by Bethany Johnson
Bethany Johnson is a member of St. Boniface Anglican Church in Harbour View, part of the Kingston Deanery in the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Beyond the walls of the church, she holds a degree in Terrestrial and Freshwater Biology from the University of the West Indies and has served as a Youth Environmental Ambassador with the Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council.
The Shadows of Development
Bwoy, look at the green
Look at the river as it flows to the sea
A place so lush, full of beauty
My years are few but enough to see
How special my country can be.
They try to make it right
But blinded by the dollar sign
The green they see is not like mine
So they destroy all that is divine
The environment walks the green mile
The squinted eyes of the developer
Looks lustfully at our gift from above
They break, they dig, they dump
All to build a world class hub.
Is it worth the risk?
This irreversible task
That the land will wear as a lamenting mask
which may only benefit the rich and upper class
Wait don’t break natures concentration
With tractors, trailers and bull dozers
The little creatures run
The plants they are stuck
The only home they knew now crumbling rock
The squinted eyes of the developer
Looks lustfully at our gift from above
They break, they dig, they dump
All to build a world class hub
But dem nah go elp mi
The residents cry
We need dem job yah
Our ongly way fi survive
Is cah wi chat bad why?
They come fi tek way wi livelihood
The likkle fishing income we keep
To offer us those jobs
Those jobs to clean
The squinted eyes of the developer
looks lustfully at our gift from above
They break, they dig, they dump
All to build a world class hub
We shake in fear
As we await
The effects of these changes
To what is dear
No petitions. No protests
They all wait on JET
There is time before it happens
But they prefer to fret
Cry instead of sweat
My home, my island
The place I know
The place I have slept
Torn down with no regret
The squinted eyes of the developer
looks lustfully at our gift from above
They break, they dig, they dump
All to build a world class hub
No patience, no concern
The only question asked is
How else can we earn?
Although, they don’t deserve
With clouded judgements
The plans go forth
Money the main driving force
The beginning of Jamaica’s curse
Oh me, oh my
The end draws nigh
The sky is grey
The land has died
And the squinted eyes of the developer
Looks lustfully at OUR gift from above
They break, they dig, they dump
All to build a world class hub.
Ecology, Climate Change and the Fifth Mark of Mission
“If people destroy something replaceable made by mankind, they are called vandals; if they destroy something irreplaceable made by God they are called developers.” Joseph Wood Krutch
The connection between God, the church, the earth and its environment, began from the very utterance of the words “Let there be light!” Here, God establishes the beginning of His creation of all the magnificent wonder that is the natural world. In Genesis we are given a full account of not only how our God created everything, the birds of the sky and creatures of the see, but that He saw it all as not just good but very good.
“God saw everything that He had made, and indeed, it was very good” (Genesis 1: 31) NRSV
The creation story also outlines to us the role in which man plays within the creation. Mankind was moulded from the earth itself and subsequently given dominion over all the creation. The Lord God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to till and keep it. However, humanity has lost touch with and has misconstrued their connection to the creation to that of ownership and control, rather than the stewards we were intended to be. We cannot own the earth, however as it belongs to the Lord.
“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in It,” (Psalm 24:1) NRSV
As God’s people it is important for us Christians to remember our true purpose and our role towards creation. The fifth (5th) Mark of Mission of the Anglican Church, to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth, reminds us of just that. It reminds us that as a faith body we have a mandate to protect the blessing of creation that was bestowed upon us.
In this most crucial of times where we find ourselves grappling with the aftereffects of years of continued mismanagement, the church is amongst various global bodies needing to find solutions and to take action towards mitigating the effects of climate change. What does this mean for our congregations? Where is our position, and why is it important for the church to remain at the forefront?
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were created as part of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The seventeen (17) goals were developed as targets to help countries achieve prosperity, while still protecting the planet. With goals including climate action (SDG 13), Life below water (SDG 14) and Life on land (SDG 15) the United Nations has provided a template that not only includes all of creation, but one which also aligns perfectly with the churches’ marks of mission. Therefore, we have a responsibility to not treat the matters of sustainable development and environmental protection as mere political or scientific moot points.
In my cultural context as a member of a Province and Diocese made up of primarily Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the implications of climate change are prevalent. Caribbean countries are constantly reminded of the risks that coastal degradation and sea level rise pose to our major economic drivers such as tourism and fishing. We also hold a special level of custodianship as our nations possess high rates of endemism and biodiversity on relatively small land masses. For many, like my home church which is situated by the sea, the devastating effects of hurricanes and other tropical systems are a constant threat. For our own good, churches must then realize and accept the unique position we hold, through our mission, as a responsibility that existed even before sustainable development became a trending topic.
My home church St. Boniface Harbour View has taking up initiatives such as a recycling project and participating in coastal clean-ups to help combat and remove waste form the Caribbean Sea. We have planted trees along our coastal boundary to help with retention and the potential attenuation of wave action. The Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, through its many assets and holdings has the opportunity to embark on all its projects through a sustainable lens. Whether through the installation of solar panels or the retrofitting of more rural buildings with rainwater harvesting systems a charge can be made throughout to expand these initiatives across the island.
The church has the opportunity to place itself as a leading enforcer of sustainable development, helping the many countries across the Anglican Communion to meet the SDGs. We cannot create nor replicate that breath of life breathed into us and the rest of creation and as such we must ensure that, that which existed before us, is not prematurely depleted due to our lack of stewardship and follow through on our mission.
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