A new way of living and thinking in the Virgin Islands

Wewata, thank you for your thoughts. I have often been upset by the mess left by long time island dwellers. For some reason that offends me me more than other problems. We once walked from Sandy Point to Fredrestred. We observed some of the ugliest human pollition we had ever observed. Most of it seems to come from the people who live along that stretch of coast. These are people who have lost touch with their history and their heritage. Many years ago, I thought travelers spread this blanket of pollution. I am wrong.

Most people on this board are too young to remember the 1950's. Litter along the highways was a huge problem in the US. The government launched a big TV and radio campaign that eventually changed the culture regarding throwing trash out of car windows. The phase "don't be a litterbug", 'give a hoot, don't pollute" and the iconic indian with a tear in his eye were all products of that campaign. And it worked.

...the iconic indian with a tear in his eye were all products of that campaign. And it worked.

Did you know that "indian" was actually italian?

are you sure about that noOne?

www.bestoldcommercials.com/dont-litter-psa-crying-indian

I think this is great and I agree 100%, I'd help. It would be good just to bounce ideas off each other, for what we might be able to do.

Wow, talk about thread diversion. I appreciate the input but the purpose of this thread was to talk about a change in the community with a focus on the youth who are the most impressionable. Litter is a very small part of what I was talking about.

Perhaps the posters of the above comments should read through the original post again and try to grasp its message. The intention of the original post isderailed with frivolous comments that don't pertain to the subject matter.

Jamison, my comments above were not directed to you, just trying to bring the thread back on topic.

Your second paragraph, "Why do you see local people hurling trash, diapers, etc from their cars? Why do you see tons of trash on the side of the road after the bush has been cut back? Or perhaps you have been to Cane Bay after a festival- its quite sad to see all the trash in and out of the water" ... addressed the litter problem and asked questions so I'm not sure why you're being so dismissive of the subsequent "frivolous" comments made. That along with the admonition that subscribers should re-read because they can't grasp your concept is pretty rude. (td)

Jamison, my comments above were not directed to you, just trying to bring the thread back on topic.

I know, cheers man.

So, what kinds of things do you propose? I know people who teach farming to kids in school now and I know some of the farms invite a lot of kids to come up and learn for free. More of it would be good.

One thing I would say and I've been pushing for this for years in the states, some places, you're actually starting to see it, is having gardens in the schools and having the kids work in the cafeteria just to learn how to cook. I think having a home ec, cooking class based on nutrition would be great too. I work in a restaurant and crusians eat like garbage. I don't know how the diabetes rates aren't through the roof here. Fruit punch instead of water, steak sauce and ketchup on everything (they, including honey if not local are nothing but flavored suger syrup).

Diet is a major thing, in regards to health, mood, caring for local growings. Very important stuff.

Most, if notall, of the public schools have gardens and participate the ag fair.I love theidea of water clubs for appreciation and education of the the water life surounding the islands. I have met many locals, born and raised that have never learned to swim and have never been in the water. Something I can't imagine. But I was not born and raised on the island. I think many locals are just trying to survive and theleast of their concerns is feeling the "mana". The island is "normal" to them, the only environment they know.
It is easy for me to appreciate all the island has to offer, being born and raised in a large american city. I feel tthe "mana", I get it.

I love you too OldTart 🙂

Jamison and Sheiba, the focus of WeWata would be the ocean. In my post I was trying to get across that one must have an appreciation for both the land and sea here. I find working with the earth very meditative and fulfilling so this would be advocated by WeWata but not its main focus. I love the ocean and all things water. We are 75% water which is roughly the same salinity as the ocean, so it only makes sense that we feel such an attraction to it.

A really interesting book is called The True Power of Water., written by Masaru Emoto, a Japanese man. He shows how water can be directly affected by words and emotions. He takes jars of water and puts positive words like "love" , "friendship", "happy". He also takes jars and puts negative words on them. He then places them in public places where people will see the water with these words. After some emotions have been projected into this water by people, he takes slides of the water and freezes them. He then views the crystals they form under a microscope. The postive words form beautiful, symmetrical crystals while the negative crystals form assymetrical downright ugly shapes. He also views crytals formed from natural spring water, rainwater, tap water in country settings, tap water in city settings and water treated through various kinds of water treatment plants. All natural waters and tap waters in country settings produced beautiful crystals. The treated water and city tap water did not form discernable crystals.

I digress... WeWata has the potential to be many things. It could start with offerring an aftershcool and summer camp program. The activities offered would be sailing on small crafts like lazers, optis, and hobies; stand-up-paddleboarding, surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, discover scuba diving, hand line fishing, and possibly flying trainer kites on the beach which is the first step to learning kiteboarding. There could be different experience levels and age groups.

Monthly beach cleanups/parties around the island could also be conducted. Events like Paddleboard races, kayak-swimming-paddle relays, and open expositions for the general public to try different watersports. Eventually there could be water clubs on each island and there could be inter-island competing, travelling, and exploring. Eventually the entire Caribbean could be affected by this passion for the ocean and all new kinds of things are possible then.

Funding is the key, still trying to figure that one out. But I believe, once this ball gets rolling- its not gonna stop.

Have you already researched similar programs being offered in the USVI? There are many which do exactly what much of your focus is directed towards from church programs to other community efforts and with funding provided by both private and government sources. They're not all under one big umbrella such as you propose but they definitely are there.

I always got a laugh out of that commercial with the Indian and the tear.
Here in AZ you don't need a sign to tell you that you are driving onto a reservation. You can tell by all of the junk and litter along the roads, and the falling down or junked out new homes. Dirtiest places in the state.

A really interesting book is called The True Power of Water., written by Masaru Emoto, a Japanese man. He shows how water can be directly affected by words and emotions. He takes jars of water and puts positive words like "love" , "friendship", "happy". He also takes jars and puts negative words on them. He then places them in public places where people will see the water with these words. After some emotions have been projected into this water by people, he takes slides of the water and freezes them. He then views the crystals they form under a microscope. The postive words form beautiful, symmetrical crystals while the negative crystals form assymetrical downright ugly shapes. He also views crytals formed from natural spring water, rainwater, tap water in country settings, tap water in city settings and water treated through various kinds of water treatment plants. All natural waters and tap waters in country settings produced beautiful crystals. The treated water and city tap water did not form discernable crystals.

Pseudoscience, at best.

"...Rationalized irrationality is alive and well. This watery fantasy is all very entertaining and imaginative, full of New Age feel-good platitudes, holistic oneness, consciousness-raising, and warm fuzzies; but it’s hard to see how anyone could mistake it for science..."

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1144934/masaru_emotos_wonderful_world_of_water/
http://www.chem1.com/CQ/clusqk.html

St Croix foundation does offer a program for students, but its limited to few lucky students and of course funding is always an issue. My daughter was fortunate to have participated in one of these, the coral conservation program andthe ecology marine program-they snorkel, kayak, turtle watch, study and learn about the sea and the importance of protection and conservation while having fun. Have you seen the cement plaques at Cramers Park,?they made those, it was the final project.It was an amzing experience for her.I would love to see the program extended to more students and the public school system.

Ok, apparently I have bought the WeWata ideas to the wrong forum. I guess the SEA and community organizations have it covered.

Sheeesh. If people aren't complaining about politics, litter, or the culture on here- they're picking apart any positive alternatives being brought to the table.

What I am proposing does not exist here and could be an amazing thing for the community. A club that is focused on the ocean. Teaches kids how to utilize the ocean for fun, protect it, and appreciate it. I understand there maybe a program offering kayaking or snorkeling or any one of the above mentioned. But there are no clubs who combine all these activities.

Again, if you have been to Hawaii and seen how many waterman utilize the ocean in all different ways depending on what kind of mood she is in you will know what i am talking about. If you have ever been to a waveriding club in the golden years of California or Australia, you would know what I'm talking about. I you have ever met a real waterman who is well versed in freediving, surfing, swimming and paddleboarding, you will know what I mean when I say the sea speaks to their soul.

These are the kinds of groups and people who have inspired me to try to bring to the VI community with the entire caribbean being the ultimate goal.

This will be my last post here, but you heard about WeWata here first.

It's a good idea and parts of it are already in place, but you're being impatient and getting frustrated because of your lack of ability to enunciate your end goal, is hardly our fault.

I visited pretty much every beach on STT before finally getting to Botany bay. It amazed me what a difference the limited/difficult access has made and what a blessing it is. Every other beach including even presumably private/closed/difficult to get to places like St. Maria and Nettlberg, are covered with ungodly amounts of litter (with a customary garbage-made "rest area" just before the beach). They are all simply disgusting (and the public ones are even worse). Botany was virtually pristine (in STT terms - I still found one beer bottle and one plastic water battle, but that was it - over the entire beach).

The only way to protect the nature here is to keep the two-legged vermin away (that's all of us). Nothing less would make any difference. The best thing for these islands would be to move everyone to a place that is more environmentally appropriate for their lifestyle, like a superfund site or New Jersey.

are you sure about that noOne?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Eyes_Cody

Wewata,
Don't give up so easily. Its a fantastic idea that could change many young lives and the future care of the island.

If the OP is still reading I know a good place to start. Every weekend during the school year and all summer long there are a bunch of children, young teenage moms, teenage and young adult males that go to Altoona lagoon to hang out. These kids don't have much. Most don't even have swimsuits and the little ones swim naked or in their underware. We go down there and take as many pairs of swim goggles and nets that we can find along with some snacks. Those kids get so excited and are so thankful. Our son shows them how to catch fish with the nets. We put them and anything else they catch in buckets and talk about what kind of fish they are. When we are ready to leave we pick up trash. When they see us do that they all run around picking up trash, trying to help.

I believe that in the classified section someone has a kayak that is free. You could also contact freecycle to see if anyone has goggles, nets or anything else useful to get you started. A contest with a small prize for the child who picks up the most trash in 10 minutes would only cost a box of trash bags. Prizes could be balloons, a bottle of bubbles, glow sticks or candy.

It's a small start but the more you do it the more it would grow. If people know you are trying to help better the island and teach the children then you will get donations. Do good and good will come back.

I think the OP has a big vision that he wants others to buy into - literally. He was not interested in discussion of problems or suggestions for incremental change.

I think the OP has a big vision that he wants others to buy into - literally. He was not interested in discussion of problems or suggestions for incremental change.

Exactly. I mentioned sitting down and talking about it, to bounce ideas and he just told me I was wrong about his idea. It's a shame. It is a great idea. One large group of like minded people, with the will to try, can do a lot.

One of the things I've noticed about living here just a short time, is that although it is smaller here than just being in a small town, information between areas or groups, doesn't really flow quickly (unless you're doing something gosip worthy). The best ways I've seen and used to effect change, is through communication. That's how you begin any change.