did you learn along the trail?”
Taren Belisle
“I learn about the stinking toe bukut. It cures a lot of disease like athletes foot, and ring worms.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Do you eat the bukut fruit?”
Brian Garbutt
“Yes, it’s nice.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“What makes it nice? Isn’t it stink?”
Brian Garbutt
“Only the stinking toe bukut stink, but the boneless one isn’t stink.”
Doreth Cardinez
“I learn that the Guanacaste tree is very supportive to the animals and it is over three hundred years old.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
The Belize Audubon Society will be holding its annual general meeting on Monday.
