BELIZE NEWS

U.S. news displays the international relations between Belize and the U.S. The
highlighted stories include issues of criminality, the environment, and culture. Stories from major papers focused on ecological issues while smaller local papers focused on cultural issues.

The first article was published in The New York Times on Aril 15, and features the Cotton Tree Lodge as an eco-friendly resort. The establishment uses place specific materials and adventures, like cacao trees and chocolate making, as a lure for tourists. The resort also focuses on the local culture and traditions of cacao growers. Planting trees and preserving the reef and rainforest are main goals of this resort and others like it.

The next article from MSNBC discusses criminal charges being brought against a company, its executives and employees. Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals of Norcross, Ga. has been successful in the dietary supplement industry. The company has now been accused of mob like activity and operating an illegal Internet pharmacy in Belize. The lab in Belize is described as substandard and unsanitary. Another article from The Morning News, a paper in Arkansas, discusses more criminal activity. A man who was scheduled to appear in court on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine fled the US to Belize, but was captured by U.S. Marshals and a bail bondsman. These two stories show an attempt to use Belize as a safe haven for criminal activity. The cases here are failures of that attempt, but there may be many more that may have succeeded and are endangering the citizens of Belize.

The Guardian, highlights Andy Palacio as a wonderful Garifuna singer. The music is described as gently soulful. The music tells stories of the slave trade era and has a stirring blend of Garifuna rhythms and reggae. Your Hub, out of Denver CO, draws attention to the Macky Travel Film Series presentation of "Worlds of the Maya". This presentation explores ancient Belize and Guatemala as well as today's isolated villages, with age-old rituals and ceremonies. These two papers show that the culture in Belize has an amazing history and is still thriving if we pay attention.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/travel/15journeys.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17742469/
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/04/12/news/041307bzcourt.txt
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2055640,oo.html
http://denver.yourhub.com/Boulder/Events/Theater/Event~293494.aspx

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Many projects have been established in Belize. Some are focused in medical and health issues while others are concerned with the environment or technology and some give aid to children and families. The combination of these programs will create an environment for economic growth and improved living conditions. An example of an environmental project is the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area (RBCMA or Rio Bravo). The goals include conservation of the natural heritage of Belize, wise use of its natural resources, practical application of principles focused on linking conservation of tropical forest with the development of sustainable land uses leaving the forest and its environmental values intact. RBCMA uses scientific research, environmental education, professional training and promotion of environmental awareness in order to acquire development plans like ecotourism, sustainable timber extraction, carbon sequestration, and extraction of non-timber products such as chicle, thatch and palm. Other environmental programs include marine protected areas throughout the reef area. Some animals being researched and protected include manatees, sea turtles, Corals, and grouper fish. Some programs focus on rainforest, one researcher is using 50 or more tarantulas surgically implanted with radio transponders to map and quantify degradation. The Belize Botanic Garden protects the floral biodiversity of Belize by existing as an information resource for the community, government, industry and science. They also aim to cultivate, promote, research and enable the research of tropical flora and its conservation with an emphasis on our native species and their habitats. Unicef has two major programs focused on youth; the Enhancing Holistic Child Development program which includes parenting education projects, promotion of male involvement in childcare, and the establishment of community-based and nationwide initiatives to prevent domestic violence and the Enabling Environments for Adolescent Development program which includes support to adolescent participation initiatives, child-friendly schools, "second chance" education projects and reproductive health. Caricom is involved in a number of diverse programs including Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Program (CREDP), Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC), Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP), UWI-CARICOM, Information Communication & Technology, and International Standard Book Number (ISBN). Many small organizations do a big part such as Marla's House of Hope, which is a safe-haven for physically and sexually abused kids, and rural health nurses, or RHNs, who travel administering vaccinations to pregnant mothers and young children and The Jaden Foundation a non-profit, non-faith based organization aimed at improving the lives of Belizean children through education, vocational training and scholarships. Two major organizations with ongoing programs are Plenty (http://www.plenty.org/belizeprojects.htm) and the Peace Corps (http://belize.usembassy.gov/peace_corps.html or http://www.peacecorps.gov/)

Website to check out __ http://AmbergrisCaye.com/BzLibrary/trust1.html

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Access to food, housing, health care, and other necessary or goods and services vary greatly between rural and urban areas, as well as by socioeconomic status. The most serious health threats in Belize have long been Malaria and Enteritis. Enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine. These medical problems are very serious and treatment is not always available. Rural areas are especially lacking in availability of medical treatment. One major set back in heath care in the area is lack of qualified personnel. There has been a school for nursing and medical technicians, but no school of medicine. Many people who study abroad never return home. Most doctors and dentists in the area are from foreign countries. The overall health of Belizeans has improved over the past 25 years since it has been an independent nation. In 2005 life expectancy was seventy-two years (Unicef). The death rate was 4.7 per 1,000 in 2003(CSO). One factor in the quality of life, housing arrangements, vary throughout the country. In cities building are usually wood and provide for small families, there are issues with necessities such as sewer systems, many city households are not connected to the system. In rural area large families may live in small, family built dwelling with no water, sewage, or electricity. In the mid 1980’s average salary of an employee was Bz$6,000 or about US$3,000.

Education is very important to any areas economy and future. In Belize formal education is managed by joint partnership of church and state with one being more involved at times and visa versa. Primary education for children ages 5 to 14 is required. Secondary and postsecondary education is often restricted by socioeconomic factors. The demand for education outstripped the capacities of the churches to provide it. By the 1970s, the Belizean government had assumed the leading role in establishing new schools, especially at the secondary and tertiary levels; the government conceived of education as an essential tool in the peaceful struggle for independence. The expansion of educational opportunities outstripped the state's resources, leading to an intensified reliance on external aid mostly provided by the United States.

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The colonial history of Belize is interconnected to the countries economy and political past. During the 1600’s Spain and other European nations struggled for power in the New World. In 1670, the Godolphin Treaty between Spain and England verified English possession of countries that were already occupied by England. Boundaries were unclear and there continued to be disputes. In 1779 the Spanish forced the British to leave the area, however, the Spanish never settled in the region and the British always returned to expand their trade and settlement. The disagreements between the European nations greatly affected the established Mayan and Garifuna people. The interaction between these four culturally diverse peoples has developed in to Belizean culture and relations. In the Mid 1800’s there were power struggles between planters and superintendents, which eventually led to the settlement of Belize in the Bay of Honduras to be declared a British colony called British Honduras. The area became a crown colony under which Britain retained control over defense, foreign affairs, internal security, various administrative and budget matters, and internally governed by a British-appointed governor and a locally elected assembly. Throughout the 1600 – 1800’s time the forestry industry was an important economic resource. The forestry industry's control of land and influence in colonial decision making held back the development of agriculture and the diversification of the economy. The industry continued to stifle agriculture and kept much of the population dependent on imported foods. Mahogany and logwood were the main types of timber being harvested. The forestry industry held the concentration of wealth which meant that the colony's economy was determined in London. Workers in mahogany camps were treated like slaves. Labor conditions included workers receiving rations of inferior flour, mess pork and tickets to be exchanged at the commissaries, instead of cash wages. Due to these conditions, workers and their families suffered from malnutrition and were continually in debt to their employers. The poor responded with a series of demonstrations, strikes, petitions, and riots that marked the beginning of modern politics and the independence movement. It was the beginning of a long campaign to gain an elected legislature that led to internal self-rule in 1964. The People's United Party (PUP) lead the campaign and have essentially defined the nationalist agenda in Belize. The PUP, with leader George Price, has won all but one national election in Belize since 1954. Belize had close, friendly relations with the United States, which was a leading trading partner and principal source of foreign investment and economic assistance. In the anticipation of independence the colony's name was changed to Belize in1973. Belizean independence was officially gained on September 21, 1981.
Belize’s colonial and political histories are strongly tied to the countries economy. Under colonial administration, the economy was centered on a succession of single raw commodities--logwood at first then mahogany in the 1800s, and finally sugar in the mid-1900s. Belize’ economy is now more diverse with areas in agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. Agriculture is dominated by three crops--sugar, citrus fruits, and bananas. Sugar refining and garment industries lead the manufacturing area. One reason for the economic diversification was an adjustment program implemented by the government. Belize has also been a recipient of foreign aid. In 1983, the United States Agency for International Development opened an office in Belize and in the following 7 years Belize received $94 million in development assistance. In 1990 Belize had a debt of 158 million. Two Belizean dollars are worth one US dollar. Belize’s total GDP was about 2 billion in 2005 ranking them 163rd in the world. Overpopulation does not seem to be an economic problem in Belize; it is one of the least densely populated countries in the Americas. The rate of annual growth was estimated at 3 % in the 1980s, and averaged 8.5 persons per square kilometer in 1991.