The villages of San Pedro Colombia, Jordan, Criquejute, and Ya’axche have all been impacted by wildfires. In response, the entire district of Toledo temporarily closed schools due to poor air quality and multiple fires affecting various villages.
A recent situation report from the Belize Red Cross Society gathered information from the Statistical Institute of Belize and Google, with information gathered from various news sources, to estimate the affected population.
According to the report, approximately 200 families, totaling around 800 individuals, have been affected by these fires across 19 communities and 600 acres in the Toledo district.
The Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve is experiencing severe forest fires that are affecting both the Toledo District and the air quality in the Cayo District. These forest fires have been burning in the Mountain Pine Ridge area for about three weeks. The local government has mobilised volunteers and defence forces to assist. At the request of NEMO, the Belize Red Cross has been distributing cooked lunches to community volunteers and the Belize Defence Force, with 160 plates distributed to date. Farmers and residents in remote areas have been particularly affected, with crops such as corn, avocado, cocoa, pasture, forests, and water sources being destroyed, leading to long-term devastating effects. Multiple agencies are collaborating to provide meals and other relief items, focusing on containing the fires and supporting the affected families.
Forest fires in Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve
NEMO Emergency Committees are on-site in the affected areas, providing support through the DANA Committee,conducting search and rescue operations (including fire suppression) with the Fire Department and the Belize Defence Force. They continue to monitor the situation to determine if further evacuations are necessary. So far, one family has been rescued and relocated to a shelter in Toledo. They are working closely with partner agencies to coordinate the response and have requested that the Belize Red Cross provide protective gear for volunteers fighting the fire, first aid services, and meals.
Preliminary assessments indicate that assistance will be needed for the affected population, particularly in the agriculture sector. The humanitarian aid required includes food, water, and hygiene products. Additionally, livelihood support over the next 3–6 months will be essential, which will encompass various forms of agricultural assistance. The agricultural ministries are particularly concerned about the losses in agriculture and are planning future steps to aid the recovery of the farmers.
Last week, Belize’s U18/U20 athletes travelled to Costa Rica to compete in several sporting events. During the two-day event, the athletes won several medals.
In the U-20 category, Kali Magana, the reigning Central American 400m champion, continued her reign by winning both the 800m (2:19.82) and 400m (56.06) events. In the U-18 division, Jouvann Morgan impressed with two medals in the long and triple jumps, achieving a personal best of 5.85m in the long jump (bronze) and a personal record of 13.36m in the triple jump (silver).
Dario Crunckshanck secured a bronze in the high jump with a personal record of 1.85m, while Summer Francis earned a bronze in the U18 shot put with a new personal best of 10.24m. Other notable performances included Ruper Cardinez’s personal best of 11.25 in the 100m finals, Kamron Gentel’s personal records of 11.39 in the 100m and 23.13 in the 200m, and Aquile Flores’ 200m personal record of 23.80.
Nathan Pettingale set a new personal record in the javelin with a throw of 40.73m, finishing 4th, while Elvis Guzman’s 41.33m throw in the U20 javelin earned him 8th place in the finals. Emiain Sandoval reached the finals in the U18 100m with a personal record of 13.23, and Tamiai Bennett cleared 1.40m in the high jump for 7th place.
NOAA National Weather Service forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center predict above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year. NOAA’s outlook for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which spans from June 1 to November 30, predicts an 85% chance of an above-normal season, a 10% chance of a near-normal season and a 5% chance of a below-normal season.
NOAA is forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, 8 to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 4 to 7 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). Forecasters have a 70% confidence in these ranges.
The upcoming Atlantic hurricane season is expected to have above-normal activity due to a confluence of factors, including near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, development of La Nina conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear, all of which tend to favor tropical storm formation.
A summary infographic showing hurricane season probability and numbers of named storms predicted from NOAA’s 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook. (Image credit: NOAA)
“With another active hurricane season approaching, NOAA’s commitment to keeping every American informed with life-saving information is unwavering,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “AI-enabled language translations and a new depiction of inland wind threats in the forecast cone are just two examples of the proactive steps our agency is taking to meet our mission of saving lives and protecting property.”
“Severe weather and emergencies can happen at any moment, which is why individuals and communities need to be prepared today,” said FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik A. Hooks. “Already, we are seeing storms move across the country that can bring additional hazards like tornadoes, flooding and hail. Taking a proactive approach to our increasingly challenging climate landscape today can make a difference in how people can recover tomorrow.”
A summary graphic showing an alphabetical list of the 2024 Atlantic tropical cyclone names as selected by the World Meteorological Organization. The official start of the Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 and runs through November 30. (Image credit: NOAA)
As one of the strongest El Ninos ever observed nears its end, NOAA scientists predict a quick transition to La Nina conditions, which are conducive to Atlantic hurricane activity because La Nina tends to lessen wind shear in the tropics. At the same time, abundant oceanic heat content in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea creates more energy to fuel storm development.
This hurricane season also features the potential for an above-normal west African monsoon, which can produce African easterly waves that seed some of the strongest and longer-lived Atlantic storms. Finally, light trade winds allow hurricanes to grow in strength without the disruption of strong wind shear,and also minimize ocean cooling. Human-caused climate change is warming our ocean globally and in the Atlantic basin, and melting ice on land, leading to sea level rise, which increases the risk of storm surge. Sea level rise represents a clear human influence on the damage potential from a given hurricane.
A stage collapse caused by strong winds at a campaign rally in San Pedro Garza García, Mexico, resulted in nine deaths and 121 injuries. Candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez was present but uninjured. Governor Samuel García Sepúlveda pledged to cover funeral and hospital costs for the victims, including a minor who died.
The incident, which happened on Wednesday was captured on video, showed a sudden gust causing the stage to fall, injuring many. Videos shared on social media showed the moment a strong gust caused the stage to collapse. Álvarez Máynez and his team can be seen running for cover as the structure, which included a large video screen, falls onto the stage and part of the audience area. Footage taken in the aftermath of the accident shows a large number of emergency vehicles at the scene, their lights flashing in the darkness, as injured people are carried away. The area was cordoned off and guarded by heavily armed security personnel.
Álvarez Máynez has suspended his campaign to focus on the victims.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed condolences and urged an investigation. The accident occurred amid preparations for Mexico’s largest election on June 2, marked by significant political violence, with 28 candidates attacked and 16 killed this year. The presidential race features two leading female candidates, Claudia Sheinbaum and Xochitl Gálvez.
Pope Francis has attributed a second miracle to Carlo Acutis, moving him closer to canonization, the Vatican announced on Thursday.
Carlo Acutis, often referred to as the patron saint of the internet among Roman Catholics, passed away from leukaemia at the age of 15 in 2006. Known for his computer skills, Carlo used the internet to share his faith.
After his death, Antonia Acutis received messages from people worldwide claiming medical miracles, such as cures for infertility and cancer, after praying to Carlo.
Carlo’s path to sainthood began in 2020, when the Diocese of Assisi petitioned the Vatican. In February of that year, Pope Francis attributed the healing of a boy with a malformed pancreas to Carlo, marking his beatification. For canonization, a second miracle was required.
The second recognised miracle involves a woman from Costa Rica named Liliana, who prayed at Carlo’s tomb in Assisi on July 8, 2022. Liliana’s daughter Valeria had suffered severe head trauma from a bicycle accident in Florence on July 2. She required critical brain surgery with a low survival chance. Liliana’s secretary began praying to Blessed Carlo, and Liliana herself made a pilgrimage to Carlo’s tomb. That same day, Valeria began breathing spontaneously, followed by improvements in movement and speech. A CAT scan on July 18 showed the haemorrhage had disappeared, and Valeria was moved to rehabilitation on August 11. On September 2, Liliana and Valeria returned to Assisi to thank Blessed Carlo.
Our Earth has witnessed generations coming and going. Although the lifestyles between generations vary greatly, we all face a common threat: climate change. Each generation has its own perspective on climate change and its ideas about what should be done to achieve climate justice. These ideas range from the simple change in weather patterns to more profound impacts.
I had the opportunity to interview different generations of Belizeans and foreign nationals living in Belize to gain an understanding of how climate change has impacted their lives, their understandings of climate justice, and their recommendations for fostering climate justice within the Belizean community. The meaning of climate change also varies from person to person. Some might think of climate change as merely a change in weather patterns. Others, such as Dr. Kasthuri Henry, see climate change as “the effect of the cancer known as humankind on our Earth.”
A common denominator among these generations is the threat climate change poses to different aspects of their lives. Each interviewee—a high school student, a parent and market vendor, a community empowerment advocate in their 50s, and an elderly person—all see significant changes in weather patterns and increased heat.
The rising temperatures in Belize are nothing new. Dorothy Jean Wade, a resident of Corozal, stated during her interview that over her eighty-nine years of life in Belize, she has seen how the country has become drier. She specifically noted that in the late weeks of May and early June, which she remembers as being rainy in her youth, there is now a lack of rain.
She directly links this to the decreased abundance of crops in Belize. As the daughter of a farmer, she remembers her house being filled to the ceiling with fruit. However, in recent years, she has seen trees in the surrounding villages of Corozal withering away due to lack of rain. The lack of rain and rising heat, she believes, contribute to rising crop prices. Her biggest concern is not just the heat but also the impact that the high cost of fruits and vegetables has on the younger generation. With increased prices, crops become less accessible to the public, which in turn impacts the nutrition of children in families.
Corozal Farmer’s Market Source: Corozal Live
Today’s youth have similar concerns about their future. J.W., a high school student at Sacred Heart College, expressed serious concerns about her future. Her concerns stem from the fact that she has no idea what climate justice is, which she sees as an injustice. Her understanding of climate change is the changing weather patterns that affect the Earth’s inhabitants.
As our climate is changing, so should our people and our education systems. Youths wish for more climate-related topics to be included in their curriculum. In Belize, students are among the most affected by the heat waves over the past weeks. Due to poor infrastructural design of buildings, students at Sacred Heart College are pursuing their education in classrooms that can be compared to ovens.
This has affected students’ health both physically and mentally, causing rashes, anxiety, and increased stress. Students are so focused on finding ways to cope with the heat that they cannot concentrate on their lessons. In addition, due to the unbearable heat, teachers are often forced to give free periods, which delays students’ education. Both teachers and students are frustrated by the heat, which strains student-teacher interactions.
Sacred Heart College Classrooms
J.W. is concerned about how this hindrance to their education will affect their future career opportunities. Adaptation strategies need to be implemented nationwide to ensure that students receive the education they deserve. Most importantly, she encourages students to speak up about their right to an education in a comfortable setting. We should voice our concerns and work on solutions together.
Of course, as a society, it is no single nation’s fault or one person’s duty to combat the effects of climate change on crops and education. Dr. Henry touches on the topic of taking accountability and responsibility toward the environment. We must all consider ourselves caretakers of the Earth. Dr. Henry works in rural communities, teaching children about gardening, pickling, bottling, and integrating these skills into family life. She believes in promoting a connection with nature and understanding its wealth through hands-on learning and sustainability practices.
Recycling plastic to make Christmas ornaments – an initiative with Dr. Kasthuri Henry, the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management and Minister Orlando Habet’s Team.
The term “climate justice” exists because we have been using resources unjustly. To move toward a more equal society, we need to break the cycles of neglect that have been placed on our environment, with an emphasis on teaching youth, supporting teachers, and empowering creative problem solvers. Apart from showing up, we must be consistent and persevere when faced with resistance.
Emotional Intelligence – Summer Youth Leadership Camp at St. Ignatius High School
The perspectives on climate change and climate justice from various generations in Belize underscore the urgent need for collective action and education. It is evident that climate change is not just an environmental issue but a social and economic one that impacts food security, health and education. By fostering a deeper connection with nature, promoting sustainable practice and integrating climate education into our curricula we can empower the next generation to take informed and effective action. Together, we can create a more just and sustainable future for Belize and beyond.
by Anwar Wade
This story was published with the support of the Caribbean Climate Justice Journalism Fellowship, which is a joint venture of Climate Tracker and Open Society Foundations.
The search continues for Alicia Jacome of La Gracia, Cayo. The elderly woman reportedly went missing on Friday afternoon while everyone was asleep.
The chairman of Buena Vista Village said, “I sent a team from Spanish Lookout with 3 drones, and they couldn’t find any leads.” It has now been four days since Jacome went missing.
The chairman has asked the Belize Defence Force for assistance. She was last seen near Clifford Sabala Farm, located in the La Gracia area, at around 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
One person close to the family posed on social media. “So far, the search has been going on and no sign of her. We are asking volunteers to go do a search to find the person.”
If you have any information that can help locate Jacome, you are asked to call 6336024 or the nearest police station.
One person was killed following a road traffic accident on Tuesday night in Santa Elena Town.
The victim has been identified as twenty-one-year-old Jaylen Flowers, a resident of Unitedville Village. Flowers reportedly lost control of his Meilun motorcycle near La Loma Luz Boulevard. He sustained severe head and body injuries.
Businessman Dake Yu was shot during a robbery at 61 Supermarket in San Ignacio Town.
Shots were heard in the Santiago Juan Layout area. Witnesses say that two armed men barged into the store and held Yu and employees at gunpoint. According to reports, Yu was shot once.
Thirty-three-year-old Devain Flores was charged with two counts of cruelty to a child. The Neals Penn Road resident is expected to return to court later today. Flores was charged after a video of him physically abusing a male child was posted on social media. He was initially charged with common assault.
The shocking footage shows the individual slapping, kicking, and punching the infant multiple times on two separate occasions.
The Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, addressed the viral video when he appeared on Open Your Eyes on Tuesday. He said that further measures would have been taken against the individual if the police had obtained the video before he was brought to court.
