How The France Former Minister Of The Environment Win The Champion Of The Earth Award?

May 3, 2008 · 28 Comments

2008 Champions of the Earth. From left to right: Mrs. Melinda Kimble, Mr. Achim Steiner , His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco , His Excellency Abul Qader Ba-Jammal,Senator Liz Thompson ,Dr. Balgis Osman-Elasha ,Dr. Atiq Rahman

Recently Barbadians were made aware that former Minister of the environment was the recipient of a global prestigious award. For those of you interested to find out how former Minister Thompson became eligible for the Champion of the Earth Award, here is the criteria:

A renaissance in environmental policy does not come in a vacuum. It emerges as a result of collective efforts of governments, civil society organizations and private business. It needs the long-term commitment and vision of men and women. It needs people who are and continue to be Champions of the Earth.

Champions of the Earth is an international environment award established in 2004. It is presented each year by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to seven outstanding environmental leaders.

No monetary award is attached to the prize.

Source: UNEP

The award given to the former Minister of the Environment has raised several questions, or should we say concerns? Barbadians should be feeling pride at a daughter of the soil winning such an award, instead there is a hollow feel to the occasion. The big question mark in our minds is whether Barbados qualifies to receive ANY award if the criteria is linked to environmental considerations. The BU household believes that the perception of Barbadians of Thompson being an advocate for the environment is totally at odds with the UNEP conferring the Champion of the Earth Award to the Senator.

Here are some of the concerns which informs our position on this matter:

There is the issue which BU raised recently about the unwillingness of the former Arthur government – Thompson served in the cabinet – to qualify some of our beaches Blue Flag status.
There is the failed policy of the former government to design and implement a comprehensive policy for waste disposal in Barbados. In fact the decision nearly ten years ago, to locate a waste disposal facility on our most ecologically sensitive part of the island will record on history’s page as one of the greatest injustices inflicted on the environment by a human being on the planet. The decision to locate Greenland Landfill was done when former Minister Thompson was Minister in charge. geeze we have not even written about the Graeme Hall disaster.
The failure to integrate alternative energy sources in a significant way to reduce our reliance on fossil fuel suggests a lack of serious commitment to changing the behaviours of Barbadians towards becoming environmentally aware. Former Elizabeth Thompson had the opportunity to retrofit government vehicles to use other forms of energy e.g.solar

We could go on to list other concerns which in our view challenge Senator Thompson’s nomination for the Champion of the Earth Award but we think we have made our point. The honourable thing for Senator Thompson to have done was to have declined the award. How realistic was that?

Are we being too harsh on the former Minister Elizabeth Thompson? We don’t think so, she was part of the government of the day.

Categories: Barbados · Blogging · World News · environment

28 responses so far ↓

anotherview // May 3, 2008 at 5:54 AM

I agree about most of what you put in the public forum, but Lord have mercy how can the UN award Liz Thompson that prestigious honour of the Greening of the Planet when the Barbados environment is in the shape it is in?

If I am not mistaken your BU printed not long ago the concerns of commenters about the quality of the sea water in some section of Barbados!

You need to address the hard and obvious issues. The BLP had 14 years and all of the environmental destruction occurred on their and Liz Thompsons watch.
Bajan // May 3, 2008 at 5:56 AM

It should explain why the UN is not taken seriously by the powerful countries in the world. It is nothing more than a rubber stamp!
David // May 3, 2008 at 6:16 AM

To be honest as we jotted down this blog we were confuesed. We were confused by the apparent double standard at work. We started to think that we were being too harsh on Liz and then we remembered people tossing garbage through the windows of vehicles, the destruction of plants used in beautification excercise and we felt justified in ‘lickin’ Liz.

The behaviours of our people have not changed under Liz’s stewardship, if anything it had deteriorated.
Green Monkey // May 3, 2008 at 6:42 AM

We started to think that we were being too harsh on Liz and then we remembered people tossing garbage through the windows of vehicles, the destruction of plants used in beautification excercise and we felt justified in ‘lickin’ Liz.

Not to mention going along with plans to locate the national garbage dump in a mind bogglingly stupid location (due to environmental risks) and in one of the most scenic and attractive areas in the island.
Carson C. Cadogan // May 3, 2008 at 8:21 AM

As I said else where, they were scraping the bottom of the barrel.
RoKill // May 3, 2008 at 9:11 AM

Stinking BU rats
Undertaker // May 3, 2008 at 10:09 AM

She did do some good things; but the Greenland Landfill his her stain.
Undertaker // May 3, 2008 at 10:10 AM

-IS her stain
Georgie Porgie // May 3, 2008 at 2:34 PM

Liz got the award for the day she spent on the garbage truck in 1995 I think it was- cant you all see that?

Liz aint too smart that is true but she did not have the smartest folk around her in the MOH either. ….people like “Gravy” Knight, the CMO who was more concerned about the horns she was getting from the nurse at the Glebe, and the other MO who horned her opthalmologist husband.

Such idiots paved the way for and drove down Jerome too– although as a doctor he should have done better.

Now we have Dr Big Mout Powa Powa. He aint no better.
David // May 3, 2008 at 2:52 PM

The Greenland Landfill should loom large when evaluating the performance of individuals within the previous government. No way can anyone expolain Liz getting an award given the ’stain’.

The pudding will be in the eating when we see the decision of the current government makes on the Greenland issue!
Asiba-The Buffalo Soldier // May 3, 2008 at 6:48 PM

no stopping liz

my representative and former work-mate
stop the hating –the woman deserves it
she will turn out to be one of the pillars of modern barbadian society

nuff respect to liz

i am not political-i am a humanist and i call things as i see them. this is barbados and we need to cherish all of our people -stop the tearing down mentality syndrome. we have done to it our batsmen , captains , fast bowlers in cricket when they lose form —–ingratitude ????
reluctant nonbeliever // May 3, 2008 at 11:06 PM

asiba

Your loyalty to a friend/co-worker is admirable.

But it’s wildly out of place in this instance.

How exactly does Thompson “deserve” this award? Because you like her?

Can you give us some examples of her towering environmental achievements as Minister?

Can you name just one?

We’re listening, asiba…

Did Thompson really do more for our environment than (for example) the late lamented Colin Hudson?

Truth is, our howls of derision have nothing to do with trying to tear down a daughter of the soil. It’s just that most of us know foolishness when we see it.

For my money, this is yet another example of the UN’s cynical political posturing in all matters relating to the developing world. To put it brutally, it’s good global PR to give this award to a citizen of the the ‘Third World’. Even better (and more cynically) to give it to a person of color…and a woman too!

In other words, it’s one of the bones the UN throws to us to make us feel we matter.

No, asiba, I’m afraid you’re wrong. This is a meaningless, valueless, stupid and fundamentally insulting award if it can go to someone as undeserving as Thompson.

Might as well give Robert Mugabe an Award for Services to Democracy in South Africa.

Come to think of it, they probably alreadyhave…
reluctant nonbeliever // May 3, 2008 at 11:09 PM

correction: I meant to write “sub-Saharan”, not “South” Africa…
Bimbro // May 6, 2008 at 11:15 AM

I expect most of u to take as much notice of this remark as you usually, do of most of my posts, i.e. not very much, however, I suggest that is to your own disadvantage. I know u think u know it all and there’s nothing which a Bajan 4k miles away in Britain can, usefully, tell u. However, with aspirations to 1st world status, I would strongly, suggest that you dispense with the use of such an insulting and antiquated abuse as, “what the France!”

One day, you’ll use it within earshot or sight of a Frenchman and he’ll take great offense and he might just be an important personage, like an ambassador or other and cause the country major embarassment!

Hey, but then, what does Bimbro know! He’s just a Brit from across the sea!!!!
Bimbro // May 7, 2008 at 2:18 AM

Guess I would have been expecting too, much for a reply to my previous post but I thought that David, might know better!

Bimbro we have taken note of your comment.

David
Bimbro // May 7, 2008 at 12:20 PM

Thank you, David. Maybe, there’s hope for Barbadians, yet, at least ONE of you, anyway!
politically incorrect // May 7, 2008 at 6:31 PM

What EVER Bimbro:

Most bloggers always try to dilute the subject matter with distractions.

She doesn’t deserve it. It’s a pacifier tossed by the UN.

Let’s change the title to How the Barbados………
David // May 7, 2008 at 6:55 PM

Here is what Prince Albert from Indonesia had to say about Liz getting the Champion of the Earth United Nations award. He is not a happy camper.

Questioning UN body’s environmental award

Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s decision to honor Prince Albert II of Monaco and former Barbados minister of energy and environment Liz Thompson as the winners of the Champions of the Earth Awards 2008 might raise eyebrows in the international community.

The ceremony was held in Singapore recently, where international businesspeople also gathered for a business summit for the environment. But again, very few Indonesian businesspeople — if any — came to speak at the meeting.

Why Monaco and Barbados? And how about Indonesia, one of the world’s top environment troublemakers? Hasn’t the UNEP ever considered using a carrot-and-stick approach with problematic countries like Indonesia? To add to the irony, a private company whose business activities are concentrated in Indonesia has been one of the largest financial contributors for the UNEP summit in the last three years.

Both Prince Albert II and Liz Thompson fully deserve the honor for their achievements in creating better environments in their countries, but they just represent two tiny territories with far fewer environmental problems compared to much bigger states.

According to the UNEP, the Monaco prince has shown remarkable commitment to sustainable development on his home turf of Monaco. While Liz Thompson has become a key voice in raising awareness of global warming in Barbados — a country where the challenges of climate change and conservation are of particular relevance.

Other award recipients — there are seven every year — this year were Balgis Osman-Elasha, a researcher from Sudan; Bangladeshi scholar Atiq Rahman; Abdul-Qader Ba-Jammal, the secretary-general of the Yemen’s People General Congress; former U.S. senator Timothy E. Wirth; and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. According to the UN body, they represent each region of the world.

“[T]hese inspirational individuals demonstrate not only that action and different development paths are possible but also the abundant opportunities arising as a result of a transformation toward a green economy,” said Achim Steiner, the UNEP executive director, in explaining the reasons for honoring these seven champions of environment.

In 2006, Singaporean senior diplomat Tommy Koh won the award and former U.S. vice president Al Gore was also a recipient. Several months later, Al Gore was declared the co-laureate for the Nobel Peace Prize, along with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UNIPCC). The UN agency hosted an international forum on climate change in Bali in December.

Another recipient in 2006 was former Soviet Union president Michael Gorbachev. Neither Gorbachev or Gore came to Singapore to receive the award.

Although the annual meeting has been held in Singapore since 2006, it seems that neighboring countries, especially Indonesia, pay little attention on the UN program, or UNEP pays little attention to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is also facing major environmental challenges.

Only Singapore fully supports the event, although the island-state itself faces relatively fewer environmental dilemmas compared to its larger neighbors.

UNEP launched the award in 2004, and since 2006 it has organized an annual commemoration of Earth Day, which falls on April 22, in Singapore.

A major private company whose business activities are mostly in Indonesia is one of the three largest private-sector sponsors of the UNEP’s annual events. The Singapore-based company, Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), whose subsidiary Riau Pulp is one of Indonesia’s largest pulp and paper producers, is described by UNEP as a strategic partner. Dow Chemical Company and lamp manufacturer OSRAM are described as its corporate partners.

UNEP, of course, has its own priorities. But the Indonesian government, especially the ministry of the environment needs to be much more proactive in international forums on the environment. Singapore is near Jakarta, so how come Indonesian State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar did not try to make his own show at the UNEP gathering?

Winning an environmental prize would be very meaningful to encourage Indonesians to be more active in preserving our environment. The ministry annually honors environmental workers with the Kalpataru Awards. For Indonesians, many of the Kalpataru winners are more impressive than the winners of this year’s Champions of the Earth Awards.

APRIL has become a generous partner of the UNEP to boost its international image and, of course, to penetrate more international markets. It has the right to do so. But how about our own government? Singapore has effectively used the annual event to promote itself. The Indonesian government apparently is only interested in taking part in mega international events like the Bali environment conference to glorify itself. But in this case at least, the Singaporean government is more effective than our government.
Bimbro // May 8, 2008 at 4:20 AM

politically incorrect // May 7, 2008 at 6:31 pm

What EVER Bimbro:

Most bloggers always try to dilute the subject matter with distractions.

She doesn’t deserve it. It’s a pacifier tossed by the UN.

Let’s change the title to How the Barbados………

*************************

I think I understand this confusing reply. A subject can have more than one stream of interest u know, and yes, let’s change it to “what the Barbados is former minister….’, in order for thickos, like you, to get the point!
The scout // May 8, 2008 at 3:17 PM

Why do we bajan hate each other so? Why do we envy our own for being recognised? Liz and the things she did were not all perfect but ” he that is without guilt, throw the first stone.” We did the same thing to Rihanna; don’t you see Barbados and barbadians are now in the world news a lot recently and for positive things. Without taking any political side, I’m proud when I see a bajan recognised internationally.
The scout // May 8, 2008 at 3:28 PM

Were the others in that photo any better than Liz? Do you think that those who chose her just did it by lottery? Most of you would have done a worse job than her if you had the chance. God bless Bim and kudos to all who have helped to put Badbados on the International stage irrespective of what colour, class or creed they’re from. That also include which ever political party they’re from. Thank God I’ve gotten over partisan politics, I see things as a PROUD BAJAN and congratulale all who have done their part to promote this little BIG ROCK
David // May 9, 2008 at 6:19 AM

Our friend Senator Liz Thompson continues to defend the placement of Greenland in the middle of the Scotland District. This is despite that the decision seems to be against the will of the PEOPLE.

TRASH TALK: Liz to Govt: Use site
Published on: 5/9/08.

by BRYAN WALKER

GOVERNMENT should go ahead and use Greenland, as it was – and still is – the best site for a landfill in Barbados.

This is the view of Elizabeth Thompson, who was Minister of Health back in the 1990s when the St Andrew site was chosen to replace the mountain of garbage at the Mangrove Pond landfill in St Thomas.

She was responding to statements by Dr Bruce Thompson, head of an environmental impact assessment team on Greenland in 1995, who said that based on what it would take to finish the job, it might not have been the best option.

About $50 million has been spent so far, with Government stating it would take another $45 million to finish the landfill site and its related projects.

Thompson, now an Opposition senator, told the WEEKEND NATION her Government went through both local and international experts before going to the St Andrew site.

While admitting some details were sketchy now since so much time had elapsed, she disputed Thompson’s claim that the then administration was hell-bent on one site.

“It is not fair to say Government did not want to look at other sites. When we came to Government [in 1994], several sites were being considered, and the assessment of all those sites continued,” she said.

She said the Cabinet decision was not made until all were completed.

According to her, what favoured Greenland, among other things, was that:

l it was, according to the experts, the most technically sound location;

l it was a below-the-ground landfill as opposed to the “mountain” at Mangrove;

l there were no communities downwind of the landfill site to be adversely affected;

l it had adequate cover material; and

l it would have been cheaper than the other locations.

On the millions spent so far, the former minister said that “there is never going to be a cheap landfill”, but Greenland was the least expensive option.

“One of the benefits of using Greenland was the availability of adequate cover material. In areas such as Lamberts and Harrison Point, you would have been digging into rock. The cost of constructing a landfill in those areas was put at much higher than going to Greenland.”

She said all the doom and gloom prophecies on Greenland had never come true.

“It was predicted that we would have never been able to get it built; that it would have split open; that it was going to wash into the sea; that underground streams were going to bubble up and flood the area. None of these dire predictions, after all these years, has come to pass.”

She said it was critical a solution was found as “Barbadians are generating vast volumes of waste analogous to those in developed countries”.

“If the current Government believes they should continue to have Mangrove rising as a mountain of waste into the air, that is a decision that will be on their heads,” she said.

“They have a landfill that is constructed [and] my view is that they should use it.”
Bajan_Sun_Goddess // May 14, 2008 at 10:41 PM

everyone keeps saying, “the things she did”. can anyone tell me the things she did? i might have missed them along the way
baby_bim // May 16, 2008 at 8:19 PM

What de bimbro! I totally agree David Et al. There is none so blind as him who will not see.

I always find it amazing when people who are presented with facts will relegate to straw-men and finger-pointing. WHAT OF SIGNIFICANCE ENVIRONMENTALLY HAS L.T DONE? and how can her insistence on something that is clearly against the wishes of her fellow Barbadians (whom she is/was supposed to be representing) and against common ecological sense make her a candidate of any award?
Georgie Porgie // May 16, 2008 at 9:20 PM

The Bombastic jackass got the award for working for a day on a garbage truck what else?
David // May 16, 2008 at 10:32 PM

A read of the UN website states that Liz could have nominated herself. The bigger point however is the fact that Liz got fired when she was Minister of health/environment by late PM Arthur, can anyone remember why?
Ian Walcott // May 25, 2008 at 2:23 PM

http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/barnc1.pdf
Georgie Porgie // May 25, 2008 at 3:24 PM

David

Was it not because she was rude to Thompson?

We think that you are right and wasn’t it about a request made about the same Greenland Project?

David