Urban Agriculture Program in South Side Belize City

- Press Release - Belmopan - December 7, 2010 - The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in conjunction with RESTORE Belize Programme is pleased to invite members of the public to attend the launching of the “Urban Agriculture Project in South Side - Belize City” to be held on Thursday December 9th, 2010 commencing at 10:00 a.m. at the Wilton Cumberbatch Field, Cor. Faber's Road and Caesar Ridge Rd., Belize City.

This collaborative effort between the Belize District Agriculture Department and RESTORE BELIZE PROGRAM is aimed at establishing backyard/home and school gardens to grow short term vegetables/condiments/herbs that will help citizens supplement their diet. This initiative is in line with the Ministry’s mandate of promoting food security; income generation; and poverty reduction.

Planning for Success: PACT’s Operational Planning Workshop

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Deidra Smith Phone: 822 3637 Fax: 822 3759 dsmith@pactbelize.org

Cayo, Belize, December 1, 2010—PACT, in collaboration with Friends for Conservation Development (FCD), held a three day Operational Planning Workshop for Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in San Ignacio this week. The workshop is a part of PACT’s mentorship program and was facilitated by FCD, an exemplary NGO in operational planning, with whom PACT hopes to maintain a successful partnership. The main objective of the workshop was to promote more effective protected areas management through organizational capacity development. The workshop involved eight participants, the small number allowing for each to gain the most from the training. Participants were: Sarteneja Fishermen Association, Trial Farm, Belize Development Foundation, Belize Fishermen Cooperative, Rio Blanco Mayan Association, San Miguel River Keeper Watchers, Itzamna Society and Cayo Honey Quality Producers Cooperative.

The training was unlike usual workshops, being very hands-on. The highlight topics of the training included:
- Planning for Success: Planning in the workplace and project planning
- The Essence of Time: Importance of Punctuality
- Thinking SMART
- Power of Goals: Performance goals
- The Desire of Learning
- Fear of Failure: It’s ok to fall but have to get up
- Teamwork: The Law of Mount Everest
- Diligence in the workplace

Each session allowed participants the opportunity to share from previous experience, and later they were presented with case studies to tackle. Day two of the workshop was a field day at the Western Maya Mountain Massif, a full hands-on experience of planning in the Massif. The visit allowed them to observe and learn various planning techniques used by managers of the civil society and governmental sector. Sheril Tzul, of the Belize Development Foundation, said it “was inspiring to see how people plan and how each one, such as the San Antonio Women’s Group, work closely with their members for a successful venture.” Nadine Nemhard, of the Belize Fishermen Cooperative, felt “discipline in planning” was the essence of the lesson learnt during the day trip.

Following the workshop, PACT will maintain close contact with participants to guide the development of their 2011 Annual Operational Plan. In the New Year, participants will once again come together—this time to present their work plans and receive feedback from their peers.

For more information visit www.pactbelize.org or email info@pactbelize.org.

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PACT was formally established in January 1996 with the passing of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, No. 15 of 1995, creating the institution as a Statutory Board. The functions of PACT are to encourage and promote, for the benefit and enjoyment of the present and future generations of the people of Belize, the provision, protection, conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural resources of Belize. The PACT is managed by a Board of Directors that is comprised of Government agencies, non-government organizations and individual experts.

All of us have a role to play in protected areas management!

Outstanding Lion member passes

The Lions Organization in Belize and The Belmopan Lions Club is mourning the loss of one of its long standing members, an outstanding Belizean, Ali Kisling. Kisling died today Monday, shortly around 9:30 AM in Belmopan.Just last year, Kisling was awarded by the San Pedro Lions Club during the 34th anniversary for his outstanding and selfless support to the Lions Club in San Pedro and for his lifetime dedication to the organization in Belize. Kisling was known to the Lions in Belize as the “Belmopan Ambassador to San Pedro”. He was a well-liked, respected and most importantly, loved and appreciated by the San Pedro community.
Kisling was very instrumental in starting the Lions Quest Program in Belize and he hardly missed an official function hosted by the San Pedro Lions Club. Kisling will certainly be missed. The San Pedro Sun joins the Lions Organization and the San Pedro community in extending heart felt condolences to the Kisling family, the Lions Organization in Belize and his friends.

San Pedro Lions Club's fine bank stolen

A very important and symbolical item was stolen from the San Pedro Lions Club on Thursday December 2nd. There are certain items that remain a constant at all Lions Club. For the most part, the items are symbolic and used during all official functions hosted by the club. Amongst these items are the Gong and Gavel; used by the President of the club as a symbol of authority.
Another very significant item to the Lion’s Club is the tail twister’s fine bank. The tail twister is the individual who is tasked with the duty of maintaining harmony within the club during all official Lion’s functions.

The tail twister fine bank is a small bronze lion, used to collect fines imposed by the club’s tail twister if an offence is committed during a meeting or official function when in session. The San Pedro tail twister fine bank is the first and only fine bank ever owned by the club since its foundation some 35 years ago. Needless to say, this item holds symbolic and historic value to the club.
This item was stolen from the San Pedro Lions Club. Reports are that the item went missing on Thursday night December 2nd, just before the Lions Club membership meeting. It unknown what the motives are for this mischievous act and what an individual would possibly gain from stealing the item.

According to the San Pedro Lions Club Den Caretaker, Gonzalo Lara, sometime around 6:00pm on Thursday evening, he had prepared the Den located on Barrier Reef Drive, for a regular membership meeting. The gavel, gong and the tail twister’s fine bank were placed on the head table. Lara stated that the only instance he left the items unattended was when he went to the storeroom (located on the same property). It was not until the meeting had started sometime around 7:20pm, that he noticed that the item was missing.
If anyone knows or has any information that would lead to the recovery of the San Pedro Lions Club’s tail twister fine bank, you are asked to please contact the President of the San Pedro Lions Club Melanie Paz at 620-1281.

Argentine and Mexican Presidents inaugurate a Mexican painter mural

-Press Release - December 3, 2010 - Embassy of Mexico - Accompanied by her Mexican colleague Felipe Calderón, President Cristina Fernández inaugurated on Friday a mural of Mexican painter David Alfaro Sigueiros, at the underground remains of the old Taylor Customs House close to the Government House, now recovered as a museum, as informed by Télam.

Siqueiros, who belonged to the famous group of Mexican muralists of which Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco were part, painted the mural in Buenos Aires, in the early thirties. It was placed in the basement of a suburban residence owned by Natalio Botana, the owner of the newspaper Crítica.

The mural remained stored during many years and was about to be sent abroad, when former Argentine President Néstor Kirchner signed a decree to incorporate it to Argentina´s cultural patrimony. “I am complying with an obligation of the Government and the people of Argentina”, Cristina said, when she conveyed her appreciation for the generous asylum granted by México to thousands of Argentines who went into exile during the military dictatorship installed in 1976.

The President reminded that Siqueiros, as well as many of his fellow muralists, was a Communist militant who combined his art with active political participation. “I have always been keenly interested in the history of my country related to culture”, she said, adding that she had wanted “my friend Calderón” to be present at the inauguration ceremony of Siqueiros´mural.