My EcoTrip To The Pico Duarte

/ xAngelinax / Leave a comment

This past weekend was a long one here in my country, and since December my boyfriend and I had been planning on going to the Pico Duarte. I don’t even remember how we got to talking about it. When I was a little girl (I was the six the firs time I went) I used to go there every single year with my father. But it has been 9 years since I visited. Last time I went, I was 15 and it was the year 2001. We went for spring break when the weather was pretty okay. This time, it was mid January, and the weather was much colder.

Anyway, we contacted a group of people that my boyfriend knows were planning a trip. Thursday January 21st we headed to Jarabacoa and stayed in my family’s house there. The group was leaving by bus at about 1:00am past midnight. Since my house was on their way, they stopped for us at about 4:20am. *funny* We had already packed our bags the day before, so we headed out. The ride there was longer than what I had anticipated. I was very tired and sleepy but try as I might I was never going to fall asleep with the excitement I was feeling inside me. It was the first time in forever that I was going back, to a place I had not been to for about nine years. I wondered what I was going to see changed. What was I to expect?

At about 7:30am we arrived at La Ciénega, it was still a little before dawn and the bus lost track of the road. We ended up going up some hill where it wasn’t supposed to and it was hell to turn it back. Once we were able to solve that, the whole group got together and we gave some kind of “briefing” about the way things were gonna’ go down. They gave us some canned sausages, a Milky Way and some other food I can’t quite remember. I was anxious to get going, and I kept rushing my boyfriend to hurry up. At about 8:15am we were finally able to go.

The first stop you have to make is pretty close from where you actually get going. It’s a place called Los Tablones. The road is pretty easy and most people find themselves commenting on how “harder” they thought it was going to be. I always laugh at them because they have absolutely no idea that they are just about to walk straight into the devil’s road to hell. The first stop we make is at a place called La Cotorra, which literally translates to”The Parrot”. The name was given because once, a long time ago, these mountains were full of, well, parrots. When I used to go with my father, I remember listening to their noise as I was going up. I used to get pissed off because it sounded like they were laughing at me. So anyway, once you get there the road starts becoming much more steeper, muddier and sure as hell harder to walk on. I’ve always had excellent cardiovascular resistance, despite the fact that I tend to smoke. Not long before, I plugged on my earplugs and took it up a nut. Without realizing it, I left my boyfriend behind and caught up with the people from our group that were basically leading us. We were a long way ahead of the others. I had never met these people before in my life, and yet here we were fighting the same battle. Once you have about 3 to 4 hours walking, it is then that you realize “Fuck, what the hell have I gotten myself into?” It was very different from the last time I went, because three years ago a forest fire had engulfed everything in flames. All the trees were burnt and butt-naked. The ones that did have leaves, only had a few remaining on its peak. They all loOked like Mohawk-Strutting Pine Cones

After stopping for about 5 minutes at La Cotorra, we were thinking on stopping and having lunch there. But we decided to keep on going til’ the next stop, La Laguna.

My 2009

/ xAngelinax / Leave a comment

This New Year I will most definitely be embarking on exciting, new experiences. But before I do, I think it’s important to look back on the year 2009 and reflect upon it and the things that I have accomplished; most importantly on the things that I have learned. I think my 2009 was one filled with surprises, let-downs, and experiences that changed the person who I thought I was into a better me. Looking back, I believe that I took advantage of the 365 days we call a year, perhaps not to their fullest potential, but 2009 has been the start of my very own inner-self progress. I want to share this with the world…

I must admit that I started my 2009 on the right foot. For the Día de la Altagracia weekend on January 21, my friend Anita and I, along with my brother and a big group of his friends went camping to the most beautiful beach in my country: Bahía de las Aguilas. It is one of those places where you fall in love all over again with a country like Dominican Republic. The beach is almost 8 miles long, pristine, crystal clear with frosted-white sand that disappears into a whisper. Never in my life have I laid eyes upon a similar scenery, where the blue sky blends perfectly with the ocean’s turquoise horizon. I couldn’t believe I was there, watching the sun set on the horizon and disconnected from the outer world.

During the nights, the stars that are supposed to be on the sky land on the sea, impersonated as bioluminescence plankton. Light rain pours during the wee hours after midnight, blessing the day before us and the ones ahead. When the night creeps in, the stars come out. And oh, do they come out. Again, it was nothing like I have ever experienced. The black sky was full of tiny holes that looked like fireflies, like the whole world had sewn itself into a black sequin dress. I lost myself staring at it, and millions or perhaps billions of stars stared back at me. For the first time in my life I felt like an ant must feel when traveling on forest floors. I was lost in paradise.

* * *

2009 was the year for me to take full advantage of my Scuba Diving lessons. I started Scuba class on December 2008, but didn’t get my certification until almost February of 2009. I also bought my old Nikon Coolpix a housing to take pictures with it underwater. I have been to Isla Catalina, Bayahibe, Bávaro, and to many different diving places at La Caleta Underwater National Park, and the best part is that my boyfriend is my Diving Buddy, so we go diving whenever we want to. I think Scuba diving has struck a note inside me that I will never stop exploring. After my certification, I also started an Eco-diver class with Reef Check, so I can help monitor coral’s health.

I think the most significant thing that happened to me in 2009 was the fact that I tuned into a part of me that I knew I had, but hadn’t really realized how passionate I am about it. I realized that what makes me happy is working for social causes, especially environmental ones. I was involved with alot of things this past year, including the 2008 and 2009 International Coastal Cleanup, volunteering for the Vida Azul foundation (broken leg and cast included!). In May, I was involved with the Los Haitises campaign, one which opposed the construction of  cement factoryin the National Park Los Haitises. This campaign proved successful: On November 26, 2009, representative of the United Nations in the Dominican Republic concluded that the construction of such factory was not viable for the environment. I also participated in the underwater cleanup projects for World Ocean’s day. I started the 350Dominicana initiative in the country, with the help of my good friend Carlos Rymer who I contacted to work together to introduce the 350.org campaign to the Dominican Republic. I worked alognside Oxfam International, managing their Latin American Blog for climate change and how it’s affecting my country. I organized two reforestation projects, attended press conferences, hosted discussions about climage change and the importance of preserving our environment. All in all, it was one great year of challenges and wonderful outcomes. I also graduated from college, although I might be leaving to Australia on July to start a second career on Environmental Management and Policy *insert excited giggle here*

Looking back at the pictures from my year 2009, I have come to realize how much I’ve grown internally. I have left behind that antagonistic teenager I used to be and have become someone more mature, responsible and above all: more consciously aware. All the travelling I’ve made has opened my eyes to alot of things. I remember back in August when I made the trip with CYEN and 350.org to the south region of my country thinking that advocating for the environment is exactly what I want to do. And even though I got into a terrible accident while doing the beach cleanup at Bahía de las Aguilas, it was still not enough to stop me. Yes, I did get run over by a speeding boat and had to get 18 stitches and a cast to patch up two broken metatarsals on my right foot, but the satisfaction that I got from going there and sharing that experience with people who had the same passion for the environment that I do was very enriching, to say the least. Visiting Haiti also made me acknowledege the fact of how lucky I am to have all the things I do. I remember seeing children who had nothing, and yet they still offered you a gentle, sincere smile. That trip with 350.org and CYEN was very exciting. We visited the Sand Dunes in Baní, stayed in Pedernales for the weekeng, crossed the border to Haiti and went to Bahía de las Aguilas. My accident prevented me from expanding the 350 campaign in the country, but our International Day of Climate Action Eco-Picnic event on October 24th still proved successful. And although COP15 was a complete and utter failure, I think that this new year is going to pave the road to accomplishing what we are all rooting for.

I know that I have omitted alot of things from my 2009 in this post, but I am hoping that the pictures speak for themselves. I look forward for my 2010, arms and mind wide open, smiling from ear to ear and above all, hopeful. =)

 

P.S. A Message To Climate Fasters

/ xAngelinax / Leave a comment

(This is the text from a video a just saw of Paul Connor. His words are more than moving)

“Greetings. My name is Paul Connor. And today, alongside my good friends Anna Keenan, who is like me an Australian, and Sara Svensson, from Sweden, I am now on day 42 of a fast for climate justice. Today though, we are far from alone. Today, over 3000 people, from all over the world, have joined us in fasting for this same cause.

To those of you who have joined the fast, I want to say that it is a blessing to be fasting with you, as we come together, today, unified by our love for this planet, its people and its animals, and by our deep and shared concern over its future.

My friends, today, as we fast alongside each other, I know that many of us are angered, saddened, and disillusioned with what we have witnessed over the past two weeks in Copenhagen. But I want to say to you all that whatever has taken place over there- we must not despair, because hope is alive.

I want to say to you that no matter how much we may have to fear, there has never been a more exciting time to be alive than now. It is a scary time, granted- but an incredibly exciting one nonetheless.

Today, with all of human history behind us, and a new millennium stretched out ahead, we stand at a moment in time when a completely new civilization is being born upon planet Earth- a civilization utterly unlike any that has ever come before it. And we stand, here, today, right now, at its dawn.

But so far, this ‘new civilization’, well, it doesn’t really have a name. Well, not a sexy name, anyway. I mean, the words ‘ecological sustainability’- E-CO-LO-GI-CAL SUS-TAI-NA-BI-LI-TY…-now, that’s five syllables followed by six- lets face it, they don’t quite roll off the tongue. We’ll come up with something more catchy, eventually, I’m sure.

But ecological sustainability. Those two words represent something incredible. Because for the human race- those two words are a revolution.

They are a revolution in the way we think, a revolution in the way we live, a revolution in the way we interact as different individuals, different nations, different generations, and as different species. Those two words change everything. And their revolution is upon is.

But lets be very clear. This is not a revolution that will be fought with tanks and guns-that is certain. No. Instead, this revolution will be fought and won using the single most powerful weapon that has ever existed.

The truth. The simple, basic, obvious truth. This is all that we will ever need.

Because the truth from which this revolution will come is one so clear, and so powerful, that once it has been seen, and understood, it is impossible to deny, and it is impossible to forget.

This truth, our truth, is that ecological sustainability is an absolute, unequivocal, and non-negotiable necessity- And that anything other than ecological sustainability is unacceptable, and a crime.

All of you fasting today know this truth, because you have seen it for yourselves. You saw it, and from then, there was no turning back. In fact, I feel certain that it is the reason you are fasting today. And it will be a part of you forever. That is how powerful it is. It has changed all of us permanently. And just as it has changed us, so too will it change this entire world.

Because as much as we often feel despair at the pace of change displayed by our societies and our leaders, no one can deny that this truth is sweeping the globe. And no one can deny that the more it spreads, the more ability it gains to spread even more, as everyone it reaches becomes yet another voice, speaking it to the world.

This is what makes climate change, and the Copenhagen conference, and this moment i history- so incredible. Because climate change is the flashpoint. It is the messenger. It is the spark. Climate change is happening. It is huge, it is real, and it is now. And all over the world, in governments, in universities, in schools, in homes, in cafes, in churches, and in bars, it is being discussed. And in all those places, it is making humanity, for the very first time, truly look at itself, and what it is doing to its planet.

Climate change is holding up a mirror to our entire species, and bringing almost everything wrong with our current system into the starkest view. Over-consumption. Gross inequality. Racism. Corporate corruption of democracy. And the insanity of an economic system that is completely reliant on the pipe dream of endless growth.

Climate change is bringing all of these things into the light, into people’s lives, and into all those homes, schools, and churches. And wherever this happens, the truth of sustainability is never far behind.

And this will keep happening. Because climate change will keep happening. The world will continue to warm. Seas will rise. Glaciers will melt. Crops will fail. We know this. Yet simultaneously, the truth of ecological sustainability and environmental justice will be spreading, and changing the world forever, just as it has changed all of us forever.

So yes, there is hope. Enormous hope. But while there is hope, there is also no time to lose, and no time to waste. Climate change may be a powerful means of spreading the truth of ecological sustainability, but it is also a ticking clock. And the innocent lives it is already taking are telling us that a revolution is not needed in five years, or two years, but NOW. And the longer this revolution takes, the higher the cost will be. Take too long, and this cost will be incalculable.

So our task is urgent, and monumental. We have to bring about this change as fast as we possibly can. We have to continue shining the light of our truth into every city, every street, and every home until it is heard. And when people are not ready, or when they do not want to listen, we must have faith in the power of this truth, and just keep going.

It will not be easy. No human struggle has ever been easy. Creating real change in human society is the hardest thing one can possibly attempt. History shows us this. Social movements demand real sacrifice from us.

But history also shows that when you armed with the truth, and you care enough, and you are ready for those sacrifices, you can win.

And so, my friends, as we fast together on this day, unified by our love for this planet, its people and its animals, and by our deep and shared concern over its future, I want to say thank you for your effort, and express my love for, and solidarity with every one of you.

And I want to say that yes, it’s an exciting time to be alive.

Long live the revolution.”

Climate Justice Fast

/ xAngelinax / Leave a comment

I am currently 13 hours into my fast. I am starving. My stomach keeps grumbling asking for food, but I know that the motive for which I am doing this is much more important. I fast in solidarity with the poor, who will not have anything to eat when they suffer the impacts of climate change. Today in Copenhagen many things have happened. The highlight of the day being a UN document that was mysteriously leaked that stated that the UN had previous knowledge about the increase in global temperature their negotiations were aiming for: 3 degrees Celsius. This increase means a hell Planet. This increase means children in small island nations will have no future to look forward to. It means my own survival could be at stake. Rumors are saying that a second climate conference will be held in Mexico, if this one fails to deliver a fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement. If there is, I am making a promise to myself to attend it. There was also another Vigil For Survival, taking place right outside of the Bella Center. It was so inspiring to watch the video. Again, a feeling of I-should-be-there took over me. Today we are facing a moment of crisis. World leaders are jetting in to Copenhagen for the last couple of days of the talks but the talks are on verge of massive failure. Rich countries aren’t stepping up to the plate and offering the climate financing and the other vital measures that are central to any fair and binding deal. I feel so frustrated and anxious as to what the outcome is going to be.

My Wednesday

/ xAngelinax / Leave a comment

I created this blog a long time ago. I don’t really have the reasons as to why I never wrote in it. Perhaps I was a little afraid of showing a little bit of the real me. But today something has happened that woke up the sleeping writing-monster inside me. I have been actively involved in the 350.org campaign, advocating for climate change and creating awareness of its impact. Especially here in my island. Today I went into 350.org and saw their last update. It made me cry. I keep thinking on all the work we’ve been doing, and it fills me with hope and faith that when people unite for a noble cause, many great things can happen. The climate conference in Copenhagen has been a wreck. Rich countries are bullying poor ones to submit to a weak climate deal. One that implies their own survival is put at stake. It fills me with anger and frustration that powerful people can be so cruel. The whole world has come together to demand a real deal, a Fair-Ambitious-Binding climate deal. And yet, the negotiations are coming apart.

I know that I should have hope. But hope seems something so far-fetched with the way things are going. I feel so proud of everything that the whole world has achieved. We have put aside our differences, the continents that divide us and have united in what we think is right. I have worked very hard here in my country for this. The 24th of October we celebrated the International Day of Climate Action with an Eco-Picnic. This day will always be remembered as the biggest day of climate action in the history of mankind. More than 180 countries came together, celebrating more than 5,000 events all around the world. And just this past Saturday, we also celebrated a vigil, along with 39 countries and 3,000 vigils more. We are already 11million strong and counting. Our voices need to be heard. We need to stand up for our future and demand what is rightfully ours! Tomorrow there will be a worldwide fasting. I plan to take part in that toO. Perhaps many people don’t understand it, but the passion for this cause runs inside me like the blood that runs through my veins.

There’s something so satisfying about taking action on what you believe in. I am so honored to belong to the same group of activists who have lead the road to Copenhagen and guided us through this movement. Sometimes I must admit I have felt afraid and hopeless, but many people have been there for me to help me stand up when I fall. A complete stranger. It seems so ironic that we are all connecting through the disconnection of a world-wide-web. At times, I feel like the right place for me to be in right now is there in Copenhagen. But I am at peace with the assurance that I have done my best here in my country. There are still many lessons to come. In the meanwhile…Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.

Explorando El Sur Profundo

/ xAngelinax / Leave a comment

Estoy tan feliz de estar viva. El fin de semana pasado participé en una conferencia de medio ambiente con el grupo del caribe CYEN. Parte de esta jornada incluía un viaje a la región sur del país a conocer diversos puntos turísticos. Partimos el miércoles a las 6:30 de la mañana. Nos detuvimos en el parador “Hong Kong” para desayunar. Como ya teníamos 4 días asistiendo a seminarios y charlas ya conocía a la mayor parte del grupo. Muchos de ellos no conocían mi país, ni nuestras costumbres y cultura, por lo que les resultaba un poco difícil asimilar el gusto al mangú del que tantos dominicanos somos fanáticos. Cada quien hizo su orden y al terminar el desayuno nos subimos al autobús y continuamos hacia nuestro destino. El viaje incluía las Dunas de Baní, Pedernales, la frontera con Haití y finalmente mi lugar favorito: Bahía de las Águilas, en donde haríamos una limpieza de costas. Me sorprendió que eligieran este lugar para llevar a cabo dicha actividad, ya que a mis ojos no existía mucha cantidad de desechos allí.

Al cruzar Baní nos detuvimos en las Dunas. Dos chicas en sandalias, jeans y camisitas nos recibieron como guías. Sorprendentemente, hacían un gran trabajo y me pude percatar que le guardaban cierto amor al gran monumento de arena. El grupo se bajó del autobús con muchas expectativas. Para ser honesta, y aún siendo dominicana, a mí también me llenaba de anticipación el estar en este lugar. Hacía tanto tiempo que fui a visitarlo que ya mi memoria no guardaba ningún recuerdo.  La entrada al parque la dividía una pequeña cerca de alambres de púas, con un letrero pintado a manos que evocaba el descuido de la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente. Algo que lamentablemente estamos acostumbrados a presenciar  y que ya hemos aceptado como parte de nuestra cultura.  Ojalá algún día presenciemos un despertar masivo como nación. Las guías nos indicaron que nos mantuviéramos unidos y comenzamos a adentrarnos hacia las grandes montañas de arena. El sol estaba Caribe, como quien quiere castigarnos por haber llegado justamente al medio día. Hacía un calor infernal y la arena debajo de mis pies lo multiplicaban. Comenzamos caminando alegres, riéndonos y con muchas ganas de conocer. Luego de pasar la pequeña caseta donde debe haber un guardaparques la vista fue impresionante.

Frente a mí había un enorme valle de arena, pensaba que de esta misma forma debiera verse el desierto de Sahara. Pocos árboles pequeños rodeaban el espacio, sirviendo de cerca natural en aquel gran paisaje. A lo lejos se veían grandes montañas de arena y una de las guías nos indicó que hacia ellas nos dirigíamos.  Pasamos un pequeño pedazo de grama seca pero sorpresivamente, completamente verde. Al terminarse la parte plana de aquel inmenso valle, doblamos a la izquierda y al final se encontraba una gran montaña de arena, incluso más grande que las anteriores. Las guías prefirieron tomar otro camino, pero nos dijeron que si queríamos intentar ‘escalar” dicha montaña esto estaba permitido. Obviamente, mi espíritu aventurero volvió a cobrar lo mejor de mí y me dirigí con Carlos hacia la falda de la montaña. De lejos parecía una montaña cualquiera, pero a medida que nos acercábamos me di cuenta de la magnitud de aquella escultura que la naturaleza había creado, sin ningún tipo de intervención de la mano humana. Estaba cubierta de aquellas líneas onduladas que se observan en los desiertos de las películas. Me sentía tan pequeña debajo de aquella monstruosidad. Ni siquiera con fotos se puede apreciar el tamaño de la  montaña. Entre risas y gritos de euforia comence a escalar entre la arena, la cual se sentía caliente debajo de mis pies. Lo que en un principio parecía una buena idea, a mitad de camino me pareció más bien una tortura. Era como si la misma montaña no quería que perturbáramos su perfecta superficie.  Finalmente, logré llegar a la cima, algunos de mis compañeros ya estaban allí. Del otro lado de aquella inmensa montaña el paisaje prometió ser una recompensa. El Mar Caribe se extendía hasta el horizonte, algunas gaviotas se desplazaban con el viento. La arena era negra y las olas violentas, escupían piedras de diversos tamaños hacia la orilla. Allí nos detuvimos un buen rato, yo me senté a descansar en un trozo de un árbol seco a observar y absorber lo mágico de aquel lugar…