International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as a mental illness. On May 17th, 1990 the World Health Organization declared that “Homosexuality was not a disease.” The declaration date is now commemorated as the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Homophobia and Transphobia is about an extreme and irrational aversion to gay man and Transgender persons. These issues remains invisible for the society, because it is assumes gay and transgender individuals are not assaulted, abused or arrested indiscriminately as a matter of state policy.
The case of Jose Garcia in 2009 highlights how discrimination can occur. The recent experience of another Belizean, Mia Quetzal, in Trinidad highlights, how symbols of the state can abuse their authority. Preliminary results from a transgender study in Belize done by The Caribbean Trans in Action (CRTA), tells us that 78% of trans people do not believe the laws protect them and close to 90% of men who have sex with men population from a field data report collected by UNIBAM in 2010-11, did not believe they could trust law enforcement to provide equal treatment under the law. State policy does not officially oppress, but in practice, a minority of state symbols has had a history of abusing their authority in the name of the state against LGBT persons knowing that the individual would not formally complaint.
Homophobia and Transphobia, is usually experience more intimately, in verbal abuse among peers, intimidation by neighbors, threats of violence in simply taking a seat on a bus, co-workers and family members isolation, denial of shelter, employment and lost of education. These experiences go unnoticed, because it is not reported.
The pass media editorials and articles have sought to perpetuate fear-mongering, rather than to educate. It is time for a change. As Belizeans we demand equal protection, and fair treatment. This is not controversial as Belizean lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender have the same expectations. When a LGBT person cannot get a job, walk on the street and get an education this is not controversial for we all expect the same thing. We are one in human dignity and rights.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Congratulations SPHS Graduates!!!!!!!!
San Pedro High announced their list of graduates today, May 17th, and as is customary, the elated graduates got to sign their peers' uniform as a memento...Graduation is scheduled for June 11, 2011. The San Pedro Sun wishes all graduates the best in their very bright future!!
Legends Burger House Hosts Fundraiser for American Crocodiles
For Immediate Release - May 11, 2011 - American Crocodile Education Sanctuary - Saturday, May 28, 2011 Legends Burger House, located north of San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye, is hosting the fundraiser of the year to help raise awareness and funds for crocodile conservation in Belize. The event will start at noon and continue through the night. There will be live music, including Gino and the Shack Shakers, food, beer, Crocoladas, piñatas, raffle prizes, a silent auction, educational crocodile displays, and fun for the whole family. Prizes include diving packages, dinners for two, artwork, and more. Not only is there no cover charge, but also you do not need to be present to win prizes. Thanks to the San Pedro Town Council the bridge fee will be waived for those attending. There are less than 10,000 American crocodiles in the world today. ACES not only rescues problematic, ill, injured, and illegally kept crocodiles countrywide, but also is currently conducting an American crocodile population and habitat viability assessment on Ambergris Caye. This research will provide the Belize Forest Department with valuable information to devise a strategic crocodile conservation plan that will help save the species and while keeping human populations safe. Funds raised will be used for relocating problematic crocodiles from private and public areas and crocodile education. ACES will attend every school in Ambergris Caye and inform students on how to safely coexist with these apex predators.
ACES is also in the process of building a public educational crocodile eco-sanctuary on the mainland in Ladyville where ill, injured, and problematic crocodiles can live out their lives and while teaching people about the importance of these apex predators in Belize ecosystems.
Please come to Legends Fundraiser and help save these important apex predators. In laboratory studies, researches are finding that serum from crocodile blood kills HIV and Herpes viruses.
Bridge passes for the event are available at The San Pedro Sun, Legends, and ACES.
Come Help Legends Take a Bite Out of Extinction!
ACES/American Crocodile Education Sanctuary is a non-profit organization, permitted by the Belize Forest Department, dedicated to the conservation of Belize's protected species, specifically crocodilians, through scientific research and education in order to preserve Belize's wildlife for future generations.
An update on ACES American crocodile population and habitat viability assessment in Ambergris Caye, Belize, was published in the Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter and can be downloaded in PDF format from: http://americancrocodilesanctuary.org/apps/documents/
Prize donations are still welcome and can be made by calling 631-8162 or email acesnpo@hughes.net
If you cannot attend and still wish to help, donations can be made via check Payable To: ACES and mailed to: Cherie Rose, General Delivery, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize; direct deposits can be made to Belize Bank Acct#630-2-2-21-5255; or wire transfers from the USA can be sent to: Bank of America, Swiss Code Address: #BOFAUS3N, ABA#026009593, Belize Bank Acct#6550-8-26053, For further credit to: ACES Acct#630-2-2-21-5255.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Seafront Inn takes the top prize at the Eco-Challenge
The 7th Eco-Challenge Kayak Race saw 33 teams total participating in this much anticipated annual event. 
Early Saturday morning, the teams gathered at the lagoon side of the island, ready to start the 42-mile, 2-day race.
Teams paddled through the many lagoons of Northern Ambergris Caye, up to Bacalar Chico and down to Robles Point.
Teams camped overnight and the next morning, the race continued to the finish line at Central Park.
That doesn't mean that the first to cross the line are the winners. The winners are determined by the times logged over the 2-day course of the race.
This year's Senior first place winners are from Seafront Inn ($3k plus 1 round trip ticket on Tropic Air).
The purpose of the race is to promote awareness, protection and conservation of mangroves, lagoons, reefs and the diverse species found in these natural habitats.
Early Saturday morning, the teams gathered at the lagoon side of the island, ready to start the 42-mile, 2-day race.
Teams paddled through the many lagoons of Northern Ambergris Caye, up to Bacalar Chico and down to Robles Point.
Teams camped overnight and the next morning, the race continued to the finish line at Central Park.
There a large crowd anxiously awaits to see who will be the first to cross the finish line.
That doesn't mean that the first to cross the line are the winners. The winners are determined by the times logged over the 2-day course of the race.
This year's Senior first place winners are from Seafront Inn ($3k plus 1 round trip ticket on Tropic Air). Following in Second Place was Tortugas de Coco Beach ($2k plus 1 round trip ticket on Tropic Air), and third place, A Toda Madre ($1k plus 2 round trip tickets on Tropic Air).
In the Junior Division, the first place was taken by Gonzalez Finishers, followed by El Pescador with Second Place, and third place, Searious Boys.
Congratulations to all the participants and winners!!
The purpose of the race is to promote awareness, protection and conservation of mangroves, lagoons, reefs and the diverse species found in these natural habitats.
Thanks to the organizers of this great event, and see you in 2012!!
Read more in this week's The San Pedro Sun...
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Art of Life: Night walk in town
By Christopher Emmanuel
It’s Saturday night in San Pedro Town and the whole world is happening right here. Walking by the park in town the air is alive with the sounds of night pleasure. The carving and jewelry sellers are in full decor as they greet the evening visitors. Streets hustlers saunter past in anticipation. Laughter rises from the swings at the mini playground as children clamor up the slides, racing in the sand. “Stay out of the water,” a mother hollers. Nearby, a young man courting his new love, smile at her in promise under the moonlight.
Past the statue of St. Peter, the doors leading to the Catholic Church spread light on the dark. Filled with the evening mass, the voices swell at passerby as the priest lead the Holly Maries. Stepping past the church, sounds of the reggae band blares from Fido’s Courtyard, calling the party goers, “don’t worry bout’ a thing,” Bob Marley lyrics drown out the house of worship voices.
We can say there’s a lot wrong in the world, but that’s just our opinions. When you travel around after a while you will see that people are basically the same wherever you go. They all have the same dreams and goals when you get right down to it. You can spend your whole life looking for meaning, judging rights and wrong, but over time you will come to see perceptions give way to reality and the truth is somewhere in between. It’s good to look for meaning at times, but no matter where you are, the world is a smorgasbord of experience, better to enjoy than to try and make sense of it all.
Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.
It’s Saturday night in San Pedro Town and the whole world is happening right here. Walking by the park in town the air is alive with the sounds of night pleasure. The carving and jewelry sellers are in full decor as they greet the evening visitors. Streets hustlers saunter past in anticipation. Laughter rises from the swings at the mini playground as children clamor up the slides, racing in the sand. “Stay out of the water,” a mother hollers. Nearby, a young man courting his new love, smile at her in promise under the moonlight.
Past the statue of St. Peter, the doors leading to the Catholic Church spread light on the dark. Filled with the evening mass, the voices swell at passerby as the priest lead the Holly Maries. Stepping past the church, sounds of the reggae band blares from Fido’s Courtyard, calling the party goers, “don’t worry bout’ a thing,” Bob Marley lyrics drown out the house of worship voices.
We can say there’s a lot wrong in the world, but that’s just our opinions. When you travel around after a while you will see that people are basically the same wherever you go. They all have the same dreams and goals when you get right down to it. You can spend your whole life looking for meaning, judging rights and wrong, but over time you will come to see perceptions give way to reality and the truth is somewhere in between. It’s good to look for meaning at times, but no matter where you are, the world is a smorgasbord of experience, better to enjoy than to try and make sense of it all.
Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.
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